team spirit

I'm not a huge football fan.  I grew up watching the Anchorage Aces, our only professional sports team, play hockey in the Sullivan Area.  I've have always been more of a hockey girl myself.  Since I never had any loyalty to a specific football team, when the Seahawks went to the Superbowl back in 2006 I decided I'd root for the Steelers.  Since I was at college in Washington everyone else was rooting for the Hawks and I figured I'd root for someone else, just for kicks.  What I didn't know was how passionate everyone was about the Seahawks, and how mad they'd be at me when they lost.  Even though I really had no skin in the game and honestly couldn't have cared who won people were still pretty pissed at me, and I didn't get it.  Now I get it.  Even though I'm a transplant Washingtonian, the excitement for the Seahawks this past season has been palpable all year, and last night it reached a fever pitch.  
I took Dusty for a walk during half time and all around the neighborhood I heard kids yelling and cheering with excitement.  When we stepped out our front door after the Seahawks won, you could hear cheering, fireworks, cars honking for miles and miles.  We drove down 6th ave in my (Seahawks blue!) El Camino and revved her 350 small block at all the fans celebrating with a post-game smoke outside every bar.  Even though I wasn't an avid fan for the whole season, being in the epicenter of the excitement that engulfed the entire Puget Sound, was something I'll never forget.  I've never seen anything like it.  I can't even imagine being a lifelong Seattle Seahawks fan finally getting to see your team get the big win.

 
dress/courtesy of modcloth :: jacket/courtesy of lulu's :: necklace/handmade hat/the north face :: shoes (similar)/courtesy of blowfish
I don't think I'll become a rabid football fan anytime soon, though.  I enjoy watching the game, but I don't have a TV, and I'm not part of a group of friends who are really into sports either.  I have heard whispers of an NHL team being created in Seattle, though, which is exciting.  Tacoma used to have a hockey team that was in the same league as the Anchorage Aces, but they disappeared years ago and have never been replaced.  I'll be in Anchorage for a week in March and there are a few Aces games while I'm in town, so it'll be fun to see a game or two!  I've only gotten to go to maybe one game per year since moving away for college in 2005, but it's always fun to go back and cheer for my home team.  They've played in the same arena for decades, and it's barely changed much over the years, which makes it even more nostalgic to go back.  
I started going when I was around 10 years old and I remember there was this super cute family that had season tickets right near us.  When I first started going they had a little baby girl and I watched her grow up every season.  It's crazy to think that that little girl is now probably a college student somewhere, all grown up!  The whole family always had their Aces jerseys on, even the little girl.  I still have my Aces jersey, with tons of signatures on it from getting the players to sign it during "Skate with the Aces" nights.  I think I'd still be a little star struck if I met Keith Street or Dean Larson on the street, my favorite players.  I can't help but smile thinking about yelling "ACES!" in response to the far side of the arena yelling "GO!" and the feeling I get when that fog horn blows after every goal.