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An Extreme Journey: Part I

Om

By Om
in The Stadium

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Om

Om

Posted
Posted

Hi.

My name is Mark ... “Om” in certain circles ... and by your leave, I have a story to tell.

In the weeks leading up to the 2000 NFL Draft, I had just recently discovered for myself this newfangled deal called the “internet.” During breaks and slow times at work, I was stretching my legs in cyberspace and seeing just what was out there (besides porn, which, being of the male persuasion, I’d naturally checked out from home first).

At some point, it occurred to me this might be a cool way to read up on who the Washington Redskins might be considering drafting with the #2 and #3 overall picks. LaVar or Courtney? Or both? Samuels? A trade-down with the 49ers? There were seriously burning questions, requiring serious answers, and the Washington Post and Times sure has hell weren’t up to the task. Not to the level, frequency or depth of analysis and detail I was looking for.

I must have hit 50 Mock Draft sites ... and soon found myself going back to several of of them every day, often more than once, to see if there were any changes. Yeah, I’ll admit at first I was kinda embarrassed at my inability to stop, but I didn’t fight it very hard. Hell, I had so few vices left at that point in my life, I figured why fight it?

In the course of my travels, I ran across a couple of these fledgling things called “message boards,” but I didn’t stop for long at any of them. To me, they were indistinguishable from the “chatrooms” I’d heard so many people sneer and scoff at, telling anyone who’d listen that no intelligent life resided there. And from what little I saw in the brief moments I did swing by places like the old TSN boards, the scoffers were balls on.

Then, at some point I stumbled across a site called “ExtremeSkins.com.”

Gotta admit, at first blush the name struck me as cutesy. Kind of, well, pandering to a crowd far younger than I. But for whatever reason, I did find myself looking over a few of the “posts” in a few of the “threads” (as I soon learned they were called), and was more than a little surprised to find a couple of people on there writing, like, paragraphs.

Paragraphs about actual, thoughtful, interesting subjects. People sharing supported opinions ... with even a nod toward respect for the language. People writing songs that voices never share. Seriously ... I found dudes sharing insight on the Washington Redskins that was, frankly, eye-opening.

Confession: in my world at that time, I was the leading authority on the Washington Redskins. My entire extended group of NFL-lovin’ friends, family and colleagues all said so. God’s honest truth is to that point in my life I had never run across another human who could stick with me once we really got into it—from Redskins history to their current roster to their positional needs, etc. No, despite what you’re thinking, it wasn’t hubris on my part; I had simply had never met anyone as passionate or borderline obsessed about my team as I.

But here ... here there were a few dudes that got my attention. So naturally, I left.

I mean, it couldn’t be, right? Not on some chatroom on the internet.

A few days later I came back. Quietly. Just to verify for myself that what I thought I’d seen was an anomaly; a mirage.

I gotta tell ya, it was a serious ego hit. Found myself reading along and realizing that while I might have known my Skins **** pretty good, there were many others out there who were every bit as schooled in the big picture as I was, but were also far more up-to-the-minute on the details ... and that many of them were thinking through and discussing certain aspects about the team in a manner I’d never had need, or the opportunity, to explore. It was humbling.

I quickly discovered it was something else too, though. A challenge. Here, perhaps, was something I could use to my advantage—a way to raise my game. A way I could learn, in the privacy of my own den/office, and take that knowledge out into the world ... where naturally I would pass it off as my own.

Hey, if I can’t go to jail for it, I’m not above stealin’ ****.

But a strange thing happened. In those first few heady days of discovery, when I was just about to register to this “Extremeskins Message Board” (which ran in the neighborhood of 200 members at the time), in order to dip my toes in the water and test myself against some of these other serious Redskins fans ... I hesitated.

Why? Because I watched as people who brought even semi-weak arguments, or even semi-faulty knowledge, or even just plain semi-stupidity to the board, were exposed by the group. Quickly and efficiently. Not with name-calling or rudeness, mind you, but with informed, articulate, concise and witheringly on-point counter-arguments that left the unsuspecting semi-offender a smoking pile of goo.

