Best hope for Redskins fans from this season: a new Stadium in DC

While this season's record and once realistic playoff hopes is quickly spiraling downhill with one devastating injury after another, the best news for Redskins fans from this season is the best case, dream scenario: the new stadium being built on the RFK lot. And the timing of this hopeful stadium news that broke over the weekend would seemingly be perfect, then enabling Snyder to part ways with Bruce Allen, who's organizational value in negotiating a stadium deal is probably his biggest asset and why he’s actually still here. And let me say that while I think Allen needs to go, please conduct it with class and appreciation. Take the high road, which is something this organization rarely does well. While it's indisputable that Allen has made many horrible personnel decisions along the way, I’ll make note to say he has actually done some good things as well. I like how he has made efforts to bring back many Redskins legends and keep them connected to the organization, via the "homecoming" game events. I also think Bruce has a level of respect around the league (that Vinny Cerrato never had!) and has overseen some savvy contract negotiations, while mostly keeping the team in good cap positions over the years. Then again, perhaps Eric Schaffer is the bigger factor in the cap stability. But while there have been some good cap-friendly contracts and shrewd negotiations over the years, perhaps the most important one that would impact the franchise for years to come? The "Kurt" Cousins debacle. I remain adamant in my position, that the Redskins needed to keep Cousins, and I believe, made a huge mistake in letting him go. Whether Bruce or perhaps GM Scot McCloughan at the time was indeed most influential for not giving Kirk what he proposed after the 2015 season, Bruce is still most responsible. And while not paying Cousins after 2015 remains a huge mistake that I think will have ripple effects for years, even more catastrophic and gut-wrenching is when I wonder if there could have been a way to figure out how to ensure that Sean McVay didn’t leave the building. A young, rapidly rising- possibly elite head coach. A guy who we had in our organization for 7 years. If only HE could be our head coach of the future- perhaps with Kirk Cousins as his QB. I digress. It’s too painful to ponder.

Yes, the negatives far outweigh the positives, and Allen’s tenure as team President absolutely cannot continue. What is the solution? While I would love for Snyder to somehow be able to identify and land a top-proven (or perhaps young up-and-coming) guy to be new President, who would then bring in a good GM and build from the top down, here is what I think is the most realistic, and perhaps most reasonable solution in the moment: Elevate Doug Williams to President, and Kyle Smith to GM, who oversees all the roster decisions. Perhaps Eric Schaffer as VP, or at least some front-office role higher than currently. Promote guys- good guys, from within. And then what about Jay Gruden? While I have long thought that Jay is an average coach and nothing special, he has amazingly- and unfortunately- had relative "success" (compared to Snyder era norm here!) with a cumulative .500 record since '15. It's a real tough conundrum to evaluate, in particular when the team has been ravaged by key injuries, which I believe is the biggest reason the wheels have fallen off this season. But on the flip side, Gruden has a big hand in why the game performance- against a putrid Giants team without OBJ- was so abysmal. I would hope that even an injured team would play inspired, high-energy football if they were well-coached, vs. that catastrophic performance. Still, the realistic solution may actually be giving Gruden another year (unless an obviously better HC scenario presents itself) to see what he may do with a- hopefully, more healthy roster. Another reason I think it's not only most realistic, but perhaps also most necessary Gruden stays: the QB situation! With reports now that Alex Smith's 2019 season (and perhaps career) is likely in jeopardy, that leaves us with Colt McCoy as the most viable QB option in 2019. Because the Redskins are on the hook for Smith's contract, they obviously can't afford to go out and sign a decent QB on the FA market. So while perhaps a new President and GM hires a new head coach, and then drafts a QB (perhaps a Will Grier?) high in the draft who starts from scratch, the most likely scenario is rolling with the most viable option in house, Colt McCoy. Think about this: how would it seem possible that McCoy could stay and be QB in '19- if not for his biggest supporter, HC Gruden being here as well. I gotta think that Gruden and McCoy are linked together. I don’t think there is any way you can roll with McCoy as QB without Jay Gruden. Yes, I think Gruden probably stays- perhaps out of necessity, and injury excuse asterisk.

