Spike Matau of seattletimes.com sat down with Seattle Times staff reporter Jose Romero on Monday to chat about Sunday's Seahawks victory in the NFC Championship.

Q: Players didn't dump Gatorade on Holmgren after winning the NFC Championship. Why do you think that was?

Jose: I think they didn't do it because the offense was out there for the 2-minute warning and typically Robbie Tobeck is the mastermind behind such antics on the coach. So with Tobeck on the field, no one had the gumption to do it, I guess.

Q: Could you put this win in perspective in terms of sporting events you've covered as a sports writer and for fans in the Northwest?

Jose: I'm a Northwest guy myself, so watching all those Sunday afternoon games and always seeing the Seahawks come up short when it counted, I think it means a lot to people not only in Seattle but all over the region who grew up watching these games. You could see the excitement even before this game. It's hard as an objective media person to not be happy for the fans.

Q: Rooting is frowned upon in the press box during games. Was there any cheering going on?

Jose: I'll admit it, I was sitting in my seat (in the press box), when Seneca Wallace made that catch; when Jerramy Stevens made that catch; when (Lofa) Tatupu stepped in front of the pass. And I' speaking my own thoughts out loud as I'm seeing these things. It was like "What a catch!" or "Lofa's got it!" Not really cheering but some surprise and excitement I just couldn't keep inside. It's hard as a beat writer for the team to not get wrapped up in their success. I'm genuinely happy for the players and organization.

Q: What do you make of Pittsburgh being favored over Seattle in the Super Bowl?

Jose: Not surprising, given that the general consensus of the media is to not put faith in the Seahawks.

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