By MICHAEL NOWELS
Cronkite News

The fans came alive as their team entered the venue. They chanted and raucously waved flags in anticipation of 60 minutes of chaos.

But this wasn’t just another football game.

It was Super Bowl Media Day.

The Seattle Seahawks’ 12th Man was ready, even sitting in a basketball arena watching thousands of media members interview the players.

“The 12s, they roar wherever we go,” Seattle safety Kam Chancellor said.

The scene at US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, reaffirmed what fans have learned in the last few years: Seahawks supporters are loud and proud.

Even the players got into the act. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson called out “Sea!” from his podium and Seattle’s boisterous fan base responded with a resounding “Hawks!”

The NFL again sold tickets to media day and fans of all allegiances scooped them up at $28.50 a ticket. The price included a small radio set that picked up feeds from each podium.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Seattle native and Seahawks fan Crystal Protzman. “You gotta listen to Richard Sherman and see what he’s going to say.”

Aaron Patterson, a Cardinals fan from Chandler, was impressed with Sherman’s intellect as he listened to the former Stanford cornerback.

Patterson couldn’t wait to hear what Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch would say. He was a minute too late.

“By the time I figured out what channel he was on, he was gone,” Patterson said.

He didn’t miss much. Lynch answered questions for five minutes with the same answer 27 times: “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.’’

The New England Patriots were well represented in the stands. Stephen Marshall, who grew up in New Hampshire, switched work shifts to attend.

“You watch these guys on TV all your life and now you can see them in person talking about the game,” he said.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was surprised fans paid nearly $30 to attend.

“That’s what they paid?” he asked with a smile. “There’s no cable package they could buy?”

New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was happy to see a strong turnout of Patriot supporters.

“When you come to an event like this, you get to see your fans from everywhere,” he said.

One minor flaw: “I would like to be able to hear the question that’s asked,” said Suzanne Phillips of Mesa. “ I know it might mess up the flow but a lot of times they don’t say full sentences to understand.”

For Jean Morehead, there was also a major problem: “I hoped that Green Bay would be here,” she said. “But I’m also just a big fan of the sport.’’

She was in good company Tuesday.

Seattle Seahawks fans make their presence known at Super Bowl Media Day.
Zach Holland