As an 80's school girl living a stone's throw from the White
House, saying no to drugs was just about as important as the Redskins. Just
about.
Being a Redskins fan came as naturally to me as breathing
and hauling ass after the ice cream man. Back when we had men in our family,
they were all die hard fans. Seeing as though I hung out with the men on Sunday
afternoons, due to the cooking and knitting that went on upstairs, it rubbed
off very early and heavily. Sundays were sacred: mass and football. Combine
them both and it was almost a High Holy Day in our modest middle class abode.
Hail Mary and Hail to the Redskins. Amen.
In school, the season was held up on an altar as well. If
the Redskins won, we received a homework free night. When the team made the
playoffs, we would get extra credit for watching the game. No kidding. And even
though we wore putrid green plaid uniforms, we were allowed to accessorize only
during football season - and only in burgundy and gold. After morning prayers
on Fridays, which included praying for the players, the team's fight song would
echo over the loudspeaker. Every mouth sang with fervor except for the few
hated Dallas fans in the school. Football season sucked fat cactus cowboy hats
for them and then some.
In 1983, the Redskins triumphed over the Miami Dolphins
27-17 and it was like a snowy Christmas in January. Besides getting no homework
for an entire week, those of us lucky enough to go to the post game parade
received an excused absence from school. The kids that didn't attend, watched
it on TV from the classroom. This was HUGE because the only other time we were
allowed to watch TV in school was when the Space Shuttle launched. So, in my
mind as well as in many of my peers, the Washington Redskins were right up
there with the astronauts. Real American heroes.
I guess it no wonder why I am the fan I am today. I was
brainwashed - pure and simple. Will the Redskins ever reenter the glory days of
my youth? Stayed tuned this season to find out.
Go Skins! (Amen.)
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