Friday, February 25, 2011

When the Tweet Hits the Fan

It's hard not to panic a little when the tweets start flying as they have in the last few hours:

Thoughts, #12?  #tryingnottojumptoconclusions

Flashback Friday: Beast Quake "WOOOO!"

Yesterday was my birthday, so today's Flashback Friday had to be the awesomest...for no other reason than it's the first time I ever remember Seattle snow on my birthday, and because I'm super psyched for karaoke tomorrow night.  That's not a real reason, but when the flashback is Marshawn Lynch's Beast Quake run, any reason will do.  If you need another reason, Lynch wears my number: #24 {also my birthday, and big roulette number, and 'double the 12'}.

In case you've lived under a rock in 2011, 'Beast Quake' is the epic 67-yard run that came at a crucial point in the 2011 NFC Wild Card game against the New Orleans Saints - then defending Super Bowl champs. It showcased Marshawn Lynch in true unrelenting Beast Mode fashion and set the stadium rocking.  Literally.  A "seismic event" was recorded at Qwest Field precisely as Marshawn pushed Tracy Porter to the turf and stormed the end zone. Thus, Beast QUAKE.

Here's how it played out on NBC, but augmented with our own Steve Raible and Warren Moon providing commentary:



I heard this on the radio over and over in the days following the game and EVERY TIME Warren's "Wooooo!" makes me laugh because you KNOW that's the moment Tracy Porter goes flying.  This never ceases to bring a smile to my face, whether I see it or just hear it.  That's the stuff of history, Warren - way to add the color commentary! 

I was fortunate to be in the building that night and I can attest that It. was. unlike. any. play. at. home. ever.

...and I was there the night Shaun Alexander scored 5 touchdowns in one half against Minnesota.

AND I was there when Tony Romo biffed the hold on the field goal that would've taken us out of the playoffs.

And hell, I was even there when we beat Carolina to win our very first ever NFC Championship.

These were epic moments as well - euphoric and forever-memorable.  But Beast Quake was something entirely different.  I've never seen the 12th man so collectively shell-shocked and jacked up at the same time.  Mr 12theHardWay was all of a sudden across our aisle in the other section - I dropped my phone jumping around - and of course there were hugs all around.  I think you get an idea from this YouTube gem {though this is rather quiet, if you ask me}:


{Love that "what?"}

So Beast Quake is one of those rarities that can never be overrated or overexposed: everyone talks about it, everyone loves it, and for good reason.  There is no way to overstate how truly awesome it is.

Lastly, I'd be remiss to not mention this awesome breakdown of Beast Quake by Hawk Blogger.  Credit where credit's due...and many Seahawks helped make this play happen.

{Image Credit: Drew Sellers/Sportspress Northwest Videos: YouTube via ryanphelps1 and bigjake206}

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

NFL Combine Begins

The 2011 NFL Combine starts tomorrow. I might bleed blue and green, but college football doesn't really do it for me, so I'll defer to some more knowledgeable folks when it comes to scouting the new rookie class.

First, check out the Official NFL Combine page at NFL.com

And for the Seahawks specifics, you can't beat Rob Staton's Seahawks Draft Blog

Of course, you can watch the combine live from Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on NFL Network February 24-March 1.

Scouts and coaches will kick the tires, so to speak, as NFL hopefuls perform running, jumping, and all-around strength-show-offing via the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, vertical and broad jumps, 3-cone drill, bench press.

Have a favorite college player you're rooting for the Hawks to notice and draft this year? Who is it?

{Image Credit: NFL.com}

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Seahawks on Twitter

Not many NFL teams can boast prolific twitterers/tweeters at QB position.  The Seahawks can.  Matthew, aka @Hasselbeck, has the distinction of being an early adopter when it comes to "Twittah," though it must be said that @RaheemBrock now rivals him for most active tweeting. {kudos still go to Matt for the well branded profile page}.

Here are the twitlists, forever being updated:

Current Seahawks Players and Coaches on Twitter

Seahawks-at-Heart - past players who we still love to follow on Twitter

Connect with fans on this list - and @ reply me to be added - this is only the beginning

And while you're at it: don't forget @12theHardWay :)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Flashback Friday: The Blue Wave is on a Roll

After the Chicago Bears did the Super Bowl Shuffle, every team had to come out with some "rap" video. Fortunately {or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it} these live on in perpetuity on YouTube. Go ahead, just search for any team and 'rap' - you'll find a relic circa 1985.

