Starve.Org White Noise Usenet Archive: "The Pen and The Brain"

Cards @ Hawks

Originally I thought my cousin was going to be flying in from Boise on a
business trip with plans to attend the game with me, but last minute his
flight was changed and could not come. So I invited my stepdad who had
complained that I did not take him to a game last year. So wouldn't you
know it, his uncle died Saturday night and he ended up spending gameday
consoling his aunt. So I called my brother Scot, who will always cancel any
plans to attend a game at the last minute, since my youngest daughter had
dance rehearsal. Besides, Scot is a rabid Hawks fan and the people who sit
around us are always happy when I bring him because of his enthusiasm.

Weather man said rain, so we packed up our ponchos and warm clothing,
bottled water, snacks and I told my bro to stop at the asian market and pick
up 10 Bahn Mi (Seahawk sandwiches) for the game. We headed downtown and
hopped on the 11:30 ferry. The ferry ride is a good chance to catch up with
some of my buddies who are also on their way to the game and play rummy
with my wife and daughters. Land in Seattle and a quick 15 minute walk
later and we are pushing our way into the stadium. Here is a tip if you are
going to a game, people form long lines to enter the stadium, but these are
self imposed lines. If you just walk up to where the opening to the gate is
you won't miss kickoff. I hate people who cut in line, but I will be damned
if I am going to miss kickoff while thousands of people cut in front of me.

So I get to my seat just in time to sing the national anthem and cheer as
the Hawks are announced and enter the stadium. The crowd is jacked, 12th
man at their finest. All the usual characters are entering the area around
where we sit. A nurse and her family who works with my wife always stops
and says 'hi' as they climb up to their nosebleed seats behind us. Next
comes Mr. INTENSE guy, he is the guy who we had to call security on the
first season at Qwest field because he would scream FUCK during the game.
We have since become friends but he is still very "intense". During the
game we are up 14 nothing and I can here him saying between clenched teeth
"Run the ball Mike!" "Protect your quarterback" and "Don't pull a Hass,
Hasslebeck". I am dying to turn around and say, 'hey we are winning 14-0
lighten up dude", but he always looks like he is about to burst a blood
vessel so if it makes him happy let him stress out.

Behind us are the two wimpy guys with the nasally voices. They are rather
pessimisitic at times too and completely out of touch with what is going on.
I have thought about turning around and offering to High Five these guys,
but I am always worried I will break them. The one guy is always cheering
when or booing when nobody else is. He boo's and argues all of the refs
calls even when the ref made an obvious good call. This is the same guy who
often wears his Seahawks #80 Jerry Rice jersey and I must confess he really
grates on my nerves.

Then come Mr Mojo man. This older gentleman has a protruding white goatee
which he always dyes bright blue for the games. He wears the Madden game
cover with Alexander on the front as a necklace. He stops so I can kiss it
and stomp on the stuffed Cardinals jersey he has with him. A very friendly
guy, everyone in the section loves him and he is our spiritual leader.

And of course trickling in late, each packing two beers is the small bladder
crew who sit in our row. After many seasons we now have these guy very well
trained. They politely wait to make their beer and potty runs between plays
and apologize profusely when they do so. They even stop the newbs who want
to cut down the row during plays. It is pretty hard to get mad at anyone
when the team is doing so well.

There is no sense in describing the game to you all, I am sure you watched
it. But the 12th man was there in force. Cortez raised the 12th man flag
and the crowd rocked the stadium. It choked me up seeing Tez raise the flag
and after it was up he grabbed another flag on a pole and stood and waved it
as the game began. You could tell that Tez is not only a former Hawk player
but a big time fan of the team as well.

So the game kicks off and things look pretty good, since Djack is on my
fantasy team I was doubly stoked. Watching Kurt Warner getting swarmed and
knocked silly was fun, and maybe my highlight of the game was seeing Mack
Strong take off on a Mack Attack, leaping over defenders and scoring like
some kind of superman. You gotta love that guy, and wonder if he will be
the next to have his name placed in the ring.

Halftime, we are kicking their asses and I am going nowhere because they are
rolling out the stage for Tez's induction to the Ring of Honor. It always
bums me out when they do this at halftime because people are leaving the
stands to go pee, buy a beer and hot dog. Seems disrespectful to me to be
walking out when Tez is taking the stage. Tez was quite eloquent, and I
have to confess that when they played his highlight reel I might have shed a
tear. He thanked all of his coaches, Chuck Knox, Tom Flores, Dennis
Erickson, and Mike Holmgren and I was worried he would get booed when he
thanked Ken Behring for drafting him, but people zipped their lips in
respect, barely... I only regret that I could not have met him in person,
shook his hand and thanked him for giving me something to cheer about during
the dark days... It was a great moment in honor of a great man, wish you
could have been there.

I noticed the extra alcohol enforcement guys, and the cops escorted two fans
out of the stands in our section who were obviously very drunk. When they
got them to the concourse they made a bit of a production out of taking
their tickets and closely examining them. But this did not stop the crowd.
There were a few Cardinal fans sitting in our section who were soundly booed
whenever they left their seats. No cursing or throwing stuff but everyone
for about two or three sections booed them and it was noticeable throughout
the stadium. I do not do this, but it sure beats the hell out of the old
days when I thought opposing teams fans came close to outnumbering Seahawks
fans. It would not bother me too much if they stayed home and let Hawks
fans have their tickets.

All in all it was another great day at Qwest field. We have not lost very
many games there and this was our 11th straight win. It is cool when you
can go to the game on Sunday and pretty much count on leaving with that warm
glow of victory. I only noticed one or two raindrops so the ponchos were
just extra weight to pack around. I did not hook up with Curt, but am
looking forward to hunting him down pre-game in the not too distant future.
How was your day Curt?

Well, I hope this gives you all a little of the gameday experience to take
home with you. This is now our tenth season as season ticket holders. It
is a big part of our entertainement budget, but worth every cent. One of
the greatest parts is being able to invite my brother or a friend and see
the joy they get from attending the game. Making memories with my kids and
interacting with all of the characters who sit around us. Great times!

See ya next week!

Robin