"Allow me to re-introduce
myself..."
December 30, 2012, FEDEX Field; they may as well have played Jay-Z's Public Service Announcement. If you were lucky enough
to be in attendance (and your humble scribe, Tyler was), and happen to follow sports in the D.C. area, then you
already know.
After
20 years in a grey life-suck, D.C. sports have finally and loudly might I add,
completed their rebirth and re-introduction. If you don't happen to follow
sports in the D.C. area, or are still unaware that the Redskins stomped the
Dallas Cowboys in week 17 to sew up the NFC East Title, then the 82,845
Burgundy and Gold clad maniacs who were in attendance could cue you in on
where the latest city was to announce its relevance on the athletic
landscape.
Before
we continue, I have to add that there were ONLY two moments in a four hour
period during this game when those people were sitting; during warm-ups, and
halftime. Once we were told to stand for D.C. Washington’s (his actual name
not a typo. How is he not the go-to-guy for every home DC sporting event!?)
rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, one that the crowd proudly sang along
with, almost rendering him mute; we would not return to our seats until halftime.
Standing
and screaming for four hours in the biting cold on a Sunday night, playing for
the division in December was certainly a sight for sore eyes for
those of us who grew up with the great Skins teams of years gone by. This
scene was different, this wasn’t just about beating Dallas, this was the next
chapter in a seismic shift of performance and expectation in the self-titled,
and never disputed, "Most Powerful City in the World."
Our
quarterback was hobbled, but heroic. Their quarterback was ineffective, and yet
again Romorrible, see CHOKE (v.) in the dictionary.
Our
running back bruised and battered the opposition for 200 yards and 3 scores.
Their running back couldn’t keep his pants around his waist vs. the Saints.
Our
receiving corps caught everything insight and spun the ball like a Jewish kid
at Hanukah. Their MUCH more heralded
receiving corps were crippled and confined to wheelchairs.
Our
defense held tough and intercepted passes at will. Their defense was gashed time and time again,
and their ability to stop our zone-read offense is the same as Bin Laden’s
ability to breath right now (‘Merica).
Our
defensive coordinator was under fire all year but quietly went about his
business and made adjustments throughout this trying season. Their defensive
coordinator got louder and more abrasive with every loss. (AND WAS FIRED YESTERDAY!)
Our
head coach’s face had a reddish hue of success. Their head coach’s hair had a
reddish hue of ginger.
The
Redskins held the edge in every facet. The stadium was full and louder than
Albert Haynesworth’s belly. Redskins
Nation was together as one singing “Hail to the Redskins” loudly and proudly,
whether you were in attendance that night, or watching at home.
No
more was our greedy owner selling seats to Stub Hub for the opposing team to
flock to our eye-sore in Landover. A sea
of burgundy and gold welcomed Jerry Jones and his Cowboys, and ushered them out
with glee at the end of the game.
This
singular win’s magnitude was felt throughout our region and thus completed a
year that most of us had never seen.
Wins were a plenty (whereas they are generally at a premium), stars were
born, and blueprints for success were distributed. However, just like our savior RG3 said, this
was just dinner. 2013 will be our dessert!
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