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]]> http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=468c0839132c75443983e7f154ebb372 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/box-seats/post/this-blog-is-no-longer-active/2012/01/19/gIQAA5luAQ_blog.html?wprss=rss_box-seats http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/box-seats/post/this-blog-is-no-longer-active/2012/01/19/gIQAA5luAQ_blog.html?wprss=rss_box-seats http://www.washingtonpost.com/Fragment/SysConfig/WebPortal/twpweb/rss/mobile/blog-entry.jpp?id=1000.3.1784332274 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/box-seats/post/this-blog-is-no-longer-active/2012/01/19/gIQAA5luAQ_blog.html?wprss=rss_box-seats http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/box-seats/post/this-blog-is-no-longer-active/2012/01/19/gIQAA5luAQ_blog.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/box-seats/post/this-blog-is-no-longer-active/2012/01/19/gIQAA5luAQ_search.html 1000.3.1784332274 02636bfe-42ba-11e1-9022-0d2194331bfe Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:25:42 EST Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:25:42 EST 20120119162542 The Washington Post /WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/box-seats/201201/inactive.xml /WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/box-seats/201201/inactive.xml BlogStory BlogStory The Washington Post Let us take a quick look back at the “afraid-to-say-rebuilding” 5-11, 2011 Washington Redskins.

Shattering ESPN’s prediction of winning only three games the over-achieving Redskins won five. Mike Shanahan recorded the longest losing streak of his career and his worst overall record ever. It’s now been four years since the franchise has produced a winning season or reached the playoffs.

What he did sell himself as was a great marketer and brander, someone who could broaden the fan base. Most Wizards fans in the D.C. area shared my optimism that with a better product on the court, and some sophisticated marketing savvy off it, the Wizards would move up from their third-class sports citizenship in the Washington region. Like most Wizards fans, I was thrilled that one of his first major decisions was a redesign of the juvenile Wizards logo and uniforms. In November and December, I started shopping for a new Wizards hat for the season figuring six months was enough time for them to get some product into the stores. I was wrong.

Beating the Giants to improve to 5-9 on the year is much like winning a fluffy pink bunny at the carnival. It’s exciting when you get your prize, but after reality sets in you’re out 15 bucks and you have to haul around a fluffy pink bunny for the rest of the evening. However, sweeping and dominating the Giants after years of beat-downs when they are vying for a spot in the playoffs will serve to last a little longer than some fleeting fluffy pink bunny victory.

There is little solace in watching the Eagles and Giants lose, or the Cowboys get beat by the Cardinals in overtime. A part of me was glad the Redskins defense let Shonn Greene walk into the end zone for the third time, as if to send a “what’s the point?” message to our consistently inept offense. But no, there wasn’t much solace in that either.

United decided not to re-sign nine players, the most of any team. Of these players, the ones not traded or re-signed at a lower salary will be made available in the re-entry draft, at which point most of them will be told by every team in MLS that they don’t want them, either. After that, USL teams will come knocking, but only to leave a bag of dog doo on the doorstep and write “you stink” on their car in shaving cream. Indoor soccer teams will de-friend them on Facebook. WPS teams will re-form just to declare their lack of interest and then immediately disband. And then, after the rejection has been dished out in Cheesecake Factory-sized portions, players will be free to re-sign with teams at a lower salary.

Well the NBA certainly knows how to give its fans a real Thanksgiving. While millions of Americans were fighting crowds to get a buy one, get one free deal on cappuccino machines, the NBA owners and players managed to reach a labor agreement that should have been done months ago.

What a Monday morning, eh? I was a little blown away, not necessarily by the news of Bruce Boudreau’s firing (though I’ll admit I didn’t see it coming), but definitely by the choice of Caps legend Dale Hunter as Boudreau’s successor as head coach.

It’s a shame it had to come to this, but it was an inevitable parting of ways between the Washington Capitals and Bruce Boudreau. Some will argue that it’s a premature move, that all Boudreau needed was time. Others will argue (me, for one) that it was a move that should have been made sooner, like after last season’s colossal playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. More fans had recently spilled over to the latter argument, with the prevailing opinion around Caps Nation being that Bruce had to go. The majority was right, this firing was a no-brainer.