Bow Down to Washington

A record-breaking weekend for Seattle, and we're talking about heat, not rainfall. Hit the mid-nineties both Sat & Sun. I even heard two Seahawks fans on the ferry talking about how they much prefer the cold and wet to the hot and humid. You don't often hear this type of exchange in, say, San Diego.

I was on my way North to the Lake Stevens 70.3* on RG's Suzuki 400 to shoot the bike leg for an RCV. 95 degrees is perfect for riding, the chill factor at 60mph is refreshing. I had booked the usual cheap hotel in Everette, and had the evening to kill. I decided to stop by Husky stadium and see live and in person, how my beloved Montlake Mutts were progressing. It was their second practice of the day and I was thrilled to be on the sidelines instead of in my usual nose-bleed section squinting through binoculars.

How many times does one get this close to the best QB in the country, a Heisman candidate and a guy who thumbed his nose at ten million dollars? I also wanted to take a scouting look at Jake's supporting cast, Jermaine Kearse, Devin Agular, Chris Polk, Jori, and the fast new freshman running backs from California (land of the fast).

The sun was blistering, even at 7 pm. Locker, as well as backups Keith Price and NIck Montana, all looked superb, tossing accurate tight spirals to the talented group of receivers. Jake heaved a 50 yarder to Kearse that brought a collective ooooooooh from the 150 fans in attendance.

The boys we gettin' after it. Sark was in full command and DC Nick Holt was barking after every hit, rewarding those that removed doubt as to sincerity of impact. I remembered how this felt.

Football is a violent game. It is territorial. There is ego involved. It is survival of the fittest. War. There is also finesse, drama and individual as well as team rewards. You have to rely on the execution of your teammates in order to survive. Even on the best days there will be blood. It hurts as a player and it can hurt as a fan. Loyalty is rewarded. Semper Fi, WE WILL take this beach.

I have told you the story of how College Football became what I call "My last team-sport vice". And how the UW became my school of choice. You have heard me sing to the choir, one off-key verse after another, on the "connectedness" of all things, football and otherwise.

I walk into Husky Stadium and the first thing I see is Chris Polk, first freshman running back in the long and proud history of the UW to rush for over 1,000 yards.

He is sitting on a Lemond RevMaster spinning.

BOW DOWN.

Pix: The Dawg House of Pain. It is all connected.
* Pics and Vid later today.