Back in 2012, Russell Wilson walked into the away team's tunnel after a heart-daggering loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs. This was a game that any player and coach for the Seahawks knew they should have won. Coach Pete Carroll has said on numerous occasions that he didn't get "100 steps..." or so into the tunnel before Russell came up to him and said in paraphrase: "Coach, we are going to win the Super Bowl next year."
It was a remarkable insight and a hint of presumptuousness that is rare for a rookie QB.
That Super Bowl played in New Orleans just weeks later was attended by one Russell Wilson. Rumor has it he showed up early, walked the field and observed the stretching routines of the 49ers and Ravens for one simple reason; He wanted to visualize what it looked like to be in the Super Bowl. He took it in, every moment, observing what he would always say for years to come, no matter the importance of the game, the field is still just "53.3 yards wide and 100 yards long" emphasizing what was the central paradigm of Pete Carroll which is to not treat any game like it's more important than any other. In the end, it's just football. That way you are neutral in your collective emotions for any game, great or small.
We all know what was to become of the next season when Russell and the LOB enjoyed the first Championship in team history with a massive exclamation mark against which was at the time the most prolific offense in the history of the NFL.
To truncate the story, some very important markers changed Russell. His marriage to the lukewarm pop star Ciara and the infamous ending to Super Bowl 49 against the Patriots that is still debated feverishly to this day.
These elements simply changed the man.
Somewhere in this general timeline, Russell went from "no time to sleep" to living and breathing for his "brand" and "legacy". Suddenly, perfume endorsements and front cover magazine shots (appearing naked from the waist up on a horse) seemed to be the new focus. Not that he stopped football altogether but it became a clear and concise directive to build his self-perceived brand. This became a fracture to the health of the locker room, which is one of the most underrated aspects of a Championship-caliber team.
As the years rolled on it became more and more clear that that elusive second ring was existentially floating away like the volleyball ironically named "Wilson" in Tom Hank's movie Castaway.
The ugly narrative of Russ not being "black enough" compiled with his clear separation from his teammates and being coddled by Pete Carroll further strengthened the vast cavernous divide. Suddenly, the upstart quarterback became inflamed by desire for ego-centric pursuits completing the tragic end to what could have been a - dare we say - dynasty.
We all know how the story ends. Russell demanded more control of the offense so he could "cook". It worked brilliantly, until it didn't. Allegedly he asked ownership to remove Pete and John so he could basically run the team as he saw fit. He ended up shipped to Denver and received his just desserts.
Still, regardless of career trajectory, acute tone-deafness and ego-driven pursuits, it seems somehow cruel how he is now received by the average fan. Especially Seahawks fans. Somehow, like magic, all the years that he was a magician on the field, creating victories from the mouth of defeat, have been erased from the memories of many. All that seems to matter now is the breakup and his apparent demise.
He's become a caricature. Forgotten is his ability to lead his men into battle ("Why not us?!"), his earnest desire to help others and ultimately his seemingly genuine desire to be a decent human being.
Russell's relentless passion to win MVP or another ring may or may not ever come to light (and the ultimate destination of Canton is seemingly more and more distant by the day).
Whether it's a lesson in human condition or the perpetual pursuit of success becomes the same side of a shiny coin.
Russell Wilson for all of his success and failures, is a mirror to all of us. We all have our moments of glory within our lives, as well as the shadows of regret we all wish to forget.
In the end, what none of us can deny, is that he's one of us.
Human.
It was a remarkable insight and a hint of presumptuousness that is rare for a rookie QB.
That Super Bowl played in New Orleans just weeks later was attended by one Russell Wilson. Rumor has it he showed up early, walked the field and observed the stretching routines of the 49ers and Ravens for one simple reason; He wanted to visualize what it looked like to be in the Super Bowl. He took it in, every moment, observing what he would always say for years to come, no matter the importance of the game, the field is still just "53.3 yards wide and 100 yards long" emphasizing what was the central paradigm of Pete Carroll which is to not treat any game like it's more important than any other. In the end, it's just football. That way you are neutral in your collective emotions for any game, great or small.
We all know what was to become of the next season when Russell and the LOB enjoyed the first Championship in team history with a massive exclamation mark against which was at the time the most prolific offense in the history of the NFL.
To truncate the story, some very important markers changed Russell. His marriage to the lukewarm pop star Ciara and the infamous ending to Super Bowl 49 against the Patriots that is still debated feverishly to this day.
These elements simply changed the man.
Somewhere in this general timeline, Russell went from "no time to sleep" to living and breathing for his "brand" and "legacy". Suddenly, perfume endorsements and front cover magazine shots (appearing naked from the waist up on a horse) seemed to be the new focus. Not that he stopped football altogether but it became a clear and concise directive to build his self-perceived brand. This became a fracture to the health of the locker room, which is one of the most underrated aspects of a Championship-caliber team.
As the years rolled on it became more and more clear that that elusive second ring was existentially floating away like the volleyball ironically named "Wilson" in Tom Hank's movie Castaway.
The ugly narrative of Russ not being "black enough" compiled with his clear separation from his teammates and being coddled by Pete Carroll further strengthened the vast cavernous divide. Suddenly, the upstart quarterback became inflamed by desire for ego-centric pursuits completing the tragic end to what could have been a - dare we say - dynasty.
We all know how the story ends. Russell demanded more control of the offense so he could "cook". It worked brilliantly, until it didn't. Allegedly he asked ownership to remove Pete and John so he could basically run the team as he saw fit. He ended up shipped to Denver and received his just desserts.
Still, regardless of career trajectory, acute tone-deafness and ego-driven pursuits, it seems somehow cruel how he is now received by the average fan. Especially Seahawks fans. Somehow, like magic, all the years that he was a magician on the field, creating victories from the mouth of defeat, have been erased from the memories of many. All that seems to matter now is the breakup and his apparent demise.
He's become a caricature. Forgotten is his ability to lead his men into battle ("Why not us?!"), his earnest desire to help others and ultimately his seemingly genuine desire to be a decent human being.
Russell's relentless passion to win MVP or another ring may or may not ever come to light (and the ultimate destination of Canton is seemingly more and more distant by the day).
Whether it's a lesson in human condition or the perpetual pursuit of success becomes the same side of a shiny coin.
Russell Wilson for all of his success and failures, is a mirror to all of us. We all have our moments of glory within our lives, as well as the shadows of regret we all wish to forget.
In the end, what none of us can deny, is that he's one of us.
Human.
