The Anatomy of Two Different Types of Redskins Fans

The Washington Redskins have had a proud tradition-based franchise for over 80 years and, when traveling around the country, one can’t help bumping into a fan who wants to see the team go back to “The Glory Days…” those days that were epitome of fun for “old timers” like myself who are now in their forties (the early forties, thank you).

If you are reading this and happen to be 35-years-old or older, you remember the entire region being shut down for Dallas week. You can recall the shaking in RFK Stadium (the previous team stadium). How about the seat cushion throwing after the team scored 56 points – in the rain? Or simply knowing that the team would ram the ball down the throats of the opposing defenses in the fourth quarter of games.

Covering the team now for five years, what I have witnessed is a fan base that is broken up into two factions. The first faction is a group of fans who will support this team no matter what.

The definition of a “fan” as defined in Webster’s dictionary is:

1. An enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator

2. An ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)

The word “devotee” is a perfect example of the first group. These fans have seen the good and the bad but they live for fall and football; not only as a social opportunity but as a way to spend time with family and friends.

Football on Sunday’s is when uncles, aunts and cousins come over to the house for dinner and share in the win or the defeat.

This fan base still exists and is the true support group for the team.

The other group is the fan base the relishes in the defeats. I have always wondered if these people have miserable personal situations going on and so adhere to the “misery loves company” edict.

For instance, the talk of a quarterback controversy after one preseason game (this past Cleveland Browns game) is nothing short of asinine. One game — “we talking about the preseason here” (in my Allen Iverson voice) — does not make a season. Why not feel good that both young signal callers (Robert Griffin, III and Kirk Cousins) actually look better than last year? That’s called “progress” in Year 2 of the same system.

This second faction of fans has led the team to get picked apart by rogue media members who have nothing to say but negative things. Having to straddle the fence as a local beat reporter as well as a national writer/broadcaster, it has become clear to me that the stories and leaks supposedly coming out of training camp at Richmond or Redskins Park are not actual leaks but the running-of-the-mouth of media who I have never seen set foot onto the premises.

To this faction of fans I say this: stop believing what is not true and focus on the hard working people who actually cover this team inside and out.

Certainly some of the things said about the organization nationally —and to some extent locally — have been because of self-inflicted wounds by the team. However, the same old topic matter and drama-filled headlines get old and tired.

The product on the field has to improve to gain back trust for sure. But the product in the stands must improve as well.

The team did finally heed fans’ cries and bring in a real General Manager in Scot McCloughan and it appears that he is earning his money having already put his stamp on this group.

Head Coach Jay Gruden in his second season already has a more relaxed demeanor to which the players seem to have already responded. Hopefully this will translate onto the field.

The changing of the guard here in D.C. has started. This 2015 team is not the same self-centered group that never cared about winning. This is a new team with guys who deserve the chance to prove themselves in September before being thrown under the bus. If they are not winning come October, then the scoffs and comments can start… but not anytime sooner.

I do not get paid by the team nor do I have a vested interest in the organization as a whole. I simply have a job to do.

Do I have great relationships with some of the players and people in the front office? I do, just as I have great relationships with some of you reading this. I personally root for a few of the young men who have befriended me and my family. Those are guys you want to see do well for themselves and their families because at the end of the day they are men just like me.

I don’t care what protocol says about what media and players relationships should be. That is for someone else to deal with. If a person treats me as a friend and with respect, what type of person would I be to not reciprocate that?

Speaking of reciprocate, let’s stay positive across the board and keep it classy. After all, isn’t that how you win and get rid of the bottom feeders?

Only time will tell how things will go. This team has a long way to go before any talk of a Super Bowl should be considered. I just don’t see with my eyes how this ballclub could be as bad as what is being tossed around out there. Perhaps people looking in the mirror might be the answer.