Rick Snider

Rick Snider: Spare parts running Redskins

Ladell Betts isn't the only backup threatening to lead the Washington Redskins offense over the final weeks. The big names are largely sidelined. Chris Samuels is lost for the season; Chris Cooley may not return; Clinton Portis' timetable is uncertain. Three Pro Bowlers are missing from an offense seemingly so lost boy scouts couldn't help them cross the red zone. But the Redskins may be saved by a by collective effort by reserves, not a collective trio of playcallers. Betts' 114 yards propelled Washington to a 27-17 victory over Denver, ending a four-game losing streak on Sunday that threatened to strip the team and followers of any hope of a mid-season turnaround. The runner followed...

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Rick Snider: Shanahan back atop Snyder's wish list?

Did Mike Shanahan just regain the lead to becoming the Washington Redskins next coach? Jon Gruden signed a long-term deal on Monday to remain a "Monday Night Football" analyst that includes a no-exit clause for becoming a coach in 2010. Gruden was considered Redskins owner Dan Snyder's frontrunner among coaches with Super Bowl rings. The pool of Lombardi Trophy-winning coaches is becoming more shallow than a Hollywood agent. Mike Holmgren's recent comments on the Redskins' treatment of current coach Jim Zorn surely crosses him off Snyder's list. Bill Cowher keeps saying he's not interested in coaching. Tony Dungy might be more interested in general manager. Brian Billick's...

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Rick Snider: A pleasant surprise at FedEx

Where has this type of effort been all season? The Redskins finally scored more than 17 points. The crowd cheered to the end. The running game worked; the offensive line held. It was even sunny and pleasant. Finally, things went right. "We've had a desert experience," coach Jim Zorn said. "Very arid if you will the last few weeks. ... You almost don't know how to feel, but we remembered very quickly." The Redskins are only 3-6 after beating the Denver Broncos, 27-17, on Sunday. The victory means little aside falling a few slots back in the spring draft. The playoffs remain a bigger long shot than Zorn remaining after the season. However, a five-week death grip on...

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Snider: An 8-0 finish? You've got to be kidding me

From the file of eternal optimist Jerry Gray, Washington Redskins secondary coach: "I think there is still a lot of goals out there. You can go 10-6 and get into the playoffs and that is pretty much what everybody wants to do is get to the playoffs," he said. "The Philadelphia Eagles were 9-7 [9-6-1] and got to the NFC Championship Game. It can happen, but the big thing is we can't sit around and wait for it to happen. We have got to go and take it." Playoffs? Not wanting to be another bad knockoff of a Jim Mora beer commercial, but puh-puh-playoffs? The Redskins will be lucky to repeat their 2-6 first half over the final eight games starting with the Denver Broncos...

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Rick Snider: Fans starting to stay home

A newcomer and a die-hard both won't be in the stands on Sunday at FedEx Field. The Burgundy Revolution finds followers from both ends. Tim Brown finally gained Washington Redskins season tickets this fall after a 16-year wait. Ryan DeBonis drove from the Philadelphia area for five years, staying overnight for late games. Both expected to attend for many more years. Instead, they're already out. Brown is a transplanted Chicagoan who arrived locally in 1985 when the Redskins were in the midst of three Super Bowls under Joe Gibbs. The Cubs fan was caught up in the local team's success and joined in. Finally, he bought four tickets in section 417. Brown didn't mind the mile high view,...

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Rick Snider: Time for the Redskins to show us something

Will the Redskins play hard enough to keep fans interested over the next eight weeks? It's the only real question remaining with this 2-6 team. Washington might not win another game. Finishing 4-12 may be the real goal given a current four-game losing streak. Fans realize the Redskins have no real shot at the playoffs with a half season remaining. They know coach Jim Zorn is a goner and vice president Vinny Cerrato could be, too. The players whose jerseys are most often worn in the stands are steadily falling to injuries. Quarterback Jason Campbell seems one blitz away from serious injury behind a makeshift line that has another new starter coming Sunday vs. Denver. Clinton Portis has...

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Rick Snider: Skins have checked out

It no longer matters if Redskins coach Jim Zorn stays or goes. Players already have checked out on the coaching staff. Players and coaches can deny it, but the team clearly was not focused despite coming off a bye week. It reeks of Steve Spurrier's days. When your defensive star is fighting on the sideline of his old team, sloppy play causes 10 penalties and five sacks, and mental errors are so common they're no longer shocking, it shows the team isn't scared of the Monday film room. And when players no longer fear coaches, it's time for a change. Not that it will do any good this season record-wise, but a change may produce better efforts than the lackluster 31-17 loss to Atlanta on...

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Rick Snider: Skins civil war takes a turn for the worst

The civil war of the Washington Redskins is getting nasty. Fans are no longer taking sides on coach Jim Zorn or vice president Vinny Cerrato. Their remaining supporters have disappeared. No, it's now all about owner Dan Snyder. And, it's getting personal. The anti-Snyder movement has steadily grown over the last month. Whether it's a new protest group that wants to fire the owner, make him sell or banish Snyder to Outer Mongolia, he has become the city's biggest villain since Richard Nixon claimed he wasn't a crook. But John Riggins recklessly raised the debate over Snyder by making it personal. Riggins said Snyder's heart was dark, meaning he's the son of Satan or something. Riggo,...

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Rick Snider: Hey Dan, go back to saying nothing

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is disappointed in the season. He said it five times in a short session with a couple reporters and the team's own Web site after dedicating a new ball field in Clinton on Tuesday. "Apologetic," "embarrassed" and "frustrated" also were used. "I feel bad for the fans," said Snyder, according to Redskins.com. "I feel sorry for the fans. ... And I'm understanding; I mean, we just feel terrible. We're disappointed and we're embarrassed. And we hope to get it going soon. We're disappointed." Disappointed? Funny, that's how I feel over Snyder's method of breaking his silence. The owner picks a high school...

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Rick Snider: For Redskins, bye week brings welcome case of amnesia

They're back ... whether anyone cares or not. The Redskins returned from their midseason break with a short practice on Monday. Players spent a few days taking their kids trick or treating or bowling, hanging around the practice facility and simply sitting at home. Anything but living in the circus that has become this season. Certainly, a few days away from the latest fire/sell/no-signs movements that turned the 2-5 start into the second coming of a Michael Vick controversy had to help. But the bye can also become a second season divider. The locker room was a little more friendly, the usual laughter returning after several weeks of silence. Todd Yoder taunted linemate Casey Rabach....

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Rick Snider: 'Without Bias' tells an untold story

Twenty-three years after Len Bias' death, we're still debating whether he was a once-only loser in the lottery of tempting cocaine's deadly chances or a regular drug user who went too far. Now the debate finally ends. "Without Bias", appearing Tuesday on ESPN, resolves the remaining issue of perhaps the biggest story in Washington sports over the past quarter century. Brian Tribble, who was doing drugs with Bias when the former Maryland star died on June 19, 1986, tells the whole story. You won't like what you hear. "I felt like the story was never told," said Kirk Fraser, president of District-based May 3 Films and the documentary's producer. "There were so...

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Rick Snider: A perfect time for the Redskins' bye week

The bye week can't happen soon enough for the Washington Redskins. Players departed after Tuesday meetings. They get five days away from the madness and want every minute. Surely more than one will second-guess their decision to board a return flight on Sunday. There's nothing to come back to for them. There's nothing for fans to return after finding something else to do on Sunday. Good luck to those watching good teams on TV instead. That will really anger them. Everyone just wants to move on to 2010 and hope for better days. Then again, why should 2010 be any better than 2008 when owner Dan Snyder couldn't find a big-name coach to take over the team? If Snyder doesn't change his...

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Rick Snider: It's going to be an ugly ending for Redskins

The Washington Redskins were thumped. The stadium was nearly empty at the end. Their top offensive playmaker may be lost for the season. And it still was better than everyone expected. The Philadelphia Eagles sent the Redskins into their bye week with a 2-5 mark following a 27-17 loss on Monday. It was an old-fashioned whipping, one expected for weeks while the Redskins were struggling against the dregs of the league. Good thing the Redskins said coach Jim Zorn was safe for the year or surely this nationally-televised loss would have been his curtain call. Instead, Zorn spent the night looking like the guy waiting for a bus. It probably would have run him over. Like the one that...

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Rick Snider: Gruden and Zorn? Oh the irony

It's bad enough that Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn's emasculation goes national on Monday Night Football. Now Zorn's potential successor, Jon Gruden, essentially debriefed him during pregame preparations. The irony around the Redskins is thicker than a fat chain-smoker becoming U.S. Surgeon General. First Zorn loses offensive playcalling to a consultant straight from the bingo halls of Michigan. Now he has a TV announcer who might soon be sitting at Zorn's desk asking questions. You wonder if Gruden asked Zorn how big the office is, whether there's a trick to the hot water in the shower and where the secret exits are located. Could Zorn recommend a good local barber? How do you...

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Rick Snider: Skins' turmoil is creating problems away from the field

The latest casualty of the Washington Redskins downfall may be the Quarterback Club’s annual dinner honoring the team’s top players. Indeed, no shows aren’t limited to FedEx Field for games. Dario Savarese, director of the 44-year organization, said fan outrage over the team’s poor play coupled with the ongoing recession has tickets sales dramatically short of producing the Player of the Year dinner on Dec. 15 for the first time since its 1969 inception. “The dinner is clearly in jeopardy of not being hosted,” Savarese said. “Redskins interest has waned. People are demoralized. It has trickled into what we do. The Quarterback Club will survive,...

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Rick Snider: Don't believe the Snyder spin

So what's the next move by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder? Firing Jim Zorn. This has all been so predictable. Zorn was only expected to stay two seasons. You knew Snyder eventually would hire his next "consultant" after poor preseason efforts. Consultant Sherman Lewis was the perfect way to remove Zorn, and sure enough, three weeks after arriving not to take anyone's job, Lewis will call offensive plays on Monday vs. Philadelphia. This will be a disaster. The Redskins barely get plays off in time now, without losing several seconds to a relay system from Lewis to assistant coach Sherm Smith to quarterback Jason Campbell. You're going to see a lot of burned timeouts,...

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Rick Snider: Redskins' circus is full of clowns

There is a game going on at Redskins Park. Owner Dan Snyder sent vice president Vinny Cerrato to strip coach Jim Zorn of playcalling power so the owner doesn’t look meddlesome. Cerrato wants Zorn to finish the season so fans don’t concentrate on him next. Zorn is trying to outlast everyone to keep a job he never should have been given or will ever receive again. Meanwhile, the Redskins think the red zone is a red light district to be avoided. Washington may not win again unless Sherman Lewis’ new offense includes a play called B-9 for a bomb to Santana Moss. Lewis has zero chance of success. At least he has his job at the bingo hall to fall back upon. It’s pure...

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Rick Snider: The smart fans stayed home

There were blackouts, boo-birds and the invisible man. The official attendance was 79,572 at FedEx Field for the Redskins' 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. What a joke. The upper deck looked 10 percent filled. The lower deck was one-fourth empty. Lines were short and the revamped parking system finally worked -- probably because the lots seemed empty. Brother, can you spare a calculator? It seemed the smallest regular-season crowd in FedEx Field's 12-year history. The boos weren't so intense because there were 20,000-plus no-shows. That the Redskins conceded attendance for the 91,000 venue was less than 80,000 was telling. Then again, what can you expect on a cold, rainy...

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Rick Snider » The exodus is coming, when depends on Sunday's result

Coach Jim Zorn's fate may be decided on Sunday, even if the end is measured in days, weeks or months. If the Washington Redskins (2-3) lose to the Kansas City Chiefs (0-5) at FedEx Field, Zorn's tenure probably ends after playing Philadelphia on Oct. 26 when the team gets a bye week. But beating Kansas City to avoid falling to a third winless team this season would lift Washington to 3-3 despite facing an unprecedented NFL schedule of six weeks of no opponent sporting a win. It would be hard to fire Zorn at 3-4 and impossible at 4-3. Owner Dan Snyder is working on his 2010 candidate list, topped by Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan, but might promote assistants Jerry Gray or Danny Smith in...

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Rick Snider » Vasquez ready to make this season 'something special'

Gary Williams no longer has a pain in his neck -- on and off the court. A ruptured disc that shot pain down the Maryland basketball coach's left arm for the last decade was removed just eight days ago. But amid the relief came a scarier scenario -- losing his voice for up to a year because the operation crossed his vocal chords. Williams not talking? No red-faced, foot-stomping, old-fashioned officials baiting? That's half the fun of watching the Terrapins as they open Maryland Madness on Friday at Comcast Center. "I was going to have marker boards and the assistants follow me around," joked Williams, who will use a microphone at practices. Ironically, Williams won't need to...

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Rick Snider » Sources: Gruden atop Snyder's wish list

Jon Gruden appears to be the frontrunner in Dan Snyder's offseason search for his seventh coach in 11 seasons. Sources close to Snyder say he began considering options to replace coach Jim Zorn after losing to Detroit on Sept. 27; a victory that ended the Lions' 19-game losing streak. The Redskins loss to Carolina on Sunday was its second in three games to a winless team. It followed a turbulent week when Snyder hired an "offensive consultant" to give Zorn another "fresh set of eyes" on a beleaguered offense. Snyder has not contacted Gruden, say sources, but he believes the former Oakland-Tampa Bay coach might be the best fit among five Super Bowl winning coaches...

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Rick Snider » Redskins lack resolve in loss to Panthers

The Washington Redskins need more offensive consultants. A special teams consultant. Definitely a rules consultant. The Redskins blew a game to a winless opponent for the second time in three games. Carolina seemed the new Detroit, and the Panthers proved so in escaping the tag of the NFL’s worst team at Washington’s expense. Paging Misters Shanahan, Cowher, Holmgren, Dungy and Gruden – Redskins conference call on line 1. This was ground zero. Worse than losing to 0-19 Detroit because Washington led 17-2 before losing 20-17 on Sunday. If this loss doesn’t embolden owner Dan Snyder to replace coach Jim Zorn during the Nov. 1 bye, nothing will. The Redskins...

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Rick Snider » The end of the Zorn era begins

Dan Snyder has set up Jim Zorn for failure. The Washington Redskins are once more a circus as they face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The season is only one-fourth done and already the owner is angling for his next coach. By bringing in “offensive consultant” Sherman Lewis, Snyder will soon have someone to call plays if he fires Zorn. Anyone who doesn’t see how this will end is frankly naïve. Snyder has undermined Zorn with the players and public. Things can only end badly. A continued offensive malaise could send Zorn packing during the Nov. 1 bye. Snyder clearly is working on Zorn’s successor. Lewis bridges the transition while allowing the Redskins to...

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Rick Snider » Zorn, Campbell remain linked as Skins search for answers

Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell are still bunkmates on the good ship Redskins. While the latter was throwing three interceptions, Zorn never thought of benching the quarterback. Nor was the coach changing course. Steady ahead worked as Campbell threw two touchdowns in the 16-13 victory over the Bucs on Sunday. If the Redskins are going down, Zorn and Campbell are going down together. There's no sense splitting up with three months left before both likely spend next season elsewhere. After 20 months together, the pair knows each other so well that Zorn needed only to look into Campbell's eyes to ensure his quarterback was functioning. "I could see he was trying to be...

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Rick Snider: Skins stick with it in win

Jim Zorn wondered what was happening. So did Jason Campbell. Clinton Portis, too. The Washington Redskins were bewildered, fans were belligerent and the franchise seemed belittled. The Redskins managed to find a team that was even more terrible in the 16-13 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was perhaps the worst effort by the home team since fans exited FedEx Field en masse at halftime in a 1998 loss to hapless Arizona. The Redskins are 2-2 amid a collegiate-like non-conference schedule. Washington has consecutively played perhaps the NFL’s three worst teams with 0-3 Carolina next and 0-4 Kansas City afterwards. The Redskins are 2-1 versus perhaps the worst string of opponents...

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Rick Snider » Now that the season's over, time for Nats management to get busy

A wicked season few will remember finally ends for the Washington Nationals come nightfall. While some say it can't end soon enough, or that it has been over since Redskins training camp, I totally disagree. I love the game unconditionally. After waiting 34 years for my favorite sport to return, I'll take bad baseball over no baseball anytime. I wish they played year-round. I even snagged a pair of $5 tickets last week and sat in the distant bleachers with a dozen or so other souls. Those final games are always fun because it's die-hards and not tourists in the stands. One poor soul was scoring the game in his season-long scorebook. Can you imagine having a scorebook from this...

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Rick Snider » Capital appreciation on eve of opener

The season is sold out. The sport's top player actually produces. The first fan festival attracted thousands. Washington, where the only ice usually is found in tall glasses, is now filled with puck heads as the Washington Capitals open the season Thursday night in Boston. "It's hockey town," two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin said. "Everywhere we go I see people with Caps jerseys and Caps hats and they recognize us." Said owner Ted Leonsis: "There's no more discussion on whether this is a hockey town or not. It is. Ratings are through the roof. Our merchandise sales are through the roof. Our attendance is through the roof." That means high expectations. After a...

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Rick Snider » Franchise at the crossroads

The next year may decide whether the Washington Redskins' grip over local sports fans is ending. An embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions has returned the Redskins to rock bottom, where they have too often dwelled over the past decade under owner Dan Snyder. For many fans already upset with Snyder's stewardship, it threatens to be the breaking point of a generational love affair. Snyder will hire his seventh coach in 11 seasons come January. He'll also go quarterback shopping -- again. There's a high draft pick, too. Snyder will promise change, a few die-hard fans will get excited and everyone will talk of rebuilding. But the difference is the public no longer believes change will...

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Rick Snider » Rebuilding time — yet again

The big question isn’t whether Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder fires coach Jim Zorn. The quandary is when does Zorn leave? If Snyder doesn’t fire Zorn after a disgusting 19-14 loss at Detroit on Sunday, the owner is certainly assembling a replacement list. Russ Grimm should be atop it. I earlier defended Zorn because it was too soon to judge. Because he’s a nice guy. Because the Redskins problems are more than just the coach. This isn’t all on Zorn, but it’s apparent Zorn lacks solutions. The offensive playcalling doesn’t work and Zorn’s leadership obviously isn’t there when the team plays its worst first half of football in years....

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Rick Snider » Two teams with eyes set on one much-needed win

It's hard to tell who needs this victory more when the Washington Redskins visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The Lions have lost 19 straight, including the NFL's first 0-16 season last year, and are 0-2 this fall. One more gives Detroit the league's second longest losing streak ever and within six of expansion Tampa Bay's all-time mark. It's a sorry time in MoTown where locals have been blessed with a TV blackout for not selling out Ford Field. But respectable losses to playoff contenders New Orleans and Minnesota have several national and Detroit media outlets picking the Lions to end the madness. The Lions have a promising rookie quarterback and some defensive pickups. They're no...

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Rick Snider » A loss would lead to Redskins rage

It's a good time to get out of town for the Washington Redskins. Sports talk is toxic. A rookie linebacker only needed four letters for Twitter responses. Even in-house announcers are taking shots. I've never seen such a harsh reaction to a victory in 40 years of following the team. Fans don't just want wins, they want style points. But given boos started in the first quarter of the home opener against St. Louis, fans were really venting over a decade of poor ownership by Dan Snyder that promises no end. If this gets any worse, Snyder might try a barnstorming tour instead of returning to Landover. Indeed, if Washington falls at Detroit, holders of a 19-game losing streak, then the...

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Rick Snider » Skins fans, stay calm ... for now

Pitch forks and pink slips seem everywhere around Washington. Angry mobs are debating on the airwaves. It's a wonder no one has been burned in effigy. You'd think this was another presidential election year. The Washington Redskins won on Sunday and the public still wants change. Fans not only booed bad calls throughout the game, but also while players exited after the 9-7 victory over St. Louis. The team won and fans still booed? Guess they didn't cover the point spread. What happens if Washington loses to Detroit on Sunday, as the Detroit Free Press and CBS predict? Will coach Jim Zorn have to find his own way home like Dan Turk after blowing a 1999 playoff game at Tampa...

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Rick Snider » Memo to Zorn: Keep it simple

If the Jim Zorn era ends this coming offseason, we may have just seen why. The Washington Redskins barely survived the hapless St. Louis Rams on Sunday, 9-7. They didn’t score a touchdown. That’s one end zone trip in two games with only good fortune of a lousy opponent keeping Washington from an 0-2 start. Zorn has forgotten more football than I’ll ever know, but I know the look of someone over-thinking: complicating the game too much, trying too many gadget plays, a goal line option pass not by former quarterback Antwaan Randle El, but by running back Clinton Portis — hardly known for his touch air precision. Zorn needs to keep it simple, clear the mind and...

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Rick Snider » Formula to win: Portis=100

As Clinton Portis rocks, the Washington Redskins roll. The formula seems simple — give Portis the ball. The Redskins are 21-5 when the runner gains at least 100 yards. Under coach Jim Zorn, the Redskins are 7-1 when Portis gains at least 80 yards but 1-8 when not. The Redskins have often been a run-first team over the past generation so why not keep handing Portis the rock when the St. Louis Rams visit FedEx Field on Sunday if it means winning? “I’m for that. I’m hip, hip hooray on that,” coach Jim Zorn said. Actually, Zorn says that with a smile. An old quarterback isn’t entrusting his future and the team’s fortunes to just a running game...

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A must-win game in the second week? Absolutely

Is Week 2 too soon for a must-win? Not at all. Football teams play too few games to rebound from bad starts. After losing its opener badly, Maryland needed to beat Division I-AA James Madison to avoid killing its season. The Terps escaped in overtime. Otherwise, basketball season doesn't come soon enough in College Park. Now the crosstown Washington Redskins face the same dilemma against St. Louis on Sunday at FedEx Field. Washington lost its opener and now plays one of the season's sure wins. If the NFL had a Division I-AA level, St. Louis would be at the bottom of it. Ironically, the Redskins thought that last year and the 0-5 Rams won their first game. Washington faces the easiest...

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Haynesworth's heavyweight fight

Lost amid the Washington Redskins' opening loss was an old-fashioned gladiator fight. New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs versus Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. At least 600 combined pounds crashing together in an absolute stalemate. Jacobs needed one yard on consecutive plays sandwiching the first quarter's end. Twice Haynesworth stopped the giant Giant short on the three-yard line, the second time taking the breath from the defensive tackle. Fortunately, it was fourth down to provide added recovery time. Critics will say Haynesworth's line score of four tackles was disappointing for a $100 million man. They're sadly missing the point. Instead, scan...

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Stars sputter in opener

Playmakers let the Washington Redskins down. DeAngelo Hall was awful aside from grabbing a tipped pass. Santana Moss' biggest blow was a haymaker in the opening minutes. Jason Campbell couldn't make a big play until it no longer mattered. LaRon Landry was penalized for a cheap hit. Albert Haynesworth jumped offsides to set up a 45-yard field goal. The New York Giants beat the Redskins 23-17 on Sunday. New York dominated despite the narrow margin. Yet Washington could have stolen it. Take away Campbell's fumble for a Giants touchdown and it may have ended differently. Take away a handful of mistakes and Washington would have won. "We didn't have the poise in situations we needed...

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Success of the Skins is up to Campbell

It all comes down to Jason Campbell. And it all comes down to Campbell's confidence. The Washington Redskins open Sunday against the New York Giants, and if they're to make the playoffs, save coach Jim Zorn's job and salvage Campbell's career, they need a steady year from the passer. Sure, the offensive line must protect Campbell and his receiving corps can't drop another NFL-high 39 balls like last year. The play-calling can't suffer vapor lock when the game clock seems to move faster. But most of all, the Redskins need Campbell to shut out the noise and play ball. Campbell's not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he's good enough. There are enough playmakers around him and a defense...

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A winning year and Snyder can't shop

Reaching the playoffs might be the worst thing for Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Then he can't go offseason shopping. Everyone knows there are five Super Bowl coaches available come January. Mike Shanahan is most rumored to come to Washington, among NFL sources. Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren could be lured elsewhere because Snyder's money doesn't buy everyone anymore. But if the Redskins make the playoffs -- and there's a fair chance they may -- then Snyder has to keep Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell. Who lets a playoff coach and quarterback go? Pittsburgh let a Super Bowl passer move on, but the Steelers know how to build, not rebuild as the Redskins...

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Sonny or Billy? Which Redskins QB stole your heart?

Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer used to cruise the beltway looking for targets. When Jurgensen spotted an "I like Billy" bumper sticker, he would lean out the window and jokingly taunt the driver. Then the Washington Redskins quarterbacks searched for an "I like Sonny" sticker so Billy could do the same. Thirty-seven years later, Jurgensen still chuckles over the memory. Those bumper stickers founded a Washington tradition of fighting over the Redskins' starting quarterback. The iconic strips of burgundy or gold backgrounds and "I root for Washington, and" in small letters followed by "I LIKE SONNY [or] BILLY" lasted only two seasons, but fans have been choosing sides ever since. It...

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Terps must get back on horse

Amid the worst of game film, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen found promise of better days. The 52-13 whipping by No. 14 California on Sept. 5 was the Terrapins' worst season-opening loss since the school's very first game in 1892. The defense allowed 542 yards, second most in Friedgen's nine seasons to the 2002 Orange Bowl defeat to Florida in Steve Spurrier's final game before joining the Washington Redskins. Friedgen admitted pregame concern that the young Terps were outmatched. Turns out they were overrun. But it's not getting knocked down that truly matters. It's how Maryland gets back up. The Terps really weren't measured by the loss to California because Maryland was a 22-point...

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Can Skins learn from preseason?

The preseason was a dangerous illusion. The Washington Redskins defense looked spotty, the third down defense vulnerable. The offense sputtered and the running game was non-existent. The Redskins deserved the 1-3 mark. Yet, none of that matters. The Redskins could turn around when opening at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Coach Joe Gibbs was notorious for awful Augusts even during Super Bowl seasons. Then again, some bad preseasons didn't change come Labor Day. What will the Redskins be this season? A passing team despite traditionally running? A dominant defensive line that doesn't pressure the passer? Not likely. Clinton Portis ends his traditional preseason boycott to lead the...

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Skins at risk of losing fans

Is the Washington Redskins' 40-year grip on local fans ending? Seriously, the Redskins are a half misstep away from no longer dominating the local sports scene. They're only lucky the Wizards and Nationals are truly awful and the Capitals are, well, a hockey team. A great organization and lots of fun, but an ice sport in a Southern town only gains so much traction. College teams are interesting, but only own a few weeks on the calendar. If another team could muster a serious title run, especially the Wiz because Washington is a basketball town most of all when combined with Maryland and Georgetown, then the Redskins would be the second team just like they were before Vince Lombardi's...

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Colt or Chase? Who ya got?

It's not the game's final moments that define a coach. Nor is it gadget plays and halftime speeches. For a peek inside a coach's mind, you look at the end of the roster. Does he only care about the marquee players and not even know the names of lesser reserves (like Steve Spurrier) or agonize over the third-string quarterback who may never play (like Jim Zorn)? The Zen of Zorn plays out on Thursday when Washington meets Jacksonville. The preseason finale may decide the Redskins' kicker, reserve receiver or running back and some linemen, but the most interesting part after the starters disappear in the first quarter is the duel between quarterbacks Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel. Rather,...

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Sunshine Cali goes back west

Sunshine Cali has grown up. Maryland quarterback Chris Turner no longer is the laid back Southern Cal passer whose overgrown blonde locks and carefree attitude earned him that silly nickname. His family and friends notice the more "frantic" Eastern attitude whenever he returns. The curly hair now is more manageable than the former Napoleon Dynamite look. Turner is a senior, a team captain. A former Capitol Hill intern who hopes one more season launches him into the NFL before maybe later returning to Washington as a legislator. There's still some "dude" remaining, though. "I'm born and raised as a Californian. It will always be where I'm from, but I do have an...

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Rick Snider: Even in loss, 'Skins shine

If this was the dress rehearsal, the Washington Redskins saw a role reversal. This time the starting offense shined and the defense dived. Two quarterbacks seemingly clinched their slots while defenders saw tire tracks on their jerseys. It was a strange night, but the Redskins revealed in their biggest exhibition game that they'll compete this season despite Washington's 27-24 loss to New England on Friday. The offense shirked two poor preseason outings to suddenly show some muscle largely thanks to Jason Campbell. The beleaguered passer silenced critics by leading the Redskins to 17 points, including a nifty touchdown run, before leaving midway in the third quarter. Campbell didn't...

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A QB controversy that doesn't exist

It's a civil war of quarterbacks. Some Washington Redskins fans want Jason Campbell cut after playing New England on Friday. Certain ones want Colt Brennan over Campbell, but others Chase Daniel over Brennan. Somehow Todd Collins goes from backup to kingpin in different scenarios. For the math geeks (sorry, fantasy league players) keeping score, it's (A>B + C>D) + (D>C + C>A + B>A) - (A + C) = ? No wonder it seems confusing. Well, let's make it simple since nothing has changed from day 1 and nothing will change during final cuts on Sept. 5. Campbell starts. Collins is No. 2. Brennan is the third-stringer. Daniel is on somebody's practice squad this fall. What is...

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Mason hopes third time's a charm

Marcus Mason is so close to living his dream. The Washington Redskins running back needs another flash of potential against New England on Friday. Like the brilliance that gained the most rushing yards in Maryland prep history and two standout seasons at Youngstown State before leading the NFL in rushing during the 2008 preseason. Mason sits fourth on a team likely to carry three running backs. It was the same in 2007 when he was cut as a rookie free agent. Same thing last year. Come Sept. 5, it could happen again. "Third time's the charm -- that's how I'm looking at it," Mason said. "I ask myself what do I have to do? I try to make some plays, the right blocking...

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Skins need to show some teeth

The Washington Redskins were looking for some togetherness. An offense flowing better than a sun dress on a warm summer night. A defense showing the glistening teeth of the coming lion's roar. At the preseason's midpoint, the Redskins achieved half their goals. The defense, for a few snaps with $100 million man Albert Haynesworth, was pure gold. A cold chill just went through offensive coordinators leaguewide at the sight of the Redskins pouring across the line like desperate brides at a Filene's Basement sale. But the offense once more looked lost in the red zone. Overlooked in the 17-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday was the two touchdowns were thrown by a rookie...

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It comes down to the offensive line

Training camp is over for the Washington Redskins. The preseason is halfway finished. Just 21 days until the real games begin. What did we learn over summer vacation in Ashburn? The Redskins aren't as good as we hoped. Unless the offensive line improves more than a voice-cracking adolescent at choir practice, a losing season seems probable. Guess money still doesn't buy success. Oh, $100 million did buy an impact defensive tackle. Albert Haynesworth is the real deal. Probably the team's best lineman since Charles Mann departed in 1994. The Redskins should get 20 sacks combined from Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter while Haynesworth battles the right side. But improving the defense is...

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Skins preseason lacks support

It's an interesting time in Redskinsland. The Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Redskins on Saturday, and you wonder whose fans will fill FedEx Field. More than 4,600 tickets were available online this week, some for as little as one-third the face value. Several longtime season-ticket holders who gave up their once prized passes say a combination of the recession, perennial disappointing seasons and simply the hassle of game days finally proved not worth the money and time. Not that the ticket office hasn't stopped calling, offering incentives and payment plans for the first time those fans could remember. Seems that alleged 200,000-person waiting list has been played...

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In face of criticism, Campbell stands tall

The candidate list has been exhausted. Jay Cutler was supposed to be the next quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He landed in Chicago. Mark Sanchez was coming. He's with the New York Jets. Michael Vick ended up in Philadelphia. Colt Brennan? Still looking like a third stringer after a poor preseason opener. Jason Campbell has survived more attempted coups than a Third World dictator. Maybe a little tattered and worn after an emotional six months, but those competing flavors of the month all melted away. Campbell starts against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, knowing not everyone wants him. There were a few offseason meetings with coach Jim Zorn and the front office to sooth...

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Nats gain an ace and a GM to boot

The Washington Nationals secured an ace pitcher and general manager in one night. The Nats survived a stare down with super agent Scott Boras, inking a $15.1 million deal for pitcher Stephen Strasburg with 77 seconds remaining before Monday's deadline to sign draft picks. Washington now has the consensus best pitching prospect in a generation and a GM candidate that didn't wilt against the game's top negotiator. Boras has been talking crazy since the June 9 draft, demanding $50 million or Strasburg would play in Japan or re-enter the draft in 2010. Given the record deal for a draftee was Mark Prior's $10.5 million deal in 2001, Boras' near five-fold demand was laughable. Still, Boras...

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Skins could have used Vick

The worst thing to happen to the Washington Redskins on Thursday night wasn't losing their preseason opener. No one will remember it come September. No, the loss that may haunt Washington for years will be Michael Vick signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins should have pursued Vick as a long-term quarterback option and short-term energizer for an offense that needs help. The Examiner first reported the Redskins' decision not to pursue Vick in June. It seemed a reasonable position then given the offense appeared good enough to contend alongside the team's highly-regarded defense. The first two weeks of training camp revealed an offensive line not good enough to contend in...

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Skins stall in preseason opener

BALTIMORE - Uh oh, maybe the defense also bears a strong look. The Washington Redskins offensive starters did nothing against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. Two series, three first downs by the pass, zero points. Can't say it was that surprising. But the defense, minus starters Albert Haynesworth (rested) and Carlos Rogers (calf), looked sketchy against an average offense. The Ravens exploited Haynesworth's absence along the line and Rogers' loss in the secondary to steadily keep the Redskins off-balanced. Baltimore went 13 snaps on its first drive and 14 on the second for short field goals. The Ravens consumed more than 12 minutes on those two possessions. Basically, it was a...

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NFL preseason needs to go

The NFL preseason is the biggest robbery since John Dillinger ripped through the banks in the Midwest. Forget players in helmets — try owners in masks. This is the Bernie Madoff section of the season when fans are fleeced for regular-season prices while watching glorified exhibition games. If you bought a Broadway ticket and the cast was all stand-ins, you'd feel cheated. If you paid to see Paul McCartney and he sang one song before letting the backups belt out the rest, you'd want a refund. So why does the NFL cheat fans by forcing ticket holders to pay full price for half-hearted efforts? It's time to move to an 18-game regular season with a two-game preseason because this is...

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Friedgen, Terps rounding into shape

It's hard to tell who has lost more -- the coach or the roster. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen dropped 105 pounds over the offseason. He has also lost 30 seniors from last season. You wonder whether either has enough left to muscle through another ACC season. Actually, Friedgen is still working on another 45 pounds, an amazing accomplishment for the 62-year-old. But his team might not have the same determination this season. The Terrapins have only 10 starters returning from last year's 8-5 Humanitarian Bowl squad, including four on defense. There's also a new defensive coordinator, which some say is a positive. Still, when a team touts its two preseason All-Americans as the punter and...

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Horton embraces nickname, role

The Predator is back. Washington Redskins safety Chris Horton is ready to hunt. Last year's seventh-round sensation became an instant cult figure with three turnovers in his first start. A blogger hung the nickname on Horton and it has more than stuck. He now sells merchandise on predator48.com. "People yell, 'Hey, Predator, Predator,'" Horton said. "It's fun. I enjoy making people happy. All [the movie character] did was hunt and that's how I play football. I'm just looking to hunt." There's some truth to the moniker. Horton has a swagger -- a quiet demeanor in dreadlocks daring to be tested. Horton is an equal member of a secondary that stars DeAngelo Hall and...

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Campbell needs room to operate

A week from the first live snap and already Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is the center of sports talk. Campbell told Sports Illustrated that "there were a couple of times in the offseason I felt like a piece of tissue they were flushing down the toilet." That's funny because last season went down the same way despite a 6-2 start. "Who's the quarterback in 2010" is the second-hottest topic among fans, trailing only "Who's the next coach?" Campbell has backers, but they aren't in the front office. Owner Dan Snyder tried to trade for Jay Cutler and draft Mark Sanchez over the offseason despite having a 27-year-old passer with an 80.4 rating...

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Samuels out to prove his value

It’s not easy living on the left edge for Chris Samuels. DeMarcus Ware awaits him this fall. So do Trent Cole, Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora and every other top pass rusher. They all want to beat the six-time Pro Bowler to earn their own trip to Miami. But game days may be easier than training camp. Between Washington Redskins rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo trying to speed rush outside and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth on the inside, the left tackle’s workouts are workovers. Samuels needs to keep his head on a swivel. They’re trying to serve it on a plate. It has been 10 years since LaVar Arrington and Samuels were taken with the second and third picks...

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Daniels looking sharp in return

Phillip Daniels is not returning for a final bow. He’s back to deliver a few blows. The defensive end is the oldest Washington Redskin, one of the few who remember the ’70s. Yet he’s not simply trying to reach his third decade in the NFL. No, Daniels has even more in mind. “I could play another four or five years,” he said. “I have a son who’s a junior in high school. We joke about I might still be in the pros when you get there. That would be crazy. You know the team would have to draft him. I wouldn’t let him go nowhere else." Daniels isn’t going anywhere else, either. The 36-year-old scares even new teammate Albert...

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Let the backup battle begin

Washingtonians love quarterback controversies, even if they have to go to the backup slot. Jason Campbell is No. 1. At least for this season. Let next year worry about itself. But Redskins fans can still argue over the position -- this time pitting Todd Collins versus Colt Brennan. For fans, it's a no-lose competition. Coach Jim Zorn plans to play the tandem, plus fourth-stringer Chase Daniel, throughout the preseason beginning Aug. 13 against Baltimore. Campbell gets the traditional short sessions to avoid injury, but Zorn is already intrigued over the reserve role. Collins is currently No. 2. "I really want to see Colt," Zorn said. "I think he's worked hard this...

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Orakpo should sign soon

A first-round holdout is usually a big deal. Instead, the Washington Redskins aren't sweating the reporting date for Brian Orakpo É yet. The 13th overall selection missed training camp's Thursday start. Orakpo may miss more until the market shows his worth. Given a glut of unsigned first-rounders league wide, it's not the usual 10 percent over last season deal that's quickly signed. Agents fear leaving money on the table more than holdouts. Competitors will tell next year's rookies that agent didn't get his man every dollar. The rookie instead signs with competing agents. It's a bloody business. Normally, the Redskins could threaten Orakpo with the loss of starting time at...

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Zorn: 'We're on our way'

Training camp’s opening day is no different than the first day of a beach vacation. It may rain later in the week and a sunburn is looming. You know the fun times will end. But for now, it’s all upside. The Washington Redskins believe they can make the playoffs. A 10-win season is possible, though in the NFC East that might only buy the second wild card. Long before injuries decimate the roster, opponents decipher playcalling or quarterback Jason Campbell is befuddled, the upside remains possible. “We’re on our way,” coach Jim Zorn said. “We’re not starting out with an injury report.” Campbell is the key. Critics believe he’s not...

