The loyalty of a sports fan

Today I’d like to talk about loyalty and unity.

After our Monday night tilt against the New Orleans Saints, my beloved Seahawks currently “boast” a 2-5 record. That is a .286 winning percentage, which is especially painful when the Arizona Cardinals in our division have a 1.000 winning percentage with a 7-0 record.

An aerial view of the new Lumen Field stadium signage during the day.

Lumen Field, the Seahawks home stadium, was once the most dreaded place to play for opponents. Now it seems there is not much of an advantage, as the Hawks are 0-3 at home thus far.

These are the times when one’s fandom is tested. It is easy to be a fan when your team is winning, regularly in the playoffs, and, in really good years, appears to be a Superbowl contender. But I believe true loyalty is revealed when the team is struggling to meet expectations. I think back to the early days of the Seahawks. An expansion team in 1976, it would take until 1988 for the Seahawks to win their first division title and until 2005 before their first Superbowl appearance (a devastating loss to the Pittsburg Steelers). And there have been many lean years throughout the team’s 45-year existence. The Seahawks have had a special kind of success since Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, and Bobby Wagner have taken the helm, but this year is different. If I’m being honest, I don’t see this team improving much this year. I’m predicting a final record of 8-9 and that is if Russell can return from his injury after the bye week.

I think of Cleveland Browns fans. Year after year of futility and disappointment, but every time I see a home game of theirs, the fans are there (sometimes with paper bags on their heads, but still there), cheering the team on and hoping for victory – or better, long term success. I admire those fans. It is hard to muster enthusiasm in the face of almost certain (and repeated) disappointment. It is in the difficult times that truth is revealed. And doesn’t that apply outside the sports world as well?

One of the things I love about sports (especially live sports) is the sense of unity it provides. Whether it’s a group of 30 parents seated along a soccer field cheering on our daughters, or 65,000+ screaming fans at a football field. It doesn’t matter what color skin you have, where you fall on the political spectrum, if you subscribe to a certain religion (or don’t). Except for the few opposing team’s fans, we lift our voices (loudly) as one toward a common goal. This sense of connection sometimes feels as if it is slipping away in our world today, when connection can be one of our greatest strengths.

So, I urge you, when adversity finds you – and it always will, know that if you can survive it, you will emerge stronger, and you will find truths about yourself and others. And in these times when it seems everything is intent on tearing us apart, find ways to connect with others and lift one another up.

Much love to you all!

- Christina

Koné Consulting
CELEBRATING 11 YEARS INSPIRING CHANGE
AND LASTING IMPROVEMENTS

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