Years ago, my mom made an announcement that I couldn't fathom, couldn't wrap my head around. She said that she was no longer a Washington Redskins fan. I don't recall what game or moment prompted the dissolution of the relationship between my mom and the only team my immediate family shared (barring my sister who could care less), I simply remember not being able to comprehend a member of my football watching family not being a Redskins fan.
FlashForward like ABC to find me sitting here realizing that I no longer have the fire in me to cheer for the Redskins. Too many years of mismanagement have led to too much heartbreak. It's like I have battered fan syndrome. And I keep coming back for more. The Snyder years have been marred by inconsistency of the worst kind -- the inconsistency that leads to a sliver of hope. Hope for either the next game or the next season. Only to be slapped down by the angry villain that is reality.
As of right now, I'm still a Redskins fan. I have to be. I've spent far too many years, too many beers, too much money, too much passion, and too many good times not to be a Redskins fan. Not to mention, those that know me know that I have a pet peeve for people that switch teams, that don't sweat out the bad times. I can't be those that I talk about and sleep through the night.
However, I will not be investing my passion, not this season anyway. Yeah, I know, if there's some miraculous turnaround I'll have to eat my fair share of crow. But here's the thing, I used to get excited for the Redskins games, even in the Brunell years when I knew anything thrown over 5 yards was considered a deep pass for our crew. The Spurrier years held their own kind of disappointing magic as I just knew that somehow things would come together under the ol' ball coach. Each little era held something. Now, not so much. Watching virtually every team in the league get better in some way and seeing absolutely nothing in terms of progress at FedEx field leaves one depersonalized from his team. I can't even build up the passion to hate Jim Zorn. I think he's a horrible coach but I no longer seem to care enough to tell him how bad he is.
So for 2009, I'm done with the Redskins. I'll watch their games if their on or follow the scoreboard online. And I truly hope they can turn this thing around. But I'm not spending any time thinking about it. I'm definitely not spending any money on it. When they come to Atlanta this year, I won't be there like last time. I don't have that kind of free time for something I half-heartedly believe in. I'm certain my passion will come back one day (when Snyder sells, or becomes a deaf-mute), but for right now my focus will be the Hokies.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
The Sucker....Punch
If you're any kind of sports fan, you've probably seen Boise St DE Byron Hout get remixed by LeGarrette Blount. LeGarrette Blount has since been crucified publicly and nationally -- and deservedly so. There was also a latent backlash at Byron Hout.
I will admit that when I first saw the punch, I was pleased. I know this may anger some but quite frankly, let's look at this from the perspective of 5 seconds before the punch. A deflated, embarassed, and probably still emotionally charged young man is walking off a hostile field in the midst of those that defeated him. Another young man walks up, taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, and taunts him. Was MMA'ing him the best decision? Definitely not. Was it a reaction, an instinct? Probably. But what's lost in this is why did Hout feel the need to rub it in his face?
The presumed logic is that since Blount spoke the words 'We owe this team an ass whooping' earlier in the week the mouthy Blount should have expected some backlash. However, Blount's statement was in reference to last year's game where two Oregon player were hurt and taken out of the game on arguably dirty plays. So for him to state that we owe a team an ass-whooping, in that context, isn't taunting. It is a reference to what many feel was dirty play last year.
All this is to say, the punch that sent Hout's spit flying was actually dirty repaying dirty. Unfortunately, this could very well end Blount's football career. For what it's worth, Blount had been suspended earlier in summer workouts for his aggression so he is no angel in this matter. But for such an unnecessary event to happen and quite possibly ruin this young man's chances at doing and succeeding at his life's goals, well, that is the real tragedy. Hout was Sucker punched indeed, but he was also a sucker and deserved the punch.
I wonder if the public's reaction would be the same if say Terrell Owens taunted Brian Urlacher and Urlacher hauled off and punched Owens when he wasn't looking?
I will admit that when I first saw the punch, I was pleased. I know this may anger some but quite frankly, let's look at this from the perspective of 5 seconds before the punch. A deflated, embarassed, and probably still emotionally charged young man is walking off a hostile field in the midst of those that defeated him. Another young man walks up, taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, and taunts him. Was MMA'ing him the best decision? Definitely not. Was it a reaction, an instinct? Probably. But what's lost in this is why did Hout feel the need to rub it in his face?
The presumed logic is that since Blount spoke the words 'We owe this team an ass whooping' earlier in the week the mouthy Blount should have expected some backlash. However, Blount's statement was in reference to last year's game where two Oregon player were hurt and taken out of the game on arguably dirty plays. So for him to state that we owe a team an ass-whooping, in that context, isn't taunting. It is a reference to what many feel was dirty play last year.
All this is to say, the punch that sent Hout's spit flying was actually dirty repaying dirty. Unfortunately, this could very well end Blount's football career. For what it's worth, Blount had been suspended earlier in summer workouts for his aggression so he is no angel in this matter. But for such an unnecessary event to happen and quite possibly ruin this young man's chances at doing and succeeding at his life's goals, well, that is the real tragedy. Hout was Sucker punched indeed, but he was also a sucker and deserved the punch.
I wonder if the public's reaction would be the same if say Terrell Owens taunted Brian Urlacher and Urlacher hauled off and punched Owens when he wasn't looking?
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