Largent Hailed as Receiver and Giver

Pete Gross, the Seattle Seahawks play-by-play announcer, collects sports souvenirs.

No one in the Northwest can match Gross for his collection of old Pacific Coast League programs. His library of sports books fills more boxes than his family can believe, and it is only natural for Gross to shop for more when he makes Seahawks road trips.

To his surprise, Gross collected the “Big One” Sunday afternoon. After the Seahawks’ thrilling 24-17 come-from-behind victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Gross strolled into the Seahawks locker room. There was wide receiver Steve Largent, who caught his National Football League record 100th touchdown.

Largent handed a stunned Gross the jersey that he wore when he made this second-quarter catch. Gross didn’t know what to say. For Largent, the 100th touchdown was just another one of the records he will take with him to the Hall of Fame five years after he retires at the end of this season.

For Gross, the jersey was the souvenir of a lifetime, and the presentation was a testimony to the man who wore the jersey. Fitting his image, Largent found a way to give after receiving.

“This is one of the more memorable things that has happened to me in my life,” said Gross, the team’s play-by-play announcer throughout the franchise’s 14-year history.

“You have birthdays, anniversaries and things like that. This is something that happens (once) in your life. It is one of the more memorable things that’s happened in mine.”

Behind this emotional drama is the story of Gross, who has been battling stomach cancer for the last two years. A year and a half ago, a large section of Gross’ stomach was removed, yet he gathered his strength and returned to the KIRO broadcasting booth to do the entire schedule of 1988 games.

Gross missed four games last November while he underwent chemotherapy. During his absence, the Seahawks lost four games. Largent made his 99th touchdown catch to tie Don Hutson’s record two weeks ago in Denver, but Gross, who shouted “Touchdown, Seahawks!” to all but one Largent touchdown catch, spent that day in a hospital receiving treatment.

“I think he said that he admired me and what’s been happening with me and my life, and he told me that he had been thinking a lot about this,” said Gross, who returned to the microphone last Monday night.

“I was just thinking I plucked some programs and things like this, but I’ve not been in big on the jerseys and bats and balls.

“This is just something. To me it’s not a collectible. It’s a gesture on somebody’s part who is going to be in the Hall of Fame. I’m just a little broadcaster.”

Unlike touchdown reception No. 99, which came during garbage time of a lost game in Denver, Largent’s 100th catch was meaningful. He broke to the back of the end zone against a Bengals zone defense. Quarterback Dave Krieg fired the 10-yard pass to Largent, who reached high for the ball and kept both feet in front of the end line when he touched the turf.

“It’s 10-0 just before the half, and we needed the score,” Largent said. “Either way we were looking at a field goal instead of a touchdown if we don’t score there. Dave made a great throw. To me, I’m sitting here and I’m more excited about winning the football game than breaking the record. That’s what playing football is all about.”

Largent’s 10-yard touchdown reception wasn’t his only big catch. He whipped the Bengals defense for a 33-yard completion in what turned out to be the Seahawks’ game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Largent finished the day with five catches for 68 yards. For his career, he has 816 catches for 13,035 yards and, yes, 100 touchdowns, breaking the 44-year-old record held by Hutson.

“I have had so many people ask me about the record, so you can’t help but to think about it,” Largent said. “But I was not preoccupied about breaking the record. My concentration was on what I had to do.”

When Largent returned to the sidelines after making the touchdown catch--his third of the season--he shook the hands of his teammates. Instead of receiving thanks, Largent tried to give it.

“It’s always been a team effort,” Largent said. “I think if it came down to the last game or two, it would have been a little more pressure. It’s great to be able to share it with friends.”

Seahawks Coach Chuck Knox summed up the day.

“I’ll tell you about Steve Largent,” Knox said. “I’m very, very happy that he broke the record with a win because Steve Largent is a competitor. You can break all the records in the world, but if you don’t help a team win, what good is it?”

This one was a good one. And Largent’s postgame handoff made it more memorable.