2 posts tagged “redskins”

So, as you can tell by my icon, I'm a bit of a Redskins fan.  And if the NFL is your thing, you might know that the Washington Redskins are playing their most hated rival (the Dallas Cowboys) tomorrow.  It's a game of extreme importance, because if the Redskins win they will make the playoffs, if they lose, they probably wont make the playoffs.  Having so much ride on the game, coupled with the afore-mentioned rivaly, you have a game that would easily be the most exciting game I've ever attended.  The problem is that I didn't have any tickets...  But,  I had a couple of possibilities.  I've got a friend that has season tickets and is always asking me if I would like to buy them.  Normally, I respectfully decline, because I'd rather watch the game at home with family than spend $230 dollars or so to go to the game.  This game being what it is, I was willing to spend the money to go, so I called him and asked about the availability.  He said he would let me know, but he was going to try to sell them on craigslist for higher than retail.  Well, that took him about 10 minites to accomplish.  He sold them for $600 bucks and I couldn't be upset.  I certainly was not going to spend that much, so more power to him.  My only other option was the tickets from my work.  One of the upper-ups from work had claimed these tickets months ago, but I had heard it through the grape vine that she might not go.  I let it be known that I was more than interested in going to the game if the seats became available, but I wasn't even close to getting my hopes up.  

AND THEN, THE MOST AMAZING NEWS EVER!!!

I had become comfortable with the fact that I was not going to the biggest game ever, and then, out of the blue, I get the best phone message I ever could have expected.  It wen't something like this:

One of the Upper-ups children that is already going to THE GAME and knew that I was trying to get tickets:

"Hey Gary, this is ________ and I just wanted to let you know that my mom isn't going to the game, and she said that you can have the tickets, so good news man, you and your brothers can go....blah blah blah...." *Click*

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa, not only did I suddenly have tickets, they were free and there were three(tickets).  Well plans were made, excitement was felt, and anticipation was in full throttle.  That is, until this morning...

AND THEN, THE MOST CRUSHING NEWS POSSIBLE 

I had now become comfortable with the fact that I was going to most anticipated regular season football game in the history of our stadium, I was going to be part of the home field advantage, I was going to experience something something special.  I was also about to check my voicemail again...

The same child of the Upper-Ups that had left me the original voicemail:

"By the way, my mom called again and said you don't get the tickets, she's sorry but she's giving them to ________(her other son), she's sorry, bye."  *Click*

OOOOOOF!  I couldn't be sure if he was serious, or selling the tickets, or wrong about the situation, so I tried to call him.  After being unsuccessful, I found out the upper-up's number and called her directly...

Me:  I got two phone calls from your son.  One saying that I had the tickets for sure, and one saying I didn't.  I'd like to make plans if I were to get them, so I just wanted to make sure either way.

Her: Yeah, I'm real sorry, and I want to spare you all the details, but my son(________) is getting out of jail tomorrow and I really think he'd like to go to the game, so I'm really sorry, but I'm going to give him the tickets, I think he'd really like that.

Me: Ohhhhhhhh, gotcha... well thanks, I just wanted to know for sure...soooo...uh, thanks.

Her: Happy New Year, BYE!

Me:  Yeah thanks, see you next week.

*click*

Guess what folks, I'm watching the game from home tomorrow...

My beloved Washington Redskins opened their season yesterday. I was happy to be at the game and take it all in.  For true fanatics, every new year is ripe with expectations, and this year is no different.  And while a fan may have an idea of whether his team will be good or bad, there are NO guarantees.  The preseason should be some clue as to what is to come during the regular season.  But the reality is that the preseason performance is, many times, not reflective of the quality of the team. It is merely something to reflect back on a couple months into the season and determine what you should have known from having watched the games.  That's not to say that I don't do the same thing.  I do.  I watch the preseason, and try to get information about what will happen during the year.  But it's funny, I have so many hopes built up for the coming season, if the team struggles in the preseason I'll write it off and say that its exhibitions that don't matter.  However, if the team is playing particularly well in the preseason, I'll proclaim that the team has turned the corner and will play well in the regular season.   It just the way it is as a fanatic.

With all that being said, when the regular season begins, it's Christmas, and you haven't a clue what you're getting.  That was the situation yesterday.  The Miami Dolphins were coming into FedEx field to open the year.  Miami was a wild card:  New coach, new offense, new quarterback, new philosophy.  The Dolphins hadn't performed well last year, but as I mentioned before, that doesn't mean they won't be a surprise team this year.  The Redskins were no world beaters last year either, going 5-11 after having made the playoffs the previous year.  I know I'm bias, but Redskins fans should have every reason in the world to be optimistic.  The Redskins have a Hall of Fame coach(not a future Hall of famer, he's already made it), they have a rock solid offensive line, two excellent running backs, playmakers at wide receiver, a yong defensive line with quickness that had been lacking, quick and hard hitting playmackers at linebacker, quite possibly the hardest hitting ground covering safeties in the entire league, depth at cornerback that had been severely lacking, and a young quarterback that had shown great potential in the closing games of last season. 

I was at the standium, I was excited, I was hopeful, I was nervous, and I was wary.  It was kickoff time.

TBC...