Chill Sports

Valentine’s Day came and went a couple weeks ago and I, like many others, spent the day trying to think as little of it as possible. In turn, this of course kept it at the very forefront of my mind for the entire 24 hours (granted, the bombardment of emails and advertisements for couples-themed products I received for days on end leading up to the wretched holiday were partially to blame). Still, in my newfound journey towards continual self-improvement, I’ve learned that a little introspection should always be welcome in our lives, even when it’s difficult-- for instance, regarding our personal histories of decision-making and commitment. After all, being aware of our own flaws is perhaps the most powerful tool in our arsenal to aid with our own betterment. Naturally, I concluded that the problem isn’t me and instead turned my attention towards criticizing others with commitment issues, as I am, clearly, a very emotionally healthy person. And I could think of no person, or group of pe...

When analysts are asked to talk about the qualities that make Jimmy Garoppolo a good starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, they often resort to the same subset of talking points: accuracy , leadership , poise under pressure , and intelligence . This is, however, in spite of the fact that Garoppolo as a quarterback does not actually possess many of these qualities. He’s frustratingly jumpy in the pocket with spotty footwork, has trouble deciphering blitzes and making smart decisions when they do arrive, and is accurate only when the system around him simplifies the game down for him to near-rookie levels. His abilities as a leader of men has, for the most part, never been in question, but in truth he has quietly shown a consistent pattern of an unwillingness to take accountability in losses -- including after his disastrous performance in a Sunday Night Football loss to an equally disastrous Broncos team -- and reportedly has a habit of “ van...

It’s hard to put into words just how much this past decade of Seahawks football has meant to their fans as well as to the city of Seattle as a whole. It’s been an unimaginable prize for the fans who toughed it out through decades of mediocrity and for the newer sports fans alike, but more than that, Seahawks football is a pervasive and inescapable part of Seattle culture. Image Source You can see ‘12’ flags outside houses, classrooms, and businesses anywhere in the state. Likely a majority of the greater Seattle area wears Seahawks gear or team colors every ‘Blue Friday’ before a game. The games themselves are perhaps the most powerful community bonding event in the Pacific Northwest. Even for those who don’t follow football, it’s a welcome excitement whenever the weekend rolls around. For these reasons, it’s equally hard to put into words how heartbreaking Tuesday, March 9 was to the team’s faithful. In the darkest day in Seahawks history since that play , two of the last remnants of ...