The Hangover
 

My favorite scene from The Hangover is when the guys are asleep in their Vegas hotel suite following a night of debauchery. The room was a complete shambles, a white chicken was wondering about, a baby was found in the closet, and when one of them goes to relieve himself, much to his surprise, he finds a roaring tiger in the bathroom.

Through the first three games of the season the Washington Redskins have resembled the trailer for The Hangover. Much like the comedy the Redskins started out rather normally, but have since devolved into a series of unexplained, bizarre, and head scratching events that are all interconnected. To be clear, it's not the Redskins record that's so disconcerting and bothersome. Let's face it, NFL teams start out 1-2 all the time, recover and later find themselves in the hunt for a playoff bid. In fact, it could still happen to the Redskins. But following the performances over the past two weeks, such a scenerio seems less and less likely with each game that passes. This team continues to be plagued by penalties by veterans who should know better, poor tackling, bad clock management, and of late, a once stout defense giving up long and time consuming drives to offenses that usually struggle. These mental errors, accumulated little by little, will drain even the most talented and well intentioned team.

Last week I wrote about the Redskins being close. Close to being a better than average football team. Quite frankly, close to being a playoff contender. It seemed reasonable to me that a team that last year finished 8-8, returned most of it's starters, and a head coach with another year under his belt didn't need to make any major adjustments. On top of that the team upgraded in a few areas, including All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth. While the talent is still there, the teams organizational structure, long term strategy, and lack of motivation displayed yesterday have even left the franchise's most ardent defenders with their hands in the air.

Yesterday's lost to the Detroit Lions has turned into one big hangover for Redskins nation, except no one's laughing. The proverbial shit officially hit the fan yesterday. This wasn't just another loss to another subpar opponent. This was [I]their [/I]tiger in the bathroom. Or in the Redskins case, the Lions.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=12thMan;598474]Last week I wrote about the Redskins being close. Close to being a better than average football team. Quite frankly, close to being a playoff contender. It seemed reasonable to me that a team that last year finished 8-8, returned most of it's starters, and a head coach with another year under his belt didn't need to make any major adjustments. On top of that the team upgraded in a few areas, including All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth. While the talent is still there, the teams organizational structure, long term strategy, and lack of motivation displayed yesterday have even left the franchise's most ardent defenders with their hands in the air.

Yesterday's lost to the Detroit Lions has turned into one big hangover for Redskins nation, except no one's laughing. The proverbial shit officially hit the fan yesterday. This wasn't just another loss to another subpar opponent. This was [I]their [/I]tiger in the bathroom. Or in the Redskins case, the Lions.[/quote]Based on the evidence from the first two games, you were probably right in concluding the Redskins were close. Now they've unquestionably taken a step back. How big? We'll probably need to see the Tampa game to decide.

It could be "the season is over!" type bad or it could be "what the hell happened in that game?!" type bad. But we'll need to see more to know for sure.

Re: The Hangover
 

Good post 12th man. It's so unbelievably nice to read posts that are well-written and thoughtful.

Re: The Hangover
 

Very well written post 12thMan. I also thought we were close to being a competitive team. The crazy thing is, I still do. During most hangovers there appears to be no end in sight to the feeling of BLAH. But slowly but surely you pull out of it and realize what the problem was and how to avoid it. It's not the end of the world. You learn to make adjustments.

I think we're a little quick to declare what is going to happen. Everyone has an opinion based on what we've seen but that is assuming we will keep playing the same way and make the same mistakes. As Gtripp said, we'll know more after Tampa Bay. Really good post man.

Re: The Hangover
 

Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=53Fan;598490]Very well written post 12thMan. I also thought we were close to being a competitive team. The crazy thing is, I still do. During most hangovers there appears to be no end in sight to the feeling of BLAH. But slowly but surely you pull out of it and realize what the problem was and how to avoid it. It's not the end of the world. You learn to make adjustments.

I think we're a little quick to declare what is going to happen. Everyone has an opinion based on what we've seen but that is assuming we will keep playing the same way and make the same mistakes. As Gtripp said, we'll know more after Tampa Bay. Really good post man.[/quote]

Exactly. That's kinda the point I wanted to bring out without saying. Every hangover eventually ends. It just sucks when you're going through it.

Re: The Hangover
 

Well, that light may be the light at the end of the tunnel, or it might be a train.

We'll see, no doubt. But right about now, it's hard to stay optimistic. That being said, my undying irrational love of the Redskins tells me that we're going to turn it around, slowly but surely, and we'll be in the mix down the road. I have no evidence for this. I have no plausible argument I can offer in support. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it, even after losing to the 0-19 Lions.

It's always darkest before the dawn. Can it get much darker in here? I really hope not.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=GTripp0012;598494]Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.[/quote]


OMG! I didn't even think of a poor Skins fan living in Lions territory and having to put up with this. WOW that is rock bottom.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=12thMan;598474]My favorite scene from The Hangover is when the guys are asleep in their Vegas hotel suite following a night of debauchery. The room was a complete shambles, a white chicken was wondering about, a baby was found in the closet, and when one of them goes to relieve himself, much to his surprise, he finds a roaring tiger in the bathroom.

Through the first three games of the season the Washington Redskins have resembled the trailer for The Hangover. Much like the comedy the Redskins started out rather normally, but have since devolved into a series of unexplained, bizarre, and head scratching events that are all interconnected. To be clear, it's not the Redskins record that's so disconcerting and bothersome. Let's face it, NFL teams start out 1-2 all the time, recover and later find themselves in the hunt for a playoff bid. In fact, it could still happen to the Redskins. But following the performances over the past two weeks, such a scenerio seems less and less likely with each game that passes. This team continues to be plagued by penalties by veterans who should know better, poor tackling, bad clock management, and of late, a once stout defense giving up long and time consuming drives to offenses that usually struggle. These mental errors, accumulated little by little, will drain even the most talented and well intentioned team.

Last week I wrote about the Redskins being close. Close to being a better than average football team. [B]Quite frankly, close to being a playoff contender. It seemed reasonable to me that a team that last year finished 8-8, returned most of it's starters, and a head coach with another year under his belt didn't need to make any major adjustments. On top of that the team upgraded in a few areas, including All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth.[/B] While the talent is still there, the teams organizational structure, long term strategy, and lack of motivation displayed yesterday have even left the franchise's most ardent defenders with their hands in the air.

Yesterday's lost to the Detroit Lions has turned into one big hangover for Redskins nation, except no one's laughing. The proverbial shit officially hit the fan yesterday. This wasn't just another loss to another subpar opponent. This was [I]their [/I]tiger in the bathroom. Or in the Redskins case, the Lions.[/quote]

Unfortunately, that 8-8 record looks more and more misleading, although it probably already had some glaring signs of problems. Since our 4-1 start last year, we're 5-9, with the 5 wins coming against the Browns (who finished 4-12 and who we beat 14-11), the Lions (who finished 0-16 and who we beat by a touchdown), the Seahawks (who finished 4-12 and who we beat by a field goal), the Eagles, and, this year, the Rams. During that same stretch, we lost to last year's Rams (who finished 2-14) and Bengals (who finished 4-11-1). The win against the Eagles, at least the second one last year (if not possibly the first as well) looks to be the true anomaly.

I also thought that this year's crew could only improve its record from last year, but I realize more and more that last year's 8 wins didn't reflect that actual talent level of the team.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=GTripp0012;598494]Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.[/quote]

When I was a kid I always wore my Washington Redskins sweatshirt to school after a loss. I figured that it really proved something if you wore the colors after a loss and I always told myself that it would be that much better once the team reached the mountain top because I had been there in the valley. I'm 27 so these were middle school days and the true nadir of Redskins football ('93-'95). Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the mountaintop.

Re: The Hangover
 

It's always disappointing to not be excited to watch football highlights, and this week certainly is no exception.

We are the laughing stock of the league right now, and the future does not look bright. I'm normally a raging optimist on this site, but this week, it seems insane to think anything but negativity.

I vowed last year to never pay for another Redskins game again, and I still hold true to this. I refuse to give Dan Snyder my money for the product he is selling, and the way he is conducting this organization. I feel like such a cliche Redskins fan, but I don't know what else to do.

Fedex is a bitch to get to, the prices are outrageous, its a bigger bitch to leave, and chances are your going to see an abysmal performance. I paid 100$ last year for nose bleeds to the Pittsburgh game, and as terrible towels hit me in the face from either side I still stayed strong with my support for this team. I really feel we were the team that deserved to be blacked out this week...

Hockey season starts soon, and I'm more than happy to give my money towards Teddy's Capitals. It's an easy metro ride to get to, you can scalp a decent ticket for 40 bucks, and pre & post game is a breeze at one of the many bars Chinatown has to offer.

Sometimes it takes stumbling around after a night of drinking to reach an epiphany, especially one that is right in front of your eyes. I'll still be a Redskins fan for life, but this season is especially painful... so for the rest of this season, I'll be investing both financially and emotionally in DC's only team that competes every year. Lets go Caps baby!

oh... and the Wiz kids might be putting up a squad as well.

Re: The Hangover
 

Sometimes as a Redskins fan, I feel a lone wolf with my own wolfpack. But when I opened 12th Man's latest thread, I knew I had found another member of my wolfpack, where there was one of us there was now two. And then I read SGG's and 53Fan's posts and I thought, could it be? And yes, now I know that there are four members of this wolfpack.

Re: The Hangover
 

So did the Lions equal Mr. Chow? Locked up in the trunk and just emerged to wreck shop?

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;598554]So did the Lions equal Mr. Chow? Locked up in the trunk and just emerged to wreck shop?[/quote]

You! haha

Re: The Hangover
 

Several people today have tried to strike up conversations beginning with words like, "Hey, your Redskins..." Even my secretary started talking about the Lions, forgetting that I am a Skins fan. I've cut them each off as politely as I could and refused to talk.

If I could wear dark glasses and escape to a solitary cave then I would. Ugh.

The horror, the horror.

Re: The Hangover
 

Maybe somebody roofied the team gatorade coolers two weeks in a row.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;598554]So did the Lions equal Mr. Chow? Locked up in the trunk and just emerged to wreck shop?[/quote]No, the sad part is that the Lions were the tiger (did I just blow your F'ing mind with that). The pounding we're hearing from the trunk is actually our upcoming 3 primetime games in FedEx verse the cowboys, eagles, and giants. Their annoying fans will take over FedEx and it feel like we're getting beat to a pulp by a tiny naked Asian man.

And beating Tampa this week will be like marrying Heather Graham. Yes, it'll be cool to say you're married to such a hot chick, but then you'll find out she's a stripper/hooker and she already has a baby.

Now I must stop before I ruin the whole movie for those fools who haven't seen it yet.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=SmootSmack;598553]Sometimes as a Redskins fan, I feel a lone wolf with my own wolfpack. But when I opened 12th Man's latest thread, I knew I had found another member of my wolfpack, where there was one of us there was now two. And then I read SGG's and 53Fan's posts and I thought, could it be? And yes, now I know that there are four members of this wolfpack.[/quote]

Damn man. That kinda got to me. Tell me a joke. Quick.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;598566][I][B]No, the sad part is that the Lions were the tiger (did I just blow your F'ing mind with that). [/B][/I]The pounding we're hearing from the trunk is actually our upcoming 3 primetime games in FedEx verse the cowboys, eagles, and giants. Their annoying fans will take over FedEx and it feel like we're getting beat to a pulp by a tiny naked Asian man.

And beating Tampa this week will be like marrying Heather Graham. Yes, it'll be cool to say you're married to such a hot chick, but then you'll find out she's a stripper/hooker and she already has a baby.

Now I must stop before I ruin the whole movie for those fools who haven't seen it yet.[/quote]

Should we have put cinnamon all over our uniforms? Tigers hate cinnamon.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=SmootSmack;598553]Sometimes as a Redskins fan, I feel a lone wolf with my own wolfpack. But when I opened 12th Man's latest thread, I knew I had found another member of my wolfpack, where there was one of us there was now two. And then I read SGG's and 53Fan's posts and I thought, could it be? And yes, now I know that there are four members of this wolfpack.[/quote]

How about that ride in? I guess that's why they call it Sin City.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=Lotus;598557]Several people today have tried to strike up conversations beginning with words like, "Hey, your Redskins..." Even my secretary started talking about the Lions, forgetting that I am a Skins fan. I've cut them each off as politely as I could and refused to talk.

If I could wear dark glasses and escape to a solitary cave then I would. Ugh.

The horror, the horror.[/quote]

One of my co-workers is a Dallas fan, even she does not dare try to talk to me about this embarrassment. Either she is classy or she knows better. Either way, I am not getting any crap right now.

Re: The Hangover
 

I'm sick as a dog. All of my co-workers are Cowboy fans. By the time I get back, I'll not have to talk about it.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=wilsowilso;598564]Maybe somebody roofied the team gatorade coolers two weeks in a row.[/quote]

So would that make Zorn the dude found on the roof sunburned?

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=12thMan;598604]So would that make Zorn the dude found on the roof sunburned?[/quote]

The real question is... Who is baby Carlos?

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=RobH4413;598521]It's always disappointing to not be excited to watch football highlights, and this week certainly is no exception.

We are the laughing stock of the league right now, and the future does not look bright. I'm normally a raging optimist on this site, but this week, it seems insane to think anything but negativity.

I vowed last year to never pay for another Redskins game again, and I still hold true to this. I refuse to give Dan Snyder my money for the product he is selling, and the way he is conducting this organization. I feel like such a cliche Redskins fan, but I don't know what else to do.

Fedex is a bitch to get to, the prices are outrageous, its a bigger bitch to leave, and chances are your going to see an abysmal performance. I paid 100$ last year for nose bleeds to the Pittsburgh game, and as terrible towels hit me in the face from either side I still stayed strong with my support for this team. I really feel we were the team that deserved to be blacked out this week...

Hockey season starts soon, and I'm more than happy to give my money towards Teddy's Capitals. It's an easy metro ride to get to, you can scalp a decent ticket for 40 bucks, and pre & post game is a breeze at one of the many bars Chinatown has to offer.

Sometimes it takes stumbling around after a night of drinking to reach an epiphany, especially one that is right in front of your eyes. I'll still be a Redskins fan for life, but this season is especially painful... so for the rest of this season, I'll be investing both financially and emotionally in DC's only team that competes every year. Lets go Caps baby!

oh... and the Wiz kids might be putting up a squad as well.[/quote]

Rock the Red, no doubt. I wonder how much of the fan discontentment actually reaches Snyder and, more importantly, how much of it does he actually take to heart. Obvisously he can't take every little criticism to heart, you can't run an organization that way. I just hope he's listening.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;598605]The real question is... Who is baby Carlos?[/quote]

its vinny cerrato, silly

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=12thMan;598609]Rock the Red, no doubt. I wonder how much of the fan discontentment actually reaches Snyder and, more importantly, how much of it does he actually take to heart. Obvisously he can't take every little criticism to heart, you can't run an organization that way. I just hope he's listening.[/quote]

Well he's been a fan all his life as well so I'm sure he's aware. And, like I've said in the past, I think his biggest weakness has been failure to separate the fan from the owner. The fan can act like a dimwit, the owner cannot.

But anyway, he has to sort of keep a level head about I'm sure, because as a lifelong DC area resident and Skins fan he must know that people will jump off a bridge after a Redskins off-sides before they give a damn about any of the other teams in the area. It goes Redskins....Redskins....Redskins....Redskins...and then every other pro team in the DC area as far as fans' passions

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=SmootSmack;598616]Well he's been a fan all his life as well so I'm sure he's aware. And, like I've said in the past, I think his biggest weakness has been failure to separate the fan from the owner. The fan can act like a dimwit, the owner cannot.

But anyway, he has to sort of keep a level head about I'm sure, because as a lifelong DC area resident and Skins fan he must know that people will jump off a bridge after a Redskins off-sides before they give a damn about any of the other teams in the area. It goes Redskins....Redskins....Redskins....Redskins...and then every other pro team in the DC area as far as fans' passions[/quote]

Yep, you're right. People who are visiting usually ask me about the Nats and I typically respond this a Redskins town. It's not much of basketball town, certainly not baseball, and recently hockey has been making a comeback. But no sports franchise matches the passion the Skins generate. Not even close.

I think Snyder's next move, whatever and whenver that may be, has to be extremely calculated and not self serving. Not that the others were, but he has to be perceived to be getting the less benefit out of the deal. His next selection for head coach must be allowed to bring in his own folks, and I would imagine have some control over personnel decisions. I know that has been a sticky issue with him in the past, but I don't think we'll get the type of coach we really need here unless that's a part of the package.

It's interesting how we're discussing Jim Zorn like he's a dead man walking. Another good movie, by the way:)

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=GTripp0012;598494]Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.[/quote]

You can ALWAYS wear the hoodie. Always.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;598577]Should we have put cinnamon all over our uniforms? Tigers hate cinnamon.[/quote]We must have had pepper on instead.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=SC Skins Fan;598520]When I was a kid I always wore my Washington Redskins sweatshirt to school after a loss. I figured that it really proved something if you wore the colors after a loss and I always told myself that it would be that much better once the team reached the mountain top because I had been there in the valley. I'm 27 so these were middle school days and the true nadir of Redskins football ('93-'95). Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the mountaintop.[/quote]I usually wear it every Monday, but I just don't feel like making a statement today.

Where it would normally slip under the level of general consciousness, the last thing I want to do today is remind everyone around me that yes, I saw that disaster as well.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=mredskins;598508]OMG! I didn't even think of a poor Skins fan living in Lions territory and having to put up with this. WOW that is rock bottom.[/quote]

Oh man I caught so much shit after the game, which is expected, but when it comes from THE FUCKING LIONS it's that much worse.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=RobH4413;598521]

I vowed last year to never pay for another Redskins game again, and I still hold true to this. I refuse to give Dan Snyder my money for the product he is selling, and the way he is conducting this organization. I feel like such a cliche Redskins fan, but I don't know what else to do.
[/quote]

snyder's already been paid for whatever seat you'd get but I hear you

[quote]
Hockey season starts soon, and I'm more than happy to give my money towards Teddy's Capitals. It's an easy metro ride to get to, you can scalp a decent ticket for 40 bucks, and pre & post game is a breeze at one of the many bars Chinatown has to offer.

Sometimes it takes stumbling around after a night of drinking to reach an epiphany, especially one that is right in front of your eyes. I'll still be a Redskins fan for life, but this season is especially painful... so for the rest of this season, I'll be investing both financially and emotionally in DC's only team that competes every year. Lets go Caps baby![/quote]

Just really started watching hockey last year, bought an Ovechkin jersey this weekend, they come to town here on the 12th of October, should be a good game, tough one though

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=GTripp0012;598645]I usually wear it every Monday, but I just don't feel like making a statement today.

Where it would normally slip under the level of general consciousness, the last thing I want to do today is remind everyone around me that yes, [B]I saw that disaster as well.[/B][/quote]

One of the few "thank you lords" for me from that game was that the only area that got to see it, was basically washington right. we weren't the national game getting cut away from because it was so bad, like dallas did last year. I guess some areas up north saw it. but basically we in skins land got treated to our own little nightmare.

As for reactions today, i tend to go the self-deprecating route up here in baltimore, and today when others here start I just shrug and said "go ahead and take your shots". Most have just made a jab and moved on.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=tryfuhl;598655]snyder's already been paid for whatever seat you'd get but I hear you[/quote]


Yeah... I guess I'm just frustrated. I'm not trying to go all poetic justice on Dan Snyder. I just really hate losing. I'm not going to pay for another game, because it literally is not worth it to me. I don't care that much how he runs the organization, but I'd prefer to see him invest a little more on being less of an asshole. Meddle less with the team, go to the games, and enjoy yourself.

For me, It's too much money, and we suck. It sucks sucking.

Capitals games are cheap, and we're awesome.

Rant off.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=RobH4413;598676]Yeah... I guess I'm just frustrated. I'm not trying to go all poetic justice on Dan Snyder. I just really hate losing. I'm not going to pay for another game, because it literally is not worth it to me. I don't care that much how he runs the organization, but I'd prefer to see him invest a little more on being less of an asshole. Meddle less with the team, go to the games, and enjoy yourself.

For me, It's too much money, and we suck. It sucks sucking.

Capitals games are cheap, and we're awesome.

Rant off.[/quote]
You're telling me man... I bought a 120 dollar ticket, beer and liquor, a new jersey and hat, etc all because of this game :(

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;598656]One of the few "thank you lords" for me from that game was that the only area that got to see it, was basically washington right. we weren't the national game getting cut away from because it was so bad, like dallas did last year. I guess some areas up north saw it. but basically we in skins land got treated to our own little nightmare.

As for reactions today, i tend to go the self-deprecating route up here in baltimore, and today when others here start I just shrug and said "go ahead and take your shots". Most have just made a jab and moved on.[/quote]It was blacked out in the Lansing, Saginaw, and Ann Arbor/Detroit markets, but anyone at my university who stayed around for the weekend had the game televised locally. I live about 150 miles northwest of Detroit. If they went home...they probably didn't see it.

I haven't taken anything today, mostly because the people who know I'm a Redskins fan were texting the crap out of my phone during the game. One of the many reasons that by the time the game reached it's merciful end, I was more apathetic than angered.

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=GTripp0012;598741]It was blacked out in the Lansing, Saginaw, and Ann Arbor/Detroit markets, but anyone at my university who stayed around for the weekend had the game televised locally. I live about 150 miles northwest of Detroit. If they went home...they probably didn't see it.

I haven't taken anything today, mostly because the people who know I'm a Redskins fan were texting the crap out of my phone during the game. One of the many reasons that by the time the game reached it's merciful end, I was more apathetic than angered.[/quote]

It's funny a few of my friends were giving me crap for the Giants game but with the Lions game the tone was more along the lines of me having a death in the family.

Re: The Hangover
 

I loved the Hangover
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_oAvdvQW18&feature=channel]YouTube - The Hangover - "Did we leave the music on?"[/ame]

Re: The Hangover
 

[quote=Lotus;598557]
If I could wear dark glasses and escape to a solitary cave then I would. Ugh.

The horror, the horror.[/quote]

Yep,I know the feeling:frusty: