AKM311
August-13th-2008, 04:21 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
By John Corcoran
What is a dedicated Redskins fan doing standing in a sea of blue and white, watching a despised #81 run fly patterns on the very day a much beloved former #81 is entering the NFL Hall of Fame? The question occurs to me as I visit Oxnard and watch a practice by the Hateddallascowboys (Always one word to me.)
The Cowboys had planned to abandon ship after last year's training camp. But the prodigal warriors returned. Construction delays on the practice facilities near their new billion-dollar playpen in Dallas were blamed--officially. It may have been suggested by a Meteorologist advising Jerruh's Journeymen to avoid the scorched Earth of North Texas--where temps hit a blistering (and humid) 107 this summer.
In beautiful downtown Oxnard, by contrast, the Marine Layer has settled in, blanketing morning practice with cool grey clouds, light breezes and temps in the low 70s.
I've never been tempted to visit before, despite living only 40 miles away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not turning traitor. I've hated the 'Pokes since before the Johnson Administration (Lyndon, not Jimmy). I've been a Redskin fan for more than four decades, attending dozens of games at RFK with my Dad.
I moved to Southern California from DC 25 years ago, but have absolutely maintained my allegiance to the Redskins, raising my two boys right, too. They remain diehard Skins fans, despite leaving the Nation's Capital for good at ages 3 and 7. Before the Raiders and Rams were run out of SoCal, I took the boys to Anaheim and the L.A. Coliseum when the Skins visited. (It being L.A., so many Redskins fans were there, it was like RFK-West).
We flew to Arizona two years ago for a game and we'll catch the maroon and Black in San Francisco this December. But what induced me to see the Cowboys training camp was reading about Redskins Fan Appreciation Day at Redskins Park. I wanted to see pro football up close and personal. And oh heck, I envisioned picking up some super secret bit of information that might pay off in a Redskin victory.
My son Andrew agreed to provide backup during our foray behind enemy lines. We would never don the hated Blue and White to blend in, but we're not suicidal, so our Redskins gear stayed home. We will not seek autographs, nor will we buy souvenirs. If questioned by authorities, we will give only our name, rank, and favorite Redskin.
Oxnard is located near the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between LA and Santa Barbara. It's the self-proclaimed strawberry capital of the country. It's home to Point Mugu, the only Naval Base that's a homonym for a nearly blind cartoon character. Oxnard was originally settled by the Chumash Indians. So yeah, the Dallas Cowboys practiced in a place discovered by Redskins. (Sorry.)
We arrive shortly after the morning practice begins, encountering only a five-minute delay getting into the parking lot. To walk to the practice fields, one must first wend his way past the merchandising. There are more inflatables here than at a Pamela Anderson look-alike contest. There are inflatable jumpy deals for the kiddies, a big Cowboy archway you must pass through to get in. I'd estimate two-three thousand people show.
We get to the field and are soon surrounded by wannabe Witten's, Ersatz Emmitt's, and Tatterdemalion Terrell's. We soon stand not thirty feet from where the artist formerly known as Pacman is squatting in front of the actual Owens. A "hut-hut" later and Mr. Jessica Simpson lofts a spiral deep toward a wide open TO, where the ball is.... dropped. The crowd groans. Out of self-preservation I stifle, a trickle of blood forming where I've bitten my lip.
Between plays, I assess the fans. In roughly descending order of popularity, they tend to wear jerseys honoring TO, Romo, Williams, Ware, Barber and Witten. A couple of Steinbach's and Smiths and an Irvin or two complete the set. The crowd is mostly male. A few significant others came along, and a good number of youngsters are on hand. Poor kids-- cruelly brainwashed at such a tender age.
Most fans have brought video gear and the field is lousy with professional camerapersons, either at ground level or located on scissored platforms several stories high. Some work for the Cowboys. Many are there for HBO, as that otherwise quality network is again featuring America's Sweethearts for its "Hard Knocks" training camp series. Twenty-twenty hindsight says Green Bay or the Jets would have been by far the better choice.
One can only hope the extra videographers on hand will prove distracting to the coaches adn players. Maybe that and the lack of a proper conditioning climate will mean Tony Ballgame will require another Heimlich come post-season.
Andrew, checking out the raised camera stanchions, muses, "I wonder which one of those belongs to Belichick?" Speaking of Spygate, nothing too informative is forthcoming this morning. The Cowboys practice in shorts and shells and without marked enthusiasm. There were other dropped passes in addition to TO's clank, a number of balls ripped out of RB's hands, and a room service interception taken to the house.
I realize that cliche about the "speed of the game" is true. Up close, you feel you are watching an old-timey movie with the action sped up. It explains the need for coaches to tape practices to accurately make a detailed analysis.
Back on the field, Romo looks decent but not awe inspiring. Rookie Felix Jones appears very quick, however, and Jason Witten catches everything in his vicinity. There is a shock of yellow hair present, but not belonging to Romo's squeeze. It's LB Bobby Carpenter, whose blond locks overflow his helmet.
click the link for the rest.....
