If you're a Seattle sports fan, this week was epic. You celebrated a second Major League Soccer championship for the Sounders and a big overtime win for the Seahawks in Monday Night Football. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about it all with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.
SOUNDERS WIN 2ND MLS CUP AT HOME
Thiel said he doesn't remember a weekend quite like what Seattle fans just experienced. It started with the Sounders winning their second MLS Cup championship on Sunday, beating Toronto FC 3-1 at CenturyLink Field.
"It was such a big deal because not only was it their second championship in four years, but it was here," Thiel said.
"Sports fans love to be part of history. You'll remember that moment — where you were, what you said, who you were with.
"There's just something about the stimulation and the energy of a championship won on the home field. Then, of course, 48 hours later they had the parade in downtown Seattle."
SEAHAWKS OT WIN ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Participating in that parade was Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, a member of the Sounders ownership group who just hours earlier led the Seahawks in their victory against their NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
"He's the part owner of the Sounders and he also owns the 49ers as far as I'm concerned!" Thiel joked.
"It was really a tremendous evening. The undefeated 49ers were bristling for the fight against the Seahawks. It harkened back to the days of 2011-2013 when the rivalry was at its apex.
"They delivered an absolutely preposterous game," Thiel continued. "It wasn't necessarily a well-played game, but the mistakes enhanced the whole drama of the thing.
"It was so ferocious, so intense and so many times the game could've been won and it was lost."
Then came overtime with the game tied at 24. Thiel said it was a comedy of errors that had fans on the edge of their seats. He likened it to "watching two guys trying to take an upright piano down five flights of stairs."
But the Seahawks prevailed with a field goal from kicker Jason Myers as the overtime seconds ticked away. Myers had missed two of four field goals and an extra point in the team's overtime win the week before. It was redemption for him. You could see the relief and raw emotion on his face the moment the kick went through.
"It was a very impressive win for the Seahawks," Thiel said. "It was really one of the greatest games I've ever seen. I hope the Seattle sports fans got their fill because last weekend was about as good as it gets in pro sports."
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