Somewhere along the way, my bitterness turned to anger, Somewhere along the way, my anger turned to vengeance--Julian Casablancas
A glimmer of hope came on Saturday, Nov. 7, that things in general might be turning around. My Wolverines soccer team resumed its disappointing season trying to snap a 4 game losing streak. It was perfect soccer weather and my ankles felt pretty good. We went down early, 2-0, like usual, and little did everyone know I was about to unleash a scoring explosion on their ass.
This made the score 2-1. We fouled a guy in the box, and their successful pk made it 3-1. Then we got another free kick opportunity on our own half. Dan A. kicked it down the left side and I ran on to it from the middle. I had a lot of room to operate once I got the ball under control and I could smell blood after scoring my first goal. I cut it across the middle, faking out a helpless defender, and found a lot more room to strike it. I hid it very solid, but very low and right down the middle. I was extremely surprised and pleased to see that the goalie and moved way too far to his left, leaving the middle of the net wide open. 3-2.
A few minutes later I got the ball again, racing down the right side. I saw the middle was open and one of my teammates was making a run. I played it into space down the middle, he got control of it, and hit it with his left food into the net. 3-3.
Late in the half, Zen and one of the girl players corralled their defender in the corner. I was totally out of breath at the moment so I was just kind of hanging back. The clear attempt went right to my foot. I tapped it once or twice to move closer to the middle, and hit it as hard as I could. There was no pain or discomfort from my ankle as left my foot. I wasn't sure it was going in when I looked up, but I could tell right away I got some beautiful Beckham spin on it. It scraped the inside of the right post, and hit net. 4-3. I reacted by putting my hands on my head like I had missed it, I was so surprised.
I ended up missing a shot at an additional goal later in the game, as did many of my teammates. Of course we couldn't hold the lead, thanks to that idiot Paul who decided not to move as the ball bounced past him. We tied 4-4.
As for the Redskins, it was pretty awful. How many times have I written this? We were supposed to watch at Redskins Club, but on the way to the sushi place, Dad called and said that Steve's car battery had died and he had to wait around his place for AAA to show up. So we turned around on Connecticut, parked by Quebec House, and picked up some gyros at Fresh Med.
Steve showed as that he now had the Red Zone channel, so if Joey couldn't get in her football nap, at least she could follow Team Awesome in real time.
The Falcons started with the ball and easily marched down the field, thanks to a pretty long run down the side line by Michael Turner. On Third and 10, we gave up a 9 yard pass, which made me go apeshit because I knew they would go for it at our 6. They got Haynesworth to jump offsides, and a play or two later, Ryan threw to Gonzales for the td.
We responded the way we know how. Run for 1, run for 1, sack, punt. When Atlanta got the ball back, Rocky McIntosh made a really nice interception, going up in the air in the middle of the zone. But Hope got smashed in the face, as did Clinton Portis who got 2 Atlanta helmets right in his grill. He went out with a concussion, and is doubtful for this week vs. Denver. After that, Campbell threw a pass right to Sleepy Davis' hands, but Sleepy Davis' hands hit the snooze button and the ball fell into the hands of a Falcon who returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.
On the next drive, Campbell threw a really nice pass after he stopped bouncing his nervous feet to Mike Sellers down the middle. The drive yielded a field goal.
I don't want to neglect the fact that Campbell was getting pounded throughout the entire game. He had to come out of the game twice because of his ankle, chest, ankle, and chest. I think the Falcons had 5 sacks in the first half.Michael Turner scored on a run, and then the big sideline fight happened. Matt Ryan was hustling for the sideline on a scramble, trying to get out of bounds before Landry could touch him. Ryan was shoved down before he made it 100% out of bounds. The Falcons got mad of course and the ref threw a flag on Landry.
Its bullshit of course. It doesn't matter if you are trying to get out of bounds and everyone knows it. If you aren't out of bounds yet, you can get your clock cleaned. That's football.D'Angelo Hall came over to help, and the Atlanta strength coach started shit by grabbing on to his jersey. Falcons surrounded as things escalated. Atlanta coach Mike Smith stepped up, saying he would kick Hall's ass. Within 10 seconds, other Redskins came over for some shoving. 
First of all, Mike Smith should be fined if not suspended. He didn't get involved to break things up, he got involved to start a fight. Second, some people are complaining that other Redskins didn't come over fast enough to help. Hall called it disheartening. He has the right to say that, but other people like LaVar Arrington (who said he would have been running over to get crazy violent regardless of the consequences) who are critiquing the Redskins for their lack of passion and heart are full of shit. Arrington is full of shit. And assuming that Arrington is not full of shit, everyone should remember that Arrington used his passions to not listen to coaches, to not cover fullbacks in the flat on critical fourth downs, and to blitz the wrong gaps, leading the Redskins to non-winning seasons.
Here is a discussion on what it is that makes the Redskins offense suck: Campbell, the o-line, coaching, playcalling, or a combo of all the above
After all the commotion, the Redskins actually played very well in the second half, with two long scoring drives for touchdowns. Marko Mitchell even got in on the act with a couple of catches. Ladell Betts scored on a 1 yard run on 4th and goal.
Landry made a terrific tackle on the next drive to force a punt, and the Redskins went on another long drive, with Betts making some nice carries, and Campbell finding receivers by rolling out of the pocket on play action.
On the touchdown, we thought, Campbell was gonna throw it away as he kept moving toward the sideline, but then Yoder came out of nowhere, snatched it, and got his feet in somehow. I really didn't think he got two feet down and that they would reverse the td call on instant replay, but it held up. 24-17.
Yoder td confirmed
We all got our hopes up. We were totally outplaying them. But then Michael Turner hopped over Landry's pathetic tackle attempt, and scored on a long touchdown. Landry is turning into a really shitty tackler. Its definitely coaching. Landry throws his body at people, but doesn't try wrapping people up around the legs and waist like someone probably taught him years ago.
This week, Denver and Champ Bailey comes to town. I kind of think they are the 2008 Redskins. Playing way over their heads, building castles in air. Maybe the skins can get this one. How many times have I typed this?
After the game, Joey and I walked from Quebec House to get frozen yogurt at TangySweet. We got yogurt chips and strawberries as toppings.
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