Just because they are NFL players doesn't mean they weren't born in 1994

Back in the day, that sounds so much better than my grandpa’s version, “In my day.” So back in the day, I remember chuckling at that classic Pepsi Super Bowl commercial where the kid gets sucked through a straw into the Pepsi bottle.

Apparently that’s a recurring issue, because his little sister goes running into the house screaming, “Ma, he done it again.”

I had my own rendition of that experience with the Seahawks 12 Tour visit last week. Again, back in the day, I covered the Raiders return to the Bay Area. I had a chance to talk to the old guard, guys like Al Davis, Jim Otto, and Freddie Biletnikoff. Only in Oakland, does Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead sing the national anthem, but it was back to the bay after years in Los Angeles.

I’m thinking I need a current player’s perspective, so I stopped off at running back Harvey Williams’ locker. We talked a bit about the Oakland Black Hole. “You were in Oakland the last time they were here, right?” I asked. Williams just laughed, “Naw, I’m not that old.”

Not that old? Probably didn’t even know who Bob Weir was. I’m telling you dude, the Temptations did, “Papa was a Rolling Stone.”

Fast forward that a couple decades and I walked right into it again talking to Seahawks No. 1 draft choice Germain Ifedi. I tend to forget, these guys might be NFL players, but they were still born in 1994. Ifedi grew up in Houston, went to Westside High School. We got to talking about influences he had as a kid growing up.

“Ma, he done it again.”

So you probably grew up watching Warren Moon throwing to Ernest Givins and Hayward Jeffires. When you get laughed at by a 215-pound running back that’s one thing. But it’s a little more tolerable when a 324-pound tackle laughs out loud.

“Naw, I’m not that old.”

What? No Luv ya Blue pom poms? I’m pretty sure that Earl Campbell jerseys come in extra big 4X sizes. Yep, once again I was left saying, “You ain’t that old, but I am.”

The more I am around the Seattle Seahawk organization the more I have to say what a class act. The brought the 12 Tour to town to help North Elementary School replace its damaged playground equipment. Now check this out, they also made a nice little side visit to Michael and Jennifer Homer's home. I guess Jennifer sent out an invite to the 12 Tour that lunch was on them if they wanted to stop by.

Lo and behold, the did. Can you imagine? Ifedi, Odhiambo, the Sea Gals, Blitz rolling up in front of your house just because you asked?

"It was amazing,” Jennifer told Seahawks.com. “It was so surreal. I’ve done a lot with the Seahawks, I’ve traveled to games, I’ve gone on the cruises. I’ve been watching them since they started. It was the coolest thing. Them singing to Jessy, man that really hit our hearts a lot. It was amazing, it was just so cool. The cool thing about the Seahawks organization is that the fans feel like family. To have them come to your house and be like family, it was really special."

You can see it at www.seahawks.com/news/2016/06/27/impromptu-home-12tour-visit-“something-we’ll-always-remember”-moses-lake-family

It's a pretty special fan base and the Seahawks appreciate that by spreading the 12th Man love around.