Swinomish leader helps mend de-fences with NFL fans

 

January 1, 1970



Seahawk Richard Sherman’s wild post-game rant ruffled the feathers of some pro football fans across the country.

Nor did it help that a couple misguided fans among a capacity Century Link Stadium crowd choose to pelt San Francisco standout NoVorro Bowman with food while he was being carted off the field after sustaining an injury in the second half of Seattle’s intense 23-17 confer-ence title win over the 49ers.

Fortunately, a La Conner man had already gone the extra mile — and then some — to help mend fences with National Football League hierarchy and restore the region’s image.

Brian Cladoosby, a 1977 La Conner High grad and recently elected president of the National Congress of American Indians, attended the fiercely fought game — featuring what is perhaps the NFL’s hottest current rivalry — as a special guest of Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Cladoosby arrived at the Link after flying in from Arizona en route home to Swinomish Reservation.

But he didn’t greet Commis-sioner Goodell empty-handed.

In keeping with time-honored Native American tradition, he insisted on gifting his host. Cladoosby put out an appeal on social media for an item worthy of the NFL’s top official.

The response was over-whelming. Both in terms of variety and quality.

He and daughter Mary ultimately decided upon a stylish Seahawks pendant, crafted by Lummi’s Tom Jefferson, and which they presented to Goodell upon entering the commissioner’s stadium suite.

The beautiful beadwork, sporting Seahawk colors, features the team logo and famous 12th man insignia.

It proved an instant hit.

“He loves it,” one of many gathered in the commissioner’s box said of Goodell’s reaction.

While visiting Goodell and viewing the National Football Conference clash, essentially a semifinal round prior to the Feb. 2 Super Bowl, Brian and Mary also met with a host of other celebrities and TV personalities. Among their favorites were former Seahawk great Curt Warner and Charlie Young, the USC tight end, who ironically played for both Seattle and San Francisco during a superb pro career.

They, of course, were themselves celebrities Sunday evening, a night in which the Fox Sports network was in Seattle en masse.

 

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