Those who know Covenant Shores chaplain Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos know he is first and foremost a man of faith, and then a prolific writer and a diehard Seahawks fan.

It’s just that sometimes, the ever-enthusiastic reverend can’t help but blend those three passions together.

This past fall, Asimakoupoulos combined those three things and began contributing Seahawks-themed poems to KOMO Radio. Every Blue Friday before a Seahawks game, Asimakoupoulos’ poems are read on-air following the morning sports report at 7:40 a.m.

Asimakoupoulos said he pitched the idea to KOMO Radio morning news anchor Gregg Hersholt, whom Asimakoupoulos has been friends with for about a decade.

“I’ve been aware that he’s a poet. He has written things and put them in cards for me,” Hersholt told the Reporter. “I knew he was very good at this and I knew he was a really big Hawks fan. As soon as he pitched the idea, I thought it was fantastic. We put one poem on the air and a couple listeners reacted very positively to it.”

It’s not the first time Asimakoupoulos has scribed his love for his favorite football team. Last year, Asimakoupoulos referenced the Seahawks in a prayer at the state Legislature. Prior to that, Asimakoupoulos said he began writing poems about football when he was a pastor at a congregation in Illinois, when he would send poems to longtime friend Mike Holmgren, who was then coaching the Green Bay Packers.

“I used to send Mike these fun poems on a regular basis just to put a smile on his face when he was preparing for these games,” Asimakoupoulos said. “That was probably the genesis of writing poems about football.”

That’s not to say Asimakoupoulos wasn’t already writing. He says poetry is a big part of what he does as a chaplain, and he’s published three volumes of poems. On top of regularly contributing columns on faith to the Reporter, Asimakoupoulos has written a weekly poetry blog for the past 13 years, which ranges in topics from sports, current events and pop culture.

“I write stuff all the time,” he said. “This assignment to do it for the Hawks this year isn’t something that’s out of my wheelhouse. I do it anyway.”

And football is very much in his wheelhouse. Asimakoupoulos has been known to wear his Shaun Alexander jersey underneath his clergy robe, and will admit to keeping his smart phone hidden behind his Sunday hymnal to check scores, notably during last season’s NFC Championship game.

Asimakoupoulos is quick to say what he does for a living matters more than what happens during the 17 weeks of a football season. But that doesn’t rule out using football as a manner of inspiring faith. Asimakoupoulos wrote a poem this season for a resident at Covenant Shores, who was a 40-year season-ticket holder from the inaugural season, and passed away earlier this year after battling cancer.

“I wrote one of my rhymes for him, which his wife said was one of the things that gave him a sense of comfort in the last couple of days,” Asimakoupoulos recalled. “I’m glad I got to do that for him.”

Hersholt acknowledged that in a dynamic sport where momentum is constantly altering and, week in and week out, fans are asked to remain hopeful, there certainly is room for a 12th Chaplain, so to speak.

“I think he helps put it all into perspective: that it’s fun, but there’s a little life lesson that he sneaks into a lot of the poems,” Hersholt said. “There are really life lessons, I think, in those games and how we react to them… I think his message is always to keep the faith. And he does it in a light-hearted way that gets the message across.”

As for how this season will turn out, Asimakoupoulos said he is nervous but hopeful about a late-season Seahawks push.

“I know it’s really hard to make it to the big game three years in a row,” he said, “but I’m in the business of faith. That’s my calling card.”

Listen for Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos’ poetry on KOMO Radio at 1000-AM or 97.7 FM. To read his blog, visit http://partialobserver.com/.

All I Want For Christmas

This Christmas there’s a Carroll

that keeps playing in my head.

It isn’t “First Noel” or “Silent Night.”

The Carroll that I have in mind

has brought joy to our world.

He’s upbeat, optimistic and quite bright.

Pete Carroll (much like Santa Claus)

delivers every year.

The team that pulls his sleigh

knows how to win.

Pete’s gifts just keep on giving

and (like kids) we beam with joy

as we pray we’ll reach the Super Bowl again.

The calendar says Santa

will quite soon be on his way,

but I’m hoping he still has a little time.

The Seahawks play this Sunday

so I’m asking for his help.

“Please, Santa, heed the essence of this rhyme.

“For Christmas what I’m wanting

is another play-off run

and though I may deserve a lump of coal,

I’m hoping you’ll be merciful

and will overlook my bad

to guide our Seahawks to the Super Bowl.”

by Chaplain Greg Asimakoupoulos