For now, let's set aside the question of whether climbing is a sport. It doesn't require balls per se, at least not the kind you can readily throw and catch. But after summiting Mt. Rainier this past weekend, I can say it probably does require some loose screws. However, when you can see forever from the Northwest's highest peak, you tend to see some other things too.
When I moved to Seattle almost four years ago, I was floored by the area's natural beauty. This place is lousy with mountains, water, trees and ferries. And oh by the way, they plopped a kickass city down in the middle of it. If you don't want to go to nature, it will come to you.
I wondered if people who grew up here became inured to the beauty. Did the scenery become wallpaper after awhile? It seemed impossible, given that about eight months of the year, Rainier and the Olympics might only show up once every other week. You can't take for granted what you don't really have. Then another question: how many other cities have settings where residents could even remotely have this internal debate?
On the other hand, Seattle's sports tableau has seen better days. Its sports fandom is tugging its collective forelock after losing the Sonics to Oklahoma. And the Mariners' swoon is drawing fannies to the seats in inverse droves.
But let's face it: what makes Seattle peopled by fair-weather fans is what makes it a great place to live. It's those opposite qualities that make places like Buffalo brim with rabid fans. Seattle has Mt. Rainier (and its eponymous beer); Green Bay has Brett Favre. Shit, I saw seven volcanoes this weekend; In Oklahoma City, you can't even see three. I can't say how many times I've watched the final seconds tick away as one of my teams was getting crushed on the road and thought, "Yeah, but now those fans have to go back to their lives in (insert lame, non-Seattle city here)."
Of course it hurts to lose the Sonics to Oklahoma City and the national media generally ignore this upper-left outpost. Seattle may be down to two major professional sports teams, but we know the real score. Seattle versus Oklahoma City or almost anywhere else just isn't a fair fight. If you don't believe me, look out the window.