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Stop this Vick nonsense

Michael Vick is not coming to the Washington Redskins. In other rehashed news, the Titanic sank and man walked on the moon. Seriously, the Vick-to-Redskins talk yesterday was hotter than Constitution Avenue at noon. Despite The Examiner breaking the story in June of the Redskins' non-interest, many still believe owner Dan Snyder will make the bold move to sign Vick. The longer Vick goes unsigned, the more people clamor for him. Redskins fans are always ready to move on to the next passer, even when there's a good one in place. The problem is there hasn't been a good one in awhile. Brad Johnson in 1999 was probably the last and cast out by Snyder immediately. If Snyder openly lusted for...

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In the NFL, it's all about the quarterback

What is it about quarterbacks that brings out the drama? Brett Favre is dancing with Minnesota. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was sued for alleged rape. Michael Vick is on parole and wants reinstatement. Then there are the traditional quarterback controversies that happen on the field. Washington fans debate over Jason Campbell entering his final year. Just wait until backup Colt Brennan lights up reserve defenders in the preseason. Sports talk radio will forget everything else. There's something about passers that encapsulate the passion of the game. Maybe it's because quarterbacks are truly the epicenter on what's happening on the field. Teams rarely win more than a game or two...

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The temptations of the NFL

There are guards by hotel elevator doors where the Washington Redskins stay. They're protecting the 300-pound behemoths not from thieves and murderers, but 100-pounders whose best punch wouldn't bruise a player. You wonder how players repeatedly find themselves involved in scandals like Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was recently accused of rape. However, athletes aren't any different than politicians, CEOs and other prominent men -- where there's money and power, there's temptation. The NFL has a mandatory three-day rookie seminar largely devoted to recognizing and defusing compromising situations. During the Redskins' triple Super Bowl titles under Joe Gibbs, players...

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Goodell, you're on the clock

A quick answer should be given to Michael Vick's reinstatement request to the NFL. And it should be no -- for one more season. The NFL doesn't owe Vick anything -- whether it's a timely reply or his return. But commissioner Roger Goodell does owe the league the chance to end this growing distraction quickly. Every day Vick's status lingers is another round of questions like whether the Washington Redskins will sign Vick. The Redskins aren't considering Vick, yet reports this week make Washington one of three potential teams because owner Dan Snyder has earned his reputation as someone willing to do anything to win. Redskins fans are debating whether Vick should return. Whether the...

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LaVar leading way on 'The Fan'

LaVar Arrington may be an impact player once again. When 106.7 The Fan debuted on Monday, the new all-sports station in Fairfax suddenly gave Washington fans some options. ESPN 980 no longer monopolizes despite a mixture of national morning shows and signal that dies at sundown. Washingtonians will become dial hoppers. Fans likely will listen to which show they prefer without pledging allegance to one station. Sometimes it just comes down to what's being discussed for the next 10 minutes. It's going to be close for now. The old WTEM has an edge in a longtime following and John Thompson faithful. But, The Fan has better hosts and more local content. The Junkies return to their original...

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The future of coach Zorn rests in Campbell's hands

Albert Haynesworth won't determine the Washington Redskins' fortunes this fall. Neither will Brian Orakpo, Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley or Santana Moss. It all comes down to quarterback Jason Campbell. Eleven days before training camp opens, the Redskins still wonder if Campbell can lead them. Four years after trading two first-rounders to draft Campbell, the Redskins twice tried to replace him over the offseason. First the trade for Jay Cutler didn't work, then plans for drafting Mark Sanchez failed. Instead, Campbell is the lamest duck since Daffy. Campbell is a free agent after this season. If he doesn't play well, coach Jim Zorn probably exits, too. Their fortunes and futures are...

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Nats turnaround falls on owners

Let's just say it -- the Washington Nationals appear clueless. Firing manager Manny Acta won't make any noticeable difference. The Nats may still finish with baseball's worst record ever. Everybody has hope in the season's second half that starts Thursday, said President Obama during the All-Star Game on Tuesday before adding, "Except the Nationals." Sorry, it's hard to take baseball advice from someone who throws like a beer league rainbow pitcher and wears a Chicago White Sox jacket. The Nats shouldn't need nearly a century to win a World Series, unlike the south side team. First the president stiffs Nats fans on Opening Day and now he stiff armed them on national TV by...

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Don't blame Acta for this big mess

It was hard to tell if the Washington Nationals hired or fired manager Manny Acta. President Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo outlined Acta’s positives and never dwelled on negatives during a news conference on Monday. Kasten said Acta would be a standout manager one day. Just not here. It’s hard to argue against firing the third-year manager, who was 158-252 overall. The Nats are the baseball’s worst team for the second straight year at 26-61. Each year was progressively worse. Somebody had to go. General manager Jim Bowden was forced out before the season. Kasten certainly isn’t leaving as part-owner. That left Acta, who was dealt a terrible...

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Will NatsTown become a ghost town?

The Washington Nationals break three days for the All-Star Game. You wonder who's returning? After a false alarm firing last month, the deed was finally done as the Nats fired manager Manny Acta late on Sunday. The Nats didn't do much to save the coach's job. They're so far in last place that 1962 New York Mets survivors are laughing at the Nats to replace them as baseball's worst team ever. The only race the Nats are winning is for the first pick of next year's draft — for the second straight season. And, it would take a couple winning months to blow that pick. With the trade deadline looming, Washington figures to only get worse in the final two months if peddling top...

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Redskins coaches changed the style of the NFL

Washington Redskins coach Vince Lombardi was through by cocktail hour. George Allen stayed late. Joe Gibbs often didn't go home. The three legendary coaches' time cards were vastly different. Yet, if current Redskins coach Jim Zorn wonders why he works more hours than a fire fighter pulling double shifts, he can thank Allen for turning successors into zombies. Lombardi is the gold standard of success. The Super Bowl trophy is named after him. The Green Bay Packers legend, who spent his last season in Washington before dying in 1970, barely worked Saturdays, ran 90-minute practices and let quarterbacks call their own plays. Lombardi regularly took his staff out for a pre-dinner drink,...

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Fearless Forecast for week of 7/12/09

EVENTS TO WATCH PGA » British Open Thu.-Fri. (TNT, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.); Sat. (TNT, 7-9 a.m.; ABC 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.); Sun. (TNT, 6-8 a.m.; ABC 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) This could be a one-man story line as Tiger Woods pursues his 15th major championship. Don't look to two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington, who has missed five straight cuts. And four words for Sergio Garcia on the slow greens of Turnberry -- find your happy place. MLB » 80th All-Star Game Tuesday, FOX, 8 p.m. This is the time of year for baseball fans to forget what their team is doing (a real good thing here in D.C.) and enjoy America's pastime at it's highest level. St. Louis, a great baseball town,...

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Lombardi paved the way for Redskins' turnaround

Sonny Jurgensen checked with opposing players about the new coach. So did Sam Huff. Rookie Larry Brown read a book on the incoming boss. They knew one thing -- being very early was being on time -- Lombardi Time. "It was a 10 o'clock meeting. I was there at 9:30," said Jurgensen of the first encounter with Lombardi. "Twenty minutes to 10, the meeting starts. Everybody was there. Some kid [Ray McDonald] comes in about 10 of 10 and Lombardi said, 'What's your name, young man?' He said, 'You obviously don't care enough about making this football team. You're late.' The kid was shaking. He didn't make the team either. Lombardi got everybody's attention with...

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Here comes the Favre show

Any day now, Brett Favre will return to the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings start selling single-game tickets on July 20. Favre will surely be there to spur thousands of sales for one of the few franchises that need a pitch man. The most hated man in Minnesota for 16 seasons will soon be a Viking pending his expected contract signing. A Green Bay Packer quarterbacking the Vikings would be worse than Dallas passer Roger Staubach replacing Washington's Sonny Jurgensen. Green Bay-Minnesota has surpassed the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry. Green Bay fans buy Minnesota season tickets just to come to one game. They attend Vikings games when the Packers aren't playing just to razz the latter. Now that's...

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Day four battle falls a bit short

For someone whose career has long been weighed against legends, Tiger Woods is used to competing with unseen foes. Anthony Kim and Woods both entered the AT&T National’s final round on Sunday 10-under. Hunter Mahan? He was six shots back. Kim won the tournament last year and set a Congressional Country Club record on Thursday. Fans relished Woods facing the young challenger. However, this is literally Woods’ tournament. The host hadn’t lost a final-day lead since 2004. Kim spent more time on the left than Nancy Pelosi to never truly threaten Woods after the latter made up three strokes in three holes on the front nine. Kim largely spent the afternoon two shots...

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Zim might be the only Nat you'll be meeting in St. Louis

Can the Washington Nationals sneak a second player into the All-Star Game? Ryan Zimmerman is the first choice when rosters are announced on Sunday, but Cristian Guzman, Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn are having solid seasons. The problem is the Nats are once again baseball's worst team. They have to hit 20 points better than rivals to gain voters' respect. Meanwhile, the Nats sure won't send any pitchers to the game. Not unless it's for the home run derby. The Nats tried to stuff the ballot box at the stadium. Too bad they couldn't stuff the ballpark first. Maybe dead people vote in local elections, but baseball requires real bodies to punch the cards distributed at the gate. The Nats'...

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Kim conquering Congressional

The AT&T National may technically be Tiger Woods' tournament, but Anthony Kim seems to own it. The defending champion, Kim set the Congressional Country Club record with a 62 in Thursday's opening round before Woods even started. Firing a 29 over the last nine holes with six birdies, Kim could've done one shot better, but missed a nine-foot putt on his final hole. Not bad for someone playing with almost one arm. "Just because I shot 62 doesn't take away that bitter taste in my mouth when I'm not contending for tournaments," Kim said. "It's awful when you come out here [and] finish 20th and 30th. I'm finally getting to that point that I'm going to win every time I tee...

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A stunning kickoff at Congressional

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback was booed while his singer-actress girlfriend was cheered. The Wounded Warriors were the heroes while Tiger Woods snuck in some time inbetween. The ceremonial first tee shot has grown from the warmup act to the main show on the eve of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club on Wednesday. From a Navy drill team catching flying bayonet-tipped rifles to four pencil-dot jumpers screaming 120 mph downward to the first green, several thousand fans cheered nearly nonstop over 30 minutes. The crowd lined up sometimes 10 deep for nearly 100 yards down the first fairway to see Woods get outdistanced by two wounded veterans from nearby Walter Reed Army...

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Tiger's versatile side

Tiger Woods has a bagful of connections. The icon's paired with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and House Minority leader John Boehner in Wednesday's Pro-Am for the AT&T National. President Obama couldn't come despite Woods' request. Too bad -- it would have been interesting to see who was the bigger attraction: Woods or Obama? Woods talked of his friends Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Roger Federer on Tuesday, a wide grin enveloping an often serious face. Woods chats with Jordan at odd hours, swaps texts with Federer daily and mourns the King of Pop's death like many of his generation. This sounds like the old question -- what historical figure would you want to have as...

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Time for the Nats to trade a first baseman for some bullpen help

The trade deadline is still one month away, but the Washington Nationals should be already eyeing moves. It may be the only way to save 2010. The Nats hit well enough to contend. And somehow the major's worst defense must improve if manager Manny Acta has to repeat his minor league fielding drills every day. The starting pitching is showing young life. But, this team badly needs relievers -- short and long. Washington has an extra first baseman. Nick Johnson is the catalyst for the lineup, but Adam Dunn is the pop. Still, Washington will finish last with both of them. Can the Nats part with one in hopes of moving up in the future? Maybe pry a pitcher from the New York Mets? It's a...

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Caps are the draft experts

The one team in town that drafts well, no longer needs to do so. The Washington Capitals enter Friday's NHL draft with their lowest overall selection (24th) in eight years and fewest picks since 2005. Yet, the Caps aren't panicked by their sudden scarcity of prospects. They're already deep in the pipeline. Affiliates Hershey Bears (AHL) and South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) both won championships last season. Surely there are coming stars on those rosters. Meanwhile, Washington was an overtime goal away from beating eventual Stanley Cup winner Pittsburgh so the Caps' second-round exit doesn't look so bad anymore. Washington has arrived — a young roster braced for several years of...

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Wizards blow it again

The Washington Wizards blew the draft and they didn’t even have to pick. Trading the fifth overall selection in Thursday’s NBA draft plus a handful of reserves for two fair players doesn’t help this team. It gets rid of worthless backups and saves $3 million, but do you really think owner Abe Pollin cares about money nowadays? The Wiz mostly need Gilbert Arenas to remain healthy for the first time in three years to make the playoffs. Indeed, keeping the top four players intact will advance Washington into the postseason. However, the Wiz were hoping their worst season ever would result in an impact draft pick. Instead, the draft lottery left them with the fifth choice...

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The BoSox stage a ballpark takeover

The Green Monster swallowed Nationals Park. The Boston Red Sox returned to Washington on Tuesday for the first time since Sept. 19, 1971 -- two weeks before the Senators' departure created a 34-year void. Red Sox Nation owned the ballpark with David Ortiz jerseys filling the stands. Nats fans came alive when Adam Dunn doubled in the first run, but the crowd roared when Boston's Jason Bay homered. It was a big-game atmosphere, the kind Nats president Stan Kasten swears is coming despite another cellar-dwelling season. The three games against Boston is the signature series of a miserable year. Longtime Washingtonians felt nostalgic for the days of playing in the American League. When...

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Nats are Kasten's folly

First general manager Jim Bowden "resigned." Then center fielder Lastings Milledge was exiled to the minors while the pitching staff and its coach were sent packing, too. Now manager Manny Acta appears next to depart as the team bus always seems to return with fewer passengers. The Washington Nationals are baseball's joke. The 16-45 record is so far in last place that visiting fans and Nats loyalists are practically the only ones filling a half-empty ballpark. It's not just New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore fans, but even Cincinnati, which is a generation removed from its Big Red Machine powerhouses. What's next? I'll tell you what's next -- team president Stan Kasten...

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Snyder's Redskins: 10 years later

Dan Snyder celebrated his 10th anniversary of gaining control of the Washington Redskins recently. My how money flies even when not having fun. Let's take stock of what the Decade of Dan has brought the Redskins since Snyder was approved by NFL owners on June 10, 1999. For more than $1 billion in payroll, the Redskins have managed: » Six coaches. Bet you can't name them all. Norv Turner, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Joe Gibbs and Jim Zorn are easy. Did you remember Terry Robiskie finishing 1-2 in 2000? It would have been Pepper Rodgers had the staff not balked. » Three general managers/vice presidents. Charley Casserly lasted a week. Joe Mendes gutted out two...

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Cooley's project: A Hollywood start?

Chris Cooley hopes his latest effort draws boos. The Washington Redskins tight end is producing "Ghosts Don't Exist," an indie-film that could appear at fall festivals. Cooley helped raise the money on the ghost hunter flick while managing a cameo appearance. Maybe it's the next "Blair Witch Project." Perhaps it goes straight to video. It's the latest creative effort by Cooley that includes a blog and videos. "I feel like we made a good movie," Cooley said. "The hype is definitely bigger than I expected. I didn't know what to expect on how the media would take to it with my name. The excitement has been outstanding. "There's a need market for it....

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Gronberg red hot down the stretch

Mathias Gronberg could have broken a Las Vegas casino with the hottest run of his life. The Swede won the Melwood Prince George's County Open at The County Club at Woodmore on Sunday after playing most of the 72-hole tournament in 36 hours. He shot virtual twin doubleheaders on consecutive days after rain limited him to 11 holes on Thursday and none on Friday. The overtime didn't bother Gronberg though, finishing 19-under to win by six strokes. "When you're playing good you want to keep on playing. I don't feel that tired after playing this kind of golf," he said. "I remember when I was 10 [years old] playing 72 holes in one day -- crazy, Swedish golf." It was...

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Upsets lurking at the Belmont

The filly is gone and so is the drama. Saturday's Belmont Stakes is the end of the Triple Crown with no one seeking the sweep. No one with four legs, that is. The most curious Triple Crown championship ever could be jockey Calvin Borel's. The first rider to ever win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on different horses is back aboard Derby champion Mine That Bird after a series of strange events. Borel won the Derby aboard 50 to 1 long shot Mine That Bird, then opted to ride filly sensation Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Jockeys rarely jump off a Derby winner, but Borel made the right call in taking the Preakness by one-length over runner-up Mine That Bird. Mine That Bird's...

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Smoot getting wiser with age

The young turk has become the tribal elder. Fred Smoot, the smack-talking locker room jokester, didn’t berate rookie Kevin Barnes during minicamp when the latter mentioned Smoot was getting old. In the old days, Smoot would have skewered Barnes with non-stop taunts that sent teammates scurrying in past years. Smoot is the old man in the secondary as the Washington Redskins continue OTAs on Monday. He turned 30 in April, a milestone when speed starts to fade and coaches start looking for fresh legs like Barnes. A 2001 second-rounder, Smoot is now a third wheel that’s still valued during multi-receiver sets. He’s working harder in the offseason weight room to keep from...

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Mitchell a regular on charity circuit

The only thing Brian Mitchell loves more than a round of golf is 36 holes. The torrential rain didn't inhibit his recent double-header at the Country Club of Woodmore. The former Washington Redskins still relishes competition. "You're competing against yourself," he said, "but I get out there with friends. We talk back and forth and they love it." Mitchell hosts the Melwood Prince George's County Open on Thursday at Woodmore. The Redskins greatest special teams player ever is now a regular on the charity circuit, promoting the Red Cross, American Heart Association, March of Dimes and others. "The more people see what Brian Mitchell does, the more I can do for...

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Skins scratchoff is a sucker game

Washington Redskins fans are used to long-shot odds. Now the team thinks they're suckers, too. The Redskins and the Virginia Lottery are combining on a new scratchoff game under a recent NFL deal for all teams. You know the drill -- run your quarter across the three bars, win nothing, curse and throw the card in the trash. Lotteries are sucker games. They peddle the dream of being the one in a million that draws desperate souls, often the poorest of society, to bet their money. Actually, it's a bigger long shot than that. Odds of winning the Mega Millions Lottery 5+ Mega Ball game are 175,711,536 to 1. The odds of being killed by lightning are 2,320,000 to 1. Chances of dating a super...

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Young pitchers showing spark

Salvation comes in strange ways. The Washington Nationals discovered it in the most unlikely place -- the mound. Once the black hole of the diamond, desperation created a solution. A group of young arms is giving the Nats some hope their second straight lost season won't carry over into 2010. Shairon Martis is 5-0. Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler are 2007 draft graduates. Craig Stamman just arrived and even the old man of the staff, John Lannan, is 24. Nothing beats young pitching. "Overall, I'm just happy that they're going out there every five days for the last week or so and giving us a chance to win," Nats manager Manny Acta said. "To keep it up will be a dream....

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For Vick, worst is likely ahead

The storm that is Michael Vick has become a lightning rod for public outrage once again. Vick was released from federal prison on Wednesday after serving 23 months on dog fighting charges. He'll spend the next two months in home confinement in Hampton, Va., before he'll be free and able to try and get his old job back. And the job interview could be July 20, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decides whether Vick is truly sorry. Not for getting caught or losing millions of dollars of endorsement. Not for spending nearly two years of hard time. No, Goodell wants to peer into Vick's soul to see if the latter is truly repentant for killing dogs in a horrific manner. Sorry for lying about...

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Lottery brings Wiz frustration

The Washington Wizards' two decades of miserable luck extended to the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday when the league's second-worst team received the fifth pick. It's like waiting to dance with Kate Moss and getting Amy Winehouse. Forget adding Blake Griffin to the frontcourt or Ricky Rubio at point guard. Jordan Hill or Hasheem Thabeet could have filled a big man need, but they'll also be gone. The Wiz can't get an impact player with the fifth pick, which is truly amazing. The fifth choice in the NFL is a franchise player, but the NBA can't find five great ones despite drafting anywhere on the planet. This draft is thinner than Lindsay Lohan. Washington could try for another project,...

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Farewell to spring fling

If Saturday's Preakness Stakes is in jeopardy, increasing infield ticket prices while banning incoming alcohol will surely hasten its departure. Track officials took away the greatest perk of the Pimlico infield -- bringing your own booze. Bottled water, too. Meanwhile, they raised the price to sit amid 40-plus acres of grass encircled by a horse race to $50 online and $60 at the gate. Absolute madness. Pimlico and Laurel Park will be auctioned in June after its parent company's bankruptcy. The Preakness is at risk of moving. Obviously, the outgoing owners are bleeding every dollar beforehand. Too bad they may drive the final stake through the heart of Maryland racing -- the Preakness...

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Caps need to unleash the fury

Capitals need...

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The Super Bowl is not an export

The Super Bowl in London? That's just sixes and sevens nonsense. The Guardian is the latest to report the long-running rumor over the NFL some day exporting the game to London to increase global branding. Annoyed its European spring league failed, the NFL is further upset over losing international appeal to the NBA. The NFL denied the report of a possible championship in London in 2014, 2015 or 2017. The league called the notion theoretical. That the NFL dismissed it in a tweet on Twitter must be its way of labeling the thought as silly. But is it? You better believe the NFL is chewing on this. They'd send the Super Bowl to Mars if it was financially worthwhile. The game will probably...

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Postseason duel living up to hype

Postseason duel living up to...

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Heavyweight fight goes to Ovechkin

Heavyweight fight goes to...

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RICK SNIDER » Minicamp No. 2 better for Zorn

Washington coach Jim Zorn cut the final minicamp session a half hour short. Seems he didn’t need it. With a steady cold rain dominating the Sunday morning practice, Zorn eliminated two sessions when realizing veterans ran plays without hesitation. It wasn’t full speed for fear of injuries and not too many passes flew between raindrops, but Zorn’s minicamp was measurably more comfortable than last year’s inaugural. “Our veterans are much further ahead than they were last year,” he said. “There’s a lot of good things going on. They know what to expect. It was more than 1.0. It was Washington Redskins 2.0, which is pretty good.” Not...

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Rick Snider » A more prepared Zorn enters second season at Redskins Park

Jim Zorn is officially a veteran once more. The Washington Redskins coach finishes his second minicamp on Sunday. Everything now has a basis for comparison. After not knowing many names last year, he now notices physical differences in players returning from the offseason. Zorn understands the nuances of special teams drills. He's watching the defense more. Experience is everything in the NFL for players and coaches. Zorn can now advance instead of react. "I feel like I'm much more prepared," he said. "I'm not so honed in on one guy. I'm much more observant about other guys on our team. I'm much more aware of defense and I'm much more aware on what we're doing on special...

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Will Skins continue their struggles on draft's Day 2?

Will Skins continue their struggles on draft's Day 2?

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RICK SNIDER » Skins let draft come to them

Finally, Dan Snyder did nothing and good things happened. It only took the Redskins owner a decade to learn the best moves are sometimes the ones you don’t make. Instead of overpaying once more to move up for a risky player, Snyder let the draft come to him and gained a player better than the 13th pick. First-rounder Brian Orakpo may be the final piece for a playoff defense. The Redskins were ranked fourth last year, but lost cornerback Shawn Springs. Orakpo’s pass rush, with newly-acquired tackle Albert Haynesworth, should generate pressure and overcome any secondary shortcomings, not that the Redskins are weak there if healthy. Orakpo was a top-10 pick, maybe top six, so...

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RICK SNIDER » Strap yourselves in for a wild and wacky NFL draft weekend

Kansas City won’t trade its third overall pick. Seattle is bluffing over taking Mark Sanchez. Oakland will shock everyone again. The Redskins still won’t get Sanchez. Instead, they’ll take Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo. And, that would be a great move. Picking the NFL draft is like juggling chainsaws — one of them is going to cut you down. The first 13 picks are largely about receivers and linemen. There are plenty of both, plus a couple quarterbacks. The most sure thing appears Detroit taking quarterback Matthew Stafford. Afterwards, even St. Louis going for offensive tackle Eugene Monroe is uncertain. The Rams will choose an offensive tackle, but which one...

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Rick Snider » The chess game that is the NFL draft

It’s that lying time again. Saturday’s NFL draft has more smokescreens than a Boy Scouts camping jubilee. Everybody talks out of both sides of their mouth. Nobody tips their intentions for fear someone will trade up to grab their player. In the Washington Redskins’ case, they may simply not know which way to go. It’s easy to think the Redskins want Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez, but at No. 13 it’s doubtful he’ll still be there. Seattle and Cleveland have shots at No. 4 and 5 respectively. The New York Jets are lurking at No. 17. The Redskins are squeezed in a guessing game. The rule is if a quarterback is truly good, he goes in the first five...

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Rick Snider » Cloud of scandal at the Final Four

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun may be on a forced retirement tour this week. The Huskies play in their third Final Four on Saturday under a Hall of Fame coach who has won 805 games and two national titles. And yet, the smell of scandal is everywhere. Fueled by a Yahoo! Sports reports alleging serious recruiting violations for a player who was later expelled, the NCAA is investigating a program that will be tried in public court this week. The national championship weekend will be more about scandal than basketball. People will suddenly root against Connecticut for the appearance of illegal recruiting. The NCAA can’t move quickly enough to sidestep the coming media storm. Calhoun...

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RICK SNIDER » Is Zero’s return worth the risk?

Finally, some good news for the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas returned after practically two lost seasons. The $111-million man played more than a limited role, even taking the last shot. The Wizards have their best player back for the season’s final three weeks. Is it really worth risking Agent Zero in a few games of the most miserable season since coming to Washington a generation ago? Yes — absolutely. The franchise needs a lift going into the offseason. Fans need something to forget this stinker of a season. The owner needs a few filled houses to help pay Arenas’ salary. Everybody gets something out of a handful of games. That is, as long as Arenas doesn’t hurt...

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Rick Snider » Make no mistake, Ralph is still king

Ralph Friedgen is still the boss. The Maryland football coach runs spring practice like his usual no-nonsense self without worrying whether players are looking for a reaction from successor James Franklin. It may be a job sharing of sorts with Franklin taking over some of Friedgen’s responsibilities, but the latter is no short-timer. There’s one head coach and everybody knows it. “Ralph has a very strong personality,” Franklin said. “He makes it clear to everybody’s he’s the boss. There’s never any gray area. Ralph’s very involved in every aspect of the program.” They are the past, present and future of Maryland football. And...

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Rick Snider » More NFL games? That works for me

The NFL may expand to 18 games in 2011. My response — the more the better. I say find a way to go to a 46-game schedule with four rounds of playoffs and take two weeks off before restarting. Seriously, it’s about time the NFL started giving fans real games for the real money they charge for preseason contests. NFL owners may vote in May on expanding to 17 or 18 games and cut the preseason by one or two weeks. Seventeen seems dumb — an uneven number. Just go to 18 already. The NFL needs new revenues as it readies for labor agreement talks in hopes of not losing the 2011 season. Television monies, the Internet and even global markets seem stagnant. Two more games should...

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Rick Snider » Toliver created a major legacy

Kristi Toliver for threeeee! Kids say it regularly on the playground before launching a long-range bucket that wins a mythical championship at the buzzer. Three years after her miraculous 3-pointer sent Maryland into overtime en route to winning the national title, Toliver bids Comcast Center farewell tonight in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Utah. Toliver’s jersey is in the rafters. Certainly, she’s the program’s most famous player since Kris Kirchner in 1980. Toliver’s the nation’s best point guard, the ACC Player of the Year. Her career achievements run down the media guide page. But mostly, Terrapins fans will remember the shot. The...

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Rick Snider » Maryland wants to keep it simple

The fancy no-look passes belied Maryland’s strategy. The No. 1 seed Terrapins didn’t want to overthink against No. 16 Dartmouth in the NCAA tournament’s opening round on Sunday. Not like last year when they overlooked a long shot that scared them. No, this time Maryland grabbed a 10-point lead within minutes, 19 by halftime and sent the subs in with more than seven minutes remaining. “We tried to keep things simple,” guard Kristi Toliver said. “We did that early and often.” Maryland’s 82-53 runaway victory before 10,847 at Comcast Center sends the Terps against Utah on Tuesday. Maryland edged Utah in overtime in postseason during its 2006...

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Rick Snider » Terrapins should keep foot on gas

Maryland coach Gary Williams still has his foot on players’ throats. It’s nice the Terrapins made Thursday’s NCAA tournament against California. After weeks of fan obsession over whether the 64-year-old coach could still win, Maryland avoided missing The Dance for the fourth time in five years with a late run. Williams took a moment to smile, then started drilling players over not being satisfied. Anyone happy with a 10th seed appearance will exit quickly. Williams never doubted he could still coach, still compete just like his previous 11-year tournament run that included the 2002 national championship. But, Williams can’t let players think making the tournament...

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Rick Snider » I’m going with Pitino’s Cards

Louisville will win the national championship over Pittsburgh. North Carolina and Memphis round out my Final Four. There, now go fill out your bracket. It’s office pool time, the greatest moment in the land of cubicles outside of Secret Santa. You’ll spend the next week talking trash, looking cool for picking 10-seed Minnesota over 7-seed Texas. Hoping 11-seed Virginia Commonwealth can shock 6-seed UCLA. Everyone’s alive in the Sweet 16. Only chalk eaters reach the Final Four. The greatest thing about the NCAA tournament pool is anyone can win it. Those who couldn’t tell Robert Morris from Stephen F. Austin or East Tennessee State from Chattanooga. Those...

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Don’t back the locals this year

It’s going to be a quick dance for American and Maryland. The selection committee was harsh to both teams. American opens against Villanova near the latter’s campus. Maryland faces a potential second-rounder versus Memphis, the best No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Washington area’s chances should end by Saturday night at best. Ouch. There’s no griping with the seeding. AU is a No. 14 after winning its second straight Patriot League title, one notch better than last year’s seed. There’s no missing a killer first game as a No. 14, but facing No. 3 Villanova in Philadelphia on Thursday in the East Regional gives the Eagles even less chance of...

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Rick Snider » D.C.’s gonna get to dance after all

Who said Washington would miss the Big Dance? American earned its second straight NCAA tournament bid by defeating Holy Cross on Friday for the Patriot League title. Hours later, Maryland made its selection a no-brainer by taking its second ACC tournament game for a 20-win season. What a capital comeback. For weeks, it looked like Washington would own the NIT Tournament. Georgetown, George Mason and even far-flung Virginia Tech should make the consolation bracket. Maryland and AU nearly made it the dream BB&T. But Greivis Vasquez has become the Terrapins’ best player since Juan Dixon led Maryland to the 2002 national crown. Garrison Carr took tournament MVP honors for AU....

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Rick Snider » A Maryland run? I just don’t see it

Maryland coach Gary Williams lives on denial. Never a situation the Terrapins can’t win. Never a better opponent that can’t be upset. Williams is a giant killer. Seven career victories over No. 1 ranked teams. Nineteen wins over top 5 opponents, including an overtime shocker over No. 3 North Carolina on Feb. 21. But as Maryland readies for N.C. State Thursday night in the ACC Tournament opener, the Terps sure look one-and-done. When truly needing a big win, they’ve faltered in recent years. When playing a worse team, Maryland has too often stumbled. The Terps look to sidestep the Big Dance for the fourth time in five years. They’ve been on more cusps of...

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Rick Snider » More football? Yeah, why not

Indoor football returns to Washington. Washingtonians love the sport. It doesn’t matter if the game is at FedEx Field, a parking lot or outer space, locals will watch it. Now local entrepreneur Corey Barnette brings a small-scale version of the Arena Football League that included the Washington Commandos in 1987. A bunch of former college players, one-time NFL prospects and people with nicknames like Freak Show, The Tree and Wolfman open Friday at the Reading Express before returning April 4 at the D.C. Armory. “I’m not trying to be Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones,” said Barnette of his NFL counterparts. “If we can get 3,000-4,000, we’ll be here for...

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Rick Snider » Caps stumbling

It came down to Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Crosby scored the game’s first and last goals while Ovechkin was stopped on the final shootout attempt as the Capitals lost their fourth straight yesterday, 4-3, in a shootout to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. There was no yakking this time between the league’s past two MVPs. No bumping on the boards and hand gestures like the meeting two weeks ago. No league-wide discussion over Ovechkin’s post-goal celebrations. It was down and dirty. A real hockey game with fights, overtime and a shootout. Both teams traded streaks of making the other look bad. Both resembled Stanley Cup contenders who may meet again in next...

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Rick Snider » Champions of the offseason

The Audacity of Hope II has come to Redskins Park. Nobody sells a dream better than Redskins owner Dan Snyder. His stimulus plan has Washingtonians believing anything is possible. It’s not a recession when Snyder spends fans’ money. Remember that when paying $30 for a couple beers and a dog at the next game and more to park than a day at the White Flags theme parks Snyder also runs. Champions of the offseason — Snyder should hang those banners at Fedx Field because they’re the only ones he earns. Seriously, name Snyder to a Cabinet post (I assume his taxes are current) because he peddles more optimism than even Hillary can muster. It doesn’t matter that...

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Rick Snider » Who will Skins target in draft?

Signing Albert Haynesworth has scrambled the Washington Redskins’ draft. The 13th overall pick was supposed to be a defensive lineman. Maybe Penn State end Aaron Maybin or Florida State end Everette Brown. Find someone to plug the middle and generate a pass rush. Scrap that plan, as Haynesworth fills the need. The Redskins now have options. They can still go for a defensive end after cutting Jason Taylor. The Redskins could have released Taylor a week earlier and signed two defensive linemen for Haynesworth’s cost and used the pick elsewhere, though. Washington can stay at 13 and take an offensive tackle. Mississippi’s Michael Oher and Alabama’s Andre Smith...

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Rick Snider » Skins did well, but N.Y. isn’t far behind

Washington was among the winners of free agency’s opening weekend, but the New York Giants and Jets fared well, too. Overall, it was a rather dull weekend with Friday claiming most of the action. And that was the frantic part of the market. Only a handful of marquee names didn’t sign over the first 72 hours as few owners were willing to spend like Washington owner Dan Snyder. Certainly, the Redskins fared well. Gaining an impact defensive tackle in Albert Haynesworth, keeping a top cornerback in DeAngelo Hall and adding a needed guard in Derrick Dockery were plusses. They lost cornerback Shawn Springs, but the unit was deep enough to spare him. But the Giants kept up,...

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Rick Snider » The Kasten era officially begins

Jim Bowden says he’s taking one for the team. Oh please — and Ted Kennedy is really a secret Republican operative. The Nationals general manager resigned Sunday, saying it was “in the best interests of two of the things I love most — baseball and the Washington Nationals.” He was tired of the “false allegations” of wrongdoing by the media. Funny, Richard Nixon and every other exiled Washington leader has claimed the same thing. Here’s the bottom line — we don’t know if Bowden was dirty. He was never charged with any crime. He was never found guilty of any wrongdoing aside some bad trades and poor judgment. However, the stink...

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Rick Snider » Signings may prove to be super deals

Are the Washington Redskins once more Super Bowl contenders? Absolutely. Owner Dan Snyder came through once again, turning free agency into a one-day event with the blockbuster signing of Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and the overlooked but needed return of guard Derrick Dockery from Buffalo. The team also kept cornerback DeAngelo Hall with a big-money move literally five minutes before free agency began. The coffers are empty, but it was a solid threesome of signings even if it cost cornerback Shawn Springs. The Redskins are a lot better. They finally have a pass rushing defensive tackle that might be joined by a fellow first-round tackle in April. The best cornerback...

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Rick Snider » Time for Snyder to make a move

The Redskins get one chance to turn the offseason into the postseason. They can sign Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and nothing else, hope the Pro Bowler can team with potential first-round pick Brian Orakpo to give the Redskins their best pass rush since the 1991 Super Bowl championship. Washington could spread the money by signing Dallas defensive end Chris Canty and Buffalo linebacker Angelo Crowell and trade down in the draft for a lesser defensive tackle and guard. What Washington can’t do is a little of everything. The Redskins either make a blockbuster move like owner Dan Snyder’s early years or a series of smaller ones of recent times. Haynesworth is...

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Rick Snider » Payback time?

In the end, it’s always about beating Duke. Once more, the bedeviling Blue Devils come to Comcast Center tonight as the major hurdle for the Maryland Terrapins to reach the NCAA Tournament. The 17,950 in-house and national audience will see if Maryland is truly a postseason contender. “I started hearing about the NCAA Tournament in November,” said coach Gary Williams yesterday. “I don’t talk about it. It’s a waste of time.” Strange talk for a statement game. Just weeks after fans wanted his dismissal and everyone thought NCAA Tournament chances were done, Williams and the Terps (17-9) are back on the March Madness bubble. After beating No. 3...

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Rick Snider » Caps send a message

A simple hand gesture by Alex Ovechkin summed up the Capitals’ 5-2 win yesterday over the Pittsburgh Penguins. After bumping into Pens counterpart Sidney Crosby at the end of the second period, the two briefly scuffled before Ovechkin gave him the hand signal for “yackety-yack.” Bye bye, black birds. The Russian phenom’s English is pretty good nowadays. He’s become the showman of the NHL, the post-goal performances akin to an NFL receiver in the end zone. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau admitted not watching anymore for fear of laughing. Some hockey fans don’t like Ovechkin’s celebrations. The old-school crowd that wishes it was a six-team league...

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Rick Snider » Using football to go abroad

Rob Lunn is saying goodbye to football with a foreign accent. The former Connecticut defensive lineman missed the final two games of his career last fall with a knee injury. With no hopes of an NFL career, it was a bitter way to leave the game. So, why not recreate John Grisham’s “Playing for Pizza” and try semipro ball in Europe? It seems many countries have some version of American football. It’s a little off the radar, but also a chance to earn some money, live abroad for free and bid the game farewell in style. “If this was in Des Moines, Iowa, I’m not sure I’d be interested in playing,” he said. “I don’t have any...

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Rick Snider » Don’t put much faith in combine

The world’s most lucrative job fair begins tomorrow. It’s also the most overblown event on the NFL calendar. More than 300 college players pass through Indianapolis over the next four days. Every injury explored, every brain cell probed. Nothing escapes the general managers, scouts and owners who talk about the results for the next two months. Ironically, teams largely pick who they want regardless of the NFL Scouting Combine. Oh, it’s treated like the end-all of a year of scouting. Yet, it matters so little. Drafting players is more of a gut feel based on film study and interviews. Oh well, the NFL needs something to do over the winter. You want the draft’s...

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Rick Snider » Fool’s gold

The Nationals were duped. The $1.4 million bonus baby from the Dominican is actually four years older and someone else, according to SI.com. Esmailyn Gonzalez (or Carlos David Alvarez Lugo) has plummeted from decent prospect to borderline player. That is, if his visa isn’t revoked. The Nats are red-faced over yet another blunder, but they’ll get over it. Wasting $1.4 million on a prospect is nothing. They blew $5 million on catcher Paul Lo Duca last season before trading him in July. They lost another $5 million on Dmitri Young last year without return. Bad investments are commonplace in sports. But, this one deserves someone’s job. Dominican birth certificates have...

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Rick Snider » This is deja vu all over again

The owner wanted a new stadium. The mayor blew it. The team ended up in Prince George’s County. Yes, the Redskins left RFK Stadium after seven years of failed talks with District leaders back in 1997. Now D.C. United will follow in 2012 when they jump from RFK to Landover. Seriously, it’s the same story. The Redskins and United both thought new stadiums were coming inside the city only to see marathon deals unravel. Finally, the bordering Maryland county picked off the teams with new stadiums. It seems only fair since Washington lured the Wizards and Capitals from Landover in 1997. The District really won’t miss United despite the estimated $65 million economic impact...

