Sports

Days Later, Fans Struggle with Seahawks’ Super Bowl Loss

Published

11 years ago

February 4, 2015

A pedestrian walks past a large photo of a cheering Seattle Seahawks’ fan outside the team’s stadium Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Seattle. The grief, anger and bewilderment felt by many Seahawks fans after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl shows little sign of abating, even days later. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — As shocking as it was, the Seattle Seahawks’ last-minute loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl Sunday was probably not even the worst loss in the city’s sports history.

Seattle did lose an entire NBA franchise, after all, when the SuperSonics up and moved to Oklahoma City. At least the Seahawks will be playing again next season.

But the grief, anger and bewilderment felt by many Seahawks fans nevertheless show only mild signs of abating, even days later. Many say they’re certain the decision to pass from the 1-yard line — instead of handing off to bruising running back Marshawn Lynch — will forever haunt the Northwest the way previous sporting gaffes defined other cities.

“I’ll be 90 years old and still thinking about this game,” said Norb Caoili, a longtime season-ticket holder from Renton. “The history of sports is defined by moments like this, where heroes rise and save the day, or where teams collapse on the biggest stages. It’s always going to be a part of the fabric of Seattle, and that’s tough to swallow.”

Caoili, 45, is the force behind Norb-Cam, a YouTube channel that features videos of himself — wearing a green wig, Seahawks headband, and blue-and-green face paint — reacting to the action during Seahawks games. The videos have been viewed an improbable number of times, making him a prominent voice among Hawks fans.

For him, the way the Seahawks lost is what makes it so tough: Moments earlier, the team seemed on the brink of a miraculous victory, with receiver Jermaine Kearse making an inconceivable, bobbling, falling catch despite great coverage from Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler. It was a gift from the football gods, “divine intervention” that signaled a certain Seahawks victory, he said.

Lynch’s subsequent run, bringing the ball to the 1 with the clock ticking down, only fortified that impression.

Caoili’s video from the Super Bowl — tickets $2,700 apiece, airfare and lodging $1,400 — shows him chanting a mantra for Lynch to get the ball: “Give it to him again, give it to him again, give it to him again.”

The decision to pass, then, becomes not just “the worst play call I’ve seen in the history of football,” as Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith described it, but an affront to the gods, a sort of cardinal sin punished by instant karma: Butler’s goal-line interception, and New England’s fourth championship of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.

It was an epic failure, akin to the ground ball through Bill Buckner’s legs that helped sink the 1986 Red Sox or the “wide right” field goal attempt in 1991 that proved to be the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Buffalo Bills.

“Emotionally, it would have been better to lose 43-8,” Caoili said, referring to the score by which the Seahawks beat Denver in last year’s Super Bowl. “There’s nothing worse than having it in your hand and losing it all.”

Caoili and other fans said that even if the loss sticks with the team, and the region, a few more Super Bowl championships could take the edge off. Odds-makers have Seattle 5-to-1 favorites to win it all next year. In the Seattle suburb of Renton, where the Seahawks are headquartered, fans left balloons and signs for the team in a memorial thanking them for a great season. “We still believe,” said one.

Vu Le, a 33-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who runs a Seattle nonprofit, knew nothing about professional sports when he started cheering for the Seahawks during the team’s Super Bowl run last year. On his blog, he tried to draw lessons from the loss for the nonprofit world, spelling out what he called Seattle’s “stages of grief”: “Denial, Righteous Anger, Hot Yoga, Organic Juice Cleanse, Bargaining at a Farmer’s Market, Composting, Existential Despair, Biking to Happy Hour, and Acceptance . of Marijuana.”

Le said Tuesday he doesn’t regret getting on the Seahawks bandwagon.

“When you care about something, you risk getting your heart just squished,” he said. “But when they win, like last year, it was amazing.”

Kris Brannon, a local superfan best known as “Sonics Guy,” has been wearing his green-and-gold and his impressive afro to events around the Northwest in the years since the team became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. He put the Super Bowl loss in perspective.

“I wish the Sonics had a chance to lose a championship,” he said.

___

Follow Johnson at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.