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Confessions Of A Dangerous Chargers Fan (April 6, 2008)

“I know how it unfolds for us,” he said. “I don’t know how it unfolds for them.”–AJ Smith

Smith uttered those comments in response to unhappy wide receiver Kassim Osgood. Osgood, as you may or not know, told the Union-Tribune earlier this month that he was fed up being known only as a special team player, even though he’s collected multiple Pro Bowl bids in that capacity and has a nice contract to match. Smith, as no-nonsense a GM as their is, basically talked with him and told him that if being a wide receiver is such a priority that The Organization will try to find him a new home. That’s why I love AJ. He always thinks Chargers first. That’s also why I haven’t been too focused on figuring out what needs he will address in next month’s draft. I’ve also previously stated that I’m not all that interested in subculture that has developed around the draft even though it has become the primary method of acquiring talent under Smith. But I have all the faith in the world in the guy, which is why I put my $20 dollars down on the Bolts to finally win it all during my trip to Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

Of course, not a lot of people seem to share my view. After Shawne Merriman’s Mercedes was stolen and torched, some Jim Rome fill-in host actually said on the air that Merriman deserved it because of his “Lights Out” dance. I didn’t know you could actually sink any lower than Jim Rome, but I guess being his understudy would actually fit the bill. I think people are a lot more critical of Merriman after the steriod suspension and the Bolts’ subsequent flame-out in the ‘06 playoffs. As Plaxico Burress proved in the Super Bowl, you can say whatever you want as long as you win. I read in Sports Illustrated last week that Jose Reyes plans to do a lot less dancing after he tanked in the second half of the Mets’ season last year. Merriman did a pretty good job of doing the same in ‘07. When the Bolts are at home, what do you expect him to do after a sack? It gets the crowd fired up and they have come to expect it.

But there has been a lot of hating on the Chargers recently. I mentioned in the last installment of Justice Is Coming that both Rodney Harrison and Marlon McCree slammed Philip Rivers on the air. I guess the fact that they were on the wrong end of two of the more infamous postseason gaffes in recent memory really stings.

The Bolts were awarded a 5th-round pick this week for Donnie Edwards’ signing with Kansas City last year. Even though Matt Wilhelm needs to step up or face being replaced with Anthony Waters, AJ must be credited for making the right call on Edwards. I am sure he is licking his chops with another pick. The guy loves the draft.

I wonder how he feels about preseason? Now that I have DirecTv, I actually watch all four games. From 1994-2000, I actually went to bars to try to catch the exhibition games. Once I met my future wife, I happily found better things to do with my Friday and Saturday summer nights. Of course, I did get tapes of the games mailed to me by the loyal readers of Justice Is Coming. When I was on my honeymoon in 2003, I even taped a preseason tilt against the 49ers since our accommodations in Maui (where the game was televised) had a VCR. However, I did actually stay away from the preseason until last year when I finally got a dish. But I’ve never actually attended an exhibition game. But Damian Brennan, who actually lives in Ireland and will be attending the October 29 game against New Orleans in Wembley, has.

He took this photo at a game in ‘03 against the spanking new Houston Texans when he was living in “the states.” If you look closely, you can see Kris Dielman in his old jersey number and Marcellus Wiley during his last year with the Bolts. However, it was only his first season, when he had the screw in his foot, that really meant anything. Remember when he went to Dallas in ‘04 and gushed about how much he wanted to play for Parcells? The only time I ever hear his name now is when my TiVo tapes the episode of MTV’s “Cribs” which he appeared on. I’m sure you aren’t surprised to know that it is programmed to tape anything with the word “Chargers” in it.

Wow. You know it’s April when I’m rambling about preseason games from 5 years ago. I think that’s my cue to leave. Please make sure to stop by Justice Is Coming to join our dysfunctional family over there. I’d also like to thank the guys at “The Cockpit,” (no, it’s not a porno site) for calling the Chargers the class of the AFC. It doesn’t mean anything unless we follow through on the field, but it’s nice to get some positive press. Nobody should understand that better than Jet fans. Talk to you soon.

Let the words be yours, I am done with mine.

RLW

 

 

 

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm and is filed under Column. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.