SEATTLE – About a thousand Seahawks fans who didn’t get to go to Detroit for the Super Bowl gathered downtown Friday for a rally and a last-minute opportunity to buy a T-shirt, flag or shoe shine for the team.
Mayor Greg Nickels unfurled a “12th Man” flag as King County Executive Ron Sims led the crowd in cheers.
Sims seemed a little disappointed when the fans – famous for the racket they make at Qwest Field – weren’t loud enough to break any eardrums at the Westlake Center plaza.
“My son makes more noise,” he said after leading a few attempts at “Go Seahawks!”
A number of sports figures addressed the crowd, which included people taking time away from work and a few students who insisted they weren’t playing hooky – many of them decked out in Seahawks blue and green.
Kate Carol, 15, a sophomore at Roosevelt High School, said she had the day off to celebrate the end of finals week and was glad she didn’t have to miss the rally in math or English class.
“You’d be a bad Seattle citizen if you didn’t show up,” she said, adding that she was “way excited” about the Super Bowl.
Kim Kristad, 47, had Friday off from her downtown Seattle job but drove her usual hour-long commute from Olympia just to show she’s a “true-blue fan.”
Kristad, who played clarinet with her high school band when the Seahawks opened their old stadium, the Kingdome, almost 30 years ago, declared the rally “wonderful.” She said it reminded her of the excitement in 1979, when the Seattle Supersonics won the NBA title.
“Everybody’s in such a good mood. It puts a bounce in everybody’s step,” she said.
Most thought the rally was a great way to get people in the mood for Sunday’s Super Bowl game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But at least one person at the rally thought there should have been a bigger turnout.
“It’s a little disappointing right now. Hopefully they’re all in Detroit,” said Amy Ashford, 30, who drove in from Bellevue with co-workers.
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