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Rick Snider » Pollin not getting his money’s worth

I feel sorry for Abe Pollin. The best owner in Washington pro sports has been royally disappointed. Despite spending $110 million for a superstar, supporting his front office instead of playing general manager and treating fans well in an arena he paid for himself to revitalize the Chinatown district, Pollin is getting zero for his return. Agent Zero may miss the entire season. The roster was down to eight healthy players the other night. The losses come faster than my mutual fund. The Washington Wizards make the Nationals look like contenders. The Wizards won’t have anyone in the NBA All-Star Game tonight, just two years after coach Eddie Jordan along with Caron Butler and...

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Rick Snider » The new hoss is in town

Holy Hondo — Adam Dunn is mountainous. The Nationals plan to open the right field bleachers for batting practice this season. The second coming of Nats principal owner Mark Lerner’s boyhood hero Frank Howard seeks his sixth-straight 40-homer season. Dunn is 20 pounds heavier than Howard while matching the 6-foot-7 frame. The Nats are going to lose a lot of balls this season. Related story » Nats players excited about Dunn signing Team officials were giddy yesterday as pitchers and catchers report to spring training tomorrow. Dunn will split time in left field and first base during spring training as Washington also ponders whether oft-injured Nick Johnson can play at...

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Rick Snider » The real crime isn’t about steroids, it’s about lying

Being a Pro Baseball Hall of Fame voter used to be an honor. Now, the guardians of the game feel burdened. Already, they have denied slugger Mark McGwire entrance into Cooperstown. Coming years will bring the probable rejections of home run king Barry Bonds, the best modern pitcher in Roger Clemens and another slugger in Sammy Sosa. Added to the list of dirty players this week were Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Tejada. It’s not the steroid use that really bothers me, though. The substances weren’t then banned from baseball. Maybe it wasn’t right, but everyone is looking for an edge. Mark it as a lesson learned and move on. What really bothers me, and what will keep these...

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Rick Snider » Is D.C.’s bracket already busted?

Bracket busting has come early to Washington. The region may miss the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown is tanking faster than peanut butter sales. Maryland needs a miracle. George Washington just won its first game since Christmas. George Mason is the third best team in a one-bid conference. American — last year’s Cinderella that reached its first tournament ever — is the only serious prospect, but must win its conference title. This is madness. Washington has been the center of college basketball for much of this decade. Four Final Four teams from 2001-07. A national title. The best story since Hoosiers. The return of Hoya Paranoia. This was the capital of hoops, which...

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Rick Snider » Slap on the wrist fits the crime, but it shouldn’t end there for Phelps

Michael Phelps will swim with sore wrists for the next three months, but the Olympian should survive. It was only a light slap. Kellogg Co. was the only sponsor to drop America’s top athlete after recent photo of Phelps doing drugs. USA Swimming suspended him for three months. Oh, the horror. Let’s be serious. Phelps received a lesser reprimand than your maiden aunt yelling no elbows on the table. Losing a few dollars from a cereal maker and skipping minor events mean nothing. The vast bulk of Phelps’ $100 million endorsement deals remain. It seems those morals clauses were written in invisible ink. The truth is sponsors like Speedo know Phelps is big money to them....

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Rick Snider » Do recruits pan out? Stay tuned

It was the high holy day of high school football yesterday. Signing day. Pen to paper, time to finally commit after being wooed for two years by college programs. Coaches will crow over the five-star prospects Rivals.com has created to become a major cottage industry of ranking the unrankable now on their teams. And then we’ll wait at least two years to see if the prospects are really any good. Sometimes, it’s like highly touted quarterback Ralph Friedgen back in 1965 becoming a guard at Maryland. But, that doesn’t stop coaches, players and fans from dreaming about who has the next surprise. Pundits declared LSU the early winner over Ohio State. LSU was a surprise...

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Rick Snider » In-house win goes to Gary

The civil war of College Park is over and Gary Williams won. The Maryland basketball coach received athletic director Debbie Yow’s “full support” yesterday during a rare appearance by the latter at Williams’ press conference before facing No. 4 North Carolina tonight. Yow termed speculation over Williams’ future after 20 years with the Terps as “crazy rumors” while adding she’s willing to discuss a contract extension past 2012 if needed. Williams won a steel cage match with his boss. One week after a Yow assistant openly criticized Williams to fuel another heated debate over the program’s future, Yow sat by a stoic Williams at his...

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Rick Snider » A curtain call for Steelers

The Super Bowl found perfection. If the chips and chicken wings didn’t give you a heart attack, the ending surely did. Two great teams counterpunched more than Ali-Frazier. The league’s best defense finally yielded only to watch its quarterback turn into the second coming of Terry Bradshaw. Pittsburgh won Super Bowl XLIII last night after stealing it back from Arizona. The Steelers dominated, and yet the Cardinals led 23-20 with one drive remaining. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger then earned his second championship before his five-year college reunion, threading a touchdown pass on the fringe of the end zone with 35 seconds remaining for a 27-23 triumph. The...

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Rick Snider » Wings, bets and the game

People, we are in a true crisis. The recession has claimed the source of all true Super Bowl happiness. There’s a chicken wing shortage. What, you want to read the 6,785th story on whether Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt knows what his former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will do? If Pittsburgh’s defense can stop Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald? Will Fitzgerald’s dad shake his pom poms in the press box? Related stories » Cards hope to crush Steel Curtain » Your Super Bowl TV planner » Super Bowl observations We have more serious things to discuss. Pilgrim’s Pride Co. recently filed for bankruptcy. They’re responsible for...

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Rick Snider » A huge weekend for former Hog

Russ Grimm awaits the biggest weekend of his life. A potential Super Bowl victory and Hall of Fame selection … or neither. The former Washington Redskin lineman is a long shot for Canton and an underdog in the championship, but Grimm will be fine either way. Success has always found the former Hog. He seeks his fifth Super Bowl ring, three with the Redskins and the last as a Pittsburgh assistant coach. Now the Arizona assistant head coach meets the Steelers on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII after a surprising late rejection to become their leader two years ago when Bill Cowher departed. Instead, Grimm joined former Redskins teammate Ken Whisenhunt in the desert where the pair has taken...

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Rick Snider » Terps' infighting solving nothing

Gary Williams is being attacked once more, only this time from within. The open assault by Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow’s office on the basketball coach following the team’s worst loss since World War II is a clear sign Williams’ 20-year tenure is imperiled. Frankly, that’s not right. And, it won’t happen in the end. All this internal sniping does is tarnish Maryland’s leaders. Williams and Yow have never been great allies. Williams is the Terrapins’ greatest coach ever with a national championship, but he’s also very prickly. Williams wants to be treated with the same reverence many ACC coaches receive in smaller markets....

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Rick Snider » Breaking down Kurt’s resume

Kurt Warner seeks his second Super Bowl victory on Sunday to match two NFL Most Valuable Player awards. Not many quarterbacks sport that resume. Yet, the Arizona Cardinals passer is still a borderline Hall of Fame candidate even if he beats the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Critics snipe he hasn’t played enough. What nonsense. If I didn’t know many of the voters personally, I’d think they’re insane. They take the ballot extremely seriously, but are also seriously misguided. Warner’s longevity is the key to many voters. It’s also the biggest reason former Redskins guard Russ Grimm probably won’t be selected on Saturday for this year’s class...

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Rick Snider » For Nats, it should be a Dunn deal

Adam Dunn is getting an economics lesson. Baseball fears a repeat of 1930-33 when attendance fell 40 percent at the Great Depression’s start. Thing were so bad even Babe Ruth’s salary was cut. Three generations later in perhaps the toughest economy since, the Washington Nationals have reduced ticket prices in their coming second season at a new stadium. They’re not alone in money worries as the crosstown Redskins recently laid off nearly 30 staffers while the NFL and other teams shed salaries. But, if there’s a bright side to the financial downturn, the Nationals are staring at a bargain. Dunn is still out there, his reported four-year, $56 million price tag is...

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Rick Snider » Lewis should stay a Raven

Ray Lewis a Cowboy? Is Cal Ripken Jr. leaving retirement to play for the Yankees? Will the Preakness be raced in California? Are Chesapeake Bay crabs relocating to Alaska? Will greed lure yet another athlete from the town that embraced his entire career just to sign for a few more dollars elsewhere? This stinks if true. The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly eyeing Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis when free agency begins Feb. 27. Don’t believe reports of contract offers. That’s called tampering, though in the wink-wink NFL few are found guilty of a comparable speeding violation. The Cowboys have floated a three-year, $30 million offer with $25 million guaranteed. That’s an...

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Rick Snider » Cards’ Warner is the X-factor

A shutdown defense versus an unstoppable offense — the perfect Super Bowl. Pick a side. Two quarterbacks who have won it. Two coaches who haven’t. Franchises that couldn’t be more different than their geography. Owners with polar reputations. Pittsburgh seeks its sixth title and second in four years. Arizona makes its first Super Bowl trip. The Cardinals wandered the desert so long Moses gave them directions. No wonder Pittsburgh is a solid favorite. The public knows history, the Steel Curtain and Immaculate Reception. But, young fans may not even know the Cards once played in St. Louis, much less Chicago. The team nearly bolted for Los Angeles before opening a new...

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Rick Snider » Arizona finally finds the promised land

Miracles do come true. A franchise known for wandering the wasteland of the NFL for generations finally reached the Super Bowl, but only after showing its humanity. Arizona won the NFC Championship over Philadelphia yesterday, 32-25. It’s hard to believe the Cardinals, who took the crummy NFC West with a mediocre 9-7 mark, is now following the New York Giants’ postseason path of last year. Three straight convincing playoff victories, two knockouts. The Cards are miracle men. Actually, they’re led by miracle man Kurt Warner, who won and lost Super Bowls with St. Louis a decade ago. He wasn’t even supposed to start this season behind a former first-round pick, but...

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Rick Snider » Prepare for purple & black, Skins fans

It’s a Baltimore-Philadelphia Super Bowl. Wait, maybe it’s the Coal Bowl of Pittsburgh-Philadelphia. There’s even a chance of an east-west game if Arizona continues its amazing run. The NFL is down to its final four that Nostradamus wouldn’t have picked. You can bet your Terrible Towel that nobody has an Arizona futures slip in Las Vegas ready to cash. Not many would have taken Philadelphia or Arizona three weeks ago, either. Baltimore is my AFC pick because of kicker Matt Stover. His last-second field goal beat Tennessee last week. He’s simply money. This looks like another 13-9 game only this time Baltimore reverses that December score versus...

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Rick Snider » Skins creating a shopping list

The NFL season hasn’t yet ended and already Redskins free agency talk has begun. Carolina offensive tackle Jordan Gross and Tennessee defensive end Albert Haynesworth are reportedly on the Redskins wish list come free agency’s Feb. 27 start. They’re two high-priced linemen who fit Washington’s usual scenario of headline-grabbing, salary-cap busting offseason moves. They’re both long shots, but owner Dan Snyder is known as a great recruiter whose eight-figure checks prove quite persuasive. Haynesworth is the bigger long shot. Tennessee won’t likely let him go. Impact players tend to shop around before staying put, increasing market price enough to...

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Rick Snider » D.C. becomes a hockey town

So this is where Redskins fans spend the offseason. Verizon Center was Rocking the Red again last night. The Capitals finally have bullied their way into second place among local teams in average attendance. They’re also No. 1 in fan experience with a seamless blend of noise regardless of whether the puck is live. And most of all — they’re winning despite recent ills. What a novel idea in a town where the Wizards have crashed, burned and seen their ashes spread. Where the Redskins seem one move away from a freefall. Where the Nationals will soon enter spring training without doing anything to improve a 59-win team. Where the Maryland Terrapins lost to Morgan State. The...

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Rick Snider » A wild, wacky NFL weekend

Baltimore, Arizona, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — not exactly the final four we expected. The No. 1 NFC and AFC seeds are gone. The top two NFC seeds lost. There hasn’t been this much choking since Uncle Earl staggered away from the chili dog eating contest. It’s not about the regular season anymore. It’s about momentum in January. A great regular season buys entry into the postseason, but guarantees nothing. When will coaches of frontrunners learn they can’t ease up in late December to rest for January? It doesn’t work. You have to keep your foot on the gas the entire way. The New York Giants looked unstoppable a month ago. They were slapped to the...

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Rick Snider » Will the Eagles be this year’s Giants?

Donovan McNabb may be playing his final game today for the Philadelphia Eagles. Two months ago, fans would have cheered the quarterback’s departure. Then again, Eagles fans once booed Santa. Now, McNabb is the pride of the City of Brotherly Love. Then again, sometimes the town is like Cain and Abel, sometimes it’s the Jonas Brothers. “Winning cures everything. Winning cures everything,” McNabb said. “I’ve had fun since I’ve been here and I look to have more fun here. ... I don’t worry about that outside stuff or worry about anything of that nature, but this is fun.” Philadelphia (10-6-1) is considered the sleeper of the NFC after...

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Rick Snider » Terps are ready for ACC stretch

Maryland is on the cusp once again. The Terrapins blew their credibility with a 66-65 loss to Morgan State on Wednesday despite leading by 14 while outrebounding and decidedly outscoring the Bears at the foul line and forcing 20 turnovers. Still, Maryland played dumb enough to lose. Greivis Vasquez cost the tying point on a goaltending charge of a free throw. He was 1 of 9 in three-pointers. The Terps’ best player wasn’t solely the blame as coach Gary Williams’ heated admonitions of others weren’t muffled by a sparse Comcast Center crowd. However, the recent annual malaise of losing non-conference home games, this time to a 5-8 in-state opponent, may once more cost...

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Rick Snider » All signs point to a wild 2010

No salary cap and three available Super Bowl winning coaches in 2010 may shape the Redskins coming offseason. Indeed, the pending NFL labor discord is already impacting free agency. First, I truly expect an NFL owners lockout in 2011 when the labor agreement ends. The NFL Players Association was weakened by Gene Upshaw’s sudden death. While the NFLPA is quickly seeking a successor, replacing Upshaw is impossible. The new leader will overcompensate to avoid seeming weak, which will further polarize talks. Across the negotiations table will be NFL owners seeing a chance to reduce expenses for the next 7 to 10 years. Sacrificing one season would be worth it. League insiders believe...

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Rick Snider » Wiz show spark against Cavs

The Wizards must be wondering where this type of effort has been all season. More importantly, will it stay a little longer? Washington upset Cleveland, 80-77, yesterday at Verizon Center to raise its record to a mighty 7-25. An official’s whistle kept Cavaliers superstar LeBron James from beating the Wiz, but their defense and rebounding earned the win. Sure, it was ugly. A 16-point lead disappeared over the final minutes as the Wiz scored 12 points in the final quarter. There were lots of poor decisions among 19 turnovers. Taking the game-winning shot with 10.2 seconds remaining gave Cleveland two chances to rally. But coach Ed Tapscott implored players to forget past late losses....

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Rick Snider » Vick would spice things up

It’s never too early to debate who’s quarterbacking the Redskins next season. If Jason Campbell isn’t the answer, many fans want to skip over aging Todd Collins for Colt Brennan. The hero of the Hawaiian Islands reminded me of Sonny Jurgensen during the preseason with his playmaking ability. But let’s play hot stove league all the way. There’s a free agent passer coming loose on Jan. 20 that might help the Redskins. Someone who can play wildcat formation with the best. Michael Vick. OK, before e-mailing me a string of expletives, let’s think about it a minute. Vick is expected to be released from federal prison on Jan. 20 to a Virginia halfway house...

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Rick Snider » Time for fans’ hopes, dreams

It’s the best time of the year for Redskins fans. Some people like the postseason, the Redskins like the offseason. It’s the time to dream. Too bad the front office is a nightmare. Owner Dan Snyder’s money once bought short-term credibility, but no longer fools fans into thinking he can build a consistent contender. With only four draft picks — the second, fourth and seventh were traded for players probably not with the team this fall — Washington must rely more heavily on free agency. However, with no labor agreement for 2010, the salary cap is much more complicated and restrictive. For instance, there is no post-June 1 cut to divide a player’s...

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Rick Snider » Zorn does not plan to change

Jim Zorn doesn’t plan on making many changes next season. He’ll still coach quarterbacks. He’ll keep calling plays. His staff should be about the same. The roster won’t have more than the usual shakeup. After finishing 8-8 in his first season, the Redskins coach doesn’t believe defenses caught up to his 19th-ranked offense after midseason or quarterback Jason Campbell won’t continue to improve. The Z-Man saw the upside of a mediocre year. Related stories » A busy offseason? » Rogers upset about unanswered questions on the future “We’re going to build on our strengths and try to close the gaps on our weaknesses,” he...

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Rick Snider » Campbell gutsy in Skins’ loss

Jason Campbell haters have to shut up over the offseason. The Redskins quarterback delivered two gutsy plays during the 27-24 loss at San Francisco yesterday. That the Redskins lost doesn’t matter. Campbell proving himself in the waning moments will resonate over the next seven months. Campbell will return next season as No. 1. It shouldn’t matter if Matt Hasselbeck comes loose from Seattle or Matt Cassel isn’t franchised by New England. The Redskins have long waited for their 2005 first-round pick to become a gamer. He finally showed it. Campbell’s calm, soft-spoken demeanor often confuses fans. They think he doesn’t care, grasp the offense or isn’t a...

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Rick Snider » Final Sunday is one to watch

The NFL schedule-maker is a genius. Four division titles and two wild cards are decided on the final day. Eleven teams still ponder their postseason status. Best of all, two games directly decide division titles. The Denver-San Diego winner takes the AFC West while Miami-New York Jets determines the AFC East. This is why you love football. This is why the last four months of Sunday afternoons were spent on the living room couch. Denver-San Diego is a sad race. Neither team will last past the second round. San Diego can earn a division title at 8-8 while New England could be ousted from the wild card despite finishing 11-5. Why NBC chose this game over Miami-New York for the late night...

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Rick Snider » Terps playing for 8-5 year

The Maryland Terrapins headed to Boise yesterday for a forgettable bowl. The Humanitarian Bowl is known mainly for its blue field that lures confused birds to their death thinking they’re heading for a pond. It’s not much of a reward for the Terps (7-5) after beating four ranked teams. Then again, losing to Middle Tennessee State and awful Virginia means playing wherever possible. Bowls are the lifeblood of recruiting. Better to go to a nothing game than nothing at all. It’s the Terps sixth postseason trip in eight years under coach Ralph Friedgen. The first was an Orange Bowl loss to Florida. The rest were just bowls. If you’re not among the top teams heading to...

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Rick Snider » Taylor’s good, just too pricey

Jason Taylor doesn’t stink. Taylor’s two sacks and a forced fumble were game-changers in Washington’s 10-3 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. He spied on Eagles running back Brian Westbrook so well Taylor should have changed his number to 007. It was a taste of what Washington has long expected since trading two picks to Miami for him in August. Maybe if Taylor hadn’t been hurt early this season, perhaps if moved to the right side beforehand, let him stand up more on plays, Taylor could have replicated his sure Hall-of-Famer status from 11 seasons in Miami. And there’s the trap. Taylor has valid excuses for a lackluster season. The compartmental syndrome...

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Rick Snider » Winning cures Skins’ issues

Related stories » Redskins stuff Eagles // Redskins lay the lumber Jim Zorn may feel like the best coach in America this morning. The Redskins aren’t going to the playoffs, but beating the Philadelphia Eagles 10-3 yesterday at FedEx Field seemingly secures Zorn’s job. Indeed, it will be awfully hard for Redskins owner Dan Snyder to dismiss his first-year coach after reaching 8-7. The Redskins seem right again after a 1-5 freefall created two weeks of job uncertainty. No more talk of another offseason coaching search. Forget the one-and-done for Zorn. The coach stays. The Bill Cowher watch ends. Granted, the Redskins defense saved them again, setting up the...

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Rick Snider » Now that Baugh has passed on, who’s the greatest living Redskin?

With Sammy Baugh's passing, who is the greatest living Washington Redskin? Actually, it's not a debate. And, I'm not going to bog down in the stats books because sports is about doing great things, not fantasy players averaging five yards per carry. Having watched the Redskins for 40 years, my early favorite has never been surpassed. Sonny Jurgensen. One of the great perks of covering the Redskins is meeting my childhood heroes. The Over The Hill Gang members make me remember why people are fans. I love seeing the stars of the 1970s — Sonny and Billy Kilmer, Larry Brown, Brigg Owens, Ron McDole, Chris Hanburger and Charley Taylor. They didn't win like the teams of the 1980s, but...

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Rick Snider » Last two games decide ’09 fate

The Wheel of Misfortune comes to Redskins Park. Coach Jim Zorn, executive vice president Vinny Cerrato and assistant coaches are alternating targets for the poor finish. Where the blame lies after the Dec. 28 finale could decide who leaves, but an emerging scenario has Zorn surviving while some assistants leave. It is an ever-changing blame game. Some days Zorn looks out, other times Cerrato is the bad guy. But Cerrato has endured challenges before, and to be fair he’s often following Dan Snyder’s orders. It’s hard to believe Snyder’s long-time lieutenant will be fired despite long-time fan discontentment over rocky drafts and trades. The emerging scapegoat may be...

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Rick Snider » Uneasy silence is bad for Zorn

Redskins Park is on lockdown. Coach Jim Zorn’s press conference yesterday was cut short for the first time this season after the postgame presser on Sunday also ended quickly. Players were given the day off so few were interviewed. The owner wasn’t accepting media requests as usual while the executive vice president of personnel skipped his Monday radio show. Related stories » Zorn: 'I'm not doing well' » In locker room, a house divided Nobody wants to say anything and that says a lot. The Redskins are in crisis once more. After all, it’s December. The holidays should come with hazard pay in Ashburn. There’s seldom little joy come season’s...

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Rick Snider » Will Snyder drop Zorn?

Related story » Redskins: Knockout blow? There is only one question remaining now that the Redskins are essentially out of the playoffs — who’s coaching the team next year? Coach Jim Zorn looked like the next Joe Gibbs at 6-2. At 7-7 with an offense that averaged 11 points over six games, Zorn’s looking more like Richie Petitbon — one and done. It will be the latest move to define Redskins owner Dan Snyder and it’s a very difficult one. Snyder must decide if it’s worth starting over again. If Zorn really deserves the quick hook. If the league has figured out Zorn’s offense and the recent 1-5 slide is a future trend. Whether Bill Cowher...

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Rick Snider » Postseason starts today

The Redskins made the playoffs — sorta. It starts today in Cincinnati. The Redskins must win their last three games to reach the postseason and even then hope for some breaks. More importantly, Washington needs to beat practically the worst team in football or likely finish 7-9. What an offseason that would bring. Washington’s final two games versus Philadelphia and San Francisco are challenging. Philadelphia is hot once more and FedEx Field is no home advantage. San Francisco has also gained momentum under interim coach Mike Singletary and flying cross-country for a meaningless season-finale if not 9-6 is a sure loss for Washington. It all comes down to today. Win or face...

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Rick Snider » Nats showing some promise

First the Nationals left the dungeon. Now they’re ready to get out of the basement. The Nationals have spent the week pursuing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira during winter meetings with a reported eight-year, $160 million deal that might reach $200 million. This from a team whose $54.1 million payroll last year was 26th in baseball. The top seven Nats last year didn’t combine for Teixeira’s $20 million annual salary. It seems the Lerner family realizes a new stadium isn’t enough. The 2.4 million visiting Nationals Park last season won’t largely return without an improved product. Last year’s 59-102 mark was baseball’s worst and still...

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Rick Snider » Is Zorn’s job in jeopardy?

Redskins coach Jim Zorn may be vying for his job over the final three games. Sports talk callers aren’t the only ones wondering whether the Redskins might have Bill Cowher on speed dial for 2009. Redskins Park sources are also pondering if the team’s 1-4 collapse to practically ruin its once sure playoff chances could also claim the coach. “The honeymoon is definitely over,” said one team insider of Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Zorn. Zorn was a late choice in February after at least six candidates were considered following Joe Gibbs’ sudden retirement. The Redskins were caught embarrassingly unaware of Gibbs’ intention despite several indications...

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Rick Snider » It looks like the Skins are done

If Washington wants a blueprint to the postseason, they should borrow Baltimore’s. The Ravens clearly know how to rebuild. A rookie quarterback and first-year coach haven’t stopped the Ravens from rebounding from four wins last season to nine with three weeks remaining. Baltimore is peaking in the season’s second half with a possible division title. And Washington? Looks like the Redskins are done. Baltimore beat Washington 24-10 last night before a M&T Stadium-record crowd of 71,438. The crowd was barely frost-bitten before the Ravens led 14-0. The game then returned to the expected mind-numbing defensive battle with Washington’s kicker once again faltering...

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Rick Snider » Another topsy-turvy season for the NFL

The NFL is upside down once again and that’s just the way the league likes it. With one month remaining, six playoffs teams from last season are out and three more are iffy. Tampa Bay and the New York Giants may be the only NFC teams to return to the postseason while Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Tennessee are the potential AFC holdovers. Pittsburgh appears the only sure division winner to repeat, though Tampa Bay may, too. This is why Americans love football. Everybody gets a chance in this democratic-like sport. Unlike baseball where few teams truly contend for titles and the Tampas and Colorados gets a shot every decade or so, the NFL comes down to the smartest front offices,...

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Rick Snider » Hey Baltimore, it’s not a rivalry if it’s one-sided

A Redskins-Ravens rivalry? Charm City wishes. The Redskins head to Baltimore on Sunday night. Baltimore fans love playing Washington in anything. It gives the crab-eaters a chance to work off their capital envy. Having worked and lived in both markets, I know Baltimoreans hate Washingtonians. Our northern neighbors see Washington as all things evil. A place where the federal government taxes them unfairly, a city of transients who rotate with every presidential inauguration. A town of terrible traffic and worse seafood. Whatever, bay seasoning breaths. Baltimoreans love to trot out “Jack Kent Cooke tried to keep the Ravens from coming to Baltimore.” Oh please, like Peter...

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Rick Snider » Redskins are far from fine

It was easy to think about the Super Bowl when the Redskins were 4-1 and 6-2. With an aggressive offense and road victories over Dallas and Philadelphia, the Redskins looked like a contender. Now in the final month, the Redskins have become the great pretender. The long NFL season tends to give teams the record they deserve, as Bill Parcells says, and the Redskins are probably a 9-7 team. At 7-5 with an offense fading faster than gas prices, Washington needs the luck of a lottery winner to make the playoffs. The Redskins offense has no energy, no zip, no zing. They have no deep game. No inside game. The defense isn’t much better and special teams haven’t been special in a...

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Rick Snider » Portis silenced in crucial game

When Clinton Portis ran onto the field carrying a “21” flag yesterday, who knew that would nearly be his rushing total? The Redskins pregame ceremony for the late safety Sean Taylor seemed sterile. So was the offense in the 23-7 loss to the New York Giants. As gloomy as the weather, the Redskins recent offensive malaise continued for their third loss in four games. Portis delivered his worst outing since 2006 with 22 yards on 11 carries. When Washington gambled on fourth-and-one with 9:37 remaining, Portis couldn’t get the needed three feet as fans began a mass exodus from FedEx Field that was nearly empty aside Giants backers over the final minutes. A jammed neck in...

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Rick Snider » New York-New York not so far fetched

The Subway Super Bowl? The New York Giants visit the Redskins today with a gaudy 10-1 mark. The New York Jets are 8-3 after knocking off undefeated Tennessee and defending AFC champion New England over the last two weeks. Big Blue versus Gang Green in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa on Feb. 1? Better book a Sinatra impersonator for the halftime act because “New York, New York” may be coming. The Giants’ “Earth, Wind & Fire” leads the NFL in rushing. The Jets “Pow and Later” includes AFC rushing leader Thomas Jones. They’re the two highest-scoring offenses less than a touchdown apart. Defending Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning versus...

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Rick Snider » ‘Time has not healed us’

Thanksgiving is more than a day of reflection at Redskins Park. It’s the first anniversary of Sean Taylor’s death. His locker remains behind glass. Former college teammates Clinton Portis and Santana Moss dress on each side just like they protected him in life. Taylor sat between his old pals across the room from secondary teammates. A little unusual by locker room etiquette, but Taylor never cared what others thought. Now teammates keep thinking about him. “Time has not healed us,” Portis said. “In time, it makes you miss people more. The idea, the realization that you won’t see that person, they’re not coming back, it gets tougher in...

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Rick Snider » Wiz heading for a cloudy future

The Wizards are returning to the dark days of the 1990s and there’s nothing to stop it. The firing of coach Eddie Jordan yesterday was merely a Band-Aid move by a 1-10 team headed for a 60-loss season. It doesn’t truly matter who coaches this team now because the roster has once again failed. Top offensive threat Gilbert Arenas won’t be back until ... well, who really knows? Top defensive player Brendan Haywood is hurt, too. Caron Butler isn’t playing well. Indeed, nobody is playing well. Changing coaches is like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The Wiz really sealed their doom when they re-signed Arenas to a mega-contract in July only to see him undergo a...

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Rick Snider » Time to lean on Mr. Old Reliable

It’s all about the Riggo Drill. Washington outlasted Seattle 20-17 Sunday to remain alive in the NFC East heading into this Sunday’s game against the New York Giants at FedEx. More importantly, Washington (7-4) remained tied with Dallas and Atlanta for the final wild card spot with five games remaining. It’s smashmouth time in the NFC and Washington is running the ball regularly. Pretty passing is nice in September, but beating New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore over the final weeks depends on running successfully. Redskins coach Jim Zorn learned the ground game’s importance in his Emerald City homecoming. Clinton Portis gained 143 yards on 29 carries as...

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Rick Snider » Mr. Obama, don’t mess with college football

The economy is crumbling, terrorism continues and Johnny Depp isn’t the only pirate on the high seas. Naturally, President-elect Barack Obama was talking of throwing his weight around and issuing an executive order to ... create an NCAA football playoff system. Future First Lady Michelle Obama guffawed while her husband told “60 Minutes” of his plan for an eight-team postseason. She should have fist-bumped him. “This is important,” said the coming leader of the free world. “I think any sensible person would say that if you’ve got a bunch of teams who played throughout the season and many of them have one loss or two losses and there’s no...

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Rick Snider » Zorn back in Emerald City

Jim Zorn tried to “act medium.” The Redskins coach’s return to the city he spent 16 years as a player and coach isn’t a big deal, he said. Just another game. Sorry, if Zorn’s going to survive in Washington, he needs to lie better than that. Players said Zorn was “giddy” while high-fiving players in practice yesterday. The school-yard energy was back despite two straight losses. Zorn’s old-school goofiness poked out occasionally afterwards. The grin returned. He couldn’t play it cool for long. Yes, it’s going to be special for the first-year coach to face his old team. “When I saw the schedule, even before the season, I...

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Rick Snider » Zorn, Skins are gasping for air

A sure thing has become a long shot. Promising 4-1 and 6-2 starts have slipped to 6-4 while the Redskins keep losing players. Suddenly, the playoffs seem doubtful with 9-7 the potential ceiling. What happened? The offense is grounded. Playmakers are hurt. An offseason splurge on a second receiver didn’t work despite three second-round picks. The aging offensive line is graying faster than a lame duck president. A defense limited by a rash move for aging defensive end Jason Taylor and several injured starters has its miracle meter blinking red. The smoke and mirrors of the season’s first half are being shattered by game film. Defensive coordinators are solving coach Jim...

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Rick Snider » Getting close to panic time

A must win for the Dallas Cowboys now turns into a must win for the Washington Redskins. The Cowboys (6-4) avoided a seemingly early playoff ouster last night by outlasting the Redskins 14-10. Now it’s Washington (6-4) that heads to Seattle on Sunday worrying whether its early-season momentum is disappearing after two straight losses. It’s not panic time yet. But, it’s close. Washington needs a win badly. To regain its momentum. To regain its confidence. The Redskins haven’t looked good since reaching 4-1 with surprise road wins over Dallas and Philadelphia. The five-week offensive malaise shows no signs of recovery. Dallas regularly anticipated...

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Redskins-Cowboys rivalry » Bullets & Arrows

Quotations from the book “America’s Rivalry: The 20 Greatest Redskins-Cowboys Games,” written by The Examiner’s John Keim and Rick Snider along with Micke Spagnola and Davis Elfin. “Losing to Dallas was the worst feeling in the world. You’d rather have your arm cut off.” — Diron Talbert (defensive tackle, Redskins: 1971-80) “Joe Theismann is a garbage-mouthed little SOB. He’s such a hot dog that all he needs is a bun.” — John Dutton (defensive lineman, Cowboys: 1979-87) “If you grew up in metro Washington, you grew up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys...

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Rick Snider » Faulty thinking on the Cowboys

John Madden thought the Dallas Cowboys might be unbeaten entering tonight’s game against Washington. The NBC analyst wasn’t alone. The Boys ripped through their first three opponents, looking every bit as good as last year’s 13-3 team. “I thought the Cowboys were going to be in the position they were a year ago. They were 8-1 a year ago. I thought maybe the Cowboys would be undefeated,” said Madden, who will be in the booth at FedEx Field. “After the first three games ... I remember people writing ‘are they going undefeated?’ I was thinking the same thing.” Instead, Dallas is 5-4 and one loss away from postseason life support. Crisis...

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Rick Snider » For both teams, this is must win

The “must win” movement has begun despite the Redskins’ best start since 1999. Washington (6-3) meets Dallas (5-4) on Sunday with yet another postseason implication for the rivalry. It’s not a knock-out game, but the loser probably concedes the NFC East championship to New York (8-1) despite six games remaining. The wild card race has five teams contending for two slots so Sunday night’s loser will keep facing “must win” games the rest of the season. “You start getting past the midway point of the season and they all become playoff games,” Redskins offensive tackle Jon Jansen said. “The Giants are trying to distance themselves...

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Rick Snider » Heels vs. Terps has new flavor

For once, a North Carolina-Maryland game is a big deal without a basketball. The roundball rivals play a meaningful football game for the first time since 2001 at Byrd Stadium on Saturday. No. 17 North Carolina (7-2) and Maryland (6-3) both need to win to remain in their respective division races with two games remaining. It feels weird to see North Carolina among the ACC contenders. Coach Butch Davis has worked another miracle in Chapel Hill to draw interest for Tennessee’s opening. The Tar Heels spent most of the decade trying to outlast Duke at the bottom of the ACC before now winning their most games in seven years. Ironically, even Duke is 4-5 in a conference that has more...

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Rick Snider » Shame on you, Redskins fans

What happened to all those die-hard Redskins fans? Pittsburgh Steelers fans took over FedEx Field last week. Must have been 20,000 Terrible Towels waving in the stands that forced the Redskins offense into a silent count. A silent count at home. Now thousands of tickets are online for Sunday’s Dallas game. The Cowboys have always drawn big crowds at FedEx, but fears of another opposing occupation have forced the Redskins through their radio station to give 50,000 burgundy towels at the stadium gates so local fans can be spotted. Maybe they should be white flags because Redskins fans are surrendering home-field advantage. This is getting ugly. The Redskins are amidst their best...

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Rick Snider » Motherhood brings a different, yet unchanged, Frese to the floor

College basketball coaches are always looking for the next job. It doesn’t matter how long they’re been somewhere or how many wins they’ve managed. The wanderlust always beckons. Brenda Frese moved three times in four years when coming to Maryland in 2002. She was the next big name for a program replacing its own legend — Chris Weller. Frese was 2002 national coach of the year in her only season at Minnesota following three years at Ball State. Maryland has proven the perfect fit for Frese, though. She won a national championship in her fifth season. The recruiting classes have been rated nearly as high. The Terrapins are ranked third this season as the remaining...

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Rick Snider » Terrapins face turkey trouble

Virginia Tech may be down to its third quarterback and lost two straight, but No. 23 Maryland’s chances of reaching the ACC Championship requires winning in Blacksburg, Va. tonight. Good luck with that. Lane Stadium is the toughest venue in the ACC. A southern version of Giants Stadium where 66,233 welcome the Hokies back for only the second time since Sept. 13. Clemson thinks Death Valley is tough. Miami was once unbeatable at home. They’re nothing compared to the passion on Thursday nights in Lane before a national audience where Virginia Tech is 14-3 during ESPN’s midweek game. “There’s a lot of really tough places to play in the ACC on the road and this...

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Rick Snider » Tired Redskins run out of gas

Election Eve was one rocking time in Landover. It may have been the rowdiest game in FedEx Field’s 11-year history. Nearly one-fourth of the 90,512 seemed to be yellow Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans. That’s 22,000-plus Pittsburgh supporters, outnumbering even Dallas Cryboys backers attending the annual rivalry. The Steelers must have thought they were at Heinz Field between the black jerseys and playing ketch-up most of the first half. The first Steelers visit in 18 years energized a stadium already boosted by the Monday Night Football musical theme played every few minutes. Signs touting Clinton Portis, Jim Zorn and Chris Cooley for president saw little consensus among...

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Rick Snider » Will tired team make big push?

The final day before vacation, do you start clock watching by lunch? The Redskins face the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight before taking off for bye week. Washington has gone longer than any other NFL team. Five preseason games. Eight regular season games. It has been a long grind since July 20. Six days each week, plenty of bumps and bruises. And don’t say poor baby, you haven’t had a vacation this year. Most people couldn’t survive a month in this world. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache said players looked like the Confederate Army heading home from the war over the last week. “We are tired and weary — a very beat up football team at this point in...

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Rick Snider » Is a behemoth Super Bowl on the way?

It’s Tennessee versus the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. That’s what you really want to know as the NFL reaches midseason. Tennessee is 7-0 and New York 6-1 as the clear standouts of their conferences. It doesn’t take much imagination to choose either for the Super Bowl, but they’re clearly the top teams in a league of mediocrity. Tennessee ripped through Indianapolis last week to prove the Titans are for real. Quarterback Kerry Collins has made everyone forget Vince Young, even with a mediocre 75.0 pass rating. The defense is incredible. The Titans have a four-game lead in the AFC South while Indianapolis (3-4) is iffy to reach the playoffs. Clearly, Colts...

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Rick Snider » Is quarterback rating inflated?

Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell aced his midterm with a 100.5 pass rating. But, does that make him a standout passer? The century mark was once the benchmark of greatness. Only three quarterbacks won Super Bowls following triple-digit season. Yet, Campbell is tied for fifth among NFL quarterbacks this season. Have pass ratings inflated over the years like SAT scores? (One prominent college athletic director says SATs have grown 150 points over the last 30 years, which made me feel better about my score.) High-percentage passes of the West Coast Offense over the last 20 years changed the sport and boosted the ratings. Teams a generation ago ran the ball more often, creating lower...

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Rick Snider » Skins eye playoffs at midpoint

The Redskins reach midseason with a string of mediocre efforts, several prominent players hurt and a coach yelling at his star on the sideline. Is Norv back? Parcells law says teams get the records they deserve. The Redskins deserve their 6-2 mark. They played well at Dallas and Philadelphia and survived four other wins. The Redskins are also not as good as the New York Giants and figured to mismanage their success with an upset loss to St. Louis. Yes, 6-2 seems fair. But are they really a playoff team? Do recent narrow victories over losing programs indicate Washington is simply a good team and not a great one come playoffs? Are mounting injuries a precursor to losses when the schedule...

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Rick Snider » These Skins are sneaking by

The Redskins just can’t enjoy an easy win. They could play the worst team in the league and barely get by. Oh, that was yesterday. At least Washington beat winless Detroit 25-17 just two games after losing to winless St. Louis. It was ugly. And it was almost costly. Moments after Santana Moss tweaked his hamstring, Clinton Portis was rolling in pain. For a moment, the season looked lost despite reaching 6-2. But, Portis soon returned. Moss seems fine and the Redskins overcame toying with another bad team. Still, the Redskins keep showing they’re just a good team. Not a great team, but at least one that wins close games versus the past decade of Redskins squads that often...

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Rick Snider » Put these Lions to bed

It would be so easy for Washington to overlook winless Detroit today. The Lions are last in overall defense with an offense barely ranking better after recently trading their best player. Then again, Washington suffered that ill fate two weeks ago when losing to winless St. Louis. After escaping the mediocre Cleveland Browns in between, the Redskins must show they’re not the NFL version of Maryland in beating the top teams and falling to the worst on their schedule. “When we lost that [St. Louis] game, I couldn’t sleep for two or three nights,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “St. Louis was down towards the end [of the rankings] so can’t look at it...

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Rick Snider » Is Z-Man becoming grounded?

Are defenses catching up to Redskins coach Jim Zorn? After scratching out 31 points in the past two games against losing teams, the Redskins were suddenly stagnant after averaging 25 during their four-game winning streak. They even went scoreless in the first half versus Cleveland. Zorn said before the season that defensive coordinators were playing catch up given there was no game film to decipher the first-year coach’s playcalling. Now they have seven. Joking he has become “Ground Z-Man” after running back Clinton Portis rushed for 175 yards against Cleveland on Sunday, Zorn is constantly shuffling his offense. That quarterback Jason Campbell strained his groin early...

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Rick Snider » Jansen retooled for success

Jon Jansen officially regained his job Monday. The senior Washington Redskin has started four consecutive weeks since replacing injured Stephon Heyer. A big reason the Redskins are running effectively on both sides, some wondered why the Redskins ever benched the right tackle after nine seasons. Coach Jim Zorn finally conceded Jansen is the permanent starter even with Heyer’s shoulder healed. Zorn says he’s “pleased” with Jansen, but it always seems faint praise. The first-year coach resisted fully committing to the team elder until now. It was strange because Zorn isn’t one with hidden agendas like some past coaches. But, Zorn finally conceded. When the...

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Rick Snider » Skins earn a second shot

Second efforts have given the Redskins a second chance for the second season. Receiver Santana Moss spun around a defender for an extra 17 yards to set up Washington’s first touchdown. He twirled near the goal line for his own score later. The Redskins deep threat was dancing and defenders were flat-footed. The Redskins avoided an upset in a brutal series of knockdowns, outlasting Cleveland 14-11 yesterday at FedEx Field. Clinton Portis’ 175 yards rushing grabbed the headlines, but Moss was the true catalyst, the second threat his sidekick desperately needs despite leading the NFL in rushing. The “U” pushed the Redskins to 5-2. More importantly, Washington avoided...

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Rick Snider » Spring is lovely for ... football

The NFL wants to increase its regular season to 18 games. More playoff teams are possible. A Super Bowl in London is rumored. They’re all interesting ideas. But a spring game? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said several owners are proposing spring games like colleges that are either intrasquad scrimmages or nearby rivals meeting. Whenever owners talk about an idea, it’s not far away. Several major colleges draw more than 75,000 to their intrasquad scrimmages. There’s no doubt 75,000 would pay to watch the Redskins scrimmage themselves in May at FedEx Field. Add another 10,000 should they play the Baltimore Ravens. After all, more than 20,000 watched a scrimmage at...

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Rick Snider » Will small plan equal big show?

Maryland hopes going small leads to something big. The Terrapins open Maryland Madness tonight at Comcast Center with an expected four-guard lineup. One big man, four little guys. The Terps will try to pester opponents into turnovers while outrunning them down the floor to average 80 points. Forget the days of taller lineups. Just like technology, basketball is getting smaller. Memphis and Villanova were great small teams last year. Princeton has done it repeatedly. Maryland coach Gary Williams even did it when coaching American University 30 years ago. The Terps graduated their two rebounders while two prominent players transferred over the offseason. Now they have a handful of guards,...

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Rick Snider » Sea-Skins era begins

First Jim Zorn resurrected George Allen’s “Hip, hip, hooray” cheer. Now the Redskins coach has his own version of RamSkins after adding three former Seattle players on Tuesday. The Sea-Skins? Granted, safety Mike Green made his reputation with Chicago before traded to Seattle in 2006 and punter Ryan Plackemeier is well, a punter. But running back Shaun Alexander was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player three seasons ago. The Redskins need some help following their first loss in five weeks. Not John Wayne leading the cavalry, but some tweaking. A reserve running back who thinks he can still start in the league, a veteran safety with more years than his three sidekicks...

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Rick Snider » Skins get caught in trap

Clinton Portis conceded the Redskins were too full of themselves. The running back saw too many smiling faces around Redskins Park last week. The 4-1 start with three seemingly easy opponents pending made 7-1 look real. The playoffs, maybe the Super Bowl seemed sure things. Everyone became too loose, said Portis. They lost the edge as the perennial underdog. Success proved harder to withstand than adversity. “We didn’t think ahead all season long until this week,” Portis said. “We overlooked the team that came here to play. ... I don’t know how we let them shock us like that.” The Redskins now have plenty of adversity for incentive after losing 19-17...

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Rick Snider » Dusting off the Haslett file

Jim Zorn is Washington’s latest sensation, but St. Louis coach Jim Haslett almost beat him to the Redskins sidelines. Team owner Dan Snyder wanted Haslett when buying the team in 1999. The problem was, Snyder didn’t gain control until after June 1 when any coaching hire, even head coaching ones, needed permission from the other team’s owner. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher didn’t want to lose his defensive coordinator. Indeed, Cowher was incensed over Snyder’s attempt to poach from his staff in June when a proper replacement would have been difficult to find. Steelers owner Dan Rooney honored Cowher’s wishes and blocked Snyder from talking to...

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Rick Snider » A series of trap games?

The Redskins were heavy favorites facing an awful opponent. It should have been an easy afternoon. Tennessee won 25-22 in 2006 after starting 0-5. Oakland triumphed 16-13 in 2005; the last of four Raiders victories that season as they lost their final six games. Arizona surprised 16-15 in 2000 as a one-time 6-2 Redskins became 7-6 before firing Norv Turner. Get ready for another trap game. Maybe a series of them as St. Louis (0-4) visits FedEx Field on Sunday with Cleveland (1-3) and Detroit (0-4) following. It would be so easy for the Redskins to think 7-1. And that’s the trap, especially the Rams game. Washington (4-1) comes off impressive road victories over NFC East rivals...

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Rick Snider » All is right when Skins win

Admit it — you’re thinking 7-1. You’re expecting 14-2. You’re planning for the Super Bowl in Tampa. An early spring break getaway. The Redskins are an amazing 4-1 with road wins over Dallas and Philadelphia. They have three NFC East home games remaining. Washington only faces three teams with winning records with the 11 opponents sporting a combined 19-29 mark. Three are winless. Wall Street’s crumbling. Your 401(k) has gone bust. The presidential race is pure mudslinging. There are still troops abroad. But no one cares around Washington these days. The Redskins are 4-1. “Hip, hip hooray” has become Washingtonians’ rallying call. Nothing...

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Rick Snider » ‘Finesse’ Skins drill Eagles

The Riggo Drill is back and so are the Redskins. Down 14-0 midway through the first quarter Sunday, Washington’s offensive line slapped Philadelphia’s defense around like a unrepentant criminal. It started with three field goals, then two touchdowns before the Redskins sealed the game with a fourth-and-two conversion. Who says the finesse West Coast Offense can’t win a smash mouth NFC East game? Washington is 4-1 after beating Philadelphia 23-17 at Lincoln Financial Field. That’s four straight wins, including at Dallas and Philadelphia. And the Redskins did it with a combination of luck, guile and brute play. “I think the NFL was trying to put us in the...

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Rick Snider: It’s always something in Philadelphia

A Redskins team physician once drove to his first Philadelphia game. Left his car with District plates in the public lot. What a rookie mistake. Four slashed tires later, he was forced to stay overnight. Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. The Redskins travel to long-time nemesis Philadelphia today. Veterans Stadium has given way to Lincoln Financial Field, but it remains the NFL’s worst venue in the East and probably second only to Oakland’s madhouse where prisons and insane asylums allegedly provide fans for games. The NFL recently published a fan conduct policy intended to curb violence and poor behavior. It has a snowball’s chance in Havana of succeeding in...

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Rick Snider » Gridiron merit badges

Fred Smoot played his own version of “Dancing with the Stars.” The Washington cornerback staggered towards the Dallas sideline on Sunday after taking a knee to his helmet, “the lights” twinkling around him pointing the wrong way. “The three brain cells in my head, I lost one for a minute,” Smoot joked Wednesday. “It’s lights. If you get hard hit, the person who lays the hit gets dizzy too. They’ll see a little stars, too. But you get a hard head and adapt to it. I’ve seen [the lights] many times.” Football players love talking about the biggest hits delivered and received. You’re not a baller until counting stars that...

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Rick Snider: Zorn finding his groove

Washington coach Jim Zorn enjoys playing “gotcha.” The Redskins offensive playcaller tipped an obvious deep pass to Dallas’ sideline during Sunday’s 26-24 victory by moving receiver Santana Moss to flanker and the Cowboys still couldn’t stop it. Four games into his first stint calling plays, Zorn’s ahead of defensive coordinators. They don’t have enough tape to decipher his tendencies. He’s hoping they never do. “Defensive coordinators and assistant coaches get very good learning,” said Zorn on Monday. “My hope is the learning curve never catches up with what we’re doing.” What Zorn’s doing is attacking....

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Rick Snider: Redskins pass big test in Big D

It’s time to start believing. Beating New Orleans and Arizona at home was nice. They’re decent opponents Washington should defeat. But knocking off Dallas 26-24 Sunday at Texas Stadium as 11-point underdogs is proof the Redskins are for real. Dallas was supposed to be the NFL’s best team and Washington flat out beat the Cowboys. Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell outplayed Dallas counterpart Tony Romo. Washington running back Clinton Portis out-gained Dallas’ Marion Barber 121-26. The Redskins defense K.O.’d T.O. as Santana Moss’ 145 yards receiving trumped Terrell Owens’ 71 and a touchdown. They’re probably calling for Cowboys coach Wade...

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Rick Snider: One last Texas Stadium hoedown

The Redskins don’t seem too choked up over the prospect of playing their final game at Texas Stadium today versus the Dallas Cowboys. Players won’t miss the famed facility with the hole in the roof so “God can watch His favorite team” as Cowboys fans say. No more blimp shots at night looking inside a stadium that when built in 1971 was known for its extravagance. It was the beginning of luxury boxes and fancy scoreboards, pretty cheerleaders and fan comfort. Five Super Bowl winners and seven NFC champions played at the Irvine, Texas, stadium. There may be more historic venues around the NFL — Lambeau Field and Soldier Field along with RFK Stadium come to mind...

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Rick Snider: Ugly season nearly over

What a depressing scene at Nationals Park last night. The weather stunk, the crowd was nearly invisible and the big pregame message on the clubhouse blackboard reminded players to pay for their dry cleaning. Thank goodness the Nationals’ home season is done. The bad news is next season doesn’t offer any more promise of a turnaround than the economy. It’s like Wall Street and the Nats are vying for who’s worse. The Nats best farm prospects are mostly two years away. The current staff lacks trade bait. And the front office seems to be waiting to see if anyone leaves. Manager Manny Acta should be safe. Casey Stengel had more talent on the Amazing Mets. Team...

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Rick Snider: It’s not personal ... yet

Redskins coach Jim Zorn needs the spirit of predecessor George Allen to help him through Dallas Week. Allen once offered to fight Dallas coach Tom Landry at midfield for the victory. Zorn could probably take Cowboys counterpart Wade Phillips, but for now the Redskins rookie boss hopes the passion of fans and veteran players of the rivalry will ready him for Sunday’s showdown in Dallas. Zorn needs some fire, some passion. Use Tony Romo’s photo for a dart board. The problem is he has no personal stake in the rivalry. It’s just another game to the former Seattle quarterback and assistant coach. It’s nothing personal so it feels strange to Zorn that others are more...

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Rick Snider: Sure and steady wins this race

The Redskins may have found their edge — steadiness. Washington’s 24-17 victory over Arizona Sunday at FedEx Field wasn’t flashy. The stats were largely forgettable. The longest play was negated by a penalty. Their power ranking probably won’t rise as the fourth best team in the NFC East. Yet, the Redskins head to Dallas this week with a blue-collar swagger. The Cowboys have T.O.; the Redskins get turnovers. Dallas thrives on publicity and controversy; Washington is as unassuming as its head coach. Being an Average Joe isn’t always a bad thing in the NFL. The Redskins are doing what’s needed. They won both home games in an opening five-game stretch...

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Rick Snider: Parity alive and well in NFL

So much for preseason forecasts. Minnesota was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender. The Vikings are 0-2 and starting former Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte — practically the last man standing from the 1994 draft. Jacksonville is also 0-2. So are Cleveland, San Diego and Seattle. All five teams were supposed to win their divisions. Instead, they’re long shots to make the wild card round. Meanwhile, Arizona is 2-0 when meeting the Redskins today at FedEx Field. The Cardinals haven’t committed a turnover in their first two games for the first time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Green Bay is 2-0 minus Brett what’s-his-name. New England is 2-0 without Tom Brady for...

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Rick Snider: A lively day at the Park

A tight end accidentally exposed himself. A running back challenged a former player on the radio and the coach sent everyone to their Yiddish dictionary. What a weird few days around Redskins Park. It was reminiscent of 2000 when Deion Sanders and the traveling free agent show came to Ashburn. There were a record three press gatherings on the stairs yesterday plus a handful by lockers. Chris Cooley could only laugh at himself after a part of his anatomy was wrongly shown on his blog during the game on Sunday. A photo of a quiz from the team’s playbook was resting on his legs, only Cooley wasn’t wearing clothes. Suddenly, 50,000 visited the site in one hour. Cooley said he...

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Rick Snider: Campbell is earning Zorn’s trust

Trust me: the two scariest words around Washington. It’s a buzz word to run the other way. Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell asked coach Jim Zorn to believe in him more during a meeting last week. The latter wanted to, but said it would have to be earned. “One thing we said to each other is ‘Coach, just trust me,’” Campbell said. “[Jim Zorn] said, ‘I’ve got to trust you more.’” In the waning moments of the 29-24 victory over New Orleans on Sunday, six scoring drives completed, Campbell gained Zorn’s trust with a short completion on fourth-and-two to seal the victory. The Redskins could have relied on running back Clinton...

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Rick Snider: A season of mood swings is under way

So much for quarterback Jason Campbell not being able to play in the West Coast Offense and coach Jim Zorn not being able to manage games. The Redskins heard the boos heading into the locker room at halftime. They heard cheers on the final exit. It’s that mercurial in the stands. It’s that mercurial on the field. “I get the full hurricane force winds of emotion — up and down,” Zorn said. Yesterday was a 10 on the mood swing meter. Enough bad plays to bury the season with an 0-2 start. Enough good ones to save the Redskins, too. Washington escaped its own woes with a 29-24 victory over New Orleans before 88,246 scorched souls at FedEx Field. Ten days after...

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Rick Snider: More to Young than meets the eye

It’s easy to criticize Vince Young. Tell the Tennessee quarterback to put on his big boy pants and stop whining. Be a man. There are people who have it a lot tougher than a millionaire ballplayer. Like those who are dying and injured overseas fighting terrorism. Those around us who don’t have enough to eat, losing their jobs, losing their homes. Those who are dying of cancer or watching loved ones pass. There’s a lot of misery in life, which is why we love sports. It is the eternal hope of better times or at least a distraction. I get that. But, I don’t get the lack of public compassion for players. You need to see past the dollar signs. Stop judging a person on...

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Rick Snider: Who’ll go first? Hopefully, neither

So who do you want to fire first — Jason Campbell or Jim Zorn? Sorry, it’s a rhetorical question. Neither the Redskins quarterback or coach respectively are going anywhere for now. Their fates should be intertwined anyway. The Redskins have never been in sync with their quarterbacks and coaches in recent years. When they select one, the other is soon fired. The subsequent pairing is not a good match. Norv Turner dispatched Mark Rypien. Joe Gibbs didn’t want carryover Patrick Ramsey. Zorn probably wouldn’t have chosen Campbell. The Redskins have see-sawed for years. Unfortunately, they haven’t been too good at picking one, either. Turner’s choice of...

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Rick Snider: Terps are California dreamin’

It has been 53 years since a West Coast team visited Byrd Stadium. McDonald’s served its first burger in 1955, James Dean was killed in a car crash and UCLA lost 7-0 to then No. 1 Maryland back in the heyday of Terrapin football. The Terps must have been bad hosts that day because even the Queen of England has been to College Park since a Pacific-based team crossed the country. However, No. 23 California visits Maryland on Saturday, and unfortunately for the Terps it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Maryland (1-1) comes off a miserable 24-14 loss to an undersized Middle Tennessee State that ranks among the worst losses of the Ralph Friedgen era. Meanwhile, Friedgen says...

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Rick Snider: A truck fit for a freight train

LaRon Landry saw the flashing lights in his rear view mirror. Uh oh, must be the police pulling him over. It turns out fans were photographing his truck. A gigantic truck. A Ford F-650. Oh yeah, an F-650. Many Redskins drive F-150s. You might see a big F-350 now and then. But, an F-650 is a showstopper. It’s like an F-16 flying down the highway. Landry’s behemoth fills one parking space like Tom Jones once spilled into his jeans. We’re talking side to side and front to back. He parks it in the back lot of Redskins Park where a few empty spaces keep others from dinging his ride. It’s so tall Landry sits even with passing 18-wheelers. “I point to them like,...

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Rick Snider: Fantasy is a nightmare

I promised never to do it. I ridiculed those who did. And yet, there I was with Dallas, Washington, Pittsburgh and New York Giants fans picking my fantasy football team. My fantasy team would normally include Christie Brinkley, but instead I’m deciding between Matt Schaub and Kurt Warner, cursing when someone beat me to Peyton Manning, cursing more when someone beat me to Marion Barber and laughing at the idiot who took a kicker in the third round. Somebody, please help me. I hate fantasy sports players. They worry more over their fantasy team than their real team. They brag about it endlessly like new grandparents with a wallet full of photos. They act so superior when one of...

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Rick Snider: An ugly opener all over the field for Zorn & Co.

It was as ugly as feared. Washington’s offensive line was overwhelmed. The defensive line was shredded. So was the secondary, which gave New York receivers a five-yard cushion all the way down the field. Brother, can you spare a dream because this season looks like a nightmare. The New York Giants beat Washington 16-7 last night. It wasn’t close. The defending Super Bowl champions look like a repeat contender. The Redskins appear to be pretenders. The West Coast Offense looked like the Deep South Shuffle because that’s where it’s headed — down the drain. Jason Campbell did little, mostly because he received no time to work. Offensive tackle Stephon Heyer...

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Rick Snider: It’s all in how it starts

It’s just one game, but is it the window to the season? The Redskins open the NFL season tonight at defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Oddsmakers say it will be close, but even the Redskins really have no idea what’s about to happen. “I would be lying to you if I said we are all calm and ready to play. We are all geeked,” receiver Santana Moss said. “When it comes to what you have done all offseason, during OTAs and all of training camp, it is like you have done a million things to play this first game. You can’t get wrapped up into it being the end of the world, but we want to go out there and produce and look good doing it.” After a...

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Rick Snider: Purple and gold Super Bowl

Minnesota will win Super Bowl XLIII. Funny, that seems like a new way of writing my shirt size. America’s favorite game is finally back. The NFL begins Thursday with Washington at the New York Giants. No more “60 minutes” or “Family Guy” to fill our Sunday nights. This is the time of year Cowboys fans dream of winning a playoff game and the rest of us dream of dating Jessica Simpson. When Giants backers think once-in-a-lifetime runs happen two straight years. When New England seeks redemption after falling a few seconds short of their first perfect season. Twenty-one weeks of pro football aren’t enough. If only they could make it a year-round game....

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Skins 2008 Preview » Rick Snider: Shortage of big men hurts

Football is all about the lines. The Redskins are short on big men. An aging offensive line and a defensive front that can’t play the run leave the Redskins very vulnerable this season. Washington faces an 8-8 mark at best. The defense’s back seven isn’t bad and the offense has enough skill players. But if those wide bodies up front can’t take the trenches then everything else fails. The Redskins should have drafted defensive linemen last spring. Said it then, saying it now. Instead, they took receivers in Devin Thomas, who looks shaky, and Malcolm Kelly, whose history of injuries is already repeating. Washington should have gone defensive tackle, offensive line...

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Rick Snider: Don’t expect a barn burner

Hot dog vendors will work tonight at FedEx Field. So will parking lot attendants, custodians, concessionaires and security. The Redskins? Not so much. Redskins fans are paying Broadway prices to see a dress rehearsal by understudies. You want Randy Travis, you get Travis Tritt. Nobody leaves FedEx Field happy except Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who collects 10 percent of his season ticket money while paying $1,100 per game to players. The preseason is a money-maker for NFL owners and players no longer want to risk themselves for pennies on the regular-season dollar. The offense needing to be cajoled into playing a series or — can we dare hope — two against Jacksonvile in the...

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Rick Snider: Does Steffy have the right stuff?

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has three aces. So why are Terrapins fans so upset? The Terps open Saturday against Delaware with fifth-year senior passer Jordan Steffy starting over Chris Turner and Josh Portis. It’s the same pecking order as last year, only Steffy and Turner now have a substantial experience while Portis learned the system while ineligible in 2007. Fans want Turner after becoming the first Maryland quarterback ever to beat two Top 10 teams in one season while Steffy was hurt. Turner upset No. 10 Rutgers and No. 8 Boston College to become the cool second coming of Joe Namath. Turner’s father was a drummer in the band Ratt whose rock star status seemed to pass...

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Rick Snider: Don’t push the panic button ... yet

You thought it was going to be easy. The new offense was clicking. The defense was making plays. Coach Jim Zorn looked like a sleeper. Whammo — back to reality. The Redskins are probably a 9-7, 8-8 team. They proved it when they were manhandled by fellow playoff contender Carolina, 47-3, on Saturday. The starters departed down 34-0 at halftime. Turnovers, awful run defense, no passing game, no pass blocking, terrible kickoff returns, Jason Taylor hurt — and that’s the short version of misdeeds. Who knew WUSA blowing the start of the game would do Redskins fans a favor? They should have just kept playing Jason Campbell’s insurance commercial non-stop. Oh wait,...

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Rick Snider: An untimely death

Will Gene Upshaw’s death lead to an NFL shutdown in 2011? The NFL Players Association executive director died Thursday of cancer. Diagnosed just four days earlier, there was no time for a leadership change to take over labor talks. With NFL owners seemingly poised to lock out players, the union needs a quick transition to avoid a coming showdown. Upshaw was a great union leader, escalating player salaries to 60 percent of revenues. There are a lot of rich players who owe their mansions to Upshaw. Talking tough and acting tougher, Upshaw did what was best for his members. Retired players should have been treated better, but Upshaw’s legacy is as golden as his Hall of Fame...

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Rick Snider: Terp looking to make Skins' cut

David Holloway has 10 days to make the Redskins. The former Maryland linebacker joined Washington on Tuesday after more than a year with Arizona. He’s on the bubble again, probably the seventh linebacker on a team likely to keep six. But, the next two preseason games are all about reserves proving their worth. Starters will play extensively against Carolina on Saturday, but coaches will spend the second half looking for big plays from long shots like Holloway. Holloway is on the clock as 27 players will be released by Aug. 30. Yet, there’s no fear of coming in at the last minute, trying to learn a new language like a traveler heading to Europe for a week. “My being...

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Rick Snider: Franklin in Terps’ big picture?

Is James Franklin the next head coach of Maryland? Coach Ralph Friedgen has several seasons remaining with Maryland before retirement. Franklin seems the worthy successor after returning from a three-season absence as the Green Bay receivers coach and Kansas State offensive coordinator to become the Terrapins offensive coordinator. Nothing was promised Franklin over the future. Everything still has to be earned by revamping a program with three losing seasons in the last four. But does Franklin’s return after an earlier stint as receivers coach indicate Maryland is thinking ahead? The answer brings only a lot of smiles to Terps leaders. “I always thought I would come back at...

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Good karma for Redskins

Jim Zorn has good karma. The Redskins reached 3-0 on Saturday when the New York Jets kicker boinked a last-second field goal off the upright. You think that ever happened to predecessor Norv Turner, king of the narrow losses? It would have hit the crossbar and bounced over on Norv. The Redskins are living right under their new boss, who obviously isn’t tainted by the stench of defeat that has permeated the franchise over the last 15 years. The Redskins are getting lucky at times and that’s sometimes even better than being good. The Redskins were lucky to have found Zorn at the bottom of their coaching search of supposedly 50 names, which he wasn’t even among originally....

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Rick Snider: Phelps finishes third behind track stars

Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic swimmer ever, but when it comes to all-time Olympians, he’s third in my poll. I’m not hating on Phelps. It’s wonderful to have the biggest star of the Beijing Olympics from our region. Phelps certainly surpasses Mark Spitz as king of the pool and NBC is naturally promoting him as the greatest Olympian ever to pump their ratings. But, my top Olympians ever are American track and field stars Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens respectively over Phelps with German kayaker Birgit Fischer-Schmidt fourth and Finish runner Paavo Nurmi fifth. Owens nearly gained my top vote. What can be greater than a black man winning four gold medals at the 1936...

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West Coast feel in NFC East

The NFC East may be heading west. It was once a real-man’s division where bone-jarring inside runs decided games, especially in the swirling December winds of Giants Stadium. Passing was for dome teams and western folks. But, Redskins coach Jim Zorn is showing some of his old quarterback tendencies while readying for the New York Jets on Saturday. In two preseason games, the West Coast offense has passed on 9 of 10 third downs under quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Todd Collins. Overall, the Redskins have passed 10 of 17 third downs. The numbers aren’t simple math. Each situation is different, depending on how much yardage is needed for a first down, field placement, score and...

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Time for Skins to get healthy

The Redskins are so banged up the next Easterns Auto commercial will be filmed in a junk yard. Players are out for the year, others for a few weeks and the top two draft picks quickly went down after entering camp out of shape. What’s next? You know what’s next — a major injury to a major player. Look for a few more hamstring pulls by fans walking from the metro for the Redskins-Buffalo game on Saturday now that shuttles have been sidelined. Start stretching now. The injury report has surpassed double digits despite one preseason game. That’s way, way too many. The Redskins were lucky Jason Taylor was available to replace Phillip Daniels, but they’re...

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Sidewinder has potential

It didn’t take long for Colt Brennan to find fans. His first night off from training camp had him at the movies where a child wearing a Brennan jersey walked past. “That fired me up a little bit,” he said. Welcome to Washington, where third-string quarterbacks are often more revered than starting passers. Brennan’s first impression may have been the best by a Redskin since Babe Laufenberg’s 1985 preseason. Brennan completed 9-of-10 passes for 123 yards against Indianapolis on Sunday with two touchdowns and a 157.5 quarterback rating. Three times Brennan made jaw-dropping throws. Twice coach Jim Zorn seemed to say “Oh no” before saying,...

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Get ready for act three

The third act of the Ralph Friedgen era has started. Act 1 was 31 wins, two bowl victories and an ACC title in the opening three years. Everyone thought the Maryland coach was the Lombardi of college football. However, Act 2 was three losing seasons in four years. Just two games above .500 overall and one bowl win. Friedgen was looking more like Norv Turner. Redemption is near, though. With two experienced quarterbacks, 29 seniors and a new offensive coordinator, Maryland should win at least eight games this season. The Terps are sleepers for the ACC crown. Friedgen begins his eighth season in College Park, two short of Jerry Claiborne’s 1972-81 run that’s second only to...

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What to watch in Beijing

Michael Phelps. The Dream Team. Those cute gymnasts. The Olympic Games begin Friday and for 16 days we’ll watch some sports for the fi rst time in four years. But what to watch, especially when often knowing the outcome given it’s already tomorrow in Beijing so today is history or something like that. When covering the Redskins in Japan in 2002, I once wrote two days of events in the same edition of the paper back home. There are 38 sports from “athletics” — code for track and fi eld — to wrestling. As a community service, I waded through the listings for your TiVo needs. Watch basketball. The U.S. seems serious over winning the gold medal for once....

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The next big thing

Sean Taylor, LaVar Arrington, Champ Bailey, Wilber Marshall, Darrell Green — the  Redskins defense has long thrived on playmakers. Someone that altered offensive game plans with their athleticism or hitting.Jason Taylor is next. And just in time. The Redskins were quietly out of impact players. They have some nice defenders — Shawn Springs, London Fletcher, LaRon Landry and Andre Carter can play for most teams — but none made the Pro Bowl last year.The absence of Sean Taylor was noticed in two losses last year following his injury. The defense......

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Lights, eyes on Taylor

The paparazzi came to Redskins Park yesterday. Cameras clicked, young sons were lifted on their father’s shoulders and the crowd surged towards the ropes.Jason Taylor’s debut was short -— a thunderstorm sending the crowd away before autographs — but there’s little doubt he’s now the team’s biggest star. It won’t be long before a third Taylor jersey fills the FedEx Field stands. Charley, Sean and now Jason are becoming the Taylor trinity of Redskins gear. Taylor shoves aside Clinton Portis as the face of the franchise — its biggest name......

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Skins dance to a new tune

Redskins owner Dan Snyder doesn’t mess around in a crisis. Hours after losing two defensive ends Sunday on the opening of training camp, Snyder tradedfor disgruntled Miami star Jason Taylor. He didn’t even greatly overpay.The Redskins obtained one of the NFL’s top pass rushers......

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Time for training camp … yawn

Training camp is not for the weak. It’s hot, tiring and somebody’s always blocking your way.I’m talking about thousands of fans descending upon Redskins Park on Sunday for training camp. Novices always come excited to see their favorite players only to leave three hours later bored, sunburned and wondering why in the world everyone makes a big deal over going.This is not Camp Carlisle. Not even the Frostburg experiment of the ’90s.There’s no 5 o’clock club. No Rillo’s for dinner or......

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Yes, there is a QB controversy

Wake up, Redskins fans. You’re missing the best quarterback controversy since Gus Frerotte outlasted Heath Shuler in 1995.In a town that thrives on quarterback debates, why is coach Jim Zorn getting a free pass with Jason Campbell over Todd Collins when the Redskins open camp on Sunday? All Collins did last season was win four straight games to reach the playoffs while Campbell floundered before suffering a dislocated knee.Collins’ quick passes are better suited for the West Coast offense over Campbell, who likes to hold the ball longer than this......

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Green’s struggles became success

Pardon Darrell Green for seeming nervous over his coming Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. The "itty bitty guy" from Texas has always worried whether he was good enough.Green admitted during a conference call Tuesday that as a youth football player, "I was a little fellow and I was scared." He ran track entering high school rather than play football for......

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It’s time to clean this house

For a city of lawmakers, somebody forgot to check the fine print of the Washington Nationals’ promise of better times this season. Nats officials delivered a great stadium, but somebody forgot about a great product.The Nats stink.The team has never been so many games under .500 since arriving in 2005. After a 50-31 start that season for first place, the team went 31-50 to finish .500. And those were the salad days. The Nats slipped to 71-91 in 2006 while 73-89......

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A glimmer of hope from Zim

Ryan Zimmerman took batting practice yesterday. Banged one off the left foul pole. Put another in the bleachers. Some decent knocks.Finally, a glimmer of hope the Nationals won’t completely stink this season. Oh, they’re not escaping last place with this depleted collection of reserves, but Zimmerman’s possible return at month’s end would give Washington fans some reason to keep watching. At least, the reported 9,000 households still finding the games somewhere on......

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Young star shows promise at AT&T

The 2008 AT&T National lost its Tiger, but found a young lion.Anthony Kim is only 23 years old, but looking every bit a PGA Tour elder. He took the lead on the first hole Sunday before chasing six hopefuls from the leaderboard with a birdie on 16. By the time Kim reached the large crowd at the final hole, the Continued...

 

Begay earning his exemption

Notah Begay doesn’t need Tiger Woods’ help to impact the AT&T National. The college teammate of the tournament host fired a 3-under 67 Thursday to join the first-round leaders at Congressional Country Club.Sponsor’s exemption, my five iron.Yes, Begay accepted a sponsor’s invitation to enter. No, he didn’t ask his buddy for help. Yes, it helps Begay is old friends with the planet’s greatest player. No, it’s not the only reason he was invited."Obviously, there’s probably a little bit of special consideration given," Begay said, "but you know, I feel like......

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Rocco rolls into Congressional

Rocco Mediate has become Rocky with a golf club.Mediate went 91 rounds against Tiger Woods only to lose the U.S. Open in sudden death. And yet, Mediate is American sports’ latest star when the AT&T National begins tomorrow at Congressional Country Club. He’s on the couch with Continued...

 

Rocco rolls into Congressional

Rocco Mediate has become Rocky with a golf club.Mediate went 91 rounds against Tiger Woods only to lose the U.S. Open in sudden death. And yet, Mediate is American sports’ latest star when the AT&T National begins tomorrow at Congressional Country Club. He’s on the couch with Jay Leno, drawing bigger galleries while becoming the PGA Tour’s centerpiece despite not winning in six years."Everybody’s watching — I don’t mind that," Mediate said. "I’m not changing a thing. I proved to myself I can hang."That Mediate lost hardly matters to golf’s......

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Beckham games still an event in D.C.

David Beckham brings out the best in D.C. United.United’s 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday at RFK Stadium overshadowed the international superstar’s return to D.C. The blonde husband of a former Spice Girl was a non-factor, his best shot landing in a......

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Rookie roulette in New York

With the 18th pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards will select ...Oh, this one is tough. The Wiz could do anything from trading up or down to packaging last year’s mid-first rounder Nick Young and several picks to get into the top five to take Italy’s Danilo Gallinari. Until Washington’s pick is announced,......

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No pressure at 18? Guess again

Washington Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld is working the phones.An unusually deep draft makes their No. 18 selection in the NBA Draft tomorrow more valuable than the traditional mid-round pick. Grunfeld said yesterday the Wiz might move up, down or out of the draft. They might even take "the best available player."Glad he cleared that up.Like their counterpart Capitals last week with a mid-round first, the Wizards aren’t getting an impact player tomorrow.......

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Does it matter who Caps pick?

With the 23rd pick, the Washington Capitals select ... right winger Viktor Tikhonov of Russia.Look at 10 mock drafts and you’ll get 10 different players by the Caps in the NHL draft tonight. Everything but a goalie, which wouldn’t be the worst choice. The Caps probably have 10 contingency plans. It’s that uncertain.The upside......

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Is No. 28 on deck for the presidents race?

It is the rarest baseball and resides the most unusual dugout in town.King George V of England knew U.S. president Woodrow Wilson was a big baseball fan. After watching American troops play in England, the monarch signed the game ball and later gave it to the chief executive at Buckingham Palace."George R.I. July 4,......

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A detailed foundation

If Jason Campbell thinks it’s dangerous on the field, the classroom isn’t much easier. "I’m not mad," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "The best opportunity to teach is right after it happened and again on video in the classroom. If they can continue to get information and correct it then, the information seeps in."Said Campbell: "He’s the one who’s running the show and......

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Belmont: failed delivery

And now you know why braggarts are always punished.Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow guaranteed a Belmont Stakes victory on Saturday. I wonder if he’s writing checks to those wagering $5.9 million trackside alone for the colt to win? Anything can happen in racing even more so than other sports. Once again, an unworthy colt was denied becoming the first Triple Crown champion......

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Turtle power at Redskin Park

Quarterback Sam Hollenbach is more comfortable the second time around with the Redskins. Then again, the huddle is a near deja vu experience with three former Maryland teammates.Offensive tackle Stephon Heyer, guard Andrew Crummey, tight end Jason Goode and Hollenbach led the crosstown Continued...

 

Zorn still has some zip

It was a sweet downfield play designed for receiver Santana Moss to reach the end zone. Cornerback Fred Smoot pressed him inside, but was losing a step. The passer unleashed one just a little too far.Moss yelled his dismay over the missed opportunity Tuesday while Smoot celebrated and his teammates laughed. Who says voluntary workouts don’t count?Oh, and the passer was Redskins coach......

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Cooley creating chaos online

Now I know what Riggo would have done in the age of the Internet.Redskins tight end Chris Cooley recently married a former Redskinette. But one day before the nuptials, Cooley posted two revealing photos of his soon-to-be bride on chriscooley47.blogspot.com. And, Christy still married him.Captain Chaos trumps Agent Zero for best Washington blog by an athlete. But, Cooley discovered Redskins fans can be a bit prudish. The tight end said about half......

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Better watch out, Big Brown

Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow thinks the Belmont Stakes is a walkover. That the Triple Crown is a pending coronation for the Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes winner. Why, everyone is rooting for Big Brown to become racing’s first crown winner in 30 years, aren’t they?Uh,......

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Tiger aims to help the future

Tiger Woods thought his father was "talking crazy" years ago when saying his son was having a global impact on par with some historical leaders. Woods believed he was a golfer, not a revolutionary. His job was wrestling a golf course, not saving the world."I didn’t understand what he was talking about," said Woods yesterday at Congressional Country Club. "I thought he was talking crazy. But maybe he saw something I didn’t and I didn’t know it. Maybe as all parents,......

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Klauk hangs on at Woodmore

For someone who led from the start, Jeff Klauk wasn’t safe even after finishing.Klauk won the Melwood Prince George’s County Open at The Country Club at Woodmore Sunday afternoon with a final hole birdie after squandering a two-shot lead over the previous two holes. Even after finishing 12-under, Klauk needed David Mathis in the final group to hit the water to finish......

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Building a comeback one big shot at a time

Another victim of the housing downturn has found success in his fourth comeback at golf.Bryan DeCorso gave up the game for nine months in 2005. Didn’t watch the Golf Channel or check scores in the paper. His clubs were "collecting dust." After 13 years on minor tours, the son of a professional golfer couldn’t endure missing cuts and meager paychecks anymore. For the third time, DeCorso walked away to rebuild......

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The end of NFL dominance?

