Seattle Seahawks: A Win For Everyone

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) holds a flag for Seahawk fans in the stands after their game against Washington Redskins in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. The Seahawks win 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

It is truly an incredible experience seeing an entire community, town, area come together through one common interest. Rarely does it happen in the case of a positive outcome. We consistently see communities torn apart by their differences, whatever they may be, only to be brought together by tragedy. However, in that moment where everyone is rooting for one team, player or milestone, it is hard to find a sweeter moment in life.

The beauty of sports is that it is one of the few things in existence that can provide such togetherness. The Seattle-area is a rather peaceful place, but each person still has his or her quirks and differences. Never have I seen such support behind a team or person that this year’s Seahawks are getting.

While Seattle has certainly had a shortage of successful sports teams in its history, it does have a few to its name, specifically the NBA champion Sonics, the 1995 “Refuse To Lose” Mariners, the record-setting 2001 Mariners and the NFC champion 2005 Seahawks. However, none of these teams got the support these Seahawks are getting right now.

It has been proven that Seattle has a core of die-hard fans, but outside that, if a team isn’t winning, it won’t get support. Look at the Mariners, who haven’t had a playoff run since 2001; they draw less than 20,000 fans per game. The Sonics? When they hit a rough stretch, they drew the least in the NBA and were ultimately sold and moved.

All of the successful teams of the past sold out their games once the fair-weather fans caught on, just as this Seahawks team does. However, the fair-weather fan has not been able to get a ticket at face value to a game since the Seahawks Stadium days.

Not only is this team getting the support of fair-weather fans, they are demanding attention from non-sports fans! It is impossible to go to your local grocery store without seeing Russell Wilson jerseys. Surely you can’t make it to dinner and back without overhearing fans raving about the latest “Beast Mode” run or the always-interesting escapades of outspoken cornerback Richard Sherman.

It is hard not to get excited about this team. They have everything: talent to make a Super Bowl run, exciting players to keep the people watching, great personalities, and stars on both sides of the football. They just gave a dominating performance in front of 80,000 screaming fans on the other side of the country in their first playoff game since 2010. And will be back on the east coast a week from today, hoping to replicate a game in which Marshawn Lynch ran for 132 yards, Russell Wilson had a 92.9 QB rating and the defense allowed only 74 yards and zero points in the final three quarters.

In the meantime, there will be no shortage of coverage from stations in the area. As long as you are connected to the internet, watching TV or listening to radio, there will be someone hyping this 12-5 Seahawks team.

Enjoy this feeling while it lasts because, despite the team having a bright future, it might not happen again for a long time. Sports is one of the most unpredictable entities in the world, making success that much more enjoyable. With that success, comes happiness because not only is everyone thrilled about the team, everyone is thrilled that they can all be together and root for one thing: a Seahawks win.