Doug Dugan http://washingtondiplomats.blogspot.com/2014/04/from-inside-1980-pre-season.html shares more of his memories of the 1980 Diplomats. In addition to the matches,
practices were equally exciting.
“The Dips practice field was
located next to the DC jail. One day we were practicing and a bunch of alarms
started going off. All of the sudden we see two guys come hauling butt past the
field (which was fenced off thank god) heading down toward the (Anacostia) river, which
was nearby. The whole place was surrounded by police and a helicopter. The
police told Gordon (Coach Gordon Bradley) there was an escape, and we were to
stay within the field until they gave us the all clear. A few minutes
later they were putting a soaking wet prisoner into a vehicle. They apparently
got his buddy on the other side of the river.”
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| A view of the Dips practice field, located near RFK Stadium. Note the housing projects in the background. Doug Dugan is at far right. |