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/08/guest_blog_-_a_skin_fan_at_cow.html#more
By John Corcoran
What is a dedicated Redskins fan doing standing in a sea of blue and white, watching a despised #81 run fly patterns on the very day a much beloved former #81 is entering the NFL Hall of Fame? The question occurs to me as I visit Oxnard and watch a practice by the Hateddallascowboys (Always one word to me.)
The Cowboys had planned to abandon ship after last year's training camp. But the prodigal warriors returned. Construction delays on the practice facilities near their new billion-dollar playpen in Dallas were blamed--officially. It may have been suggested by a Meteorologist advising Jerruh's Journeymen to avoid the scorched Earth of North Texas--where temps hit a blistering (and humid) 107 this summer.
In beautiful downtown Oxnard, by contrast, the Marine Layer has settled in, blanketing morning practice with cool grey clouds, light breezes and temps in the low 70s.
I've never been tempted to visit before, despite living only 40 miles away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not turning traitor. I've hated the 'Pokes since before the Johnson Administration (Lyndon, not Jimmy). I've been a Redskin fan for more than four decades, attending dozens of games at RFK with my Dad.
I moved to Southern California from DC 25 years ago, but have absolutely maintained my allegiance to the Redskins, raising my two boys right, too. They remain diehard Skins fans, despite leaving the Nation's Capital for good at ages 3 and 7. Before the Raiders and Rams were run out of SoCal, I took the boys to Anaheim and the L.A. Coliseum when the Skins visited. (It being L.A., so many Redskins fans were there, it was like RFK-West).
We flew to Arizona two years ago for a game and we'll catch the maroon and Black in San Francisco this December. But what induced me to see the Cowboys training camp was reading about Redskins Fan Appreciation Day at Redskins Park. I wanted to see pro football up close and personal. And oh heck, I envisioned picking up some super secret bit of information that might pay off in a Redskin victory.
My son Andrew agreed to provide backup during our foray behind enemy lines. We would never don the hated Blue and White to blend in, but we're not suicidal, so our Redskins gear stayed home. We will not seek autographs, nor will we buy souvenirs. If questioned by authorities, we will give only our name, rank, and favorite Redskin.
Oxnard is located near the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between LA and Santa Barbara. It's the self-proclaimed strawberry capital of the country. It's home to Point Mugu, the only Naval Base that's a homonym for a nearly blind cartoon character. Oxnard was originally settled by the Chumash Indians. So yeah, the Dallas Cowboys practiced in a place discovered by Redskins. (Sorry.)
We arrive shortly after the morning practice begins, encountering only a five-minute delay getting into the parking lot. To walk to the practice fields, one must first wend his way past the merchandising. There are more inflatables here than at a Pamela Anderson look-alike contest. There are inflatable jumpy deals for the kiddies, a big Cowboy archway you must pass through to get in. I'd estimate two-three thousand people show.
We get to the field and are soon surrounded by wannabe Witten's, Ersatz Emmitt's, and Tatterdemalion Terrell's. We soon stand not thirty feet from where the artist formerly known as Pacman is squatting in front of the actual Owens. A "hut-hut" later and Mr. Jessica Simpson lofts a spiral deep toward a wide open TO, where the ball is.... dropped. The crowd groans. Out of self-preservation I stifle, a trickle of blood forming where I've bitten my lip.
Between plays, I assess the fans. In roughly descending order of popularity, they tend to wear jerseys honoring TO, Romo, Williams, Ware, Barber and Witten. A couple of Steinbach's and Smiths and an Irvin or two complete the set. The crowd is mostly male. A few significant others came along, and a good number of youngsters are on hand. Poor kids-- cruelly brainwashed at such a tender age.
Most fans have brought video gear and the field is lousy with professional camerapersons, either at ground level or located on scissored platforms several stories high. Some work for the Cowboys. Many are there for HBO, as that otherwise quality network is again featuring America's Sweethearts for its "Hard Knocks" training camp series. Twenty-twenty hindsight says Green Bay or the Jets would have been by far the better choice.
One can only hope the extra videographers on hand will prove distracting to the coaches adn players. Maybe that and the lack of a proper conditioning climate will mean Tony Ballgame will require another Heimlich come post-season.
Andrew, checking out the raised camera stanchions, muses, "I wonder which one of those belongs to Belichick?" Speaking of Spygate, nothing too informative is forthcoming this morning. The Cowboys practice in shorts and shells and without marked enthusiasm. There were other dropped passes in addition to TO's clank, a number of balls ripped out of RB's hands, and a room service interception taken to the house.
I realize that cliche about the "speed of the game" is true. Up close, you feel you are watching an old-timey movie with the action sped up. It explains the need for coaches to tape practices to accurately make a detailed analysis.
Back on the field, Romo looks decent but not awe inspiring. Rookie Felix Jones appears very quick, however, and Jason Witten catches everything in his vicinity. There is a shock of yellow hair present, but not belonging to Romo's squeeze. It's LB Bobby Carpenter, whose blond locks overflow his helmet.
click the link for the rest.....
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/08/guest_blog_-_a_skin_fan_at_cow.html#more