For Flashback Friday, I present the Seahawks' contribution to the genre: "The Blue Wave is on a Roll" was written by local fave Pat Cashman and features #55 Michael Jackson, a young Mike Tice, and other Seahawk notables including Paul Moyer {WHY no mention of this in your book, Paul?!} Edwin Bailey, and Terry Taylor.

I confess that I debated for some time whether to post this or not...is it so bad it's good? You be the judge.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

#12 for #24: a Seahawks Fan Pauses to Consider the Mariners

I'm 100% football fan. So Spring Fever for me is marked by the NFL draft and nervous free agency weeks - not baseball. I mean, let's be honest: there hasn't much fun or excitement involved in following MLB action in Seattle for several years.

That said, I'm very excited to introduce you to the new M's site on G9 Sports, First and Edgar, and not just because my really smart and baseball-savvy cousin, Elena, is the writer ;)

Today Elena welcomes Griffey back to the team he belongs with - #24 returns to the M's as a 'special consultant' {which sounds not a little mysterious and very lucrative}. And soon she'll be talking Spring Training.

Like I said, I haven't found the Mariners to be exciting in nearly 20 years. When I think about it, I remember being a fan in the 80's - a brief time when Joe Simpson was my next door neighbor and a M's pennant hung on my wall {next to Seahawks ones, of course} and then again in college when my friend Brenda and I would hang out in the outfield yelling until Jay Buhner would turn and look at us {he loved us, he really did}. That was the heyday of the Mariners, and I, like any good Seattleite do wish them luck and a return to the post-season again soon.

Just so long as it doesn't interfere with my Seahawks Sunday at Qwest.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Zorn to Coach KC QBs

Insert sad face here.


I'm glad to see Zorn coaching, but I'd rather see him back on our sidelines, like a time not too long ago...


And certainly not with our old AFC West rivals.


One thing's for sure. Zorn can give Cassel and crew some 'Lessons in Creative Football':





{Image Credit: Elaine Thompson/AP Video Credit: 76Hawks via YouTube}

Monday, February 7, 2011

XLV Hangover

I love football. I love marketing. Therefore, the Super Bowl is a little bit of a big deal for me each year, regardless of who is playing. But then comes today: welcome to the day-after-the-Super-Bowl. From time to time, there's a call from the populace to make this day a national holiday. It never goes far, but it's nice to have a dream. Even though I didn't even have a drink yesterday, I still feel the annual letdown, waking up and knowing football season is officially over.

In fact, this year might be a little bit worse because of the pending CBA negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. Chatter persists about a looming lockout, a possible 18-game season, and all that these would entail: How will a lockout affect Free Agency strategies? Will we have a 'normal' Draft? What about training camp?

Uncertainty ain't fun. So today, I'll be reliving Super Bowl XLV memories one last time, deferring the off-season unpleasantness one more day. Here, my top 5 thoughts:

1. We Won. As Seahawks fans, we didn't want to see Brothelsburger* and his cronies win. And they didn't. Enough said.

2. Maybe It's Time to Class Up the Super Bowl Acts. Just a bit. Mis-singing the lyrics to our National Anthem is one thing. Adding vibrato** to every. single. note. is another thing. Looking morose until you find the camera on you is yet another. And the Black-Eyed Peas' audio...well, I'll just give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to bad audio. {but I think we all know better}.

3. Super Bowl, Sponsored by Doritos. Love the commercials, hate the commercials, but one thing's for sure: Doritos made their mark yesterday with memorable pitches each and every quarter. I loved that they WENT there and did what you need to do to get noticed. I still don't think I want to eat any Doritos, but I thought about them more in the last 24 hours than I have in all the years since 6th grade...and my ten year old wants them for the first time in her life.

4. Greg Jennings Made His Mark. I confess I probably didn't take such notice of him before now because I'm otherwise trying to beat this team, but yesterday Greg Jennings put in quite the performance and piqued my interest. From time to time, I'll find myself liking a non-Seahawk player...and Greg Jennings has made my list.

5. Green Bay Knows How to Celebrate. Officially calling it a school holiday today, Green Bay welcomed the Lombardi trophy home with festive fanfare. Well done, Pack, well done.

