Though written in March of 2013 this post is still very timely.
The rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers has gone from simmer, to slow boil, to 3rd degree- “Oh My God THAT’s HOT!” burn in the past week. And isn’t it just exceedingly fun to watch? I’m lovin’ it. And what’s most exciting is that it’s likely to last for many, many years. All the evidence shows that this will push historical rivalries for significance. We’re talking Yankees vs Red Sox, Duke-North Carolina, Ohio State vs Michigan, Steelers vs the Raiders in the 70s, Redskins vs Cowboys, Celtics- Lakers, Ali-Frazier. Welcome to Seattle! Home of the NFL Universe. Folks, it’s here.
What made the rivalries of yesteryear so darn compelling were two things. First, and perhaps most important, the teams were always good….championship level good. Second, THEY HATED EACH OTHER. Does anyone hate each other more in big-time sports right now than
Pete Carroll led his University of Southern California Trojans football team
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll and Niner’s Head coach Jim Harbaugh?
Head coach Jim Harbaugh at the 2010 Stanford football open house
Not based on the evidence that we’ve seen. From the time when Carroll was at USC and Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll greeted the Cardinal coach with a not-so-politic “What’s your deal?” after Harbaugh had his team go for 2-points late in a blow-out win over the Trojans to last October when Harbaugh complained to the NFL about that Seahawk cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were too physical with his receivers.
As we all know the Seahawks were 30-seconds away from meeting the 49ers in the NFC Championship game this past season with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line; a trip won by S.F. Then the team from the Bay area came oh-so-close to winning the league championship and establishing themselves as a potential dynasty.
This week the rivalry was brought back to the nation’s attention when Seattle traded for elite Minnesota wide receiver-Kick Returner Percy Harvin only to be equalled in the headlines by San Francisco trading for Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Bolden of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Fortunately for Hawk’s fans Seattle came back again yesterday by signing free agent defensive-end Cliff Avril to help bolster the team’s greatest need; an improved pass rush. Important to note that while the Hawk’s achilles heel in the past season, and projecting to the coming season, was their pass rush, they still managed to lead the league defensively in fewest points allowed.
After the trade of the 1st round and 7th round draft picks in the upcoming NFL Draft for Harvin, Seattle stills owns 8 picks in the April allotment of college talent. But San Francisco has 14 picks, five returning Pro Bowlers and plenty of cash to acquire more free agent help.
Seattle has Russell Wilson; one of the most exciting young quarterbacks to come into the league in years. S.F. has Colin Kaepernick; one of the most exciting young quarterbacks to come into the league in years. Seattle has Marshawn Lynch one of the best running backs in the league. S.F. has Frank Gore; one of the best running backs in the league, and probably a future Hall of Famer. They both have stout defenses. And their two combative coaches both preach a grind it out, smash-mouth style of football. S.F. has won the NFC West each of the past two years. Seattle won it before that. And both teams have among the youngest rosters in the National Football League. So, as excellent as both teams are. They ought to be excellent for years to come.
After this week’s player acquisitions odds-makers have installed Seattle and San Francisco as co-favorites to win this next year’s Super Bowl. And being in the same division they’ll always play each other twice each season. The fact that S.F. is the team that’s geographically closest to the far-away Northwest outpost called Seattle is just the cherry on top of the Sundae.
Woody Hayes
Bo Schembechler vs Woody Hayes.
Bird vs Magic.
Richard Petty 1984
Richard Petty vs Cale Yarborough. Alydar vs Affirmed. We’re talking about this kind of historical rivalry, and it’s staring us in the face.
NY – Long Island – Belmont Park – Affirmed
It’s absolutely delicious for any sports fan. But for the long-suffering fans of Seattle it’s a banquet for a starving man. Thank you Paul Allen for the hasty decision to fire Jim Mora. Thank you Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider for the wisdom and the guts to go after Wilson. And thank you to Seattle tax payers for funding CenturyLink field‘s construction.
I can’t wait, though it’s still 6-months away. I just renewed my Seahawk season tickets for next season. My company Total Broadcasting Service will be giving some of them away, again. I’m predicting a pretty fantastic ride.
Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.
Related articles
- San Francisco 49ers reportedly set to add Anquan Boldin (mercurynews.com)
- San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks rivalry getting more heated (mercurynews.com)
- Source: San Francisco 49ers express interest in Charles Woodson (examiner.com)
- Are the Seattle Seahawks on the Verge of Becoming the Scariest Team in the NFL? (bleacherreport.com)
- The NFC West: From Worst Division in Football to the Very Best (bleacherreport.com)
- Looking To Ensure The Seahawks Win The NFC, The Vikings Trade Percy Harvin To Seattle (kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com)
- Harvin trade a coup for Seattle, huge gamble by Vikings (nfl.si.com)
- 49ers Rumors: Ed Reed, Sean Smith and Latest Buzz Involving San Francisco (bleacherreport.com)
- NFL free agents: Seahawks sign Cliff Avril, Anthony Davis gets ready (ninersnation.com)
- Harvin joining Seahawks’ quest to wrestle NFC West from 49ers (blogs.mercurynews.com)
M Schuett blah blah blah 