It’s time to say goodbye.
Well, at least in this space. After 11 years with 106.7 The Fan, I’m moving on. It’s my eighth pink slip in 11 years. I’m starting to get the hint about retirement.
But, I love writing and covering the Washington Commanders, so I’ve become a Yardbarker columnist. Same job, different website. I’m also beefing up my Rick Snider’s Washington brand on social media and website. That I’m no longer writing for a Washington-based outfit for the first time since 1978 leaves me sad, though. Maybe something will come up.
I’m a sixth-generation Washingtonian who has written about nearly every sports team and major event. The best part of my career was 20 years with The Washington Times, where I grew from preps to horse racing to the Redskins beat. I lived for scoops right up to suffering a massive heart attack at Redskins Park at age 42.
There’s a cost to be on top and I dialed back some after that. Spent eight years with The Washington Examiner and six more with The Post Express. I was lucky to stay with 106.7 The Fan over recent years as corporate cutbacks took everyone around me. I was fortunate to have general manager Chris Kinard protect me as long as he could. I’m exiting with nothing but appreciation.
I can’t pick my favorite person or game or whatever. They’ve all melted over the years into one general experience. Oh, Len Bias’ death was the biggest story I covered. Not even close. Maybe No. 2 was Dan Snyder buying the Redskins. Who knew what a nightmare that would become. No. 3 was the Redskins' final Super Bowl run while No. 4 was 20 Kentucky Derbies. And, maybe George Mason’s Final Four run was No. 5.
My favorite players and coaches? Too many to separate. Really, 99 percent of athletes are good guys. Coaches would be a lower percentage. I don’t really have a favorite Redskins coach, though Joe Gibbs after Sean Taylor’s death was a daily inspiration.
Ironically, I never wanted to cover the Redskins (and the silly Commanders name). Too much pressure, but I reached a career crossroads in 1993 and decided it was the only way to make enough money to stay in the business. It seems to have worked well.
Mostly, I’ll remember hanging out with fellow writers. I sometimes saw them more than my family because sports writing is 24/7/365 and getting worse in the digital age. I honestly don’t see young writers lasting an entire career like I did. I’ve rolled to the finish line on fumes while it was still possible.
I was going to retire during the pandemic after losing several top clients. But, Snyder later said he was selling so I decided to stick around to see what covering a normal team not in daily crisis would be like.
Frankly, it’s a little boring after 25 years of covering a circus, but I’m happy Commanders fans now have a franchise that is no longer a joke. Personally, I wish the team would return to Redskins, but it’s not happening. Time for everyone to move on.
I’ll still have my daily videos on Rick Snider’s Washington across social media, though some format changes are coming. I’m planning new shows like “52 Questions With God” – a weekly Sunday morning discussion of 10 minutes and one subject. I’m trying to find a stage for my play, “The Sermon Writer.” My old cookbook “Secrets of Caveman Cooking” will be updated and released this spring. I’m still tour guiding, too.
And there’s always my four grandkids. I try to mentor my now eighth-generation Washingtonians. Show them one of the world’s leading cities with so many interesting things to do besides sports. Today, we’re wandering Mount Vernon.
I’m not fading away completely, just enjoying semi-retirement with more travel and less injury reports, including my own.
Thank you everyone for reading. God bless.