McCain vs. the Redskins
Filed Under 2008 Election, Politics, Sports
[Published in The Examiner]
John McCain has been known to take unpopular stands in Washington, but his boldest move of all may be scheduling his acceptance speech on the same night that the Redskins kickoff their 2008 season.
The Arizona senator will accept the GOP nomination in Minneapolis-St. Paul at the same time that the Skins take the field at the Meadowlands to challenge the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
This could be an issue for McCain. Even though D.C. is mostly Democratic, his TV ratings inside the Beltway could dip lower than Heath Shuler’s passer ratings. And in a year where Virginia is more “purple” than ever, McCain doesn’t want to turn the Commonwealth’s voters against him. Even Democratic Governor Tim Kaine’s legandary eyebrows would rise in anger.
McCain’s best hope is that voters outside the Beltway follow NASCAR Dad Joe Gibb’s lead and focus on something other than the burgundy-and-gold. The venerable Joe Gibbs may actually remind some of McCain.
Both are veterans of their respective craft, both are known leaders, and both are often considered old-fashioned. Republicans and Redskins fans are hopeful, however, that McCain does not share one of Coach Gibbs’ most criticized qualities — poor time management.If McCain was wise, he’d delay his speech until after the game. It’d be a great opportunity to showcase the good judgment that comes from decades of experience. One of his most consistent and cutting talking points has been comparing his readiness to lead to that of Barack Obama, a guy who has been in Washington about as long as Skins newbie coach Jim Zorn.
Indeed, the Arizona senator has already promised to delay to his speech if the Skins-Giants game goes into overtime. This would be a smart solution and could allow NBC to atone for its infamous lack in judgment in the infamous 1968 AFL Championship game between the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets – otherwise known as the “Heidi Bowl.”
With a minute remaining in the contest, NBC ended the broadcast to air the previously scheduled movie of the week, Heidi. This decision proved to be disastrous – the Raiders came back to win the game – and instead of witnessing the end of one of the best professional football games in history, viewers were stuck watching the timeless story of a young girl in the Swiss Alps.
While John McCain is certainly not a golden braided young girl from the Alps — he’s more like Heidi’s grandfather — the reaction from area Redskins fans would be a backlash of epic proportions. Perhaps Dan Snyder can end any chance of pre-emption and just buy NBC; he did pretty well with booming franchises Six Flags and Johnny Rockets, right?
Danny Boy has never worn his politics on his sleeve, but he should take solace in the fact that Obama, and not Hillary Clinton, is the Democratic nominee. The Clinton years were not exactly glory days for the Redskins, and their luck seemed to take a dive after Bill Clinton took office in 1993. Richie Pettibone’s coaching that forgettable year makes George W. Bush’s management look competent.
McCain will probably try to distance himself from Dubya during the convention, which is likely smart electoral strategy. Cowboys have never been popular in Washington, whether they’re presidents or football teams. But it’s going to be a challenge for him to get his message out.
Obama is accepting his party’s nomination in a football stadium; McCain has to wait for a football game to end to accept the GOP nod. But he can score a few points with voters, at least here in Washington, by bowing to the city’s first love, the Redskins.