The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is set. Denver vs. Seattle. People here will probably be rooting for Denver because Peyton Manning used to play for the University of Tennessee. I will be pulling for Seattle. I don't get to root for Pacific Northwest teams in important games very often. There are only three teams in the northwest - The Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle Mariners. Portland has been in three NBA Finals, the Seahawks has been in one Super Bowl, and in their 37 year history have never been, and never will be, in the World Series.

So this is a big deal just to have a northwest team in a major contest. Seattle will lose, of course. I say that in part to not get my hopes up, and in part because that's what will happen. I've rooted for teams in the past that have gotten to the championship and lost. It is very disheartening to say the least. Soul crushing might be a better term. It's better to lose in an earlier round than to make it that far and then lose.

Anyway, I'm well acquainted with having my favorite player or team get close and lose. Fran Tarkenton - 3 Super Bowl losses (and no wins). Portland Trail Blazers - 2 NBA Finals losses (and one win). Steve Prefontaine - Misses an Olympic medal by one place. Oregon Ducks - One college football championship loss (and no wins). Seattle Seahawks -1 Super Bowl loss (and no wins) My one bright spot is Pete Rose who did have 2 World Series losses (but had 3 wins!!) But we know how that turned out, don't we?

So way to go getting to the Super Bows, Seattle. And there's always next year.