By: Tyler Ward
After Lynch scored a 15-yard touchdown last night against the Eagles, he ran over to the sidelines and gave him self a little treat: some Skittles.
Lynch has frequently eaten Skittles during football games, a ritual that began while he was in high school.
While watching the running back munch down some Skittles on the sideline, the folks at Mars, Inc. offered Lynch a two-year supply of the candy, along with a custom dispenser for his locker as a gesture for eating them on national television.
Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Friday, December 2, 2011
Hard To Believe: Seahawks Safety Kam Chancellor Not Fined This Week
By: Tyler Ward
Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor wasn't fined this week, which comes as bit of a surprise.
Over the last two weeks, Chancellor has been fined a total of $60,000.
Two weeks ago, the safety was fined $20,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin. He was also fined $40,000 last week for yet another helmet-to-helmet hit on St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks.
However, on Sunday, Chancellor had a questionable hit on Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss, who was considered "defenseless". But somehow, Chancellor wasn't fined for the hit, which could have very well led to a suspension by the league.
But the NFL has had some rather questionable calls this season on their new rule about big hits. There have been some instances where a player wasn't fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit and another player was fined on what the NFL considers a "legal" hit.
That's what is so surprising about Chancellor's hit on Moss, as it practically was assured that he'd be fined for a third straight week.
For example, Saints cornerback Tracy Porter was fined $7,500 this week for bringing down Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks when he was already out of bounds. But, Saints safety Isa Abdul-Quddus was not fined for his hit on Nicks, after what looked like to be a "dirty hit", according to the NFL's standards. He did lead with his shoulder, but players have been fined for less.
Giants safety Kenny Phillips also escaped a fine after a jarring hit on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. His hit on Graham drew a 15-yard penalty, but it still looked like a hit that he could have been fined for.
But nonetheless, Chancellor said that he hasn't been trying to take cheap shots on receivers and the safety doesn't think he needs to change the way he plays.
Chancellor has been under some Pro Bowl consideration, as he has registered 63 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three interceptions. He also has eight passes defensed.
Chancellor is one of the better up-and-coming safeties in the league and there is no doubt in my mind that he will soon become one of the league's top safeties in the coming years.
Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor wasn't fined this week, which comes as bit of a surprise.
Over the last two weeks, Chancellor has been fined a total of $60,000.
Two weeks ago, the safety was fined $20,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin. He was also fined $40,000 last week for yet another helmet-to-helmet hit on St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks.
However, on Sunday, Chancellor had a questionable hit on Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss, who was considered "defenseless". But somehow, Chancellor wasn't fined for the hit, which could have very well led to a suspension by the league.
But the NFL has had some rather questionable calls this season on their new rule about big hits. There have been some instances where a player wasn't fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit and another player was fined on what the NFL considers a "legal" hit.
For example, Saints cornerback Tracy Porter was fined $7,500 this week for bringing down Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks when he was already out of bounds. But, Saints safety Isa Abdul-Quddus was not fined for his hit on Nicks, after what looked like to be a "dirty hit", according to the NFL's standards. He did lead with his shoulder, but players have been fined for less.
Giants safety Kenny Phillips also escaped a fine after a jarring hit on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. His hit on Graham drew a 15-yard penalty, but it still looked like a hit that he could have been fined for.
But nonetheless, Chancellor said that he hasn't been trying to take cheap shots on receivers and the safety doesn't think he needs to change the way he plays.
Chancellor has been under some Pro Bowl consideration, as he has registered 63 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three interceptions. He also has eight passes defensed.
Chancellor is one of the better up-and-coming safeties in the league and there is no doubt in my mind that he will soon become one of the league's top safeties in the coming years.
Thursday Night Football: Seahawks Dismantle Eagles With 31-14 Rout
By: Tyler Ward
Well, the Eagle's season is practically over. With the lowly Seahawks' rout of the Eagles, the dream team is currently 4-8 and out of the playoff race.
