Summer Sunday Open Thread: The NFL Game That Changed Your Life
Maybe "changed your life" is a little dramatic, but... well, you get the point.
What NFL game will you always remember? Which one did you see in the stands, or on the TV, that most exemplifies why you love this game?
Doesn't have to be a Seahawks game (in fact, mine isn't) -- just any single game that's most seared in your memory.
I'll tell you mine later... you go first. Have a good week.
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Memory
My Mother would scream the most elaborate stream of invective at the screen for hours on end. That team pissed her off soooo much. They were mediocre enough to get one's hopes up and then dash them, time and time again. Every time it was, "...this time is different, they're finally putting it togeth....GOD DAMMMIT!!!"
That's what got me to love this team. That passion she showed every Sunday has passed on a legacy in me. God bless you, Mom.
by Saluboy on Jul 9, 2006 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
2 of 'em
As much as I poke fun at the current 49ers on this site, the fact remains that, having grown up in Northern California in the 1980's, I loved 'em. And still do, to be honest -- if they made the playoffs and the Seahawks didn't, I'd root for the Niners. When I see them play the Hawks this season there'll be a lump in my throat, since I never saw them play live.
So, of course, the first game I'm going to cite is the NFC Championship game against the Cowboys in 1982, where Dwight Clark made "The Catch." Locally the Niners had already ended years of domination by the Raiders that season. The '81 Raiders season saw the Silver and Black getting shut out three weeks in a row by Detroit, Denver and KC. The last of those losses came in Week 6, the same week the 49ers beat the seemingly invincible Cowboys 45-14. The next Monday the headline of the Sacramento Bee read "The Banner Moves Across the Bay."
Everyone knows what happened in that NFC Championship game; you can search for "The Catch" on Wikipedia, and you'd find an entry for it. That game knocked everyone in NoCal for a loop. It became more legendary after the fact when we learned Joe Montana did not actually see Clark make the catch; he'd been leveled by a Cowboy after releasing the ball. Everyone was shocked. We had no idea that we were seeing the beginning of a dynasty; we were just focusing on the monkey getting off the Niners' backs.
The second game was last year's contest between Seattle and the New York Giants, otherwise known as Feely's Folly. It was the third NFL game I'd attended. It made my list for several reasons, but the biggest was the emotional hell it put me through in the fourth quarter and overtime period.
Our entire row was vacated by that time, except for me, my partner, our daughter, and one other couple far to our left. Everytime the game seemed out of hand, Feely would miss. And after every miss I had a mini-breakdown, pacing the whole of our abandoned aisle like an expectant father in the delivery room. It was awe-inspiring madness.
Then when Josh Brown finally made the winning kick in overtime, everyone went nuts. That was the first week we realized that these Hawks were really different. Beating Dallas a few weeks before -- when we really shouldn't have -- signaled that these Seahawks might not fold down the stretch as they were famous for doing. The game against the Giants was the first time any of us used the phrase "a team of destiny" about the Seahawks. It was mainly incredible luck.
Now, granted, the Hawks made sure Feely didn't have a chance to win the game with a chip shot field goal -- they did manage to keep all his attempts over 40 yards in the final moments. But anyone who was there will tell you the Hawks were extremely charmed in that game.
After Brown made the field goal, three couples in my immediate space kissed each other. This doesn't really happen that often. I think Kate and I did too but I don't recall. We might have been too busy exhaling.
I also won a Anheuser-Busch "Good Sport" jacket at that game, and got my picture and name on the DiamondVision in the 4th quarter, but I had to remind myself of that.
by Shrug on Jul 10, 2006 12:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I jumped so high
by Scruffy Lefty on Jul 10, 2006 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at this game also
One of the best moments from this game comes via Jeremy Shockey. He was just sure that Feely was going to hit the game-winner. So he starts celebrating and realizes that his kicker missed the field goal. Check it out:

by Phildopip on Jul 10, 2006 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shockey
by Elmer McJimsey on Jul 10, 2006 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My favorite game
That game will always stand in my mind because I just remember how boring it was until the 4th quarter. Then the 4th quarter happen and it was just big play after big play. I almost had a heart attack and I was 19 at the time.
by Scruffy Lefty on Jul 10, 2006 11:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
n/s
by Shrug on Jul 10, 2006 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that game was amazing
by Nadingo on Jul 12, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We thought nothing of it, actually.
by Shrug on Jul 12, 2006 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
November 11, 2001
http://bremertonians.blogspot.com/2003/11/two-six-six-number-of-beast.html
by Jeremy on Jul 10, 2006 2:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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