[The following article was web-posted Saturday, January 30, 1999, and written by Bill Althaus, sportswriter for the Independence Examiner newspaper. Copyright 1999, The Examiner] Bull's eye Arrowman, aka Independence resident Monte Short, was big hit at Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony by Bill Althaus, The Examiner For the past five or six years, I've seen Arrowman from my seat in the Arrowhead Stadium pressbox. He's a Kansas City Chiefs fan who usually sports an opponent's jersey that is riddled with arrows. First of all, I wondered how the guy sat down without impaling himself. Second, I wondered if he made it to Chiefs games after getting a weekend pass from a mental hospital. I'm happy to say that he has never run himself through with his colorful costume and that he is not only sane, he's a successful area builder and a graduate of Van Horn High School. Arrowman, who is also known as Monte Short, is a big hit in his hometown. When The Examiner ran a Saturday feature on him last weekend, his phone began ringing that morning. "I've been in other newspapers, and on TV and in advertising brochures," the personable Short said during a midweek lunch at one of his favorite Independence haunts, Tim's Pizza, "but I never saw anything like the response I got from that article in The Examiner. "I bet I got 50 phone calls the first day and everyone I know has asked me to sign a copy of the paper. I'm glad I'm not really famous because my hand's getting tired." He was laughing and joking about his newfound fame, as he was the Kansas City fan representative in a new fans wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A single fan from each NFL city was flown to Canton, Ohio and inducted into shrine alongside Joe Namath, Red Grange and Jim Thorpe. Barrel Man from Denver was there, so was that weirdo from Oakland who wears the skulls on his shoulders. But Arrowman is quick to point out that all fans weren't quite as colorful as the zanier members of the class. "The fan representing the Buffalo Bills was an older gentleman who was first in line to buy the very first Bills ticket sold," Short said. "He has never missed a home Bills game in 30-some years. "The fan from San Francisco hadn't missed a game since 1946 and the fan from Phoenix began following the Cardinals when they were in Chicago. "He hasn't missed a Chicago, St. Louis or Phoenix game -- and to me, that's just incredible." In fact, the entire Hall of Fame celebration was incredible. Short and his wife, Stacie, were picked up at their Independence home by a stretch limo. When they arrived at Canton, a huge party was held at the airport, with all the Hall of Fame fans participating. "Now that was a sight," he said, grinning. "We were all wearing a portion of our costumes." Short was sporting an arrow-filled referee's cap. "The thing that made this so special for all of us," Short said, "is that none of us became fans to get an honor like this. We didn't support a team for 50 years or dream up these costumes to get attention. We did it for the love of the game, and our team." And now, alongside Walter Payton's helmet and Johnny Unitas' jersey is another jersey -- one with arrows sticking out in every direction. "I still can't believe it," Short said, as a couple of patrons realize that the man sitting in the back booth is really Arrowman. "This is fun. A lot of fun." First Arrowman photo credit: Paul Beaver/The Examiner

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