It amazes me that this team got so much hype during the offseason and they have simply not showed up. They will go down at season's end to be one of the biggest disappointments in NFL history. With a "stacked" roster, they should be in the mix with the Packers, Saints and 49ers but instead, they will miss out on the playoffs.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch literally ran over the Eagles tonight, running for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. With Pro Bowlers Trent Cole and Jason Babin roaming the defensive line, Lynch shouldn't have even gotten to the second level more than a couple of times. But of course, that didn't happen as Lynch had one of the best games of his career. And this was the "Dream Team", as Vince Young proclaimed.
This is also the same Vince Young that went out and completed 17-of-29 passes for 208 yards, along with one touchdown and four interceptions, one of which was returned 77 yards for a touchdown by Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne. Hawthorne's pick-six seemingly ended the Eagles' chances of winning the game and put the 'Hawks up 31-14. And yes, you read that right, four interceptions.
Young has started the last three games for the Eagles, replacing Michael Vick who is still recovering from an injury.
The Eagles will not win another game this season if they continue to make mistakes and turn the ball over time and time again.
However, there was one bright spot to the Eagles' loss and that was running back LeSean McCoy's performance. McCoy, one of the league's top rushers, carried the ball 17 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown, which was a two-yard shovel pass from Young.
Eagles receiver Riley Cooper had another good game tonight with Jeremy Maclin sitting out, as he caught five passes for 94 yards. He was also the team's leading receiver on the night.
For the Seahawks, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was somehow seemingly perfect all night. He finished the rout, completing 13-of-16 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown, which was an 11-yard strike to Golden Tate. Jackson ended the game with a 137 quarterback rating, by far his best performance of the season and of his entire career. He had not finished with a rating over 100 all season long - his next highest rating came against the Giants on Oct. 9 (96.3 rating).
For Lynch, this was just a dominant game for the former Buffalo Bill. This game could perhaps put him into Pro Bowl consideration, as he has just been lights out as of late. If Lynch doesn't get elected by the fans, there is no doubt in my mind that he should be one of the top alternates.
Over the last five games, Lynch has rushed for over 100 yards in four of those games - he also has six total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) in that span, too. His only non 100-yard game came against the Rams two weeks ago when he almost eclipsed the 100-yard plateau with an 88-yard effort. The Seahawks are also 3-2 in the last five games.
Lynch had 90 yards by halftime, the most first-half rushing yards of his career. He ended the game with rushing touchdowns of 15 and 40 yards, respectively.
Through Weeks 1-8, Lynch was averaging just 3.6 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns. Since Week 9, he has bumped it up to an average of 4.6 yards per carry and has scored six touchdowns. So, to say the least, Lynch has absolutely been on fire as of late.
However, Lynch can give thanks to his offensive line that has been exceptional in the last few weeks. The Seahawk's offensive line, consisting of Russell Okung, Robert Gallery, Max Unger, Paul McQuistan and Breno Giacomini have been one of the best lines in recent weeks.
However, the Seahawks did place starting right tackle James Carpenter on injured reserve last week - Carpenter was the team's first-round pick in this year's draft. And unfortunately, the Seahawks brass believes that Russell Okung suffered a serious pectoral injury in the closing seconds of the game and it is unclear how many weeks he will miss.
The defense has also been playing better lately and they showed it Thursday night, picking off Young four times. Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner (twice), and Hawthorne all intercepted Young in their win over the Eagles. It also turned out to be Browner's first two-interception game of his career.
The Seahawks are currently in the middle of a small hot streak, as they will take the field at home against the Rams next week on Monday Night Football. The Eagles will go on the road again as they will travel back to the southeast to play the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium.
LeSean McCoy and the Eagles will need to win the rest of their games if they hope to end with a non-losing record.
Well, the Eagle's season is practically over. With the lowly Seahawks' rout of the Eagles, the dream team is currently 4-8 and out of the playoff race.
