‘Enjoy it’: Gee labels Hawks, Mariners successes as golden age of sports in Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks are following one of the best Mariners’ seasons in franchise history with one of its own, making the NFC Championship game for the fifth time while winning a franchise-record 14 games in the regular season. For the first time in Seattle’s history, both teams won their divisions in the same year.

Because of this, many are wondering whether Seattle has entered its golden age for professional sports. Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, both widely agreed that the current era of Seattle’s sports scene is, bar none, the best it’s ever been in the city.

“Yes, this is the golden age of sports in Seattle. A lot of these players have loved these teams and this city, but it only matters when you win,” Gee said. “Now, if there’s someone who disagrees with this year being the golden age, then what year would it be that you believe was a golden age?”

One could argue that another notable moment in Seattle sports lore would be sometime in the mid-1990s. The Seattle SuperSonics made the NBA Finals in 1996, losing to the Chicago Bulls in six games, during a run of eight straight playoff appearances. The Seattle Mariners won 90 games in 1997 and made the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons (the Mariners failed to make the postseason in its first 18 years until 1995).

Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks suffered a 7-9 record in 1996 and was in the midst of a 10-year playoff drought.

“There was the golden age back in the 90s. But I think this year has been maybe above the top as the golden age for Seattle sports as a whole, because it’s the first time this year both the Mariners and the Seahawks won their divisions,” said Nick Creasia, KIRO Newsradio board operator. “Now, at this point, both of them have reached their conference championship, which is rare. Never happened here before.”

Seattle superstars shine alongside team success

In the past few years alone, Seattle’s sports superstars have flourished, with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh winning the MLB home run title and Home Run Derby, Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaking the franchise record for receiving yards in a single season, and a First-Team All-Pro selection (while also the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year, as of this reporting), all while both teams made deep playoff runs alongside the city’s passionate fanbase.

“I can’t remember when we have been this successful. Usually, we had a horrible Mariners season, but we’re going to count on the Seahawks to brighten things up,” Ursula said. “We haven’t had an NBA team, so we can’t count on that.”

The 2013 season is another candidate for golden age status. The Seahawks won their lone Super Bowl title and followed it up with another NFC Championship in 2014, though the Felix Hernandez-Kyle Seager-led Mariners squads finished fourth in the AL West with a 71-91 record in 2013.

“These moments don’t come around too often. For example, Ursula, what were you doing back when the Seahawks were on their run to the Super Bowl?” Gee asked. “You have a vivid memory of where you were, who you were with, and everything. When you have these moments, you need to enjoy them. Ask the Cleveland Browns, Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals fans. There are a lot of bad teams right now. This century has been really good for the Seahawks fans. Right now is a very important time in sports; enjoy it.”

Other notable moments that could be considered a golden age include the mid- to late 1970s. Seattle welcomed two new sports franchises, with the Seahawks playing its inaugural game in 1976, and the Mariners debuting in 1977, while the SuperSonics made consecutive NBA Finals appearances in the late 1970s, capturing the franchise’s lone title in 1979.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.