BURGUNDY AND GOLD BEATS RED AND BLUE? SAVE IT

When Beltway political types talk about "polarization" in American politics, they're actually talking about the climate in Washington, whether they realize it or not. Sure, the country split 50-49 in 2004, which is pretty damned close, but the actual space separating most Americans (the Greens and Libertarians will never tire of pointing out) is just a few nanometers across.

With the Redskins back in the playoffs for the first time since I moved here at least, Bloomberg has jumped on the opportunity to roll out the evergreen about the polarized city coming together to support the currently-mighty Washington Redskins:

"The Redskins are the buzz,'' said former Republican U.S. Representative J.C. Watts, who quarterbacked the University of Oklahoma football team two decades ago and has seen his share of manic sports fans. "They just have an aura in this city that other franchises just don't have.''

Democrats are on board, too. "Everybody can be rooting for the Redskins,'' said Peter Fenn, a Democratic political consultant. "It doesn't matter what political stripe you are.''

Actually, what matters more is where you're from (and that "can be" are weasel words perfect to the influence industry he works in). Watts and Fenn are part of the city's permanent political establishment, whereas most of the others working in politics here are transients — students, staffers and interns — who "can" root for any one of 31 other teams in the NFL, or the 8 teams still alive. (I've long theorized that sports are so big in the District because the skills useful to analyzing politics are useful for analyzing sports, and it's a break from having to talk shop, but that's another post.)

If you are from here, working either for the government or AOL or something else to do with computers, or else the service industry, then of course you root for the Redskins, and you probably aren't reading Bloomberg's wire stories in the first place.

Myself, it's too soon to tell if I'm just passing through or not, and growing up in Oregon, I never really got into the Seahawks. But I'm a Redskins fan already. (Meanwhile, everyone else back in the Pacific Northwest* seems to have conveniently adopted Seattle... now that they're 13-3.)

Of interest to all local social and economic classes, though, is the fact that because the Redskins snuck into the playoffs on the wild card, there isn't the chance for another home game before next season:

This is no small matter in a town where the waiting list for season tickets numbers 150,000, where the Redskins have sold out every game for 39 straight seasons and where skybox seats at the team's FedEx Field are the ultimate status symbol.

But there's good news, and it has nothing to do with car insurance:

Disgraced [and guilty-pled] lobbyist Jack Abramoff frequently hosted lawmakers, their aides and agency officials at his FedEx Field skybox.

Score! Which means plenty of boxes should be opening at the MCI Center, too. Although my loyalties still remain with the Blazers.

_____
* The teams will meet for the second time this season (in week four, we won 20-17 in OT) at Qwest Field this Saturday. MGB of PDXNQD and I have been considering a bet, even though I saw how the 'Skins won last week, and so I'm loath to bet anything of real value. I propose the loser has to allow the winner to post anything they want on the other's blog. One post of any length, with no editing allowed, to be posted in a timely fashion. Commentary above and below is allowed, but not within the post itself. Deal?

---

posted by WWB at 10:07 PM |