*Inspired by fellow G9er and Eagles Fan @sports_muse's spellcheck **I know about a lot of things, but singing isn't one of them. If vibrato isn't the actual term for what I mean, then whatever it was xtina was doing to her voice....it was annoying.

{Image Credits: Christina Aguilera and Greg Jennings TD: AP, Doritos Ad via YouTube}

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Snow at Super Bowl. World Comes to End.

My twitter feed is full of comments and complaints about the snow and ice in Dallas, the city hosting tomorrow's Super Bowl XLV. Headlines like "Texas Needs Late Rally to Save Super Bowl Week" "Super Bowl Hit by Big Freeze" and "Super Bowl: Weather Woe in Texas" try to top each other. Flights were cancelled on Friday. Snow and ice has officially fallen off the Cowboys Stadium roof, sending 2 fans to the hospital.

And the comments and criticism peak with a rally call for the NFL to only consider cities like Miami and San Diego for future Super Bowls.

Talk about snowpocalypse. You'd think the world was about to end because of snow at the Super Bowl.

I don't remember any complaints when we Seahawk fans had to go to snowy and frigid DETROIT to support our team in 2006's Super Bowl XL. DETROIT. An economically-depressed, cold, snowy city in early February. I wore winter boots and a parka on the plane, but you know what? I had an AMAZING time in downtown Detroit. No one on our plane or bus complained about going to Detroit and getting around was easy, because you could walk anywhere. Waiting in the security line was like being part of a huge, moving party as you snaked through the gates. {see my pic, above} Even St##ler fans became our besties, with hugs and high fives among complete strangers.

Is Dallas a little bit different? Absolutely. We KNEW there would be snow and cold and everyone was prepared. But SERIOUSLY. You are going to the SUPER BOWL, people in and of Dallas! The most surreal experience of my entire life was the countdown to live air at Super Bowl XL. You'll be in one of the hugest, craziest, amazing stadiums in the world. Who would rather be working on their tan? And by the way, I know y'all can get around town...I've seen the twitpics from the black carpet and gifting suites ;) So let's all relax and get over the icy snowscape. Let the fans have their Super Bowl - they'll make it fun, regardless of snowmageddon.

{Image Credits: Top/USA Today Bottom/12theHardWay's Super Bowl XL Photo Album}

Friday, February 4, 2011

Flashback Friday: We Want the Ball...

...and you know the rest. Since we're all Packers fans this weekend, I'm pulling out #12's favorite gaffe of all time for our first Flashback Friday. Really; can you imagine another time when a team has lost a playoff game and the fans actually smile and laugh about what led up to it, making it an honored part of their team history? Not likely.

Which brings us to:

2003. NFC Wild Card Playoff Game. Lambeau Field. Overtime.

After winning the coin toss, Matthew infamously states, "We want the ball and we're gonna score"...and then goes on to throw an interception. The rest doesn't really matter. {no, really, it's been wiped from my mind}. We still love him for being Beck. And I will always support the ideals of "We Want the Ball and We're Gonna Score". ALWAYS. In fact, I propose that this confidence {and slip up} was instrumental in building the 2005 team that went to Super Bowl XL. How cocky would we have been if we did take that ball and score?



In any case, here's hoping for lots of scoring on the part of the Packers on Sunday. Go Pack, Go!

{Image Credit: David Bergman/SI}

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Honorary Packer Backer...for a day

I don't need to tell you all the reasons #12 doesn't want the St##lers to win on Sunday. In fact, I prefer not to speak of them at all.

So most of us in the Seattle area and Seahawks community will end up rooting for the Packers this weekend. I mean, we all know we can beat them any old time we want, and they don't generally cheat, so I don't feel too 'rivalrous' toward them. Do you?

I'm not suggesting you buy a cheesehead {I myself would never wear one - but at least we know their fans are as devoted as #12!}, but here are a few things we need to know about the Pack to fully enjoy Super Bowl Sunday:

1. Founded in 1919, the Green Bay Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned major league sports franchise in America. {that is awesomeness}

2. "Cheeseheads" originally came from a run-in at a baseball game in 1987. Initially meant as an insult from CHI White Sox fans to MIL Brewers fans, "cheeseheads" have been embraced by Wisconsin residents, particularly by Packer fans.

3. It is said that the waitlist for season tickets is now actually greater than the total seat capacity at Lambeau Field and that it would take 100 years to fulfill the requests.

