Ahhh football season is back again! The time when communities pull together to cheer for their favorite teams, coworkers finally have something to discuss over the water cooler (does anyone work in an office that actually has one of these, btw?), and every fan truly believes that maybe-- just maybe-- this will be the year that their team turns things around and wins the Super Bowl.
Before we go any further, you should know that I'm a fierce competitor... even in situations that don't necessarily call for actual competition.
This competitiveness extends to cheering for my favorite teams. One of the worst feelings a fan can experience is knowing that your team isn't good enough to be considered a threat to.... well, pretty much anyone. How depressing is that?
Which brings me to the topic of rivalries: I love a good rival. Who doesn't?
As a Redskins fan, one must become accustomed to constant ribbing from fans of every other NFL team... and trust me, hearing a Lions fan make fun of your team without blowing a gasket requires a great deal of self-control. We even have to deal with listening to all the sportscasters dismiss and/or outright insult our boys. (Does anyone else want to start a petition banning former Dallas QB Troy Aikman from commentating a Redskins game, or is that just me?)
It's tough when people don't take your team seriously. However, there are two games every year which are taken very seriously by both sides no matter how terrible the Redskins are: the games against the Dallas Cowboys.
For those of you not familiar with football, the Redskins vs. Cowboys rivalry is probably one of the most notorious and intense rivalries in all of sports. We make a Yankees vs. Red Sox game look like an amicable meeting-of-the-minds.
It may sound strange, but it's extremely gratifying to see another team thoroughly prepare, work hard, worry about the outcome, and put on their game faces before playing your team. (Finally)
Yes, commentators will insist on pointing out how long it's been since and/or how infrequently your team won the rivalry games. Yes, Troy will be especiallyobnoxious biased in his color commentary. Yes, you will accuse the refs of being closet Dallas fans every time they make a call against the Redskins (accurate or not). Yes, you will be a bundle of nerves and probably have dangerously high blood pressure by the end of the game.
You also will revel in every moment of the hype that leads up to the game, the palpable hometown pride, the smack-talk that actually goes both ways this time, and the realization that people from all around the country are watching the game because even they know it's a big deal.
And yes, the excitement and emotions you feel during these two games will remind you why you love this sport, this town, and this team... regardless of the outcome.
Hail to the Redskins, hail victory!
Before we go any further, you should know that I'm a fierce competitor... even in situations that don't necessarily call for actual competition.
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| Scrabble is a big deal, ok? source |
Them: You seem really jazzed about the game. Just another day at the office for us. Ho-hum.
You: Oh yeah?! Wellll.... crap. I got nothin.
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| Love means never having to say you're sorry for trash talking p.s. the Redskins totally won that game. |
Which brings me to the topic of rivalries: I love a good rival. Who doesn't?
As a Redskins fan, one must become accustomed to constant ribbing from fans of every other NFL team... and trust me, hearing a Lions fan make fun of your team without blowing a gasket requires a great deal of self-control. We even have to deal with listening to all the sportscasters dismiss and/or outright insult our boys. (Does anyone else want to start a petition banning former Dallas QB Troy Aikman from commentating a Redskins game, or is that just me?)
It's tough when people don't take your team seriously. However, there are two games every year which are taken very seriously by both sides no matter how terrible the Redskins are: the games against the Dallas Cowboys.
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| My dad's favorite shirt. And he's from New Jersey. |
For those of you not familiar with football, the Redskins vs. Cowboys rivalry is probably one of the most notorious and intense rivalries in all of sports. We make a Yankees vs. Red Sox game look like an amicable meeting-of-the-minds.
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| Burn. |
Yes, commentators will insist on pointing out how long it's been since and/or how infrequently your team won the rivalry games. Yes, Troy will be especially
You also will revel in every moment of the hype that leads up to the game, the palpable hometown pride, the smack-talk that actually goes both ways this time, and the realization that people from all around the country are watching the game because even they know it's a big deal.
And yes, the excitement and emotions you feel during these two games will remind you why you love this sport, this town, and this team... regardless of the outcome.
Hail to the Redskins, hail victory!
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