Why It's So Easy to Hate Washington Pro Football

They have an owner who prefers jersey sales over playoff appearances, a reprehensible team nickname, and have one of the more delusional fan bases in the entire NFL. It’s so easy to hate everything about pro football in Washington, and it could never be more evident than in this column by the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell.

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As soon as the Redskins do anything that incites the faithful to use superlatives, or even think such thoughts in the solitude of their burgundy-and-gold basement lairs (been there), the mischief starts all over again.

As the Redskins and their fans start their annual pursuit of NFL Nirvana, it’s essential to hold one thought in mind, annoying and antisocial as it seems: The Redskins are not very good.

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Washington fans, by my estimation, are evenly divided into thirds. Those that think the team will contend for the Super Bowl every year, those that think the team will be banished to 5-11 records for the duration of Daniel Snyder’s ownership, and those that honestly assess the division in which they play, the talent that they have, and make a judgment parallel to Boswell’s.

Let’s wait and see, but no reason to get any hopes up.

Washington fans don’t realize it, but the vast majority of them that get face time on youtube and sports talk radio are as ignorant and douchebag as any fan out of Philadelphia or Dallas.

It’s refreshing to converse with a fan knowledgeable enough about the team, and can elaborate on the potential this squad has that just can’t tie it together. This fan is as passionate about their team as they are realistic about their chances, and most will break it down for you S.A.T. style:

Washington is to the NFC East as the Baltimore Orioles are to the A.L. East. Outclassed.

You want so much more for these kind of fans. You want for Snyder and Co. to right the ship and build a team through solid drafting, smart free agent acquisitions, coaching stability and accountability to the emotional and financial investment of the fans.

But knowing that they won’t, you want the fans to get a clue and take their allegiance elsewhere. You want them to avoid jumping off the buffoon bridge with the rest of their Rally Rag-waving friends.

You don’t really want to hate this club. But since so many people insist on not hating the franchise. You must balance out the universe.

In the end, nobody wins. You bottle up internal angst for a team that doesn’t matter. The supporters have angst because they’ll wait yet another year to get their boasting on. None of us have anything to celebrate. Nothing to love.

Everything to hate.