It amazes me that this team got so much hype during the offseason and they have simply not showed up. They will go down at season's end to be one of the biggest disappointments in NFL history. With a "stacked" roster, they should be in the mix with the Packers, Saints and 49ers but instead, they will miss out on the playoffs.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch literally ran over the Eagles tonight, running for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. With Pro Bowlers Trent Cole and Jason Babin roaming the defensive line, Lynch shouldn't have even gotten to the second level more than a couple of times. But of course, that didn't happen as Lynch had one of the best games of his career. And this was the "Dream Team", as Vince Young proclaimed.
This is also the same Vince Young that went out and completed 17-of-29 passes for 208 yards, along with one touchdown and four interceptions, one of which was returned 77 yards for a touchdown by Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne. Hawthorne's pick-six seemingly ended the Eagles' chances of winning the game and put the 'Hawks up 31-14. And yes, you read that right, four interceptions.
Young has started the last three games for the Eagles, replacing Michael Vick who is still recovering from an injury.
The Eagles will not win another game this season if they continue to make mistakes and turn the ball over time and time again.
However, there was one bright spot to the Eagles' loss and that was running back LeSean McCoy's performance. McCoy, one of the league's top rushers, carried the ball 17 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown, which was a two-yard shovel pass from Young.
Eagles receiver Riley Cooper had another good game tonight with Jeremy Maclin sitting out, as he caught five passes for 94 yards. He was also the team's leading receiver on the night.
For Lynch, this was just a dominant game for the former Buffalo Bill. This game could perhaps put him into Pro Bowl consideration, as he has just been lights out as of late. If Lynch doesn't get elected by the fans, there is no doubt in my mind that he should be one of the top alternates.
Over the last five games, Lynch has rushed for over 100 yards in four of those games - he also has six total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) in that span, too. His only non 100-yard game came against the Rams two weeks ago when he almost eclipsed the 100-yard plateau with an 88-yard effort. The Seahawks are also 3-2 in the last five games.
Lynch had 90 yards by halftime, the most first-half rushing yards of his career. He ended the game with rushing touchdowns of 15 and 40 yards, respectively.
Through Weeks 1-8, Lynch was averaging just 3.6 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns. Since Week 9, he has bumped it up to an average of 4.6 yards per carry and has scored six touchdowns. So, to say the least, Lynch has absolutely been on fire as of late.
However, Lynch can give thanks to his offensive line that has been exceptional in the last few weeks. The Seahawk's offensive line, consisting of Russell Okung, Robert Gallery, Max Unger, Paul McQuistan and Breno Giacomini have been one of the best lines in recent weeks.
However, the Seahawks did place starting right tackle James Carpenter on injured reserve last week - Carpenter was the team's first-round pick in this year's draft. And unfortunately, the Seahawks brass believes that Russell Okung suffered a serious pectoral injury in the closing seconds of the game and it is unclear how many weeks he will miss.
The defense has also been playing better lately and they showed it Thursday night, picking off Young four times. Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner (twice), and Hawthorne all intercepted Young in their win over the Eagles. It also turned out to be Browner's first two-interception game of his career.
The Seahawks are currently in the middle of a small hot streak, as they will take the field at home against the Rams next week on Monday Night Football. The Eagles will go on the road again as they will travel back to the southeast to play the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium.
LeSean McCoy and the Eagles will need to win the rest of their games if they hope to end with a non-losing record.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Seattle Seahawks: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight
By: Stephen Patterson
The Seattle Seahawks were one of the most surprising teams in the NFL last season as they made a trip to the postseason in Pete Carroll's first season as the team's head coach.
Although they only managed a 7-9 record last season, they are still playing in the NFC West and have to considered one of the favorites in the division again this season.
Even though they had a sub-.500 in regular season, Seattle still managed to shock the world with a thrilling upset over the New Orleans Saints.
Do you think Seattle can replicate their success from last season or are they destined for to take a step backwards?
