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Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) sit on the bench during the second half of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 30-28. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Are the 2012 Seahawks the 1977-78 Sonics?

BY Tom Tangney  on January 14, 2013 @ 7:55 am (Updated: 9:29 am - 1/14/13 )

"Walking off the field, I got so excited for the next opportunity. I'm looking forward to what we have in the future."
- Russell Wilson

The future is for losers. Even when the future is as bright as it is for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, to have to talk about the future means we're not talking about the now. And that stings. It stings big time.

So rather than looking to the future, I say "Look to the past." This may only make sense to longtime Seattle sports fans, but for me the 2012 Seahawks are the 1977-78 Sonics.

Everyone always talks about the NBA world-champion 78-79 Sonics but the team that has my heart is from the year before.

The Sonics that year had come out of nowhere. They started off 5 and 17. The team was so bad, they fired the coach after only 22 games. They hired Lenny Wilkins, and the Sonics soared. They went from the dregs of the league all the way to the NBA finals, losing only in the final seconds of Game 7 of the NBA championship.

The Sonics of course won the championship the following year, but for me, the year that really counted was the one they lost.

It was magical because it was so unexpected. We were the ultimate Cinderella story - and it was so crushing when our carriage turned into a pumpkin. Fairytales are supposed to have happy endings. To lose it at the very end after such a charmed run, to come so close to the perfect ending ... what can I say? It haunts me still.

Winning the next year, after everyone already knew we were a very good team, was fine and all but it couldn't take away the sting of the year before. It never has, all these years later.

So Hawks fans, I say feel the pain, feel the sting of that excruciating loss to Atlanta. You might as well wallow in that sting because that sting is going to last a long, long time.

Even IF that future is as rosy as all Seahawks fans surely hope it will be, even IF the Seahawks go all the way next year and win the Super Bowl, I'm here to tell you yesterday's disappointment is not going away.

Tom Tangney, KIRO Radio Host
Tom Tangney is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle's Morning News and resident enthusiast of...everything. He loves books, movies, TV, art, pop culture, politic, sports, and Husky football.
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Comments (7)


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  • dI2GER wrote...
    Opening Quote
    January 14, 2013 7:40 am
    from our QB, Russell Wilson, says it all. I was completely disappointed yesterday. Today, I am over it, nothing we can do about it. Moving on...I AM the 12th man!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BTBasics wrote...
    What a Debby Downer
    January 14, 2013 8:13 am
    I'm a big Seahawks fan and was very disappointed with the loss but very happy with the season and the ride. But sports teams do not define my life and I'm over it and looking forward to next year. Thanks Seahawks Tom you're a movie guy and can't understand reality.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AZ HAWKSFAN wrote...
    1978 Sonics...I remember it well.........
    January 14, 2013 10:25 am
    And I detest Brent Musberger ever since with his "...not over 'till the fat lady sings..." B.S.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NRFully83 wrote...
    Wow..
    January 14, 2013 12:57 pm
    ..Thanks a lot for making me feel better. We lost and can't do anything about the past. We/the team can only control the future. I hope that bad taste in their mouth gives them so much focus, drive and motivation to win it all next year that that "chip on their shoulder" turns into a huge plate of nachos. This may be the beginning of something great. Now, we are just happy with being good or making the playoffs. We want more. We need more because it was so close.
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  • NRFully83 wrote...
    RE: Wow..
    January 14, 2013 12:58 pm
    just for the record the "thanks a lot for making me feel better" comment was total sarcasm.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Soniccourt wrote...
    This is almost as bad as 78 Sonic loss
    January 14, 2013 1:04 pm
    This is almost as bad as 78 Sonic loss, but that was worse as it was game 7 of the finals at home. I was there with my BF and sitting next to Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward, who were for the Bullets. I hope this works out, for the Seahawks, like the next year did for the Sonics! Seattles only Championship! But I hope the Seahawks don't trade away the team if they win , like the Sonics did.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    This argument
    January 15, 2013 9:04 pm
    may have been relevant in 2006, but, in case I missed it, the Seahawks did not make it to the Super Bowl this year and lose. They fell even before the NFC championship game.

    The loss stings, but the comparison to the 77-78 Sonics is unwarranted...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }