Like most thinking fans, I keep a personal vendetta list. When an opposing team, player or even fan base hurts me, I vow to enact revenge - by rooting against them and cheering their demise. The Redskins cut me in the 1980s. Sometimes, I think of John Riggins and still bleed. For that, they must pay.
Normally, in a tome like this, the writer then lays down the politically correct caveat that nobody - not even the blackest-hearted fan - ever enjoys watching a player get hurt. I say, ha. I say, boo-frickin-hoo. On two solid knees, this Griffin guy was going to wreck my next 10 Decembers. Say what you want about evil me, but evil me does not lie: I hope the guy fizzles and the Redskins forever beat themselves up for having played him too soon. Take that, Washington - and maybe I'll consider it a partial payment for hurts that Riggo inflicted.
NEVERTHELESS... last night, when RG3 went down like Sonny Liston, I did feel one enormous sense of woe: Who could not flashback to that horrible night in October? We had just seen one of the great comebacks in Yankee history. Down by four with three outs left and their fat goggled closer on the mound, we came back. And for what? So our great and shining hope, our captain, could reach for the ball, extend himself, then crumple...
Damn. I am still watching it from my luxury box, next to the kitchen. Damn. Jeet doesn't bounce up. That's when your heart stops. It's a routine fall until he doesn't get up. And then you realize something's wrong. Last night, watching that poor mope go down, well, somewhere deep inside me, I felt a shard of pity. I must be getting weak.
My grudge against the Redskins extends back to Larry Brown and Billy Kilmer and all those guys on defense who hit so much harder than he Giants. Horrible people. But Griffin is/was a transcendent talent. Shanahan should be crucified for sending him out there. Even when he's at full speed, Griffin takes a beating. His words: "car-accident violence." Washington fans should hunt down the Shanahans and then live up to the team's name: Skin them alive.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's not even mentioning the trade of Sam Huff for Andy Stynchula - and the beating of Y.A. Title. I'm telling you, the Redskins are no team you want to lose to.
ReplyDeleteIf it's the ACL, he's out for at least the exhibition season - maybe for the year.
Andy Stynchula? Sounds like he belongs in the Rick Rhoden hall of infamy.
ReplyDeleteIt was the beginning of the end. We went from a defense full of all-stars to a revolving clown show.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, I devoted a chapter to how painful it was in realizing the NY Giants would not be the NY Yankees.
"The Redskins cut me in the 1980s."
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you had a try-out with them, Duque. What position?
I always wanted to be their quarterback, just so I could absorb all their draft picks, fumble a snap and wreck my knee, eliminating their chances for an entire decade.
ReplyDeleteLooks like someone else beat me to it.
Joe Theisman and the crack heard 'round the world. That, for me, leeched away all the hatred. Just plain horrible and awesome. And audible.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Rams roughed up RG III at the beginning of the season, he called them "unprofessional". When has Jeter ever whined about a baserunner trying to take him out at 2nd base? RG III is a narcissistic brat. Jeter gets a monument in centerfield. No comparison. America loves a winner: Derek Jeter.
ReplyDelete