A Letter To The Struggling Caps

Dear Capitals,

Over the past few years I have sat by idly and watched as an entire city and surrounding area got behind a hockey team.  An astounding transformation occurred before my very eyes.  I saw a shift from Redskins shirts to Capitals shirts, from Orakpo jerseys to Ovechkin sweaters, from talks about losing to talks about winning.  I witnessed the entire DC area morph into a hockey town in what seemed like overnight.  The Redskins were still #1 in area fans’ hearts, but the Capitals became #1 in their lives.

During that entire time I sat by and did nothing.  I refused to join my fellow cohorts and watch hockey.  I refused to jump on a bandwagon like everyone else.  I refused to hear, see, touch, feel, or smell anything that had to do with the NHL or the Washington Capitals.  I showed everyone!  But what was I showing them?

I missed everything.  I missed the goals.  I missed the wins.  I missed the playoffs.  I missed Alex Ovechkin.  I missed the fun.  I missed the camaraderie.  I missed the excitement.  I missed everything.

That is why this season I decided to set aside my stubborn ways and open my mind up to watching hockey.  And of course my team of choice to follow had to be the aforementioned hockey club that created a winning excitement in my hometown.

So my question to the Capitals is…where is everything?  Where are the goals?  Where are the wins? Where are the playoffs?  Where is Alex Ovechkin?  Where is the fun?  Where is the camaraderie?  Where is the excitement?  Where is everything?

I know I sound like a Yankees or Steelers fan who thinks it is my birthright to have a winning team.  But I swear I’m not like those fans that take losses personally and start to cry if the team has a hiccup here or there.

I am more like a disgruntled consumer.  I went to Amazon.  I saw the product got 5 stars.  I read all the rave reviews.  I listened to ESPN, Comcast, local sports radio, family, friends, co-workers, strangers on the street.  They all had a consensus on one fact.  The Washington Capitals were a great team.   They told me to buy.  BUY!  BUY! BUY!. 

Well I bought it, and it is not performing as advertised.  Where Is the return policy?

The way this writing portrays me is not really accurate.  I don’t want to return the Caps, and I never will ever consider it.  I didn’t jump on the bandwagon just to jump right back off.  Instead I jumped on the bandwagon, then off the bandwagon and on to the wagon wagon…(WHAT?)  Basically, I am all in.  It has only been a few months but I am in it for the long haul. 

However, despite not being there in the past, I feel like Caps fans deserve more from the team.   Now I know absolutely nothing about hockey.  I can’t tell you what the problem is.  I don’t know if the coaching staff is bad, I don’t know if the players are slacking off, and I sure as hell don’t know what kind of trades management should be looking into.  But I do know two things.  The Caps aren't this bad and Caps fans deserve better effort on the ice.

Sincerely,


A Guy Who Bought In