A Football God Returns

Today we learned much of what is behind the Code Orange terror alert, and why it continues. First, there was serious concern over New Year's about a dirty bomb attack on a number of US cities. Groups of scientists with hidden radiation detectors were dispatched to DC, NY, LA, Vegas, and Baltimore. Meanwhile, overseas, authorities continue their search for Abdul Haq, who was booked on a canceled Air France flight around Christmas and now has seemingly disappeared. His name matches that of an escapee from a Khandahar detainment camp.

But all this talk about death, destruction, and the end of civilization as we know it no longer matters to those of us here in DC. Today's big, BIG story in town is that Joe Gibbs is returning to the Washington Redskins. It is virtually impossible to overstate the significance of this development, and what it means to long suffering 'Skins fans. If the Mars Rover were to stumble across Elvis living in sin with Amelia Earhart and raising mad cows on the Red Planet with Osama bin Laden working as a farmhand, it would pale in comparison to the news about Gibbs.

Does that put it in perspective for you?

During his 12 seasons coaching the team, Gibbs led the Redskins to four Super Bowls, and won three of them. And while other coaches have done that, Gibbs is the only one to do it with three different quarterbacks. In fact, the first black QB to win the Super Bowl was Doug Williams (sorry, Mr. Limbaugh, but it's true) in 1988, when the Redskins defeated the Broncos. Rush Limbaugh continues to be haunted by this.

When Gibbs retired in 1993 to pursue a second career as a NASCAR owner, he left football at the top of his game. Since then, the Redskins have descended into the depths of football hell and have become a joke in the NFL.

It remains to be seen if Gibbs can return the franchise to its former glory. One immediate concern is that he is such a revered icon in this town that it may be virtually impossible for him to live up to expectations. All too often, when sports figures try to mount a comeback after retiring once, they fail to achieve their former glory. One immediate example of this is Michael Jordan's two seasons with the Washington Wizards, and it would be a shame to see Gibbs sully his image. On the other hand, a coach's strengths are measured by knowledge and the ability to be an inspiring leader to your players. Unlike physical ability which declines naturally with age, these qualities may well be immune to the ravages of time.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, can anyone work with Redskins owner Dan "The Pipsqueak With A Napoleon Complex" Snyder? That remains to be seen. But if Gibbs succeeds, all of Snyder's past sins will likely be forgiven.