The Hardwick Exception: A Simple Rule For Those Living in San Diego

I was listening to Charger center Nick Hardwick do his new weekly segment with Darren Smith on XX1090 last week and it was one of his last statements that resonated most with me. Hardwick took exception with a particular brand of behavior and called for a new rule, an edict, a canon if you will. This exception led to him requesting a general code of principal for fans to follow. I couldn't agree more with the tenets of the Hardwick Exception.

One of my co-conspirators and I were discussing the very same issue set forth below not more than two weeks ago and at that time I asked for him to contribute an op/ed piece on the topic......I am still waiting. Nevertheless, this post will serve as the introduction to a forthcoming rant which shall delve much deeper into the subject.

Without further adieu, the words of Nick Hardwick (kind of a shaky transcript of the podcast with a few omissions from the big fella as well as a couple comments from Darren Smith omitted):

We gotta sell this thing out man. I tell ya what I'm sick of--is a lot of Raider fans in the crowd, and I've got a rule I want to put into place about these ticket sales but I don't think it's my place--but just go get your tickets......Here's the thing though--if you've been here longer than five years, and you show up wearing an Eagles jersey or a Steelers jersey to our game, they need to ID you, and if you're from there that's ok, but if your license says California on it...I'll buy your ticket from you...that way I don't have to listen to you.....Cuz our fans are fantastic but I hate that one time a year thing, when ya know, 'hey I'm from Washington', Well who cares ya been here 5 years, yer not goin' back. Ya know what I mean? There's that 5 year rule. You're here, buy in, dig it.

So there it is.....The Hardwick Exception..... Once you've lived here for 5 years start acting like it. He's 6'4", 295 lbs and has 2 arms sleeved in tattoos--I wouldn't take exception to those numbers.

Don't be a jagoff. Do you live in San Diego or not?

You're here.....buy in.....dig it!

Editor's Note:
If you want to catch the part of the interview where #61 discusses this point click the link in the first paragraph and fast forward it to the end. It's worth it.