Madden Curse Gets Shoved

It seems weird, but does anyone else get the feeling that Shaun Alexander's 40 carry, 201 yard performance is being overlooked?

The reigning MVP absolutely tees off on the Green Bay defense and the main topic of discussion has been on whether or not Jerramy Stevens can catch a football or not. To me, this makes no sense what so ever. One of the best players to don the Seahawk uniform announces to the league that he's ready to go, possibly adding "Come get some" and we talk about Stevens (who, if I may go old school, is a lucky hooker....he doesn't catch anything. Please tell me you got that reference to last year)

As I thought about this game, does this shut up those yuppies that seemed overjoyed that their beloved "Madden Curse" would carry on for one more year.

**We interrupt this column for a quick rant about "curses"**

Curses do not exist in sports, or anywhere else for that matter. Why do Super Bowl losers not make it back? Injuries, mostly. Its not some voodoo curse. Why have the Cubs not won a World Series in 100 years. Some tin-can eating goat? No, its called fielding a terrible team for 100 years. Why do Madden cover boys go down? Its a physical game, injuries happen. There is no black magic coming out of the EA Sports laboratory. So please, for your own sake, please stop believing in curses.

**Resume not as angry portion of column**

When the player gracing the cover of Madden goes down, SportsCenter barely has enough time to sweep the confetti off the anchor desk before air time. For at least the past three seasons, the demise of these players has been the most anticipated story of the year.

As you might tell, this annoys me just a bit.

So, Shaun goes down with a broken foot, struggles before that, and it seems like the "curse" lives on for another year.

Then Monday night happened. And, I have to ask those who believe that Trip Hawkins is dripping sheep's blood on a #37 jersey, does this one game change your perspective? Perhaps if he'd scored a touchdown it would seem more jinx breaking, but Alexander's performance seems like a good way to start.

For a night, he was himself again. He was the MVP we remember, and its impact was immediately noticeable. And if he can put up these numbers again for the remainder of the season, I think we can finally bury the Madden Curse once and for all.

And then salt the Earth so that it never comes back again.
(to comment, click the green number to the right of the title above)

Knockout Pool: Week 13

Holy Hannah! There's a Game Tomorrow Night!

Of course, anyone with NFL Network has been getting those "Run To The Playoffs" commercials shoved down our throats since April, so it's really not surprising news afterall. I've just been very busy at work and since I got knocked out, this post hasn't been my number one priority!! I promise I'll update the Contenders and Picks link this week though.

All three remaining contestants survived last week, although I'm sure CalFan was a little nervous during the first 30 minutes of the MNF game.

Your pick must be submitted the day before the game, and if you don't submit a pick for a week you will be DQed. To submit your pick, either post it in the Comments section, or email me at albanyhawker@seahawkblue.com. I will post the picks in the Contenders link, along with the teams used each week.

Good luck!

This Week's Matchups

Contenders and Picks

Official Knock Out Pool Rules

(to comment, click the green number to the right of the title above)

Ka-Jay-Goo-Goo

In light of the recent steroid debate heating up again thanks to Mark McGwire having the nerve to have his name on the Hall Of Fame ballot, and with our old rival meeting up with us once again...I find it fitting to introduce you to two big figures. One literally.

Meet Jay Cutler:

Yes, that, believe it or not, is the most famous of the Jay Cutlers.

Hes got pecks. Hes got arms. Hes got a good hair cut. Hes clearly not shy. But hes not Joe Tafoya. Or his twin brother, Craig Terrill.


Meet Jay Cutler Number Douche...Oops, I Mean Deuce:


Hes getting picks. Hes got two arms...ughhh ok not so much compared to the other guy. And his haircut is as uneven as Dennis Rodman. He may be a little shy cause he clearly hasn't gotten out enough to know that his haircut went out of style after Mo Howard retired from the Three Stooges. I couldn't look at him eye to eye...I know that much.

The former Jay I cant provide depth on. But with that physique you'd have to guess that there is some space to rent between his ears.

