The game may have ended 1-1, but make no mistake that we’re still the best.
More can be read about the game, and the epic fan support, here. As for myself – shoot, guys, do throat lozenges work? My voice started breaking about thirty minutes into the game, and I thought I’d be fine since I had a voice yesterday…nope.
What can I do to get my voice back?! I can’t even order coffee at Starbucks, for goodness’ sake!
I have to admit, that when I planned that I’d be voiceless on Monday, the scenario of standing in line at Starbucks and having to pantomime and point did NOT occur to me.
Despite the score of last weekend’s Mariner’s home opener, the festitivies went off without a hitch. The evening began with a sweet Make-a-Wish boy running the bases – running the bases is a tradition at Safeco! He stopped and waved enthusiastically to the crowd from each base. Then after both teams were announced, Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro received their well-deserved Golden Glove awards, and King Felix received his Cy Young Award. Finally, Macklemore was invited out on the field to perform his tribute song to Dave Niehuas. After which, Marilyn Niehaus, accompanied by her family, threw out the first pitch.
While I know some people didn’t think that a rap song was the best way to memorialize the greatest voice to ever grace this city, I felt that the song was perfect. It was complete with sound bites from the infamous 1995 game, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium – that includes the HUGE biker guy standing next to me. It was that touching. I can prove that Dave loved it too, becuase the sun shined through the entire afternoon/evening.
For those of you who were not lucky enough to get tickets to the game, I took a video of the Macklemore performance. Hopefully MLB doesn’t make me pull it down. Video after the break… (more…)
So we are inching our way through springtime and signs of warmer weather are popping up around us. There are cherry blossoms on the sidewalks, a lack of motivation at work, and of course the start of baseball season. It is a glorious time where even the Mariners get a clean slate and fans have a chance to have a little hope for a good year. (This year I am hoping we make .500) However if the Mariners do start to tank it’s good to remember that we do have some other options. Sure, you can watch other teams play on TV, but if you’re looking for some live baseball that doesn’t carry quite the price tag of a trip to Safeco Field try a little trip down south to Tacoma and see the Tacoma Rainiers. For $25, which wouldn’t even get you a seat in the upper decks at Safeco you can get nice and close to the boys in Tacoma. Also, the Rainiers are the reigning champions of the Pacific Coast League so that’s some quality there. (more…)
That’s right, people. Like I was going to talk about anything else. The Sounders FC will kick off the 2011 MLS season TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 15th at 6:30PM in Qwest Field, and I believe that you can still purchase tickets here. And, either way, don’t be surprised tomorrow when your coworkers, your friends, and many, many random people on the street are proudly dressed in green and blue, complete with soccer scarves, hats, and jackets.
If, like me, you’ve already secured your tickets, then you are aware our first kick is near. Let me tell you a few somethings.
First, try and bring cash with you to the game to donate to the Red Cross. Proceeds will go to that organization as they struggle to right the damage in Japan, and you can drop your donations with them as you walk through the gates.
Second: Whether it’s your first game or your fiftieth, remember that we have traditions.
As rbjdbkilla mentioned previously, the ECS will be leading the march to the match. Meet at Occidental Park at 5:15PM and you’ll be on your way to the stadium by 5:30PM. If you want to get an ECS membership, if you want to talk and hang with other supporters, if you want to share in the anticipation, prefunk at Fuel, McCoy’s Firehouse, or Temple’s Billiards. March alongside your fellow supporters in joy and cameraderie and don’t be shy – we’re all friends when it comes to our Sounders.
Once we take our seats, join Manumerda and the rest of the ECS in a two-part ritual meant to fan the confidence of our Sounders into a raging inferno while simultaneously turning our opponents into quivering, fearful masses of jelly:
When it comes time for the Qwest announcer to proclaim the (hated) names of the Galaxy players, turn your back to the stadium and scream, as loud as you can, “Who?!” as their names are said. Can you imagine? The power of 36,000+ fans shouting their defiance of the Galaxy in fierce and menacing unison? I wouldn’t be surprised if prettyboy Beckham runs for the airport, his pretty hair waving behind him.
When it comes time for our players’ names to be announced, face forward, raise your scarves, and scream, as loud as you can, the last name of the Sounder as it’s being said. And if this is your first game, please don’t worry – the names of the players do appear on the big screen. You will not necessarily need to study before the game, although you can if you want to.
No mercy. We are Sounders supporters and it’s the first game of 2011, people. Let’s show the rest of the world we mean business.
P.S. Post-game celebration at Suite 410? I think SO.
Sounders training in sunny Florida last week. Photo courtesy of soundersfc.com
But surely you knew that. That excited thrumming in the air that’s recently washed over the city of Seattle, the increase in the number of thick-knit soccer scarves on your fellow passersby, the sudden rise in menace whenever the cities of Portland or Vancouver are mentioned in idle conversation – these are the signs. So if you haven’t started stocking up on your green clothing, if you haven’t had a chance to start planning the next nine months around the 2011 MLS schedule, here is the whole of the 2011 MLS schedule (as it pertains to the Sounders, who are, after all, the only team that it’s necessary to follow).
If you’d rather not click on the linky-link, then here is a quick rundown of Sounders games and events for the NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS (yeah, that’s how close it is!):
March 4 – March 6: Cascadia Summit at Starfire. Starting this Friday, the Sounders will host the first MLS Cascadia Summit, against the newly minted PortScum Timbers and the Wankouver Whitecaps. I believe that the Seattle office is out of tickets to the games because Seattle is Soccer City, USA. It is possible to find tickets on Craigslist, however. Or you could possibly mug a Portland or Vancouvers fan for them when the weekend comes.
March 9th, 7pm at Qwest: Community Shield Match against Colorado Rapids. Another preseason match to whet your appetite, and proceeds for the match will be donated to local charities. Tickets are only $10 for adults and I suggest that you go to Qwest on the day of and buy your tickets from the box office directly, as (and I’m told this is true) purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster and paying their extra ticketing fees is akin to paying Ticketmaster to rape you.
March 15, 6:30PM at Qwest: First Match of the Season against the LA Galaxy. If you’re not a season ticketholder, by all means, purchase a single-game ticket to this one! Here. It’s going to be absolutely wild, and I’m extremely eager to see the Sounders finally, finally knock the snot out of the LA Galaxy. You know what they say: The bigger they are, the more satisfying it is to beat them to death.
Last year I participated in the Seattle Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon, the Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay and the Danskin Triathlon. Each event took place within 60 days of each other and each event sucked cash out of my wallet. And what did I get in return? A little bit of satisfaction and a lot of pain. I should know better, I’m a repeat offender to the half marathon and triathlon events but there’s always energy and excitement about trying something new.
2011 will be no different, it’s only February and I challenge you to join me in the Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. I’ve committed another triple digit dollar amount from my “activities fund” to a 200-mile bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland (just like the title says) on July 9-10 (Saturday-Sunday). This is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 10,000 participants tackling the course in one or two days. The route takes you through the scenic valleys, forests, and farmlands of western Washington and Oregon. Come join what Bicycling Magazine has listed as one of the best cycling events in the nation!
Route statistics
Total distance: 204 miles
Maximum altitude: 463 feet
First day total elevation gain: 1,131 feet
Second day total elevation gain: 1,879 feet
Total ride elevation gain: 3,010 feet
Sounds like fun, right? Register for the ride and get rollin’
Food is included at midday rest stops interspersed with community-supported mini-stops where quick energy may be purchased. Mechanical and medical support is provided for rider safety and enjoyment. Come join what Bicycling Magazine has listed as one of the best cycling events in the nation!
Let us know if you register, I’d love to know who else will be out on the course!
Amazing thigs will be taking place this weekend as the 12th MAN prepares to support the Seahawks in their second playoff game – most of which will involve, praying for a Seahawks win against Da Bears, maybe a little pre-funking, probably a little more praying… you get the idea. BUT on Friday you can head out to various south Seattle overpasses across I-5 to send the Hawks off in style with a multi-location rally on Friday afternoon!
Seahawks fans are invited to help send off the team to Chicago from five points along the bus route to SeaTac Airport on Friday afternoon. Key locations will be overpasses in Renton, Tukwila and Sea-Tac. Fans will be given various Seahawks items (12th MAN Flags, rally cards, rally towels, etc.) to wave to the team buses and various passersby to show their 12th MAN spirit. The Sea Gals, Blitz and Blue Thunder will joing the fans at the five locations.
The team will depart Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton at 1:30 p.m., so organizers are asking fans to be at the following locations starting at 1 p.m. and before 1:30 to prepare for the caravan of buses. The five locations are:
Pan Abode (near N. 44th St., Renton, WA, 98056)
NE 30th St. (Overpass, NE 30th St., Renton, WA, 98056)
Renton Ave. S. (Overpass, Renton Ave. S., Renton, WA, 98057)
SO, in about half an hour the Seahawks are going to begin a playoff game. A PLAYOFF GAME!?! There probably were not that many people who saw the season ending this way. Seattle sports have been taking a bit of a beating the last couple of years, but maybe just maybe, things are looking up a little bit. The Huskies football team made it to a bowl game and actually won that bowl game. The Seahawks should follow their example. Most people I spoke with expected Washington to get beat quite badly by Nebraska, but they didn’t. Very few people expect the Seahawks to beat the Saints.
We all know the story at this point. The Seahawks are the worst team to ever make it to the playoffs. They shouldn’t be here. They should hang their heads in shame and lose on purpose. People in Seattle were actually cheering for the Rams last weekend. They wanted Seattle to lose. We wanted a better draft pick more than a trip to the playoffs. This is the sad state of affairs in Seattle. I know it rains a lot here and we have a high incidence of depression, but do we really need to mae it this bad for ourselves? Should we deny ourselves a little taste of the playoffs because other people think we suck? Now that is far more depressing than the rain. We’re not even fair weather fans. We’re fans who can’t even cheer for our team when something goes well.
