Why Redskins? Why?

I spent the first 30 years of my life living in Washington, DC.  There are some advantages and disadvantages (mostly disadvantages) to living somewhere without a governor, senator, or representative with full voting powers.  One way we are like other cities is that we have professional sports teams.  Washington has the Redskins (football), Nationals (baseball), Capitals (hockey) and Bullets Wizards (basketball).

I grew up watching the Redskins, Capitals, and Bullets.  I quit watching basketball when the Bullets changed their name to the Wizards because when I think of “wizards” I think of cartoon characters.  This is how the Bullets have been playing since the name change.  I hopped on the Nationals bandwagon when the Expos moved from Montreal.

Every professional sporting event I had ever attended was played in the Washington metropolitan area.  Yesterday I watched the Redskins play the Giants at Jets Stadium.  (I hate the Giants, so I call the new stadium “Jets Stadium” just to tick off Giants fans.  The stadium is actually called, “New Meadowlands Stadium.”)  It was cold and windy, but the weather wasn’t as miserable as the way the Redskins played.

I do not know what was worse; The Redskins turning the ball over SIX TIMES or TWO running backs rushing for two touchdowns and 100 yards.  The final score was Giants 31 Redskins 6, but it could have been worse.  It would have been bad watching a debacle like that if the game was played at FedEx Field in Washington or watching it in the comfort of my own home.  But wearing burgundy and gold in a sea of blue made me an easy target of deranged Giants fans.

It was such a distraught and upsetting experience that I couldn’t get myself to write anything when I got home.  I did not blog, send a tweet, or “liked” anything on Facebook.  And to add insult to injury, I got home in time to watch the Dallas Cowboys win.

I wonder why the Redskins had to play as horribly as they did yesterday.  It was probably because they knew I was in attendance and they felt the pressure of playing in front of the next President of the United States.  It’s like tennis star Andy Murray choking in Wimbledon when he plays in front of Queen Elizabeth.  That has to be it.  Mike Shanahan is a good coach.  It didn’t look like the Redskins were outcoached or that the players didn’t understand the plays.  It looked like stage fright caused by trying to play in front of a prominent political figure who happens to be a fan of your team.

I have a ton of work to do.  It’s time for me to shake this off and get to work!

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2010 NFL SEASON – WEEK 1

Last  Season: 54-47-1 (.529)

Best Bets:  9-12 (.429)

It’s that time of year again.  The football season kicks off tonight with a rematch of the NFC Championship Game with the perennially unretired Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings take on Drew Brees and the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

Picks in Bold Best Bets in Italics.

Date & Time	Favorite	Spread	Underdog
9/9 8:30 ET	At New Orleans	-5.5	Minnesota
9/12 1:00 ET	At NY Giants	-6.5	Carolina
9/12 1:00 ET	Miami	-3	At Buffalo
9/12 1:00 ET	Atlanta	-2.5	At Pittsburgh
9/12 1:00 ET	At Chicago	-6.5	Detroit
9/12 1:00 ET	At New England	-4.5	Cincinnati
9/12 1:00 ET	At Tampa Bay	-3	Cleveland
9/12 1:00 ET	At Jacksonville	-2.5	Denver
9/12 1:00 ET	Indianapolis	-2	At Houston
9/12 1:00 ET	At Tennessee	-6.5	Oakland
9/12 4:15 ET	Green Bay	-3	At Philadelphia
9/12 4:15 ET	San Francisco	-3	At Seattle
9/12 4:15 ET	Arizona	-4	At St. Louis
9/12 8:20 ET	Dallas	-3.5	At Washington

Monday Night Football Point Spread

9/13 7:00 ET	At NY Jets	-2	Baltimore
9/13 10:15 ET	San Diego	-4.5	At Kansas City

Here’s hoping that Mike Shanahan can right the Redskins’ ship and that the ‘Skins return to glory!

Donovan McNabb a Redskin!

I have just returned from Washington after spending the Easter weekend with my family.  My father sent me an e-mail saying that the Eagles have traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins for a second round pick.  I really like the direction the Redskins are going in now.  First it was Mike Shanahan as our head coach.  Now it’s Donovan McNabb,  Now it won’t be as painful of a wait between when the Capitals hoist the Cup in June and when football season starts in September.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day!

The Entry I Didn’t Get to Write

I was hoping to write an entry called “You’re Only as Good as Your Last Game.”  I was going to write about the Redskins 20-16 win in San Diego to end the season.  I was going to write that the Redskins have laid the foundation for what promises to be a better 2010 season. I can’t write about that now.  I can’t write about it because the Redskins didn’t end on a good note.  They didn’t win 20-16.  They lost 23-20 with 37 seconds left as the Chargers’ backup quarterback threw a touchdown to the fullback and handed the Redskins yet another loss.  How many times does a fullback catch a pass?  Only against the Redskins…

Redskins fans, rejoice!  Not over the game, not over the season, but that Jim Zorn and the Bingo-calling offensive coordinator were finally shown the door.  Hopefully Dan Snyder will hire somebody who knows how to coach.  Don’t let Matt Millen anywhere near this organization!  That would be the kiss of death.  That would be the Waterloo of the Redskins’ organization just like losing to the Lions was the Waterloo of the 2009 season.

I hope the Redskins get Mike Shanahan to coach.  But if things don’t work out with him, I would like to see somebody with head coaching experience in either the NFL or the NCAA.