Ol' Ricky's Washington Football Tales - Saying Goodbye

Ol’ Ricky is saying goodbye. What started as a way to pass the time in the pandemic is now ending just like the virus – right? Well, Redskins training camp is starting soon and Young (at heart) Rick is ready to resume writing about the team nowadays.

Not that I don’t appreciate the following of the last four months. Really, I was just telling some stories to pass the time as much of my business was shut down. Tour guiding? Maybe next year. Couple of writing clients went away because of budget cuts. So, I wrote just to write and it turns out people love Ol’ Ricky.

There have been 90 stories since telling how Sam Huff was sleeping on the ground. Nearly 37,000 words of players, coaches and games. That’s a small book. And, maybe it will be a big book one day. Ol’ Ricky has a couple things in front of that project.

I’ve appreciated how many people said they read every day, how it was a fun moment in a scary time. I’m glad it help you as much as me.

The old stories show fans are connected to the past as much as the cancel culture wants to change that. Fans are fans no matter who they’re cheering and everyone loves the good old days because Dan Snyder’s team has largely stunk for a generation now under his control. Sadly, there’s no reason to believe Snyder will ever produce a steady winner. He’s shuffled every piece on the board, but since there’s no direction it has all gone nowhere.

And that’s why fans will always remember the past because it’s a safe place.

Now I’m not going anywhere unless you know something I don’t. Still writing for several outlets locally like this one and working on some projects. But, it’s time to let Ol’ Ricky’s memories rest before admitting he has run out of them.

Rick Snider is an award-winning sports writer who has covered Washington sports since 1978. He first wrote about the Washington football team in 1983 before becoming a beat writer in 1993. Snider currently writes for several national and international publications and is a Washington tour guide. Follow Rick on Twitter at @Snide_Remarks.