Washington Redskins Family Day!!!!

On Monday June 1, 2009 the Washington Redskins invited players, team employees, their families and select VIPs out to Six Flags yesterday. I must have gotten lucky since I'm neither, a good friend told me he had an extra ticket and since I lived some 10 minutes away it was easy for me.

I must say the Redskins went all out with this affair. The grounds were in great shape, it was clean and the employees were all happy and upbeat. With the limited number of people at the park it was quite enjoyable. I would never at any other time make it out Six Flags but did so today because of the special circumstance and also not having the general public in attendance.

I saw a few Redskins players who were taking in the rides and foods with their families but it was a little difficult for some other more high profile players. I saw Clinton Portis and gave him the good ole "what's up CP" with the fist in the air. He was cool and shot back a "peace" sign. That is at most my only type of interactions with the players since I'm not into the autographs and picture taking. But on the other hand most of the fans in attendance are quite the opposite. As I turned around after seeing Portis because I discovered I was headed in the wrong direction I came upon a giant mob of people. In my mind I new it had to be a player that was swarmed. I was correct and it was Portis, now this guy had about 50 people requesting pics and autographs. As I walked past and headed to my destination, the team provided free food, drinks and ice cream. The team gets major cool points for actually feeding a person meals that would cost about 10 bucks or more. So I ate a cheeseburger that was brought in from the Sunshine Service station(best burger in world)...thanks Mark. I was seated with a few friends who were waiting for us to arrive and they were with the Hoggettes and Chief Zee. So we woofed our food and grabbed some ice cream. We are now headed to the train that will take us around to another side of the park. So we get on the train and the Hoggettes and Chief Zee begin to break out the Redskins fight song..."Hail To the Redskins". It was a nice train ride. We pulled up to the station and disembarked. As I'm walking down the stairs I see a mob of people...so like the last time I assumeed a player, and low and behold it was Clinton Portis from the time I last saw him until now it was probably almost an hour and that man continued to sign every autograph and take every picture. I felt a bit sad for the guy having to sign so much...but it shows tremendous character on his part to not deny a single person. It turns out he was signing for about 2 hours and had it not been for security who had to escort him to a team function on the grounds that guy probably would have signed for everyone. Much props to you CP!

While in the park I heard some grumblings on how one player(high paid) in particular wouldn't sign anything for adults but would do so for the kids. The particular person that grumbled had 3 footballs, 2 jerseys and 2 hats so I would have imagined the player saw all that he had and refused to sign the items...who knows what was headed to e-bay or some other auction place. I don't think the event was called Fan appreciation so to be able to any autographs at all should be a bonus because I don't believe that the players are obligated to give an autograph at a fans request. I might be in the minority but the players should have a life and be able to enjoy themselves like the rest of us.

The Washington Redskins did a great thing that night and I applaud them for their work. Hopefully events like these could be common place because in these lean economic times people need all the incentives and perks possible. I hope I get lucky on the next go-around because I will never attend Six Flags unless it is an event like I attended last night.

Photos from the Maryland Maniacs games!

Football, Tailgate and Friends!!!!

Ahhh the great weather of Memorial Day Weekend!!! It is the time of year that we officially usher in Summer. Typically everyone enjoys the weekend with a fabulous cookout with friends and family. We all remember those times as children when the family comes together and everyone has a great time. It was great in itself....but with the idea of being able to watch live sporting was out of the question. If you grew up in the DC area there was not much to do this time of year. Basketball was always over, we didn't have baseball until a few years ago...now our favorite love Football has about 3 months left until the beginning of the season.

I would say about 2 weeks ago I was at a neighborhood festival where various vendors were setup selling a variety of items. One table in particular had women scantily dressed who were the dance team of a team called the Maryland Maniacs of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The owner was present and we spoke for a bit. He is a very nice and young African American man in his 30's and he mentioned that this was his first year as the owner of the team in their inaugural season. He was very excited that his team was on a 4 game winning streak and the possibilities of the playoffs was likely if the team maintained. I told him I would come and check out his team since they play only 5 minutes away from where I live at the ShowPlace Arena in Upper Marlboro MD. 

