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Kyle Kosier gives the officials the bird

The second half was full of horrible plays and humorous events.

A Seahawks touchdown gave them the lead 10-13 early on, but on the kickoff return the Cowboys took the lead back. 20-13.

Then there was quite a bit of sloppy football, including a penalty on first down for the Cowboys where Kyle Kosier threw hands to the face, costing the Cowboys 10 yards.

The officials didn't notice, but Kyle then gave them the bird.

The Seahawks came close to tying the game with a touchdown, but on first and goal at the 1 Shaun Alexander lost about 7 yards. Two plays later and it was third and goal at the 1. The Seahawks just couldn't convert though. They gave the ball away on downs at the one.

Then, magic! The Seahawks recovered a fumble in the endzone, or it looked like it! On challenge, it turned out not to be, as Tatupu's foot was on the side-line. So it was a safety. 20-15 Cowboys.

The Seahawks came back with a touchdown and went for two. They didn't convert. 20-21 Seahawks.

There was just too little time left. Inside the two minute warning, it looked like the Cowboys had a first down at the 1.  Actually Lofa Tatupu stopped them before the 1, and so the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal.

The snap was muffed, and Seattle recovered a fumble! Roma fumbled it at the 1, and Seattle recovered!!!

Alexander then ran it out to about the 20, getting the Seahawks out of danger of a safety. The Cowboys had  time outs left, and used one on 2nd and 11. Then they used another on 3rd and 11.

The Seahawks had a lousy punt, and there was enough time left for one play at the 50 for Dallas. A hail Mary pass was incomplete and the game was over! The Seahawks won 21-20!!!

What a mess, but what a fun final few minutes!

Cross posted to NWBloggers.com. Linked at Sister Toldjah.

Over at the Pirate's Cove they say "How about that wacky ending to the Seahawks-Cowgirls game? Shame the way that turned out (snicker)."

At least now we know the Seahawks will be playing in Chicago next week at 9:00 A.M. Pacific.

A poor first half - again.

The Seahawks received to begin the first half. The ball went out of bounds at about the one or two yard line so they started on the 40.

The Seahawks started out with a fairly weak offense and had to settle for a field goal. Then when they had the ball again, Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception. The result was a field goal for the Cowboys.

A bit later, and a completed pass that looked like a first down for the Cowboys was fumbled and the Seahawks took the ball away.

Neither offense was looking very good. The Seahawks managed to get another field goal to make the score 3-6 Seattle, but they just couldn't get the ball into the end zone otherwise.

Matt Hasselbeck was looking pretty bad. On one play, he threw the ball right directly to one of the defenders. Fortunately for Seattle, the ball was dropped. My brother, who is visiting this week from West Point remarked "Sorry, didn't mean to hit you in the hands with the ball".

The Cowboys seemed to pull together in the last few minutes of the first half. A good 32 yard pass, was quickly followed up with a touchdown. Both teams went into the locker room shortly after that, with the score 10-6 Cowboys.

So far, it's been a defensive slugfest. Both offenses have done fairly poorly.

Not much of a game so far, and the Seahawks are behind. I hope it gets better soon.

Cross posted at NWBloggers.com

Governor Almost Gets It

From the Seattle Times:

OLYMPIA — Gov. Christine Gregoire on Thursday said the state would move ahead with replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with an elevated highway if the city of Seattle fails to let voters decide the project's future this spring.

Gregoire last month called for a public vote in Seattle to break the political stalemate over whether to build a more affordable elevated structure or a tunnel that she considers financially out of reach.

The tunnel option is financially out of reach. I'm glad that she's spanked the Seattle City Council by telling them this needs to be put to a vote, especially since those spoiled brats don't trust the people to "make the right decision."

In recent weeks, some Seattle City Council members have questioned whether the issue should go before voters.

The governor gave the ultimatum in an interview at her office. If the public doesn't vote before lawmakers leave town, "it's over," she said. "It's over because then I will instruct the Department of Transportation to move forward with the above-ground" option.

That's probably the best choice. It certainly will cost less and it will get the job done. Well, it will cost less as long as Mayor Nickels and the city council don't follow through on their threats to slow the project down and drive the cost up through the permitting process and lawsuits.

Jan Drago, who leads the council's transportation committee, has been working on a possible compromise that she says might satisfy the governor and avert an election.

Drago and others are considering a smaller, less costly four-lane tunnel or an elevated highway with a park on top. Opponents of a new viaduct say the structure would further wall downtown off from the waterfront.

Council President Nick Licata said he couldn't see how Drago's alternatives "would make all sides happy."

It wouldn't. Drago is more interested in aesthetics than in a practical solution to regional traffic problems. The mayor and a few people on the city council want parks that they can put their names on.

The Governor's Office had no comment on Drago's suggestions. However, Holly Armstrong, a spokeswoman for Gregoire, said the governor would not support an option that carries less traffic.

Licata, meanwhile, has drafted a proposed ballot question for a March 13 election.

It would ask voters if they prefer a tunnel, "which has secured $2.4 billion of a likely total cost of $4.6 billion," or a new elevated highway, "which has $2.4 billion of secured funding of a likely total cost of $2.8 billion."

Licata's ballot question also would note that additional local taxes might be required to pay for anything above the secured amounts.

...

Most council members are still uncommitted over a public vote on the matter.

More like they don't want one and will do anything to get their way.

The Legislature last year asked that Seattle residents vote on a viaduct-replacement option or that the City Council choose a replacement by ordinance. While the council initially intended to put the issue to a vote, it changed its mind and endorsed the tunnel.

There's not much indication that the council will abide by the Governor's decision to put it to a vote of the people either. They want the tunnel, and can't figure out how to sell their boondoggle. They know that, so they don't trust the voters to "vote the right way".

Gregoire is in a tough spot politically. Chopp and a majority of House Democrats oppose the tunnel. Nickels and a majority of City Council members oppose building a new viaduct.

Nickels has said he would abide by whatever voters decide. Chopp said he doubts voters would opt for a tunnel, but he wouldn't say what he would do if he's wrong.

The state has set aside $2.4 billion, including gas taxes and federal aid, for a replacement project. The Governor's Office says the state should come up with $400 million more, regardless of which choice Seattle voters make.

Ultimately, the cost overruns are going to end up paid for by the rest of the state anyway. You can bet that whatever choice is made it's going to cost more than $2.8 billion. And you can bet that the money will end up coming from other needed transportation packages.

Maybe instead of a vote that only the people of Seattle can participate in the Governor should have told the Legislature to let the people of the whole state vote instead.

Previous Posts:

• Seattle City Council balks at vote?
• Try Harder? How about listening?"
• Governor: Give Voters the Choice
• King County Council conflicted over morality
• Mayor Nickels ready to act like spoiled child
• Seattle City Council among reasons viaduct cost could rise
• Do we need another big government agency for transit?
• More drivers, more time in gridlock

Cross posted at NWBloggers.com

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