A Flock of Seahawks on The North Coast of Lake Erie

"And I ran. I ran so far away. I just ran - I ran all night and day. I couldn't get away..."

You know, idolizing local "sports heroes" here in Cleveland can be a tricky business, to say the least. The Buckeye State pumps out football players faster than journalism schools grind out college graduates - all dressed up with no place to go. The same kind of "job prospects" are about as bleak for the AVERAGE college football player as well...

When I was the sports editor for my college newspaper at Concrete State University here in Cleveland, every Tom, Dick and Harry that walked through the newspaper's front door down in our Middle-Earth basement office thought they were the "second coming" of Cameron Crowe, Dave Barry or Hunter S. Thompson ...including the foolish boy sitting here, writing this now.

I didn't even want to be the sports editor - but it was a steady college paycheck and a means-to-an-end to write my pop culture comedy-in-a-can musings in a weekly column called, "The id and I." So I put my head down - tucked the ball under my arms - took the job - and ran with it.

But not everyone turns out to be Dan Marino or Mitch Albom - some us turn out to be Elvis Grbac or writing pet obituaries for Sun Newspapers. It is what it is, folks!

That is why I am cheering for The Seattle Seahawks, now, especially for wide receiver (and local hometown boy) Joe Jurevicius. After being drafted by the New York Giants - and then bouncing over to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Joe has finally found a home (and his nitch) out west in "The Starbucks State" with The Seahawks.

Jurevicius went to school here at Lake Catholic and always hangs out at local sports bars when he is back in town. At first glance, he stands in a corner with his drink and is always wearing an expensive suit, like he’s waiting to be noticed.

But I actually approached him one time, talked with him at length about sports, and he is a very gracious and friendly guy. Joe is very down to earth and I hope his team wins it all in The Super Bowl!

So ...Go Seahawks! (And if they do win, after the spectacular season Jurevicius had this year, Joe will be a big part of it.)