I think I’ve shown great restraint in not mentioning my beloved Seattle Seahawks here over the past several weeks, but with Super Bowl XLIX upon us, I couldn’t hold off any longer. A lot has been written about Coach Pete Carroll’s coaching style, the bond between the team members and the underdog mentality that seems to drive them to prove wrong those who underestimate them. Many key players were late-round draft picks or were undrafted who have flourished in an environment where they found support to be themselves and show the world what they can do. Much also has been made of the contributions of the 12th Man — the Seattle fans — who loudly and passionately cheer on their team. Longtime supporters of the team also have a bit of that underdog chip on their shoulders, so it’s not surprising to me that players and fans proclaim such devoted support of each other. Natives to the Northwest are accustomed to being an afterthought, in sports and news in general, to the rest of the country. Be it politics, economics or even the weather, those bigger media markets of New York, D.C., L.A. and Chicago get the ink and air time. Northwesterners may be used to being ignored or passed over, but underneath the plaid shirts and laid-back demeanor lurks, I can tell you, some resentment that the glories of this beautiful corner of the country and the strengths of its citizens go unrecognized for the most part by the rest of America. Now, nobody likes a pouter, so we keep our disappointments to ourselves, but perhaps now you can understand why, when the spotlight finally focuses on us, we aren’t shy about pounding our chests and roaring for our team. And make no mistake, this football team does not represent just Seattle, or even just the state of Washington. With the next-nearest professional football team in the Bay Area, residents of Alaska, Oregon and Idaho as well as Washington all call the Seahawks their team. On the heels of last year’s Super Bowl victory, they are proud and excited to once again see that team in the Big Game and to see the region get some much-deserved attention. It should be an outstanding game between two top-seeded teams. Even if you’re not a big football fan, I feel comfortable predicting you will see some outstanding play if you watch tomorrow. Go Hawks! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor