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Good food, fans, friends and fun made for a great morning as Redskins fever soared in Rehoboth Beach at Browseabout Books’ tailgate party welcoming Michael Richman, author of “The Redskins Encyclopedia.”
“I’ve been impassioned by the Redskins since sixth grade and it was not long after that I decided I wanted to write a book about them,” said Richman at the Aug. 7 event. It’s a passion shared with his 8-year-old daughter Brooke, who joined her dad and helped him at the event.
Rehoboth resident John Ware, originally from Washington, D.C., has been a fan longer than Richman has. “I was 10 years old when the Redskins came to D.C. in 1937,” Ware said. “I’ve always been a Redskins fan and went to all of the games.”
“You’re good and your book is too,” Ware told Richman after asking the author some tricky questions about the team and getting the right answers.
Adding to the celebration were three former Redskins cheerleaders. Rehoboth resident Carol Hall was with the squad from 1964 to 1967. Sherri Paugh cheered from 1974 to 1981, and Karen King from 1978 to 1979. Paugh and King currently reside in Maryland.
Former professional football player Mike Sommer came to Browseabout to join in the festivities, though he had bought the book a day earlier. A running back, Sommer played for the Redskins in 1958 before moving on to the Baltimore Colts from 1959 through 1961. He then became a doctor and worked at Beebe Medical Center for 35 years. He now lives in Rehoboth Beach.
The past met the future as 18-month-old Jacob Reznick joined with his dad Steve to learn how to toss a football. A native Washingtonian who now lives in Portland, Ore., Steve Reznick was delighted to find the Redskins party while vacationing in Rehoboth.
Former Dewey Beach Mayor Bob Frederick also was among the approximately 250 people attending the event. Frederick donated two tickets to a Redskins preseason game to be auctioned off by radio talk show host Dan Gaffney, who broadcasts from Browseabout every Thursday morning. The auction raised $250 for the Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach lifeguards.
Gaffney put Richman on the air to respond to caller questions intended to stump the historian. No one stumped Richman. Grillmaster Dale Thaxton delayed his morning appearance at the office for his computer company, Ameritechnologies, as he prepared and served Kirby and Holloway breakfast sausages and hotdogs for hungry fans throughout the morning.
“This was an excellent event,” said Browseabout Manager Susan McAnelly, noting “The Redskins Encyclopedia” that chronicles the franchise’s first 75 seasons is among the store’s customer favorites.
In addition to statistics, anecdotes, quotes and trivia, the encyclopedia includes player biographies and coach commentaries. Author Richman covered sports as a journalist for more than 20 years. His stories have appeared in Sports Illustrated and the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun newspapers. He also co-hosts “DC Sports Blitz,” an ESPN sports talk show out of Charlottesville, Va.
More information about Richman and the encyclopedia, visit redskinshistorian.com. More information about Browseabout Books and upcoming special events is available by calling 302-226-2665 or visit www.browseaboutbooks.com.
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