Byline: Thomas Boswell

With the debut of the Washington Nationals, a professional baseball team is representing Washington, D.C., for the first time since Sept. 30, 1971.

Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell was online Friday, Sept. 9, at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions and comments on the team, Major League Baseball and his recent columns .

Discussion Archives

Newsletter:

Washington Nationals

See a Sample/Sign Up Now

The transcript follows.

____________________

Quantico, Va.: Mr. Boswell;

I'm a season ticket holder and a Nats fanatic, I can't tell you how good it felt to live and virtually die with this team everyday for the past 6 months. I do however have one problem and that is with the past 3 nights attendence, all excuses aside I'm worried that over the weekend the numbers will be dismal especially on Sunday when the competition will be not only the Braves on the field but the Redskins at FEDEX and on TV too. I'm convinced that the Baseball will always play second fiddle in the region to the Redskins. I just don't understand why the local sports media (minus the print guys) can't find a co-existence between the sports like they do in Boston and New York. Care to comment?

Tom Boswell: Look at the attendance all around baseball starting with the Labor day weekend. It's the same way with every comparable franchise. Look at numbers in Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, etc. I just wasn't aware of how much attendance drops in September throughout baseball __with the exception of Wrigley, Fenway and a few others. Heh, after 33 years without a team, why would I study up on something like that!? But now I have. I was talking to jack McKeon last night and he said that the crowds for this series were "for Septemeber." He factored that in immediately. School is back in session. And FOOTBALL __pro, college and high school__ has arrived as competition for sports entertainment dollars and time. You're only going to spend a given amount of your money AND your time to attending sports events. (Also, the Nats and O's have had home games head-to-head recently.)