A Lucky Coin, A Seahawks Game, And An Amazing Tale

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By By Tracy Vedder

Summary

For those of you who don't believe in luck or charms, this next story may change your mind.

Story Published: Jan 12, 2005 at 3:26 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 11:46 AM PDT

A Lucky Coin, A Seahawks Game, And An Amazing Tale
SEATTLE - For those of you who don't believe in luck or charms, this next story may change your mind.

It's all about a lucky Irish coin, the Seahawks playoff game, and a fan who made just one, tiny little mistake.

No doubt about it, Michael Huston of Marysville is a big time Seahawks fan. He's been the president of the booster club for three years. His study is lined with memorabilia. His favorite, a photo of Steve Largent catching his record-setting 100th touchdown pass.

"Steve Largent autographed that for me so that's pretty cool."

So when Huston's team made the playoffs, he was there, along with a special coin he describes, "this is the harp, the national symbol of Ireland."

It's an Irish pound he got 10 years ago during what he calls the trip of a lifetime.

"I've always considered this to be my lucky coin."

Huston had never taken the coin to a game before. But he figured this time, the first playoff game, the Hawks needed his help. So he put his special lucky Irish coin in his pocket and went to the game last Saturday.

When Huston got to Qwest Field, he saw tsunami relief donation boxes set up outside. Huston decided to support Northwest Medical Teams and threw all his change in.

Including his lucky coin.

He never noticed until halfway through the game. "I was just devastated, it was gone."

You know the rest of the story. Fourth down with seconds left in the game. Hasselbeck's pass to Engram in the end zone. Aaaarrghhhh. Pass incomplete. Game over. Season over.

"I thought about that afterward," muses Huston. "I thought, 'What if my lucky coin had just made it into the stadium?' "

"I'll take the heat for that," he adds.

Now Huston's even more convinced his coin is lucky. Because when he told Northwest Medical Teams he'd lost it, they found it, in more than $1,000 worth of donated coins.

"I think now it's truly a lucky coin and I'm going to take it with me to every game next year."

And, if you still doubt the connection between the luck of the Irish and the Seahawks' loss, consider this - Michael's coin is called an Irish "punt".