Getting Sentimental: One Fan's Perspective On The Washington Redskins

Striking a sentimental note on the eve of the 2010 season, some thoughts on why the Redskins hold such a special place in my life.

For as long as I can remember, the Washington Redskins have been a part of that life. Of course, growing up in the shadow of D.C. will have that effect on anyone. That city (and the surrounding suburban area) simply lives and dies with the Redskins.

Unfortunately, my own Redskins experience has featured a significantly larger amount of dying than living. It’s been nearly two decades since the team won its last Super Bowl championship with Joe Gibbs at the helm and there hasn’t been very much to write home about since then. But even through nearly two decades of disappointment, I’ve been able to keep faith in the team that represents where I grew up.

At the risk of sounding mopey, it’s been pretty tough. Sure, there’s been the occasional late-season win streak to secure a playoff berth, but more often than not, there’s been an 0-7 start, a late-season collapse, a free-agent bust,  a fake field goal gone horribly wrong, or an endzone celebration that ends in “the concussion heard ‘round the world”. Oh yeah, there were 10 years of Vinny Cerrato, too.

But I’m still there, every Sunday/Thursday/Monday/Saturday. Why? Why do I insist on sticking with a team that any normal sports fan would wisely have given up on a long time ago? Mostly it’s because of two simple reasons:

• It’s more than just a game to me. I’ve already mentioned that the Redskins embody the area where I was raised. They symbolize that part of my youth that I want to hold on to. But the team doesn’t merely epitomize a location for me; they’ve also been a big inspiration at times (despite the questionable inspiration they themselves have displayed on occasion). Call it a case of “Saints”-itis. You know the way New Orleans feels about their home team and what the team has come to resemble for that whole city? That’s pretty much how I feel about the Skins. Granted, it’s on a much smaller scale, but still, there have been moments when the team’s struggles have mirrored my own and when the team’s achievements and successes have inspired me to push myself. I know it sounds outrageously sappy, but it is what it is. 
• I want some of my own glory. If there’s one NFL moment that really sticks in my mind, it’s the image of John Elway pumping his fists in the air after winning Super Bowl XXXII. There’s just something about seeing a 38 year-old man in the midst of child-like ecstasy and celebration—you just can’t help but get caught up in the emotion with him. I don’t have any moment of my own that compares with that. I’ve never seen my hometown Redskins win it all and make a name for themselves in the process. Of course I’ve seen the NFL Films documentaries about the Redskins 3 Super Bowl winners; I’ve heard the stories about John Riggins, Russ Grimm, and Doug Williams; and yes, I understand the significance behind “50 gut”. But those aren’t my championships or my Redskins. Ultimately, they belong to the previous generation of Washington fans. I want some of my own football glory, and that’s why I keep watching. Because when it comes, it’s going to be sweet.

So that’s it. That’s why I still represent for the Redskins, why I still put on my Clinton Portis jersey most Sundays in the fall and dedicate three hours to see a possible Redskins win. It hasn’t always been an easy road, but it’s one that I’ll keep walking for a long time. Quite honestly, I’m afraid to stop cheering for the team, out of the fear that as soon as I jump ship the team will undergo some kind of Angels In the Outfield-style miracle turnaround and start winning consistently.

 And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only Washington Redskins fan who’ll admit to that.