| Craig Johnson. 18th December, 2005 - 2:13 pm
 Dear Mom,
It has been a long time since I have written you a Christmas wish list, but please make sure this makes it to old Saint Nick. In all the years that I have written a wish list to you I remember asking for a Joe Theismann jersey, a Darrell Green bobble head, and many other Redskins memorabilia, but I don’t believe I have ever asked you for what I am about to ask for. It’s Christmas and you have always made this time of year a great time to remember and this one I want to be remembered as the best.
Today will mark the 92nd time that the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowgirls will have faced off. In a rivalry that has seen more defeats to these Cow-chums than wins, will make for what will be one of the greatest games ever. See Mom, all I want for Christmas is a win over Dallas. I already have my two front teeth and even if I didn’t I would still rather have a win. I can still remember when I was young and you were explaining to me why Redskins fans have such a terrible taste in their mouth when we are forced to saying the two dirtiest words ever…Dallas Cowboys (gagging just trying to get that out).
The Thanksgiving game in 1974 when rookie quarterback Clint Longley came in and threw a 50-yard touchdown to Drew Pearson in the remaining seconds to win still gives me nightmares. I wasn’t even born yet when that happened but the disgusting look on your face when telling me that story is just enough to make me know that every Redskins-Dallas game means the world to Skins fans.
Let’s revert back to the good old days of Darryl Grant running in an interception for a touchdown that sealed the 1982 NFC Championship game. You must remember that game, it was the game that Dexter Manley clobbered Danny White, which sent him back to his childhood days. Remember who came in for him to play quarterback? It was Gary Hoogeboom, another journey he couldn’t survive. The great days of when a young Green chased down Tony Dorsett on a Monday Night, and the days of John Riggins blasting through the Dallas defense.
All the times that Theismann connected with Art Monk and Clint Didier who proved to be Cowboy killers, are what makes this rivalry known to my eyes. Maybe one of the best memories of beating up on the Cowboys is a game at RFK Stadium in 1984 when Washington hadn’t really moved the ball much in the first half and trailed by just three, when on the first play of the second half Joe Gibbs called for the trick play. A flea-flicker which ended in a 80-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Muhammad that completely turned the game around. I know you must remember that play since I rewound it nearly a thousand times in my young childhood.
I am not asking for much, just a win. We beat them back in September on Monday night so I know we can do it. Today will be the only time that you will hear Monday night music on a Sunday afternoon. So strike up the band, It’s time to chant the greatest song on the planet…Hail to the Redskins! Hail Victory! Braves on the warpath! Fight for old D.C.! Run or Pass and Score—We want a lot more! Beat em’, swamp em’, Touchdown!—Let the points soar! Fight on, fight on till you have won, Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah! Rah! Rah! Hail to the Redskins! Hail Victory! Braves on the warpath! Fight for old D.C.!
This is the year! I just know it! |
