The Passion of Joe Gibbs
Press Action
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/hand02182004/
Coach’s Return Stirs Faith in Redskins and GOP
By Mark Hand
With the return of the legendary Joe Gibbs as head coach, fans of the Washington Redskins football team have good reason to be optimistic about their team’s future. For the Democratic Party, however, Gibbs’ hiring could portend another four years of Republican control of the White House.
Gibbs’ first go-around as the Skins’ head coach from 1981 to 1993 coincided with the presidencies of Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. During that 12-year span, Gibbs led the Redskins to four Super Bowl appearances, winning three of them.
Two months after Bill Clinton moved into the White House in 1993, Gibbs called it quits as head coach. Gibbs may have interpreted the Democratic victory as a message from God to pack his bags at Redskins Park and ride south to devote his time to the stock car racing business.
In his 11 years away from the Redskins, Gibbs’ legend has grown as the team has fumbled its way through an era of futility and as Gibbs has built a successful second career as a NASCAR team owner. During Clinton’s two terms in office, the Redskins qualified for the playoffs just once, compared to seven playoff appearances under Reagan and Bush I. The Redskins made their only other Super Bowl appearance in 1973 with George Allen (father of current Republican Senator George Allen of Virginia) as head coach and Republican Richard Nixon in the White House.
During his hiatus from football, Gibbs also gained even greater prominence among Christian fundamentalists who hailed the coach for his firm stands against conduct unbecoming of a good Christian. He forged close ties with politicians who he counts on to go to bat for him in his crusades for Christ.
Since assuming the role of Redskins savior in early January, Gibbs has successfully connected with the highest reaches of the U.S. government. The current Republican occupant of the White House has teamed up with Gibbs to spread the GOP gospel to sports fans across the country. This past weekend, George W. Bush stood at Gibbs’ side during the pre-race ceremonies and Leeann Rimes’ singing of the national anthem at the Daytona 500 NASCAR race.
Writing last month on National Review Online, David Hickey said: “President George W. Bush may find a kindred spirit in Coach Gibbs, and don’t be surprised if the Redskins new coach ends up befriending the president, much like Lombardi and (yet another) former Redskin coaching great George Allen were chummy with former President Richard Nixon. It’s too bad that Gibbs is only coming back to D.C. as a coach, and not as an elected official.”
Bush made the campaign trip to the Daytona 500, which was attended by about 200,000 and watched by millions of viewers across the country, to remind racing fans that he’s one of them. During his appearance at Daytona International Speedway, the president also spoke highly of Gibbs after his visit to the pit area. “He’s one class act and a really good guy.”
In the nine months until the November general election, chances are Bush will use his new relationship with Gibbs to convince football fans — who are only a slightly less homogenous political group than NASCAR followers — to support his reelection effort. In exchange, Gibbs will likely count on Bush to implement policies aligned with a Christian fundamentalist agenda.
Through the years, Gibbs has not been shy about imposing his religious beliefs on others. Two years ago, he wrote a letter to the head of Abercrombie & Fitch expressing his displeasure with the clothing retailer’s advertising campaign. Gibbs warned the chief executive that he had connections in Washington. “I have numerous friends on Capitol Hill and intend to speak to them personally as well as forward a copy this letter,” Gibbs wrote. “If given the opportunity to speak before our nation’s political leaders, I will make it a personal goal to speak out about your company.”
Gibbs now has a friend in the White House whose reelection this November will allow the coach’s crusades for Christ to continue to pack a powerful punch against heretics and nonbelievers.
The latest controversy over Mel Gibson’s new film, The Passion of the Christ, has resurrected memories of the protests against Martin Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ. Certain Christian groups took offense to Scorsese’s portrayal of Jesus as weak and sinful. These same fundamentalists are embracing Gibson’s “Passion” as an accurate portrayal of Jesus, free of the negative slant in previous Hollywood productions. Other people, however, say they are offended by the movie’s message blaming Jews for Jesus’ death.
Joe Gibbs’ racing team is doing its part to promote Gibson’s “Passion.” The racecar of one of Gibbs’ drivers, Bobby Labonte, carried an advertisement for the movie on its hood at the Daytona 500.
“I think it’s a great idea, and a terrific way to let people know about this movie,” Gibbs said. “There’s no controversy here, none at all. Everyone is excited about the promo for the movie being on the car, and hopefully we’ll be up near the front during the race and lots of people will get to see it.”
In 1988, though, Gibbs helped to stoke controversy over the release of “Temptation” while he was still coach of the Redskins. Todd Kliman wrote in the Jan. 16-22 issue of the Washington City Paper that Gibbs “was one of the dissenters, dutifully standing outside the Avalon Theatre one day and handing out leaflets that proclaimed his distress at the purported treatment of Christ and urging strangers to boycott a film he had never seen — nor, if he could help it, would ever see.”
With Bush still in the White House and Gibson’s “Passion” about to be released, everything appears calm in Gibbs’ prayer corner. At a National Prayer Breakfast two weeks ago in Washington, Bush and Gibbs were trading kind words. In his speech at the breakfast, Bush said: “And for a lot of people here in Washington, a prayer has been answered with three words: Coach Joe Gibbs. Joe is admired for a great and even more, he is respected for his convictions and character. Joe, we’re glad to see you back on the job.”
Gibbs said he was honored by the recognition in Bush’s speech. “It was a great morning where everyone could focus on prayer and praying for the government — so that to me meant a lot,” the coach said.
For those Americans who want to see less mixing of prayer and politics in Washington, removing Bush from the White House is probably a step in the right direction. And for those fans of rival football teams in the NFL who have no sympathy for the Redskins, installing a non-Republican in the presidency is likely to curse Joe Gibbs’ chances of resurrecting the Washington franchise.
Mark Hand, editor of Press Action, has been a devout follower of the Washington Redskins since 1973.