Football is back to the District. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Kent Barnes. Follow him on Twitter @KentBarnes, email him at kent[AT]borderstan.com.
Hail to the Redskins!
The last time the Washington Redskins had a home playoff game we were only eight days removed from averting the Y2K disaster. Thirteen years and another failed apocalypse later, playoff football returns to the District Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm.
Hail Victory!
After going through 13 different starting quarterbacks in the last 12 seasons, the Redskins traded several valuable draft picks for the right to select dynamic quarterback Robert Griffin III, otherwise known as “RG3.” RG3 immediately became a favorite of District area fans thanks to his infectious personality and highlight reel play on the field.
Braves on the Warpath!
Despite RG3’s immense potential, the Redskins stumbled to a 3-6 start and appeared destined to miss the playoffs yet again. But Griffin and fellow rookie sensation Alfred Morris led the team on a seven game win streak to end the season. That streak culminated in Sunday night’s thrilling 28-18 victory over the hated rival Dallas Cowboys, which gave the Redskins their first division title since 1999.
Fight for old DC!
FedEx Field is sure to be rocking Sunday night as the Redskins faithful cheer, sing, and will the team to victory against the Seattle Seahawks. If you can’t make it to the stadium, join fellow fans at one of these local bars instead:
Dupont Circle
- Maddy’s Bar and Grille – 1726 Connecticut Avenue NW
- Buffalo Billiards – 1330 19th Street NW
Logan Circle
- Stoney’s Bar and Grill – 1433 P Street NW
U Street
- Touchdown – 1334 U Street NW
- Nellie’s Sports Bar – 900 U Street NW
- Solly’s Tavern – 1942 11th Street NW
- Duffy’s Irish Bar – 2106 Vermont Avenue NW
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Baton twirlers at a University of Virginia football game in Charlottesville. (Vironevaeh in Flickr pool, September 12, 2009)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
I feel stupid. I can’t believe I did it again. I cared. I thought for some reason this season may be different, but no, it was not. Penn State’s disaster and the other usual distractions may have turned the average fan away but I could not tear myself away from college football: I thought college football would be different this year.
Despite no evidence to the contrary, I thought the results of the regular season might actually help determine who plays in which post season bowl and who goes on to the national championship. NOPE. NOT A FAT CHANCE. WHAT WAS I THINKING!
I feel even worse for all of those people at Buffalo Billiards who actually thought that their alma mater may get a chance to play in a post season game. I have ranted about this issue before and there are better writers out there who have the issue pegged (Both these links have great articles explaining why college football is a mess; worth the read).
I write about it here today because I feel that at this point, even the casual “I only care when my alma-matter plays” fan should be pissed that college football, unlike every other collegiate sport, has NO PLAYOFFS to determine a national champion. I cannot, as I think no serious sports fan should, take college football seriously for this fact alone.
In an effort to pull the wool over our eyes, the NCAA will throw out a schedule of meaningless bowls, causing us to wait for a national championship rematch of two teams whose last game was nothing more than a field goal kicking contest. Do not be fooled. This is silly. Instead, suck up your pride and anger, and enjoy a very stacked slate of NBA games on Christmas Day and an exciting conclusion to the NFL season (Packers are going 16-0, they are the real deal).
District Fun Stuff
Thanks. Now that I got that off my chest here are some fun happenings going on the District:
Even college kids take the Metro. GWU took the Metro to play VCU on Sunday at the Verizon Center….The No-Metro Hoyas are the first D.C. team to crack top 25 this year.
Redskins Football, only funny till… They are officially out of playoff contention, or… they forget when the league scheduled drug tests are.
Washington Nationals may get a star. Wow would Albert Pujols sell a lot of seats.
DC has enough weird laws. Now add this one to the list with sport team license plates.
Thought of the Week
The Fax Machine is laughing at snail-mail
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- Moments in history with the best sports commentator in the business. A must watch.
- Texts from Bennett. Plain awesome.
- What does Amazon.com look like.
Ready for football?
From Scott Leibowitz. Find him @Lebodome on Twitter or email him at [email protected].
YES. It is finally here. There was definitely a moment back in May watching Ochocinco bull-riding where it definately looked like there may not be an NFL season. Even our commander-in-chief (a Chicago Bears fan, ha!) almost stepped in to fix the fight between millionaires and billionaires.
However, when push came to shove and the chips were on the table (by chips, I mean prospect of no season at all) both sides cooled and came to a compromise (remember that word Federal government?).
Football is here, and it starts this Thursday with the last two Super Bowl winners facing off: Saints vs. Packers. I hope that you all did well in your one or many fantasy football drafts, and are ready to dominate your leagues with good research and biting insults to your opponents.
