Reggie Jackson, flanked by family friend Kayla Stubblefield and distinguished KU alum David Murfin, taking in KU exhibition game Monday night.

Mr. October could have spent the third night of November anywhere in the world and chose to spend it in a chair-back seat in Allen Fieldhouse, watching an exhibition basketball game.

There as guest of Wichita businessman and Kansas University Endownment trustee David Murfin, Reggie Jackson put his popcorn down for a few minutes early in the second half to talk about his first fieldhouse foray and about the Kansas City Royals’ wildly entertaining October.

“Good experience,” Reggie said. “It’s nice to see the tremendous admiration for (coach Bill) Self and what an exciting atmosphere it is here. And you can feel the history in this place.”

Kansas won the exhibition against Washburn, 85-53, and Jackson was impressed with what he saw in the first half.

“It’s an exhibition and they’re not playing anybody, but you can still see the discipline,” he said.

Murfin, honored as a distinguished alum by the School of Business in 2012, sat to Jackson’s left in the first row of chair-backs behind the bleachers.

KU student Kayla Stubblefield, daughter of former Jayhawks football great Dana Stubblefield, a friend of Jackson’s, sat to his right.

Nicknamed Mr. October for his phenomenal World Series performances, Reggie said he was rooting for the Royals to win because of his friendship with George Brett.

Jackson said that whenever a Royals fan tells him, “too bad about the Royals,” he asks why and tells them he sees nothing but good coming from the remarkable October run.

“The biggest thing is they believe in themselves now,” said Jackson, just about as confident an athlete as has ever played any sport. “They did it. They know they can. They know the map now. They just need to stay with it:  ‘Stay with it, we’re good. Stay with it, we’re good. Three-game losing streak? Doesn’t matter. We’re good. We’re going to do what we did. We know what we can do. We’re good.’ “

Jackson forecasted improvement from corner infielders Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas and was particularly intrigued with center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

“He’s got a high ceiling,” Jackson said. “His swing’s a little long, but he can change that.”

He said he would like to see the Royals get “a bomber” for the lineup.

“It doesn’t need to be a 45/130 guy, just a 30-homer guy who drives in a hundred and is in the lineup every day,” he said.

Jackson collects automobiles, has an interest in vintage airplanes, and has developed friendships with several Wichita businessmen.

“Kansas, the heart of the Midwest,” Jackson said. “(It would be) easy to live here. Lot of nice people. Salt of the earth. And everybody I meet’s a pilot.”

Back in 1969, he used to hit home runs against Pilots from Seattle. Now he hangs out with Wichita pilots. Reggie always has known how to get the most out of life and I have always liked this about him: He can show his cranky side with the best, but he always has gone out of his way to treat the very young and the very old, very, very well, which generally is not a bad way to judge a man.