KANSAS CITY, Mo. Four hours after walking off the field at the Chiefs practice facility in white Adidas cleats bedazzled with iridescent spikes and a blue-green graffitied Three Stripe Life logo on the toe cap, Patrick Mahomes pulled on another pair of shoes as he arrived at Childrens Mercy Hospital.
These were dark blue and black with neon orange accents and three signature white stripes on the side.
Like the first pair, these shoes stood out and that was the point.
These specific shoes, the Adidas Asterisk Collective Ultraboost 2019, were created for the Foot Locker-assembled group of athletes and artists on a mission to inspire and empower others to make a positive impact. The sneaker is supposed to be worn by people who embody the asterisk and what it means to stand apart.
Mahomes, a founding member of the group, fulfilled that mission when he surprised a group of patients at Childrens Mercy with gear from his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation and a variety of Adidas shoes.
It was awesome being at Childrens Mercy to do so many great things for these kids, especially around this area, he said. Its something weve been talking about for a while, and Im glad to see it finally coming to fruition.
Through the Asterisk Collective, he also presented the hospital with donations of iPads, telepresence robots, a Vecta machine and Mamaroos Swings to help assist with patients rehabilitation and well-being. Mahomes also donated fully-loaded PlayStation 4 systems.
Afterward, he took pictures with the room full of kids and their family members and signed autographs.
The event was part of a full schedule for Mahomes, coming hours after his third OTA practice of the week. But if he was tired, he didnt show it.
These kids are working 1,000 times harder than I am, he said. So I want to make sure that they know that the things that they do, that theyre worth my time, theyre worth their time, and do whatever I can to show them that were supporting them just as much as theyre supporting us.
This is Year 3 in the league and Year 2 as a starter for Mahomes, but in many ways its his first as a full-fledged superstar.
That means juggling on-field responsibilities along with being a leader on the team and in the community.
Its been a long process, Mahomes said of developing his foundation. Ive wanted to do it the entire time Ive been in the NFL, but I had to get the right things in order and do it the right way. Having great partners around me has helped me really boost it and get it going at a very fast rate. Im glad I can go out and do things like this in the community more often.
While his charity work through his foundation and various partnerships picks up, hes also spending time watching super-cuts of his plays throughout the season. Together with the coaching staff, Mahomes is evaluating himself through that film study and identifying areas where he needs to get better even after a 50-touchdown and over 5,000-yard MVP season.
Its a humbling experience, but a necessary one for growth.
