The Mortality of Localities

The Death of Sports Joy in the DMV

By: Jeff McDonough

It is said that the majority of people die within 50 miles of where they were born. I don’t think I can verify the statistical validity of that claim, but the takeaway is resounding. Where we’re born and where we grow up has a huge determination on the rest of our lives. Even for those of us who actually do leave their birthplace, we carry our hometown with us wherever we end up. A big tie-in with our hometown attachments is often a devotion to the local sports teams — and you’ve come to the Sports Addict, what other angle did you expect?

When the local teams lose, a cloud of despair is cast citywide. Also, sometimes they riot. When the local teams win, the whole area is abuzz. Just look at Kansas City. The Royals won their first World Series in 30 years on Sunday and on Tuesday they held their championship parade. The turnout was an estimated 800,000 people, which is even more astounding when you consider the city’s population is only 470,000. The pride of fans is never more on display than after a championship victory. Also, sometimes they riot. Here in the DMV — for those of you that don’t know, that is an acronym representing the Mid-Atlantic region of DC, Maryland and Virginia — times have been rough lately. Like really, really rough. We are currently mired in a six-month stretch of misery that no sporting fanbase should have to endure. It all started back on the dark night of May 13, but I’ll get to that later. I am going to postulate that every single major local team is some combination of bad, embarrassing, disappointing and/or heartbreaking chokers.

Capital Punishment

The Washington Capitals Fan’s Guide to Dealing with Expectations

By: Jeff McDonough

The picture above comes from the Washington Post, the morning after the Washington Capitals were eliminated from the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. The Capitals had gone up three games to one on the Rangers in their Eastern Semifinal series, only to lose the final three games — all decided by one goal, as was every game in their spectacular series. After a phenomenal postseason run, the Rangers’ Derek Stepan buried a rebound shot past Braden Holtby to win Game 7 in overtime, and all the young goaltender could do was lie there motionless. This is what being a Capitals fan looks like. Never forget.

Now for the good news. This year’s Capitals team looks really good. When the puck drops tomorrow night, they’ll be returning most of the core that had everyone in the DMV so excited last spring. That includes superstar Alex Ovechkin, back to playing at as high a level as ever. Ovie was the runner-up for the MVP Hart Trophy and led the NHL in goals for the third consecutive year. It also includes the aforementioned Braden Holtby, who — behind a solid season and dominant playoffs — has finally stabilized the rotating door the Caps have had at goalie ever since Olie Kölzig retired. Finally, it includes Sweden’s Nicklas Bäckström as well, who led the NHL in assists for the first time last year. That is the triumvirate that will lead the Capitals to the Promised Land, if they ever do get there. This is not to shortchange head coach Barry Trotz, who in one year was able to undo most of the ill will that had been built in the disastrous — but thankfully brief — tenure of Adam Oates. Oh, Adam. What happened to us, man?