Some Thoughts I Shared With a Skins Fan

[Hostile]

I haven't posted much at all on the tragedy that befell the Commanders and their fans this week. There's a reason for that and I won't bore you with it. Instead I'll share with you what I shared with him as he thanked us for the gesture here. I clarified a couple of things. For the most part this is word for word.

*****

If you'll allow me to, I'm going to make an analogy (probably a bad one).

I hated Lawrence Taylor. Not because of what he was, but because of what he did to us. As a football fan, and someone who considers himself a student of the game (probably a bad one), I can't deny that he was the most disruptive defensive force to ever play the game, and an absolute joy to watch.

I won't pretend to like the Commanders, because I don't. But I would a horrible liar if I said I don't admire great football players.

Some would tell me it is too soon to say Sean Taylor would have been great. They can go to hell. I stand by what I've appreciated about the game for 38 years on many different levels. That kid had mad football skills. He needed to hone them, become more disciplined, and he was doing that.

I was looking forward to many years of "admiring" hate for him. The kind where you are pissed of as hell that once again he has foiled your hopes, but in the back of your mind you say, "damn, that was good football."

This animal stole a hero from Commanders fans.

He stole from me that hope of years of "admiring" hate.

It's a game, so is the hate. It always has been. Just part of what makes it all great.​

 

[Bluefin]

I couldn't stand Reggie White the player after the whippings he and the Eagles administered my Cowboys.

But he was just so freakishly gifted and strong, it was at times hard to believe.

The famous hump play on newb Larry Allen came much later, but everyone who loves the game has to appreciate and love players like that.

I have a friend who's lanquished as a lifelong Sainst fan (we live in South Carolina) before the few glimmers of hope they've shown here lately.

He hates Dallas.

But remember the interception play where LA ran the guy down?

Parker couldn't believe it and became a LA fan because of it.

And back to Reggie, how cool is it to see one of the greatest ever get utterly shut down by your team?

I was hoping for similar memories of Sean Taylor.

 

[the kid 05]

bravo pops

I really really agree on the admiring hate for Sean, All my friends could tell you i've always said "man...sean taylor is shotty" or "Sean Taylor sucks and couldn't tackle a manican" but everyone knew i had respect for him

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I couldn't stand Reggie White the player after the whippings he and the Eagles administered my Cowboys.

But he was just so freakishly gifted and strong, it was at times hard to believe.

The famous hump play on newb Larry Allen came much later, but everyone who loves the game has to appreciate and love players like that.

I have a friend who's lanquished as a lifelong Sainst fan (we live in South Carolina) before the few glimmers of hope they've shown here lately.

He hates Dallas.

But remember the interception play where LA ran the guy down?

Parker couldn't believe it and became a LA fan because of it.

And back to Reggie, how cool is it to see one of the greatest ever get utterly shut down by your team?

I was hoping for similar memories of Sean Taylor.

where at in the Palmetto state?

 

[Hostile]

I couldn't stand Reggie White the player after the whippings he and the Eagles administered my Cowboys.

But he was just so freakishly gifted and strong, it was at times hard to believe.

The famous hump play on newb Larry Allen came much later, but everyone who loves the game has to appreciate and love players like that.

I have a friend who's lanquished as a lifelong Sainst fan (we live in South Carolina) before the few glimmers of hope they've shown here lately.

He hates Dallas.

But remember the interception play where LA ran the guy down?

Parker couldn't believe it and became a LA fan because of it.

And back to Reggie, how cool is it to see one of the greatest ever get utterly shut down by your team?

I was hoping for similar memories of Sean Taylor.

I like beating good teams and I like our players beating good players.

bravo pops

I really really agree on the admiring hate for Sean, All my friends could tell you i've always said "man...sean taylor is shotty" or "Sean Taylor sucks and couldn't tackle a manican" but everyone knew i had respect for him

Pops?

I'm not cbz man. Don't insult him.

 

[Bluefin]

where at in the Palmetto state?

Pawleys Island/Litchfield.

40 minutes south of Myrtle Beach.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Pawleys Island/Litchfield.

40 minutes south of Myrtle Beach.

cool, I'm from Summerville, used to visit my grandparents, may they rest in peace, in Myrtle Beach every summer

residing in Maryland now

 

[Bluefin]

Summerville has a really bizarre layout.

 

[Zman5]

I hate the Commanders and one of the current player I hated most was Sean Taylor. Why you ask? Because he was one of the best, if not THE best player for the Commanders.

He was Roy Williams with more speed and quickness.

I hated him as a Commander player but I did enjoy watching him play.

 

[godofwar]

I can sympathize with your feeling there Hos. When I first heard about Taylor's death I thought of a line from the movie Lonesome Dove. Don't know if you've ever seen it, but one of the main characters, Gus (played by Robert Duvall), is reacting to the news of the death of a Mexican rancher who he's probably been fueding with (stealing horses from each other) for years.

He seems to take the news hard, and this is unexpected for Gus' friend Call (played by Tommy Lee Jones). Call remarks that he didn't know that Gus liked the old bandit so much, and Gus' response was that, "...well I didn't say I liked him, just didn't expect him to die." From that remark you could tell that Gus had, at the least, grudging repsect for the old rancher/rival.

I have the same feelings toward Sean Taylor. I saw him as a rival, albeit one worthy of respect for the way he played the game. Sure I'm saddened because the young man lost his life, and that his family is suffering greatly. But on an admittedly selfish note, I'm also saddened because we as fans are cheated of a player that I could say was a worthy opponent, and one who I, at the least, grudginly respected.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I hate the Commanders and one of the current player I hated most was Sean Taylor. Why you ask? Because he was one of the best, if not THE best player for the Commanders.

He was Roy Williams with more speed and quickness.

I hated him as a Commander player but I did enjoy watching him play.

That's exactly how I felt. I was so jealous of the Commanders because Sean Taylor was Roy Williams with better coverage skills and speed. In a way, I'm relieved he is gone but it also means the Commanders are much weaker and the rivaly isn't as fun. I want my rivals to succeed in a sense that the games mean more as both teams are great. The last time, I truly felt this was in the eary 90's when Irvin and Darrell Green would go at it. My first insitinct upon hearing of Taylor's death was sadness. However, I have a bad taste in my mouth from the political correctness and rationalization of his murder to protect Taylor reputation. Taylor's death should be a lesson about the sins associated with ego and violence. It should be a lesson to those who think "keeping it real" is worthwhile. Instead, he is being touted on the same level as James Jordan, Michael Jordan's father who was killed by some teenagers who wanted to steal his car. Those are 2 different situations but are treated in the same manner by the media.

 

[SuspectCorner]

I agree with ya Hoss.

Much like "love", it takes a fairly high degree of emotional investment to reach the level of "hatred" - and while I may momentarily pause to honor the memory of Sean Taylor and the fanbase to whom he meant so much... that is a group I am willing to invest in game-after-game, year-after-year.

It's how it IS. It's how it SHOULD be. And it's what makes the rivalry SO TIMELESS. And they do the Cowboys and we, their fans, HONOR - by feeling likewise.