No sir, not me. If I was going to be a part of this community, I was going to BE somebody. I was going to not only be a respected and valued member of the group, I was flat-out going to reinvent MB dialogue. I was going to become an internet Legend, so damn insightful and witty and articulate that surely one day I’d be “discovered” like all those ectomorphic supermodels do in coffeeshops, and someone would offer me millions if I’d only share my sparklingly unique self with the world, on their dime.

Ahem.

So as you can surely appreciate, I was rightfully just intimidated enough to not register for a while. No way was I weighing in until I could add something ... or at least not until I felt I could do so without being exposed as a dope. So instead I came back every day for several weeks, reading, judging, seeing who was who ... getting a “feel,” finding the “tone,” seeking out a niche that was theretofore (!) unfilled.

Whether in hindsight I succeeded in that desire or not remains a question to this day, but that’s not important right now. Fact is, the day did finally come when I finally felt I was “ready.”

So I gritted my teeth and jumped.

The Skins were prepping to play the Baltimore in the preseason that weekend, and a few of the members were making sport of the Ravens. So I posted, breaking my message board cherry ...

Quoth the Ravens: “Mookie Moore?”

Hey, sue me.

And a wonderful thing happened. A couple the more established members actually quoted my quote, and said it was funny. One of them even used a dopey smilie thing, but he liked my post and welcomed me to the board.

More importantly, no one called me a dope. Which for whatever reason mattered to me.

So I sat on that post for a few days, enjoying the feeling of maybe, just maybe, at 39 years of age, having at long last found an outlet for my relatively strong opinions, expressed in my own individual brand of perspective and humor, on the Washington Redskins and life in general. And having done so among a group of similarly-minded souls, all seeking a place where being an un-apologetically obsessed Redskins fan—with something meaningful to say and the willingness/ability to say it in semi-literate, semi-adult fashion—was a lifetime ticket to a brotherhood.

In other words, I was pretty tickled.

And I was hooked.

To Be Continued ...

:helmet:
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Henry

Henry

Posted
Posted
My name is Mark ... “Om” in certain circles ... and by your leave, I have a story to tell.

Whew!

For a moment I thought I'd have to hear the story about the Chilean Secret Cowboy Fan Death Squad again. Do continue. :)

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Utah

Utah

Posted
Posted

The good ol' days huh Mark.

Its been a while since we were able to have conversations like that back then.

I think its about time some of us old vets start back up.

I think since my time has opened up again, maybe we should push the whole Football 101 stuff again. I think that will help things along to what we all hoped Extreme would be.

Can't wait for the second part.

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Kosher Ham

Kosher Ham

Posted
Posted

Parts of my Extreme story are very similar Mark.

Living in DC it was always easy to discuss the Redskins and find people who had the common bond of fandom. My buddies and I would go to games and meet new fans and friends all season long. We would watch all of the games and discuss/critique every aspect. Everyone had an opinion and everyones opinion was welcome.

Once I moved to Boston (prior to the Pats winning anything) it became harder and harder to follow everything and get my "fix", if you will. I started to use my computer for more than just work projects. Generally searching for articles from the Post, ESPN, SI, and such.

I happened upon Extremeskins while using some random search. When my girlfriend at the time looked at my favorites, she saw 2 sites that she had questions about but was afraid to ask. One being Extremeskins, and the other being WSEX (World Sports Exchange). Needless to say when I opened up the 2 sites for her to see we both had a good chuckle.

I lurked here for a while amazed at the knowledge that fans possessed and thankful that I could be in an environment where I wasnt the only one who still talked about this wonderful franchise that I had grown to cherish over my lifetime.

Then one day it hit me, I had a voice, I had an opinion, I could contribute and be more of a part of this great place. I signed up and never looked back. I dont think I made a single post in any other forum besides FedEx Field (currently The Stadium) until this season.

Thanks for all who make this site work, basically everyone, S&T.

