So far Zorny (who I really am starting to get horny for with his dreamy eyes and crisp passing techniques) looks good. I am not going to be the Redskin fan that starts telling everyone we are going all the way during the preseason. 2000, the year of Bruce Smith, Deion, et all, and Osaka with Spurrier were humbling enough. But, Campbell looks solid, Carter and Taylor scared the hell out of the Bills O-line, Portis was tentative but effective, and a lot of guys are still resting for when it counts because the team really beat itself up during camp. The Zorn era hasn't officially started, but he is doing pretty well so far. Betts said that they are running just basic plays, and as long that is true and Zorn isn't showing his whole offense to all the scouts in Philly, NY, and Dallas this season might not be a disaster with a group of old guys who don't have too many years left to make a run.
NY had their run last year, and I don't think they can duplicate it; little Manning's completion percentage so far is about half of Campbell's and there is no Strahan or Barber. Dallas is everyone's pick to win the NFC, still think they are America's team, and are hyped up even more as HBO's team. The "Hard Knocks" documentary seems like such a stupid idea to me. I have to trust the Skins scouts enough to pick up something from watching their training camp that is going to help them beat the Cowboys this year. I would assume that everyone else on their schedule is doing the same. They were the best regular season team in the conference last year, and just like the champs everyone will be gunning for them. No one is looking for the Skins. It is a pressure year for Romo, who has to finally prove that he can perform in a pressure situation. Campbell just has to prove he was worth trading up in the first round for. It is a lot easier for Campbell to do so, and I also think he is more capable. The Eagles are in a similar situation. Donnovan Mcnoring is in the twilight of his career and desperately wants to prove he is a champion. The same can be said for Westbrook with the shelf-life of most NFL RBs and even more so for Andy Reid in Philly if he doesn't produce a playoff season. The Cowgirls and Giants are complacent, the Eagles and Skins are hungry and I think there will be suprises, but the battle for the East will be vicious.
Which means Jack Kent Cooke Stadium will be packed, which is great for Skins fans, but sucks because the owner gets more money. Daniel Snyder is an ass-hat. Raiders fans have no idea how lucky they are. Yes their owner is a crazy ass-hat too, but at least Al Davis is going to die sometime soon. We are going to have Snyder around for at least thirty or forty years to be ashamed of. When we went 3-13 under Norv Turner I still held my head high as a Redskin fan. When an opposing fan mentions Snyder, there is nothing to say or do other than put your chin down and say "yeah he's an ass-hat." Campbell can throw 5 interceptions and I can give you fifty reasons why he is better than Romo. It is getting harder and harder to find one redeeming quality in Snyder.
I've never taken the Metro to JKC (Fedex) but I've never been opposed to doing so. Apparently that is a lot harder to do now because of a new Federal law that prohibits shuttles from going to private events, including football games. So there are no more shuttles to Fedex from the Metro. So what do the Redskins do? Issue a quick statement that the service is no longer available to Redskin fans because the price would be jacked up from $6 to $20 and people probably will not pay that. But maybe they are more likely to pay $25 and up for parking passes, which Snyder has been angling for since he bought the team. The guy tried to outlaw walking on the streets surrounding Fedex before so people would have to buy his passes. He wants that extra $25 plus on top of hundreds of dollars for the actual tickets, $10 for a sandwhich, $8 dollars for a beer, and $5 for a bottle of water. (You can't bring them in because they pat down your who-nads to make sure you pay Mr Snyder.) It makes you appreciate the Lerners and the Nats. All they want to do is get people to Nattos Park. They run a 100% free shuttle from the RFK metro to the Park all on their own dime. For Snyder, it is always about squeezing one more nickle out of Redskin fans. There are a few people left that think he is an asset to this great franchise because he will go out and buy players. I have never doubted that little Danny likes the Redskins, but I also never doubted that he doesn't care much for Redskin fans.