Monday, March 28, 2011
NFL Top 10: The Top Draft Busts Of All-Time (Video)
By: Tyler Ward
The NFL always has players that never live up to expectations. There always seems to be one every season and all of different "calibers". There's different types of busts - some that didn't fare that well and some that just couldn't do anything right (*cough* Ryan Leaf *cough*)
So, with that being said, here are the top ten draft busts of all-time, according to the wonderful folks at the NFL Network:
10. Houston Cougars Quarterbacks
9. Heath Shuler, Redskins
8. Lawrence Phillips, Rams
7. Art Schlicter, Colts
6. Aundray Bruce, Falcons
5. Tim Couch, Browns
4. Rick Mirer, Seahawks
3. Brian Bosworth, Seahawks
2. Tony Mandarich, Packers
1. Ryan Leaf, Chargers
Courtesy of NFL Network
The NFL always has players that never live up to expectations. There always seems to be one every season and all of different "calibers". There's different types of busts - some that didn't fare that well and some that just couldn't do anything right (*cough* Ryan Leaf *cough*)
So, with that being said, here are the top ten draft busts of all-time, according to the wonderful folks at the NFL Network:
10. Houston Cougars Quarterbacks
9. Heath Shuler, Redskins
8. Lawrence Phillips, Rams
7. Art Schlicter, Colts
6. Aundray Bruce, Falcons
5. Tim Couch, Browns
4. Rick Mirer, Seahawks
3. Brian Bosworth, Seahawks
2. Tony Mandarich, Packers
1. Ryan Leaf, Chargers
Courtesy of NFL Network
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Saturday's NFL Preseason Scores (8/14/10)
By: Tyler Ward
There were seven games on Saturday, so we felt that we needed to give ya'll a recap on the scores and top performers.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, Miami Dolphins 10
Top Performers:
- Josh Freeman (TB): 4-4, 53 yards, 1 TD
- Tyler Thigpen (MIA) - 10-19, 145 yards, 0 TD
- Kareem Huggins (TB) - 8 carries, 55 yards
- Chris Brooks (TB) - 3 receptions, 50 yards
- Detroit Lions 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 23
Top Performers:
- Dennis Dixon (PIT) - 6-7, 128 yards, 1 TD, 31 rushing yards
- Isaac Redmon (PIT) - 15 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
- Antonio Brown (PIT) - 3 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
- Shaun Hill (DET) - 8-10, 77 yards, 0 TD
 |
| Rodgers |
- Cleveland Browns 27, Green Bay Packers 24
Top Performers:
- Aaron Rodgers (GB) - 12-13, 159 yards, 1 TD
- Seneca Wallace (CLE) - 4-8, 72 yards, 2 TD's
- Greg Jennings (GB) - 3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
- Brandon Underwood (GB) - 6 tackles, 1 INT
- Kregg Lumpkin (GB) - 11 carries, 42 yards
- Minnesota Vikings 28, St. Louis Rams 7
Top Performers:
- Sage Rosenfels (MIN) - 23-34, 310 yards, 3 TD's
- Garrett Mills (MIN) - 4 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Marko Mitchell (MIN) - 1 reception, 71 yards, 1 TD
- E.J. Henderson (MIN) - 6 tackles, 1 sack
- Houston Texans 16, Arizona Cardinals 19
Top Performers:
- Matt Schaub (HOU) - 5-6, 78 yards, 1 TD
- John Skelton (ARI) - 5-6, 84 yards, 1 TD
- Andre Johnson (HOU) - 3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
- Daryl Washington (ARI) - 13 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
- Dan Orlovsky (HOU) - 12-21, 159 yards, 0 TD
 |
| Whitehurst |
- Tennessee Titans 18, Seattle Seahawks 20
Top Performers:
- Charlie Whitehurst (SEA) - 14-22, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
- Mike Williams (SEA) - 1 reception, 51 yards, 1 TD
- Javon Ringer (TEN) - 7 carries, 60 yards
- Josh Wilson (SEA) - 3 tackles, 1 INT
- Quinton Ganther (SEA) - 11 carries, 36 yards- Chicago Bears 10, San Diego Chargers 25
Top Performers:
- Caleb Hanie (CHI) - 10-17, 148 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Ryan Mathews (SD) - 9 carries, 50 yards
- Devin Aromashodu (CHI) - 4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
- Philip Rivers (SD) - 4-6, 62 yards, 1 TD
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Saddest City In Sports
By: Tyler Ward
There have been many cities throughout sports history that have had a string of bad luck. In present time, that city would now be Seattle. I would consider Seattle as the most depressing in sports. I don't have a personal vendetta against the city, but they are currently in the dark days sportswise.