4. Locally, the Northwest Packer Backers is a group of GB fans that has been meeting to watch games each Sunday for over 20 years. They raised $2,000 for local charities this year, which is amazing - and they'll meet at their regular spot {The Mustard Seed in Bellevue} for the Big Game. But don't cancel your Super Bowl party just yet - President Gary Fye assures me they are at capacity for Sunday's game.

5. An old Packers tradition is that kids can bring their bikes to training camp and have their favorite player ride their bike from the locker room to the practice field. {cute}

Lastly, come Sunday, you can show your {temporary} Green Bay support at a couple of local businesses, including:

Blue Moon Burgers, offering deep fried chees curds at their Fremont location
New York Cupcakes in Crossroads {Bellevue} has team cupcakes Satuday and Sunday - get in early before they sell out.

You'd think there'd be more supporters...but you know how Seattle is - we want Seahawks or nothing. ;)

Go, PACK, GO!

{shout out to fellow G9 Sports ladies at Bitter Orange & Brown for the method of writing the name of the team-which-shall-not-be-named without actually writing it!}

{Image Credit: All images courtesy Northwest Packer Backers Fan Club}

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Profile: Meet the Hottest 60 Yr Old in the NFL

Did you catch this clip of Brett Favre and my ALL-TIME favorite NFL Official, Mike Carey on last week's NFL Films Presents? My jaw just about hit the floor when I heard this exchange, and yours will too, so don't stand over anything dangerous while you watch:



Favre: "61. Me?" Heh heh. Carey is the hottest 60 year old in the NFL. Or anywhere, for that matter. Don't believe me? Take a look at a few of the previously-hottest guys born the same year as Mr. Carey, in 1949. {by once-popular opinion, not necessarily mine ;) }



He beats out Philip Michael Thomas {Tubbs}, Richard Gere, Jeff Bridges, and Rick Springfield, for sure. Sadly, Mike Carey won't be officiating this weekend at Super Bowl XLV, that honor will go to Walt Anderson. But since he's been my favorite ref for over ten years, and because I pegged him at maybe 45 {which in hindsight doesn't make sense, since he's been officiating in the NFL for 20 years!}...it's time we learned a little more about what makes Mike Carey tick:

Football experience: RB at Santa Clara U
Officiating experience: started in Pop Warner football in the 1970's, progressing to college level officiating and bowl games in the 80's
NFL experience: officiating since 1990
Super Bowl experience: referee of Super Bowl XLII (first African-American to do so)

Family ties: brother Don Carey has been a back judge and field judge in the NFL since 1995.
Off the Field: co-founded (with his wife) a company that manufactures ski, snowboarding, and cold-weather apparel and accessories
Rolls like Thomas Edison: Owns or shares 8 patents, including one for "Cat Tracks" boot traction devices

{Source: Wikipedia}

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Keep Your G6; We're Going G9

Funny story. Ok, maybe not 'funny'. I've wanted to write about the Seahawks for many years. I mean, I have to be REALLY careful not to talk all-Seahawks, all season long on my Facebook status, and every Fall I watch my Twitter account convert to 90% Seahawks talk.

So when I woke up the morning following the somewhat-pathetic playoff loss to the Bears with this name in my head that wouldn't get out, I knew it was time to act.

I checked on the URL, twitter name, did a google search...all signs pointed to "GO" for 12 the Hard Way. Snagged it.

Then, I heard from my friend, Bitter KK, in Cleveland. She was writing me about something totally unrelated, but since I knew she had a {very fun} blog about the Cleveland Browns, I wanted to talk to her first. I knew she'd understand.

It just so happened that she had not only great advice, but she had just talked with one Ms. Julie DiCaro, who was in the midst of putting together a network of women sports team writers. Um, hello? Timing, timing, timing is the new location, location, location. {Unless you have an actual store, then location is everything. Trust me. #dayjob}

G9 Sports is a pretty cool idea. The conversations I've already enjoyed with other writers are priceless. The cooperation is intense. Julie is really on to something here.


So I am proud to say that 12 the Hard Way is part of the G9 Sports Network, launching today, February 1st.
Head over to G9 to see who's talking MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, and NFL.

{Image Credit: Courtney Taylor w/12 Flag-Dan DeLong/Seattle P-I 12tHW Logo-Yours Truly G9 Logo - G9 Sports}