Seahawk Magic

I haven’t been this excited about professional sports in Seattle since the Seahawks went to the Superbowl in 2005. Before that, my excitement peaked in 2001 with the 116-win Mariners who naturally flamed out in the postseason. And, if you jump in the way back machine, nothing has ever matched the magic of the ’95 Mariners.

Growing up as a Seattle sports fan, I’ve gotten used to heartbreak. Sure the ’95 Mariners had a magical run through September and into the postseason. They beat the Yankees on The Double (RIP Neihaus), but then lost easily to the Indians in the ALCS (it’s okay Cora, I was crying too).

In 1996, the Sonics had their best year ever, only to face off against the 72-10 Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals and, wouldn’t you know it, they lost. Fast-forward five years to 2001. The Seattle Mariners tied the all-time record for most wins in a season, but come playoff time we needed five games to escape the pesky Indians and then failed miserably in the ALCS to the Yankees. Do we even need to discuss the 2005 Superbowl? I think not.

I was only eight years old in 1995; I was a foolish sports fan who lived and died with Seattle teams. Heck, during the ’96 Mariners season opener I ran around the house waving the ‘Refuse to Lose’ signs The Seattle Times gave out the year before. So you can see how foolish I was.

Yet, as I got older, my passion for Seattle sports never waned; even amidst all the failures and mediocrity I still supported my teams. You see, a poor sports season in Seattle is as common as a mid-November wind storm. They happen every year, but people are never fully prepared for them.

That is what makes this 2010 Seahawks post-season run so damn exciting. I was beginning to prepare for the inevitable November wind storm when I realized this year it might not be necessary. I had given up; I was ready to bunk up for the winter when BAM! The Seahawks train comes roaring into the station ready to whisk everybody on a magical journey through the NFL post-season.

How did this happen?

In November, I moved to San Diego for work and was unable to watch Seahawks games unless they were nationally televised. It was right around this time the Seahawks, and Matt ‘the Hassle’ Hasselbeck, began their inevitable regressions toward mediocrity -- back to what was expected of this team.

They lost six of eight heading into week 17 against the Rams. As trees swayed in the wind and Seattle sports fans looked toward the off-season, we got a reprieve. The Seattle Seahawks had a chance to win their division on the last day of the NFL regular season. What a sight for sore eyes!

Sure the NFC West might be the worst division in the NFL. It’s true that all NFC West teams were outscored by opponents in the regular season. I know, none of the four teams had winning records on the road in the regular season. And yes, the division champ had a 7-9 record in the regular season.

But in the past five years, the NFL has seen two separate NFC West teams make the Super Bowl. Regardless of the final outcome, the NFC West has more playoff wins since 2005, nine, than any other division in the NFL.

Isn’t the emphasis on the regular season what we all hate about the BCS? Aren’t we all pining for a playoff? The reason: in a playoff anything can happen. When a team gets on a role that’s when magic happens, just like the ’95 Mariners.

This is why Kevin Calabro’s recent comments are so perplexing. Calabro, in a recent radio show, said it wasn’t worth it for Seahawks fans to travel to Chicago. Um…WHAT?!

To me, that’s the equivalent of saying Seahawks fans shouldn’t care about this upcoming playoff game; that we should all pack it in and start preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft. Basically, what Calabro is saying is that we are going to lose, and it’s a waste of money to support a Seattle team on the road.

Well I say NO! Mr. Calabro. With a victory we could potentially host the NFC Championship Game. We could continue to buck expectations by knocking off the No. 2 seed in the NFC on the road.

After watching the Seahawks knock off the Rams and then witnessing the biggest upset in NFL playoff history, I can’t help but think this is the newest example of Seattle postseason magic.

This, Mr. Calabro, is why I follow Seattle Sports.

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, the Seahawks go and do something like this…..and TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES.

Hawks, thank you for the playoff excitement. I’ll see you on Sunday.