36 Comments

I also don’t care who wins this year’s Super Bowl. Two good teams that I care nothing about, good or bad, and no underdog or Cinderella story. Meh

I listened to a couple of your podcasts and have listened to podcasts from many others. I found yours through your writing and always preferred the writing. Since you moved to Substack I’ve found several other writer/communities I enjoy so I read many essays a day on many subjects and rarely listen to a podcast.

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The wings are already marinating. The popcorn is... well it's in the cupboard. The pre-game Rihanna background playlist is created. The "friendly" bets are being worked out. I for one am pumped to have friends over and have a party and enjoy ourselves. The actual game is background to all this, as it is every year the 'Hawks don't make the title match.

There are better awards than the Oscars. You've got the right approach here, using the broad spectrum appeal of the Oscards name to highlight other wonderful movies and performances.

The Mia Goth-Ti West pairing has been fire this year! I've you've not seen it check out Emma, where Mia goes toe-to-toe with Anya Taylor-Joy (which is no mean feat). I hope we see Mia branch out into more non-horror films because she has talent.

The actor at the top of my "watch anything at all they are involved in" is Daniel Radcliffe. Since being Harry Potter he's made a real effort to go nuts and be hands on with a wide variety of interesting, insane and fun projects. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story might be the most overlooked/underrated movie of 2022!

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Who is Tiger Woods?

This links to an article that details how the Chiefs were built. It's a comprehensive look that has some application to Seattle.

https://www.bigblueview.com/2023/2/7/23582219/2023-super-bowl-how-kansas-city-chiefs-were-built

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Thank you Kenneth for focusing on writing instead of podcasts and tweeting. I really enjoy reading what you write. I just enjoy reading...period.

For me, if I’m reading an article or newsletter, I can read it as fast or slow as I want. I can back up and reread a portion and consider what I really think about it. And that’s harder for me to do if it’s a podcast.

While I’m on the topic of your writing, thanks for making this such an intelligent newsletter. You’re not just sharing opinions. You lay out a case for something, bring lots of supporting data and discuss the “how” and “why” without being condescending.

I feel like I’m a more informed fan this year than last, thanks to Seaside Joe.

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I'd feel like you about this Superbowl if my wife and in-laws were not Eagles fans. They're from Philly. So this weekend, I'll root with them for the Eagles. That said, I don't hate K.C. I like both teams, which makes for a boring game.

As for writing about the draft, I remember your comments last year on Cross, that the Seahawks wouldn't take him, and you got us stoked on Breece Hall. We wound up with Cross and without Hall but with Walker. It was interesting and we were better informed. No one can fault you for not having a crystal ball.

I think you're right that, with the fifth pick, you'll wind up writing about someone we land, unless Schneider trades down. Hard to imagine a reach for a guy who couldn't have been anticipated. If that happens, both Schneider and Carroll should be shot. Then fired. Then shot again.

As for building a following, I agree with your comments. Do what you love and then see who loves you back. Build a community of loyal followers. Ideally, a community of people who interact with and like each other. That's what works about Seaside Joe. I valued your insights and also the insights and presence of other fans who post here.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I'm not going to watch the Super Bowl. I just don't care.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

1) I spend so much time focused on what’s happening with the Hawks during our season that I’m happy to have a break by not even watching any games once they’re finished. 2) Frank Clark always felt like he wasn’t a character fit for the Hawks. He seems more of a thug. Wondering if the Hawks’ emphasis on character and fitting into the team automatically self-selects against that type of player? 3) Much as I love podcasts, it’s great to make the choice not to waste the time on something that doesn’t really do it for you. Makes the other stuff more valuable. Kudos!

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I guess I’m an outlier! I’m looking forward to pulling for the Iggles—love their pass rush and their physical play. Plus they can show that running backs *do* matter.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

Here's a thought. I'd rather watch the Super Bowl than get started on doing my taxes.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I fully undrstand your feeling of malaise about this year's SB, and I also don't totally understand why. Perhaps because there is no underdog? Two diametrically opposed team builds (at least salary-wise) sure, but we're talking about top seed versus top seed and both teams have recently won a SB.

But yes, it feels like a Christmas where you already know what you're getting and you know dinner is going to be a family fight with dry turkey/ham. It's still Christmas, so you show up and try to enjoy, but it ends up just, blah.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I saw the headline and I was ready to COME FOR YOU. Then you went and made me remember why I come here; because I respect you're writing and the work you put it into it.

Anyway, this year's Super Bowl is the most interesting in YEARS. Can you win with an absolute worldy QB who costs you 17% of your cap space? Have Philly nailed the elite roster-cheap QB combo and made themselves a championship factory? Alongside the McCaffrey trade, this SB is one of the most interesting data points in the last few seasons.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I am looking forward to this Super Bowl because I'm curious to see if one-legged Mahomes can live up to his hype and actually win a second ring, but I also like watching complete teams go head to head and this is probably the best match up since...the Seahawks played the Pats (I hate that I had to bring that up).

Mia Goth: Hollywood (and the Academy) does recognize lead actresses in horror films (Jodie Foster won for Silence of the Lambs, 1990; Toni Colette for Sixth Sense, 1999) and supporting actress (Ruth Gordon for Rosemary's Baby, 1968) but typically those actresses all had critically-acclaimed careers before those roles and all three of those films were hugely popular and highly successful.

The Academy generally doesn't take genre films that seriously, and when they do its typically because a respected, well-known actor is in a big, highly successful hit film. X and/or Pearl don't really fit either bill, unfortunately. Being considered a "scream queen" won't help Goth either, the Academy seems to disregard actors who predominantly only do genre work, which is a shame.

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Enjoyed this article very much. I laughed out loud at the tweet about Mahomes wanting players to wear fake mustaches and then your chosen follow up.

I kind of care about the Super Bowl, but would be much more invested had the losers of the championship games advanced. But considering I don't care much who wins, I suppose I'm not particularly invested. I expect the Eagles to win big, but I suspect that Jalen Hurts will be more injured than Mahomes. I'd wager after the game it will be announced that he's getting shoulder surgery. But the Eagles seem a much more complete team, and how I wish the Seahawks would have built themselves.

I'm sad you no longer do a podcast, but I get it. I love radio, and for me, podcasts are long form radio (hopefully) without ads, or at least with ads you can easily skip using the 15 seconds forward button. I listen to 6 Seahawks podcasts and subscribe to several other sports podcasts that only I listen to when I like the subject or guest. I'm probably an outlier though. I haven't tuned in my car radio in ages -mostly due to ads. In a 60 minute Brock and Salk segment. 21 minutes and 40 seconds are advertisements. And don't get me started on the ratio of ads to content on a televised NFL game. This year college seemed even worse.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I'd guess that most years most people mostly don't care about the outcome of the Super Bowl.

I think podcasts should be reserved only for people already well known for being exceptional in some way or another. Ramblings from your favorite musician or theoretical physicist, for example.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I see this SB as validation or repudiation of the "the QB isn't everything--it's the only thing" POV. If Mahomes pulls it off, then hats off to him, and "finding the next Mahomes" continues the NFL-wide quest. But an Eagles win will Hurts that narrative.

Frank Clark? Meh. It helps that he makes a difference in big games. But the 'hit rate' in the first round (and draft generally) is the answer to "why haven't the Seahawks..."

Podcasts are for lazy writers. There, I said it.

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Feb 9, 2023Liked by Seaside Joe

I am right there with you on the Super Bowl and Mahomes commercials! If I cared, my support would be for the Eagles.

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