Generally, when planning to announce something that should elicit pride and enthusiasm, you've perhaps made a severe miscalculation when it does nothing but dredge up feelings of sorrow and grief instead.
The latter is how many Washington Football Team fans felt on Thursday when the organization, in announcing that Sean Taylor would be remembered on Sunday by having his number retired, inadvertently reopened some painful wounds in a misguided attempt to honor his legacy.
Countless fans have been waiting for this moment since Taylor's tragic death in 2007 and would welcome it with open arms. It's just that they feel his legacy deserves more than three days' notice, the amount of time Washington left between announcing its planned tribute to Taylor and when it will actually be carried out on Sunday at FedEx Field.
Since the time of the announcement on Thursday at 9 a.m., Washington fans have been flooding 106.7 The Fan's phone lines to vent their various states of emotion — ranging from anger, frustration and outright disbelief — over how the organization could mishandle something that means so much to them so, so badly.
One of those longtime fans is Tailgate Ted, who called up 'BMitch & Finlay' to stress how deeply he feels his emotions have been betrayed. You could hear Ted fighting back the tears as his voice quivered on the air.
"I imagine you're emotional, dude," JP Finlay said.
"I am, man," Ted confirmed. "The memorial we had at Redskins Park for Sean, I ended up collecting all those items that people left outside those trees and packed them up and gave them to Sean's family, gave them to Pedro, so [Sean's] daughter could see all of those items and how much her dad meant to us."
"The funeral service that they broadcasted — I think on Comcast SportsNet back then — I recorded it and sent DVDs out to Redskins fans that were stationed overseas because they couldn't watch it, because they wanted closure," he said. "For them to do this, to hurt this fan base like this, to just completely mess this up... I'm getting text messages from people I haven't talked to in a decade, because they turned their back on this team, that would have done anything to be at that stadium this Sunday.
"And it really, really hurts me to know that they messed this up so bad and are just tarnishing his legacy, and hurting this fan base even more after we've been through so much these past couple years."
"I don't get it, man," Ted said, voice trembling. "I really don't."
The death of Taylor, who was cut down in the prime of his life at just 24 years of age, when he was murdered in his Miami home, was a tragedy that shocked the D.C. area like few other events. It prompted a days-long period of collective mourning as fans poured into what was then Redskins Park, wrapping their arms around each other over candle light vigils to pay their respects.
For many, it served as a scarring reminder of their own humanity, one they may never truly get over. It's a moment in time that should be treated ever so respectfully, not an item on an agenda to be ticked off for the sake of moving onto the next.
This was, by every measure, a shameful miscalculation. One that lifelong fans won't soon forget.
Just as they've yet to forget Sean Taylor.
Below are several images that should help capture the mood of how people were feeling in the days following his tragic death.
Chief Zee mourns the loss of Sean Taylor
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesZema 'Chief Zee' Williams walks away after addressing the fans at Redskins Park on November 27, 2007. Williams died in July 2016 at the age of 75.
Fans held a candlelight vigil at Redskins Park
Tracy A. Woodward/The The Washington Post via Getty ImagesFans gathered at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va. to hold a candlelight vigil for Sean Taylor after his death.
Fans mourned the loss together
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesFans held a candlelight vigil for Sean Taylor after his death.
21 is more than just a number
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesA fan kneels before Sean Taylor's number 21, which will be retired on Sunday at FedEx Field.
Sean Taylor's parking spot
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesEven Sean Taylor's parking space was memorialized immediately after his death.
Sean Taylor's death was extremely personal
Toni L. Sandys/The The Washington Post via Getty ImagesFans left flowers, footballs, jerseys and other personal effects at a makeshift memorial at Redskins Park.
Sean Taylor's death was felt for generations
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesFans of all ages were impacted by the death of Sean Taylor, perhaps the most revered and electrifying player of an entire generation.
Fans still felt the sting days later
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesSean Taylor's death had an immeasurable effect on the fanbase, which was still reeling from it five days later, when Washington players somehow had to play a football game. Fans contributed to this memorial at FedEx Field before a game against the Bills.
