City Desk

Posts Tagged ‘Sports’

Snyder Breaks from Non-Speaking Role to Say Nothing?

Joseph White of the Associated Press reports on what he calls a “rare, in-season interview” with Dan Snyder.

There’s only one quote from the media-hatin’ Redskins owner in White’s dispatch: “We’ve let everyone down, including ourselves,” Snyder said, “and we know that and we’re just apologetic.”

More to come?

Cheap Seats Daily: Win Over Dallas Was ‘Better Than Asbestos Litigation’?

More proof that everybody but Highlights Magazine is writing about the Redskins: Now, even the military/industrial complex is going after Dan Snyder. Military.com, a website for the forces, ran a story “Redskins Owner Dan Snyder Doesn’t Want You to Support the Troops in His Stadium.”

The piece takes a photo of a poster taken by FedExField security guards before the Eagles/Skins game that says “Hi to my huband in Afghanistan,” and runs with it. The Great Dan Steinberg made that poster famous after fishing it out of the trash near the stadium entrance.

To be fair, Snyder has shown support for our National Defense. Well, he put out a Commemorative Sept. 11 Redskins hat that had a red-white-and-blue Pentagon stitched on to the side in 2005.

And he sold that hat for only $23.99. Plus shipping. And he kept the money. But still. Bottom line: When Military.com lowers the boom on you, something’s gotta give.

And everybody’s favorite magazine geared toward an audience of corporate counsel people, Corporate Counsel magazine, also jumps in this week with “Not Exactly a Banner Season for the Washington Redskins.

The publication interviews new Redskins COO and total BS’er David Donovan about the new policies at FedExField prohibiting signs and banning interviews in the parking lot, and he was also asked about fans at the Eagles game having to remove their t-shirts if the message on the garments was anti-Snyder.

“We’re not trying to limit what anyone wants to say or chant or wear,” Donovan told Corporate Counsel.

Wow. Thus continues Donovan’s awe-inspiring streak of just saying stuff so dishonest that not even he could believe it.

(AFTER THE JUMP: Not even Corporate Counsel magazine can stomach David Donovan’s whoppers? David Donovan and Dan Snyder, adrenaline rush buddies? How does a Redskins win compare to a class action lawsuit? Skins are only the third-worst team in the NFL? Bono had a hand in Cooley’s wounding? D.C. United coach bails?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Win Over Dallas Was ‘Better Than Asbestos Litigation’?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Dan Marino Says the Redskins Won’t Land Anybody Like Bill Cowher?

The Washington Nationals took out a full-page advertisement in Sunday’s Washington Post.

Sure, the Nats season ended a while ago. But it makes sense that the Lerners would reach out while local sports fans are planning their sports ticket budgets and deleting Dan Snyder and Redskins.

But this Nationals ad is horrible.

After an all-glowing recap of the 2009 season — two of these three made the cut: Zimmerman/Dunn had big homer totals, Stephen Stasburg signed, and the Nats had THE WORST RECORD IN ALL OF BASEBALL — the ad copy climaxes with “[W]e can all see why Washington, DC is truly becoming the home of the National Pastime in the Nation’s Capital.”

Washington, DC is the home of baseball in the Nation’s Capital? Who knew?

And who wrote that?

***

WUSA is also kicking the Redskins when they’re down.  Advertisements for the local CBS affiliate that ran during the Ravens game yesterday urged Skins fans to “sound off ” about the team.

“We won’t throw away your signs!” said the voiceover.

Ouchie wouchie! Didn’t you WUSA guys used to be covert “partners” with Snyder and help him out with all his infomercials? Guess the contract’s up.

