Being a Bronco fan living in Seattle, I’ve had to answer a couple questions over and over again the last couple weeks.
“How do you decide who to root for?”
It was never a decision. I’ve been a Bronco fan since before I have memories. The earliest memories that I do have are of playing football in the backyard of our house in Denver. Pretending to be John Elway. Broncos are my team. Plain and simple.
“But isn’t Seattle your second favorite team?”
“But isn’t Seattle your second favorite team?”
There is no second favorite. That’s like asking who my second favorite wife is. Unless you live in certain parts of Utah, you only get one.
And I guess first and foremost that’s the point I want to get across. There’s no silver lining in this for me. None of that “if I had to lose to someone…” crap. Losing a championship game is the worst. Losing a championship game to the city that you live in might be the super worst. When I went for a walk to try to clear my head after the game, I was bombarded by fireworks and shouts of “go hawks”. You Seahawk fans deserve to celebrate. You earned it. But, for me, it’s miserable to be around.
As for the game itself, there isn’t much to say. Seattle were better. A lot better. They dominated every single aspect of the game. On a different day, I think it could have been different. But today, they were better prepared, executed better, and proved that they’re the best team in the league. When you do have to lose, you at least hope it’s because you were out played. Not because of bad luck or a bad call. So I do take some solace in that.
For the bazillion Seattle fans who have forced me to take a Facebook hiatus the last couple weeks, my advice for you is to enjoy this win. Enjoy it, but also respect it. Super Bowls are rare. Remember that the before the “12th man” “Legion of Boom” brilliant marketing makeover of the franchise, your team very nearly moved to California because hardly anyone gave a shit when you were bad. And I say that only partially to be insulting -- my team lost, I’m bitter. But it’s also true. Sports are fickle. Fans are fickle. Don’t take any of this for granted. So many things have to go right to win a Super Bowl. They went right for you this season. You never know when it’ll happen again.
For me, it’s time to move on. This was an amazing season to be a Bronco fan. Peyton Manning, at his best, is an artist on the football field. His stats this year are mind boggling and he was thrilling to watch. But I’d trade it all -- and I’m sure he would too -- for that Lombardi Trophy. Damnit. These losses don’t get any easier when you get older.
But hey, Sounders season starts in just over a month. So, there’s that.
And I guess first and foremost that’s the point I want to get across. There’s no silver lining in this for me. None of that “if I had to lose to someone…” crap. Losing a championship game is the worst. Losing a championship game to the city that you live in might be the super worst. When I went for a walk to try to clear my head after the game, I was bombarded by fireworks and shouts of “go hawks”. You Seahawk fans deserve to celebrate. You earned it. But, for me, it’s miserable to be around.
As for the game itself, there isn’t much to say. Seattle were better. A lot better. They dominated every single aspect of the game. On a different day, I think it could have been different. But today, they were better prepared, executed better, and proved that they’re the best team in the league. When you do have to lose, you at least hope it’s because you were out played. Not because of bad luck or a bad call. So I do take some solace in that.
For the bazillion Seattle fans who have forced me to take a Facebook hiatus the last couple weeks, my advice for you is to enjoy this win. Enjoy it, but also respect it. Super Bowls are rare. Remember that the before the “12th man” “Legion of Boom” brilliant marketing makeover of the franchise, your team very nearly moved to California because hardly anyone gave a shit when you were bad. And I say that only partially to be insulting -- my team lost, I’m bitter. But it’s also true. Sports are fickle. Fans are fickle. Don’t take any of this for granted. So many things have to go right to win a Super Bowl. They went right for you this season. You never know when it’ll happen again.
For me, it’s time to move on. This was an amazing season to be a Bronco fan. Peyton Manning, at his best, is an artist on the football field. His stats this year are mind boggling and he was thrilling to watch. But I’d trade it all -- and I’m sure he would too -- for that Lombardi Trophy. Damnit. These losses don’t get any easier when you get older.
But hey, Sounders season starts in just over a month. So, there’s that.
Very Well Put Woody. you are a hilarious writer.
ReplyDeleteWell written. Definitely more fun to win.
ReplyDeleteYes, I went over and over the game in my head on my 90 minute drive home after leaving your house on Sunday. I turned on the radio to get some analysis (hoping they would say something that made me feel better). I must have been delusional to think that! I quickly turned it off. Seahawks outplayed us. Plain and simple. While watching the game I felt like I was sleeping and having one of those anxiety dreams I can have before a big event - only I was not asleep and it was real. Woody you have made me the Bronco fan I am today. Watching your true devotion to your team is a class act. Like Mr Manning and Mr. Elway. I'm almost over Sunday's loss :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job of writing about a subject you feel passionate about. An analogy, I was a major Brooklyn Dodger fan. My Dad took me to Ebbett's Field which is now an Apartment complex. They left Brooklyn in the 50's Broke my heart. The team exists in name only in LA. Never forgave them, never will. Now, in Arizona I have the Diamondbacks and Spring Training is about to start. Life is good.
ReplyDelete