The agony and ecstasy of the Seattle Seahawks

I love the Seattle Seahawks.

They played their first game of the regular season Sunday against Buffalo.

I would comment on the outcome, but I am recording the game so I can write this column in time to meet the self-inflicted deadline.

I warned Derrick (Pacheco, Columbia Basin Herald sports writer) and Curt (Weaver, Columbia Basin Herald production manager) to refrain from uttering any phrase, number or word to indicate how my beloved Hawks were doing.

It's the first game of the season and my hopes are high. I've set my expectations for at least one round of NFL playoffs this year. I dream of a Super Bowl victory for coach Mike Holmgren in his last season. Yet, I brace for a terrible season.

It's my luck and it's the "Seattle Choke."

I write this with much love and the soft eyes reserved for parents of a child who broke their favorite toy.

"There, there my little Seahawks. There will always be next year."

My parents led me to my Seattle Seahawk addiction. In 1976, they turned on the television and we watched every game. Even during my less than mature years of high school, my dad, Steve Stevenson, and I would call a cease-fire on our father/son disagreements from the kickoff to the end of the game.

I was sitting with dad on the 200 level for the last regular home game in the Kingdome in 1999. We were there when fans were so loud you really couldn't hear yourself think. I collected some confetti and stapled it to the ticket stub.

Watching the presentation of the top 10 Seattle Seahawk moments, I remembered nine of them.

I remember the fake field goal attempt in 1979 from Jim Zorn to kicker Efren Herrera during Monday Night Football. I remember cheering when wide receiver Steve Largent upended an Oakland Raider cornerback after an interception. It was a big deal because the same player hit Largent hard in an earlier game, leaving our man with a black eye.

I also bear the scars of cheering and jeering Dave Krieg, the utter frustration of Tom Flores as head coach and his inability to find a quarterback, the constant Los Angeles Blackhawk rumors with owner Ken Behring.

I still hate the Denver Broncos and John Elway, as a proper old-school fan should. (Nothing personal, just good old AFC rivalry.) I still grind my teeth when I see a Seahawk uniform in Raiders colors too.

I remained a fan when they had a 2-14 season in 1992. I was crushed when NFL referees gave Pittsburgh "Stealers" a free touchdown and robbed us of one to give the Super Bowl away in our first appearance. Watch the replays. Do the math. Instead of Pittsburgh winning 21-10, we won 17-14.

But bad seasons, nasty owner (Yea, you Behring. I haven't forgiven you.) and losing close games in playoffs are part of the "Seattle Choke." Year after year, Seattle's professional teams have the occasional stellar seasons ending just short of a championship. Seahawks and Mariners have both felt it. Only the Seattle SuperSonics beat it in 1979 while becoming the NBA champions.

After all these years of being a true Seattle Seahawks fan, I still love them. When I get to watch them, good game or bad, I feel the happiness of growing up, watching it with my parents. I now share the experience with my wife and friends, the agony and ecstasy of being a fan.

Poo. While checking the spelling of Herrera's name, I ran across the final score of the game in Buffalo. We lost 34-10 and running back Maurice Morris and receiver Nate Burleson left the opening game due to injuries.

Doesn't matter. They are still my home team, my Hawks.

Bill Stevenson is the managing editor for the Columbia Basin Herald. He denies being "Bill the Beer Man," but does hold fond memories of the concessions-toting cheerleader.