(AFTER THE JUMP: Reebok boasts of its butt-enhancement powers? Shannon Sharpe goes after the Redskins? Dan Marino goes after the Redskins? 66 percent of CBS viewers go after the Redskins? Dan Marino says Bill Cowher ain’t gonna go for the Redskins? Heath Shuler has MVP award taken away from him by Politico? Ethics panel still gunning for Shuler? Chest bumping on the sidelines can get you suspended?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Dan Marino Says the Redskins Won’t Land Anybody Like Bill Cowher?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Somebody Once Wrote a Nice Dan Snyder Story? Does It Hold Up? No?

spl-SpongeTech5Today’s the last day to enter Dan Snyder’s Cheerleader Pride Giveaway Contest! Tomorrow, folks at Snyder’s sportstalker, WTEM, will hold the drawing to find out the five 25-to-54-year-old males who’ve won the right to have Redskins cheerleaders — armed with sponges and buckets and zero self-esteem — come over and scrub down their cars.

Come on, pervs: Get your name in before it’s too late!

(’Course, this also means time is running out on Cheap Seats Daily’s ability to run everybody’s fave photo.)

(AFTER THE JUMP: Does Dan Snyder’s vacation choice mean he’s met his Waterloo? Elba is nice this time of year? Somebody wrote something nice about Dan Snyder? Really? Was it accurate? Not really? Where’d David Donovan learn to fib? Dan Snyder’s poster confiscating binge was all a prank? Will anybody get a “Goofus and Gallant” reference?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Somebody Once Wrote a Nice Dan Snyder Story? Does It Hold Up? No?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Snyder Overstepped Legal Authority While Suppressing Fanimosity?

When the Great Dan Steinberg ran photos of the fanimosity at FedExField during the Tampa Bay game on his blog a few weeks ago, Dan Snyder told the paper to take the shots down. And the Washington Post complied quietly, removing the photos without any explanation to readers for the disappearance.

Snyder’s heavyhanded attempt at message killing, Douchewellian as it was, worked in the short term: The censorship of fans was treated as a non-story. (Well, OK: Almost a non-story.) And, as we’ve learned over time — Jeff George, Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, etc… — Snyder only cares about the short term.

No doubt feeling empowered after the Post’s appeasement, Snyder’s behavior had grown insane by Monday’s game with the Eagles. And the once-burned Steinberg, who now buys tickets to the Redskins games to avoid the team’s new restrictions on his reporting, became a war reporter. He embedded himself with the insurgents that night, and has continued telling their tales.

The results have been gripping.

(AFTER THE JUMP: The lawyer who whupped the Redskins on the pedestrian ban thinks fans might have some more cases against Snyder? The Redskins have lost federal freedom of speech cases in the past? One small typo for a columnist, one giant slur of Dan Snyder’s legacy? Agent Zero is No. 1? The Wizards peak?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Snyder Overstepped Legal Authority While Suppressing Fanimosity?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Two Free Toppings From PapaJohn’s Ain’t Fulfilling?

Last night’s Redskins suckage was more of the whimpering than the banging variety. I’m burned out by the dramatic badness. It’s all been said. But I’ll say it all again, once more before apathy really sets in.

The Redskins stink. Like, really stink. Jason Campbell  stinks. Dan Snyder stinks. Oh my, does Dan Snyder stink.

Chris Cooley doesn’t stink. But his different sort of attention-deficit disorder, which has in the past led him to show the world his naughty bits and film himself burning cows, is maddening.

Last night his look-at-me!-look-at-me!-ADD caused Cooley to blonde his hair and leave his helmet off while the TV cameras rolled.

Then Cooley’s ankle rolled and he’s likely gone for 2009. Cooley had been quieter for a couple weeks, seemingly aware that it ain’t cool to be cute when his team was a national punchline. But then this. So the last image of Cooley this season will be him being carted off the field with his head glowing from all that bleach, looking sad and ridiculous all at once.

(AFTER THE JUMP: Dan Snyder’s jack-booted thugs were out AGAIN? It’s harder to get into a Skins game than an El Al jet? ESPN protects Dan Snyder? Snyder’s lonely? ESPN rejects Campbell? PG County lets the Redskins walk for BeerInTheBathroomsGate™? Two free toppings? Have I died and gone to PapaJohn’s?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Two Free Toppings From PapaJohn’s Ain’t Fulfilling?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Even Bobby Beathard Goes After Dan Snyder?