The two professional teams that occupy the city are the NFL's Seahawks and MLB's Mariners. They had the Sonics as of a couple of years ago, but moved their storied franchise to Oklahoma City. They also have the NCAA's Washington and Washington State, which both are on the uprise at least. They have all had their high points, but they have moved onto something much worse.
Seahawks: On December 4, 1974, the NFL officially awarded Seattle a franchise, but they were nothing more than a laughingstock their first few seasons. The franchise began play in 1976 in the NFC West division, but a year later, they were switched to the AFC West. They are the only team to switch leagues, also. The additions of QB Jim Zorn and WR Steve Largent in their first two years made the team better, but they were still not a good team. The Seahawks didn't make their first playoff appearance until 1983, their seventh season in the league. This also marked the first time that they would reach the conference's championship game. They made their second appearance the following year, behind newly-elected QB, Dave Krieg. Also, in 1984, management asked if they could retire the number 12 as a tribute to the fans. The Kingdome advertised the loudest fans in the NFL and they were known as the "12th man".
In 1999, the Seahawks got ex-Packers coach, Mike Holmgren, to become their new leader. Holmgren turned out to be one of their better decisions, as he led them to the playoffs for the first time since 1989. The next year, the Seahawks drafted future NFL MVP Shaun Alexander in the first round. In 2001, Holmgren convinced the front office to trade for Packers back-up QB Matt Hasselbeck. These two decisions marked a huge turnaround for the Seahawks. RB Shaun Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards with 27 touchdowns (a then NFL record). They made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the Steelers in Super Bowl XL. The Seahawks eventually lost the game, 21-10.
Mariners: The MLB awarded Seattle a franchise in 1977 and immediately became part of the AL West. In their first year, they finished 64-98. This was the start of an underachieving and consistent below .500 franchise. After the 1981 season, the franchise was sold after four years in Major League Baseball. George Argyros, a California businessman at the time, bought the team.
In 1989, the Mariners drafted young phenom, Ken Griffey Jr., with the first overall pick. They also traded for hard-throwing pitcher, Randy Johnson, to round out their rotation. Johnson and Griffey were supposed to turn the franchise around. Even though they were both putting up amazing stats, the Mariners still couldn't help carry the load and didn't make the playoffs until the mid-90's. In the 1993 draft, the Mariners had the #1 overall pick again. Who'd they take? Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez and Griffey formed a nice tandem, but the other Mariners couldn't create any runs. Johnson led the pitching staff, but with no offense, there were no runs piling up. They made the playoffs for the first time in 1995 and again two seasons later in 1997. On July 31, 1998, the Mariners traded their best pitcher ever, Randy Johnson, to the Astros and thier corps of great players started falling apart. Ken Griffey Jr was traded to Cincinnati on February 10, 2000, and Alex Rodriguez was granted free agency almost eight months later, and eventually signed with the Texas Rangers.
The following season, 2001, the Mariners had the #1 overall pick. They drafted Ichiro Suzuki, a great hitting prospect from Japan. Ichiro would go on to win not only AL Rookie of the Year, but he was also named AL MVP. The Mariners would go on to win a record-tying 116 games that year, but would not advance as far as they had hoped. They ended up playing the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series and put up an absolute embarrassing performance, losing the series 4-1. This would be the last time they made the playoffs up until now.
The Mariners have made some embarrasing free agent and trade acquisitions recently, also.
- 2007: Signed SP Carlos Silva to a 4-year/$48 million contract
- 2005: Signed SP Jarrod Washburn to a 4-year/$37.5 million contract
It is no telling how long it will take the Mariners to get back to the playoffs. I believe that the Mariners are one of the biggest disappointments in baseball. They have spent so much money on players that have never worked out. It took them 18 years after they began to make the playoffs, and since their last playoff visit, 2001, it may take them another 18 years to get back. I feel that they are the saddest team in Seattle.