The latter Jay is someone who could be decent in his career. He has very good accuracy. His arm strength is enough for him to survive. Hes a very good thinker in the pocket. He has the leadership abilities and the confidence to have players feed off him. Hes tough and athletic. And has a good pocket presence. You must wonder why his college team sucked so much. Can he win in the big leagues?

The biggest problem for him standing in his way is the pressure of the playoff race, while running into a team that is poised to reclaim its throne.

Somewhere, in the great Northwest, someone is breathing heavy. Someone is out for blood. Someone wants him to fear them. The Seahawks. Are the Seahawks finally ready? Or was the last game part of the inconsistency? My thoughts are that this team is ready. Noone knew when they would come back. They were forgotten in the middle of the new powers rising. Does Denver know what they are getting into?

Hush hush.

Jay Cutler, meet the Seahawks---eye to eye.





(to comment, click the green number to the right of the title above)

Jerramy Stevens: Ready to Breakout or About to Bust?

I'm not the biggest Jerramy Stevens fan. I got the impression while he was in college that he might be one of those players who always leaves you wanting a little more. I felt Stevens and Seattle would have been better off without each other given his reputation, rap sheet, and the demands of the position in Holmgren's version of the West Coast offense...

See the rest on Page Two

(to comment, click the green number to the right of the title above)

Matt Hasselbeck Meets Old Man Winter

Oh My God! This was War! In the first quarter Matt was 2004, unsure and inexperienced. In the second quarter, Matt was 2002. Matt has 9 interceptions this season. Not bad considering that the team record is 7-up and 4 down. Thru 11 games Cool Hand Luke has 9 picks. Could be worse. But then again, Matt had only nine thieves cashing in on his ill-gotten bootie though out all of last season, including the Playoffs and the Superbowl. Matt threw more picks last night than the chain gang working on the Rail Road in 1864.

Ok, Ok. So I’m being a bit hard on Mathew. He has after all, given Seattle it’s only Superbowl birth in Franchise history. You’d figure that I would cut him a little slack.

Sorry Matt, that’s the price you pay for tea in China. That’s because you have raised my expectations as a Seahawks fan and for that I thank you. Before you arrived, all we had was Dave Krieg and a couple of really great playoff years. Now we accept nothing less than excellence.

Enter Old Man Winter. He was your Mentor. He showed you what NFL tough was really about. Though you only played under his Tutelage for a meger three years, you and your coach, were wisked away into the Seattle Abyss to start a new Quest. (<---noted)

Mike Holmgren has now been a coach in Seattle longer than he was a coach for the Pack. I didn’t realize that it has been that long.

Bret Farve entered the game as the Lion on the hill. Old Man Winter has played in 16 stadiums that no longer exist, this was his Quest Field debut and it looked for all intensive purposes that he would own this one too. He showed his student that tough still throws laser passes after 13 years as well as long bombs that connect to Donald Driver After the student popped up two picks in his first two possessions. Before we knew it, 12 seconds passed and the Master had racked up yet another TD in his storied career. It wasn’t looking good for Hass. What it was looking like was that the master was going to school the Lamb convincingly. Only there was one small problem, make that two big problems. Mike wasn’t about to let his new student lose to the old student.

Make that his new steam roller. Matt found his Gonya, and rode the Coat tails of Alexander The Great, who took it upon himself to gallop to a Paultry 200 and one of I still love you Shaun, yards. Alexander put this game on his shoulders and Matt followed suit. DJ Hackett fired the first spark late in the first half and Holmgrens half time pep talk fired up the Hawk offense that we have waited the entire season to see. Little did we notice that the Seattle defense refused to not only give up yards, but they refused to give up points thru the third quarter. Had it not been for a few errand passes from our humble leader, the Green bay Packers would have likely put up a mere 10 points in the Monday Night Malay.

Tho I have not been an avid supporter of Jeramy Stevens, I think a record crowd of 68,000 people need to get off his back. All of you fools that are booing him for last nights efforts need to take a reality check. You try taking the shots that he took, like a knee to the ribs at 30 mph in the back and hang on to the damned ball. Go ahead, try it. I'll wait...Tick tock....Thats what I thought.

(to comment, click the green number to the right of the title above)