King Football is nearing an end.After dominating professional sports over two decades, the NFL labor peace that turned players into millionaires and team owners into billionaires is being threatened from within. The two sides will sacrifice their golden goose of parity to make even more money.What idiots.NFL owners yesterday voted 32-0 to end the collective bargaining agreement two years early in 2011. There will be no salary cap in 2010 when Continued...

 

Big Borwn: Date with destiny or disappointment?

Big Brown proved he’s the big horse. But, is he an immortal?The UPS namesake heads to the Belmont Stakes on June 7 seeking to become thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. Unlike the Preakness Stakes field filled with second-tier colts, the Belmont promises several contenders in the "Test of Champions."Big Brown wasn’t tested on Saturday before 112,222 at Pimlico Race Course, though. Jockey Kent Desormeaux saved the colt for the final leg, often restraining Big Brown in the 5 1/4-length victory that could easily been doubled. Desormeaux......

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Time to focus on the race

Big Brown will win tomorrow’s Preakness Stakes easier than his Kentucky Derby victory. Maybe the top 3-year-old colt since Spectacular Bid was known by some as "the best horse ever to look through a bridle" 29 years ago, Big Brown is facing perhaps the worst Preakness field ever. Only one other Derby runner is coming for the first time since 1980.The Preakness field is comprised of those not good enough to......

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Nats find a villain in Queens

Softball girls?New York Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa was drilled in a 10-4 loss on Monday and he calls the Washington Nationals "softball girls.""They were cheerleading in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls," Figueroa said. "If that’s what a last-place team needs to do to fire themselves up, so be it. They need to show a little more class and professionalism.......

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Brown is a lock

The question isn’t whether Big Brown will win Saturday’s 133rd Preakness Stakes. The Kentucky Derby winner will overwhelm this cheap field like your grandmother’s perfume.No, the real money is whether "Big Bad Leroy Brown" becomes the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years by also claiming the Belmont Stakes on June 7."Even money," quipped trainer Rick Dutrow over gaining immortality.Actually, one leading......

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Monk, Green make appeal for kids

Darrell Green and Art Monk need money.Donations are "drying up" in the current recession. Their drawing power is fading after years away from the game. Yet, the needs are ever growing.Good fortune and great timing have re-united the former Redskins teammates into a fund raising force. The tandem are turning their Continued...

 

A new day, a new system for Collins

Todd Collins could have a big head after leading Washington to the playoffs last year. He saved the season — everybody knows it.But, Collins is back on the bench with a new coach and another offensive system. Only one team pursued the 36-year-old passer during free agency before the Redskins re-signed him. Collins knows Washington is the best fit as the Redskins continue offseason workouts today.Maybe Collins is getting too old to......

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Not everything’s in the playbook

Redskins coach Jim Zorn knew there would be days when football seemed like the last thing on his agenda. The first one came yesterday.Tight end Fred Davis didn’t show up for the final mini camp practice. It took awhile to find the rookie, whose absence Zorn labeled in the "screwed up category." Instead of promising sanctions and making threats, though, Zorn......

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So what can Big Brown do for you?

Named for United Parcel Service delivery company, Big Brown is my choice for Saturday’s 134th Kentucky Derby over Adriano with Eight Belles in your triple and Recapturetheglory as the long shot play.Big Brown could be the best 3-year-old colt since Spectacular Bid just missed the 1979 Triple Crown. That’s not to say he’ll become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, but Big Brown has the rare......

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Wizards face many questions

It’s time for the Wizards to answer some hard questions whether the offseason begins tonight or a few days.Washington trails Cleveland 3-1 in the first-round series that many expected the Wizards to win until mouthing off beforehand to awaken the Cavaliers. The pregame boasting fueled Cleveland to an insurmountable 2-0 series lead. The Wiz delivered a knuckle sandwich in Game 3, but that was their manhood talking. Failing to repeat it in a......

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Will draft translate on field?

Redskins owner Dan Snyder can still surprise us, if only by making smart moves.Snyder suckered Atlanta into trading two second-rounders for Washington’s 21st selection that was a suspect move by the Falcons. After an offseason of not overspending on free agents and now a good draft move, Snyder looked like he was finally learning something.And then Snyder blew all that good will with tunnel......

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Rock the Red won’t fade into the night

The Washington Capitals made everyone care. Everyone believe. And everyone broken hearted.Is there anything more agonizing than an overtime Game 7 loss? Where one moment Verizon Center is a madhouse and the next empty aside idiots throwing beer bottles on the ice? Don’t cry over Philadelphia’s second goal in the 3-2 win on Tuesday to eliminate Continued...

 

Where will pick No. 21 go?

Ocho Cinco is on the clock.The Redskins yesterday declined comment on reports Cincinnati rejected potentially two first-round picks for Bengals receiver Chad Johnson. But, the Redskins have been chasing the flamboyant playmaker for three months. I’ll believe the trade doesn’t happen when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium on Saturday and says, "With the 21st pick, the Continued...

 

Less talk, more winning please

The Wizards said Cleveland super star LeBron James was overrated and the Cavaliers were everyone’s first choice to face in the playoffs.Cleveland 93-86. James — 32 points.It was only one loss, but it better be a humiliating one or three more will follow when the best of seven series resumes tonight. James scored the first six points during a critical 11-0 late run that sealed the win on Saturday while the Wiz......

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Hey Wizards — be quiet!

When Charles Barkley calls you stupid for taunting opponents, it’s time to take a deep breath.The Wizards have flat out challenged Cleveland superstar LeBron James’ manhood entering the playoffs on Saturday. Guard DeShawn Stevenson — who last time I checked was the fifth wheel on the Wiz — called King James "overrated." Continued...

 

Schedule, predictions appear

The Redskins look 9-7 this fall for a wild card.Sure, only an idiot projects a record five months from the season. There are lots of pesky things in between like the the draft, training camp, preseason and injuries much less how other teams handle the same challenges. Teams expected to be good may be bad and the same for bad teams playing well. No matter — the schedule released yesterday is the best time to dream because the Redskins played like......

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There’s no letting up in the playoffs

Rock the Red? It was more like a white flag.The Capitals blew their chance for a 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday. After stealing game one, a second win would have effectively sent Washington into the second round.Instead, the Flyers out-hustled the Caps in the 2-0 victory before a packed Continued...

 

Who will really Rock the Red?

It seems Washington is a hockey town. Buried under Redskins garb, basketball jerseys and curly W hats are some puck heads.Who knew?No one talked hockey for the last five years, aside Al Koken, during the playoff drought. Alex Ovechkin could have walked down Pennsylvania Avenue naked and people would just think he was just some crazy person needing a shave.......

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Dantley’s hall nod ‘long overdue’

Adrian Dantley always filled the room, even when it was outdoors. Playing on District playgrounds in the late 1960s, it wasn’t unusual for 500 people to ring the court. Everybody in the neighborhood watched.Dantley was one of the city’s four greatest high school players ever. Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing and Continued...

 

Winds of positive change blowing strong in D.C.

What an exciting time in Washington.The Capitals ended a five-year playoff absence. The Wizards clinched their fourth straight postseason berth with injured Agent Zero back. The Nationals opened a new stadium. The National Harbor, Newseum and expanded Wilson Bridge are coming online. The cherry blossoms returned, a new president is pending.Loserville is back on top.The Caps gain the spotlight, though.......

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Lo Duca catching Derby fever

Paul Lo Duca is hoping a little horse sense will lead to a mint julep. The Nationals catcher is part owner of Golden Spikes, a three-year-old colt in Saturday’s Illinois Derby. A big effort by the speedster might send Golden Spikes to the Kentucky Derby. That is, if the......

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Nats’ Johnson picks up where he left off

It didn’t take long for the Nationals to remember how important Nick Johnson was.The first basemen drove in the first run in Nationals Park history on Sunday when legging out a double, then scored on a single. A broken leg that forced him to miss last season didn’t slow the Nats slugger 18 months after a scary on-field collision."This whole......

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Real baseball feel returns to DC

Washington is a small town once again.Nationals Park feels small, even cozy. Maybe because it’s half the size of football stadiums, but small works very, very well.The seats are closer. The upper deck doesn’t sit that far away and you have a great view. The Red Porch in center field is soon to be the hot ticket among GS-Joes who can’t afford the pricey seats.In fact, if you don’t like your seat, hang around the center field concourse where a......

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Time to ground Agent Zero

It’s time to end the Agent Zero show for this season. Gilbert Arenas is frustrated over the Wizards smartly not rushing him back from knee surgery after returning too soon earlier this season. But, the right thing is to think long term and not the last few weeks of the season when the risk of further injury is too much.This doesn’t sit well with Arenas, who sounds like a petulant......

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Balancing act continues for Frese

There’s no crying in baseball, but a few whimpers were heard in the Maryland women’s basketball locker room yesterday.It was feeding time for Markus and Tyler, the five-week-old twins of coach Brenda Frese. Husband Mark Thomas and two staffers took turns feeding them while Brenda Frese talked to the media. The top-seeded Terrapins meet eighth-seeded Continued...

 

It’s the most important vote you’ll cast this year

Forget Hillary-Obama. We have serious work to do. Voting for songs at the Nationals stadium ends Wednesday and you either pick the right one or endure six months of aggravation.The Nats are choosing songs for home runs, seventh-inning stretch and victories. The beauty of baseball is the quiet moments between plays so I’m not one who likes every moment filledas part of the entertainment experience to justify high ticket prices. But, if they’re going to play songs, let’s pick the right ones. Vote for whomever you want for president, but......

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Xavier-Georgia an instant classic

Two hours into the NCAA Tournament Thursday, a classic was already completed at Verizon Center.Third-seeded Xavier escaped 14th-seed Georgia 73-61 that was a two-shot game until the final minute. Georgia led by 11 early in the second half before a 22-3 Xavier run later made the difference.Fans clutched their......

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Georgia’s Felton returns home

Georgia coach Dennis Felton gained a hug from an old high school teammate. Then he saw a friend from college. Then another. The Bulldogs coach is the local favorite when the NCAA Tournament begins today at Verizon Center.Felton played at Surrattsville High in Clinton with Rick Moreland, an......

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Area schools get a mixed bag

Georgetown gained an easy bracket. American drew a nightmare. George Mason’s seed is just right.No complaints here over seeds for the three local teams headed for the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee did a good job overall aside excluding Virginia Tech. The Hokies should have made it, but......

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Hoya hoopla is underway

Georgetown just threw a major scare across college basketball.Center Roy Hibbert went scoreless on one shot before fouling out. The Hoyas were outscored by 14 at the foul line without even taking a free throw in the first half. Villanova opened the second half 11-0 for the lead.Sure sounds like a loss. Instead, Georgetown advanced to the Continued...

 

These turtles have something to fear: themselves

Say goodbye to the Maryland Terrapins tonight. This could be the end of anything worthwhile.Maryland’s NCAA Tournament hopes are a long shot. The Terps need at least two ACC Tournament wins to merit an at-large selection on Sunday, though three are more likely warranted. Maryland at best will beat Continued...

 

Nats parking game already a loss

The Nationals new stadium should be the happiest time around Washington sports since Verizon Center opened 10 years ago. Instead, the sense of dread is growing faster than my waistline.Wherever you live, you can’t get to the South Capitol Street stadium easily. There’s no parking for GS-Joes. Metro can’t handle the crowds coming or going. Street parking is $35 if you can find it. Maybe they’re running water taxis from......

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Please direct me to Teddy’s suite

The Nationals are at it again.The new stadium has Lincoln suites. Washington suites. Jefferson suites. See where I’m going with this? There are no Roosevelt suites. No Roosevelt concourse, not even a Roosevelt snack bar. Three of the Mount Rushmore Four are honored with suites and Teddy once more is overlooked just like the presidents race each game.Did one of Roosevelt’s grandkids beat up Nats owner Continued...

 

Standing pat a wise move

The Redskins haven’t missed anything by sitting idly over the opening five days of free agency. It has been one big snooze, especially in the NFC East.Dallas, Philadelphia and the New York Giants each signed one player, none of whom is a game-breaker. The Giants lost three to AFC......

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Mr. Buffett, please buy the Redskins

Warren Buffett was talking about the U.S. economy falling into recession during a Monday interview with CNBC. He buys Coke stock instead of Pepsi, checks railroad car inventories to determine market trends and thinks Continued...

 

So far, Skins lacking wow factor

For once, the Redskins weren’t kidding — they really aren’t a player in free agency.So much for the one time of year when fans are excited. Owner Dan Snyder usually sends Redskins One to all corners of the country when free agency opens. Big names come to town. Everybody talks football in March. It’s a blockbuster time of year compared to when they actually play the games.The Redskins re-signed backup......

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Lloyd leaves team and town with a deservedly bad rap

Brandon Lloyd is gone — Amen.Lloyd blamed everybody for his problems except the right person — himself. The guy was clueless. What really irks me is Lloyd leaves town with $11 million despite getting fired for being a terrible player and worse teammate.Lloyd made Michael Westbrook look like Darrell Green. It’s bad enough Lloyd never scored a touchdown in two......

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Nationals’ battle against autism gets a curly W

The parking may stink and there’s still no one on the mound that can win 20 games, but the Nationals finally delivered what’s truly important when the new stadium opens — good food.Maybe I’m a fat boy, but so are many of you. The days of a lukewarm hotdog in a soggy bun and a pretzels doubling as a shovel are past. The Nats understand food is important and if you’re paying outrageous prices, it should at least be edible.Ben’s Chili Bowl and Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy are Continued...

 

Senior Day hits close to home for Frese

Published: Feb 25, 2008

One week after giving birth to twin boys, Maryland women’s coach Brenda Frese was courtside.Frese came for the pregame ceremony on Sunday to honor five seniors. It was important to be there for the final home game of a class that turned around a program. Still, it wasn’t easy leaving Markus and Tyler behind with their grandparents. Nor was it easy to control her emotions. Combining coaching and parenthood in one week was a little overwhelming as the Continued...

 

Drag races have deep roots on roads of Southern Md.

Published: Feb 21, 2008

The site of a deadly street racing crash in Accokeek was briefly silenced again Wednesday while an accident-reconstruction unit resurveyed the scene where 14 people were killed or injured on Saturday.Prince George’s County police remeasured numerous parts of the two-lane highwaystill bearing gruesome reminders of spray paint noting the 14 victims who were also propelled into the median strip and shoulder. Ninety days might be needed before officials decide whether......

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Terps need just a little patience

Published: Feb 20, 2008

Five games to go. Three wins are probably needed to make the NCAA Tournament. Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez doesn’t want a dirty split to make it to the postseason, though. He’s thinking five more wins beginning tonight versus Virginia Tech at Continued...

 

Wiz need a hero, Agent Zero

Published: Feb 19, 2008

The Wizards should cut ticket prices if they’re going to show reruns.The Wiz are experiencing a deja vu experience when facing the New York Knicks tonight at Verizon Center. The team’s best players are injured just like last year’s post-All-Star stretch. A once promising team many hoped would contend for the Eastern Conference title now has a losing record and more future talent than present stars on the court.It’s......

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Bring Ocho Cinco to the circus

Published: Feb 13, 2008

Ocho Cinco may be coming to Washington? Dios mio.Redskins owner Dan Snyder is back in business with stacks of cash to spend and draft picks to swap. No more listening to departed coach Joe Gibbs’ common sense on building a team. Snyder is now free to do what he loves......

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Offseason should be interesting

Published: Feb 12, 2008

Still blown away by Jim Zorn becoming the Redskins coach? I’ll go one better. It seems Vinny Cerrato might have some real influence on the franchise’s direction after pushing for Zorn.Yikes.Hearing Cerrato talk about what makes a good Redskin makes me want to wretch buckets. His coming free agency and draft talks might cause me to lose more weight than......

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Where will this nice guy finish?

Published: Feb 11, 2008

Jim Zorn?It’s an interesting pick. Not exactly an inspiring one, but at least the newest Redskins coach didn’t arrive on Sunday with the stink of failure some other candidates presented. The Seattle assistant should reach the preseason before fans begin second-guessing the choice. Then again, yahoo.com posted poll on how long before Zorn is fired just moments after the press conference......

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Is Fassel the one?

Published: Feb 08, 2008

Jim Fassel appears the survivor. Bill Cowher couldn’t be lured from retirement. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo ended up not being worth waiting two weeks to interview. Gregg Williams left for Jacksonville. Continued...

 

Press meet turns into roast

Published: Feb 06, 2008

Art Monk spoke for 10 minutes — non-stop. If Monk was placed before a firing squad during his career and told he lived only as long as he talked, the receiver wouldn’t have gone 10 minutes. Darrell Green spoke for more than 10 minutes, which if he hadn’t also would have been a personal record. He razzed quite a few people, including Redskins owner Dan Snyder.And Gary Clark stepped from the rear of the auditorium — filled with 15 former players, staffers and family — to summate why his two......

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An enforcer on and off the court

Published: Feb 05, 2008

"Alamo Trucking." NBA referee Bob Delaney froze. Someone shouting at him in a Phoenix arena nearly 25 years and 2,400 miles away from his days as an undercover New Jersey State Trooper was a potential threat. After spending three years as trucking company owner Bobby Covert to gather evidence that sent dozens of mobsters to prison, Delaney always lives in a personal "code orange."The courtside voice was an undercover collaborator who went into the witness protection program afterwards. Delaney wasn’t too worried anyway. He came forward long ago to testify......

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Green awaits Hall’s call

Published: Jan 31, 2008

Darrell Green has watched Art Monk's annual rejection by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters in disbelief. His former teammate, who retired as the game's leading receiver, failing to gain induction into Canton has baffled him. Green isn’t handicapping his own chances on Saturday either after reaching the final 17 in his first year of eligibility. While......

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RFK: The next generation

Published: Jan 29, 2008

The Redskins are coming back to RFK. The question is what year?Mayor Adrian Fenty recently confirmed preliminary talks with the team that carried over from predecessor Tony Williams’ tenure. There have never been deep discussions, but interest remains on both sides.Redskins owner Dan Snyder knows there’s more money to be made at the old RFK Stadium site. Sources close to the talks say Snyder wants development rights around the site as part of the deal to build his own stadium that includes a retractable roof to attract major events like......

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This one’s bigger than Cowboys-Redskins

Published: Jan 28, 2008

The best game of the year is Maryland-Duke.You can keep the Cowboys-Redskins. Nothing else in town even rates a comparison. The Terrapins-Blue Devils on Sunday at Comcast Center was one unending thunderclap by 17,950 screaming. James Gist opened with a dunk and the stands swayed like RFK before a decade-and-a-half of mediocrity and a clueless owner conspired to harden Continued...

 

Redskins: Welcome to the circus

Published: Jan 25, 2008

It seems Larry and Curly can’t find Moe. From the people who came a whisker from naming Pepper Rogersinterim coach one late December night in 2000 comes the latest version of looking dumber than a fifth grader. Redskins owner Dan Snyder has been caught more flat-footed than a circus clown and looking much the same.While most of the media suspected coach Joe Gibbs might retire at season’s end, team sources say Snyder had no clue. Maybe Gibbs told the owner he wasn’t leaving and changed his mind, but either way......

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Dark days loom for Skins, fans

Published: Jan 23, 2008

Whose day was worse Tuesday — Wall Street traders or Redskins fans? The money market is shaky, but the sure collapse is heading to Redskins Park.The Redskins didn’t just take a step back by naming Vinny Cerrato the executive vice president of football operation — they fell into the black hole of double-digit loss seasons for the next five years. Owner Dan Snyder is showing he learned absolutely nothing from coach Joe Gibbs’ tenure. Snyder is reverting to the poor decision-making process of the past that will once more crash......

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Wizards’ Thomas is all heart

Published: Jan 22, 2008

Etan Thomas is my new hero. The Wizards center returned courtside to Verizon Center Monday to watch his teammates. Just three months after undergoing open heart surgery to replace a leaky heart value, Thomas awaits medical clearance to practice. And not long after that, to play.Amazing.Thomas’ heart is fine. The boyhood condition hadn’t deteriorated to levels that trigger other medical problems. It’s his sternum that must be fully healed before taking an elbow to the 10-inch gash that is painful enough to stop a charging rhino in its tracks. I......

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Snyder should bring in a GM

Published: Jan 15, 2008

Owner Dan Snyder’s belief that the Washington Redskins don’t need a general manager based on "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" makes me want to wretch.Give the man credit,he’s never short on confidence — just a little low on reality.Seriously, the prospect of Snyder and vice president of whatever Vinny Cerrato once again managing the draft, free agency and salary cap sans a coach with major pull is the next sign of an apocalyptic breakdown of a team good enough to make the playoffs. Whenever a past coach was......

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Put Williams in place

Published: Jan 14, 2008

Gregg Williams should be the next Redskins coach.It’s fine owner Dan Snyder is looking around for once, even interviewing Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. For once, Snyder’s not throwing money at the biggest name available, though he would if Continued...

 

Here’s to you, Joe

Published: Jan 09, 2008

Camelot is truly a memory.Perhaps the most popular person in Washington since John F. Kennedy, Joe Gibbs retired for the second time yesterday, and this time for good. After rebuilding the Redskins as promised, it’s time for home and hearth.Good for you, Joe. It was long expected, but sudden in the end. The death of Continued...

 

Decision 2008, Gibbs style

Published: Jan 08, 2008

My gut feeling says Joe Gibbs is leaning towards not coaching the Redskins next season.Then again, everything seems in play.Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Gibbs began "hot and heavy" talks last night that the latter indicated could last several days. Gibbs refused to commit to even past statements of intending to finish his five-year deal in 2008. It would have......

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Disappointing, not devastating

Published: Jan 07, 2008

So much for destiny.Coach Joe Gibbs called it the "toughest year" of his career so an ugly ending was appropriate. A 21-point blitz by Seattle kicked Washington into the offseason, 35-14.Saturday’s playoff ouster wasn’t devastating to the Redskins, though. Devastating was burying safety Sean Taylor. This was disappointing. Maybe a......

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The ‘Rock Hawk’ delivers

Published: Jan 04, 2008

Watch out Mr. T. Barbers, start your clippers. The "Rock Hawk" may soon sweep Washington.The Redskins are 3-0 since kick returner Rock Cartwright grew a modified mohawk. Teammates are starting to love it enough for a few haircuts should the team make the Super Bowl. It may not match Sanjaya’s faux hawk in American Idol, but kids may soon be......

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Casual Skins ready for business

Published: Jan 03, 2008

Pads were left in the locker room. Special teams coach Danny Smith donned shorts instead of a parka. A light mood reflected a long-term lease on the playoffs.Welcome to Casual Wednesday.The second postseason in three years at Redskins Park provided a sense of normalcy rather than relief following a four-game winning streak needed to enter the Super Bowl elimination rounds. Unlike coach Joe Gibbs’ playoff return in 2005, this time......

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Open letter to Seattle

Published: Jan 02, 2008

Dear Seahawks fans,They’re back. The Redskins are returning to java town and this time with a quarterback. You have three days left in your season before worryingabout the draft, free agency and minicamp.Yes, that water on your cheeks won’t be raindrops for once. It’s called tears. Since Seahawks fans are a bunch of crybabies, you should recognize the look.The 2005 playoff encounter revealed how thin-skinned residents of the northwest outpost can be. Lots of angry e-mails for suggesting the Redskins might win. Yeah, yeah, the Seawhawks won that day, but......

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Destination: Glendale?

Published: Jan 01, 2008

All aboard the Phoenix Express — the Washington Redskins are heading to the Super Bowl.A little ahead of things? Who’s playing better than the Redskins? Certainly not Saturday’s first-round opponent Seattle, which lost two of its final three and allowed woeful Atlanta to score 44 points. Surely not Continued...

 

Cowboys should fear rematch

Published: Dec 31, 2007

Dallas didn’t lay down. The Cowboys were kicked to the curb and Jessica Simpson wasn’t even in town.The white flag was waved midway through the third quarter Sunday. Washington led by 17 points and Dallas opted to wait for a potential rematch in two weeks than further risk its passer. With both teams heading to the playoffs, the final 21 minutes were a chance for a Continued...

 

It’s the beginning for next year

Published: Dec 28, 2007

An uneven season with plenty of blown leads and too many injuries finally ends with a chance for a winning record. And for once, we’re not talking about the Redskins. Maryland (6-6) faces Oregon State (8-4) tonight in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. The Terrapins are finally healthy......

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Is Collins the next Garcia?

Published: Dec 27, 2007

Taking the Washington Redskins into the playoffs and beyond could make retaining quarterback Todd Collins the team’s key offseason move. Each victory earns the coming free agent a chance to start somewhere in 2008. Given Collins’ contract expires soon, the Redskins may find themselves bidding to keep someone who wasn’t even playing a month ago on their roster.Collins could be the next Jeff Garcia, who parlayed a big finish last year with Philadelphia into a big-money deal as Tampa Bay’s starter. Veteran passers are perfect stopgaps for teams on the......

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It’s Dallas, need I say more?

Published: Dec 25, 2007

Finally, a Dallas game worth something. It’s not exactly the end-all contest for both teams since Dallas already secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, long-time Redskins fans love nothing more than playing the Cowboys at season’s end for a playoff spot.It’s the biggest game in FedEx Field history. The place will be rocking. Get out your Cooley, Taylor or Portis jerseys. Talk smack with your friends at holiday parties. This is the precursor to a postseason rematch because the Redskins will face the Cowboys in round two if they......

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Sellers feels he’s second to none

Published: Dec 20, 2007

After 12 years, four teams and two leagues, the Redskins fullback Mike Sellers was named first alternate to the Pro Bowl. Finally, the hardbody’s perseverance was recognized.Big deal, Sellers said. You say it’s praise, he says it’s a back-handed compliment."How would you feel being called being second best?" Sellers said. "I don’t take second kindly so I wasn’t impressed. It’s nice to be acknowledged, but there’s nothing good about being......

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Questions abound with Taylor’s selection

Published: Dec 19, 2007

I wonder who went by Sean Taylor’s grave Tuesday to tell him he was named a Pro Bowl starter.Did his fiance bring their young daughter to the Miami cemetery? Did his father or mother, family and friends come by what surely is a well-worn path to the marker?Was it the final moment of pride over a young man who was surely headed to becoming the game’s best safety? Or was......

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The wild card race just got wilder

Published: Dec 18, 2007

Still think Joe Gibbs can’t coach?The Redskins may still make the playoffs, which two weeks ago seemed a bigger long shot than Dennis Kucinich becoming president. A little help is needed, but Washington’s second improbable late run in three years is halfway there.The Redskins have found their groove after losing Continued...

 

No real lesson, just another example of forbidden fruit

Published: Dec 14, 2007

The home run king and best pitcher of the past generation. An All-Star at every position. And naturally, the Nationals’ newest free agent signing.The long-awaited Mitchell Report finally shamed baseball into admitting it has a steroid problem. A cheating problem. An ethics problem.Everyone is guilty of complicity. Of wanting to see titanic home runs and great careers extended. Of ignoring what everyone knew was wrong but didn’t want to address because the owners, front office officials and players benefitted from......

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The wins lack Agent Zero’s flair

Published: Dec 13, 2007

Who needs an ace when you have a fistful of options?The Washington Wizards aren’t freefalling without injured star Gilbert Arenas. Unlike last season’s meltdown when Arenas and Caron Butler were injured, the Wizards have enough to hang around .500 until Arenas supposedly returns in February.But it’s not easy. It will take everything Washington has plus no one else getting hurt,......

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Nats in need of real star power

Published: Dec 12, 2007

Seeing Ken Griffey Jr. seated courtside with Ryan Zimmerman during a Wizards game on Sunday sure made Nationals fans wonder if Junior was coming to Washington. Turns out the two attended a golf tournament earlier so cancel your Griffey jersey.So much for the Nats following Dan Snyder’s penchant for......

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Starting to getback to Xs and Os

Published: Dec 06, 2007

Joe Gibbs worried over Chicago kick returner Devin Hester. Jason Campbell discussed the Bears defense. Randy Thomas deflected questions over whether he would play. Football questions finally returned after a week dominated by the tragedy of Continued...

 

Gibbs’ last stand?

Published: Dec 05, 2007

s Joe Gibbs on the way out? With four games remaining, it seems everything is in play.Yes, I’m reversing my recent position there’s no way the Redskins coach leaves this offseason barring a total collapse. Well,the Redskins are indeed collapsing with four straight losses and three playoff contenders remaining. Sean Taylor’s death was jarring. This has been the toughest......

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Only Taylor was absent

Published: Dec 03, 2007

Fans brought signs declaring, "Heaven has one hell of a safety," "Our loss is monumental" and "Forever a Redskin." There were plenty of No. 21 jerseys, even some homemade ones. Team owner Dan Snyder wore a large 21 above his heart. Naturally, the Redskins distributed white 21 towels. Sean Taylor was in the starting lineup one last time, if only in absentia.The Redskins started 10 players defensively in Sunday’s battle with Buffalo. Successor Reed Doughty remained on the sideline for one snap as the team honored its slain safety by......

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Gregg Williams special bond with Taylor

Published: Nov 30, 2007

There were times when Gregg Williams admits losing it on the sidelines over safety Sean Taylor freelancing on a play. The Washington Redskins defensive boss would melt down only to have Taylor tell him to get over it and move on to the next play.Williams smiled when remembering his prized pupil Thursday. Williams and Taylor were close despite often clashing during their first three seasons together. Williams’ rigid manner chased LaVar Arrington after the three-time Pro Bowler couldn’t adapt to the former’s system. He didn’t use high-priced free agent Adam......

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Troubled minds, heavy hearts

Published: Nov 29, 2007

It was a team meeting. A prayer meeting. A reunion and remembrance.The Redskins met for the first time Wednesday following teammate’s Sean Taylor’s death on Tuesday. They needed to regroup. Shed some tears, laugh over some memories, find healing through faith and fellowship.Pedro Taylor talked about his son. Jackie Garcia shared her pain of losing her long-time boyfriend and father of their 18-month-old daughter. Coach Joe Gibbs spoke of his parents in heaven. Owner Dan Snyder offered a compassionate summation.It was raw and uncomfortable. A first step, but only the......

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A harrowing, tragic day

Published: Nov 28, 2007

Dan Snyder’s voice was so soft, coach Joe Gibbs pushed the microphone closer to the Washington Redskins owner. It didn’t help much.Safety Sean Taylor’s death Tuesday seemed to humble Snyder. He deflected several questions by saying it was a private matter, but his red eyes betrayed a harrowing 36 hours. A trip to Miami to be with Taylor’s family. The calls from other NFL owners. Discussions with team and league officials over honoring the late player.It’s not often Snyder takes questions from the media. He’s still not comfortable with explaining......

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‘We see how fragile life is’

Published: Nov 27, 2007

Keenan McCardell said it best — "We’re just numb. We’re just numb."Sean Taylor’s shooting Monday is a shocker. The NFL’s hardest hitter is struggling to live. His NFL career could be over and that’s the upside of the prognosis. It gets a whole lot worse.The Pro Bowl safety’s life is forever shattered. The Washington Redskins are devastated.You want answers. After a recent break-in that reportedly included a knife left on the bed, why wasn’t there more security around the home? Why was Taylor keeping a machete by his bed for......

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Don’t believe the upcoming hype

Published: Nov 26, 2007

Warning — the Redskins will spend this week saying they must win their last five games to make the playoffs just like they did in 2005.Sorry, don’t believe the hype. This team burns more second chances than a surly teenager. They’ll win these final five games like I’ll be invited to a White House dinner seated between Jenna and Barbara."Who knows — I’m looking now where we get on an unbelievable roll," coach Joe Gibbs said. "We’ll have to play the best football of our life." For a group that......

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‘Pearl’ still a franchise favorite

Published: Nov 21, 2007

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe’s first two professional shots were blocked by Bill Russell. In desperation, he tried a spin move that scored. "You can’t get them all big fella," said Monroe while running down the court, "and he said, ‘Yeah, but two out of three is pretty good.’" Still as smooth and energetic as the 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year, Monroe returned to his old organization yesterday to discuss his No. 10 being retired on Dec. 1. The former Baltimore Bullet will join Wes Unseld’s 41, Elvin......

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Gibbs leaving? Not a chance

Published: Nov 20, 2007

Joe Gibbs isn’t going anywhere this offseason but to scout potential first-round picks, meet free agents and watch game film.Gibbs is not getting fired. He’s not quitting. It doesn’t matter what sports talk radio is screaming. Media speculation, blogs, Web sites or anything else are irrelevant, too. There are only two people that matter in deciding who the Washington Redskins coach will be next year — owner Dan Snyder and Gibbs. The man who signs the checks and the one who cashes them. Everything else is background noise.Snyder isn’t terminating......

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Skins come up a few plays short

Published: Nov 19, 2007

Fourth and one was not kind tothe Washington Redskins. Coach Joe Gibbs twice chose long field goal attempts in short yardage situations yesterday. The first kick failed while helping Dallas discover its offense. The second succeeded but kept Washington from having the chance to tie the game with less than 10 minutes remaining. Aggressive fourth down calls might have made a difference. Instead, Gibbs’ increasingly-conservative style was self-defeating.The Redskins proved they’re good enough to be contenders in the 28-23 loss. Washington was good enough to beat Dallas just like it......

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New defensive alignment has Skins’ Carter shining

Published: Nov 16, 2007

The beast has been unleashed.Redskins defensive end Andre Carter is a stud. Maybe not the NFL’s biggest end, but certainly one of its more imposing. He’s ripped and rugged with a stare that would make most people step back. And they would be missing a heckuva guy. Readying for Dallas on Sunday, Carter is once again beloved by Redskins fans after registering seven sacks this season, 10th most in the NFL. No longer lumped with Adam Archuleta and Brandon Lloyd as the failed free agent class of 2006, Carter has......

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It’s time for Gibbs to go all in

Published: Nov 13, 2007

Joe Gibbs needs a double shot of courage.Bet $10 on a round of golf with $5 in your pocket. Push the entire chips pile to the center. Trade caution for courage.No more burning timeouts to triple check personnel. No more draws on third-and-goal at the 7. No more babying quarterback Jason Campbell.It’s time to go all in if the Washington Redskins are to save the season and Gibbs’ reputation as the franchise’s greatest coach. Time to turn the cowardly lion into a tiger. Tell Al Saunders to try every crazy......

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Did Eagles fly away with Skins’ playoff hopes?

Published: Nov 12, 2007

That may have been the dagger in the playoff dream.The Redskins blew their third game of the season in losing 33-25 to Philadelphia Sunday. It was worse than the 24-17 loss to the New York Giants and 17-14 defeat to Green Bay when both victories appeared sealed. It might have been the worst late loss since Norv Turner led Oakland to a 16-13 win in 2005.Playoff teams can’t blow more than one game because the NFL is too balanced. Redskins fans can dream of being 8-1 instead of 5-4 that......

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Lloyd not expendable … yet

Published: Nov 07, 2007

Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs has another problem child on his hands. Brandon Lloyd was declared inactive (politically correct for suspended) against the New York Jets on Sunday for missing a team meeting two days earlier. Lloyd’s excuse didn’t pass Gibbs’ smell test so the receiver was told to stay home.It’s OK to be "colorful" if you produce. Gibbs had so many heart-to-hearts with Dexter Manley, Gary Clark and even John Riggins that he could have been a cardiologist. But, notice those three were Redskins greats who have Super Bowl......

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No clear prediction for Skins

Published: Nov 06, 2007

Is the glass half full or half empty? That pretty much summarizes the uncertainty over the Washington Redskins 5-3 mark at midseason. The five wins match last year’s final number so progress can’t be denied. The young quarterback is working out, the defense is pretty good and special teams are winning games.So why do only die-hard fans believe the Redskins are heading to the playoffs? They have plenty of talent. The schedule is balanced with four games against contenders and four versus also-rans. Nine wins should get a wild card......

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Skins need to smash behind Portis

Published: Nov 05, 2007

Offensive line guru Joe Bugel was right — smashmouth wins games.Running back Clinton Portis silenced naysayers with 196 yards. The offense gained 431 yards. Maybe they sputtered too often for five field goals, but the Washington Redskins reached midseason 5-3 with a 23-30 overtime victory over the New York Jets Sunday."That was more the look of what I envision Redskins football being," coach Joe Gibbs said. "We had not been rushing the ball that well. We were disappointed in ourselves. Up here you have to have great balance. Hopefully, that’s......

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It's gonna be a fun ride

Published: Oct 31, 2007

Agent Zero says Eastern Conference finals or bust. He's not alone. The Wizards spent last season pleasing and teasing fans who endured nearly three decades since the franchise was worth watching. Washington stood atop the conference at the All-Star break before falling apart faster than the Al Gore in '08 campaign. The Wiz limped into the playoffson three wheels before they were mercifully swept. Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler are healthy once more. Darius Songaila looks ready to contribute. Brendan Haywood has no one but the other team to fight......

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Can Terps learn from their own mistakes?

Published: Oct 30, 2007

Brenda Frese saw the warning signs throughout last season. The defending national champions weren’t doing the little things and the Maryland women’s basketball coach kept hoping the veteran team would realize it.It never happened as the Terrapins exited with a stunning second-round knockout."There’s a lot of hidden lessons from last season," said Frese Monday, "for anyone to understand success at any age. We’re teaching 17- to 23-year-olds not to read your press clippings with all the success they had. To their credit, they just used it to inspire and motivate......

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Contender flushes out pretender

Published: Oct 29, 2007

That was embarrassing.The New England Patriots may flirt with going undefeated this year. They could break all offensive records. A fourth Super Bowl trophy is looming.But, Washington was humiliated 52-7 Sunday. Just beaten up and down the field. Coach Joe Gibbs can talk all he wants about pride, but real pros don’t get slapped around all day. There’s no truth to rumors the Redskins stood during the flight back after getting their butts beat so badly, though.It was remindful of "Braveheart" when horrified onlookers cried "Mercy" just before Mel Gibson......

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Injured Terps limp into home stretch

Published: Oct 26, 2007

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen’s voice is softening. Injuries continue mounting, Internet chat boards are flaming and the season is teetering.The Terrapins greatly mirror the Washington Redskins’ woes. Each has blown two games by permitting late comebacks. Both have lost two offensive linemen. Neither is much above .500 and staring at the schedule’s toughest stretch.Maryland (4-3) is limping into the stretch against Clemson (5-2) on Saturday at Byrd Stadium. A makeshift offensive line minus injured guards Andrew Crummey and Jamie Thomas leaves the Terps with only five healthy linemen. With two......

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Skins to face the ultimate test

Published: Oct 23, 2007

Detroit was supposed to be unstoppable. The Redskins checked them to a field goal. Then Green Bay was the No. 1 offense. The Packers managed 10 points aside the defensive touchdown.Now comes the ultimate test — Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday.Brady is making Peyton Manning look like a has-been just eight months after the latter’s Super Bowl victory. No one is talking about Indianapolis. Fantasy leaguers love Brady. He threw six touchdowns against Miami on Oct. 21 and didn’t even play the whole game.Yet, Washington can......

