The Midnight Miracle
It may seem a little sad for you to realize that one of the most exciting and memorable things to happen to me while on night shift had nothing at all to do with surgery or the miracle of delivering babies. It had nothing to do with medicine at all. But I admit, without shame, one of the best times I've had at work was watching the end of a football game.
I am not a sports fan. I admire modern sports for their unbelievable athletes while shaking my head at the corporate greed, performance enhancing drug use, lack of role models, and general self-obsessed, self-important attitudes. Even with these things in mind, it is impossible to deny yourself the admiration of how unbelievably good some of those guys are at what they do - attitudes or not.
I am, however, a Redskins fan. Not a pick your team out of a hat, I like their uniform fan, but a born and raised Redskins fan. I know the owner is an annoying, mettlesome bastard, but if you were 9 years old, watching your adult parents, friends and neighbors react to Redskin touchdowns with the screaming zeal of Christian revivalists, you might overlook the more negative aspects of modern football, too. I did and still do.
Being able to rationalize many things from religion to politics to sex, I find it strange I have never been able to rationalize away my passion for the burgundy and gold. It has been ingrained from youth.
On Monday night, my wife had to deal with me being crabby and frustrated with the abysmal performance of the Redskin offense before departing for work at 1030 pm. When I got there, I was almost relieved to be inundated with C-sections. They were lined up like planes in a holding pattern, perfect for keeping my mind off what was most probably going to be yet another depressing and embarrassing Redskin-Dallas matchup.
At about midnight, I came out of a section and peeled off my mask. Finding a TV in an empty lounge, I turned to the game. Something interesting was happening. The Redskins had cut the lead to 13-7 in the last few minutes. In a few minutes, a miracle would occur.
Brunell dropped back and Moss went long.
80 yards to victory. My face showed the same shocked expression as over 60,000 Dallas fans, except my wide eyes reflected joy and theirs horror. 2 more minutes of nail-biting defense and the game was over, 14-13. The room was empty, and I had to talk to someone, anyone who was a Redskins fan. I called my wife, I called my Mom, I even almost called big Joe, the huge anesthesia tech who isn't approachable the day after a Redskin loss, but I didn't.
These are the reasons Redskins fans will forever savor this win, each one a reason unto itself.
1. Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins rivalry is one of the oldest and intense, known throughout the league.
2. It was Monday Night. (Nationally broadcast, entire nation of football fans watching)
3. Redskins have lost last 14 of 15 games to Dallas.
4. It was at Dallas, and . . .
5. Dallas was honoring 3 tremendous players of old in a halftime ceremony, and . . .
6. Redskins have not won at Texas Stadium for last 9 games, and . . .
7. Largest crowd at Texas Stadium since 1995 with 65,207 people.
8. The Redskin offense was horrendous for 55 minutes of a 60 minute game, producing no points, so . . .
9. Dallas players and fans were utterly stunned by the win. (Thank you camera crew for the shots of stadium fans' expressions)
10. Joe Gibbs' heraldic last year fizzled at 6-10 with two losses against Dallas.
11. Bill Parcells, the equally accomplished Dallas coach, was 77-0 when leading by 13 points in the 4th quarter.
12. Joe Gibbs has lost the last 8 straight games against Bill Parcells.
13. Joe Gibbs has received criticism for switching the starting quarterback from young Ramsey to old Brunell during last week's game.
14. First touchdown of the season, after 7 quarters (116 minutes) of none.
15. The points were made off 2 last minute bombs with perfection.
16. It was a comeback.
17. It was midnight.
18. It was a single point victory. (14-13)
19. Joe Gibbs got a Gatorade ice shower.
20. Joe Gibbs celebrated with more relief and joy when the game ended than I have ever seen or can remember.
Of all the reasons listed, by far the best for any Redskins fan is the last. Joe Gibbs transcends all the negativity associated with the modern NFL, and is as good a person as he is a coach. Which is saying quite a bit. His coaching history, ability and his dignity are respected by all, even rival fans.
I had more sections that night, keeping me pretty busy until dawn. But I had energy and happiness after having the good fortune of catching the last few minutes of one of the best games in Redskin history.
Watching a 65 year old childhood hero jump up and down the same way I did when I was nine years old is the reason fans stay up late, turn the TV back on, or keep watching through losing torture. Modern sporting events, despite all the negative criticism, are still just sporting events - governed by the unknown and ruled by athleticism, and miracles can happen.
At midnight, when Brunell dropped back and Moss went long, I stood alone in a hospital lounge in a state of hypnotic joy, and witnessed one myself.
I am not a sports fan. I admire modern sports for their unbelievable athletes while shaking my head at the corporate greed, performance enhancing drug use, lack of role models, and general self-obsessed, self-important attitudes. Even with these things in mind, it is impossible to deny yourself the admiration of how unbelievably good some of those guys are at what they do - attitudes or not.
I am, however, a Redskins fan. Not a pick your team out of a hat, I like their uniform fan, but a born and raised Redskins fan. I know the owner is an annoying, mettlesome bastard, but if you were 9 years old, watching your adult parents, friends and neighbors react to Redskin touchdowns with the screaming zeal of Christian revivalists, you might overlook the more negative aspects of modern football, too. I did and still do.
Being able to rationalize many things from religion to politics to sex, I find it strange I have never been able to rationalize away my passion for the burgundy and gold. It has been ingrained from youth.
On Monday night, my wife had to deal with me being crabby and frustrated with the abysmal performance of the Redskin offense before departing for work at 1030 pm. When I got there, I was almost relieved to be inundated with C-sections. They were lined up like planes in a holding pattern, perfect for keeping my mind off what was most probably going to be yet another depressing and embarrassing Redskin-Dallas matchup.
At about midnight, I came out of a section and peeled off my mask. Finding a TV in an empty lounge, I turned to the game. Something interesting was happening. The Redskins had cut the lead to 13-7 in the last few minutes. In a few minutes, a miracle would occur.
Brunell dropped back and Moss went long.
80 yards to victory. My face showed the same shocked expression as over 60,000 Dallas fans, except my wide eyes reflected joy and theirs horror. 2 more minutes of nail-biting defense and the game was over, 14-13. The room was empty, and I had to talk to someone, anyone who was a Redskins fan. I called my wife, I called my Mom, I even almost called big Joe, the huge anesthesia tech who isn't approachable the day after a Redskin loss, but I didn't.
These are the reasons Redskins fans will forever savor this win, each one a reason unto itself.
1. Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins rivalry is one of the oldest and intense, known throughout the league.
2. It was Monday Night. (Nationally broadcast, entire nation of football fans watching)
3. Redskins have lost last 14 of 15 games to Dallas.
4. It was at Dallas, and . . .
5. Dallas was honoring 3 tremendous players of old in a halftime ceremony, and . . .
6. Redskins have not won at Texas Stadium for last 9 games, and . . .
7. Largest crowd at Texas Stadium since 1995 with 65,207 people.
8. The Redskin offense was horrendous for 55 minutes of a 60 minute game, producing no points, so . . .
9. Dallas players and fans were utterly stunned by the win. (Thank you camera crew for the shots of stadium fans' expressions)
10. Joe Gibbs' heraldic last year fizzled at 6-10 with two losses against Dallas.
11. Bill Parcells, the equally accomplished Dallas coach, was 77-0 when leading by 13 points in the 4th quarter.
12. Joe Gibbs has lost the last 8 straight games against Bill Parcells.
13. Joe Gibbs has received criticism for switching the starting quarterback from young Ramsey to old Brunell during last week's game.
14. First touchdown of the season, after 7 quarters (116 minutes) of none.
15. The points were made off 2 last minute bombs with perfection.
16. It was a comeback.
17. It was midnight.
18. It was a single point victory. (14-13)
19. Joe Gibbs got a Gatorade ice shower.
20. Joe Gibbs celebrated with more relief and joy when the game ended than I have ever seen or can remember.
Of all the reasons listed, by far the best for any Redskins fan is the last. Joe Gibbs transcends all the negativity associated with the modern NFL, and is as good a person as he is a coach. Which is saying quite a bit. His coaching history, ability and his dignity are respected by all, even rival fans.
I had more sections that night, keeping me pretty busy until dawn. But I had energy and happiness after having the good fortune of catching the last few minutes of one of the best games in Redskin history.
Watching a 65 year old childhood hero jump up and down the same way I did when I was nine years old is the reason fans stay up late, turn the TV back on, or keep watching through losing torture. Modern sporting events, despite all the negative criticism, are still just sporting events - governed by the unknown and ruled by athleticism, and miracles can happen.
At midnight, when Brunell dropped back and Moss went long, I stood alone in a hospital lounge in a state of hypnotic joy, and witnessed one myself.
posted by All Rounder | 12:44 AM
2 Comments:
oh how perfectly you relate some of my experiences I guess you never really realize some of the things you are passing along to your kids I would add that the difference in coaching between Purcell and Gibbs is another great reason to stun and win!
Hail to the Redskins!!!
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