Sonics: The NBA awarded the city a franchise in 1967 and finished their inaugural season a disappointing 23-59. In 1970, they brought in future star and coach, Lenny Wilkens. Along with Bob Rule, Wilkens formed a nice duo and both represented Seattle in the All-Star game.
In 1975, ex-Celtics great, Bill Russell, was officially named as Head Coach of the Sonics. He would lead them to their first playoff appearance ever, eventually falling to eventual champion, Golden State. The next year, they would make the playoffs again and lose to the Phoenix Suns in six games. After the 1976-77, Bill Russell left the organization. The team hired Bob Hopkins to become their new coach. After a horrible start, Hopkins was fired and former Sonics player, Lenny Wilkens, was brought in. They finished 47-35 and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time ever. They were up three games to two against the Washington Bullets, but they lost the final two games along with the series.
In the 1978-79 season, the Sonics won their first division title ever. They advanced through the playoffs yet again, and set up a rematch with the Bullets. The Sonics would end up winning the series, 4-1, and win their first and only championship. Dennis Johnson was named MVP of the Finals. In the 1979-80 season, the Sonics finished the season 56-26, which was second in Pacific Divison. They played in the Western Conference Finals for a third straight season, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
They were mediocre at best from the late 90's to early 2000's. Franchise player, Gary Payton, was dealt to Milwaukee in the 2002-03 season for sharpshooter, Ray Allen. The 02-03 season was also the first time the Sonics were sub .500 in eleven full seasons. Rashard Lewis, drafted by Seattle in 1998, formed a nice tandem with Ray Allen, but couldn't get back to what they once were. They exceded potential in 2004-05, but couldn't do anything in the playoffs. However, that would be the last time the Sonices franchise would be in the postseason. On the 2007 draft day, the Sonics traded mainstay, Ray Allen, to the Celtics. However, they drafted future scoring champion, Kevin Durant. They finished the season 20-62, officially becoming the last season in the rainy city.
Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma businessman, wanted the team out of Seattle and into Oklahoma City. They finalized the deal in 2008 and the move was officially sold to Clay Bennett and his group. The Seattle Storm WNBA franchise was also sold in the process for $350 million.
I never understood why the Sonics were the ones chosen to leave their city. I always thought Toronto should be moved. Since it's not in the United States, it's not televised too much and it's a very small market. Chris Bosh has virtually gone unseen since he got drafted there in 2003. I don't think Seattle should have gotten moved because they had a up-and-coming star in Kevin Durant and they were just in a re-building process. The Sonics were the only Seattle team ever to win a major championship and now, there is really no heritage in Seattle. To me, the Thunder will always be the Sonics, and it was really the Sonics taking on the Lakers this year in an exciting opening round series. They will always be the Sonics to me.
Overall: Seattle has got to be the saddest sports city in America. The Sonics came in 1967, Seahawks in 1974, and Mariners in 1977, so if you tally all of the years up, it would be 112 years combined. And they only have one championship? They don't deserve, but that's the way life works. There are just some that can't catch a break and some that have all the luck in the world. Seattle, unfortunately, has not had much luck as they have failed to represent their city successfully. As I said earlier, I have no personal vendetta against the city of Seattle, but they really need to work on their sports first, rather than their coffee.
There have been many cities throughout sports history that have had a string of bad luck. In present time, that city would now be Seattle. I would consider Seattle as the most depressing in sports. I don't have a personal vendetta against the city, but they are currently in the dark days sportswise.
The two professional teams that occupy the city are the NFL's Seahawks and MLB's Mariners. They had the Sonics as of a couple of years ago, but moved their storied franchise to Oklahoma City. They also have the NCAA's Washington and Washington State, which both are on the uprise at least. They have all had their high points, but they have moved onto something much worse.
