In case it’s not completely obvious, it’s a pretty tough time right now to be a sports fan in Seattle. Oh let me count the ways…
- The Mariners are 35 games out of first place in the AL West…this, after they were widely regarded by baseball pundits at the start of the season as the team to beat not only in the West but also as a serious title contender in the American League. Guess that $117 million player payroll wasn’t money well spent, eh? And yes, that payroll is the 9th highest in the Majors.
- The Seahawks have started their illustrious 2008 season 0-2, falling in a blowout to Buffalo and in a heartbreaker to San Francisco. Granted, there have been devastating injuries, especially to the receiving corp, but this is uncharted territory for the Seahawks. Good teams will find a way to win, to overcome the challenges they face. Have we all been spoiled over the course of these past 5 seasons? This team is very much in danger of losing the NFC West this year. Arizona and San Francisco are certainly showing life in this young season and my guess is they have thoughts of revenge towards the Seahawks after being the doormats of the division for so long now. I don’t think this is how Mike Holmgren envisioned his final season in Seattle. And here’s the scary thing – these first 3 games were supposed to be the easier ones! Uh oh.
- Washington Huskies. Boy, what else can you say. They’ve been on such a decline now for so many years. Almost makes you wish that Neuheisel was back, eh? It’s sad to watch a once-proud program go through such tough times. My guess is Tyrone Willingham will not be at UW next year as coach. Whether that’s a good and or fair thing or not, I’m not sure. I think he will take the fall as the pressure from boosters and fans builds and builds and a change becomes demanded. That will lead to yet another coaching search (not to mention the search for the new AD), yet another new system, and yet more years of rebuilding. All this while trying to keep in-state talent in-state AND attract out-of-state talent. That’s a tall order. Mercifully, I’m not much of a Husky fan or a college football fan so while I’ll find the outcome of this to be interesting, I certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it.
- Seattle SuperSonics. Oh, wait – check that – the Oklahoma City THUNDER! Yep, Seattle’s NBA team is gone. It’s pretty much the worst thing a sports fan can go through if you ask me. Sure, they were bad when they were here, but at least they were here. I really wish I had the opportunity to be depressed about their lackluster play and terrible record. At this point, I’d take it. But it is not to be. The loss (theft) of the Sonics was really the last good turn of the knife in the breaking heart of Seattle sports fans.
You know, Seattlites really don’t need much help when it comes to depression. It usually hits us in the form of buckets and buckets of rain starting in Fall and lasting through, well, we like to hope early-Spring – but let’s be realistic – who the hell really knows when or if it’ll ever stop?! Let’s just say we’ve got that market covered. So when the local sports teams (i.e. rain diversions) aren’t doing so hot, you can kind of start to get the idea how difficult things can get around here. We’re ready and waiting for something to wake us up for and give us something to cheer for.
Will it ever come? When will the bleeding stop? That’s about as predictable as our weather.