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Skins’ O is very offensive

Published: Oct 22, 2007

Rarely has a team with a standout defense and special teams sporting a 4-2 mark felt like dead men walking. And yet, the Washington Redskins seem like short timers after surviving Arizona 21-19 Sunday.It’s bad enough Washington travels to face an undefeated New England team on Sunday that is steam rolling through the NFL. They just need to escape that loss without more injuries. The remaining schedule isn’t too hard despite four road games in five weeks, but still there’s a growing pessimism the line’s injuries and more offensive malaise......

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Alexander could be on the other side of the line

Published: Oct 18, 2007

Lorenzo Alexander is a reserve defensive tackle known only to hard-core fans.Then again, Alexander was the starting left guard in practice yesterday. Come Sunday, he could be the right guard.The Washington Redskins are working on Plan C for crazy if they lose yet another lineman against Arizona on Sunday. Alexander hasn’t played on the offensive line since high school, but his helmet was on in the waning moments of the Redskins’ 17-14 loss at Green Bay on Oct. 14 after Washington lost its second right tackle of the game. Injured......

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The Beltway and bad karma

Published: Oct 16, 2007

On the eve of the Redskins last Super Bowl championship, there was a medicine woman outside the Metrodome in Minneapolis claiming to have put a curse on the team until changing its name that some Native Americans consider offensive. The Redskins won big so no one paid attention to the threat.Nearly 16 years later, maybe it’s time to start cheering for the "Skins" or "Reds."This team is flat out jinxed.You could say owner Dan Snyder is getting a cosmic payback for treating employees, fans and media so badly over the......

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Skins are bumblin’, stumblin’

Published: Oct 15, 2007

The Redskins blew another one.Santana Moss was dreadful. Sean Taylor dropped three interceptions. Three more offensive linemen were hurt. Coaches burned time outs than a like a pyromaniac with an extra book of matches.The Redskins showed once more they’re just not ready for prime time unless it’s the Comedy Channel. They so had the Green Bay Packers beaten Sunday and just gave it away — just like they did against the New York Giants.Let’s see, the Redskins record is now three wins and two games where they beat themselves. Washington......

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‘The Poet’ should take his time

Published: Oct 12, 2007

Etan Thomas is recovering from open heart surgery. He knows what a crab must feel like when cracked open. I know — it happened to me in 2004.The Washington Wizards center underwent a repair of a leak in his aortic valve yesterday, which is a somewhat comparable surgery I endured when needing artery bypass surgery. Basically, they cut your chest in half with an electric saw, fix you up and wire you back together. It’s a rough surgery.I remember my surgeon walking over afterwards as I layed on the hospital......

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Campbell stands and delivers

Published: Oct 09, 2007

Jason Campbell made stone soup out of a recipe for disaster.The No. 1 receiver was inactive against Detroit on Sunday and No. 2 spent the second half in street clothes. Given no other receiver caught a pass in the first three games, the Washington Redskins could have relied on running back Clinton Portis. Instead, three other receivers caught their first pass of the season as the gameplan didn’t waver.Campbell made his 12th start the best yet in a 34-3 victory. He completed a personal high of 23 completions and a......

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Skins turn Lions into kittens

Published: Oct 08, 2007

And so the Super Bowl watch resumes.The Washington Redskins defense vaporized Detroit’s vaunted passing game. An old-fashioned smack down. That Cadillac offense coming out of Motown was left on its blocks, stripped of everything including its dignity. The GPS system showed the Lions went nowhere.Tom-Tom, you sent the Lions into a black hole.The Redskins 34-3 victory over the Lions before 88,944 Sunday at FedEx Field revived Washington’s postseason hopes against a fellow NFC playoff hopeful. After two weeks of second-guessing over a blown loss against the New York Giants, all......

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Terps hope California kid can produce

Published: Oct 03, 2007

Saturday’s forecast for College Park calls for plenty of "Sunshine Cali."Chris Turner is the apparent starter for Maryland versus Georgia Tech. The blonde California passer with a major "dude" attitude was all but named the starter yesterday by coach Ralph Friedgen. Friedgen says injured quarterback Jordan Steffy is a "game day decision," but the junior suffered a concussion in the 34-24 upset over No. 10 Rutgers on Sept. 29. Doctors haven’t cleared Steffy and it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him to sit. The Terrapins won’t play again until......

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Zero, Zip and NBA Live

Published: Oct 02, 2007

Some players have a posse — Gilbert Arena has a sidekick. Agent Zero, meet Agent Zip.The Wizards guard spent the offseason combining two cartoon icons to create his own coming animated show — Gazo the Pranksta. Think of it as a Fat Albert and the Gang knockoff plus a Stitch-like character named Agent Zip that helps the youngsters through everyday life. That is, when they’re not playing the new EA Sports video game, NBA Live 2008, with Arenas’ mug on the cover that debuts today. Arenas played it 24......

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Will Nats find playoffs next year?

Published: Oct 01, 2007

The Nationals tasted playoff baseball on the final day of the season. A packed house at Philadelphia, fans roaring with every scoreboard update, saw tense situational play befitting the postseason.Maybe next year the Nats will be the ones slipping into October. Washington lost 6-1 Sunday, but what a delightful season it was. The 73-89 mark was double the wins projected by some naysayers and two more than last year. The Nats escaped last place in the NL East for the first time since arriving in 2005. Washington finished with equal......

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Men of steel ... or rubber?

Published: Sep 26, 2007

Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen has seen more crossroads than Rand McNally. This time, it’s more like train tracks with the Acela Express approaching. Maryland has lost two straight heading to No. 10 Rutgers on Saturday. The same Rutgers that was a joke until last year. An easy non-conference opponent when scheduled years ago is suddenly a two-touchdown favorite in the teams’ first meeting since 1942.The Terrapins (2-2) are reeling. Blowing a 21-point lead in the 31-24 loss at Wake Forest this past Saturday was devastating. While the Washington Redskins......

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Maryland slots deal begins home stretch

Published: Sep 25, 2007

A slots deal in Maryland appears imminent following the $18 million buyout Monday of racetrack operators Joe and Karin De Francis.Magna Entertainment Corp. exercised its buyout of De Francis’ remaining shares of the Maryland Jockey Club that operates Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course under its initial Nov. 2002 purchase of the tracks. Racing industry and state house sources say the buyout signals a special Maryland legislative session, perhaps by early October. Joe De Francis said the buyout’s timing is merely coincidental, but admitted he’s also "anxiously" awaiting passage of......

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Skins go missing in second half

Published: Sep 24, 2007

What happened in the Washington Redskins locker room at halftime? Was offensive coordinator Al Saunders kidnapped? Did the defense take a shuttle bus to Stupidville? Don’t tell me the Redskins started believing the hype.Will anyone from the Redskins pick up the white courtesy phone — it’s the second half calling. You were supposed to return instead of replicating Maryland’s second-half collapse the previous day.Just when you thought it was safe to pick your pizza toppings, the New York Giants scored 21 unanswered points for a 24-17 victory. Even worse, the......

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Rypien to Campbell: 21 degrees of separation

Published: Sep 19, 2007

The statistics are uglier than your first date to the school dance. Three interceptions and a 66.3 pass rating over two games usually gets quarterbacks booted. Not exactly the second coming of Elway, Montana or Marino.Jason Campbell is ranked 29th among NFL passers with a rating not even half that of Tom Brady. Only three passers have fewer touchdowns than Campbell’s one. However, one was enough to spark the Redskins past the Philadelphia Eagles20-12 on Monday. It was enough to lead Washington to a 2-0 start and re-awaken Redskins Nation.Sweet......

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So far, Redskins coming through when it counts

Published: Sep 18, 2007

Forget Iowa and New Hampshire. Presidential candidates are heading to Guam because the territory was the only part of the United States to correctly predict the Washington Redskins victory Monday night. The ESPN pregame poll showed a complete red map projecting an Eagles win aside that little island (who knew the Redskins were Democrats?) in blue. Not even the District supposedly backed the hometown team, which makes me wonder about hanging chads. No matter — Hillary and Barack need to name former Redskins lineman Joe Salave’a their vice president if......

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Column: Skins' chance to fly

Published: Sep 17, 2007

If opening day was a time to dream, then tonight’s game at Philadelphia is a time to fantasize for Washington Redskins fans. This is the hardest game on the early schedule. If the Redskins can upset the Eagles, then a 4-0 start is possible. The New York Giants (with a banged up quarterback) and lowly Detroit follow at FedEx Field and Washington could suddenly convince itself the postseason is possible before heading to Green Bay and New England in coming weeks.Confidence and success are intertwined. Former Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer......

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Terps need an upset tonight

Published: Sep 13, 2007

Maryland is looking for another tombstone for its graveyard. No. 4 West Virginia visits Maryland tonight before an expected 51,500 sellout. Revenge isn’t the Terrapins’ only motivator after a humiliating 45-24 loss last year to the Mountaineers. Terps coach Ralph Friedgen sees an opportunity to return to the national rankings.Friedgen never, ever discussed rankings until season’s end during his early years at Maryland. Then again, the Terps were in the polls regularly so being a national team was a given. But after three seasons largely outside the Top 25, Friedgen......

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Give the rookie a chance to play

Published: Sep 11, 2007

Play Stephon Heyer.The Washington Redskins should start the former Maryland offensive tackle over Todd Wade against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday after losing right tackle Jon Jansen for the year with a dislocated ankle. Wade might be the safer choice, but Heyer is showing himself as one of those players who does whatever asked. You can’t have enough of those on the field.Granted, this idea goes against the percentages, but so what? The Redskins were obviously resting cornerback Shawn Springs by playing him in nickel packages against Miami on Sunday......

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Portis puts naysayers on notice

Published: Sep 10, 2007

Don’t say Clinton Portis didn’t warn you. The Washington Redskins running back said the preseason was meaningless. He even wore a shirt during pregame warmups Sunday saying "Watch this."More than three hours later, Washington beat Miami 16-13 in overtime largely thanks to Portis and the defense. Quarterback Jason Campbell threw two interceptions with a 54.2 pass rating. Ladell Betts ran for 59 yards on 17 carries — the same number Portis used for 98 yards, including a touchdown.Portis is still the cog in the Redskins offense. Forget that he missed......

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For Cameron, Gibbs it’s six degrees of connection

Published: Sep 06, 2007

Add the Rose Bowl to Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs’ accomplishments. It seems Michigan used Gibbs’ offense to win granddaddy of bowls in 1988 and ’92.Miami coach Cam Cameron Wednesday admitted taking plays from theRedskins during training camps when visiting as a Michigan assistant. Saying it directly led to the Wolverines success, Cameron learned the scheme while spending two weeks annually in Carlisle, Pa. during the late 1980s-early ’90s."We’d steal every idea we could when I was at Michigan from what the Redskins were doing," Cameron said. "All the plays......

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Samuels anxious to get back to work

Published: Sep 04, 2007

After a long holiday weekend, the morning workday might start a little slow. Take a vacation and the first day back is usually shot. A month layoff certainly means taking a long-term approach to resuming business.Chris Samuels gets the grace period of man standing in front of a coming train. That’s pretty much how the Washington Redskins left tackle will feel on Sunday when facing Miami defensive end Jason Taylor in the regular-season opener at FedEx Field."He’ll stab you in the chest with the bull rush," Samuels said. "It’s hard......

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Terps vulnerable despite strong start from Steffy

Published: Sep 03, 2007

­Maryland escaped calamity, but the Terrapins are suddenly more vulnerable than a Weight Watchers meeting inside a Krispy Kreme factory.The Terps went from two promising quarterbacks to Jordan Steffy making a strong debut and backup Josh Portis being suspended this season over an "academic issue." When Steffy went down in the third quarter of the 31-14 victory over Villanova on Saturday, third-stringer Chris Turner was suddenly playing with only a freshman behind him.In a moment, Maryland’sseason looked trashed. And then, Steffy showed three years of waiting wouldn’t be extended by......

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Barry’s complex circus comes to town

Published: Aug 31, 2007

Barry Bonds comes to town tonight and the circus is not far behind. But like everything with three rings, booing or cheering baseball’s home run king is complicated.Heckle the San Francisco Giants outfielder because he’s a jerk. However, this hating over the steroids issue should stop. Bonds hasn’t been indicted and our society often gives the benefit of the doubt even if the "Game of Shadows" book is pretty indicting.Save your booing for Michael Vick. He pleaded guilty to a crime. You may have to wait a few years before......

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Familiar feel mixed with changes

Published: Aug 30, 2007

They’re getting the gang back together.Washington quarterback Jason Campbell will start tonight at Jacksonville. Clinton Portis may take a few snaps. Chris Samuels will at least warmup in readying for the season opener. Shawn Springs is good to go. Marcus Washington is healing quickly, too.The Redskins end the preseason tonight by rebooting the lineups. One last test drive, if ever so short, before the real games begin. After a lot of fretting over injuries in recent weeks, the Redskins are coming together nicely while even adding new pieces in the......

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Redskins left singing in the rain

Published: Aug 27, 2007

So what did we learn from the "Rainout in Raljon" on Saturday? The Washington Redskins run a heckuva evacuation drill. In fact, it was so nice they did it twice.Mostly, the Redskins gained very little from what is traditionally the most important preseason game when starters play three quarters. The weather undermined much of the 13-7 win over Baltimore before it was called in the third quarter following the second of three thunderstorms passing through FedEx Field.At least the Redskins and NFL made the right calls in first delaying the......

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Defense equals postseason possibility

Published: Aug 24, 2007

Washington Redskins defensive boss Gregg Williams is looking like a wise man again. After a one-year sabbatical where everyone no longer believed his teachings while the Redskins defense freefall hit 31st overall, two smart preseason efforts make Williams an NFL elder once more. Funny how a couple new players and a few less touchdowns do that. If the Redskins are to rebound from last year’s 5-11 mark and keep Williams and staff employed for another season, the defense will probably be the reason. Under the heading of stupid NFL stats,......

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Henderson made change for the better

Published: Aug 23, 2007

Sometimes, bloodlines can’t be ignored.A Kennedy becomes a politician. Baldwins are actors, Wayans are comedians. It seems the Hendersons are linebackers at Maryland.Erin Henderson had a passing thought of being the Terrapins quarterback. It lasted a whole week before Henderson crossed the field. Genetics called him home to the position where older brother E.J. Henderson starred from 1999-2002.E.J. Henderson was a two-time All-American and perhaps second only to Randy White as the Terps best defense player ever.Erin Henderson earned preseason All-American honors after gaining All-ACC second team last season. He’s......

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Gotta go with Brunell

Published: Aug 20, 2007

Washington quarterback Jason Campbell was injured, but Todd Collins may be the one hurt most.The Redskins decision over a backup passer has suddenly ramped up from reliever to starter. With Campbell "day-to-day" with a bruised knee — on a hit that was nearly season-ending in the 12-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday night — the Redskins have the sobering decision of possibly starting Mark Brunell or Collins against Baltimore this weekend.Actually, Baltimore isn’t the concern. It’s figuring out a default starter for the regular-season opener against Miami on Sept. 9.......

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Six degrees of separation, Portis style

Published: Aug 15, 2007

Clinton Portis is the Redskins top offensive player despite injuries that limited the runner to nine games last season. Josh Portis is vying to become Maryland’s quarterback. The bloodline must have a gamebreaker gene."That’s a rare last name," Clinton Portis said. "I’ve never met any other Portises. [The two] will keep the household name [alive]. I’ll hold my end down on that."The two are distant cousins, so much that neither is quite sure how they’re directly related. Kind of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon meets the family tree of......

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Can Heyward-Bey handle the extra looks?

Published: Aug 14, 2007

Darrius Heyward-Bey hears the wind rush past his ears. Voices fading in the distance. The Maryland receiver can see the goalline ... and maybe the NFL."When I hit my extra gear, I feel like nobody can stop me speed-wise," he said. "I feel the wind hit me. My legs really turn over fast. It happens two-three times per game when you can hit that type of speed."Heyward-Bey ran 40 yards in a 4.23 seconds last year. That’s Darrell Green fast. Quicker than a rumor spreads through the barber shop.He’s the......

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A win in name only

Published: Aug 13, 2007

Take a minute to joke with co-workers over the Washington Redskins winning a preseason game. Pretend things will be different this season. And then, let’s admit the 14-3 victory over Tennessee on Saturday was a big disappointment.The real score was Titans 3-0 at halftime when starters departed. Coach Joe Gibbs made a real effort by playing first-teamers past the opening quarter and the offense still didn’t score. Aside three pretty downfield completions, it looked like last year’s early-season slump.Special teams were sloppy and there were a couple dumb penalties. At......

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Fans come for Beckham, cheer for D.C. United

Published: Aug 10, 2007

The crowd was buzzing. David Beckham was sending an inbounds kick towards D.C. United's goal. After enduring a heavy rain on a hot night, fans were being rewarded by watching soccer's celebrity do his thing.OK, Beckham didn't score in United's 1-0 victory at RFK Stadium Thursday night, but at least the British star played 18 minutes for the Los Angeles Galaxy. It's called a win-win situation.The capacity crowd of 46,686 was United's third largest ever and remindful of Dutch star Johan Cruyff helping the old Diplomats average a franchise-best 19,205......

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The search begins

Published: Aug 07, 2007

 Maryland is looking for a new quarterback. Several offensive linemen. Middle linebacker, punter and kicker. But most of all, the Terrapins opened summer camp Monday searching for an offensive identity.No matter whether Jordan Steffy outlasts Josh Portis at quarterback, Maryland needs to find its crunch time offense. Are the Terps a passing team that can also run or a running team that can also pass?With its top three receivers and two running backs returning, Maryland can keeping defenses guessing. But, a young overall unit also needs confidence that it can......

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Could this be Jansen’s year to do the hula?

Published: Aug 02, 2007

Jon Jansen may be the NFL’s best active offensive tackle never to reach the Pro Bowl. The right anchor of the Washington Redskins line has won his share of confrontations with New York Giants 7-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan. He was the plow for three runners that combined for six 1,100-yard plus seasons, including three for more than 1,400. Jansen was the de facto left tackle when protecting lefty quarterback Mark Brunell’s blind side for 2 1/2 seasons.So what’s it going to take for Jansen to do the hula in......

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Does a late start mean bad luck?

Published: Jul 30, 2007

Arrive late for work and you might get a hard stare from the boss. Arrive late to training camp and you might get bad luck for a year.Washington Redskins rookie LaRon Landry was staring down the final figures of a deal Sunday night. After running back Adrian Peterson signed a five-year, $40.5 million deal with a $17 million bonus by 3 p.m. as the seventh overall pick, Landry at No. 6 pretty much knew his worth under the NFL’s slotting system.Missing a few days of practice shouldn’t be a big......

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How long is Gibbs going to stay?

Published: Jul 27, 2007

There’s lot of talk over Bill Cowher succeeding Joe Gibbs. And lots of talk about Gibbs leaving after this season. Makes you wonder as the Washington Redskins begin their fourth year of Gibbs II today.Family is pressuring Gibbs to retire after this season, according to sources close to the coach. Gibbs, 66, is diabetic with a past heart problem who continues to work endlessly since returning in 2004 despite promising family members that he wouldn’t. Gibbs’ car was rarely parked at his nearby Reston condo most nights, according to sources......

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A home away from home?

Published: Jul 26, 2007

Frostburg was the end of the earth. Siberia just inside Maryland’s border. The townspeople were nice, the weather was cool and beer cost 50 cents a mug, but it felt like another world during the Redskins’ 1995-99 training camps. Carlisle wasn’t a whole lot better.So why do I yearn for the team to spend a month in the boonies instead of opening camp at Redskins Park Friday for the fifth straight year? Maybe because isolation might be the better way to go than making summer workouts just another day in......

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Is Campbell ready to take his cue?

Published: Jul 25, 2007

It’s all about quarterback Jason Campbell when the Washington Redskins open training camp on Friday.Fans may glance at the 2007 first-round draft pick, safety LaRon Landry. They’ll watch for Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Coach Joe Gibbs gets plenty of attention, too.But, this season is all about Campbell. Can he enter the season as a true starter after a midseason switch last year? Is the third-year passer ready for the real pressure?Is Campbell good enough to return the franchise to the playoffs?Washington is a town of politics and......

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Young feeling better, hitting better

Published: Jul 18, 2007

There were mood swings and blurred vision. Fatigue despite plenty of sleep. Infections that wouldn’t heal, a pesky rash and light headedness that arrived in unexpected waves.Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young felt "weird" all the time last year. Not coincidentally, there were off-field scrapes and career lows at the plate before released by Detroit.Finally, Young spent three days in intensive care in November. That proved the good part, though. Young learned he was among 6.2 million Americans who are undiagnosed diabetics."I was more sad than anything," Young said. "But I......

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Funny Cide finally retires from the track ... sort of

Published: Jul 17, 2007

Barry Bonds’ pursuit of the home run record may upset baseball purists, but it’s a lovefest versus what’s happening to racing fans with 2003 Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide.Funny Cide was finally retired Friday, shortly after winning a modest stakes race at one of the nation’s remote tracks. The 7-year-old gelding earned $3.52 million before he was finally rested when sliding to nearly the bottom ranks of racing.So what’s the postrace plan for the Kentucky Derby-Preakness champion who revived the sport with long shot classic victories? He’s now a stable......

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Will Green’s Hall push bump Monk?

Published: Jul 16, 2007

Darrell Green is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. Amazingly, this will be the fifth fall without the Washington Redskins cornerback. It seems time passes even quicker than the NFL’s fastest man.My first question over Green’s potential election to the hall of immortals isn’t whether he’ll make it (probably), but whether Green knocks out former teammate Art Monk’s bid (possibly). If a door opens for one, does it close on the other?If it’s so hard for even one Redskin to make the Hall of Fame off......

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Gaither prepares to take his shot

Published: Jul 11, 2007

NFL scouts watching college practices rarely bother with underclassmen. Better to focus on who’s in the coming draft than worry over long-term prospects.But two scouts stared at Jared Gaither one afternoon during a blocking drill at Maryland. The 6-foot-8, 330-pound offensive lineman made one scout ask, "Who’s that?" The other replied "A freshman." Instead of moving on, both made notes for the future.The future is Thursday when Gaither is among 10 players entering the NFL supplemental draft after being declared academically ineligible for his senior season. Gaither goes from a......

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Start building for ’08

Published: Jul 10, 2007

It’s not often a team 16 games under .500 exceeds expectations, but the Washington Nationals enter the All-Star break feeling pretty good about their half season. The Nats are 36-52, which stinks but isn’t historically bad. Some crazy baseball "experts" once projected 125 losses, but the Nats must finish 1-73 to do that.So much for the hopes of idiots who said if the team was going to be losers, let them be misfits that lost a record amount. That’s like saying if you can’t marry Miss America, get the ugliest......

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Choi making his mark at big events

Published: Jul 09, 2007

K.J. Choi must like a big room.Host Tiger Woods handed the AT&T National trophy to the South Korean Sunday, just five weeks after the latter took Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial. Ironically, Choi missed the cut in his only tournament in between. There’s something about chasing the greats the inspires Choi’s best golf."I’m just shocked at myself for winning Jack and Tiger’s tournaments," he said. "This week’s trophy is a lot heavier."Indeed, the National has instantly become a heavyweight event on the PGATour that should end any speculation over moving in 2009......

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Gray hair doesn’t always mean rust

Published: Jul 06, 2007

Fred Funk is making the Champions Tour wait for its new frontrunner. The Takoma Park native has a few more putts left in the PGA Tour before crossing over to the senior circuit. With a smart 3-under 67 Thursday in the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, Funk continues to play the best golf of his career at the most unlikely time."Since I turned 45 or 46, I’ve been playing the best," Funk said. "I know when I play well enough that it’s good enough to play real good out......

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Bush 41’s driver gets tourney underway

Published: Jul 05, 2007

Former President George H.W. Bush waved his driver at the crowd and issued a proclamation while approaching the first tee. "If anybody laughs when I hit it, you’re dead. I have Secret Service," he joked.Several hundred spectators roared as Bush’s drive sailed 150 yards into the rough near a 60-foot U.S. flag. The AT&T National begins today as Bush’s ceremonial opening shot christened the inaugural event on Wednesday.Sometimes, the best part of being president must be retirement. Bush began Independence Day with Tiger Woods and an adoring crowd. The 41st......

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Don’t count on fatherhood softening Tiger just yet

Published: Jul 04, 2007

The AT&T National has one theme — how will fatherhood impact Tiger Woods?The golf world is watching for a sign of weakness in Tiger Woods. The kingpin of the PGA returns Thursday for his first tournament since becoming a father on June 18 and competitors are so hoping Woods loses a little something off his driver as a dad.Sorry boys, that’s a long shot over the short term. If Woods could lose the U.S. Open by one shot while his pregnant wife was hospitalized with complications only to give birth......

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Will 16th pick make Wizards a contender?

Published: Jun 28, 2007

Where have you gone Jeff Malone? Mitch Kupchak, Kevin Grevey or — gasp — Wes Unseld?When was the last time the Washington Wizards truly excited everyone with their first-round pick? Malone was 24 years ago. Unseld was 1968 when the team was still the Baltimore Bullets and Richard Nixon was first elected to the White House.The Wizards have taken a few fair players in recent years, but tonight’s 16th overall selection in the NBA draft promises to be just another nice college player that everyone hopes develops into a nice......

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Wiz hoping for a ‘project’ that works out

Published: Jun 27, 2007

What the Washington Wizards most need in the NBA draft will be long gone before their 16th pick.Greg Oden lasts five minutes into the draft. Chinese center Yi Jianlan is gone by No. 7. Spencer Hawes might last to 10th while maybe, just maybe, Thaddeus Young is available when the Wizards pick 16th in Thursday’s NBA draft.Unfortunately, Washington is caught in the "best player available" trap. The land of hoping to find an impact player, but in reality praying for long-term help. "I don’t think you can get anybody at......

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Cowher power in D.C.?

Published: Jun 25, 2007

Is Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder really talking to Bill Cowher over succeeding coach Joe Gibbs? The Redskins say no, but past performance says ... maybe.Snyder and Co. are known for bending the truth. My favorite response came in 1999 after writing the team wouldn’t return to Frostburg for training camp in 2000 despite another five years on the contract. One prominent Redskins official en route to a press conference confirmed the story, but said they had to deny it "for political purposes." Nothing personal, he said. Just business. Sure......

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School still provides spirit

Published: Jun 22, 2007

Street ball on neighborhood basketball courts used to rule summer nights in the District. Crowds of 500 would swell around the edges of Turkey Thicket, Luzon and Edgewood for a glimpse of Adrian Dantley, Elgin Baylor or JoJo Hunter as teen phenoms.One neighborhood against the other. No colors or uniforms, officials or coaches. Just community sports in its purest form. Too bad 30 years have elapsed since the game went indoors as an organized league.When debating whether U.S. high school sports could be privatized like European counterparts that rely on......

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School support means more than simply academics

Published: Jun 21, 2007

The Washington Wizards spent their two draft choices last summer on a Ukrainian center and Belarusian forward after signing Darius Songaila of Lithuania. The Wizards foreign influence wasn’t unique with 60 players from 28 countries in the NBA last season.The international model of sports played through clubs and academies is producing increasingly more pro players. Conversely, U.S. high school coaches pride themselves more on creating well-rounded student-athletes rather than being a pro feeder program.But what if U.S. high schools privatized sports like many foreign countries? Could existing community programs absorb......

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The real expense of cutting high school athletics

Published: Jun 20, 2007

A Rhode Island school board is debating whether to continue funding high school sports this fall. So is a New York panel. Following music and fine arts cutbacks, athletics is the latest program threatened by financially-troubled school systems. Look at the European model, they claim. Those countries don’t have high school sports, opting for clubs and academies.Are athletics worthwhile despite sometimes costing as little as one-tenth of one percent of overall school budgets? At what price comes community spirit created by sports programs? Do lessons of sacrifice and discipline on......

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Have the Skins become twice as good?

Published: Jun 14, 2007

The Redskins begin mini camp Friday for their final preflight checks before training camp starts July 27. Just one thing comes to mind — are they twice as good as last year?Not a few games better, but twice the five wins of 2006 because that’s how many are needed to reach the playoffs. It seems to be asking a lot. Probably too much.There are a handful of positives that should benefit the Redskins, mostly health. Running back Clinton Portis, cornerback Shawn Springs and receiver Santana Moss are in form. While......

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It’s all about the money — period

Published: Jun 12, 2007

Gilbert Arenas is about helping children. Not the millions of starving children around the world. Not the ones who need medical assistance or a father figure in their lives.No, the Washington Wizards All-Star wants to opt out of his $64 million deal next season so he can sign a $100 million pact to provide for the financial security of his two young children.What nonsense. Even worse, how insulting that Arenas thinks people will believe such bull. If you want to redo your contract, no problem. It’s a smart business move......

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A flashback to racing in the street

Published: Jun 11, 2007

Shawn Blythe won $10,000 by taking a leisurely stroll ... at 150 miles per hour.After outlasting nearly 400 rivals over 12 hours, the Sedley, Va. papermaker reached the finals of "Pinks: All Out" on Saturday at Maryland International Raceway braced for another heated 10 second sprint down the quarter-mile track. Instead, his opponent’s car suffered catastrophic engine failure at the starting line. Blythe punched his 1989 Chevy S-10 anyway to thrill the overflow crowd at Budds Creek, Md. This was TV after all."All I wanted to do was make an......

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Springs pulls a veteran move

Published: Jun 08, 2007

Shawn Springs is not the bad guy. Don’t let the backroom whispers, sports talk hacks and second-guessing bloggers fool you. The Washington Redskins cornerback knows after a decade in the NFL that it’s a business and wasn’t letting the team mislead him like they have so many others over the years.Springs was the last starter to report for "voluntary" organized team activities at Redskin Park on Tuesday. He waited for the June 1 salary cap deadline that better ensures he’ll be around this season. Beforehand, it was a little less......

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Wynn flexes muscle to help others

Published: Jun 08, 2007

There’s nothing like a ragtop on a sunny day. Washington Redskins defensive end Renaldo Wynn gleamed inside his prized 1958 Chevy Impala convertible outside the Ashburn training facility Thursday. Football is his profession, but classic cars are Wynn’s passion and his dream machine was purring, the radio performing and the chrome shining brighter than Bill Gates’ IQ."There’s something about the smell of an old car," Wynn said. "It’s pure Americana."Wynn will showcase his four Impalasas part of 130 classic cars at Redskins Park on Sunday. The public charitable event includes......

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Milstead now guarding the public, instead of QBs

Published: May 30, 2007

Rod Milstead used to guard Washington Redskins quarterbacks. Now he protects the public from criminals.Milstead is a bounty hunter in Southern Maryland. Sorry, bail enforcement agent. Either way, you never want to see the 300-pounder coming for you. It’s going to end in steel cuffs and iron bars. Milstead Bail Bonds Services lies steps from the La Plata, Md. courthouse where many of the former Redskins guard’s clients pass. Assault and theft cases mostly filled his 1,500 bonds over five years. Entire families have been clients. Occasionally, an old friend.The......

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A remembrance for Ruffian

Published: May 29, 2007

Some tales were recalled for a movie about a horse. Which caused a rewrite. Which brought a central role in a movie. Which led to a book on the horse.Ruffian wasn’t the only one traveling in circles.Washington author and renowned horse racing writer Bill Nack has a winning exacta. The former Sports Illustrated writer and newspaper columnist is among the lead figures in ABC’s "Ruffian" on June 9 remembering one of the greatest fillies ever. On the last day of filming, ESPN approached Nack to write an accompanying "Ruffian: A......

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One-armed bandits rolling into Maryland?

Published: May 22, 2007

The real horse trading that will decide Maryland racing’s fate is about to begin. For five years, Maryland House leader Michael Busch opposed slots. If we’re going to be honest, it was the Democratic-controlled state house’s way of keeping Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich from gaining re-election. Once Gov. Martin O’Malley took over in January, he signaled fellow Democrats to give him one legislative session before restarting the slot debate.And right on cue last week amid Preakness Stakes celebrations when lawmakers pretend to care about the sport, Busch said he was......

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Rivalry running high for Derby, Preakness top three

Published: May 21, 2007

Racing traded its chance for a Triple Crown winner for a three-way rivalry.Preakness Stakes winner Curlin is headed for the Belmont Stakes while Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense will probably take a breather. Hard Spun may need a rest too after finishing second in the Derby and third in the Preakness.The trio is truly the class of 2007 after becoming the first Derby threesome in 10 years to also to finish in the Preakness’ top three. They are remindful of 1986 when Alysheba, Bet Twice and Lost Code were clear......

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Bad luck with being Preakness favorite

Published: May 18, 2007

Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger didn’t want to be favored in Saturday’s 132nd Preakness Stakes. Things didn’t go too well the last time it happened.Bad luck caught Nafzger’s Unbridled at the top of the stretch in the 1990 Preakness. The Kentucky Derby winner was a hard-charging second while Summer Squall was a close third on the inside. Fighting Notion, a 35-1 long shot, decided the race, though. The tiring leader drifted slightly outside to force Unbridled even wider while giving Summer Squall the clear inside path. Summer Squall outran Unbridled......

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Lukas still a force to be reckoned with

Published: May 17, 2007

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has become the old sage of racing, a delicious irony of the one-time young turk who tweaked the old men of the game by beating their horses, stealing their spotlight and banking their purse money.Lukas battled the best from Woody Stephens to Charlie Whittingham in the 1980s, backing backstretch bravado by taking his first Preakness Stakes in 1980 with Codex. He would win four more along with four Belmont Stakes and three Kentucky Derbies."They’re like olives in the jar," Lukas said. "Once the first one comes......

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Borel not forgetting where he came from

Published: May 16, 2007

Dining at the White House while meeting the Queen of England and joking with President Bush, jockey Calvin Borel should have been asked to make a few remarks. "We the people ..." would have been the appropriate start.The Kentucky Derby winning rider is your neighbor. Your mailman, mechanic or youth coach. An average guy with no pretensions who humbled the Sport of Kings with a royal ride aboard Street Sense.Another Cajun rider born from thered-hot pace of Louisiana bush tracks who first competed in the no-holds barred match races at......

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Bowling in the District?

Published: May 09, 2007

A college bowl game in Washington in late December? The gods must be crazy.The District of Columbia Bowl Committee with a grand total of two members is working for a Dec. 21, 2008 game at RFK Stadium, according to The Washington Times. District Councilman Jack Evans also supports the idea. The group wants to bolster Washington tourism during a traditionally slow period. Guess Marion Barry’s toll booth idea isn’t a real money-maker.My advice — stick with the National Christmas Tree and White House holiday tours. A bowl game at winter’s......

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The tickets are finally here, but are they actually worth it?

Published: May 08, 2007

Six years ago on a lark, I signed up for the Washington Redskins season ticket waiting list. I was No. 90,000-something and figured maybe I would move up in time to take my future grandchildren to a game.My how time flies. The letter recently came for the real general admission tickets, not the premium seats I’ve been offered since day one. They’ll probably be in the upper part of the upper deck, but theyare real season tickets.Now comes the hard part — do I buy them?Sports writers never pay —......

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Preparing for the Preakness

Published: May 07, 2007

Hard Spun wants another crack at Street Sense after watching the latter buzz by him at the sixteenth pole to win the Kentucky Derby. So does third-place Curlin, a frontrunner who blew the Derby’s start.The 132nd Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course will have more than an overflowing infield. The starting gate should be filled with second-guessers seeking second chances against Street Sense.Why take on the Derby champ after a convincing 2 1/4-length victory on Saturday when rallying from 19th to run down Hard Spun in the......

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Tackling the toughest challenge in sports

Published: May 04, 2007

Scat Daddy will win Saturday’s 133rd Kentucky Derby over Zanjero with Curlin third.That was easy. A deuce on Scat Daddy should pay $20. The triple might return $10,000. Found money, baby. A day’s pay for a K Street lobbyist, but good dough for the rest of us.As a 24-year veteran of the Triple Crown who covered 20 straight Derbies, trying to pick a 20-horse field is the toughest challenge in sports. Anything and everything can happen from injuries to bad trips to bad luck. The best horse rarely wins the......

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Pino chasing down history

Published: May 02, 2007

A national alert flashed across Churchill Downs early Monday morning. As the rising sun kissed the Twin Spires, jockey Mario Pino blazed atop the Louisville, Ky. oval with Hard Spun barely snorting.A blistering 57 3/5 seconds over five-eighths mile was the fastest pre-Derby workout since 1973 by the mighty Forego, Pino may have signaled Hard Spun as the next great 3-year-old colt for Saturday’s 133rd Kentucky Derby. Conversely, Pino may have emptied the tank prematurely. Forego later finished fourth to Secretariat.Either way, Pino is no longer just some successful, but......

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A great choice — but was he the best choice?

Published: Apr 30, 2007

There’s nothing wrong with getting a good player. There’s nothing wrong with getting a good player. There’s nothing ... sorry, I can’t convince myself the Washington Redskins came away with a solid draft.Pairing LSU safety LaRon Landry alongside Sean Taylor leaves the Redskins with an Ali-Frazier combination. Bartenders will serve "The Tay-Lan Cocktail" that leaves you hammered. Loeb’s Deli’s Monday special will be a "Receiver Sandwich" that comes smashed. I don’t want to even think of the car crash scenes by Eastern Motors.But was it the right choice? Let’s see......

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Roller derby: Gentler than ’70s version

Published: Apr 25, 2007

Free of the pack and alone on the lead, Harley Quinn couldn’t resist blowing kisses to the crowd. The full arm-waving ones like the end of "The Dating Game." The high-scoring jammer of Scare Force One even reverse skated to send smooches towards trailing rivals.Queen of the roller derby — sisterhood on skates."It’s the time of my life," said Rachele Huelsman, a homeless coalition official when not portraying a romance novel moniker. "I felt like if I could get ahead of the pack I might as well have a little......

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Time for Skins to go all in

Published: Apr 24, 2007

Three things scare me — my doctor’s scale, seeing my late father’s scant hairline in my reflection and agreeing with Dan Snyder. I’ve made peace with being a middle-aged fat boy, but the prospect of backing the Washington Redskins owner’s choice in Saturday’s NFL Draft means I must be going senile, too.Snyder wants George Tech receiver Calvin Johnson. This Snider wants Johnson. Check your calendar for the coming apocalypse that must be just four days away.The Redskins need a defensive lineman badly, but there’s no one truly meriting the sixth......

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They coulda been contenders

Published: Apr 23, 2007

The Washington Wizards kept King James from ruling. The defense was steady, the road crowd was silenced and Antawn Jamison scored 28 points.And yet, Cleveland won the opening game of the first-round of the playoffs on Sunday, 97-82, by grinding past injury-depleted Washington. The Cavaliers don’t have to be spectacular like last season’s six-game playoff win over the Wizards. They just have to wear out Washington.The Wizards can spin their manpower shortage however they want, re-enact "Hoosiers" until Eddie Jordan looks like Gene Hackman, but losing their two best......

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Life begins to carry on at Virginia Tech

Published: Apr 20, 2007

Baseball, lacrosse and softball will be played on Saturday at Virginia Tech. Elsewhere, burials will begin for 32 victims of Monday’s campus massacre.Are university officials heartless for resuming play so soon or is it part of the healing process as classes reconvene on Monday? There is no right answer. Time always marches on. It did after Sept. 11, 2001. It did after the sniper attacks the following year. It did after Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005."People need time to grieve, but you can’t do this forever. You have to......

