Let me begin by saying I am a die-hard Washington Redskins fan, and I’ve been waiting for a Redskins game like last night’s victory over Philly for quite awhile now. Not because of the victory, although that was sweet. It’s because of Jason Campbell. I really think we’ve got a stellar player there, something we’ve needed for a long, long time. To be honest, we could’ve lost the game and I would still be optimistic about this season. That’s because I believe that steady, consistent growth is one of the most important things in football, just as it is in life. In the past 2 weeks, I’ve seen that growth in Jason Campbell, and the team as a whole. And that’s something for Redskins fans to feel good about.
Feeling good about whatever little progress the Redskins make is something I know a little about. You see, I first became a die-hard fan in the 60’s, when the only title they seemed to be consistently vying for was last place. We took solace in the exploits of Sonny and Sam on the field in those days – not in the booth. I was intimately acquainted with the Redskins of Otto Graham, felt a sense of hope with the arrival of Vince Lombardi, then a sense of loss when he died the next year. And I was only 11 years old! Still, I supported my team, believed George Allen when he said that “the future is now”, and watched as he turned things around. When Joe Gibbs arrived, the memory of the lean years melted away. It looked as though the Redskins dynasty of the 80’s would last forever. Sadly, we know this was not the case. Nor can it ever be the case in pro sports, entertainment, or life. Things change, and others get their shot at being number 1.
It’s not surprising for a kid to become so enamoured of his home town sports team, but I had a slightly different perspective than most of the other kids my age. You see, my father worked part-time for the Washington Redskins for 35 years. During that time, he was primarily a roadie for the Redskins Band, and being a young musician, that was pretty cool to me. I got to go to band practice with him, listen to the guys play, and occasionally come away with a used cymbal that was being replaced. The band practiced at the D.C. Armory during the fall and winter, and I just loved the way it sounded in there. (Years later, I recall spending way too much time during one of my first records as a producer searching for a reverb sound similar to the reverb I used to hear in the Armory during those practices.) For the last several years of his time with the Redskins, he raised the net for field goals. He learned to watch the game from the end zone, seeing holes open up and plays develop from a perspective that few people ever get to see. He was even nearly ejected once for questioning a ref’s call in the back of the end zone! Needless to say, I was extremely proud of him that day.
Dad and the other fellows in the crew were paid for their efforts with perhaps the most valuable thing in D.C. during football season : 2 tickets to every game, including pre-season and the playoffs. As a result, I grew up going to Redskin games from the time I was in grade school. I remember catching the bus with my mother and riding to RFK (then D.C.) Stadium, watching the game, then hooking up with my dad and the other members of the “utility crew” as they were called, hanging out in the parking lot tailgating until the lot cleared and we could leave without a fuss.
My sister and I would trade off going to the games, and there was always a bit of an argument over who would go to the Dallas game. I feel like I went to the majority of games in those days, though it’s more likely to have been an even split. As we grew older and could go on our own, I did wind up going to the majority of games, but there was still the traditional “who’s going to to the Dallas game” argument, and she got to go to some of the classic ‘Skins – Cowboys games.
I could spend weeks writing about the years I spent going to Redskins games, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s really about believing in something and grabbing the joy that presents itself to us along the way. I believe in the Redskins, just as I believe in my ability as a musician. When I’m making music and have a moment that’s truly magical, I cherish it. When the Redskins show some progress, I cherish it.
You know the old saying “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game”? It may seem trite, but I realize more and more that it’s true. This adage could be modified for musicians to read “It’s not whether you blow someone away, but how you play the tune”.
The Redskins played the tune pretty well in Philadelphia last night.