Only the love of the greatest fan base in sports sells out the largest stadium in pro sports despite the hoops this guy puts us through. Thats why when the Nats or Caps get good it will be so great. While it looks like it won't happen anytime soon for the Nats, the Caps are on the cusp. Leonsis might be the most loved of DC owners, in part because his franchise is so fan friendly. He is a delight to meet in person, and will go so far as to answer all Caps fans emails. Try it, but don't try it with Snyder, he doesn't want to talk to you, he just wants your money. Maybe if one of these teams can win a championship, and stirs up a fervor that is usually only reserved for the Redskins, Snyder will pay attention and realize what being a fan friendly franchise is all about. In the meantime he is still an ass-hat and so am I for giving him my money. See you opening day.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Out with the old, in with a great weekend
DC fans came out and showed how it is supposed to be done. People around Canton were impressed by the always loyal fan base that came out just as they do every Sunday of the year they play pro football in PG county. It shouldn't be any suprise that we have the most loyal fanbase in the nation. Thurman Thomas, who knows nothing of the Dallas-Skins rivalry even commented that he was glad that he wasn't a Cowboy on the day Monk and Green were inducted. He may have even remembered his helmet. When Michael Irvin stepped up to the podium and was booed, he smiled in resignation. I hated Michael Irvin with that star on his helmet, prancing around the field and doing a bunch of blow. I hate watching him on ESPN even more. However, he turned his life around, and I don't know if anyone else noticed; he never sat down during the entire Monk standing ovation. For a guy that was a total prima donna, I thought it was pretty selfless to stand with the Redskins fans as they saluted Monk. Especially because some of us are a little salty that he got in before Monk. Monk always conducted himself with class, finished with more TDs than Irvin, and finished with the career reception record for the entire league before Jerry Rice shattered it.
And Monk did it with class. Other fans must have wondered why Monk's ovation was so much longer than Green's. Part of it was because we had to wait so long to get him in. Part of it was the class and dignity that Monk always conducted himself with. While Green always performed on the field and was a life-long Redskin, people who have met him usually have a negative thing or two to say. I dare you to find somone who can say something bad about Monk with a straight face. Finally, we had a different running back and QB to win all three Lombardi trophies. Guess who was the possesion receiver for each of them? Everytime we hoisted the trophy Monk was there. He was Gibbs' first pick during his first tenure, Sean Taylor was his first pick second time around. Gibbs seemed to always get it right the first time he did anything.
I couldn't make it to Canton this past weekend but I really wish I could have. To those who did I am really proud of you and all of Redskin nation. As many Washingtonians know, there are a whole bunch of out-of-towners who love to talk about how bad Redskin fans are. On top of that, there are some people who grew up here and root for Dallas. When you ask them why, they usually say "because my dad was a Redskins fan." Most people get over their daddy issues by about 8th grade. Apparently not Cowboys fans. But what these out-of-towners and Freudian cases claim are that Skins fans are bandwagon fans, that we are a little obnoxious, that we boast too much when we are good, and abandon the team when we are bad.
I think we are critical, sometimes overly so, but fair. Tell me when the Cowgirls went 1-15 that their fans weren't critical of Aikman. I'm pretty sure half of the Giants fans wanted Tom Coughlin out before last season when he won a trophy. Even now, a ton of Eagles fans hate Donnovan "McNo-Ring" McNabb for no apparent reason whatsoever. Yeah we can get down and depressed, but it is our family, our clan, so we can talk about them in a negative or positive light all day long. No one else can. It is like your younger brother. You can make fun, anyone else does and there will be a fight. And we showed this this weekend. No team's fans have ever showed up to Canton to welcome a new inductee like Skins fans did. It was the closing of the old Super Bowl era (even though Russ Grimm should be inducted any year now) and so let's get on with the next one. I know the Skins have a great history and I love to revel in it like we did this weekend. However, let's stop talking about it and make more memories baby. The Cowboys have two more Lombardies than us. The Giants caught up. No one worries about the Eagles because they come from Choketown, USA. Let's make Monk's induction a coronation for the future and make a new past.
They looked good on Sunday. Zorny (who I'm horny for) got a welcome to the league from the Colts with the opening on-sides kick. I'd like to credit Zorny for being heads-up to them doing this before with rookie coaches, but he had no clue, his special teams coach was onto it. So at least he surrounded himself with people that look at things like that. Zorn is concentrating on the QBs, and it showed Sunday. J.Cam was perfect and Brennan looked damned good, even though it was third stringers. Collins had his year last year and no one knows why he was resgined but he was solid as well. It was just good to see the burgandy and gold again, especially crawling all over Canton. Let's get more in.
The Nattos are a long way away from sending anyone to Cooperstown. But they are looking. I commented a couple of months ago that Lo Duca should have never been here. He was a nice guy, very gracious and I think he may have helped the young guys. (Just not selling them drugs.) I have been saying ever since we dipped 10 games out of first place that we needed to just bring up the guys who will be playing the next few years and can help us get our first baseball trophy in DC in 84 years. I was worried about Bowden for a little while but he got it right. We ditched Lo Duca and Lopez, after shopping them to every team that rejected us. I know Bowden tried to trade them, but apparently they were so valuable that we couldn't get anything for them, and thus he did the best thing and cut them. The guys he traded for and brought up are the right move for the future, and apparently, the present. Nats fans could barely spell sweep before this weekend. Bonaficio especially, and Gonzales as well are great adds because they will probably be playing here in 2010. So let's bring the rest of them up, Marrero especially. Lannan can strike out Matt Holliday twice, let's see what doing the same will do for Dettweiler or Smoker's confidence. Maybe we can even best our season-high win streak again. The future looks bright, we just need to delve into it. It was a great weekend to remember the past, but get excited about the future.
