Given the historic victory of the Seattle Seahawks in a stunning upset against the venerable Denver Broncos, the “legion of boom” has demonstrated its determination and drive for victory.  After every quarterback sneak, interception, and tackle, however, remain the rough screams of cornerback Richard Sherman following a well-executed block against his rival, Crabtree,  in the NFC championship. Critics of Sherman’s roar against his rival detest the cornerback’s aggression, but I embrace it. Sherman’s battle cry, coined as “the most historic rant of all time” by ESPN writers, was the representation of a warrior spirit that defines Sherman, not as a tyrant, but as a fighter.

The context of Sherman’s rant included both Crabtree refusing to converse and communicate with the cornerback at a charity event along with past problems between the two players. Sherman  said that he would leave his aggression onto the field. The media has acted surprised by Sherman’s outburst, labeling it as barbarism, but the truth of the matter is that football is not home to passivism; instead it relies on activism from each player in order for  plays to be successful and fans happy. What one views as barbaric in nature can be seen by another as passion and drive. Sherman “went off” on Crabtree following Crabtree’s refusal to shake Sherman’s hand when the cornerback said, “Good game,” and what Sherman shows is that he expects respect. For the forceful warrior, aggression had to be released because he demanded action from his opponent. The shoving of Sherman’s helmet seemed petty to Crabtree, but it was a serious insult to Sherman. Although critics argue that Sherman should have stayed calm, in actuality, he did the opposite because he demanded the same from his opponents as he offered to them.   For this reason, Richard Sherman is not a barbarian, but a zealot with drive stronger than any diplomat’s solution to resolving problems. In the simplest terms, Sherman voiced his opinion, loud and clear, to support what he believes. To be frank, I think we could all learn from Sherman because his strength goes deeper than his muscle; it’s embedded in his heart.