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Jumbo

Jumbo

Posted
Posted
Perhaps, like the rest of us here, he already has. :)

The Redskins have been part of my life since I was a kid, but this place has gone from a diversion (which it still serves that purpose) from some often very serious stuff, to approaching a full-blown hobby.

And I've recently gone to upping my walking distance, returning to free weights, and keeping a tension bar by the home-desk since I'm spending more time on my azz at home now! :laugh:

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TheLongshot

TheLongshot

Posted
Posted
At some point, it occurred to me this might be a cool way to read up on who the Washington Redskins might be considering drafting with the #2 and #3 overall picks.

Man, you've only just discovered that at that point? I've been using the internet to find out draft information since the early 90s, when I was using a VAX with Lynx to access ESPN's site. :D

Nice story Om.

Jason

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PCS

PCS

Posted
Posted

Ah yes. The MB. When Utah first looked at me 5 years ago, ( I think it was actually sooner), and told me that I should join Extremeskins, I said, "join what?"

"Extremeskins. It's a Redskins message board. We talk about the Redskins".

"Right. A message board."

*

:wtf:

I was still trying to remember to type www before web addresses, ( I won't even go into that whole .com thing afterwards). What on earth was a message board? So, I would end up over at the house to babysit little Utah or to just visit and look over his shoulder from time to time. Several times, at my own small, ( and very expensive), apartment, I would search out Extremeskins on Google, ( which I had just found out about that summer :rolleyes: ), and after some time, finally find it. The old Power button home page greeted me. I distintcly recall coming here on the evening of 9/11. I have no idea of why. Well, maybe that's not true either. I have a feeling why. I remember having the news on and reading the accounts of things on the board. Surrealistic would be an understatement to describe the day unfolding in the posts I read.

A few weeks later, I was reading with Utah and he talked me into registering.

" Okay. You need a name."

"A what?"

" You know. A name. Something about the Redskins or whatever. Make something up. It's what they call you on here."

*

:insane:

" Okay. So. Let's see here. Somthing with Redskins or something in it"

"Yeah. Some thing like that."

After some back and forth, I came up with one of the more unique and original names found on Extreme. :rolleyes:

Then I had to do something really tough. Post a response. Great. So let's see here.

Reading over Utah's shoulder again, he brought a "thread" ( :wtf: ), to my attention. After giving my opinion on said "thread" , he said "Well. Post that."

"Post???" ( I'm a construction worker. To me a post........).

" Yeah. Respond to it. Type a response to it." :doh:

" Oh. Right. I knew that."

So I did. I had lurked long enough to see how this little community seemed to get along, or not get along in some cases, and who was who, so I dove in. Agreeing, in my own rambling way, with Om. I was proud of myself. There. Did it. Not bad at all. Heck, I even sound a little smart on this internet message board thingy.

Then Utah told me Om had responded, ( Refresh? What's that? " ), and when I read the response, my heart sank and ice ran through my veins.

" Uh oh." :paranoid:

Well. Here. My first 2 posts on Extreme.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4981

Been heckuva ride since. And along the way, I discovered "smileys". Which I use from time to time. :D

Outstanding Mark. Loved it. Can't wait for part 2.

Hurry up would ya? ;)

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Jumbo

Jumbo

Posted
Posted
The good ol' days huh Mark.

Its been a while since we were able to have conversations like that back then.

I think its about time some of us old vets start back up.

I think since my time has opened up again, maybe we should push the whole Football 101 stuff again. I think that will help things along to what we all hoped Extreme would be.

Can't wait for the second part.

I highlighted that one line as this is an attitude I hope catches on.

As a relatively newer guy, I get a buzz when I see a vet like Utah who I don't easily identify and get to read his take on stuff. I learned a long time ago that even if you're supersmart :D , there's so much to learn from the guy who's been around. And if you're not supersmart, then there's even more.

Just reading a couple of Utah's recent posts reinforce that feeling. There's others too I don't see except very occasionally. I hope that changes if they have the time.

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