The former NFL veteran, current news host and O'Dea (Seattle) alum was at T-Mobile Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for his hometown Mariners
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners could do something for the first time in over two decades on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park.
The Mariners are set to play the Colorado Rockies in the second of a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. PT. If Seattle wins, or the Houston Astros lose their game against the Athletics, the Mariners will win the American League West for the first time since 2001. The M's clinched a playoff berth with a 4-3 win against the Rockies on Tuesday.
That year also marked the last deep playoff run for Seattle. The club made the American League Championship Series that season. The Mariners made the playoffs as a wild card in 2022, but lost to the Houston Astros in three games in the American League Divisional Series.
Ahead Seattle's potentially division-clinching game, a former NFL veteran and Seattle citizen who played right next door to T-Mobile Park arrived to the stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Nate Burleson, a wide receiver who attended high school in O'Dea in Seattle and played with the Seahawks from 2006-09, had a lot of kind words for this year's Mariners team.
"I love it," Burleson said Wednesday. "I'm a 206 kid. I have the Sapce Needle tattooed on my body a few different times. Always representing Seattle. So, to see the Mariners buzzing — last night was incredible. It feels like this is different. Being a former athlete, I know when you're winning, every team says 'this time is different.' But it does feel different, though. Clutch hitters, pitching's been great. The vibe, the energy ,the magic, Cal Raleigh going crazy. It feels special. ... I know it's early, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I'm looking forward to celebrating a World Series win."
The last time Seattle made a deep playoff run, Burleson was playing college football at Nevadda. Since then, Burleson had a decade-long career in the NFL from 2003-13 and is enjoying a post-playing career as an analyst and co-host on various programs on NFL Network, CBS and Nickelodeon.
"It was different then because I was still in my youth, you would say," Burleson said. "I got the Ken Griffey (sneakers) at home. So, I saw every era of the Mariners. Had the posters on my wall, even though I was a terrible hitter when I played baseball. I would get up there and think I was a Mariner. I got all kinds of Mariners memorabilia, jerseys, hats, swagger. I got a shirt that says 'my oh my!' So, I remember every single pocket of time where the Mariners are playing well. And even though I'm on the east coast, I'm still cheering on the Mariners.
"It feels the same, as far as the child in me celebrating what the Mariners are doing. But this feels different as an athlete and understanding what a real, solid, contending team looks like. I feel that now."
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