Our hearts are heavy these days. It will take more than a few days to recover from the last few minutes of Sunday’s game. While sometimes bordering on the irrational, our collective mania about all things Seahawks has brought us together when there seems to be so much to tear us apart.  Such sentiment comes more easily when it appears that the Seahawks are a classy squad —  disciplined, hard-working role models who care about each other. Ah, they are not perfect by any stretch —  still human, but certainly a collective group worth cheering about. They have represented our region well.

Yet, much about football leaves us conflicted.  There is the violence – the extreme risk for players’ health – the insane amount of money involved – the ticket and inflated prices for all things Seahawk. We should think harder about these issues, but for now, the tide of success has swept us beyond those worries.

What is also striking is how the game has become so much more technical. In the past, it appeared the game was more about chance and the sheer will to win.  The game has always been about power and talent and gamesmanship. Yet the application of those resources can now be laser-focused. Every move, every play, every heartbeat is measured and modeled.  On the sideline, it wasn’t just coaches gripping iPads — players were too, consulting screens between downs, recalibrating their next move. And many of us love the numbers as much as the high arc of a perfectly thrown pass or a one-handed reception. The statistics give weight to the level of performance and to the depth of the preparation. A good lesson for us all.

We also like hearing how Marshawn measures up with past heroes like Curt Warner or the Bears’  Walter Payton. Many of us remember those games and those thrills.  We look forward to many more from our team. All is not lost.