It all washes away even before the first preseason game, doesn't it?

[burgold]

This isn't necessarily about the Redskins, though I certainly feel it here too, but it's funny how all those proclamations and admonitions against the greedy players and greedier owners are washed away. All is already forgiven. Those who said that the lockout and what was revealed about the underbelly of professional sports would take a long time to heal...

Well, it took as long to heal as it took them to come to an agreement. Does that make us saps? Fan-atics? Addicts? I'm not really sure, but it's amazing how quickly what we professed so adamantly disappears with the dawn of a new season.

I'm not really surprised. Personally, I'm still annoyed at both the players and the owners, but I'll be guilty of watching and cheering and I'm already lost in the annual soap opera of training camp and looking for that unheralded unknown to vicariously live through. Still, for all those who said they would never pay to see another NFL game (and there were a lot of you), never buy another jersey, and refused to put money in the owners' pockets again... you appear much like Lindsey Lohan. In and out of rehab and endlessly falling back into the same trap.

Mind you, I'm no better. I'm already getting excited about getting my first fix.

 

[Goaldeje]

Without getting into another long, drawn out argument about who was right and who was wrong, I am still frustrated as well. And I suspect that if I go to a game this year, I will be MORE frustrated as I wait to park (and am charged exorbinantly to do so), wait in line to buy a $15 beer, $10 hotdog, etc., and sit crammed in with other fans in a not-so-comfortable stadium.

Wait, why would I go to a game again?

 

[Dik Shuttle]

I actually prefer it this way. I'd love it if they took every offseason ACTUALLY OFF.

I thought those games last night were some of the best pre-season stuff I've seen in a long time.

Not to wax too nostalgic, but I miss those first two scrimages before the actual pre-season games. It was like watching a full practice. I think the longer season concept misses the point about what the audience really wants from in the product.

...could just be the crotchety old guy grumbling again, though.

 

[burgold]

The concessions never really bother me. After all, it's a for profit business and if you go to Disney World or even a county fair you are going to get rooked when buying food. You know that going in. Heck, you overpay for beer if you go into the neighborhood bar. So, I don't really hold that against them.

Now, I do think charging a hundred bucks for a seat and then charging MANDATORY extra fees for parking is outrageous. I could deal with it if it were optional. Personally, I prefer metroing to the games anyway, but to force every season ticket owner to buy a parking pass and to charge them additional monies seems wrong. Build it into the ticket price or let the buyer choose if they want a parking pass.

There's a good chance I'll see a game or two this year, but I don't think I would ever buy a season. The extras are a part of the reason.

 

[Henry]

As long as they showed up to play the games on week one it was never going to be a big deal.

 

[Elephant]

As long as they showed up to play the games on week one it was never going to be a big deal.

x2

I still won't spend a dime in concessions or merchandise. I will only buy a ticket from someone who has an extra. I know the money ends up in Danny boy's pocket but not directly from me.

As for the lockout...

The Hall of Fame game was lost. I would not have watched it anyway. henry hit the nail on the head for me.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

I am still gonna watch every game possible, I am still gonna try to make it down for one game at the stadium and I am still gonna be miserable when we lose and elated when we win.

 

[LoyalSkinsFan]

I am still gonna watch every game possible, I am still gonna try to make it down for one game at the stadium and I am still gonna be miserable when we lose and elated when we win.

Couldn'a said it better myself.

 

[Boone]

There's a reason we spend significant amounts of time, not just watching and rooting for an NFL team on Sunday, but talking about it with strangers on a website when the games not on. We're, well....obsessed

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I love the preseason - to me its football in its purest form. Guys making not a lot of money, fighting for their football lives. Its great!

 

[Elephant]

I love the preseason - to me its football in its purest form. Guys making not a lot of money, fighting for their football lives. Its great!

Yeah, me too. I was watching Wilbon last night (first time watching PTI in a year), and he kept ranting about how it's not "real" football! The midget probably sat the bench in high school and wouldn't know "real" football if it slapped him in the face!

And if it wasn't real football, tell that to Ryan Mallette! He was my least favorite of the 2010 QB Class and the kid looked dynamite last night!

Football baby!

 

[Bulldog]

I always watch the preseason games but I very rarely go to them - I give my tickets to my brother in law. The last preseason game I attended was back under Gibbs.

It's not really the game itself but the exit from the stadium and the drive home that have me wanting to watch this on a nice 60 inch HDTV.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Yeah, me too. I was watching Wilbon last night (first time watching PTI in a year), and he kept ranting about how it's not "real" football! The midget probably sat the bench in high school and wouldn't know "real" football if it slapped him in the face!

As the years go by, I hate Wilbon more and more. I already hated him after his ST21 comments, but I dislike him more and more every day. What dummy! I want him to say those comments to Shannon Sharpe! Idiot.

 

[LoyalSkinsFan]

There's a reason we spend significant amounts of time....talking about it with strangers on a website when the games not on.

B-b-b-b-b-ut.....you and I are Facebook friends.