Steve Spurrier may have given the Washington Redskins little during the two years he coached the team — a few laughs and a 12-20 record. But Spurrier left behind a valuable gift, and he gave it a name no one would forget: Osaka.
We joke about it, particularly this past weekend, watching the Redskins’ 16-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first preseason game.
Osaka — Spurrier’s memorably amusing first preseason victory in Japan in 2002 — put preseason football in perspective.
You can reasonably and rationally talk yourself into believing you can’t tell anything from the performances and results in the preseason.
But it’s a difficult exercise because you want to believe that what you are seeing is real. Professional wrestling is a more honest performance than preseason football. At least you know the wrestling is scripted.
Preseason football is far more difficult to analyze. It’s unscripted fakery.
You would think it is better for your team to look good in a preseason game. So your emotional response to the Redskins’ performance Friday night against Pittsburgh would include excitement and optimism.
After all, Rex Grossman looked great — 19-for-26 for 207 yards and one touchdown. Tim Hightower ran well with 44 yards on 10 carries. The offense had that newly valued commodity in the NFL — tempo.
But you need to get beyond that emotion and realize all of it may be an illusion.
OK, Shayne Graham’s kicking performance wasn’t an illusion. You didn’t need to be Vince Lombardi to know he stunk and would be out of a job, especially after Graham Gano’s three field goals.
You may find it hard, though, after the Redskins’ performance to recall preseasons past to have the proper perspective on the present.
The Redskins went 0-4 in the preseason in 1982, getting hammered by Miami 24-7 in their first game. They went on to beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. In 1991, the Redskins went 1-3, scoring just 64 points in four games. That offense went on to score 485 points in 16 games in the regular season en route to another championship. George Allen lost his first preseason game as Redskins coach 19-10 to San Diego.
Osaka, though, is not so easy to forget.
Osaka — the American Bowl — where the Redskins’ offense ran up a 38-7 win over players who wore a 49ers jersey for about five minutes.
Osaka — where quarterback Danny Wuerffel completed 16 of 25 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Osaka — where quarterback Sage Rosenfels joined Wuerffel in combining to put up 434 yards and five touchdowns.
Osaka — where Redskins wide receiver Darnerien McCants — yes, Darnerien McCants — caught two touchdown passes and declared, “Once you know the system, the system’s going to work. Everybody believes in this offense. It works.”
No, it didn’t.
“Remember Osaka” — Steve Spurrier’s valuable Redskins legacy.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
