Columbia Basin Herald Online Newspaper

Local News - Moses Lake, WA - Grant County

Seattle's Seahawks

Posted: Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 04:49:48 pm PDT
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Ten years ago Paul Allen and the Seattle Seahawks took a step in spreading the sense of ownership of the team out. He gave it more of a Washington feel, rather than just a Seattle-only club.

The Seahawks began training at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. They spent 10 years practicing amongst us.

Fans from Eastern Washington rejoiced at how easy it was to drive to the stadium to watch NFL all-stars in person, practicing for the upcoming season. We could take our kids to gather autographs ... or pick up a few for ourselves.

It was wonderful to see a professional sports team, on a national level, east of the Cascades. It gave many Eastern Washington fans an impression that the Seahawks cared about us. It was our team too. They practiced amongst us.

Now, it is officially over.

On July 29, Seattle's Seahawks start training camp in Kirkland, a part of Seattle. Their new camp facilities are next to Northwest University, where players are going to be housed while practicing.

The Seattle Times reports the team's new location doesn't provide enough access to the public as Cheney did. This seems to be a lack of parking and infrastructure.

The team's organization is building a "future home" for the Seahawks at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton. Let's hope they put a roof on this "home." It should provide the space fans need to watch their favorite player.

We are still fervent fans of the Seahawks. We will still watch them on television, wear the jerseys and cheer them on despite how they do. We are still waiting for them to bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy we deserve ... without someone "steel-ing" it.

But their plan to stay in Seattle for camp takes away a bit of our enthusiasm. When the team was spread out across the state for the season, we had a chance to host our favorite team. They were part of the Eastern Washington family. Now they appear to be distant cousins, who are too busy in their Seattle lifestyle to visit.

Yes, we are whining. We miss the Seahawks. We remain the twelfth man.

-- #12 Editorial board


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* All comment posts will encounter a possible delay of up to 24 hours.

Jim wrote on Jul 25, 2007 9:32 AM:

" It doesn't matter, a little or a lot. They were over here for a week. That almost covered it. NOW we get nothing in return. Why are you so close minded? Talk about arrogant! "

Daler wrote on Jul 24, 2007 9:12 PM:

" WHAT?????...... If D.M. thinks our tax dollars don't support the westsiders, he has got his head too far in the sand. It all started with the Kingdome. Hey! "yall pay so we can play. Wasn't that John Spellman's moto? Or are you pld enough to know who John Spellman was? I've been hollaring for years for the east side of the state to seceed from western WA and become a state it's self. "

D. M. Johnson wrote on Jul 24, 2007 8:18 AM:

" Hotel and car rental tax is how the hawks-safeco field are funded. Does not take a farmer to figure out that the West side is paying more of the bill then the Eastside. So as far as being tired of thinking your paying the bill on the Eastside Think again. "

Jim wrote on Jul 23, 2007 10:47 AM:

" Last time I checked our tax dollars went into building those stadiums over there. It not a matter of whining or complaining. Its about about explaining how we feel about loosing something over here that we have had and that we have loved to watch. I am as tired as every other person on this side of the mountains of seeing our money fund that side. It was nice to see it on our side, even if it was for a week. "

D. M. Johnson wrote on Jul 23, 2007 9:54 AM:

" Wah Wah seems like more then whining to me. If you choose to live in Eastern WA how can you complain about a Western Wa team not wanting play in your back yard. I guess you can not have your cake and eat it too. Now it is OUR turn!! "

Packman wrote on Jul 22, 2007 8:06 PM:

" As a radio-host/reporter for KBSN I certainly enjoyed reporting from Cheney, Seahawks training camp. I was just as enthuised as the 7th grader standing next to me waiting to see his favorite Seahawk and hoping to get an autograph. Probably the most memorble moment was talking with Coach Mike Holmgren. It was a very nice gesture on the Seahawks part to have the camp at Cheney. During thier superbowl run it was very evident that they were completely prepared during that summer training camp. The Seahawks are a very classy organization and perhaps should have won thier first Lombardi Trophy in 2005. Having them abandon Eastern Washington is a marketing blunder. Disenfranchising the fans from the across the state sends the wrong message. NFL Teams have always used facilities in proximity of the state to garner fan appreciation. Most camps are held at some college or complex off site of the actual stadium or close to it. This marketing strategy is used to build fan base. It looks as if Mr. Allan maybe turning his back on the great fans in Eastern Washington and the Central Basin. That is really a shame because I have met alot of diehard Seahawk fans in the basin. I was one of many at the soccer field forming the 12th man for the Herald photo on the eve of the Superbowl! Although I feel for your loss I do have to crow a little bit. By the time this editorial is posted I will be enjoying the Packers Training in Green Bay. Maybe my son will get the opportunity for a packer to ride his bike to the practice field. He already has several autographs. The players are just that approachable here. I am looking foward to the pre season game 8-18-2007 against Seattle. It should be fun! Go Pack Go Mike "Packman" Howell Green Bay, Wisconsin "

JC wrote on Jul 22, 2007 12:18 AM:

" another sad move for the seahawks. this insured the eastern backing . i am a cowboys fan anyhow but i feel for the seahawk fans and my own sons. GO COWBOYS!!! "

LOCAL wrote on Jul 20, 2007 9:30 AM:

" Thats to bad, that was the only reason i would cheer for the Seahawks. "

Daler wrote on Jul 20, 2007 8:13 AM:

" I think the point was, was that the Seahawks have moved out of eastern WA and left a big empty spot in us. And now we feel like the redheaded stepchildren of the state again. (No offense intended to anyone with red hair) Too bad eastern Wa is treated so. But, it probably costs the team a lot of money shutteling back and forth. "

Stephen wrote on Jul 20, 2007 7:59 AM:

" Actually the team has conducted training camp in Cheney since their inception in 1976. I used to live across the parking lot from their practice field when I attended EWU in the seventies. Although the team probably won't be returning to Cheney, the restriction on fans watching training camp will last only this season. When their new facility is completed next year, there will be plenty of accomodations for fans to watch training camp, though it will be in Western Washington. "