Post by salavea on Nov 12, 2007 11:25:43 GMT -5
Thanks to Agent Steinz for the nice write up in the SportsBog
The Jersey burning video will be on Comcast Sportsnet this Tuesday.
Here's Dan's Blog
blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/11/redskins_up_in_flames.html
"I'm choosing to pretend it's still 12:15 pm on Sunday. The Redskins are still favored to win, it's still sunny and warmish, Rick "Doc" Walker is still calmish, an optimistic home crowd is still streaming toward the gates, and one of my favorite tailgates in the FedEx lots is getting ready for its thrice-yearly tradition: the burning of the divisional uniform.
This is Ted A.'s tailgate, featuring homemade deep-fried funnel cakes topped with powder sugar, deep-fried turkeys (i.e. Eagles), a motorized cooler scooter and a penchant to hang opponents' jerseys on a metal cross and then douse them in lighter fluid. The tradition started in '05, against the Cowboys, with the burning of an Emmitt Smith jersey.
"At the Tampa Bay playoff game, we burned a few," Ted told me. "The Tampa Bay fans were kind of pissed out."
"All of my friends got arrested at that game in different locations," tailgater Adam Hoffman added. "It was amazing."
I asked Ted how long it takes to burn an NFL jersey. "Seconds," he said. I asked what they do with the jersey after the brief fire.
"It's pretty much just charred ruins," he said, "so, nothing. Cheesecake?" he offered, pointing to a lovely dessert topped with raspberries. I'm telling you, he does this right.
The iron cross was a new addition this year, a gift from a buddy of Ted's named Joey who is a metal fabricator. "That way we don't end up burning ourselves," Ted noted. Yes, he once burned his hand without the aid of the prop.
I asked about the jersey acquisition process. "Let's just say it's nice to have a friend who works at Sports Authority," he said. "Friendly donations."
They choose the most popular player on the opposing divisional teams, which this week meant Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb and, eventually, Tony Romo. For the heck of it, they also crisped a Jason Taylor jersey at the home opener.
It had been announced that the fires would begin at 12:15, so around that time the crowd gathered, chanting "Burn It, Burn It," and the like. Even a guy in a McNabb jersey was yelling "Burn It." People can unite around the cleansing power of fire. Of course, the crowd was briefly distracted by some gents shotgunning light beer of some sort.
I asked Ted if he had any tips for novice jersey burners. "Just don't light yourself on fire," he advised. "Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, that's about it."
Finally the fires began, and the crowd exulted, and the crowd sang "Hail to the Redskins," and the jersey really did disappear within seconds. "It is no longer there," one fan remarked.
Another guy in a McNabb jersey ran up and attempted to blow out the flames
I asked the crowd to help explain this phenomenon.
"It brings people together," Mike Zajac said. "You want some vodka?"
"What better way to just say 'F the other team' than to burn that [bleep] up," explained John Zurcher as fans yelled "you smell that?" to passing Eagles supporters.
"They can burn No. 5, he won't be there much longer," said Cory Frasier, the McNabb jersey-wearing Eagles fan who had watched the entire proceedings. "But they burn No. 36, that's when I start fighting."
Finally, Charles Schara picked up the G-string like strand of green that had survived the fire and took it to the nearby thoroughfare. "Who likes Fried Eagle?" he called out? "I like Fried Eagle. $10. Get it while it's hot."
Ha. Hot.
The Jersey burning video will be on Comcast Sportsnet this Tuesday.
Here's Dan's Blog
blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/11/redskins_up_in_flames.html
"I'm choosing to pretend it's still 12:15 pm on Sunday. The Redskins are still favored to win, it's still sunny and warmish, Rick "Doc" Walker is still calmish, an optimistic home crowd is still streaming toward the gates, and one of my favorite tailgates in the FedEx lots is getting ready for its thrice-yearly tradition: the burning of the divisional uniform.
This is Ted A.'s tailgate, featuring homemade deep-fried funnel cakes topped with powder sugar, deep-fried turkeys (i.e. Eagles), a motorized cooler scooter and a penchant to hang opponents' jerseys on a metal cross and then douse them in lighter fluid. The tradition started in '05, against the Cowboys, with the burning of an Emmitt Smith jersey.
"At the Tampa Bay playoff game, we burned a few," Ted told me. "The Tampa Bay fans were kind of pissed out."
"All of my friends got arrested at that game in different locations," tailgater Adam Hoffman added. "It was amazing."
I asked Ted how long it takes to burn an NFL jersey. "Seconds," he said. I asked what they do with the jersey after the brief fire.
"It's pretty much just charred ruins," he said, "so, nothing. Cheesecake?" he offered, pointing to a lovely dessert topped with raspberries. I'm telling you, he does this right.
The iron cross was a new addition this year, a gift from a buddy of Ted's named Joey who is a metal fabricator. "That way we don't end up burning ourselves," Ted noted. Yes, he once burned his hand without the aid of the prop.
I asked about the jersey acquisition process. "Let's just say it's nice to have a friend who works at Sports Authority," he said. "Friendly donations."
They choose the most popular player on the opposing divisional teams, which this week meant Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb and, eventually, Tony Romo. For the heck of it, they also crisped a Jason Taylor jersey at the home opener.
It had been announced that the fires would begin at 12:15, so around that time the crowd gathered, chanting "Burn It, Burn It," and the like. Even a guy in a McNabb jersey was yelling "Burn It." People can unite around the cleansing power of fire. Of course, the crowd was briefly distracted by some gents shotgunning light beer of some sort.
I asked Ted if he had any tips for novice jersey burners. "Just don't light yourself on fire," he advised. "Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, that's about it."
Finally the fires began, and the crowd exulted, and the crowd sang "Hail to the Redskins," and the jersey really did disappear within seconds. "It is no longer there," one fan remarked.
Another guy in a McNabb jersey ran up and attempted to blow out the flames
I asked the crowd to help explain this phenomenon.
"It brings people together," Mike Zajac said. "You want some vodka?"
"What better way to just say 'F the other team' than to burn that [bleep] up," explained John Zurcher as fans yelled "you smell that?" to passing Eagles supporters.
"They can burn No. 5, he won't be there much longer," said Cory Frasier, the McNabb jersey-wearing Eagles fan who had watched the entire proceedings. "But they burn No. 36, that's when I start fighting."
Finally, Charles Schara picked up the G-string like strand of green that had survived the fire and took it to the nearby thoroughfare. "Who likes Fried Eagle?" he called out? "I like Fried Eagle. $10. Get it while it's hot."
Ha. Hot.