I’m hearing that yesterday ESPN jumped on the BeerInTheBathroomsGate bandwagon with a story of its own. I knew this was viral…

***

You don’t need to read the Washington Post;s redesigned weather page to forecast the perfect shitstorm that is heading for Raljon on Monday evening.

The rest of the paper has all the evidence. There’s no section of the Post that doesn’t hold horrible news for Dan Snyder.

Mike Wise fills up the front page of Style with a profile of The Man Who Would Be Snyder, John Kent Cooke.

Some of the bitterness from Cooke, whose birthright to become owner of the Redskins was never exercised:

“Dan Snyder destroyed the reputation of this franchise,” Cooke said. “I sure as hell don’t like the way he gutted the organization after we left. And he commercialized the Redskins like my father would have never commercialized the Redskins. People brought cushions and pennants to the games. You know how they got those? My father gave them out at fan appreciation days.”

Cooke also took issue with recent controversy over tickets. “Suing season ticket holders?” he said, incredulously. “My God, it’s embarrassing. We would have never done such a thing.”

(AFTER THE JUMP: Mike Wise dusts off Bobby Beathard to throw some jabs at Snyder? The Post’s Business section tells readers that Snyder’s a lousy businessman, just for the hell of it? The bingo caller line, again? The bingo caller last called plays for the Detroit Lions? How much would you have to get paid to go to a Redskins game? Eastern gets its first and last win? )

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Even Bobby Beathard Goes After Dan Snyder?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Breaking News: Fans Say Redskins Selling Beer in FedExField Bathrooms!

photo-25

Great Moments In Capitalism (Cont.)

I thought Dan Snyder couldn’t top himself after selling Sept. 11 Commemorative Hats for profit.

Note to self: Never overestimate Dan Snyder. Never. Ever ever. Never never.

Folks at FedExField for yesterday’s game reported that Snyder’s vendors were selling beer to fans IN THE RESTROOMS!

And this isn’t the first time.

(After the jump: New evidence of Snyder’s “revenue stream”?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Breaking News: Fans Say Redskins Selling Beer in FedExField Bathrooms!” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Remember When This Was Called ‘Redskins Weather’?

spl-SpongeTech5

Hate to stomp on the weather beat that others at City Desk are already covering with gusto. But I’ll stick to forecasts, and stay away from the retrocasting favored by the boss.

So, Sunday in Landover at kickoff: 47 degrees, rainy, winds 13 miles an hour from the north and 100 percent cloud cover. That used to be called “Redskins Weather!” around here. Now, it’s called “You Can Get a Redskins Ticket for 17 Cents Weather!”

On a related note

Redskins Ticket Watch: More than a thousand ads for Skins/Chiefs tickets on Craigslist this morning. Asking prices in just the first few listings I found went from “Way below face value!” to “Half Price!” to “75 percent off!” to “Make an offer!”

Face value’s a pipe dream. Come to think of it, with 47 degrees and wet on the horizon, 17 cents might look like a windfall by kickoff. In any case, folks who intend to show up at FedExField might need to bring something to cover their heads from all the precipitation.

Like, bags or plates, maybe?

(AFTER THE JUMP: Vinny Cerrato is told it’s the talent, stupid? Snyderatto = Rosie Ruiz? Snyder changed the copy in the cheerleader car wash contest AGAIN? Will the Great Dan Steinberg fall for the not-actual-cheerleaders picture bait AGAIN? Ronnie Mervis and Dan Snyder use the same advertising firm?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Remember When This Was Called ‘Redskins Weather’?” »

BogusHogetteGate® Update: Real Hogettes® Blast Stephette Hogette’s Photo Evidence!

stephette hogette2I’m now hearing from more old Hogettes about Stephette Hogette, a fellow cross-dressing Skins fanatic who has been accused of being — big gulp! — a bogus Hogette.