Seahawks: On December 4, 1974, the NFL officially awarded Seattle a franchise, but they were nothing more than a laughingstock their first few seasons. The franchise began play in 1976 in the NFC West division, but a year later, they were switched to the AFC West. They are the only team to switch leagues, also. The additions of QB Jim Zorn and WR Steve Largent in their first two years made the team better, but they were still not a good team. The Seahawks didn't make their first playoff appearance until 1983, their seventh season in the league. This also marked the first time that they would reach the conference's championship game. They made their second appearance the following year, behind newly-elected QB, Dave Krieg. Also, in 1984, management asked if they could retire the number 12 as a tribute to the fans. The Kingdome advertised the loudest fans in the NFL and they were known as the "12th man". The Seahawks made the playoffs in 1988 and 1989, but the latter would be their last playoff appearance for a decade. Chuck Knox, the head coach since 1983, was fired in 1991, as the Seahawks wanted to go in another direction. Tom Flores, most notably known for leading the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in the 70's, stepped in as head coach after being the General Manager for the three previous seasons. In the three seasons Flores was Head Coach and GM, he compiled a 14-34 record and left the franchise after the 1994 season. In 1991, the Seahawks used their first round selection on QB Dan McGwire (yes, Mark's brother). He turned out to not live up to the hype and two seasons later, they drafted QB Rick Mirer third overall. The Seahawks were doomed for almost the rest of the decade.
In 1999, the Seahawks got ex-Packers coach, Mike Holmgren, to become their new leader. Holmgren turned out to be one of their better decisions, as he led them to the playoffs for the first time since 1989. The next year, the Seahawks drafted future NFL MVP Shaun Alexander in the first round. In 2001, Holmgren convinced the front office to trade for Packers back-up QB Matt Hasselbeck. These two decisions marked a huge turnaround for the Seahawks. RB Shaun Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards with 27 touchdowns (a then NFL record). They made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the Steelers in Super Bowl XL. The Seahawks eventually lost the game, 21-10. After his MVP season, Alexander declined heavily and was released by Seattle before the 2008 season. Hasselbeck battled injuries (and still does) and the Seahawks just haven't been the same team. The eventual retirement of OT Walter Jones and departure of OG Steve Hutchinson left them with a big hole in the offensive line. They have yet to fully recover since the 2007 season and have failed to make the playoffs since.
In 1989, the Mariners drafted young phenom, Ken Griffey Jr., with the first overall pick. They also traded for hard-throwing pitcher, Randy Johnson, to round out their rotation. Johnson and Griffey were supposed to turn the franchise around. Even though they were both putting up amazing stats, the Mariners still couldn't help carry the load and didn't make the playoffs until the mid-90's. In the 1993 draft, the Mariners had the #1 overall pick again. Who'd they take? Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez and Griffey formed a nice tandem, but the other Mariners couldn't create any runs. Johnson led the pitching staff, but with no offense, there were no runs piling up. They made the playoffs for the first time in 1995 and again two seasons later in 1997. On July 31, 1998, the Mariners traded their best pitcher ever, Randy Johnson, to the Astros and thier corps of great players started falling apart. Ken Griffey Jr was traded to Cincinnati on February 10, 2000, and Alex Rodriguez was granted free agency almost eight months later, and eventually signed with the Texas Rangers. The following season, 2001, the Mariners had the #1 overall pick. They drafted Ichiro Suzuki, a great hitting prospect from Japan. Ichiro would go on to win not only AL Rookie of the Year, but he was also named AL MVP. The Mariners would go on to win a record-tying 116 games that year, but would not advance as far as they had hoped. They ended up playing the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series and put up an absolute embarrassing performance, losing the series 4-1. This would be the last time they made the playoffs up until now.
The Mariners have made some embarrasing free agent and trade acquisitions recently, also.
