As a Seattle resident, I haven’t been able to root for a sports team for sometime. Our basketball team, the former Seattle Sonics, were moved to Oklahoma City last year. The Seahawks football team underperformed once again this last season and seem to be selling off our quality players since Mike Holmgren’s departure. The Seattle Mariners have been in the bottom of their division several years running now. We hope Ken Griffey will revive our fortunes but many doubt an over-the-hill player can carry the team to previous heights. The normally good U of W Huskies football team has hit a run of bad luck for….gosh it seems like over 5 years now. The Seattle Storm women’s basketball team has made us proud in recent years but that too seems to come and go.
Fast forward to now….The U of W Huskies college men’s basketball team actually got to the NCAA tournament this year and are nationally rated. I just watched them win their first game in their bracket. So, like a standard Seattle sports fan, I jump on the most recent bandwagon of hope that carries us for at least a little while. Truth be told however, Seattle sports fans are pretty fickle. Our allegiance to any sports team runs very shallow. I am no exception. Like other residents of this fine city we can’t invest too much in one team because the winning ways seem short lived around here.
I think in general, part of the problem is that we have too many other things going on–interesting diversions, hobbies, individual sports, etc. for the entire populace to march in lock step with one sports franchise. We like coffee, art, music, riding the ferry across the Puget Sound, taking a trip into the hills, skiing, etc. We even have a place on Mt. Rainier called Paradise, a favorite destination for many people in the region.
There was a period in Seattle sports history that seemed a little better, when we could actually cheer for a team that had some good fortune for a season or two, or longer. It has been awhile so I can’t quite remember what it feels like. But for now, I will watch the currently anointed Seattle area team with high hopes. Can they do it? Or, will they bow out early to go home and do something else?
GO DAWGS!!
