I'll share with you guys my .02 on the "12th Man Jersey" matter. As I've mentioned before several times, I'm a lifelong fan of the Seahawks. My family moved to Washington in 1977 when I was 6 years old ... and from that time on, I was a Hawks fan. I grew up with Zorn, Largent, Curt Warner, Kenny Easley, Jacob Green, etc. ... and have never ever rooted for another NFL team in my life. The Seahawks have always been my team and I've been a passionate "12" even when it seemed like absolutely nobody was. Like many of you, I lived through years of being regarded as the "Sea-Chickens" and was a loud and proud fan of this team even during the darkest of times (the Ken Behring years, going 2-14 in 1992, etc.).
And all of this brings me back to the "12th Man" Jerseys. For many years now, I've really wanted a Seahawks Jersey, but have never been able to afford one. As some of you know, I finally was able to land a full time teaching job after many years of struggle and trial. It's been a wonderful experience and my students have been great.
Well ... yesterday was my birthday. All of my students are passionate young 12's ... and know that I'm a passionate Seahawks fan as well. They absolutely blew me away on Friday with a stunning gift. They all chipped in and presented me with a Kam Chancellor Jersey. I was extremely moved (basically to tears) and thanked all of them profusely for the gift. What an amazing gesture! Unfortunately, they got me the wrong size (they got me a large and I need more of an XL if not an XXL). The kid who ended up buying it gave me the receipt and they all told me it was cool if I went out and exchanged it for whatever jersey I wanted. I was able to return it, get the money from it, and am now in the process of trying to figure out exactly what I want.
Sooooooo ... yesterday, I spent most of my time online shopping around, trying to find the best deals, and wracking my brain in an attempt to not only figure out WHOSE jersey I want. In fact, I just got back from visiting the Seahawks Team Store at Century Link and all of the team stores up and down that strip between the CLINK and Safeco.
I started off wanting a Steve Largent Jersey, as he was very much my idol growing up. I went online last night and found this one ...
http://www.seahawksstoreofficial.co...wks_Men-s_Game_Steel_Team_Color_Jersey_-_Blue
It's cool and all, but then the thought occurred to me, "Hey, Largent himself never wore this style of jersey." So, that kind of dimmed that idea a little for me. I looked at the Largent Jersey they had down there at the Seahawks team shop today ... and frankly the $150 price tag kind of gagged me a bit (though the jersey looks awesome).
Then the thought struck me -- what about getting a 12th Man Jersey instead? And frankly, that's kind of the way I'm leaning right now and I'll tell you why. Mama Blue perhaps said it best when she was asked once, "Who's your favorite Seahawk of all time?" Having been a fan of so many good players over the years, she gave a great answer, "I love all my boys!"
I can definitely relate and have to agree, as having been a fan of so many Seahawks over the years I'm kind of in the same boat. If I got a Largent Jersey ... and some day I happened to be wearing that jersey and met Russell Wilson, it would be a bit weird to ask him to sign that. For me, the same thing would be true if I got a Russell Wilson jersey and then met Richard Sherman. Seriously, would you really ask Sherm to sign that #3? But the cool thing about a 12th Man Jersey is that it's basically timeless. Whether you're talking about guys like Zorn and Largent ... Hasselbeck and Alexander ... or Wilson and Beast Mode, you could literally have any Seahawk player from any era sign that baby without batting an eye. Personally, I would absolutely LOVE to fill up that 12th Man Jersey with signatures from about every Seahawk or former Seahawk player I could find.
That would be really cool ... and how cool that this team had the foresight to retire the number 12 after the 1984 season. There is no other team in the NFL that truly has the "12's" and the type of intimate and interconnected relationship with its fans. That is something that is amazingly special and unique.
Long story to say that's where I'm personally at right now on the whole 12th Man Jersey right now.