These Hogettes aren’t happy about the photo that Cheap Seats Daily ran earlier this week, which was supplied by Stephette, real name Steve Rasnikov (though he also goes by a rap name, Snow Rap G, as well as a witness-protection name, Carmine Fischetti, which Stephette came up with to ward off vigilantes and the Hogette Police).

The shot above shows Stephette with other Hogettes (he’s in the middle). Stephette says the photo was taken years ago at a Redskins game, and claims that it proves that the other Hogettes accepted him before they went “so corporate” and started hanging out with other sponsored mascot types, including Bird Man of the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

But other Hogettes say the photo means nothing, and that Stephette, who has been wearing his pig snout since at least 1992, when the NY Times wrote about his Skins fanaticism, has acted disgracefully with the ladies during Redskins tailgate parties, and that he has no real affiliation with their gang.

After seeing the shot, Joevette Hogette, behind the snout to the left in the above photo, emailed Cheap Seats Daily to downplay its significance:

“THAT PIX WAS TAKEN ON THE FLY,” wrote Joevette Hogette, described as the oldest of the Original Hogettes. “[Stephette] CAME UP BEHIND PORKCHOP AND ME AND HIS BUDDY SNAPPED THE PIC……NOTICE HOW BLURRED AND OUT OF FOCUS IT IS…..DEFINITELY NOT A POSED SHOT.”

And Howard Churchill, another longtimer who goes by Howiette Hogette (or, rather, Howiette Hogette®, as he apparently prefers), also threw his pooh-pooh at the photo:

Read More “BogusHogetteGate® Update: Real Hogettes® Blast Stephette Hogette’s Photo Evidence!” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Stephette Hogette, the Bogus Hogette, Now Fears Real Hogettes!

stephette hogette2

I heard again last night from Stephette Hogette. He’s the guy who stands accused of being a bogus Hogette.

He sent along a photograph, shown above, which he says was taken years ago at a Redskins game and, he says, proves that Stephette Hogette used to be accepted by the same folks who are now calling him a counterfeit.

While Stephette Hogette’s disheveled drag ensemble—he’s the one in the middle—does indeed blend with the garb of the folks he’s with in that photo, he couldn’t name the other Hogettes he’s hanging with in the shot.

Perhaps they’re unsanctioned Hogettes also! I don’t know which Hogette to trust anymore!

(AFTER THE JUMP:Where will the real Hogettes be tailgating come Sunday? WTEM tones down its Redskins Cheerleader pride giveaway? D’Anthony Batiste ain’t worth a D’amn? D’Anthony D’Ances with D’An D’Aly? Nobody told the Washington Post that “Remember the Titans” was a load of crap?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Stephette Hogette, the Bogus Hogette, Now Fears Real Hogettes!” »

The Mystics President and Her Mock-aca Video

Sheila Johnson has jumped in some hot water that she can’t swim out of.

The Washington Mystics have been rotten throughout Johnson’s run as team president, having finished in the bottom half of the WNBA’s Eastern Conference all five seasons under her, and not winning even a single playoff game.

But Johnson has gotten a pretty free ride through all the on-court suckitude. She’s hailed by the gay community for not pretending the grandstands ain’t laden with lesbians, and, not coincidentally, she brought the Mystics back to the top of the league in attendance.

Perhaps the lack of criticism in the face of such lousiness let Johnson feel empowered to mock Creigh Deeds, the Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, as a stutterer during a fundraising appearance for Republican opponent Bob McDonnell. But she’s finding out she’s not bulletproof after all.

Read More “The Mystics President and Her Mock-aca Video” »

Cheap Seats Daily: Will Sherm Lewis Fail? Or Will Sherman Lewis Fail?

spongetech-cheer-spofferCheap Seats Daily and its inferiority complex ravaged sister publication remain the go-to news organs for coverage of what the Redskins have officially dubbed the Cheerleader Car Wash Sweepstakes.

Yesterday, in this very space, we blew the lid off the latest listener contest for Dan Snyder’s sportstalk station, WTEM-AM, in which the Redskins owner promises to send his cheerleading squad over to winners’ houses and make them wash cars.

