As a newcomer to the blogosphere (never even heard that word prior to this) I find it fitting for me to use this inaugural blog as a mission statement if you will. I have three major goals of this page and will outline them here. Now of course, I’m allowed to pull a Favre, and change my mind down the road if I wish, and unlike the Packers, I’d like to think you’d be wise enough to welcome me with open arms. All the while profusely thanking whichever God it is you pray to that I had a change of heart. With that being said, for the introductory blog of the 12th Man Rising, these are our three covenants.

Number One: Feel Comfortable. This isn’t a page where you’ll find armchair experts sitting around clowning on other people’s questions and opinions. If you asked 100 different people what a blog is, you’d probably get 100 different answers. What this tells me is that a blog can be anything that you want it to be. If you want to be that guy sitting sideline everyday during training camp, writing down every dropped pass, and fumble, by all means be my guest. If you want to stock up on regurgitated opinions from your local sports radio station, I’m sure there are plenty of fans that appreciate that too. What I want this page to be is simply a reference for all things blue, silver, and green. If you have an opinion on how we stack up against a 4-3 defense, we won’t take offense. If our short yardage conversion rate has you wanting to punt your television, we hear you. If you’re frustrated because you have to stand in line for half an hour to use the bathroom, hey, we’re pissed too. So please, you are part of our fellowship of fans and we welcome you here.

Number Two: Come here expecting to become a more knowledgeable fan.. One thing about being a football fan is that we’re typically talking Hawks with the same four, five, six people. We chat it up with that guy in the adjacent cubicle, with our neighborhood barber, you get my drift. This represents our circle of influence when it comes to the pigskin. These people represent those, whose opinions we respect enough to listen to, when we’re all sitting around critiquing the game. With this being said, consider this site your extended circle of influence. Instead of six friends, let’s talk Hawks with 600 people, 6000 people, why not? Let us become the most knowledgeable fans in football. We shouldn’t have to tell people to keep quiet when the Hawks are trying to convert fourth and short, and conversely we shouldn’t have to tell people to get loud and rowdy when Alex Smith is getting ready to throw another pick on third and long. I’m not only talking about knowledge about the game, but on the overall experience of being a card carrying member of the 12th man. If you know a bar that pours gas for the cheap, spread the love. Got a favorite hotdog vendor, help the guy out. We’re already the loudest bunch of fans out there, so we might as well be the most knowledgeable ones too.

Number Three: Let’s get rowdy. Over the years I’ve attended countless home games and something I always hear from opposing fans is that, “You are the nicest fans in the league.” One may think that I beamed with pride, and thanked her. Hell to the no. It makes my skin crawl every time I hear that crap. Granted, I don’t want us flinging snowballs at players, or booing Santa Clause, but we need to conduct ourselves like the four time NFC West Champions that we are. If we’re getting ready to play the Cardinals, let’s get on here and talk as much trash as we can, about those soft ass birds. Football teams simply don’t stay at the top of the mountain long enough to waste this success. Remember those Tom Flores years, when dudes would bag on the Sqwaks. I know I do. It’s how I learned that fist wagging was not a suitable rebuttal. So let’s raise some hell on here, when our boys are getting ready to line-up against some chumps from Chumpville.

So these are the three simple goals of this blog. I’d like to think that I’m on the same page as most of you out there, and hope that you can help me make this the best Seahawks blog out there. I realize that I carry the privilege of seeing this page through, and making sure this vision becomes a reality, but I can’t do it alone. So, in a fashion that I will complete most of my rambling editorials, I challenge the 12th man to make some noise, and holler if you hear me.