On the eve of the Redskins last Super Bowl championship, there was a medicine woman outside the Metrodome in Minneapolis claiming to have put a curse on the team until changing its name that some Native Americans consider offensive. The Redskins won big so no one paid attention to the threat.
Nearly 16 years later, maybe it’s time to start cheering for the “Skins” or “Reds.”
This team is flat out jinxed.
You could say owner Dan Snyder is getting a cosmic payback for treating employees, fans and media so badly over the years while making opposing teams pay for parking, lunch and even tickets. This karma killing goes beyond Snyder’s dark cloud, though.
Maybe it’s the nation just hating on the capital city — like we’re getting blamed for all the county’s ills. Think about it. Joe Taxpayer in Iowa and Kansas watches the news every night where they say, “In Washington today” and then talk about the war, economic woes and other problems. Not too much good national news is coming out of the District.
Maybe everyone in America is cursing Washington and the pro teams are catching the brunt of the negative vibes. Really, how else can you explain the Redskins, Capitals and newcomer Nationals have largely stunk for years and the Wizards just emerged from a 20-year slump only to have a playoff team lose three players to injuries?
And what about all those great players that signed with Washington teams and then stunk? Adam Archuleta fell apart in one season with the Redskins. Dana Stubblefield, Desmond Howard, Heath Shuler, Michael Westbrook, Brandon Lloyd, Jeff George — I could go all day on Redskins busts. Juwan Howard and Chris Webber were double trouble with the Wiz. Freddie Adu never blossomed with D.C. United. Jaromir Jagr was awful with the Caps.
This isn’t just Loserville, it’s Unlucky Loserville. Gerald Ford should be the Nationals next presidents’ race entrant.
The Redskins were down to Plan D at right tackle in the 17-14 loss at Green Bay on Sunday. Who loses three right tackles in five games? Then again, who loses three-fifths of the offensive line before the first frost?
How do you explain Santana Moss dropping four passes versus Green Bay and then fumbling his only run that cost Washington the game?
How many times have you seen the Redskins lose in weird fashion and think that’s just a bad break. I’m beginning to wonder if FedEx Field is haunted by “The Squire” for taking his name off the stadium only their bad luck extends to the road, too.
The Redskins finally have a decent young quarterback and a standout defense. Yet, they’re now beating themselves.
The playoffs now seem a long shot, but 8-8 is possible. Washington has winnable games against Arizona, New York Jets, Buffalo and Chicago and maybe the defense steals one.
Maybe if that nice Katie Couric reported some good news …
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
