Daniel "ATM" Snyder does it again!

The Washington Redskins is a team with troubles. There's the aging, porous offensive line that seems unable to stop pre-schoolers from getting to the quarterback, a defensive line that hasn't reached the opposing quarterback since man first walked upright, only four picks in this years darft due to prior wing-and-a-prayer trades, and a salary cap situation as close to desperate as one can get. Let's not mention that the economy is in the tank.

So what does The Danny do? He drops $170 million on two defensive players: free agent "Fat" Albert Haynesworth, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, and returning ex-Raider DeAngelo Hall. The upside of this is the fact that Haynesworth, when not injured or winded, is arguably the best defensive lineman in the league. He's a commanding presence in the middle who often gets double and triple-teamed thus opening holes for the linebackers and defensive ends to get to the other team's QB. The downside is that he comes laden with baggage. This is the Albert Haynesworth who was suspended for five games for stomping on the unprotected head of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode during a game. He has been cited in a few off the field road rage incidents (he has apparently been getting anger management counseling) and has been accused of not having a very good work ethic and being difficult to coach. Which Albert Haynesworth shows up at game time is anyone's guess. Is he worth the $100 mil The Danny gave him? Not so sure.

DeAngelo Hall played well after being signed by the Skins last November after being let go from the Raiders. However, he also has a rep for being a "problem child". So far, he's been a model Redskin and should be happy with his new $55 million contract, but like Haynesworth, part of his baggage is the suspicion that he's a play-for-contract guy who slacks off once the money is pocketed. Again, time will tell whether or not things work out.

The bigger issue though is that, now, the Skins have no money to pursue other needs, of which the offensive line is most pressing. The Skins could have gone after Dallas defensive lineman Chris Canty, who has tremendous upside with none of the baggage, signed him for a third of the cost of Haynesworth, and still had money to go after some free agent offensive linemen. However, that's not how The Danny operates. It seems that if he can't make headlines by drowning a player in money, Danny doesn't want to do the deal. Other teams, most notably the Pittsburgh Steelers, have created winning franchises by eschewing the splashy (read expensive) free agent signings and building from within through quality draft picks and taking the time to forge great players out of untested rookies. Snyder has more money than God but lacks the patience and simple football sense required to build a winning team.

Once again, the Skins "won" the off-season. Let's hope it translates to something better than another 8-8 season.

From the mouths of...er...well...

Got home tonight, drunk off my ass. Yeah, yeah, nothing new to report there, BUT! I bought some shit from the 1st floor store and met a guy at the elevator. Young, healthy westerner (if he was 22 I'm George Washington!) with his hair in dreads, Feeeling socialable I naturally asked, "What's up?'

He responded, "I'm going to have a beer with my martial arts instructer."

To which I responded, "Well, I'm off to destroy myself."

I thought, well, to each his own. I got beer and ice cream. I'm set!


Song of the day:

Wall Of Voodoo: Mexican Radio

I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
and the touch of a world that is older
I turn the switch and check the number
I leave it on when in bed I slumber

I hear the rhythms of the music
I buy the product and never use it
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand, just what does he say?

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican, waah ooo, radio

I dial it in and tune the station
They talk about the U.S. inflation
I understand just a little
No comprende - it's a riddle

I'm on a Mexican radio
On a Mexican waah ooo, radio

I wish I was in Tiajuana
eating barbequed iguana
I take requests on the telephone
I'm on a wavelength far from home

I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
I dial it in from the south of the border
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand, just what does he say?

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican waah ooh, radio

Radio

What does he say?

or maybe this

Warrior Soul - Losers

Have you ever wanted
To be someone you're not
But you look into the world
And you see what you've got
There's nothing there
But brains and guts

Finally open the door
And then it shuts
Look to the center
And I think you'll find
The people that are gettin
'They are blind

You changed the channel
And there's nothing there
You weren't born pretty
And it isn't fair...

Here's to the losers
The substance abusers
To the rejects
All the imperfects
'Cause I think we're beautiful
'Cause I think we're beautifu
l'Cause I think we're beautiful
No matter what anyone says
I think we're beautiful
Them most beautiful

In the world
You try for jobs
But they say you're strange
You're sportin' a style
That they call pain
So you get in trouble
And your brain is gone
You're cryin' out man
But the words are wrong

Here's to the losers
The substance abusers
To the rejects
All the imperfects
'Cause I think we're beautiful
'Cause I think we're beautiful
'Cause I think we're beautifu
lNo matter what anyone says
I think we're beautiful
Them most beautiful In the world

I know you're tired
Of being put down
And all the crap that's said in town
But you're the person that matters most
I raise my glass, and make a toast

This one's for the losers
Substance abusers
To the rejects
All the imperfects
To the retarded
And the broken-hearted
To the starving massses
And the lower classes
'Cause I think we're beautiful

'Cause I think we're beautiful
'Cause I think we're beautiful
No matter what anyone else says
I think we're beautiful

Harummpf!

Football season is over, and the Skins once again battled their way to the bottom of the NFC East, baseball season is not for another two months, I'm broke, I'm bored, and I hate my job. Other than that, things are ju-u-u-u-ust dandy!

I decided I'd write a bit on the blog because I have 45 minutes to kill before my final class of what has been the longest week in the history of man...er...humankind (don't want the PC Police to come after me). What's that Green Day song that says that when even porn gets boring you're in trouble? Anyway, I figure I'll just sit here and rant for a bit.

Breaking news: the economy sucks!! Oh. You knew that did you? Ok.

How 'bout this? Wall Street bankers are greedy sons of bitches!! Knew that too, huh? Damn.

Ah-HAH! The war in Afghanistan is going to get worse!!!! Crap. Don't tell me, you heard that as well.

Then let's go with this question: why are people treating Michael Phelps like he's a mass murderer? He's a 23 year old kid who took a hit off a bong for crying out loud. What? Did he then chew someone's leg off in a fit of ravenous munchies?? Give the poor kid a break! Like one of my friends mentioned yesterday, the kid works harder in one swim season than most folks work in an entire year. He's not allowed to relax? I want to know how many of the people who have said, "He's a role model, kids look up to him," have hit the bong themselves? How many of the outraged parents spent their college years stoned out of their jockeys. Bloody hypocrites! It's the old "Do as I say, not as I do" routine. The thing I find really interesting is that the US swim team didn't suspend him last year when he was busted for DUI, which, if you ask me is the far worse offense, but they've suspended him. Kellogg's pulled their endorsement (guess he's coming off the Wheaties box), and the world, no, not the world, just the holier-than-thou fuckers who run the show in the U.S., are crucifying the poor bugger.

Well, my brain just went on the fritz, and I forgot what else I was going to say. I guess I'll go out and have a smoke and decide what the hell I'm gonna do with this last class; can't teach 'em, can't shoot 'em.