King's Corner

TRADING E-MAIL WITH...
Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, the NFL's ninth-rated passer

SI: You're walking through Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. In a span of 10 minutes, how often would you be recognized?

Hasselbeck: Not once.

SI: You used to back up Brett Favre in Green Bay. What's your best story that illustrates Favre's humorous side?

Hasselbeck: Someone asked Brett, "How do you spell Mississippi?" He answered, "The river or the state?" He said that with a straight face.

SI: Your father, Don, played tight end for four NFL teams. What's some good advice he's given you?

Hasselbeck: In my first preseason game with Seattle, [coach] Mike Holmgren really got after me. I remember calling my dad after the game. He played for the Giants in the '80s. He said, "If he's anything like Parcells, it's a good sign. He wouldn't be yelling at you if he didn't like you. Listen to him."

SI: As a kid hanging around with the old man, which famous players did you play catch with?

Hasselbeck: Steve Grogan, Stanley Morgan, Mosi Tatupu, Archie Manning, Jan Stenerud, Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, Mark Bavaro, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Morris and Carl Banks, to name a few.

SI: What's the biggest difference between Seattle fans and those in Boston, where you grew up?