Commentary: 'U Mad Bro' not just Sherman's rallying cry - it's Seattle's too

We’ll hear the line “U Mad Bro” a million times in the next two weeks.

But if we think back to the infancy of that line just over two years ago, it wasn’t Tom Brady who might’ve been mad.

In all honesty, I was mad, bro. Because this city wasn’t getting any love – nor did it deserve it at the time.

I was mad that this city was lacking a true champion. Mad that the Seahawks had gone close to four decades without a Super Bowl title, and only one appearance in that game. Mad that the Mariners couldn’t field a winning team if their life depended on it, and mad that I was rooting against Kevin Durant in the NBA Finals that year because he was playing for a team stolen from us.

Tom Brady wasn’t mad, bro. WE were mad.

And Richard Sherman was fighting for us. He was fighting for the attention, yes. But not just for himself. He was fighting for attention for a city that was desperate for some love.

At its very core, those three words encapsulate the pent-up frustration – the regional inferiority complex that came from let-down after let-down – a city, reeling from disappointment, and truly undeserving of its mediocre results.

In retrospect, “U Mad Bro?” was Seattle’s rallying cry. A statement to the rest of the world that we’d be ignored no longer. That it still might take awhile to sink in around the country, but we once again belonged in that conversation.

Call it cockiness, but I call it revenge: Avenging being forgotten. Avenging being the low man on the national Totem pole.

Back then, the rest of the nation took notice – but still shook their heads. Now they’re taking notice, and marveling at our success.

It’s been a long time coming, but these next two weeks, Richard Sherman’s brash three words are coming full circle. We’re no longer the underdogs. Super Bowl championship in hand, we’re still enjoying that taste of success – and even better that taste of revenge.

Seattle – this entire region – is on now the top of the mountain, beaming, prideful and confident.

And ready to ask the rest of the country “You mad bro?”

Because the tables have finally turned.