- 2007: Signed SP Carlos Silva to a 4-year/$48 million contract
- 2009: Signed 2B Chone Figgins to a 4-year/$36 million contract (currently batting .231)
- 2004: Signed 3B Adrian Beltre to a 5-year/$64 million contract
- 2004: Signed 1B Richie Sexson to a 4-year/$50 million contract
- 2005: Signed SP Jarrod Washburn to a 4-year/$37.5 million contract- 2008: Signed C Kenji Johjima to a 3-year/$24 million contract extension (opted out after one year)
Sonics: The NBA awarded the city a franchise in 1967 and finished their inaugural season a disappointing 23-59. In 1970, they brought in future star and coach, Lenny Wilkens. Along with Bob Rule, Wilkens formed a nice duo and both represented Seattle in the All-Star game.
In 1975, ex-Celtics great, Bill Russell, was officially named as Head Coach of the Sonics. He would lead them to their first playoff appearance ever, eventually falling to eventual champion, Golden State. The next year, they would make the playoffs again and lose to the Phoenix Suns in six games. After the 1976-77, Bill Russell left the organization. The team hired Bob Hopkins to become their new coach. After a horrible start, Hopkins was fired and former Sonics player, Lenny Wilkens, was brought in. They finished 47-35 and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time ever. They were up three games to two against the Washington Bullets, but they lost the final two games along with the series.
In the 1978-79 season, the Sonics won their first division title ever. They advanced through the playoffs yet again, and set up a rematch with the Bullets. The Sonics would end up winning the series, 4-1, and win their first and only championship. Dennis Johnson was named MVP of the Finals. In the 1979-80 season, the Sonics finished the season 56-26, which was second in Pacific Divison. They played in the Western Conference Finals for a third straight season, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The beginning of the 1990's was the start of something different in Seattle. They drafted Shawn Kemp in '89 and Gary Payton in '90 to form one of the best tandems in the NBA. They made the playoffs the following season and hired George Karl as their Head Coach in 1992. In 1993, they had the best record, 63-19, but suffered one of the biggest chokes in NBA history. They went into the playoffs as the #1 seed, but lost to the #8 seed Denver Nuggets. In my opinion, their best team was 1995-96. They had a deep roster and most people predicted them as being the champion. But, the Bulls dynasty topped them in the Finals in 6 games. They would also do very well the next few seasons, but would never reach the Finals again.
They were mediocre at best from the late 90's to early 2000's. Franchise player, Gary Payton, was dealt to Milwaukee in the 2002-03 season for sharpshooter, Ray Allen. The 02-03 season was also the first time the Sonics were sub .500 in eleven full seasons. Rashard Lewis, drafted by Seattle in 1998, formed a nice tandem with Ray Allen, but couldn't get back to what they once were. They exceded potential in 2004-05, but couldn't do anything in the playoffs. However, that would be the last time the Sonices franchise would be in the postseason. On the 2007 draft day, the Sonics traded mainstay, Ray Allen, to the Celtics. However, they drafted future scoring champion, Kevin Durant. They finished the season 20-62, officially becoming the last season in the rainy city.Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma businessman, wanted the team out of Seattle and into Oklahoma City. They finalized the deal in 2008 and the move was officially sold to Clay Bennett and his group. The Seattle Storm WNBA franchise was also sold in the process for $350 million.
I never understood why the Sonics were the ones chosen to leave their city. I always thought Toronto should be moved. Since it's not in the United States, it's not televised too much and it's a very small market. Chris Bosh has virtually gone unseen since he got drafted there in 2003. I don't think Seattle should have gotten moved because they had a up-and-coming star in Kevin Durant and they were just in a re-building process. The Sonics were the only Seattle team ever to win a major championship and now, there is really no heritage in Seattle. To me, the Thunder will always be the Sonics, and it was really the Sonics taking on the Lakers this year in an exciting opening round series. They will always be the Sonics to me.
Overall: Seattle has got to be the saddest sports city in America. The Sonics came in 1967, Seahawks in 1974, and Mariners in 1977, so if you tally all of the years up, it would be 112 years combined. And they only have one championship? They don't deserve, but that's the way life works. There are just some that can't catch a break and some that have all the luck in the world. Seattle, unfortunately, has not had much luck as they have failed to represent their city successfully. As I said earlier, I have no personal vendetta against the city of Seattle, but they really need to work on their sports first, rather than their coffee.
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