The Shark 'n Party Show

So sometime Sunday night my buddy Marty posted something in his blog about how the ESPN Commentators were all over T.O. Sunday night like the Redskins didn't even matter. I posted a comment in his comments section basically busting his balls about his post (which I did in fact agree with), and in the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, things escalated quickly. The following is, word for word, what went down, since I'm sure you all missed it.

Sharkey Comment #1:

don't be upset because your redskins are the worst 5-3 team in recent memory, and struggled to beat a dying eagles team in the ugliest sunday night game in recent memory... life's not that bad... at least your future is bright with mark brunell

Party Comment #1:

I find it funny when people say things like that. What constitutes a bad winning team or a good losing team?

Take San Diego, for example:

Going into yesterday's game, everyone around the league was saying that they were "maybe the best 4-4 team ever." What exactly does that mean? If they were that good, they wouldn't fucking be 4-4...they'd be 5-3 or 6-2. A team on paper means shit, especially in the NFL.

And don't say it has anything to do with the schedule, because the Skins have played two AFC West teams and 3 NFC East teams already (arguably the two toughest divisions in football).

Yes, two of their wins have come over SF (who the Giants just beat as well, and not quite as handily) and Chicago (who are beginning to find rhythm and are also 5-3), but they also beat Seattle (who is 6-2, if you didn't notice).

The fact is that the Redskins are 5-3. Should they be 4-4? 3-5? 2-6? Who knows. They aren't, though.

I'm surprised you even had to time to come over here and read this. Did Eli need a break from you slobbering all over his balls?

Sharkey Comment #2:

Oh feisty... when do I slobber all over Eli's balls? I simply call him better than Roethlisberger. That's basically the only claim I've ever made about him. If you watch the kid, and watch him for a few games, you'll see he's something special, and he one day is going to be an elite QB. He's not this year, but he has the highest scoring offense in the league, so that's not too shabby.

I'm not saying the skins should or shouldn't be anything. They're 5-3, that's what they are. No one can take that away from them. I'm just saying look outside your redskinsvision for a few minutes and realize this team isn't a top team in the nfc. It's on its way there, sure, but it's not this year. Neither are the Giants, despite what anyone may say, so don't call me out on that way.

And the good & bad however many wins/losses teams is a relevant argument, and if you're a football fan, like I assumed you were, you wouldn't argue against that.

You can't penalize a team for one or two bounces taht didn't go their way in september, the NFL season doesn't begin until Week 10 or 11 anyway. (remember, the giants were 5-2 and in a similar situation as the skins last year before they finished 6-10).

For instance, the cowboys outplayed the skins for 57 minutes but lost, both are 5-3. Cowboys are still a better team. Giants O was all over the cowboys in the 4th quarter in that loss, but dallas won the coin toss so the giants loss. Would the Giants be 7-1 right now if they won the coin toss? Probably, but they're just bounces.

There are good & bad 5-3 or 4-4 teams. The Redskins may not be a bad 5-3 team, but I think they are. And I just took up 4735 lines of your blog post section rambling about it.

And my beard is nicer than yours.

Party Comment #2:

But bounces and calls are part of the game, are they not? Luck has a lot to do with what may happen at any given time during the regular season, but that's just the way it goes.

And the season doesn't start until Week 10 or 11, huh? So I guess the 49ers and Texans still have a shot at making the playoffs...

Sure, it's possible to start hot and fizzle out (or vice versa), but you can't honestly believe that every game isn't crucial in the NFL.

Sharkey Comment #3:

Yea, I know luck is a huge part of the game, but luck doesn't make a team good. You can't go out & sign luck to a 6 year, $42 million contract. You & I and a team of midgets could get lucky in the NFL once or twice, that doesn't make us good.

And I don't think the season starts until week 10 or 11. Basically the beginning of November. I'm not saying those other games don't matter, because every game matters. But a teams season is defined by the last two months. You can't play in January if you don't play well in December & November. How many teams in the last few years have been 4-0 or 5-1 or 5-2 or 6-0 & not even made the playoffs. September & October are fun, November & December are great.

Now you see what happens when a Giants fan & a Redskins fan get at each others throat. Not very pretty. We ain't the brightest people in the world, but we're passionate about our teams, and we can't stand each other's teams (that's what happens when you're part of one of the oldest rivalries in nfl history).

So these sort of arguments have broken out between us from time to time this season, especially since both our teams are playing better than expected (For the record, I still don't believe the Redskins to be a good football team).

For the meantime, though, we're going to try not to get into any morearguments like this one. Actually, I can't say that, because I'm sure they'll break out a lot in the coming months. But one thing we have to look forward to is Giants-Redskins 2005 II, which is on Christmas Eve. Good thing it is, too, because neither of us will be doing very much work in the entire week leading up to that game.

So during that week, blog-style, walkingparty.com & thesharkey.com will work as one, with the two of us posting a few entries a day in response to each other on that upcoming game. It should be a good time.

Tempers will probably flair.

And of course, on ChristmasEve, all will be right with the world, as the Giants beat the Redskins yet again to complete the season sweep. And then we may never hear from walkingparty again.