The Twelfth Man
(The exterior of Big Pink on the eve of the Superbowl kick-off)
Today is the most amazing demonstration of the famed Weather Wall that bisects the city. Rain in Arlington and that looks like it is going to be it. Just a few miles north of here an associate of long standing is reporting four inches of snow on the ground already and the white stuff is supposed to continue to fall through the afternoon as the temperatures plummet. Whatever that weird Potomac and Chesapeake Bay weather thing is, I am glad it is working this morning.
I had eleven guests over to watch the game last night- and interesting fusion of the Willow Regulars and Big Pink stalwarts. It was a grand time, evenly balanced between the two worlds I periodically inhabit, even if the game sucked. In fact, they are saying this might have been the worst championship game ever.
I was pleased for my pals who were backing the Hawks- particularly those in the Denver area, though it is a challenge to be a low-profile Seattle fan in the heart of Bronco Country.
We used to have something like that here in DC, what with those hated Cowboys, but that rivalry has paled as the Deadskins continue to bump around in the basement of the NFL.
So there was a lot of talk this morning about ball control, and the relative merits of a Hall of Fame Quarterback versus a staunch and unyielding defense.
I stopped caring sometime in the First Quarter. I was determined to use every plate and container in the apartment to service the crowd.
Just finished taking the trash out and recycling- with the guests numbering the same total as the offensive and defensive platoons on the field in West Rutherford, I realized I was The Twelfth Man, and threw myself into the entertaining mode.
Seahawk’s fans are known as the loudest in the NFL, so much so that the league instituted a noise rule in 1985 to minimize their impact on visiting teams. Despite the rule, the 12th MAN continues the tradition, giving the Seahawks a home field advantage to this day. They even retired “#12” from the list of active jerseys.
I aspire to retire, so it was appropriate. I don’t think I raised my voice, though.
It has been a while since I tried to entertain. Living upstairs on the fourth deck it was just too hard to coordinate the comings-and-goings of a big gang, and most set-piece social functions have been restricted to some gatherings down at Refuge Farm. It was therapeutic and kept my mind off a conversation I had earlier in the day that upends the course of the winter.
I completely missed the opening safety against the Broncos, and then stopped paying attention to the game in the second quarter as I was putting food out- slow-cooked tri-tip roast from a Culpeper cow, Kate Jansen’s Kummelweck rolls from Willow, potato puffs and that appallingly delicious cheesy-sausage dip, shrimp, beers cocktails and an ocean of wine.
A pal summed up the game nicely- he had been celebrating with turkey chili with all the fixings, and his post game analysis will stand (for me) for the ages:
“The Broncs stayed with those crossing routes even when it became clear there was no gain coming after the catch. In fact, I found it surprising the receivers continued to run E/W after the catch, instead of quick turn N/S, like they didn’t know where the markers were — cost them at least four first downs that I remember. Should have been caught by the OC or booth spotters early. But those two deep safeties just stole the game from Manning, denied the verticals and were super fast closing the crossing routes. MVP should have been Cliff Avril, charging in with hands up – causing two interceptions, lots of bad balls from tips or PM struggling to throw over his hands, one fumble.”
“Hawks won the Super Bowl two weeks ago against the Niners, just came by to pick up the trophy yesterday!”
I feel like hell this morning, football is finally over. Next up is March Madness and the azaleas of The Masters golf tournament. I have no idea what life has in store for this bold new year, beyond those metrics of the changing season.
Six more weeks of winter, and though I may be disoriented, the good news is that it is NOT snowing.
Copyright 2014 Vic Socotra
Twitter: @jayare303
February 3, 2014
DailySocotra
