The Royals have found a tiny new fan to celebrate.
After a video of 2-year-old Guy Jakubowicz fist-bumping passengers on a plane at Kansas City International Airport started making the rounds, Royals vice president of publicity Toby Cook knew exactly what he wanted to do. The clip hit him the same way it hit everybody else.
“It was just cute,” Cook said. “Our marketing guy saw it and said it was cute and we need to get this little guy a hat.”
Guy was already wearing a blue cap in the video, and that was enough to get the Royals involved. The team reached out to his mother, Alya Jakubowicz, and plans to send the family a Blue Crew kit to their home in North Carolina. The package includes a Royals cap, eye black and ear buds.
For Alya Jakubowicz, the viral moment wasn’t some random burst of toddler charm. She said her son has a habit of greeting people on airplanes, and that was exactly what was happening on a recent trip to Raleigh, N.C.
“I encourage my kids when we board planes to greet people as we do the family boarding as an insurance policy in case there is a meltdown in the middle of the flight,” Jakubowicz said with a small chuckle. “I figure that people will like us more and maybe not judge us as much.
“So he’s gotten used to greeting people as we board. He has a signature move which is his fist-bump, which is just how he chooses to greet everyone. He does it every time, so I decided to videotape it so I could share it with my husband.”
That plan changed fast.
Instead of staying in the family group chat, the video found a much bigger audience.
“It’s really all exciting,” she said. “It’s beautiful that my 2-year-old son has been able to spread so much joy. My husband and I are so proud and happy.”
The family’s Royals connection runs through Kansas City as well. Jakubowicz said her mother still lives in Overland Park and attended a Royals game during a recent visit. She was at Kauffman Stadium on July 18, and a few days later Jakubowicz filmed the airport video at KCI.
“My mom has actually had season tickets since I can remember,” Jakubowicz said. “It’s three rows back from the third-base dugout.”
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Duffy has made it clear the discomfort may have to be dealt with after the season, yet he wants to keep pitching through it for now. The Royals would welcome the extra arm, but the bigger question is whether pushing for one more stretch in September is worth the risk when a more permanent fix could be waiting once the year ends. [Read more 🡒]