Ask any sports fan why they love a certain team and there is a well-rehearsed story complete with dates and events and specific people. My cliff notes version: I love the Dodgers because they played the Yankees in 1977 and 1978 in the World Series and I learned very quickly that you either loved the Yankees or hated them. I hated them. I love the Redskins for similar reasons. I liked the Cowboys until I realized how many other people LOVED the Cowboys, and once Roger Staubach retired, it was easy to switch to the Redskins during my formative years in the early 1980's. If you want the full version, buy me coffee some day and I'd be glad to share that with you.
Times have not been kind to my two teams. After glorious runs for both teams in the 1980's, I have not savored true post-season glory since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1991. The Dodgers capped off a decade in which they won two World Series titles, introduced us to Fernando-mania, witnessed one of the most dominant years by a pitcher with Orel Hershiser, and pummeled the mighty A's on Kirk Gibson's memorable home run. The Redskins appeared in the postseason seven times, captured four Conference titles, and won three Super Bowls out of four appearances. It was a good time to be a fan and to this day, my two most admired sports figures are Tommy Lasorda and Joe Gibbs. I'll skip what has happened since. There have been the occasional post-season appearance and even a win or two. The excitement generated by Manny-wood quickly fizzled out and exposed the embarrassment that we now know as the McCourt’s, and despite a brief return of Coach Gibbs, owner Daniel Snider has done all in his power to create chaos at all levels in the once proud Redskins organization. Both teams have gone through constant managerial turnover and player upheaval.
I have to be honest; it has crossed my minds more than once in the last two years to find another team. However, any true fan will tell you they are hard-wired into their favorite team, their history and their identity. Even though I may adopt another team in as the post-season draws near and my teams have failed to qualify once again, rooting for the Texas Rangers or the Green Bay Packers does not ring true. It lacks the emotional investment that we make in our favorite teams and more often than not I am rooting against their opponent (i.e. when Texas played the Yankees and then the Giants, my two most despised baseball rivals) than truly rooting for them.
There have been a few glimmers of hope in 2011. Despite the fact that I have tuned out most of this MLB season, the Dodgers have put together an impressive run of late to claw back to respectability and be within distance of taking second place from, yes, the Giants. How sweet that would be after their improbable run to the World Series title last year, their first since moving west (the Dodgers have five in that same time span, just saying). I like Don Mattingly, despite his pinstripes pedigree, and I do hope he can build a lasting winner once the McCourts are brandished and run out of town. The Redskins disposed of their dreaded NFC East rival, the Giants under the heavy emotions of 9/11 in D.C. Shanahan has cleaned house, the McNabb experiment did not work and hopefully the likes of Albert Haynesworth(less) will never haunt us again. Good luck Patriots fans. Lest we forget however, that 2010 also started with an improbable win over a similar NFC East foe, and that season quickly went south as well.
So I remain faithful to my Dodgers and Redskins. The Dodgers could very well sport a Cy Young and MVP winner this year in Kershaw and Kemp, respectively, as well as a sub .500 record. I wonder when was the last time that happened. Despite that awkward feeling of cheering for Rex Grossman at quarterback, right now he's our man and saying all the right things. One tidbit that offers a glimmer of hope for the coming year; it's been seven consecutive years that an NFL team has gone from last to first to win their division.
Hope is what makes us fans of any team, isn’t it? The promise of spring training, the parity of the NFL, worst to first, redemption, and to journey together with the players and fans. Hope is what keeps us from switching teams and deserting our cohort. Hope is what keeps us from discarding all the shirts and hats and accessories that we employ to cheer our teams onto victory each time out. Hope springs eternal.
