Seattle sports fans are in a slump and have been for a while now. The Sonics are still gone, the Mariners are still at the bottom of the AL West, the Seahawks are the worst team in the NFL’s worst division and half the city still doesn’t know that the Storm still play in the WNBA.
If the world really does end in 2012, Washingtonians will die never knowing what the Lombardi trophy looks like. They will have forgotten the sound of an NBA basketball bouncing off the court. They would die with no hope.
But as with every great — or really bad — action movie ever made, there will be a hero to swoop in and save the day. Now that this year’s unbearable NFL season is over, the Hawks can make way for Seattle’s best hope at a title — the Seattle Sounders FC.
With first kick less than one month away, the Sounders are already three weeks into training and coach Sigi Schmidt said the team looks better than ever.
Want to watch something exciting? Give the Sounders a look.
Here are three reasons to be excited for this season’s 11 in the Rave Green.
No. 1: The return of Steve Zakuani
It was a darker day than normal in the Pacific Northwest April 22, 2010 when Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan recklessly slid into Zak and shattered his leg. The injury ended the young midfielder’s season after a promising start with two goals and two assists in the first six games.
Since then Zakuani has been working hard on and off the field and looks ready to get back onto the pitch for Seattle within the first month of the season.
No. 2: New faces in, tired ones out
By the looks of this year’s training camp roster, Europe has invaded Seattle. New goal keeper Michael Gspurning from Austria, left back Adam Johansson from Sweden and forward Christian Sivebæk from Denmark are all fighting for a starting spot, and this new crop of talent could prove useful for the squad’s depth. Gspurning will be the man between the pipes for Seattle, replacing American legend Kasey Keller who retired at the end of last season.
The Sounders have also dumped a lot of waste during the offseason in forwards Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan, and defenders Taylor Graham and Tyson Whal. Other offseason losses include James Riley and Erik Friberg.
No. 3: A winning mindset and atmosphere
This season will be the fourth in the MLS for the Sounders and already the organization has proved it will do anything to win. The quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League against Santos Laguna from Mexico open the season with a bang. After going out of this competition in the group stage last season, the Sounders finished second this time around with their best roster yet. Starting the season with that competition, kicking off the MLS campaign and readying the pursuit of a fourth straight US Open Cup, the Sounders are in full trophy-hunting mode.