This is the wonderful thing about the playoffs. The rest of the season doesn’t matter. You are here. You have made it. The regular season is irrelevant. If we win now, our hideous and embarrassing record does not matter. The team that comes to the playoffs is the team that matters. So, let’s just drop all the talk of whether or not the Seahawks deserve to be here. If they win today, it doesn’t matter. I’m not saying they are going to win but just that they could and that’s what’s important. You can have the best record ever but if you choke in the playoffs no one will care. This is what matters.
So kickoff is in about ten minutes so I’m going to go and cheer on my team. I hope the rest of Seattle can do the same!
Also a hello to fellow Belle Jeanine who is at the game today (GO HAWKS!)
The scene: Seattle, post-Thanksgiving. The Westlake Christmas Tree has been decorated and lit, and its huge, multicolored ornaments glimmer with the tiny reflections of the crowds that walk beneath it. Children dangle on the arms of their parents, shopping or perhaps joining the Nordstroms Santa line where it snakes outside the store. White and red lights have been strung on the eaves of the houses in my neighborhood, and some of my fellow renters have thrown open the blinds on their windows to reveal Christmas trees, huge paper stars that shine from within, and even more of those tiny, twinkling lights.
Now, I’m not really a Christmas person. Actually, it’s been a very long time since I’ve been one of those people – the caroling, decorating, evergreen-candle-sniffing people. Oh, and all those holiday movie/musicals – mostly unfamiliar with those. But there is one thing that I cherish about this time of year, and it’s the generally selfless spirit that comes with it. People going out of their way to help one another, and the delight that you feel when you do so can only be matched by how the recipient of your kindness must feel.
Are you getting what I’m saying, people? BE SELFLESS, like, RIGHT NOW. IT’S GOOD FOR YOU, AND OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.
Now that you’re feeling generous, let’s not forget that while we were being swept by rain and mudslides this past week, they have been battling against rising floods and devastating landslides in Colombia. I didn’t really see this break on the news, did you? The only reason I know is because the Sounders FC noticed. And as the water levels climb in Colombia, contrary to all the hopes of the 2 million people affected by the heavy rains, so has the destruction and the death toll.
Photo courtesy of Freddy Montero
Thousands of rescue workers, including volunteers with Mercy Corps, are doing what they can to evacuate people from their homes, but you can easily help them out in one of two ways.
1. You can join the Sounders FC, the Sounders FC Supporters Groups, and me at Fuel Sports Bar this Wednesday, December 15th, from 6PM to 9PM. A $5 donation at the door is suggested, but not required, with all donations going to Mercy Corps. In addition, 10% of all revenue generated by Fuel that evening will also be donated to Mercy Corps for Colombia Flood Relief. People of all ages are invited, so if you’re underage, if you have kids, take them along. Sounders FC players, coaches, and staff will be present, and an auction for particularly cool Sounders jerseys and memorabilia will be held, with proceeds for that also being donated.
OR
2. If you’re not inclined to hit the bar on Wednesday, you can still donate to Mercy Corps here and help them not only stem the destruction of this flood, but also assist them in their work to assist the poverty-stricken residents of Colombia as they struggle to survive in…well…c’mon, guys, it’s Colombia. They have the dubious honor of having one of the highest homicide rates in the world, as well as the longest-running armed (drug-fueled) conflict on the continent.
Now I know what you are thinking (as usual). Here I am, once more trying to browbeat you into attending a Sounders event. Oh, no Christmas events from me, just a token Yuletide description of downtown and here I am again, nagging you to part with your well-earned money for yet another good cause. In this day and age, and with all the horrifying things that happen to good people, there is no end to good causes.
Usually a figure of speech but literally, this Sunday, December 12, I will be there with bells on. Bells on my tennis shoes that is! At the Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk 2010.
Starting at Westlake Center and winding through downtown, this 5K run benefits the Arthritis Foundation makes it’s 26th annual appearance to get runners, walkers, adults, kids and elves in the holiday spirit and raise money for one of the nation’s leading causes of disability. Indiviual and team enteries were encouraged to drum up donations and sponsors for the event. So far $502,803 (as of this morning) has been raised toward a goal of $750,000! Every single runner counts, in this case.
And it’s not too late to register. While online registration is now closed, you can register on Saturday, December 11 between 10am – 4pm at North Seattle Community College in the College Center building at the Baxter Events Center, or on Sunday starting at 6:45am inside Westlake Center on the third floor. Registration fee for adults is $30 on Saturday and increases to $40 on Sunday.
The morning is chalk full of fun pre-race events for kids and adults including a photo booth and costume contest. And, of course, for the adults the event concludes at the Widmer Brothers Holiday Cheer (beer) Garden!
Here’s the full schedule:
6:45 a.m. – Last Minute Registration & Will Call open
Video after the break… 
