Strange Days

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy
Our casual joys...> - The Doors

What a weird, bad week for the Redskins. After beating the Rams 9-7, rookie linebacker Robert Henson got mad at booing fans and called them dimwits.

Sonny Jurgensen and Zorn got into another awkward discussion about how Sonny would have refused to call the half-back option play and Zorn said he would have benched him for doing so.

Fans jammed phone lines on talk radio to announce that they've had it. They've friggin had it with the underachieving Skins and their meddling owner. After a win, remember. They are 1-1 remember.

Many prominent voices in the national media, including Sports Illustrated's Don Banks and Peter King, decided this is the week for the Lions to break their 19 game losing streak. Against us--the Redskins.

Clinton Portis, in an interview, agreed that everyone including himself is on the hot seat, and that he fully understands why fans are so pissed--paying hundreds of dollars, sitting in hours of traffic, to see a dispassionate underachieving team not score any touchdowns.

The Skins are 6 point favorites to win, and go 2-1, which is usually considered a great start around here. But we want improvement. And when they tell us that Campbell looks great in year 2 of the system, that Kelly has made strides to become the solid #2 receiver, that Dockery will shore up the o-line for a while, that Haynesworth will be the tipping point that makes the defense truly elite--we buy it, believe it, and want to see it on the damn field. And when they squeak by, 9-7, we say, holy %^&*ing sh**! There is no improvement! You're killing us with this sh**!

OK, so I had a mini-Redskins panic attack Thursday night. I just want them to play the game and get this over with. We either join the ranks of the truly lousy and end our denial, or we stay a float a little longer, say, hm, 2-1! Not too bad!

Email Traffic from this week:

Me: I just watched highlights from last October's game vs. Detroit. We were down 10-6 at halftime. We didn't take the lead until 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter when Campbell threw to Moss down the right sideline. This is likely going to be a trying experience.

Steve: I remember NOT watching that game last year at a bar in Michigan because it was blacked out on local t.v. At least I get to watch the game this year.

Do you think if every Redskins fan contributed 100 dollars to an "Oust Dan Snyder" fund, and if that fund raised 1 trillion dollars, we could buy the team back from him? If not, the only other way we're ever going to be good is if he gets assassinated, which I hope doesn't happen, but fear might happen. if he knew this, maybe he'd take the money. I know I'd be willing to contribute to the fund.

Dad: I am afraid this could be a very long and trying Sunday.

Wishful thinking prediction: Yeah, despite it all, I still don't see a loss here. I don't see fun either. Redskins 23 Lions 16