This looks to be another good season with lots of fun, bizarre and illegal story lines. One of the things I have always respected while living in DC is how fierce and loyal Redskins fans are, despite its recent poorly run front office. This was and always will be (sorry Caps/Nats) a football town, and you can feel it around the city.
With that said, here are some things to look for as America’s greatest sport (baseball, you know you still own October) kicks off and we begin the 46th season of the National Football League.
The Redskins: how bad can/will they be? The star quarterback they brought in last year (McNabb) and the 100 million dollar headache (Haynesworth) are gone. They passed on QBs in the draft and are putting their eggs in either untested rookie John Beck or sorta decent veteran Rex Grossman. Coach Shanahan says Grossman is the starter, for now.
If this team wins eight games, I will be shocked. (That said, I hope that running back Tim Hightower scores lots of touchdowns for my fantasy team). The ‘Skins play a tough schedule, including the stacked AFC East, with home games against the New York Jets and New England Patriots. At least the defense will be fun to watch.
Boring Kickoffs. A new rule was made for this year that kickoffs are at the 35-yard line instead of the 30 to prevent some of the more vicious hits that occur in this phase of the game. Yes, player safety should be a high priority, but in the pre-season so far, there are too many touchbacks and less exciting returns. I will miss these plays.
10 Years Later. The first Sunday of the season is September 11 and the league was smart to have the New York Football Giants play the Washington Redskins at 4:15. This weekend will have lots of touching memorials, speeches and stories, especially at games. While we all will be enjoying a full slate of Week 1 games, please take some time to reflect on that day.
So… Are you ready for some football?
Thought of the Week. How are you preparing for Week 1? Any big party plans? I am fan of starting the season at home with friends and lots of guacamole…
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- Are the new University of Maryland football jerseys cool or just plain weird? I haven’t decided….
- Even pro athletes get pulled over for driving 147 mph. This is a good thing.
- GWU just announced its 2011-12 Men’s Basketball schedule. DC is a better town when it’s not just Gtown playing good ball.
- Forget Andy Roddick. Say Hello to the new face of American tennis: Donald Young.
Secret Pleasures, 1510 U Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Mike Kohn. Got a tip? Send Mike an email.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m sure everyone is fully prepared for the most holiest of Hallmark holidays, but in case you’re still looking for those last-minute plans, check out our post from earlier this week with some alternative ideas for this evening. And once you’ve got that squared away, don’t forget to consider what to wear before heading out tonight.
Be sure to check out our Valentine’s Day logo at the top of the Bordestan page. Our logos (including the usual one) are designed by Neil MacLean of Six Five Design Group.
Won’t you be my handcuffed Valentine?
Speaking of alternative ideas, the National Museum of Crime and Punishment is continuing its “Crimes of Passion” exhibit for the third year, inviting couples to go through the museum handcuffed together for $30 per person. The handcuffs are souvenirs and can be taken home (and for $1, you can even upgrade them to the furry kind to give them that something extra!). But as WTOP reports, this year, it’s taking some flack. Chai Shenoy, co-founder of Holla Back DC, claims that the exhibit “is mocking the lives of people who have died due to domestic violence.” The Museum doesn’t consider this to be a problem and will not be making changes to its exhibit.
Dupont Circle: Spring will come again. (Photo credit: awkward.media from Flickr Borderstan Reader Pool)
From Michelle Lancaster. Got news for Michelle? Send her an email.
We’re leading with world news and not a local item, so go ahead and pull a Snyder and sue me. The events unfolding in Egypt are something you absolutely need to know about, particularly since today may be the largest turn out in Tahrir Square. Get up to date with this Voice of America article.
Shakeups Here in DC: WJLA Takes Over Operations of TBD
The Washington Post teased the news on Twitter and then announced that WJLA-Channel 7 would be immediately taking over operations of TBD.com on Thursday. The move seems to indicate a return to the old school, as previous names and identities will be returned to the television station, WJLA will get its own website and TBD.com will remain as is. Be on the lookout for more chatter and potential fallout as the story evolves. Allbritton Communications owns WJLA, News Channel 8 (now called TBD TV), TBD.com and Politico as well as some out-of-town media outlets.
(more…)
February 3 at Judiciary Square: Eight candidates running in the April 26 special election to fill an At-Large seat on the DC Council participated in a candidate forum Thursday night. From left: Vincent Orange, Stanley Mayes, Joshua Lopez, Patrick Mara, Jacque Patterson, Sekou Biddle, Bryan Weaver and Alan Page. Biddle was appointed to the seat until the election. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. Got news for Michelle? Send her an email.
Pickup Artist Alert: Dupont Circle
This Saturday, if someone asks if it hurt or compliments you on your dress you should probably just ignore them. You didn’t fall from heaven and your clothes do not need to be on his floor and these are not just bad lines. A master pickup artist is teaching classes, says We Love DC. There goes the gayborhood!
