There’s big news being made by the Washington Redskins this week. And it’s not about football.
No surprise there, as it’s Super Bowl week. The Redskins make Super Bowl news about as often as the Browns.
Redskins owner Dan Snyder has made good on his threat to sue Washington City Paper for its November 19 cover story: “The Cranky Redskins Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder.”
The article, written by Dave McKenna, chronicles Snyder’s missteps since taking over the franchise 10 years ago. Included in the litany are Snyder’s dubious head coach hires and fires, his nefarious marketing campaigns and even a report of the owner leaving canisters of vanilla ice cream in late defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s office with a note saying, “I don’t like vanilla.” He was referring to Nolan’s simplistic schemes.
Even someone as insecure as Snyder could have chalked most of the jabs up to a good-natured rant. What Snyder couldn’t handle were allegations that he cut down nationally protected trees at his Montgomery County home for a better view of the Potomac River, or that he forged names as a telemarketer with Snyder communications. The photo used in the article has been scribbled on third grader-style to clearly depict Snyder as the devil. Snyder claims the image portrays him as an anti-Semite.
Memo to Dan: let it go, man.
In surveys of the worst NFL owners in the history of NFL owners, your name pops up like a Whack-A-Mole. You’ve relegated one of the greatest franchises not just in the NFL, but all of sports to the gutter. In just 10 years of ownership, the Redskins have become the laughing stock of league. You’ve moved the stadium out of the city and charge fans a week’s worth of wages just to park their cars.
Washington City Paper stands by its assertions. Look, maybe it didn’t need to mention the trees, and maybe McKenna should have stuck to Redskins mismanagement. But who cares? The article was the perfect opportunity for you to say, “You know what, when it comes to the Redskins, I’ve been a total nightmare. But I’m trying to get better. I’ve handed off more responsibility to people who know what they’re doing. Things are going to be better. As for the trees, I’ll plant some new ones.”
Instead, you sued, saying the paper used, "lies, half-truths, innuendo and anti-Semitic imagery to smear, malign, defame and slander." Now you're seeking $2 million plus punitive damages. Instead, maybe you should just increase the price of pretzels from $8 to $8.50. That would account for $2 million or so in 2011. This way you'd be sticking it to the fans instead, something you do best.
Most ironic is that you've offered to give any money you win from the lawsuit to the homeless. How magnanimous! (Or is that just your guilty conscience talking?) Are you going to dole that money out hand-to-Starbucks cup in Southeast D.C? You know, use it as a marketing stunt? It wouldn't surprise this fan.
Sadly, the breaking news about the Redskins is once again, well, sad. When you’re gone Dan, I don’t imagine anyone lining up to thank you for the memories.
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