Seahawks use ping pong as an escape from football
Oct 22, 2015, 6:41 AM | Updated: 10:03 am
The Seattle Seahawks have embraced ping pong as an escape method from football. Steven Hauschka, the team's kicker, is praised as the best player, KIRO Radio's Josh Kerns reports.
Editor’s note: Sorry, no photos of the Seahawks playing ping pong. Pictures are not allowed in the locker room.
As the Seahawks prepare for a recent practice at their training center, it’s clear many are focused on the big game.
“They get pretty intense, man,” Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin explains.
Irvin isn’t talking about Thursday night’s showdown against the arch-rival 49ers. He’s talking about the regular ping pong battles that go on every day in the locker room.
“It takes our minds off football, get us away from the football world a little bit,” he says.
The two tables are always occupied. The action is fierce, and there’s plenty of trash talk. Just ask center Drew Nowak, who is considered one of the best players.
“Bruce Irvin talks the most … talking but not doing anything.”
Michael Bennett and Alvin Bailey also get high marks for their verbal acumen.
“I can beat Jimmy Graham at ping pong — definitely,” Bailey says. “His skill set is nowhere near mine. There’s no comparison, none at all.
“No discontent, just confidence,” he explains.
The good-natured disagreements are all in fun. But there’s one area where there’s no doubt: kicker Steven Hauschka is as much money on the tables as he is on the field. Just ask his long snapper Clint Gresham.
“Hands down, best ping pong player we’ve ever seen.”
Should we be impressed?
“You should be impressed,” Gresham says. “I’ve never seen him lose.”
Hauschka won’t disagree.
“I think so…” he says.
Is that because he’s the kicker? He has more time?
“Hand-eye coordination,” Hauschka says. “Nothing else. It’s a fun game to play.”
Even Irvin begrudgingly acknowledges Hauschka’s dominance.
“Hauschka’s the best, ’cause he’s white and he grew up playing that. White people put their kids in ping pong early,” he says jokingly.
And just like on the field, the guys are always looking to get better. Of course, the master is more than willing to help.
“They’re respectful,” Hauschka says. “I’ve given some of the guys lessons, too.”
Hauschka says the game has always been popular in the locker room, at least since he joined the team back in 2011.
“I’ve been playing since I got here. We’ve had a bunch of good players,” he says. Those players included Matt Flynn, Bryan Walters, and Golden Tate. “I’m still around and get to beat up on some of these guys.”
But given how competitive the Seahawks are, Hauschka knows he has to keep his game sharp, because just like on the field there’s always somebody gunning to take his title on the tables.