But Bruce Allen absolutely needs to be out. Here's hoping Snyder makes the right key decisions, and that the best possible news from this now catastrophic season brings the fans fresh hope of the dream scenario: a new stadium on the RFK grounds.

The Banner is Raised

Nearly four months after the Washington Capitals hoisted their first Stanley Cup Championship and then embarked on an unforgettable celebratory summer to remember, including each player having a day with the Cup (Parts 1, 2,) it was now time to get back to work. I often said during the summer, that while on one hand I wanted the euphoria and celebration of the championship to last forever, I was also ready for the boys to lace up the skates and hit the ice to defend the title.  

And now it was banner raising night. I was looking forward to making the most of everything that this special evening had to offer and wanted to soak it all in. The festivities began with the Capitals annual “Rock The Red Carpet” pre-game tradition, kicking off the new season. The players would arrive between 4:30-5:30 near the front entrance of Capital One Arena, and would stop and mingle with fans, take pictures, and sign autographs on the way inside. As expected, the Caps faithful and passionate fans came out in droves and not only filled both sides of the carpet route several deep, but along the outskirts of the street as well. It was a massive party. The Caps pre-game TV crew was outside. The NBC NHL TV crew was outside. The “keeper of the Cup”, Phil Pritchard brought the Stanley Cup, after spending a day around DC visiting places and giving away tickets to the game. Enthusiasm in welcoming the Champs home, along with anticipation for the incredible night of jubilant celebration that awaited, was at a fever pitch.

Though I was able to see every player who walked in fairly close up, I wasn’t able to get an autograph and picture of each one. I was however, fortunate to get a few pictures, and get my picture signed by TJ Oshie, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstroke, Devante Smith-Pelly, and Madison Bowey! I didn’t see a single player not sign for anyone. Everyone signed. Some signed quite a few. 

Nicky Backstrom

TJ Oshie

L to R: Bowey, DSP, Backy, Carly, Oshie

After all the players entered the building, I worked my way over to where the pre-game shows, and Phil Pritchard and the Stanley Cup were. Even though fans weren’t able to touch it, I was able to move in for some up-close pictures, including one with Phil Pritchard himself. Speaking of Mr. Pritchard, does he not have one of the most amazing jobs imaginable? Seriously, for 20+ years he has had the honor of traveling with and taking care of Lord Stanley’s Cup. He travels with players. He travels with teams. He travels with it in public to wow, amaze, and generously bless people with tickets. What a gig.

“Keeper of the Cup”- Phil Pritchard

Lord Stanley’s Cup- with Capitals included!

After all these exciting festivities, I was now ready to go back into the arena for the first time since walking out onto the jubilant and packed streets of chinatown of what ended up being the final home game of last season, the thrilling game 4 of the Final, when the Caps took our commanding 3-1 lead. It was good to be back for the opener to begin the title defense!

Now I have been asked many times, whether or not I think the Caps can, or will repeat. At the championship parade, TJ Oshie certainly fueled the thinking and put this out there for the fans! My immediate answer has been that we are no doubt still a very good team, with the core mostly intact, and should certainly be considered one of the contenders who could win the Cup. But just given the historical nature of sports and how difficult it is for any team to repeat as champions, I am preparing myself that we won’t repeat this year. And I’m completely ok and content with that. Would this squad have any Cup “hangover”? Would the epic and well-documented partying have any negative affect on conditioning and training to prepare for the season? Could the accomplishment of the long-awaited championship perhaps cause the team to lose a slight edge and not be quite as prepared and hungry this year? These are all reasonable questions I have contemplated, and heard from others as well. Now on the flip side, now that this franchise has finally achieved the once seemingly unattainable and impossible dream of a Cup, and slain so many dragons of painful history along the way, I believe it’s also reasonable to dream and legitimately hope that anything great is now possible. Could the floodgates open up and a run of championships- not necessarily in succession- be in the near future? Could the psyche and anticipation of great things from not just the team and organization, but also the entire fanbase now soar to new and unprecedented heights, vs. previous feelings among so many of inevitable doom and gloom, and ultimately heartbreak? I certainly can’t wait to find out. 

