I Guess We Can’t Say The Saints Game Would Have Been In The Bag With a 17-point Lead, Huh?

Liike so many of you, I’ve been at a loss since Monday.  I wrote a short post, but have received no comments on it.  This leads me to believe that you are just as tired of seeing and saying the same things.

Then I received an email from Eric Stangel with a link to the “Take A Chill Pill” post by Chargers Director of Public Relations Bill Johnston.  What was my reaction, Eric asked?  This is the worst fucking thing I have ever read.  That was my response and I stand by it.  Since the “column” has now been spread and mocked by every available media outlet, I am sure Bill regrets writing it.  I sent him an e-mail this morning saying as much:

I certainly hope that I don’t fall into the category of people who are afraid to say face to face how they feel.  I called Eli Manning and spoke to him the night before the draft in 2004 to defend this team.

However, the fans have the right to feel progress isn’t made.  11 wins consecutively led to another playoff pratfall and 2.5 yrs of mediocrity.

Be happy that local fans are so passionate, let alone one 3,000 miles away.

Ross Warner

To his credit, he responded immediately.

Ross,
Thank you for taking the time to write. Like you, I’ve been a fan for a long time (since the 70s) and I’m passionate about the team. I wrote that from the heart in hopes of reminding all of us that we’re 3-3 with 10 to go and right in the middle of the division race. Also want people to know how much their support means to the players.  I see how hard everyone is working and how much it means to them. I did not mean to criticize anyone that is upset about the recent losses. Again, my goal was to remind us that anything can happen, and I’m looking forward to good things ahead.
It means a lot that you took the time to write. Thank you.

BILL JOHNSTON | Director of Public Relations
San Diego Chargers

I don’t think any NFL club has ever had to ask their PR Director to spin his careless comments before, but I can see it happening here.  I pointed out to Bill that you stop being “just a fan” once you work for the team, let alone in his capacity.  He was kind enough to ask that I stop by the team hotel in Cleveland, which I am sure is another calculated move in the name of damage control.  Or it’s a trap, I’m not sure.

I leave you with an excerpt from 1994’s “Cooking With The Chargers.”

STAN AND CONNIE HUMPHRIES’ “SAUSAGE BALLS”
3 cups bisquick
1 lb. grated cheddar cheese
1 lb. sausage ground
1. Mix all ingredients well and form into small balls.
2. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown (30-40 minutes).
Freezes well.
These are Stan’s favorite–morning, noon or night! – Connie Humphries

RLW

PS: These are my actual comments on the Bolts’ official site:

Ross Warner · Top Commenter · University of Rochester

This is crazy. I don’t need to remind the PR staff of my fandom. I’ve lived in NY all my life and they have a file of letters and phone messages from me since 1979. However, the issue isn’t what the team’s record is. It’s how they play when it counts. Fans are angry because it seems that Dean Spanos (who still hasn’t revealed HIS standard for keeping Norv and AJ) would be ok with just getting into January. That’s only good enough if you lose in the postseason. The Chargers have imploded 3 times. They’ve kept the kicker from all three games too. Norv only had one meltdown in January but 2 (and counting) seasons when they couldn’t get in when one more win would have done it. They dug themselves into a hole but could saved themselves in Cincy in 2010 and Detroit in 2011.

When it was all on the line, they fell apart. That’s the issue.

If the team could defend itself with its play, the director of Public Reltations wouldn’t have to write this. What’s next, is Shaun Phillips going to call me a “fake a** fan” on Twitter like he did to a fellow Bolthead last year? This was after he got mad that the aforementioned sports radio hosts asked him why he head butted a player in January as Drayton Florence once did.

Fans are not knee jerk. Here in NY, the media can be crazy, alarmist, negative, sensationalist, but it’s clear from owners that winning it all is what really matters (unless you’re james dolan or Fred Wilpon).

Yours in justice,
Ross Warner