D.C. sports fans are some of the best in the world. But what exactly is the “identity” of the Washington D.C. sports nut? We aren’t loud and obnoxious like Boston fans; we aren’t crude and ignorant like Dallas fans (pardon my biased opinion); and we certainly aren’t argumentative and arrogant fans like those from New York.
The lack of identity here in the Nation’s Capital could be blamed on numerous theories. For one, the idea that “everyone here is from somewhere else” has been quite played out. Lots of people come to the area for job opportunities, an improvement in quality of life, etc.; and therefore, these people come from markets where they have already developed opinions and loyalties to their true “home” teams.
Another theory would be the fact we are constantly in limbo–teams do well, then they crap the bed, and then the off-season comes around and we are, again, ready to be all-in. The roller-coaster ride can be exhausting, for sure! Take it from me, a life-long fan of the Redskins and Orioles–two teams who were extremely relevant when I was born in the 80′s and have yet to make a splash in the post-season since.
And then, there is the favorite excuse for the majority of fans: We haven’t been GOOD for decades. There have certainly been hopeful runs for the Redskins, Capitals, and Nationals as of late, but they haven’t managed to deliver! The psyche of the D.C. sports fan is beaten down, and it’s been 20 years since we won a championship. Although we have been in the race as of late, the results are all the same…and it makes for a depressed, frustrated, and (therefore) flaky fan-base.
As a blogger myself, I love fellow blogmeisters who make a point to add humor and entertainment into their writing. The standard, dry content of yesterday is no longer a necessity, as a personal spin with flavor can make a nice article into an outstanding piece.
The Mottram brothers over at Mister Irrelevant do exactly that.
I highlight this blog today as an avid sports fan, a smart ass, and a D.C. native. These bros are VIP’s of the sports world; one is the Director of Content Development at USA Today Sports Media and the other is a Senior Editor at SB Nation. So it goes without saying, they know what thy are talking about!
Mr. Irrelevant isn’t just about the local teams and the latest news. It covers everything from D.C. journalists, to culture, to player profiles and interviews. These guys have no problem teasing and they do all they can to encourage feedback from readers; which ultimately, is what every writer longs for (and appreciates!)
At the end of the day, maybe D.C. sports fans are considered salty, or callous, and at times, apathetic; but the reality is, we are passionate. We are hopeful. And for those of us who have weathered the rough times, we are resilient and appreciative.
As much as it has truly SUCKED to be a fan through the tough times of the past, we have a very bright and promising future. If you don’t know why I say so, please reference Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, John Wall, and Manny Machado (Manny is actually an Oriole, but for all intents and purposes, he supports my argument!)
True fans are loyal through the good times and bad. And with the recent history of our teams, we can only hope that honest improvement is under way.
And when we get there, when we bring that championship title back to the DMV, it will be all the more sweet; because the sweet is NEVER as sweet without the bitter.