When asked about motivation for winning the Cup again, Nicklas Backstrom said. "We're capable to doing it. When you've done it once, you want to do it again. You want to have that same feeling again because it's a feeling you can't get enough of." What Backy said gives Capitals fans a good reason to hope that the players are not satisfied with one, but hopefully motivated and resolved to keep the foot on the gas peddle and build on this success.

Now going into this particular game, my feeling was that not only would it not surprise me at all if the Caps lost- especially because we were playing a very good Bruins team- but also because of the possible and unknown hangover factor. I was also not concerned in the slightest how the outcome went, nor did I honestly care. No matter what happened in the game, barring major injuries of course, nothing could dampen my enthusiasm and anticipation of this night being an unforgettable and incredible one to remember, for the ages. 

This was absolutely the best seat I have ever had, four rows behind the glass on the Caps defend (1st and 3rd period) side. And the best thing about this seat was that I was on the very end at the railing, right next to where the players would be introduced in the epic pre-game show!

Once the players came out onto the ice for warmups, the energy and excitement of what was to come would steadily grow in a crescendo of anticipation. Then once the players left the ice, in just a few moments, the extended party we had all been waiting for was about to begin. What would happen, and how?

The lights would turn off and right away as if on cue, we would all turn on our red glow sticks, just like we did during both home games of the Stanley Cup Final. The building would come alive to a next level, as the jumbotron played a new highlight production with “I Will Wait” as the theme song (which became my favorite happy song over the summer played many times in my home!), similar to the first version released after we got the Cup. It was perfect. As I stood there and recorded, I thought that indeed, all of this has been worth the wait.

Then right after this first special moment that would kick off the series of special moments, it was time to introduce the champs. The crowd was so jacked up. The noise and individual player chants were deafening. And the music from “I Will Wait” continued to play as each player skated out. It was perfect. As expected, the loudest eruption took place when the Captain, Alex Ovechkin came out last, holding Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The Captain, Alex Ovechkin bringing out Lord Stanley’s Cup!

It was sheer jubilation between who is arguably the greatest athlete in DC sports history, and the fans. And the entire time, I was so fortunate to be right next to each player coming out with my incredible seat. Absolutely thrilling.

As if the energy wasn’t already at a fever pitch, after these player intros the festivities continued on to the next phase. Since the Caps won in Vegas to clinch the Cup and weren’t able to celebrate on home ice that night, it was fitting that the home faithful would now have the opportunity to join with the team and sing “We are the Champions” on our home ice. The incredible video production crew (perhaps the best of all my favorite sports teams) absolutely killed it with a montage that perfectly synced the song with various Capitals player moments, as we the fans- and the players on the ice- sang together in perfect, glorious unison. At last, “We are the Champions”, for a local sports team. It was surreal. It was magical. I continued to savor every moment.

The crescendo of enthusiasm and energy with each ceremony continued. Then, the ultimate climax we were all waiting for was about to take place. It was time. Owner Ted Leonsis concluded his euphoric speech with, “And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: let’s raise this banner into the rafters! It will be here forever!” As a collective family, we cheered and stood in awe for this long-awaited moment of glory: raising the Stanley Cup Champions banner. So many emotions flooded my mind as I marveled, cheered, and fortunately, recorded the entire event- just before my phone battery (and external charger I brought), went dead.

Unquestionably one of my all-time favorite moments as a sports fan. And something I realized this summer as I reminisced and celebrated this long-awaited Capitals championship: Though I would say that all-time, the Redskins and Orioles, and UT Vols football, would be my more “favorite” teams historically if I’m ranking them- and no doubt I loved and celebrated their respective championships that I thankfully got to experience with a fierce passion- I had an epiphany that THIS Capitals championship was my favorite of my life to celebrate and savor. The first year I became a sports fan was at the age of 7, when the Redskins were marching towards their first Super Bowl Championship. I was smitten. Then that next summer of 1983, my Dad started taking us to baseball games- and the Orioles won their most recent World Series. I was so fortunate- and perhaps spoiled as a young fan to have my teams win championships with regularity, overall in 4 of my first 9 years as a fan. Little did I know that in January of 1992 (Redskins in SB XXVI), it would be the last time one of my favorite pro teams would win a championship. Now my all-time favorite sports memory shared with my Dad was when Tennessee won the football National Championship in 1998. It was glorious. It was the only Vols championship we have experienced together. And then I was euphoric when the Maryland Terps won their first basketball National Championship in 2002 (a game I was at!), which had been the most recent of my favorite teams. But since then, my favorite teams have mostly struggled, often at times to even be respectable. A long drought of collective losing and mediocrity ensued. Though I was still fortunate to experience some winning and playoff teams over these last 16 years, it had become the longest stretch I have ever experienced as a sports fan without any of my favorite teams winning a championship. Then this Capitals team snapped this longest stretch in my lifetime. It was also the Capitals’ first ever, and long-awaited- with all the epic heartbreak along the way- championship. On top of this, it was also my first championship that I got to experience with my wife and kids. This made it very special. So many great family memories during the run, capped off by taking my wife and kids to the championship parade- my first here since 1992. It was one of our most special family days ever. And then on top of this, the timing of these playoffs and championship was at the same time my beloved Mom passed away. I will always be grateful that in the midst of grieving for my Mom over the summer, this Capitals championship was sweet medicine and comfort to my soul. I will always think about Mom when I think about this Caps championship squad. Yes, my most favorite sports championship I have ever celebrated. As I watched the banner rising (TV version) into the rafters (with the same theme song that was also played during the Caps playoffs video that I had watched over and over and gave me chills at that time) I thought about what the Caps had amazingly accomplished, I thought about my sweet family memories we experienced during the championship, and I thought about my Mom. I smiled ear to ear. I cheered loudly. And I had tears of joy.

As I watched Alex Ovechkin bring the Cup back to Mr. Pritchard right next to me and put away in the chest, the Caps radio announcer John Walton belted from the mic: “the first step to going back-to-back, starts RIGHT NOW! Welcome to Opening Night!” The arena was in a frenzy. And while the actual game seemed secondary and insignificant after that incredible spectacle we were treated to, I also had the thought of how fired up the players must be! How could they come out and lose after that? The juices were flowing. The collective energy in the entire arena was contagious. And I also loved that I had seen maybe 5 Bruins fans (a passionate fanbase that typically travels well) the entire evening. The arena was completely red. It was a family. Let the title defense begin.

And as if there wasn’t enough icing on the cake to make this evening even more special, of course the national TV audience would also be treated to play-by-play by not only the absolute greatest broadcaster in hockey, but perhaps in all of sports: Doc Emerick. Always so poetic, timely, knowledgable, and in my opinion, appropriately passionate. As someone who used to want to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, I think the world of Doc Emerick. As Doc was barely able to work his way through the opening lineups, TJ Oshie lit the lamp, barely 20 seconds in! The building exploded. And then while we were still buzzing and celebrating that quick start, less than 2 minutes later Evgeny Kuznetsov buried one on the PP to incredibly make it 2-0! The Caps wouldn’t look back, guns blazing out of the gates in this title defense and firing on all cylinders. It was a juggernaut performance. In the 2nd period, the Captain himself, the “Great 8” would score his first goal of the campaign- right in front of me- to make it 3-0. And speaking of Ovi, here he is mic’d up on opening night! The Caps barrage continued with three more goals (all on my side for close up views!) in the 2nd period to make it 6-0 and the blowout was on. When I later watched the TV broadcast with my kids, they were amazed at how many times you could see me close up in the middle of the action.

Then in the closing moments as the Caps wrapped up a perfect night, with a dominating 7-0 win, I went down on the glass and celebrated with the Caps faithful. It was absolutely one of the greatest spectacles I have ever witnessed at a sporting event, and it was perhaps the best seat I have ever had at a sporting event.

It was truly a night Caps fans will always remember. The title defense begins!