Not Your Father's Redskins

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by -Om-

Thanks for the reply, wilso. Can't say that I disagree with you about access ... just not something I think the team's real comfortable with. Truth be told, not everyone at the Park agrees that having any fan site representatives out there in any kind of "official" capacity is desirable, much less opening things up even further. Maybe one day there'll be a change of heart and they'll find a way to open things up to more fan presence out there, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Just the way it is.

I also wouldn't be too hard on the team ... my guess is that of all the professional sports teams in this country, you won't find many--if any at all--that have gone even as far as the Redskins have with the arrangement with ES. If I'm wrong about that, please just let me know.

As to the blog, just realized all the links were bad. Fixed now.

Wait, are you still associated with ES? Or have you moved on to your own blog?

[-Om-]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Wait, are you still associated with ES? Or have you moved on to your own blog?

I'm not 'officially' associated with ES at this point. Still have some great personal friendships there though, and a suitcase full of great stories I'll surely be hauling out over cold beers in the years to come.

[Lady Brave]

Om...

Count me among those who was disappointed when you decided to step down from your official capacity at ES. To be honest, you were one of the main reasons I hung around ES at all. I have always enjoyed your writing and I'm glad you've chosen to contribute here.

As to this particular portion of your piece, I can definately relate.

And then ... after a good night's sleep, with the new day will finally come time for this veteran Skins fan to turn the page. Perhaps it’s just that I’m a product of those years, but looking back now I realize that between Gibbs’ first retirement in ’92 and the day he returned in ’04, I never really had. Not consciously, no ... but undeniably.

Of course, my experience after Gibbs left was a bit more extreme. I stuck it out with Petitbon the season after, but I not only couldn't turn the page, I ripped it out completely. I abandoned football all together. Shocking, I know. Part of it was because I felt no one could replace Gibbs and the Redskins would just be a shell of its former self. The other part was because life simply got in the way and I focused my energies elsewhere. So the Redskins era between Gibbs' departure and return is a bit hazy to say the least.

Gibbs' return brought me back and even though it was equally hard for me to see him retire a second time, I decided no matter what, I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. I am more hopeful and optimistic for this team than I ever have been and I want so much to see Coach Zorn succeed. There will never be another Joe Gibbs, but being able to finally close the book on his legacy and move forward has been liberating. I am very excited to see what the future holds for the next era of Redskins football.