Dear Paul Allen,
Wow. Just wow. What an end to 2013 you gave sports fans in the Pacific Northwest . Who would have thought that it would have taken until just recently for the combined losses of the Seahawks and Blazers to reach double digits? Or that both teams would be talked about as contenders on a national level?
There are a lot of critics out there, Mr. Allen, and I have been one at times. But right now is not a time to criticize or look back at past mistakes. Right now all I can say is thank you. Thank you for an absolutely wonderful time in sports here in the Northwest. This does not happen very often, and I am taking every chance I get to soak it all in.
Mr. Allen, this to me is more than just sports. Knowing that these teams are going to be successful makes everything more exciting. People who normally don’t watch basketball suddenly do watch basketball. And the same goes for football. Some call that bandwagoning, and maybe it is, but it’s a lot more appealing when it is for your side.
It’s interesting how well the Seahawks and Blazers complement each other. To someone from the East Coast, I could see how it would be hard to even find a relation, but to us, both these teams have played a role in adopting the opposing city. With no football team in Oregon, the Seahawks have become the default local team. And the same goes for the Blazers after the Sonics left (although I don’t expect the folks up I-5 to give up hope for the eventual return of Seattle basketball).
Also, the Seahawks are famous for their trademark defense, which leads the NFL this season. On the opposite side, the Blazers are known for their potent offense, which is currently leading the NBA. Although different sports, both teams demonstrate differing but complementary perspectives on how a team can excel.
So Mr. Allen, I bet you are one happy man right now, watching all this success. I bet it is a lot of fun to go to the games of both of these teams, especially since both home crowds are so spectacular. But the best part for both of these teams is that there is a lot more to come, with the road to Super Bowl in the NFC going through Seattle and the Blazers having a lot more of the regular season to prove they belong with the NBA elite.
Here is one thing I ask of you, Mr. Allen: Keep this success up. There aren’t any reasons why it should not continue, especially with the young, talented group of players both of these squads have. But if that is not a good enough reason for you, listen to this: We deserve this. I could argue that we deserve it more so than a lot of other fanbases out there. We have gone through a lot of heartbreak, and it has not been easy. Both of these teams can point to times in the recent past when the fanbase has been disappointed, or even crushed.
This is a time of new hope, Mr. Allen, and you are definitely responsible for part of it. Everyone in the Pacific Northwest has an opportunity to watch two teams that are the best at their craft in the two biggest sports in the U.S. That’s exciting. How often do you get to say that? The end of 2013 was great, but neither of these teams have fully accomplished their goals until 2014 rolls around. But right now, I am so happy for what I have seen so far. Thanks, Mr. Allen.
Sincerely,
Alex Moore
Vanguard Sports Desk