Monday, September 17, 2012

Face Smackin' Seahawks

#12, you got passion. So I know you'll respect this Dallas Cowboys fan who posted this video after the 27-7 "smack in the face" that the Seahawks gave the Cowboys yesterday. John Shango, if you're ever looking to switch allegiance, come on over to the 12th side and we'll welcome you with open arms. I LOVE your attitude. And, if it helps, we didn't feel like Dallas was performing all that bad :) XO - 12theHardWay

Monday, August 20, 2012

Farewell to a True Hero

As Seahawk fans, we see heroes come and go probably more than we like to admit. But this weekend we lost a major 12th Man and a true American hero. George Hickman Jr. was a WWII Tuskegee Airman and a part of the Seahawks family.

We can all be proud to have spent Sundays in the same stadium. Thank you, George Hickman Jr.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

VMAC Training Camp: Last Call

After the best preseason game I've ever been to on Saturday, August 11 (sorry Hass), mini-12, Mr. 12, and I headed down to The Landing in Renton to wait in line check in for training camp and catch our bus to VMAC.

It was a gorgeous day, the last day of public training camp, and the 12 flag was flying high. Similar to Saturday's game, Flynn and Wilson took most of the reps, but TJack was in the mix. Running backs seemed to have a break that day, as the wide receivers were most active. T.O. caught a couple of awesome passes and spent some time charming the VIPs in the sponsor tent. Butler does look to be healed up and ready to play, and Braylon Edwards looked good, too.

I remain super excited about Russell Wilson and Bruce Irvin after seeing them on the field. But my main take-away is that a Pete Carroll training camp is much more relaxed than a Mike Holmgren camp.

Back in 2008, things moved at a military pace and you rarely saw players standing around, everyone was drilling, all the time. Today's practice may have been a little lax for some, and I won't say it's wrong, because how else would I get an awesome shot of these three legends-in-the-making:

Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, and Brandon Browner take a breather at VMAC August 15 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

Real Men Apologize

3 days after his DUI arrest in California, Marshawn Lynch has issued an apology:
"I want to apologize to my family, the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL and the 12th Man for the negative attention resulting from my recent actions. This is not the type of community leader I have been over the last two years or the one I’m striving to become. I want to assure everyone that I will work to be better and look forward to a very exciting, and very successful season with the Seattle Seahawks."
He mans up, admitting fault and taking accountability. THIS is how real apologies work, folks. Marshawn, #12 will pick you up when you fall down. Just don't do it again ;)

Friday, May 4, 2012

RIP MCA - Beastie Boys Influence on One Seahawk Fan

"3 the Hard Way" is one of my favorite Beastie Boys songs, and the inspiration behind naming this blog 12 the Hard Way. It just fit, because there's only one way to roll a 12...there's only one way to be a Hawks fan, and it ain't easy.

So just for today, in memory of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, aka MCA, 12 the Hard Way is gonna rock this mfer like 3 the Hard Way:

Friday, April 13, 2012

2012 Seahawks Nike Uniforms: Here We Go Now

April 3, 2012. Anticipation runs hot. Twitter is abuzz. After much pomp and buzz-building, NIKE is about to unveil the new NFL uniforms, featuring a complete redesign of the Seattle Seahawks look. The moment has been HYPED.

Along with other devoted #12s, I turn on NFL Network to find...a re-run of Draft pre-coverage. Huh.

So, hit the web for a live stream...Nike's website...Nada...Seahawks.com...Um - a live photo blog? That's it?

Yes friends, so the buzz goes bust on Day 1 and now we are a week past the unveiling and we have a little sizzle but no red hot combustion - most polls show 50% of fans in favor tempered by lukewarm or even hateful feelings among the remaining half. Yah, a lot of you talk about how we look like the "University of Oregon Seahawks" now. Maybs. But Kam Chancellor made it look Good at the official unveiling:

Kam Chancellor at the Nike unveiling, Apr 3, 2012 via Twitter @seankjensen
For me, I had to let the details settle in and get used to the design before offering a full rundown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And I'm posting these backwards so they'll make more sense when you read the blog. I'm tricky like that.

And so...in the words of Mr. 12theHardWay, "Here we go, Now!"
Celebrate... The GOOD
Witness... The BAD
Shudder at... The UGLY

2012 Seahawks Nike Uniforms: The GOOD

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all - right? Well, I CAN say some nice stuff about the new uniforms. In fact, here's a lot of nice...

12th Man - Represent!
No other team can touch what the Seahawks have in #12. You can't tell me any different. The details infused in the new uniforms are worthy of a fan base that has performed epic Waves, had their own number retired, caused earthquakes, and gone to hell (1992) and back (2005-6) for their team.

The 12th man emblem is the last thing Seahawks players will see before slipping that jersey on, as it features prominently inside the back collar of each jersey. I'm 100% in love with this detail.

On display for all to see are 12 "feathers" running down the pant legs and around the jersey neckline. Do I love the feathers? No. Have I ever even once thought of feathers in relation to the Seahawks? No. But I appreciate the thought and will grow to love these. I hope.

Away Power
For the first time in the history of the Seahawks, I prefer the Away uniforms to the home unis. This can only help us with our away game performance, with a less-than-stellar record. (Don't get me started on maybe practicing at 10am to get used to time changes. whatevs.)

Color Combo Bonanza
Listen, I like new stuff. I like options. The Seahawks will have plenty of options with jerseys and pants each in 3 colors - officially dubbed (by NIKE), "College Navy, Action Green and Wolf Grey" (gag). Yah, we went from "Seahawk Blue" to "College Navy" and "Wolf Grey"...whatevs.

'College Navy' Home; "White" Away; "Wolf Grey" Alternates and Respective Combos

Neon Details
I love those blasts of neon green. Eye of the 'Hawk. Soles of your shoes. Deion Branch's first gloves. Now the neon outlines our numbers and has even been commented on by major fashion blog, Fashionista.com. But just to set the record straight, Fashionista, the Seahawks were ahead of the neon trend by several years. We roll like that in the PNdub.

Technology Abounds
Slicker, faster, stronger, lighter...it is crystal clear that this uniform redux was inspired by and for the players - and not necessarily the fans. Let me be the first to say that these new jerseys are not going to do any favors for the typical football fan's physique. Ya get what I'm saying? But if our receivers can jump a little higher, or 'backs can slip a little easier out of tackles, that's all good.
The jersey is 20 percent lighter and 50 percent stronger than what teams have been wearing the past 10 seasons. The hydrophobic material also repels water while maintaining what Pro Bowl strong safety turned model Kam Chancellor called “a clean look.” -Seahawks.com
The Gloves
We saw a preview of the new Nike glove design at the Pro Bowl in February. My dad summed it up perfectly when I showed him a picture of the awesome 2-palmed logo design: "someone was told to design to sell a whole shitload of gloves." You got it, Pops. Get me some for Christmas, 'kay?


Next Up:
The BAD
The UGLY