Among most of Washington's pro sports teams, misery loves company

[madinmaryland]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/11/AR2010011103599.html

By Thomas Boswell
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Bad times bring the truth to the surface. And that's good. The truth may not set you free, but if you are the Redskins, Wizards or Nationals, at least it might get you out of last place. No team wants to admit that it is a mess. No owner wants to confess that he has meddled too much or spent too little or trusted the wrong executives. No franchise wants to face that it's built a losing culture or pampered its big stars or that it simply has no identity. Nobody wants to say, "We failed."

However, in the past year, the Redskins, Nats and now the Wiz have all fallen so low, both in the standings and in their public misadventures, that they have become national jokes. Their hideous won-lost records -- 4-12, 59-103 and 12-23 -- have been surpassed by their off-field embarrassment.

As a result, cataclysmic changes, almost certainly for the better, have already shaken the Nats and Redskins. Vinny Cerrato and Jim Zorn are gone, replaced by Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan. Jim Bowden and Manny Acta have departed, too, replaced by Mike Rizzo and Jim Riggleman. In the glow of Shanahan's arrival and the busy offseason of Rizzo, it's hard to find a fan who doesn't think both shakeups are improvements.

Just as vital, both team's owners give hints that they may alter their ways. Like the billionaires they are, they never quite say, "I was wrong," but it looks like Dan Snyder may want to meddle less and Ted Lerner is willing to spend more. Keep it up, guys. It's a start.

..snip

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Well, This Is Your Territory. What Do You Think About It?

It is a good article (expected from Boswell), but i don't have the background to know if he's right or not. You're much closer to it than i am, Mad. What say you?
GAC

[madinmaryland]

2. It really too early to tell. As long as Snyder is owner of the Redskins

there is always going to be a question as to who is running the team. The Wizards are definitely in disarray with the whole Arenas gun incident, and the Nat's are two or three years away from any judgement as to their improvement. They signed the number one pick last year, but one pitcher is going to change alot. Will the Nat's spend money in order to be competitive (and do they actually have the money to??) Peter Angelos is siphoning off a good portion of their television/radio revenue, so I don't if they will have the money to improve.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Thanks, Mad

I kind of thought the same as you about the Wiz, because i do follow the NBA. The whole league interests me.

But, i don't know enough about the Nats. Of course, i know something about the Redskins, because they are national in scope. However, i'd trade you owners. You take the McCaskey's, and i'll take Snyder. A hands-off ownership isn't working any better for us than your hands on guy is working for you!

Maybe a change in scenery would work for all of us!

What do you think? Do we have a deal? I'll call Ginny and Danny.
GAC

[madinmaryland]

4. Uhmm. I am a Cowboys fan. I'll keep Jerry Jones.

:D

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Figured The Maryland Thing Made You Closer To The Facts

I'd trade for Jerry Jones, too.
GAC

[Kingofalldems]

8. You're asking someone who apparently hates all DC teams

But yes I would trade in a heartbeat--Snyder is George Bush arrogant and just as incompetent.

[Kingofalldems]

6. The Nats have plenty of money

Should I ask where your info is coming from? They just offered the Cuban pitcher 20 million. I think you just hate Washington teams--which is okay--but please say so up front.

[madinmaryland]

11. My Nat's comment came from the fact that the Nat's ranked 27th

in payroll last year at approx. $60M. Need I bring up the attendance issue also, which they ranked 24th? This in addition to their horrible television contractor that Peter Angelos squeezed out of them.

It's just an observation. As a clarification, I am a Pirates fan that ranked below the Nat's in all of those stats last year, except for the final w-l standings.

[Kingofalldems]

14. Pirates and Cowboys? What a combo

BTW, --Ex Nat Ryan Church just signed with the Bucs. He is very good when healthy.

[Forkboy]

5. It's amazing what a little talent and good coaching can do.

:)

[madinmaryland]

7. Hot linking again, forkboy??

:D

[Forkboy]

9. No, this is hot linking.

:)

[madinmaryland]

12. Jeebus Dude! I'm not going to get anything done this afternoon!

:rofl:

[trumad]

10. Dude----You're a Pirate fan...

[madinmaryland]

13. Come on tru! Are you starting in on the REAL SPORTS FAN crap again!

I thought we had finally gotten rid of that!

[trumad]

15. Nah man...

Not at all--- but your post is all about Misery--- I'd think you know a bit about it with your Pirate love.

[madinmaryland]

17. Not as miserable as some fans. The Pirates have won three World Series

titles in the last 55 years!

[trumad]

18. True dat.

[Elwood P Dowd]

19. I lived in DC 1971 and 1972.

The place went crazy when George Allen took the Redskins to the playoffs in '71. I could only manage to find (meaning afford since I was in the Army) a ticket to one game that year. Had no problem making it to a Senators' game, but it only took one to keep me from going back. They moved to Texas the next year.

[KamaAina]

20. Go Caps!

:thumbsup: