The Local Sports Optimist

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

During the fall of 1982 at the age of seven, my affections for the Burgundy & Gold would begin. While I was just starting to understand the game and grow in my new found passion, my fandom soared to new heights in the NFC Championship game when the hated Cowboys came to RFK. I'll never forget the "WE WANT DALLAS! WE WANT DALLAS! WE WANT DALLAS!" chants that literally, rocked the stadium. The atmosphere was epic. There was Dexter Manley decapitating Danny White, setting the tone for the game. Then there was Darryl Grant, putting the nail in the coffin by high-stepping into the end zone on his INT TD, and sending the raucous RFK crowd into a frenzy. Though I mention Riggins' TD in Super Bowl XVII in my "Why" intro as perhaps being my first defining moment as a young fan, as an overall game I would actually put the NFC Championship game vs the Cowboys the week before as my all-time favorite Redskins game, and the true beginnings of my passionate fandom. 

Because of the near impossibility of getting tickets during that glorious RFK Stadium era, we didn't go to our first game until 1985. It was the infamous MNF game when Joe Theismann's career came to an abrupt end with the bone crushing injury at the hands of Lawrence Taylor. 

I went to a few more games at RFK in the immediate years to follow, but none better than during the glorious run of the 1991 season. I had the privilege of going to the divisional playoff vs. the Falcons, and the NFC Championship game vs. the Lions. Of course my family did not have season tickets, and I was a typical broke high school student who worked part-time. I was relentless in my determination to find the near impossible ticket for these games, daily checking the {pre StubHub age} secondary market ticket broker ads in the Washington Post. I ended up selling some of my sports cards to have more cash, in hopes of finding my tickets from scalpers outside RFK. It really was like finding a needle in a haystack, with many more people trying to find tickets vs. who was actually willing to sell- and for exorbitant prices. At the NFC Championship- which is my favorite live game experience to this day- I got my ticket minutes before kickoff from a guy who's family member got sick last minute so he had the extra! I paid $100 for a lower level seat, which was a phenomenal deal at the time. I will always remember the first play from scrimmage. The stadium was rocking in unison with thunderous chants of "DE-FENSE...DE-FENSE", as we waived Tony Kornheiser's famous "bandwagon" rally towels. Charles Mann bull rushed QB Erik Kramer, getting the sack and causing the fumble. We recovered and the lid just blew off the joint. We were off and running. I will always remember what specifically stood out to me: not being able to hear what the fans around me were saying as we hugged and screamed on that fumble recovery. That's how loud and energized it was. 

In 2006, I finally obtained the long-coveted season tickets. Now you will find me- or hear me- on game days leading the "DE-FENSE" chants in section 220, banging the column!

With one of the greatest special teams players in team history- Mike Nelms