And Monk did it with class. Other fans must have wondered why Monk's ovation was so much longer than Green's. Part of it was because we had to wait so long to get him in. Part of it was the class and dignity that Monk always conducted himself with. While Green always performed on the field and was a life-long Redskin, people who have met him usually have a negative thing or two to say. I dare you to find somone who can say something bad about Monk with a straight face. Finally, we had a different running back and QB to win all three Lombardi trophies. Guess who was the possesion receiver for each of them? Everytime we hoisted the trophy Monk was there. He was Gibbs' first pick during his first tenure, Sean Taylor was his first pick second time around. Gibbs seemed to always get it right the first time he did anything.
I couldn't make it to Canton this past weekend but I really wish I could have. To those who did I am really proud of you and all of Redskin nation. As many Washingtonians know, there are a whole bunch of out-of-towners who love to talk about how bad Redskin fans are. On top of that, there are some people who grew up here and root for Dallas. When you ask them why, they usually say "because my dad was a Redskins fan." Most people get over their daddy issues by about 8th grade. Apparently not Cowboys fans. But what these out-of-towners and Freudian cases claim are that Skins fans are bandwagon fans, that we are a little obnoxious, that we boast too much when we are good, and abandon the team when we are bad.
I think we are critical, sometimes overly so, but fair. Tell me when the Cowgirls went 1-15 that their fans weren't critical of Aikman. I'm pretty sure half of the Giants fans wanted Tom Coughlin out before last season when he won a trophy. Even now, a ton of Eagles fans hate Donnovan "McNo-Ring" McNabb for no apparent reason whatsoever. Yeah we can get down and depressed, but it is our family, our clan, so we can talk about them in a negative or positive light all day long. No one else can. It is like your younger brother. You can make fun, anyone else does and there will be a fight. And we showed this this weekend. No team's fans have ever showed up to Canton to welcome a new inductee like Skins fans did. It was the closing of the old Super Bowl era (even though Russ Grimm should be inducted any year now) and so let's get on with the next one. I know the Skins have a great history and I love to revel in it like we did this weekend. However, let's stop talking about it and make more memories baby. The Cowboys have two more Lombardies than us. The Giants caught up. No one worries about the Eagles because they come from Choketown, USA. Let's make Monk's induction a coronation for the future and make a new past.
They looked good on Sunday. Zorny (who I'm horny for) got a welcome to the league from the Colts with the opening on-sides kick. I'd like to credit Zorny for being heads-up to them doing this before with rookie coaches, but he had no clue, his special teams coach was onto it. So at least he surrounded himself with people that look at things like that. Zorn is concentrating on the QBs, and it showed Sunday. J.Cam was perfect and Brennan looked damned good, even though it was third stringers. Collins had his year last year and no one knows why he was resgined but he was solid as well. It was just good to see the burgandy and gold again, especially crawling all over Canton. Let's get more in.
The Nattos are a long way away from sending anyone to Cooperstown. But they are looking. I commented a couple of months ago that Lo Duca should have never been here. He was a nice guy, very gracious and I think he may have helped the young guys. (Just not selling them drugs.) I have been saying ever since we dipped 10 games out of first place that we needed to just bring up the guys who will be playing the next few years and can help us get our first baseball trophy in DC in 84 years. I was worried about Bowden for a little while but he got it right. We ditched Lo Duca and Lopez, after shopping them to every team that rejected us. I know Bowden tried to trade them, but apparently they were so valuable that we couldn't get anything for them, and thus he did the best thing and cut them. The guys he traded for and brought up are the right move for the future, and apparently, the present. Nats fans could barely spell sweep before this weekend. Bonaficio especially, and Gonzales as well are great adds because they will probably be playing here in 2010. So let's bring the rest of them up, Marrero especially. Lannan can strike out Matt Holliday twice, let's see what doing the same will do for Dettweiler or Smoker's confidence. Maybe we can even best our season-high win streak again. The future looks bright, we just need to delve into it. It was a great weekend to remember the past, but get excited about the future.
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