Seahawks' K.J. Wright enjoys being role model
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldMoses Lake Seahawks fans lined the sidewalk from Balsam Street to Chestnut to get a chance to get an autograph by linebacker K.J. Wright. Raymond Martinez, from left, Anthony Brown and David Avalos got there at midnight so they could be first in line.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright signs an autograph for Sal Valdez of Moses Lake Saturday. Wright was in Moses Lake to help raise money for the Moses Lake Medical Team.
MOSES LAKE — Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright poked his head around the corner of the former DollarUp building on Balsam Street and smiled as the fans lined up down the street responded.
The energy level raised a couple of notches for a group of people who had been waiting hours, some since midnight, to meet him. “There he is,” filtered through the crowd as Wright shook a few hands and shot a bit of video from his phone.
“See ya inside,” he said as cordially as he might if he were having coffee with a friend.
Wright, who recently signed a four-year, $27 million contract extension through 2018, was in town to help the Moses Lake Medical Team raise money.
“I think it’s really important for a guy in my position to be a role model for the young guys, give them somebody to look up to,” Wright said. “I enjoy stuff like this. I’m more than happy to help out and do everything I can.”
Wright was blessed to have both mother and father, Jackie and Kenny Wright, active in his life. He learned responsibility and how to stay grounded from his parents.
“The list goes on. I’ve had my grandma. My parents did a tremendous job. My teachers and peers helped motivate me to keep wanting to be the best,” he said. “My mom and dad had different roles in my life. My dad was more of the pushing me in the sports aspect of my life and my mom pushed me in the education aspect. They both had their own parts. There’s a lot of guys on my team that didn’t have their parents in their lives. There’s many different stories and guys coming from many different backgrounds that made it.”
If he can be a part of something positive in young people’s eyes, Wright is all for it. Through his efforts in support, the Moses Lake Medical Team raised more than $11,000. He signed autographs for young kids, chatted with local police and firefighters. Wright signed everything from 12th Man flags to cellphone covers. He even signed a Seahawk-designed fire hydrant for one fan that wheeled it in on a dolly.
Wright didn’t have a whole lot to say about the Seahawks draft selections other than welcome to the best team in the NFL.
“Anybody says we need a linebacker I’m going to be mad,” he said with a smile. “Anybody that comes in this program, we’re going to take them under our wings and help develop them and teach them how to be a pro. When you come to this team you have to work hard to be the best because we have a real strong mission we’re trying to accomplish.”
Draft Day has turned into a social and media event and even though he was drafted 99th in the 2011 draft, Wright remembers the thrill.
“I graduated from Mississippi State the same day as the draft,” he recalled. “I told my mom the night before I didn’t want to go to graduation, but she had something to say about that. I got the phone call about two minutes before I walked across the (graduation) stage. Coach (Pete) Carroll and (general manager John) Schneider called me and welcomed me to the Seahawks. It was a special day for me.”
Wright’s visit to Moses Lake was a special day for the Columbia Basin 12th Man.