It Was a Simpler Time Watching the Seahawks as a Child

I have been watching football since I was six years-old when the Seattle Seahawks first entered the NFL.  The first thing I learned was the QB was the leader of the team. The Seahawks QB was Jim Zorn and I have had a crush on him since day one.  Being six I had no knowledge of how good Jim Zorn was or wasn't.  Maybe he wasn't a Joe Namath, Archie Manning, Roger Stauback or Terry Bradshaw.  All I knew is Jim Zorn was my team's QB and in my eyes he was the best one out there. 

I even made up my own jingle about Jim Zorn using the Oscar Mayer bologna jingle.  It went something like, my quarterback has a first name it's J-I-M-M-Y etc.  I can only imagine what my poor mother must have thought as I sat in front of the TV watching the game with my Seahawks blanket wrapped around me rocking side to side singing my Jim Zorn jingle over and over again. (I wish I could say I have out grown this but I still rock while watching the game and sing my Jimmy jingle).   

There is a nice innocence becoming a sports fan at an early age.  I never realized how bad the Seahawks really were.  When playoffs came around and the Seahawks didn't make it, in my mind they were just a hair short.  I had no concept if they missed the playoffs by one game or five games.  I always knew that next season would be their season to make it to the Superbowl.

Now as an adult all that naive innocence is gone.  I want a winning team, no more of this not making the playoffs or finishing the season below .500. (even though last season they were below .500 and still made the playoffs).  I no longer have the illusion before the season starts that they will make it to the Superbowl.  With so many pre-season scouting reports and power rankings.  A fan knows their team is doomed when a scout tags their team with "it is a rebuilding season" or "the team is in a transition".   

I knew before this season started the Seahawks would not be in it when their PR tried to sell this season to the fans as a rebuilding year.  I am starting to think that rebuilding is code for don't expect much from your team this season.  I know with out a QB the Seahawks PR department will be calling next season' "a season of transition."

Watching the games as an adult I have found that I talk to the TV as if they can hear my coaching advice.  I swear at the bad plays and cheer loud for the good ones.  Thanks to modern day technology I can text friends to question why they called a play.

Some 35 years later I still have my crush on Jim Zorn.  I follow his career as a QB coach for the Kansas City Chiefs this season.  If the Chiefs game is televised, you can bet I will be looking on the sidelines for a glimpse of my aging superstar.  He has aged well, but I still see him as that young QB leading my Seahawks down the field for a touchdown.   I must say it was easier watching a bad football team when I was younger and still naive.