These Redskins Cheers Fall Flat

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By Dan Steinberg | D.c. Sports Bog

Monday, October 13, 2008; Page E13

If, as Clinton Portis suggested after yesterday's loss, some of the Redskins were a tad hasty in overlooking the Rams, the same could perhaps be said of the team's fan base. "Hip, hip, hooray" may be the year's runaway sensation as a victory chant, popping up on message boards and network television alike, but yesterday, those three Zornish words made their appearance well before victory was assured.

There was a hip, hip, hooray banner at one prominent tailgate on the way into the stadium. There were at least three multi-signed hip, hip, hooray tributes in the stands. There were hip, hip, hooray T-shirts. There were Internet-based plans to start up the "hip, hip, hooray" refrain at the two-minute warning, if the game was in hand. There was a "hooray!" segment on Comcast SportsNet's "Redskins Kickoff," with one young fan shouting out "hip, hip, hooray, baby!" and others being encouraged to call and respond.

And there was a report of a "hip, hip, hooray" chant rising up in the 200 level. During the first quarter.

While some fans didn't want their names used in connection with hip, hip, hooray, in the event of a loss, they mostly articulated the same reasons for embracing the cheer. It brings back memories of the George Allen years. It shows a new enthusiasm in the fan base for Jim Zorn, after some uncertain early weeks. And it's kinda fun.

"Corny but cool," summarized Rosemary Molle, who asked her 20-year-old son and his friends to hold the signs. "It's kind of a throwback to Allen and the good old days."

"I hear a lot of 'hip, hip!' and they sort of expect a 'hooray!' or something," said 33-year-old Eric Lynd, who was wearing the shirt.

"Not as corny as 'Horny For Zorny,' " pointed out Ted Abela, referring to one of the other fan slogans of this young season.

Anyhow, a day that began with a hip, hip, hooray feature from Kenny Mayne on ESPN --"One Two, Buckle Your Shoe!" Rock Cartwright suggested for a future cheer -- ended with only one postgame reference to hips. It came from Portis. He said his hip couldn't get loose all day.

"I mean, it was just one of those days," Portis said.