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“How can that not be interference, I can’t believe that.” Over and over today I heard those words in my head. It was one of my last memories of Seahawks Insider Mike Kahn who passed away on Wednesday evening. Mike never held back, he always said exactly what was on his mind and jumped at the chance to disagree on almost any topic.

He loved sports and wrote about it as well as anyone I’ve ever read. Most of Mike’s career was spent at the Tacoma News Tribune covering the NBA. He had lots of friends in high places for the same reason I cared about him so much. He was honest, he held nothing back. Former Sonics coach George Karl loved Mike because they were a lot alike. You knew where you stood with both of them.

I met Mike in 2005 working on Seahawks radio. He had just been hired by Seahawks Vice President Dave Pearson as the first official writer for Seahawks.com.

At the Super Bowl in Detroit Mike, his son Andy and I spent a couple of hours touring the Henry Ford auto museum. He was so proud of his son, his daughter Sarah and his grand daughter Ava.

In the summer of 2006 I spent a month with Mike in Cheney covering Seahawks training camp. We’d meet at the gym early in the morning then go to breakfast. Our conversations must have been amusing to anyone listening in. It was almost like a competition. First I would share an exaggerated story about my early days in television and Mike would counter with a better story about his early days as a newspaper sports writer.

There were great tales about his home town of Cincinnati, his father’s chili restaurant, his college days at the Ohio State University, baseball players he’d covered during his time in St. Louis, NBA stars he knew on a first name basis and his family, dozens of stories about his family.

Most recently after doctors discovered he had cancer the stories of his time spent with wife JoAnn, his children and grand daughter were thebest of all. Every time his son Andy made any kind of move in school or on the job front Mike would be there with a new and detailed story.Every new word or gesture his granddaughter shared with him would be shared with his friends soon after.

Often on the Seahawks team plane he spoke of writing a screen play of a NBA player. He had it all outlined and ready to go but was so deeply dedicated to his work on Seahawks.com he never quite found the time to finish it.

Mike was “old school.” He was true to his word, loyal to his family and friends and never wasted any time candy coating things.

During his chemo and radiation treatment last fall he called me from his house and asked if I would mind giving him a really short haircut since his hair was falling out. I drove to his house in Tacoma and gave him an old fashioned crew cut. The next day he shaved it all off.

“Thanks for cutting it short Tony, but I decided I was just kidding myself, so I shaved it all off. I’ll just wear a cap.” We had lunch that day on the Tacoma water front and shared a whole new set of stories.

I didn’t see Mike again until November 16th at Qwest field when the Seahawks played the Cardinals. He was finished with his treatments and awaiting surgery a few days later. He was determined to get back to work.

Mike sat two seats over from me in the press box at Qwest Field and was well within ear shot whenever an official’s call went against the Seahawks. The age old law of the press box prohibits members of the media from voicing their opinion or cheering during the game didn’t seem to apply to Mike.

Some time during the first half a call went against the Seahawks and while most of us just shook our heads Mike piped up with, “How is that not interference, I can’t believe it.” Seahawks Vice President of Communications Dave Pearson who had hired Mike in 2004 just turned around, smiled and went back to his work.

“How could I say anything, “ Pearson said the next day, “it was just good to have Mike back.”

My Uncle Ralph used to always say, “Life’s too short,” so be a good friend. Mike Kahn was a good friend to me and dozens of others. His life was too short but the memory of his friendship will go on forever.