By H. Jose Bosch
While it may appear that I get paid barrel loads of money every time I mention John Riggins, sadly I don’t. But considering how often he’s come up in relation to the Redskins this past week, one could probably make a killing just writing a blog about the former Redskin.
He’s released the third and final part of his interview with Joe Theismann, but I won’t get into that clip until tomorrow morning. But I did just find this bit of information from the DC Sports Bog.
Riggins addressed his critics who have been hammering him since he claimed Daniel Snyder had a “dark heart.” If you want to listen to the audio, click here.
I was vocal about how ridiculous I thought the “dark heart” comments were. To criticize a man’s ability as an owner is one thing. Accuse him of essentially being immoral is another.
I’m pretty sure that Riggins just wanted to say that Snyder is an egomaniacal jerk, not an unethical man, but he seems to be the type of person that sticks to his guns. The moment he phrased his feelings on Showtime in those exact words, he was married to him.
It’s really a shame because most of what he is says makes a lot of sense. The organization is a laughing stock and the front office is a joke. Over ten seasons Snyder has proven that he knows nothing about football and that he should find somebody with the slightest bit of football knowledge. But he hasn’t.
This does, in my opinion, make him an egomaniac. Now, one could look at him as a man who is so confident in his abilities that he “knows” he doesn’t need any help. Based on Riggins’ comments, this is the type of person Daniel Snyder is.
I have a slightly different opinion.
Snyder cares about this team. In fact he cares too much and that’s what makes him so dangerous. If you’ve ever raised children, think about it this way.
Who knows how to raise your children better: you or someone else? Nine times out of ten a parent believes they know what’s best for their child. Now we all know that not every parent makes a decision that’s best for their child, even when the intentions are good.
Snyder is like that parent. He clearly cares or else he wouldn’t spend the absorbent amount of money he does to bring players in. But because he cares so much, he thinks that any decision he makes has to be good for the team. Otherwise he wouldn’t care so much.
See what I mean?
This makes Snyder just as dangerous as an owner but a far cry from being evil. Riggins has every right to criticize the management and to personally not like someone. But if he wants to be taken seriously he should avoid anything that can be perceived as personal.
As crazy as the man seems, I actually enjoy what he has to say and I’m sure many Redskins fans do to. I just want him to say it in a way that doesn’t make him look like a loon.
Oh wait …
“This is the last time I’m going to speak on this topic. I’ve been asked, and I’ve answered. But before we open the phones, I leave you with this final thought. I think it’s ironic indeed that the name of this franchise, being what it is, is figuratively representative of the long suffering of a proud and noble people. And it’s also ironic that the leader of this franchise, not unlike the U.S. government 150 or so years ago, is leading his people on a trail of tears.”
Misuse of the word irony. Check.
Flippant use of an American tragedy in order to write a weak metaphor. Check.
Sigh.
Tomorrow morning I’ll take a look at part III of his three part interview with Joe Theismann. Then I promise it’ll be the last of John Riggins for a while.
Top photo courtesy of Robert John Riggins/Wikipedia Commons
Article photo courtesy of Ted Van Pelt/Wikipedia Commons