Last week I attended my first game and I was blown away, firstly by the product of play on the field and secondly by the great work that the ownership puts in providing an awesome fan experience. The game was very fast and explosive as guys where hit with the ferocity as I am accustomed to witnessing as a season ticket holder of the Washington Redskins. I know great hits when I see them (RIP 21). The field is 50 yards and the scores can soar and kickoff returns are an adventure. During the breaks in game the kids are brought on to the field to perform competitions against each other and it is a real hoot watching them have a great time...I mean it is a kids game by the way!

I sat in the corner endzone where the cheerleaders are positioned which happened to be right next to the opposing team. In Indoor Football their is no real sideline and the teams bench's are situated  in the back of the end zones. If a player substitutes he must run to his teammates even if they are 50 yards away on the other side of the field. I love it when they are tired and can barely make it back to the endzone to avoid a penalty. So as I was sitting and enjoying the cheerleaders do a dance and I observed an opposing player just all up and enjoying the view of the cheerleaders in their skimpy outfits dropping it like it was hot and getting all Beyonce' like with their moves. So a buddy of mine and I started began to heckle him as he was clearly enjoying the show on the sidelines and not the beating the Maryland Maniacs was putting on his team. The player eluded to not having cheerleaders on his team as to why his eyes where so fixated on the Maryland Dancers. I guess that is why he is playing Indoor Football.

So the Maryland Maniacs beat the Saginaw Sting 43-10 and there was probably around 1000 people in attendance. I hope as the season continues and more people spread the word than this team can hopefully be around for a second season. The owner seems like a very good guy and I wish him the best. With the play of his team doing well hopefully the fan support can increase.

So this Saturday on Memorial Day weekend I will attend my 2nd game but this time I have brought a lot of friends and we will tailgate at 4pm like we do for Redskins games and use these games with our Maryland Maniacs as the fix we need as this new summer season begins. I can't wait!

With prices ranging from $14 - $24 it is certainly an affordable option in these lean times for those wanting to enjoy Football at a time where we are not accustomed to watching it. Hopefully Memorial Days in our future will always include a visit with our local Indoor Football League team. So come on out and enjoy it with me and bring the kids with you!

Mike Vick

So I was reading a posting about Mike Vick and most of the replies submitted were totally against him coming back to the NFL. We all know about the PETA and other advocacy groups that will picket at no end...which I truly hate BTW! The man was convicted of his crime and served the time levied against him. What more is a man to do. 

Back to the postings I was reading, there were people who said his job as QB in football is a privilege...NOT!!!! Driving a car is a privilege! The respondents would rather have him flipping burgers instead. Now that makes no sense at all! You would rather have him flip a burger than play a game. I suspected that the feelings are indeed racial but I wouldn't make that outward assumption until something is actually said that proves it. The burger flipping comment proved it. On television the man would be a person amongst a 100 others only identifiable by his #7. Take the number off and you got 20 others that share his body type. So to the people that would rather have Mike Vick flipping a burger for you I say get a grip on reality and stop letting your racial objectivity make you into a fool!

So this is my response I made to the posting I saw on Mike Vick:

Mike Vick served his time. He admitted to the charges against him. There is nothing more he has to do. The NFL is a business and not a privilege those that make those decisions will shoulder the burden of bringing him back on. Ray Lewis was mentioned in regards to the murder of 2 young guys. Ray Lewis paid a large settlement to the families of those guys. One had a daughter born a few months after the death. This baby has no father but the man who paid off the family, lives his life with the blood of a human on his hands yet people want to throw Mike Vick into purgatory. Is it because he is a celebrity and has the opportunity to make millions that people hate so much. So he can't earn a living in is career field but it is certainly OK for him to flip burgers for the rest of his life. What makes Football so special that he can't come back, but he can do anything else but Sport. This is a game he plays but I guess we as consumers are the authority in who plays and not plays. I'm a programmer if I did what Vick did I can still be a programmer and make good money. If he was a public servant than he would be toast with a felony but the man is not he is playing a kids game. Is it because he violates the purity of an animal that is so disturbing that you want to never hear about him ever again. I guess the mob rules on this one. The man did his time let him get back to his life. If it was you or someone you knew in his situation you would want them doing the things they were good at to provide for their family. Others have done worse and have not gotten half of the attention as this man.