With a dominating 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Monday night, the Washington Capitals set up one of the biggest nights in recent memory for Washington DC. On Wednesday night, the Caps, Wizards, and Nats will all be in action.
Every DC sports fan should get all their work done Tuesday, so that when Wednesday rolls around they can be planted firmly on their couch or at their favorite bar by 7:00pm with at least three screens in front of them and one article of red clothing.
At 7:05 the Nats kick things off with a game against their cross-beltway rival in Baltimore. The Caps join in on the fun at 7:30 with a crucial game 7 against their bitter nemesis Pittsburgh, and the Wizards tip off at 8:00pm in game 5 against the Celtics, who have surprisingly become something of a rival for the #DCFamily.
We are in a renaissance of Washington sports, and it’s important for fans to recognize it because it won’t always be the case. This isn’t one of those “the window is closing” rants. The window may well be wide open for a long time for all three of these teams. But for as put-upon as the city’s sports fans are, a little recognition of the regular season greatness of these clubs is necessary.
The Nationals have been a huge part of how much fun it has been to be a DC fan recently. They have consistently performed at the highest level of their sport, winning their division three times since 2012. They have won at least 83 games each year since 2012 (including a 98 win season) and produced two managers of the year, a rookie of the year, an MVP, and a Cy Young Award winner in that span. They have signed major talent and drafted some of the most exciting young players in the sport, creating a buzz around the team that has drawn avid fans from all corners of the Nation’s Capital.
Not every town has a single team that has enjoyed that much sustained success in recent years, let alone three. Bryce Harper leads a cavalcade of stars in the city who have achieved incredible feats, and all we do as fans is complain when they lose in the playoffs.
I get it. It’s heartbreaking. It’s frustrating. It feels like some sort of horrible Groundhog Day every time. But it’s not.
The simple fact is that winning a championship in any sport is one of the most difficult things to achieve. Enjoy the fact that in 2017 we have a legitimate shot to see DC teams bring home a Stanley Cup, NBA Championship, and World Series.
Few get the opportunity for that much optimism and hope. We have to accept that also means not many people have the potential for so much heartbreak.
Cherish the journey. Enjoy the ride. And on Wednesday – cheer your asses off.
Tags: Capitals, Caps, Nationals, Nats, Washington Capitals, Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards, Wizards
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