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The Redskins they’re not — but they win

Published: Apr 19, 2007

They were surrounded by children. Teeball games on two sides, soccer games on another with baseball practice behind them. Thank goodness for school night curfews that sent the tots packing to leave the football team alone under the lights.The D.C. Divas readied for their April 28 opener versus the New England Intensity under a biting wind atop a patchy field. Spartan conditions at a former elementary school playground now home to the Marlboro Boys and Girls Club are considered plush by the women’s football league’s standards. The youth league even......

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With Big Three severely impaired, Wizards won’t last long in playoffs

Published: Apr 16, 2007

The Washington Wizards have long been a three-man show. Unfortunately, they’re now carrying a fife, drum and tattered flag.Washington’s freefall extended to seven losses in eight games Sunday afternoon. Chicago led by 18 in the first quarter en route to a 101-68 victory at Verizon Center. Misbehaving toddlers in checkout lines don’t get spanked so badly. The crowd booed before leaving at third quarter’s end. Kid’s Day should have received a PG rating, and we’re not talking pretty good. "Talent beat lesser talent," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "It’s just......

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Scouting the Skins ’07 slate

Published: Apr 12, 2007

Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs hates the schedule-makers. Those little computer geeks always mess over the Redskins.Gibbs isn’t alone in his disdain for the calendar crew. Every coach wants to play all home games versus awful teams. "Why do they make us travel?" they cry. It gets old real fast.Gibbs sees night games at Philadelphia and New York Giants. I see opening and ending the season at home, often two of the more important games. Gibbs cries over playing at Green Bay and New England. I see a Thursday night......

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Teddy’s bearly a factor and that’s just wrong

Published: Apr 10, 2007

Free Teddy Roosevelt.The 26th U.S. president charged up San Juan Hill under gunfire, survived an assassination attempt, hunted big game in Africa and even captured outlaws as a cowboy, but can’t get down the first base line faster than two founding fathers and a stove-top hat?Bullfeathers, as Teddy would say.The Washington Nationals may not have been able to avoid an embarrassing 1-6 start, but they need to give the popular mascot race a makeover. Teddy is now 0-7 this year in the fourth inning stretch after a very poor 2006.......

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Terps appear primed under center in ’07

Published: Apr 09, 2007

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen isn’t too worried over choosing his starting quarterback this fall. Turns out the Terrapins have an heir and a spare.Jordan Steffy has waited three years for his chance. The highly-regarded Leola, Pa. recruit was supposed to be the Terps top prospect since Friedgen turned Boomer Esiason into a 1984 second-rounder. However, sophomore Josh Portis is now eligible after playing sparingly in six games at Florida in 2005. Steffy spent two years behind Sam Hollenbach after briefly playing in six games in 2004. He knows the system.......

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A visit with‘The Squire’

Published: Apr 06, 2007

Today is the 10th anniversary of Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke’s death and where else might we find "The Squire" than RFK Stadium. A little disoriented from his decade away, Cooke was staring at the four trophies in the case en route to the old owner’s box."By God, how bloody fantastic. They’ve won a championship since I’ve been gone," Cooke said.Mr. Cooke — those are soccer trophies. You know, the D.C. United."My good man, what are you babbling about? Last thing I remember the stands were shaking, we were......

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Tough opening act for these Nationals

Published: Apr 03, 2007

As opening days go, that was a stinker.The ace of the pitching staff was battered. The center fielder was hurt running into the wall. The shortstop pulled a hamstring. Teddy Roosevelt finished dead last in the president’s race despite his own flying machine. At least Ryan Zimmerman continues to give fans some hope, banging out two hits plus a defensive gem in the Washington Nationals 9-2 season-opening loss to Florida before 40,389 yesterday at RFK Stadium. Notice that wasn’t a sellout figure. There were more people throwing out first pitches......

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Will they stay or will they go?

Published: Apr 02, 2007

The real game now begins on Old Hilltop.Georgetown’s Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert hear the NBA’s riches enticing them to skip their senior seasons. Coach John Thompson III is a hot prospect for schools seeking turnarounds. Will any of the three return?Final Four losses are emotionally raw. So close to the trophy, but in reality as far away as a first-round loser. It’s natural to instantly want to return for another try just like when Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter led Maryland to the 2002 crown after a 2001 semifinal......

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It’s the Hoyas ... I think

Published: Mar 30, 2007

Georgetown will win the national championship. No wait, Florida. No, no, it’s Georgetown. I think.OK, I don’t know. It’s that close. Ohio State could take it, too. UCLA is the only one I’m tossing and the Bruins could still win it all.It wasn’t this hard filling out the full bracket three weeks ago. Now we’re down to four teams and I have four different matchups and three winners. The only sure bet — Georgetown soon reworks coach John Thompson III’s contract that barely equals a congressman’s fun money (sorry, discretionary......

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Centers of attention

Published: Mar 28, 2007

There is no staring down when both men hover above 7-feet. Instead, Georgetown center Roy Hibbert eagerly awaits his well-publicized match up against Ohio State’s Greg Oden in Saturday’s Final Four semifinal witha sense of wonderment."I can’t wait to play [Oden]," Hibbert said. "I want to see what he can do."There are few encounters more exciting in sports than a battle of big men, especially 7-footers. It’s like watching giants play among mere mortals. Seven feet is a benchmark seldom seen and even less so with two in the same......

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Hoyas work overtime for Final Four

Published: Mar 26, 2007

In a game of counterpunching, Georgetown is headed to the Final Four after a T.K.O. of an O.T.Georgetown nearly blanked North Carolina during overtime in the Hoyas’ 96-84 victory Sunday night for the East Regional championship in East Rutherford, N.J. Down 10 with 7:19 remaining, Georgetown simply manhandled North Carolina when it mattered to force overtime.North Carolina entered with a six-game losing streak in overtimes. That stat alone bought a round during the break around many Georgetown bars. Sure enough, the Hoyas scored 14 unanswered points before the Tar Heels......

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Rollerderby resurrection

Published: Mar 24, 2007

Mia Engel was just looking for something to get out of the house, maybe a pottery class. Instead, the legal secretary and mother of two has turned into SlaughterGirl."You put on some fishnets and a short skirt and tight top and get out there and you’re another person," she said.The Secretaries of Hate meet Scare Force One on Saturday at the Dulles Sportsplex in Sterling, Va., as women’s rollerderby returns locally. The DC Rollergirls four-team women’s league offers a "peep show" matinee at 4 p.m. before starting its season on......

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Baby steps, giant gains

Published: Mar 23, 2007

Georgetown coach John Thompson III’s "baby steps" approach has turned the Hoyas into Big Foot. In Thompson’s three years, Georgetown has risen from the NIT to Sweet 16 to Big East champion. The Hoyas now face Vanderbilt tonight in the NCAA Tournament’s East Regional semifinal. A victory would likely pit Georgetown versus North Carolina on Sunday for rights to the Final Four.They may not be the Hoya Paranoia of old with the younger Thompson showing a little more humor and less obstinate than the former coach now known as "Big......

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Different approach, different results?

Published: Mar 20, 2007

The Washington Redskins returned to work on Monday. It wasn’t such a short offseason given they took most of the fall off, too.The Redskins are usually the Darlings of Downtime. But this offseason has been oddly quiet. There has been more movement in the Fed’s interest rates than Redskins free agency lately.The old axiom is seasons are won in the offseason weight room. But "voluntary" — as in voluntary if you want to keep your job — workouts were missing a few players as part of a kinder, gentler Joe......

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Senior moments were forgettable

Published: Mar 19, 2007

The initial response to Butler upsetting Maryland in the NCAA Tournament: relief. Finally, the two recruiting classes following the national championship are gone. May they take their frustrating, underachieving ways with them. The Terrapins blew another game they should have won. Big surprise. They’ve been doing it for years.Rarely has a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament delivered such a joyless season. The Terps won 25 games, but bad losses too often overshadowed their effort. Losing to Miami in the regular season cost Maryland a first-round bye in the......

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The capital of hoops

Published: Mar 17, 2007

The bluebloods love to claim Kentucky is the center of basketball. Hoosier fans swear the game belongs to Indiana. UCLA makes a historic stake for the west.They all better learn one thing — don’t mess with regional schools ringing the nation’s capital.Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round while No. 12 Old Dominion made a strong upset bid. Aside from George Washington getting waxed, it was a pretty good advance into the field of 32 for regional fans.Georgetown is still a trendy title pick......

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Seeking another crowning achievement

Published: Mar 14, 2007

The real season begins Sunday for the Maryland women’s basketball team.The Terrapins will be judged not by their 27-5 regular-season, two ACC record crowds and players on virtually every all-star team. The defending national champions must return to the Final Four for the season to be considered a success. Anything less will be remembered as failure given five returning starters. But here’s the rub for Maryland as it opens against Harvard: The Terps are exactly where they were a year ago — a No. 2 seed and third-best ACC team.......

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Hoyas will get last bark

Published: Mar 13, 2007

Georgetown will win the NCAA Tournament final over Wisconsin. It’s that simple ... I think.Forget the presidential races, Britney or "300." It’s time to get serious. There’s probably $100 in your office pool that should go in your pocket instead of those picking colors or mascots. Just remember, real men submit one bracket.My Final Four has Georgetown over Memphis and Wisconsin beating Kansas before the Hoyas take it all. Homer? Who else played better than Georgetown over the last month? Surely not Maryland, which spit the bit in the ACC......

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Area squads get fair shot

Published: Mar 12, 2007

Georgetown gained a clear path to the East Region final. Maryland can smell a Sweet 16 while George Washington may reach the second round.Traffic will be lighter around town on Thursday. You can get a table at lunch and a seat on the subway. Local fans are calling in sick because the Big Three are in the NCAA Tournament. Take a long weekend with Virginia Tech and Virginia following on Friday. The selection committee was fair enough to the five regional teams. Georgetown gained the toughest bracket, but the Hoyas......

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Terps plant seed of doubt

Published: Mar 10, 2007

How badly did Maryland blow it?Were the Terrapins headed for a No. 3 seed on Sunday had they reached the ACC Tournament semifinals rather than losing to last-place Miami in the opening round? Will the NCAA Tournament selection committee instead see the Maryland of midseason versus the late-season run of seven straight wins?Losing to Miami probably drops Maryland to a No. 5 seed - at best - maybe a No. 6. You can never tell about the committee, but it doesn’t treat front-runners stumbling at their door very kindly.It has......

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With Tiger in town, everybody wins

Published: Mar 08, 2007

Sometimes, life is good. And from July 5-8, the Tiger Tour will make life great for golf fans. The newly-created AT&T National comes to Congressional Country Club (likely) in Bethesda with a $6 million purse attracting the best golfers beyond tournament host Tiger Woods. Unlike the beleaguered Booz Allen Classic that was often won by some unknown in a field filled with pretenders, the National will be the closest thing to a grand slam event this side of Augusta.It doesn’t get better than this. Certainly, it’s the best regional golf......

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No more free ride in Washington

Published: Mar 06, 2007

Guess you gotta go to Six Flags to get a thrill out of owner Dan Snyder nowadays. The Washington Redskins aren’t major players in free agency anymore.The annual grand opening of free agency on Friday resulted in a 31-year-old middle linebacker and a potential starting cornerback off an injury. The Redskins couldn’t keep guard Derrick Dockery from leaving and were outbid by Dallas for Arizona offensive lineman Leonard Davis.Talk about disappointing. It’s like expecting Randy Travis and getting Travis Tritt.The Redskins say they’ve finally found religion. The drunken-sailor-on-leave mentality is......

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Mistake fixed: Smoot returns ‘home’ to Skins

Published: Mar 05, 2007

Free agents usually come to the Washington Redskins to get overpaid. Fred Smoot may be the first just looking for contentment.The cornerback returned to the Redskins on Sunday after a two-year tour in Minnesota that both Washington coach Joe Gibbs and Smoot termed a "mistake." Smoot already cashed in big in Minnesota so money wasn’t the major concern, though the reported five-year, $25 million contract with a $7 million bonus was a good deal for someone with a limited market.Smoot knew he could return to the place where everyone not......

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Atkinson’s third phase: Cyberspace

Published: Mar 03, 2007

Jess Atkinson was waiting outside Redskins Park to do his newscast when he was unexpectedly given just one minute for the nightly roundup. "Why bother?" Atkinson yelled back on his cell phone.Atkinson jumped the shark that night in 2002. He soon left WUSA-9 with co-workers expecting a career freefall for the former Maryland and Washington Redskins kicker. Instead, Atkinson has been in the forefront of Internet and cable reality sports programs."Under the Shell", which chronicles the Terrapins women’s basketball team, is finishing its third season on Comcast while "FridgeTV.com" on......

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Terps are back but did they ever leave?

Published: Mar 02, 2007

Maryland is back in the NCAA Tournament. Maybe back in the Final Four hunt as a possible No. 4 seed. As the Terrapins finish the regular season on Saturday versus N.C. State, coach Gary Williams doesn’t have a told-you-so on his lips. He doesn’t need it. The recent resume still reads 2002 national champions, two Final Fours, the 2004 ACC Tournament crown and a 2003 Sweet 16. Missing the last two NCAAs after an 11-year run doesn’t define his program as a loser. "We haven’t gone anywhere. That’s other people......

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Skins should avoid more sticker shock

Published: Mar 01, 2007

It’s Super Bowl weekend in Washington. The greatest few days of the year for Redskins fans. Some teams have the postseason, Redskins fans have the offseason.Free agency begins 12:01 a.m. tonight. Redskin One is supposedly in Buffalo ready to bring middle linebacker London Fletcher-Baker and cornerback Nate Clements. Not that anyone tampered by talking beforehand. The players just needed a ride and the plane was heading this way.It’s all so predictable. So much that agents milk owner Dan Snyder for extra money, knowing he overspends for big names. It’s a......

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Farewell to the King

Published: Feb 27, 2007

Where do we start with George Michael retiring? It’s like talking about the end of a king’s reign.The WRC NBC-4 sportscaster has owned the Washington market since Glenn Brenner’s 1992 death. George created "Sports Machine," a trendsetting highlight show before ESPN’s SportsCenter’s dominance. Plenty of young sportscasters gained their start from him.But of all the stories you’ll hear about George as he retires following Thursday’s show, here’s why we’re pals despite the fact he incorrectly claimed many of my past Redskins scoops weren’t right.You will never have a better friend......

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Nats are cheap date in demand

Published: Feb 24, 2007

Ladies and gentlemen, start your mouses. Washington Nationals tickets go on sale on Saturday morning and only the Internet savvy and quick fingered will attend certain games.Want to see Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron’s record? Opening Day? The latest farewell to RFK Stadium? The Orioles, Dodgers or Cubs? Pony up now or pay scalpers later.Unlike other professional teams in town, Nats games don’t inflict a financial bruising. I sometimes skip the press pass (but not the parking) and sit in the right field bleachers with family for $5. You can’t......

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Maryland off to the races — literally

Published: Feb 21, 2007

Slot machines are dead once more in the Maryland legislature. Is the state’s horse racing industry next to go?A bill legalizing slots was quietly tabled in the Ways and Means Committee with new Gov. Martin O’Malley preferring to deal with it in 2008. A double blow came when a racing industry proposal for $30 million in purse supplements to remain competitive with neighboring states was halved.No slots again means Maryland racing becomes the weakest circuit from New York to Florida. Once the lion of the Mid-Atlantic, Maryland has already seen......

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Reese is Skins’ missing piece

Published: Feb 20, 2007

The answer to the Washington Redskins front office woes is right in front of their face: The NFL Network — channel 154 or 212 on your dish. Former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese is available after losing a power struggle with coach Jeff Fisher. In 13 years, Reese drafted more playmakers than the Redskins braintrust will find in a century. Reese is analyzing the draft for the NFL Network, a way station for coaches and execs awaiting their next job. Redskins owner Dan Snyder plucked his best coach off......

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National title defense still a real possibility

Published: Feb 19, 2007

Duke is once again bedeviling Maryland.No. 1 Duke (28-0, 13-0 ACC) defeated No. 6 Maryland (25-4, 9-4) 69-57 Sunday night at Comcast Center. The Blue Devils swept the Terrapins this season with a pair of double-digit victories. The rematch of last year’s national championship was once again decidedly lopsided."We lost to Duke twice last year [too]," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. "We have to want to continue to improve and use this game to get better."Young girls greeted Shay Doron with roses by the court tunnel for the end of......

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For Nats, one really is the loneliest number

Published: Feb 14, 2007

April 15 doesn’t often lend many fond memories as taxes are rendered unto Caesar. However, the Washington Nationals beat Florida, 2-1, last season on a 13-strikeout outing from pitcher John Patterson.Who knew that might be the one and only win among probable starting pitchers reporting yesterday in Viera, Fla., for Nats spring training. One really is the loneliest number. At least Nats owner Ted Lerner is one local leader who’s not lying when admitting there’s no quick fix ahead. Did you see the projected rotation among the 39 pitchers at......

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The PGA Tour can stay out

Published: Feb 13, 2007

Well, well — look who’s crawling back to Washington acting like they may do us a favor. A sudden hole in its schedule has the PGA Tour weighing Congressional Country Club as a summer stopover.Are you kidding me? They kicked Washington to the curb after it greatly supported a mostly terrible date for 21 years, but suddenly this region is worthy once more?PGA commissioner Tim Finchem — you’ve got more nerve than O.J.’s publisher. The International was unexpectedly dropped in Denver. Now the PGA is considering Washington, Portland, Minneapolis and......

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Time for Maryland to Duke it out

Published: Feb 10, 2007

Maryland-Duke games have led to championships and off-campus chaos, rankings and rioting. Now the series isn’t about who’s No. 1, but who’s surviving into March.Sixteenth-ranked Duke (18-6, 5-5 ACC) appears mortal for once while Maryland (17-7, 3-6) is looking more like an NIT team for the third straight season as the teams prepare to meet Sunday at Comcast Center. Maryland desperately needs a victory to bolster its NCAA Tournament hopes. Duke is always considered a quality win by the selection committee panel even if the Blue Devils would fall to......

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Terps will have to wait and see

Published: Feb 08, 2007

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen went looking for linemen, a couple receivers and a punter. He traveled from Canada to Georgia to sign 25 prospects Wednesday. But most of all, Friedgen wanted players from successful high schools."They know how to win," he said. "They perform when it’s meaningful. They want to be back there again."National Signing Day has become some sort of cult celebration. An annual culmination of shameless wooing of high school seniors with press conferences, Internet chat sites and fans salivating over a shameless meat market. Even Dallas Cowboys......

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Not your average athletic foray

Published: Feb 06, 2007

You’ve screamed at the TV over dropped passes. Yelled from the stands following missed shots. Vented on Internet chat sites after losses. And the words "I can play better than those guys" always came out.Can an average Joe outplay overpaid divas? Rodney Williams and Jay McKeown found out as part of Spike TV’s "Joes vs. Pros." Williams appears Thursday while McKeown returns for the series final after winning his Jan. 25 show.Williams is your everyday federal government contractor and young father from Lorton whose basketball career ended with a knee......

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Hall makes another incomplete pass

Published: Feb 05, 2007

One player is the community role model. Never been in legal trouble and big on charity work. The second player pleaded guilty to drug charges, was a reported regular at a house used for sex and drug parties and known for boorish behavior.It’s hard to understand how Dallas receiver Michael Irvin was chosen ahead of Washington receiver Ark Monk on Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, it’s just sad.On the field, both men were very successful. Both won three Super Bowls. Each deserves enshrinement, but Irvin......

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A Super premonition

Published: Feb 03, 2007

You’ve got enough beer to quench an Army. More chips than poker.com. Nobody else is nearby because — let’s face it — serious fans watch the game alone.Parties are for fakers who don’t know jack about football. If some guy tries to explain a cover-2 defense, walk away because there’s a only two percent chance he’s not lying. And only three people are allowed to watch before it’s no longer a game, but an event.Clear your schedule, turn off your phone and set the TiVo so you can replay the......

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Mason aims to re-kindle Madness

Published: Feb 02, 2007

If March means Madness, then February is for fantasies. It’s a short month for long-shot smaller programs andstruggling teams.Everyone wants to be the next George Mason in the coming NCAA Tournament, including the Patriots themselves. It won’t be easy, though.Mason (13-9) overwhelmed hapless Delaware (4-19), 89-59, on Wednesday at Patriot Center. The passing was crisp enough to merit 71.8 percent shooting before surrendering the final seven minutes to subs. For one night, the Patriots resembled the team whose 2006 Final Four banner hangs above midcourt.Still, the Patriots are probably headed......

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Barbaro inspires through finish

Published: Jan 30, 2007

Barbaro passed into immortality yesterday, a legend born not by a Kentucky Derby victory but an undaunted spirit that cheated death for eight months.A devastating ankle injury in the opening moments of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico last May would have normally proven fatal within the hour. The ensuing laminitis should have quickly killed him, too. Ultimately, it did as doctors at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. euthanized the four-year-old colt following a failed weekend operation to stabilize his leg.You had to admire Barbaro’s gameness, though. The......

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Maryland women show they know how to host national spotlight

Published: Jan 29, 2007

When the student section belts out "Rock and Roll, Part II," it’s truly a party. Throw in a full house of sign-waving crazies plus national TV and Maryland women’s basketball finally proved it’s no longer secondary to the Terrapins’ male counterparts. Funny what a national title can do.The No. 3 Terps eclipsed the ACC single-game attendance mark in their 84-71 loss to No. 2 North Carolina Sunday night with 17,950 filling Comcast Center. While plenty of young girls made the "Scream for Ice Cream" contest akin to a Hanson concert,......

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Terps aim for Comcastic effort

Published: Jan 27, 2007

There is nothing like Maryland versus North Carolina and Duke. However, fans may burn out over coming weeks. North Carolina’s No. 2 ranked women visit No. 3 Maryland on Sunday. Top-ranked Duke comes to Comcast Center on Feb. 18. Conversely, Maryland’s men play No. 10 Duke on Feb. 11 and No. 4 North Carolina on Feb. 25. That’s four of five Sundays with the biggest rivalries in College Park. Rt. 1 may turn into Bourbon Street following so many postgame parties.But here’s the biggest surprise -- the women’s games are......

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Wiz could bring the buzz

Published: Jan 25, 2007

The Washington Wizards received their chance to prove NBA title worthy.A sellout crowd ringed Verizon Center on Tuesday while the downtown streets were gridlocked. Scalpers worked the sidewalks. Lots of government workers still donning coats and ties sipped their beers. The buzz was there. Too bad they played the game. Pacific Division leader Phoenix led by 20 points in the first quarter and surpassed 100 by the third in the 127-105 victory. This wasn’t a rematch. It was a knockout.Agent Subzero — you coulda been a contender.The Wizards are currently......

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Despite the changes, baseball is still baseball

Published: Jan 24, 2007

Forget the steroids scandal or escalating free agency’s impact on ticket prices. Never mind smaller market teams like Washington and Baltimore are struggling to compete for the top players. The game is still what matters most and baseball remains a pretty good game."It’s a resilient sport," said Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo. "Things happen and people still come back. You can’t beat walking into Camden Yards."A roundtable discussion over baseball’s future brought three George Washington University alumni back to their alma mater with vastly different perspectives. Washington Nationals owner Ted......

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Sutton ready to make D.C. pitch

Published: Jan 23, 2007

The Washington Nationals finally gained a Hall of Fame pitcher. Too bad he’s 61.Don Sutton joins the MASN booth as the color analyst following 17 years in Atlanta. The former Los Angeles Dodgers great won 324 games and broke regional fans’ hearts late in his career by eliminating the Baltimore Orioles on the final day of the 1984 season with Milwaukee.The Nats now have a counterpart to Jim Palmer analyzing the Orioles on MASN. It’s appropriate MASN hired a pitcher given the Nats staff will decide whether the team avoids......

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Redskins must watch, learn

Published: Jan 20, 2007

Washington Redskins fans thought they were only a play away from last year’s NFC Championship Game. Now they’re so far from the postseason that googlemaps.com couldn’t find it. What can the Redskins learn from Sunday’s final four of football featuring New Orleans, Chicago, New England and Indianapolis? That coaches, front office execs and quarterbacks make all the difference.Indianapolis president Bill Polian is a five-time NFL Executive of the Year after leading Buffalo to four Super Bowl appearances and Carolina to the NFC final in its second year of existence. Now......

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Redskins return to D.C. is inevitable

Published: Jan 17, 2007

The whispers over recent weeks leaked into reports that were quickly denied. Maybe it’s fantasy, perhaps it’s real. The only difference is the timetable.Are the Washington Redskins returning to the District? Absolutely. The only question is when. Maybe in a few years. Maybe in a decade or two, but they are assuredly returning from that mistake in Raljon.The Redskins have spent 10 years at FedEx Field. Another 10 years should pass beforeexit strategies rightfully begin. However, Redskins owner Dan Snyder smells money around RFK Stadium and city leaders know a......

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For Terps, erratic and ACC a tough mix

Published: Jan 16, 2007

There are going to be bad losses and upset victories during the season, but Maryland managed both last week.Maryland (15-3) visits Virginia (9-6) tonight, one of four road games in 18 days. Only Georgia Tech on Jan. 24 is at home during the stretch. The Terrapins need at least a 3-2 mark to contend for an 8-8 ACC record that should return them to the NCAA Tournament following a two-year absence. That means counterpunching losses with wins in the competitive conference. The Terps look awful in losing to Miami, 63-58,......

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Jones now a valued member of American history as jersey is retired

Published: Jan 15, 2007

Winning a national championship wasn’t the ultimate for Will Jones. Scoring an NCAA Tournament-record 54 points doesn’t top his list, either. Trying out for the U.S. Olympic team twice didn’t make the cut.Jones’ No. 11 jersey was hoisted to the rafters of Bender Arena on Saturday. American University honored perhaps its greatest player by adding Jones alongside Kermit Washington and soccer player Michael Brady to the top of the District facility. Jones was installed in the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1971, but retiring his number seemed so much more......

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Part rematch, part referendum

Published: Jan 13, 2007

Maryland’s women’s basketball team is midway through its title defense, but already coach Brenda Frese senses the Terrapins may be even better this season. She’s about to find out for sure.Top-ranked Maryland visits No. 3 Duke Saturday in a rematch of last year’s NCAA women’s basketball final. Maryland (18-0) has won 24 straight while Duke (17-0) hasn’t fallen since its overtime defeat to the Terps.Too bad No. 2 North Carolina (18-0) can’t make it a three-sided match because the women’s game revolves around the ACC leaders. The Terps must wait......

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Part rematch, part referendum

Published: Jan 13, 2007

Maryland’s women’s basketball team is midway through its title defense, but already coach Brenda Frese senses the Terrapins may be even better this season. She’s about to find out for sure.Top-ranked Maryland visits No. 3 Duke Saturday in a rematch of last year’s NCAA women’s basketball final. Maryland (18-0) has won 24 straight while Duke (17-0) hasn’t fallen since its overtime defeat to the Terps.Too bad No. 2 North Carolina (18-0) can’t make it a three-sided match because the women’s game revolves around the ACC leaders. The Terps must wait......

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Terps must answer conference call

Published: Jan 10, 2007

Maryland forward Ekene Ibekwe sounds like an old man. The Terrapins spend their final 15 games against the ACC and the senior could only ponder his final go-around starting Wednesday against Miami.Play with intensity, Ibekwe tells the underclassmen. Don’t take possessions off. Don’t worry about the crowd."But go out there and have fun," he said.Oh, if the Terps could only do that. After finishing 7-9 and 8-8 the last two years in the ACC, respectively, which largely caused the end of their 11-year NCAA Tournament run, the Terps (14-2, 0-1......

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Cal was one of ours, too

Published: Jan 09, 2007

Cal Ripken, Jr. may have spent his career in Baltimore, but he became one of Washington’s heroes, too.The Orioles great will join Tony Gwynn in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday along with possibly Jim Rice, Goose Gossage and manager Dick Williams. The only drama over Ripken’s election is whether he’ll break Tom Seaver’s record 98.84 percent of the vote.Lots of Washingtonians will head to Cooperstown, N.Y. for the induction just like they followed Redskins coach Joe Gibbs to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Ripken......

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Redskins face Grimm reality

Published: Jan 08, 2007

Bill Cowher may be the popular choice among fantasy leaguers as Joe Gibbs’ eventual successor, but Russ Grimm should have been in line to take over the Washington Redskins instead of possibly following Cowher in Pittsburgh.And it’s reason No. 6,762 to hate Marty Schottenheimer.A former Hog who should be in the Hall of Fame as one of six Redskins to win three Super Bowls, Grimm followed with a successful stint as tight ends and offensive line coach in Washington. Ask offensive tackles Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels who their best......

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Frese, Terps ready for expanded spotlight

Published: Jan 06, 2007

You know Maryland women's basketball has finally arrived when a weekend matinee draws a large crowd and national TV audience and it's not even an ACC game against fellow heavyweights North Carolina or Duke.The No. 1 Terrapins host No. 19 Michigan State on Saturday at Comcast Center. More than 12,000 are expected despite a free showing on CBS and the students on winter break. The network wanted programming before the NFL playoff games and the Terps had a schedule opening so . . . Lights, camera, action."It shouts that the......

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Delp’s passing invokes Spectacular memories

Published: Jan 03, 2007

Maryland horse racing has lost another link to its golden age, a time when local runners were national titans and their human connections ranked among our country’s elite.Trainer Bud Delp died Friday at his Ellicott City, Md., home at age 74. He was a throwback to the days when racing’s leaders talked loud, feared no oneand backed it up. And boy could Delp back it up on a daily and legendary basis.The Hall of Famer was part of the "Big Four" that dominated Maryland’s claiming races in the 1970s. King......

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Time for Darlings to do what they do

Published: Jan 02, 2007

Trade Clinton Portis. Cut Brandon Lloyd, Mark Brunell and Adam Archuleta. Focus the draft on defense.It’s time for the Darlings of Downtime to start their annual winning of the offseason. With only two seasons remaining in his five-year plan and a 5-11 season showing no progress, Washington coach Joe Gibbs needs bold moves over coming months. This isn’t about coaching them harder. It’s about getting the right pieces together.The Redskins are never going to win consistently until they fix this botched front office setup with no real personnel man or......

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Offseason a time to get defensive

Published: Jan 01, 2007

There is so much of me that doesn’t believe Redskins coach Joe Gibbs can turn around this franchise. After all, he hasn’t exactly proven himself since returning. He’s 21-27 with the completed 5-11 campaign his worst ever.And yet, the 34-28 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday showed why the Redskins can return next season with a playoff contender if the defense is righted. The Redskins have the offense and special teams to make the postseason. The defense is a real albatross.Just find a couple new defensive linemen, safety......

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Cue the Darlings of Downtime

Published: Dec 30, 2006

The best time of the year is about to begin for the Washington Redskins — the offseason. The Redskins mercifully end the season on Saturday versus the New York Giants at FedEx Field, which may be a neutral site given the massive ticket sell-off by Washington fans. Parking passes are drawing more interest on Ebay than some tickets. The Giants (7-8) still have a postseason chance despite nearly matching the Redskins meltdown so New Yorkers might turn Landover into Meadowlands South.Giants running back Tiki Barber is heading into retirement. A......

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Terps aim for memorable finale

Published: Dec 29, 2006

In a season of memories, Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen seeks a lasting impression. He wants to prove that the Terrapins are truly back; that recruits can come to College Park expecting to again contend for an ACC title; that a series of heart-stopping victories weren’t a fluke.Maybe it was the blocked field goal to preserve the Florida State victory Maryland fans will remember most. Or stealing a win over Miami. Oh, don’t forget the walk-off field goal over Clemson or stopping Virginia’s possible game-tying two-point conversion.Losing the final two......

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As vacation nears, uncertainty grows

Published: Dec 28, 2006

It was a lunchtime job fair. Some talked of wanting to stay, but not really knowing who would be their future employer. A few lobbied for friends to remain employed. There was even some vacation planning. The Washington Redskins locker room on Wednesday wasn’t much different from many companies winding down during the holidays. The final week of a very disappointing season has everyone a little relieved, a little on edge.They know this group won’t return intact. Why should it? And why would anyone want it back given a 5-10......

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Not-so merry a Christmas for Skins

Published: Dec 25, 2006

The Washington Redskins can find coal in a diamond mine.With a secondary stripped cleaner than a Christmas turkey in a 37-31 overtime loss at St. Louis on Sunday, the Redskins continued their quest to become coach Joe Gibbs’ worst team ever. Maybe they’re supersmart and play their guts out, but this is the biggest bunch of underachievers since the $100 million mercenaries of 2000 finished 8-8 — and once again blew a very winnable game.The Redskins (5-10) must lose to the New York Giants on Saturday to eclipse Gibbs’ previous......

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Heyer ready for NFL learning

Published: Dec 20, 2006

Maryland offensive tackle Stephon Heyer joinsseven teammates at graduation on Thursday. But instead of a party, he’ll head to afternoon practice. "I’ll go out there in my cap and gown and play football," said Heyer, jokingly. "Like a lot of things in my life, I have responsibilities both on and off the field."Heyer is spending his final days on campus readying for the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29. He returned for his fifth season after missing last year with a torn knee ligament to earn the nickname "Old Guy"......

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Audible out of two-back set: Trade Portis

Published: Dec 19, 2006

It’s time to trade Clinton Portis. Maybe it’s the eggnog talking, but Redskins running back Ladell Betts’ recent emergence makes Portis expendable no matter how good the runner is. No matter that he’s better than Betts. No matter the cost will be $8 million against the salary cap.The Redskins now have two aces in the backfield. Trading one wouldn’t greatly hurt the offense and could provide a defensive starter or a second-round pick. An impact player in the middle of the defensive lineis needed more than another defensive end given......

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They could’ve been contenders

Published: Dec 18, 2006

The Washington Redskins continue to torment even in victory.Beating New Orleans 16-10 on Sunday at the Superdome exemplified just how good Washington could have been this season. The Saints clinched a division title, but the Redskins were clearly the better team.This was the Super Bowl contender everyone expected. Too bad they showed up three months late. Bet training camp will be a killer next year instead of the Club Med of last summer.Washington has defeated NFC East leader Dallas (9-5), NFC South champion New Orleans (9-5) and AFC wild card......

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Woods leaving early ... for Army

Published: Dec 14, 2006

Donnie Woods is forgoing his senior season — not for the NFL, but for the U.S. of A.The Maryland guard will play his final football game in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 before graduating in May with a criminal justice degree. Then it’s hopefully off to the Army’s Officer Training School before leading ground troops in Iraq."I always felt like I wanted to fight for my country and whatit stands for," Woods said. "Freedom is an amazing thing. I want to serve this country and this feels right."......

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One go-round enough for Flaim

Published: Dec 12, 2006

It was all going so well. Confetti rained on the Patriot Center crowd. The ring girls leading the ringside entourage were hot. The rap song irked the opponent. More than 5,000 fans chanted his name. It was a perfect moment for J.P. Flaim of "The Junkies."Too bad the fight had to start.And too bad it ended so quickly.Flaim fell one second short of making it to the second round in his pro boxing debut Saturday, a TKO loss to Jay Watts. The radio co-host of "The Junkies" weekday mornings on......

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So many questions, so few answers

Published: Dec 11, 2006

The Washington Redskins continue to be the biggest tease this side of a Bourbon Street cathouse.First and goal at Philadelphia’s 3-yard line trailing 21-16 in the waning minutes and the FedEx Field faithful sensed a victory that would silence the many Eagles fans around them. Instead, a stuffed run, missed pass, senseless penalty and sack forced a field goal. But that was OK. The offense seemed capable of one more field goal if the defense could stop the Eagles with 4:52 remaining. Instead, Philadelphia ate the clock to deny Washington......

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Away for holidays fine with Terps

Published: Dec 06, 2006

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen may be better fitted to play Santa, but the Terrapins boss turned into the Grinch on Tuesday.Friedgen announced the Terps will leave Dec. 22 for the Champs Sports Bowl instead of Christmas. Mothers of players who thought their sons would be home for the holiday surely weren’t happy. Many parents booked post-Christmas flights for the Dec. 29 game that can’t be changed. That means families are separated and players are on their own for Christmas. That’s how much winning a bowl game means to Friedgen. At......

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2006 an abject failure for Gibbs

Published: Dec 05, 2006

For three months, Washington coach Joe Gibbs sounded like someone’s befuddled grandfather who wasn’t quite sure what was happening around him. He told off-topic stories on the podium, had a glazed look in his eyes and seemed one loss away from the old coaches home.It was really sad to see a legend lose his way like Willie Mays falling in the outfield. The game not only passed Gibbs by, it ran over him.Gibbs finally looked like his old self after Sunday’s 24-14 loss to Atlanta, though. He didn’t talk about......

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Redskins have got time for the pain

Published: Dec 04, 2006

There were Dirty Birds and boo birds, but at least Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick didn’t flip anyone the bird in the Falcons’ 24-14 victory at FedEx Field on Sunday. After all, Vick wasn’t the home passer making mistakes this time. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell continued his early regression with the worst of his young three-game career that turned even backers into booers. Two interceptions and some bounced passes exposed Campbell more than a naked bootleg.Is it time for Todd Collins? Because it sure feels like time for a Tom Collins.It......

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Monk should garner overdue Hall pass

Published: Dec 02, 2006

The ice jam blocking Art Monk’s election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame may have finally melted.Sports Illustrated’s Peter King now says he’ll vote for the former Redskins receiver after years of leading the dissent. That may be the difference. King has a powerful say in the small world of 40 voters and gaining his alliance is like Nancy Pelosi supporting George Bush.Monk is long overdue for enshrinement after retiring as the NFL’s leading receiver with 940 catches. More importantly, he was among six Redskins on all three Super......

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Headed for a Flaim out?

Published: Nov 30, 2006

Ever wish you could punch somebody in the face? I mean, just beat the heck out of a bad guy, the office jerk or some idiot that cut you off in traffic?J.P. Flaim is your champion. A member of "The Junkies" who discuss everything from sports to sex weekday mornings on WJFK 106.7 FM, "The Latin Donkey" makes his pro boxing debut on Dec. 9 at Patriot Center on the Jimmy Lange undercard.It’s probably a one-time thing; just Flaim measuring himself as a man. But this is a real fight......

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Campbell evokes memories of quarterbacks past

Published: Nov 28, 2006

What former Redskins quarterback does Jason Campbell resemble after two starts?A short poll of longtime Redskins watchers fell evenly between Doug Williams and Joe Theismann. Not a bad list given both won Super Bowls.Williams seems a natural choice since both he and Campbell are tall and African American, but that’s not why people said Williams. It was the savvy that brought the comparison. Williams was a smart quarterback. Very gifted to be sure, but the man was unflappable.Theismann was the other choice by possessing some of the same elusiveness as......

