Seahawks win! Seahawks win! Seahawks win!
It’s now been a full week since I got to watch Washington State sports history play out on a national stage. With my wife, son and daughter by my side, we watched the Seattle Seahawks easily outmatch the Denver Broncos to win the franchise’s first ever Lombardi trophy.
Although I didn’t have a chance to watch a single pre-, regular- or post-season game (since we canceled cable all those years ago), I did get to watch the Super Bowl at our friends’ house out on Steamboat Island road in extreme north Olympia. And what a game it was! Not sure what to expect of our hometown team – especially with the sting of 2006’s Super Bowl defeat still on my mind – my anxiety was laid to rest within the first 12 seconds of the game.
It was about a half-second after this picture was taken.
It was the look on Peyton Manning’s face as the center snapped the ball early and Manning watched in horror as it sailed past his head and into his own end zone for a safety. Frankly, it was such a beautiful sight that I doubt I’ll ever forget it as long as I live. And to watch it replay in slow motion was magical. We all knew it was going to be downhill from there.
The rest of the game played out like one of the best football games I’ve ever seen. Big hits, sacks, long bomb receptions, short bullet completions, interceptions…the works. And the commercials made it even better.
My favorite play from another angle.
All told, as a lifelong Washington resident, it was a gratifying day to be alive. The Seattle Seahawks are the 2014 Super Bowl Champions…and there’s absolutely no room for dispute. Not like 2006, where our team fell victim to biased refereeing and bad calls. Not to mention Ben Roethlisberger’s touch (after he was already) down. No more do we have to whine about an unfair game while the rest of the country moves on with their lives. This time, it’s our turn!
Go Hakws!