THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A Super day to let it all go

So, just how was your Super Bowl Sunday? 

Did you sit around the house, growing increasingly more anxious as the minutes ticked until kickoff? 

Were you answering phone calls from your family about how you were doing, or just what time you were arriving to watch the game? 

Well, all those things — and a little more — happened to me. 

IF YOU have met me, you know I’m a large fan of the Seattle Seahawks. 

Just how big can be traced back to my childhood, with memories of watching games on television of guys like Steve Largent, Curt Warner, Cortez Kennedy, Warren Moon, John Friesz and Dave Krieg take on teams in the AFC West. 

(Yes fans, there was once a time when the Seahawks shared a division with the Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos). 

In those days, there wasn’t a ton of playoff berths, parades, or none of that stuff. 

Often times, Seattle just fell a game or two short of the playoffs. Sometimes more. 

But rest assured; the Seahawks would always be back the following summer. 

Way back before the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash., was built, sometimes as I grew older, I’d even venture over to Eastern Washington University in Cheney to watch the team practice during training camp. 

Things changed eventually when a guy named Mike Holmgren took over the franchise. For the longest time, I really didn’t like Mike, since he came from Green Bay and coached them to the Super Bowl. 

Even under Holmgren, it didn’t seem as if the Seahawks could quite get over the hump. 

Then 2005 came, and the floodgates opened. 

Seattle started that season 2-2, seemingly destined to find itself at home watching the playoffs instead of winning 11 straight games and gaining home field advantage and earning that long, elusive trip to Detroit for Super Bowl XL against Pittsburgh. 

Obviously, that game didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped. 

But it was sure fun to be there. 

EIGHT YEARS later, once again the Seahawks turned into a buzzsaw and, once back in the Super Bowl, ran past the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the team’s first championship. 

The following year, things didn’t quite work out for the Seahawks again in the Super Bowl. 

Fast forward 12 years, and Seattle found itself back in the big game against that same organization — the New England Patriots — that picked off a second straight title in Arizona. 

While everyone boasts its team has the ability to win the Super Bowl in any given year, you’ll understand where I was a little skeptical about the Seahawks chances this year. 

A home loss to San Francisco (four points) to start the season, then another — at home — to Tampa Bay (38-35) and suddenly it seemed like this was going down a familiar road. 

The team’s third loss, 21-19 on the road to the Los Angeles Rams, left me thinking there was a chance, but something had to change. 

Little did we know that was going to be the final time the Seahawks tasted defeat. Wins over playoff teams, in the playoffs and the rematch with the Patriots was set for Santa Clara, Calif., last Sunday. 

So there I was, all these memories sitting on the couch at my brother's house, just watching and waiting. 

No, I didn’t talk much in that second half. There wasn’t much to say anymore. 

With each field goal, Seattle extended its lead. 

Then the touchdown by A.J. Barner. 

Another by Uchenna Nwosu and suddenly all those painful memories from those previous two Super Bowl losses lifted away. 

Sure, New England scored late to make it close. 

By that time, it just didn’t matter. 

We were champions again.

Mom was twirling her jersey to celebrate.

And those bad feelings from so long ago were long gone.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.