And in this week’s analog edition, we blow the lid off Dan Snyder’s cheerleader past, from his 2000 rackumentary “Beauty on the Beach,” all the way up to his latest scheme, which tells the cheering crew to put down their pom poms and pick up sponges and service his 25-54 male audience.

And, as promised, throughout all this lid-blowing we’ve run the same photograph of all those sudsy blondes, again and again and again.

That’s the shot that got The Great Dan Steinberg so lathered up he rudely barged into the comments section to pooh-pooh our Snyder/T&A expose. TGDS basically accused Cheap Seats Daily of hypocrisy and of being as exploitative as Dan Snyder!

Just because we ran this photo of sudsy blondes!

That hurts.

What kind of message does that contest (and this photo) send to the Little Ladies of Football? Think of the children, Dan and Dan!

(AFTER THE JUMP: Could Snyder’s layoffs at Redskins Park have helped this car wash debacle along? Is it Sherm or Sherman? Dan Steinberg reveals Lewis’ bingo past? Dan Steinberg conceals reveals his own bingo past? How loaded is the Skins’ 2009 schedule with Snyder humiliatees? Yankee Stadium ain’t the only ballpark in use this October? Nationals Park gets loaded with readers?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Will Sherm Lewis Fail? Or Will Sherman Lewis Fail?” »

Cheap Seats Daily: How Bad Is Dan Snyder Pimping the Redskins Cheerleaders?

spl-SpongeTech5

How would you like to see the Redskins take on the Cowboys? — AND have the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders soap up and scrub down your car???

Well? How would you like that?

Check out that ad!

It appears on the Web site for WTEM, Dan Snyder’s sports talk station, to promote the latest listener contest. Top prize will bring the Redskins cheerleaders over to wash your car.

Kinda yucky?

The radio ads are just as outrageous, with panting males and all sorts of breathy talk of scrubbing and rubbing. The campaign is also just the latest evidence of Snyder’s thing for cheerleaders. He took over the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders shortly after buying the team, and has increased their role in his global marketing scheme ever since.

The car wash campaign marks a new level of subservience for the Redskins Cheerleaders, and cheerleaders in general. The message is: “Put down your pom poms and grab a sponge!” That tells the world that Snyder can force his troupe to put on something skimpy and service Joe Sixpack.

Basically, Snyder’s pushing a Madonna/Whore image for his cheerleaders.

Well, minus the Madonna.

(AFTER THE JUMP: More on the Redskins cheerleaders? Snyder is being called “Lord Farquaad”? PhotoGate update: Snyder really did censor Dan Steinberg? Isn’t the Leonsis worship getting outta hand? Guaranteed Win Night proves AGAIN that it’s a sure thing? Remember “The Sure Thing”?)

Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: How Bad Is Dan Snyder Pimping the Redskins Cheerleaders?” »

Clarification: Traffic Situation at FedExField for U2 Was Indeed Snyder’d Up

Earlier today, Cheap Seats Daily reported that J.P Szymkowicz, an expert on Dan Snyder’s parking operations, had no problems getting to and from FedExField for the U2 show.

By reporting Szymkowicz’s anecdotes, Cheap Seats Daily could have left the impression with readers that Snyder had, after 10 years of owning the stadium, come up with a way to get people to their seats on time.

But, upon further review, it seems traffic at FedExField was as Snyder’d up as ever. A quick reading of the comments section of Washington Post rock critic Chris Richards’* review of the show reveals that about as many concert goers are venting about their commute as are praising the band’s performance.

After the jump, some of the early returns.

Read More “Clarification: Traffic Situation at FedExField for U2 Was Indeed Snyder’d Up” »

D.C. Dish Hall of Fame
advertisement
Crafty Bastards Blog
  • Crafty Bastards!
    Blog
Come take a walk

This Week

Current Issue
The Issue of Nov. 4 - 10, 2009

advertisement
advertisement