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Skins return to past to improve present

Published: Nov 27, 2006

The Redskins dressed for success. Scrapping the all-white look for the traditional burgundy pants associated with the Super Bowl teams of the past, Washington returned to its old smashmouth style. The Redskins looked like the old Joe Gibbs teams that no one messed with very often."Two or three guys said, ‘Coach, we’re ready for a change," Gibbs said of the uniforms. "I thought that was a good idea."Washington outlasted Carolina, 17-13, on Sunday. It wasn’t a fashion show. It wasn’t even pretty. The offense looked supermodel thin at times. But......

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Unlikely ride approaches its biggest stop of season

Published: Nov 25, 2006

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen’s favorite season was probably his first in College Park. A team hoping for six wins instead won 10 and reached the Orange Bowl.Quarterback Sam Hollenbach arrived months later and has heard that story way too often. As he runs out of the tunnel and slaps Testudo’s statue on the back for luck one last time on Saturday, the senior wants to depart with the same legendary lore. A passer who nearly left two years ago and a team no one expected to do much after two......

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Giving thanks and a few boos

Published: Nov 23, 2006

The Redskins stink. The Wizards and Capitals aren’t much better. The Nationals just lost their best player. Georgetown was upset by Old Dominion. George Michael’s retiring.Whew — not a lot to be thankful for right now around Washington. Just waiting for the next loss, injury or bad free agency signing. What’s next? No parking at the new baseball stadium? It’s enough to make you stop reading the sports section until you see all the really bad news on the front page. For the few good things we have in local......

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It’s always about the money

Published: Nov 21, 2006

Alfonso Soriano is heading to Chicago and taking the U.S. Treasury with him.The Washington Nationals knew they would lose their best player to free agency. Incoming manager Manny Acta practically conceded it last week when taking the job. The Nats gave Soriano an honest offer of $70 million over eight years, but Washington was smart not to invest a king’s ransom in a middle-aged player whose best days are probably past.Dan Snyder, are you taking notes?Instead, the Cubs went to Al Capone’s vault for $136 million over eight years. Yowsir......

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Campbell good, teammates not so much

Published: Nov 20, 2006

Looks like the Washington Redskins collapse wasn’t entirely Mark Brunell’s fault after all.The defense allowed 181 yards rushing and the team lost for the second time this season to a rookie quarterback. The offensive line couldn’t block a baby from his bottle. The Redskins didn’t crack 10 points until the final minute.No, changing quarterbacks wasn’t the answer in the Redskins 20-17 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. But ... wasn’t it fun to watch Jason Campbell throw frozen ropes on deep out patterns. And sidestep some of the blitzes. And......

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For Terps, confidence and success in order

Published: Nov 18, 2006

It’s all about a handful of moments, maybe even just one play, which decide games. Will you be ready, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen asks his players in practice. So far, the Terrapins have seized them all. The No. 21-ranked Terrapins (8-2, 5-1 ACC) beat Florida State on a blocked field goal. They withstood Clemson’s late rally for a one-point win. The Terps even forced two turnovers in the final moments to edge Miami, 13-12. And the five-game winning streak started by stopping a tying two-point conversion at Virginia.The Terps have......

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Rick Snider: Acta makes quite a first impression

Published: Nov 15, 2006

Washington president Stan Kasten needed 30 minutes to figure Manny Acta could be the Nationals next manager. It must have been a slowday.Acta took two minutes to impress a small crowd outside Nats owner Ted Lerner’s downtown office on Tuesday. He’s funny and forceful, brainy and brawny. Antonio Banderas sans the hair.The great part of baseball’s return to Washington is providing something besides the Redskins to commiserate over and Acta’s going to be a major talking point around town — in two languages. He wants a solid pitching and defensive-minded......

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Rick Snider: Coach Joe finally gives in

Published: Nov 14, 2006

The white flag flew over Redskin Park waving towards 2007.Quarterback Jason Campbell will start against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Mark Brunell is out. Frankly, I’m shocked coach Joe Gibbs finally recognized reality in a season of denial. It took him an extra few weeks, but Gibbs swapped passers a whole lot sooner than expected.Gibbs looked like a POW forced to make a statement during his Monday press conference. His body language betrayed words that this move was anything but forced; not by owner Dan Snyder, but a 3-6 record and......

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Rick Snider: Skins taste bitter end

Published: Nov 13, 2006

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs nearly no commented on his postgame press conference. After losing to Philadelphia 27-3 on Sunday, the Redskins boss didn’t want to speak from the heart for fear what would be said."We need a long hard look at it right now," said Gibbs of the game film before the initial question.Translation — ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.The game film will run more like a horror film. The new offense stinks. The playcalling was abysmal. The defense couldn’t get off the field with the......

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Rick Snider: Terp Alley dark no longer

Published: Nov 11, 2006

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen created Terp Alley as a pregame pep rally where players walk through the crowd into Byrd Stadium. The band plays, the crowd waves and everyone gets excited.Sometimes it was an emotional bump, but the alley was abandoned when the Terrapins struggled over the past two years. Somewhere along this unexpected 7-2 season, the Terps started getting better and Terp Alley started getting bigger. When the Terps passed through the wall of fans before beating Florida State on Oct. 28, the crowd was so loud that punter......

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Rick Snider: Sachs left lasting impression

Published: Nov 08, 2006

It is the quiet moments that I love most about covering sports. The people on the sidelines. The behind-the-scenes sights. You can have the games. I’ll take the off days.My favorite memory while covering the Redskins daily for 10 years was Arnie and Lorraine Sachs, sitting in a golf cart in the end zone during summer practices in Frostburg. Arnie covered the Redskins for 56 years and Lorraine was always with him. For someone who never knew his grandparents, they were a comfort amid the chaos of the NFL.Arnie was......

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Rick Snider: Second-half surge isn’t coming

Published: Nov 07, 2006

Washington quarterback Mark Brunell is a diplomat, but he’s also a realist. When some reporters tried to project a lucky victory over Dallas on Sunday as the launch of another playoff run, Brunell looked bemused and said, "Sure, why not?"No one believed him. No one should. The Redskins are 3-5 and three games behind NFC East leader New York. The win over Dallas was a stay of elimination. The Redskins still need to win seven of eight games to reach the playoffs and if you think that’s possible let me......

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Rick Snider: Novak makes most of second chance

Published: Nov 06, 2006

Nick Novak lives on the crossbar.A second potential game-winning field goal awaited the Washington kicker after a bizarre final minute versus Dallas on Sunday that included a miss by Novak and a block against Dallas. The game clock read 0:00, but a Cowboys penalty permitted one more play."You don’t often get second chances in life or football," Novak said.The 47-yarder was good — barely — for a 22-19 Washington victory at FedEx Field. Novak punched the air just like he did when launching the Ralph Friedgen era at Maryland in......

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Rick Snider: Terps’ stretch run is stiff

Published: Nov 04, 2006

Beating three small schools wasn’t enough for Maryland fans to believe the Terrapins were any good. Knocking off a couple mediocre Atlantic Coast Conference teams didn’t impress disbelievers, either. Then Maryland upset nemesis Florida State.Suddenly, the Terps (6-2, 3-1 ACC) have a chance to win the ACC Atlantic Division title by finishing strong in their final four games starting Saturday at No. 19 Clemson. Maybe now skeptics can believe Maryland is a legitimate team."There have been a lot of people kissing [up to us] the last couple weeks with these......

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Rick Snider: Brunell’s the man ... for now

Published: Nov 03, 2006

Young quarterbacks are the seductive sirens of fans and bane of coaches. The most enticing thing on the field aside cheerleaders.Washington fans will look to Dallas’ sideline on Sunday with envy. The Cowboys are brave enough to start a young passer — Tony Romo — over a veteran. Tennessee rookie quarterback Vince Young recently earned his first victory in Washington. Still, the Redskins need to give Mark Brunell one more chance against Dallas before turning to Jason Campbell. As bad as 2-5 appears, the Redskins could return to the NFC......

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Rick Snider: Terps ready to answer questions

Published: Nov 01, 2006

A little boy eyed Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese during a summer wedding. Leaving the dance floor, he pretended to take a shot and said, "Kristi Toliver for three."The Terrapins have gone mainstream. A White House visit, European tour and ESPY awards along with constant speaking engagements filled the offseason. Fans told Frese and her Terps how much last season’s national championship meant. Even more, supporters wondered whether a young team can do it again, even establish a dynasty.But just like the Pittsburgh Steelers can open 2-5 after a......

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Rick Snider: Terps emerge from early-season slumber

Published: Oct 30, 2006

Maryland’s growing pains have finally ended. The Terrapins have blossomed into a bowl team.Slowly and steadily, Maryland has become more than a group built on beating small schools and bad opponents, evidenced Saturday with triumph over visiting Florida State. The Seminoles and fellow expected Atlantic Coast Conference frontrunners Miami and Virginia Tech are vulnerable. Maryland is tied for the Atlantic Division lead with pending dates against co-leaders Boston College and Clemson.This from a team that a month ago was one play away from losing to winless Florida International."We’re a lot......

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Rick Snider: Bell still tolls for truth

Published: Oct 28, 2006

Harold Bell is the last angry man, andhe still has something to say.The longtime Washington radio and television broadcaster wants pro athletes to give back to the community. He wants teams to become more involved, too. And he wants people to worship more than money. If calling it like it is upsets people, then Bell might crack a smile over tweaking the status quo."I’m dangerous because you can’t buy Harold Bell — everybody knows that," he said. "There are very few guys like that nowadays. I stood up for what......

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Rick Snider: Terps on cusp of reclaiming swagger

Published: Oct 25, 2006

Maryland’s football team has rediscovered its inner "it."The Terrapins missed that unknown quality the last two years that turns borderline teams into winners. But somewhere in the second-half rally over Virginia on Oct. 14 when surviving a Cavaliers’ tying two-point conversion attempt for a 28-26 win, Maryland evolved from promising young team to bowl contender.The timing of the Terps’ emergence is perfect because the next five games will define their season. Maryland (5-2, 2-1 ACC) has largely fulfilled expectations — beating two comparable conference teams and three small non-conference schools......

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Rick Snider: For Skins, disaster plans needed

Published: Oct 24, 2006

The Washington Redskins have plenty to work on over the next two weeks. Exit strategies. The blame game. Resumes. The season isn’t half over. It’s just over. You so want to send Al Saunders down to human resources and say his 90-day conditional period is over and sorry, he failed. The problem is it would take a Brink’s truck to haul his severance money.The transitional period to Saunders’ offense resembles the Clinton-Bush turnover when all the "W" keys were taken from keyboards. Seems someone has taken all the Redskins’ W’s,......

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Rick Snider: Time to say bye-bye to Redskins season

Published: Oct 23, 2006

Forget the bye week. Just go to the offseason because the Washington Redskins’ are done.The offense managed one touchdown until the final seconds of the 36-22 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday. The defense was spanked just like every week. There were stupid penalties, missed field goals and a massive third quarter collapse.It’s hard to imagine how the Redskins led, 14-13, over the Colts at halftime because they didn’t show up afterwards. It was just another embarrassing outing in a season everyone once foolishly thought would end with a playoff run.The......

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Rick Snider: Nothing trumps an iron will

Published: Oct 21, 2006

Sept. 11 continues to connect us. Melissa Merson was supposed to be at Battery Park across from the World Trade Towers that morning. Instead, she went to a doctor’s appointment. The diagnosis? Breast cancer. That day eventually led Army Maj. David Rozelle to Iraq where he would lose his right ankle to an anti-tank mine. The Washingtonians are together in Hawaii for Saturday’s Ford Ironman World Championships. Two survivors in a race that will require a 2.4-mile swim, 26.1-mile run and 112-mile bike ride against the world’s best triathletes.Maybe you’ve......

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Rick Snider: Gibbs needs reinforcements

Published: Oct 19, 2006

There are times when Washington coach Joe Gibbs stands at the podium, trying to discuss the team’s lastest poor outing, that the Hall of Fame coach looks lost.There is uncertainty amid the humility of Washington’s most beloved coach of the past quarter century. It’s like Gibbs knows he’s missing a piece of the former glory days, but just doesn’t know what it is.Maybe, it’s not having a general manager. Gibbs returned as the Redskins president and coach in 2004 of a team devoid of a true player personnel manager. Owner......

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Rick Snider: More than enough blame to spread around

Published: Oct 17, 2006

It’s easy to boo Washington quarterback Mark Brunell for the Redskins problems, but if you really want to heckle those responsible for the team’s woes, you better bring a lunch.The owner thinks he can buy a winner. The front office believes it can spot talent. The coaching staff says the system can offset loss of talent. That is, until they have to prove it.Coach Joe Gibbs says he’s as responsible as anyone for the team falling to 2-4. You know what, he’s not being humble. Gibbs is as responsible as......

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Rick Snider: Trouble is brewing at Redskins Park

Published: Oct 16, 2006

Washington coach Joe Gibbs is in the bunker mode.Stealing a passage from Ben Franklin’s motto of "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately," Gibbs lamented the entire team was responsible for the 25-22 loss to previously-winless Tennessee on Sunday down to the parking attendants who let the Titans bus into FedEx Field.The offense was practically non-existent over the final three quarters after taking a 14-0 on its first two possessions. The defense let a rookie quarterback beat them in the final minutes. Special teams permitted......

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Rick Snider: Cherokee’s Boy highlights Maryland Million

Published: Oct 14, 2006

Bettors love a sure thing and Cherokee’s Boy has always been one to hit the board. Now handicappers are hoping the 6-year-old provides getaway money in his final run.Cherokee’s Boy is the heavy 1-2 favorite in Saturday’s $250,000 Maryland Million Classic — the headliner of the annual fall Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park. A full card of 117 state-sired runners compete in 12 races meant to boost the Maryland breeding industry as it struggles against neighboring states with slot-funded purses.Million Day has been a big success over 20 years......

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Rick Snider: Madness makes welcome return

Published: Oct 13, 2006

Madness returns to the area and for once it’s not Congress.Maryland’s women’s basketball team celebrates its national championship at Comcast Center on tonight while the men’s team tries to regain momentum after missing two straight NCAA Tournaments. Meanwhile, George Mason’s madness celebration will be televised by ESPNU.It’s hard to believe more than six months has passed since the Maryland women grabbed the trophy three days after Mason was a stunning Final Fourparticipant. And it’s hard to believe it all begins again.Washington is a Redskins town, but basketball may be the......

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Rick Snider: Larranaga, George Mason aim to prolong dream

Published: Oct 12, 2006

George Mason men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga’s offseason was so busy his birthday cake became an afternoon snack eight days later.Michael Jordan invited Larranaga to coach at his lucrative summer camp in Las Vegas where rich men pay $17,500 for a week of hoops. A boxer sent ringside seats. The Virginia governor invited the team for dinner at the Richmond mansion. There were the ESPYs and speaking engagements as far as Seattle.And the madness begins again on Friday as ESPNU broadcasts from the Fairfax campus as part of its Midnight......

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Rick Snider: Redskins’ market takes downturn

Published: Oct 09, 2006

LaVar Arrington was kidding. Seems for the former Redskins linebacker took the offensive playbook with him to New York.The Giants offense didn’t need insider knowledge to beat the Redskins defense. New York just ran its usual offense with Tiki Barber rambling through arm tackles as he often does against Washington for 123 yards. Quarterback Eli Manning looked like big brother Peyton with plenty of medium-range completions for 256 yards. New York simply knuckled past Washington, 19-3, on Sunday in an old-fashioned NFC East game.Mr. Cheney — please raise the alert......

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Rick Snider: Terps need a double play

Published: Oct 07, 2006

Maryland’s real season begins Saturday at Georgia Tech, but the anticipated feel-good stretch of the ACC schedule looks quite unfriendly.The Terrapins were expected to be 3-1 after three non-conference patsies and a loss at West Virginia. Maryland’s bowl prospects may now depend on winning two of its first three ACC games before a coming storm of five top teams.Eighteenth-ranked Georgia Tech (4-1) comes off a 38-29 dismantling of Virginia Tech that was one impressive road win. While traveling to Virginia (2-3) on Oct. 14 looks like a win for Maryland,......

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Rick Snider: Brown is along for the ride

Published: Oct 06, 2006

James Brown is a gearhead.Considered one of the greatest District prep basketball players at DeMatha High in the late 1960s, "J.B." is best known as an NFL pre-game show host. Brown also joined the Lerners as a minority-share owner of the Nationals in July.Street rods and muscle cars are his toys, though. A 1969 Camaro and 1941 Willys along with a 1950 Mercury once owned by the late Reggie White fill his growing collection.Brown spends Friday nights at a Landover car show or Saturdays in Annapolis, Hagerstown or Glen Burnie......

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Rick Snider: On second thought, Skins are back

Published: Oct 03, 2006

Life begins anew for the Washington Redskins.The sins of the preseason are forgiven. The opening two losses are absolved. Stealing a win from the pundits by beating Jacksonville, 36-30 in overtime, on Sunday evens the Redskins’ mark at 2-2. It’s now a 12-week season.Washington heads to New York barely out of first place. Beating the Giants would make the Redskins the most feared team in the NFC East. Washington should follow with a win over Tennessee for a 4-2 mark before facing Indianapolis. Life is sure looking a lot different......

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Rick Snider: Gibbs magic gets an early start

Published: Oct 02, 2006

Joe Gibbs is sprinkling his late-season magic in the opening hours of October.The leaves have barely started turning and the Redskins are running Riggo Drills. Elections are far off and Gibbs is already emptying his war chest trying to reach the postseason. Sure makes you wonder what kind of deal football’s version of Joe Hardy had made for the Redskins. Does Gibbs vanish into winter blizzard when this is all over? Maybe he heads back to the Tobacco Road of NASCAR? The miracle maker sure is using all his luck......

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Rick Snider: One step forward for Nats in year two

Published: Sep 30, 2006

The sophomore jinx engulfed Washington’s second season of baseball. After staying in the 2005 wild card race until the final week, this year’s team never sniffed the pennant. Injuries decimated the pitching staff and claimed three-fourths of the infield at various times, making even .500 a wild dream. The Nationals seemed headed for 100 losses before a September turnaround. Even worse, attendance slipped nearly 600,000 to 2.1 million. That’s more lost fans than the Redskins drew all season when they still played at RFK.So why does year two of......

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Rick Snider: Even better than expected

Published: Sep 29, 2006

The end of his first season has Ryan Zimmerman looking forward to mothballing his GPS still needed to navigate around Washington and heading home to Virginia Beach. Who knows, maybe even a Florida vacation before returning there for spring training in 4 1/2 months.And best of all, no fall baseball."No fall league?" said Zimmerman, a grin growing upon reflection. "I’ll probably get bored and start working out." There may be just one more obligation for the Washington Nationals third baseman — hoisting the Rookie of the Year trophy. It seems......

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Robinson’s return uncertain

Published: Sep 29, 2006

Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson’s return in 2007 appears doubtful despite the Hall of Fame winner’s inability to gain a decision from team officials.On Thursday, Robinson finally met with team president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden about his future."Let me say this: I had my say. We sat down, each one, and I had my discussions with them," Robinson said. "And I'm very comfortable with what ... I wanted to say about the situation here and my situation. Other than that, I just don’t want to go......

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Rick Snider: Running on a path to success

Published: Sep 26, 2006

Perhaps the most telling statistic about Washington coach Joe Gibbs is his success over the years running the football. Under Coach Joe, the Redskins are 119-19 when they rush the ball 30-plus times, 1-23 with 20 or less.Now let’s recap the last two weeks. The Redskins rushed 20 times in the 27-10 loss at Dallas and 41 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-15 victory over Houston on Sunday.Gibbs must have told incoming offensive guru Al Saunders to forget all that misdirection nonsense with squiggly lines downfield......

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Rick Snider: Redskins spell relief P-O-R-T-I-S

Published: Sep 25, 2006

Welcome back Clinton Portis. Hello offense, good-bye grumbling.Washington quarterback Mark Brunell may have completed his first 22 passes for an NFL mark, but the Redskins’ 31-15 victory over Houston on Sunday was really about Portis. It wasn’t just his 30-yard touchdown run to seal the game at halftime or even his 164 combined yards and two scores that made the difference. Portis gave the Redskins someone to follow after barely playing in the 0-2 start because of a bad shoulder."It was fun having an opportunity to be back on the......

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Rick Snider: All signs point straight to must-win

Published: Sep 23, 2006

Good news: The Washington Redskins have reached the playoffs. Bad news: It starts Sunday.If Houston beats the Redskins, the latter is essentially eliminated from the playoff chase. The Redskins’ margin is now so thin Calista Flockhart is playing cornerback. "This is a must-win waiting for us," offensive tackle Jon Jansen said. "Until we’re back to .500, they’re all must-wins."How did it come to this before the leaves turned colors? Before the Nationals’ season ends or the Wizards even start? Before Thanksgiving, elections, trick or treating or even Columbus Day?Washington was......

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Rick Snider: Free agency is proving costly

Published: Sep 22, 2006

Remember your first job? It was probably low pay with the crummiest tasks, and you loved it. There are days I’d go back to cooking in that restaurant in a heartbeat if they’d raise my old salary from $2.20 hourly.Nowadays, you’re making decent dough without picking up trash. Life isn’t bad, but going to work every day lacks the same spark of your early days in the workforce.And therein lies one of the Washington Redskins’ problems. The front office’s inability to build through the draft robs the organization of any......

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Rick Snider: It’s time for Campbell to enter soup

Published: Sep 20, 2006

Bill Clinton once joked Redskins quarterbacks were the only ones around Washington that took more flack than the president. Well, George W. Bush must be enjoying the diversion Mark Brunell is providing nowadays.Brunell is looking like an old 36. Opposing linemen are smacking him like a misbehaving toddler. Brunell’s throws have no zip and the deep game has been deep-sixed.This is nothing new. Brunell was mediocre for the last eight games of 2005. The preseason was a bust. The first two games this season produced zero touchdowns and an awful......

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Rick Snider: Little offense, little defense, big problem

Published: Sep 19, 2006

The Washington Redskins are in big trouble.There’s no pretending a late run will save them again. Or that coach Joe Gibbs will pull his usual heroics. Or we’ve seen this before, no big deal.The Redskins stink.You can ignore this ugly foreboding; pull a FEMA for football gameplan. But look at Gibbs — he seems exhausted and the season is just starting. I’d tell Gibbs things will seem better in the morning, but the man doesn’t sleep, so it’s one eternal day of the dead.Another losing season could send Gibbs into......

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Rick Snider: Hailing Nats’ new costumed chiefs

Published: Sep 16, 2006

Tricky Dick is returning to Washington. Can Slick Willie and Ronnie Raygun be far behind?The Washington Nationals are considering new presidents for their between-innings races next season. The oversized costumed chief executives have been wildly popular with fans. It’s just fun to cheer them on. They could do it several times each game and it would still be fun. Maybe MASN can have a roto-presidents show next season.First, George Washington and Abe Lincoln must stay. The nation’s two greatest presidents are irreplaceable. The town is named for George, after all.......

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Rick Snider: National stage will provide answers

Published: Sep 14, 2006

Is Maryland any good after beating two softies? Does No. 5 West Virginia deserve its ranking following two chump opponents? We’ll find out tonight before a national TV audience and a hostile Mountaineers crowd as formidable as any in college football.Welcome to the best local rivalry aside Maryland-Duke men’s basketball. Both teams lack an interstate rival so the border series has become the season’s early rallying cry. When Gator Bowl officials feared low turnout in 2003 because Maryland and West Virginia play regularly, Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen said "if we......

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Rick Snider: Redskins fall short, Washingtonians don’t

Published: Sep 12, 2006

It seems Mission Impossible was more than finally scoring a touchdown. It was about delivering the final blow.With Dan Snyder’s newest free agent, Tom Cruise, aside him in the Redskins owner’s box, the dormant offense continued its preseason sputter. However, it was the defense that ruined the opener before a record FedEx Field crowd of 90,608 on Monday night. The Redskins simply couldn’t stop former Washington quarterback Brad Johnson’s late heroics in Minnesota’s 19-16 victory. Kicker John Hall potential game-tying 48-yarder in the final seconds falling short didn’t help.But still,......

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Rick Snider: Silence still heard five years later

Published: Sep 11, 2006

It was the silence around Redskin Park. The roar of planes normally headed for Dulles International Airport replaced by the calm of the countryside.The U.S. flags waved by Green Bay fans when the Washington Redskins resumed play on a Monday night showing Washingtonians and New Yorkers that they were not alone.The ash falling like light snow more than a month later when the Redskins visited Giants Stadium like some gentle reminder of a Robert Frost poem of miles to go before finding hearth and home. A wave of smoke replaced......

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Rick Snider: Super Skins bound for Miami

Published: Sep 09, 2006

Indianapolis will beat Washington, 31-23, in Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4.There you go, the next five months neatly summarized. I can’t pick your fantasy team, but you now know the outcome of the coming season. Sorry if I ruined the ending for you.The Redskins may not win the NFC East — the New York Giants take it again — but coach Joe Gibbs won’t need it to reach the Super Bowl as a wild card. Washington’s regular season will be bumpy, but the Redskins won’t need to win their......

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Rick Snider: Preseason? What preseason?

Published: Sep 08, 2006

Redskins center Casey Rabach was trying to seriously discuss the coming season when Mark Brunell stepped on a stool behind the TV cameras and lifted his shirt.Quarterbacks Gone Wild. Not quite the same effect as a college co-ed, but enough to disrupt Rabach.Teammates chided deep snapper Ethan Albright over his last-place ranking among players in the new Madden video game. Tight end Mike Sellers threw a towel onto running back Ladell Betts’ head during an interview. Offensive tackle Jon Jansen went 30 minutes discussing steroid use among NFL players. The......

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Rick Snider: ‘Operation Ralph’s Offense’ goes undercover

Published: Sep 06, 2006

It’s bad enough the Washington Redskins went vanilla over the dreadful winless preseason. Now Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is purposely hiding the Terrapins offense during regular season games.The Terps showed little in their 27-14 victory over William and Mary this past weekend. Maryland swapped quarterbacks after gaining an early lead and did justenough to post the Terps’ first victory over the Tribe in 101 years. Now Maryland will probably hold back as 22-point favorites against Middle Tennessee on Saturday.Crikey. Maryland visits No. 6 West Virginia on Sept. 14 and Friedgen......

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Rick Snider: Even Coach Joe has trouble predicting

Published: Sep 04, 2006

Washington coach Joe Gibbs looked dumbstruck when asked how preseasons translate into regular seasons. He has seen a winless August turn into a Super Bowl championship and winning preseason marks lead to non-playoff results.Funny thing is, Gibbs really has no idea how prepared this preseason left the Redskins.If Gibbs doesn’t know, then surely the rest of us have no clue. It would be easy to dismiss 0-4, but only a fool ignores problems thinking they’ll go away. And it would also be easy to forecast gloom and doom. No points......

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Rick Snider: Preseason comes to merciful end

Published: Sep 02, 2006

What a perfect preseason. Zero wins. Zero inspiration.The Washington Redskins starting offense finished blanked for August in the 17-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. The defense gave up a long touchdown drive. Long-shot reserves will instead receive e-mailed pink slips via Radio Shack’s theturk.com while quarterback Jason Campbell earned another season of clipboard duty.The secret word of the TV contest was "Gibbs." Funny, I thought it was touchdown or victory.Don’t start with comparisons to 1982 when the team was 0-4 in the preseason only to win the Super......

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Rick Snider: Saunders needs some D.C. schooling

Published: Aug 31, 2006

Washington Redskins offensive guru Al Saunders isn’t worried about the starting offense’s scoreless preseason. His offenses in Kansas City teams were some of the NFL’s elite. Saunders says he knows what he’s doing."There is a process that we know works, a system that we know works and a procedure of developing an offensive football team that we have had success with over a lot of years," he said.Didn’t Norv Turner used to say, "What we do works" after coming from Dallas where his offense won two Super Bowls.Uh-oh.Saunders has stumbled......

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Rick Snider: Terps’ bowl diet begins with appetizers

Published: Aug 30, 2006

It has been 101 years since Maryland beat William & Mary.The Tribe has a two-game winning streak over the Terrapins, though the two haven’t met since the end of War World II. Maryland certainly owes William & Mary a payback after that 41-7 pasting some two score and 10 years ago.This is your great-grandfather’s rivalry. A matchup closer to the Civil War than the new millennium. A century of shame is about to end in College Park.OK, you gotta come up with reasons to watch when Maryland opens against William......

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Rick Snider: It may be preseason ... but it smells bad

Published: Aug 28, 2006

The Washington Redskins stink. The offense stinks. The defense stinks. Special teams stink. Coaching stinks. The owner always stinks.Quarterback Mark Brunell stinks. The kicking and punting is so bad the Redskins need to cut them all on Tuesday. Cornerback Ken Wright should say "flame on" when hitting the field.This is ash instead of a foundation. New England looked like a Super Bowl contender Saturday while Washington is starting to smell of 2000 when the gang of overpaid mercenaries went 8-8.Admit it — if Norv Turner or Steve Spurrier was still......

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Rick Snider: Navy now under Hampton’s command

Published: Aug 26, 2006

Quarterback Brian Hampton spent three years watching three predecessors run Navy’s offense. Now the footwork, arm strength and leadership by past passers may come together when Hampton becomes the Midshipmen’s latest sign-caller."I try to take something from each of them," Hampton said. "I’m not Lamar [Owens]. I’m not Aaron [Polanco] and I’m not Craig [Candeto]. I’m a different quarterback. That’s what I plan on being — something different."You won’t put me in the same mold as Aaron, Craig and Lamar. They all have something I’ve taken from them. Craig, I’ve......

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Rick Snider: Redskins new trio bound for name recognition

Published: Aug 25, 2006

The Three Wise Men.No, too secular. How about The Triplets?Kinda corny. El and the Gang starring Santana?Admit it — you’ve been working on a new nickname for Washington Redskins receivers Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El. The Posse has been used. Ditto for Three Amigos. The first person to get this one right earns T-shirt sales profits so you know Dan Snyder has somebody on it."We don’t have a nickname yet," Moss said, "but once we get out there, you can call us what you want to call......

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Rick Snider: Since Riggo, tight end is the Cooley-est

Published: Aug 22, 2006

Name the most popular former Washington Redskin and you’ll get an argument over Sonny Jurgensen versus John Riggins with Art Monk and Darrell Green supporters chiming in. But name the coolest Redskin ever and the argument ends at Riggo.There’s a new contender, though. Someone that years from now everyone will fondly remember while he’s dining at his favorite boyhood restaurant Hansel and Gretel’s in Powell, Wyo., where the ham atop burgers alone prompts a return several times each offseason.Tight end Chris Cooley is, well, the coolest Redskin since Riggins. He......

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Rick Snider: A lot to be concerned about

Published: Aug 21, 2006

Joe Gibbs is concerned.Sounds like your parents found your stash back in high school. When the Washington Redskins coach says he’s concerned, it’s like having "the talk" with dad. It’s not good.The Redskins have stunk in two preseason games. And while veteran Gibbs watchers know the preseason means nothing — they were 0-2 last year before making the playoffs for the first time since 1999 — it’s not pretty when starters show little.Aside from two exciting catches from receiver Antwaan Randle El, the starting offense struggled in the 27-14 loss......

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Rick Snider: Maryland linebacker is finally on patrol for Terps

Published: Aug 19, 2006

Wesley Jefferson is finally on patrol.The linebacker came to Maryland three years ago with tight end Vernon Davis as five-star recruits. Davis developed into the nation’s top tight end and scored a $24 million deal as San Francisco’s first-round pick in April. Jefferson has been stuck behind All-American D’Qwell Jackson, who went in the second round.Finally, Jefferson is unshackled in the middle after spending some time as an outside linebacker. Now he can prove whether one of Maryland’s top recruits in coach Ralph Friedgen’s five seasons is truly worth the......

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Rick Snider: Summer heat brings curses, flying chairs and unfortunately injuries

Published: Aug 17, 2006

The summer heat must be getting to everyone. Chairs upended, curses flying and more bumps and bruises than the Filene’s wedding dress sale. And Congress isn’t even in session.Good thing Barbaro is safe in Pennsylvania. The Kentucky Derby winner can’t come near this region without a Red Cross wagon. Problem is, too many players are jumping aboard it.Clinton Portis is hurt. In fact, nearly the entire Redskins backfield is on the disabled list along with most of the Nationals pitchers. Even Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was hurt halfway around the......

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Rick Snider: A rough start to be sure, but a few redeeming wrinkles

Published: Aug 15, 2006

Washington coach Joe Gibbs said the Redskins were a little "rough" entering their first preseason game. He wasn’t kidding.There were moments in the opening minutes of the 19-3 loss at Cincinnati that were so promising. A 19-yard pass to Santana Moss and a 26-yarder to an outstretched Brandon Lloyd plus an eight-yard run by Clinton Portis. Looked like new offensive guru Al Saunders didn’t get Gibbs’ memo over keeping the playcalling duller than a campaign speech.And then — whammo — Mark Brunell threw an interception and Portis separated his shoulder......

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Rick Snider: Redskins fortunate in finding big surprises from small schools

Published: Aug 14, 2006

The Washington Redskins scouted every player with cleats before the 1987 strike from a convenience store guard to a real guard so fat he barely climbed Redskin Park’s steps to sign his deal.But one player from a distant small school was especially thrilled to join the Redskins because he wanted to play on the west coast and "represent the great state of Washington."It seems the NBA isn’t the only league willing to go anywhere for players even if they don’t know where they’re headed. From Walla Walla Community College to......

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Rick Snider: Maryland quarterback Hollenbach needs to be the B.M.O.C.

Published: Aug 12, 2006

Senior quarterbacks are the essence of legends. The defenders of programs. Rulers of the fall calendar. Every parent’s dream, everybody’s friend.Coaches cherish senior passers like prodigal sons. Indeed, quarterbacks are recruited annually so there’s always a senior in the system.It mostly worked for Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen when winning 31 games, two bowls and one ACC title in his first three seasons. Shaun Hill led Maryland to the Orange Bowl and a 10-2 mark in 2001 upon Friedgen’s arrival. Redshirt junior Scott McBrien followed with 21 victories over two years.And......

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Rick Snider: NFL’s fine of Taylor anything but

Published: Aug 09, 2006

Sometimes, justice barges in the back door.When Ken Starr couldn’t bust the Clintons on a suspect land deal, he came up with Monica Lewinsky. After the grand jury wouldn’t indict Barry Bonds on perjury charges involving steroids, the prosecutor shifted to tax evasion.Hey, it worked on Al Capone.Now the NFL is fining Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor $71,764 after a plea bargain knocked down 46 years imprisonment on gun charges to donating $10,000 to high schools.If you can’t punish one way, find another.That the NFL discourages thug behavior is commendable......

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Rick Snider: Six is Maryland’s magic number

Published: Aug 08, 2006

The quarterback is finally a senior. The left tackle and running back return after a year layoff. The offensive mastermind is calling plays once more.Maryland gains several offensive playmakers after consecutive 5-6 seasons often sabotaged by an erratic offense. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach now has a year’s experience and a proven runner in Josh Allen plus protection on the left side in tackle Stephon Heyer after missing both seniors last year with knee surgeries. Coach Ralph Friedgen will pick from the 1,200-page offensive playbook from the sidelines.The Terrapins have re-assembled the......

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Rick Snider: Fans waste no time reaching ‘mid-year form’

Published: Aug 07, 2006

Washington coach Joe Gibbs may downplay the Redskins’ Super Bowl chances, but the faithful turned a scrimmage into a kickoff rally.This is aRedskins town.The Nationals are a great distraction. But anyone wondering what team still rules this region should have seen 47,258 filling the lower two rings of FedEx Field on Saturday who didn’t come to catch a glimpse of reserves against the Baltimore Ravens, but the team they expect to be playing in Miami come February.It wasn’t a preseason game. It was barely a practice. But you couldn’t tell......

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Rick Snider: Johnson determined to stay in between the lines at Navy

Published: Aug 05, 2006

Navy coach Paul Johnson is more cautious than a mortgage banker staring at risky applicants. He worries about everything.His biggest concern this season? Punter. Friends, that’s like saying make your bowl plans now. The Midshipmen have three straight winning seasons and bowl berths since its resurrection under Johnson. The 35 seniors seek to become the first class to ever reach a bowl each season and not lose to Army or Air Force.Oh yeah, one preseason magazine also said Navy could go undefeated if it beats Notre Dame.They are royalty in......

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Rick Snider: Skins accept long distance callers

Published: Aug 04, 2006

Kangaroo Man and the Canuck. Sounds more like a sitcom than the focus of Saturday’s Redskins-Ravens scrimmage.The expected 40,000 fans heading to FedEx Field won’t see the teams’ stars do more than stretch and stare at rookies and reserves trying to win a handful of jobs. Washington quarterback Mark Brunell and Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis may spend more time signing autographs because neither would be risked in a controlled scrimmage.Instead, it’s a time for Australian punter David Lonie and Canadian running back Jesse Lumsden to impress Redskins coaches. The scrimmage......

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Rick Snider: Redskins’ real progress made between coach and owner

Published: Jul 31, 2006

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs once asked former owner Jack Kent Cooke for $1 million to sign a reserve quarterback — a princely sum in 1986. Cooke trusted his coach enough to pay it with little reservation. Two seasons later, Doug Williams led the Redskins to a Super Bowl victory.There was a closeness between owner and coach that proved the foundation for success. Twenty years later, Gibbs has it once more with an owner who grew up idolizing him.Need $2 million annually for an offensive coordinator to take over some duties?......

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Rick Snider: T-minus two days until liftoff

Published: Jul 29, 2006

Spend the weekend at the beach. Have one last barbecue or see a movie. The summer is about to end.That’s right — the Washington Redskins begin training camp on Monday. For this town, that means no more free weekends or vacations. From the first senseless snap of camp through the regular season finale versus the New York Giants, nothing else greatly matters.Gas prices are dismissed. Middle East wars are overlooked. What Jessica Simpson is wearing is irrelevant. Well, almost. Year Three of coach Joe Gibbs II is expected to at......

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Rick Snider: It was fun while it lasted

Published: Jul 28, 2006

Alfonso Soriano sure knows how to leave a lasting impression.Soriano blasted a home run as the Washington Nationals beat San Francisco on Thursday. It’s a long shot for the outfielder to return from the Nats road trip that overlaps the July 31 trade deadline. Soriano’s 32nd homer might be his last for the home team at RFK Stadium.If that was good-bye, at least it was on good terms.And if that was essentially the season ender, it was a good late run before turning over the roster to youth. The Nats......

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Rick Snider: Bonds on the Nationals’ stage

Published: Jul 26, 2006

Fans lifted a banner wishing a belated happy birthday to Barry Bonds. Others cheered each swing. A few were deluded enough to seek authographs.The San Francisco Giants came to RFK Stadium on Tuesday for a three-day stand with the loneliest man in baseball. He managed a very lackluster wave to fans who stood for an hour by the dugout hoping for a closer look at the most controversial man in baseball.The mild acknowledgment was about it from Bonds. No smile to those donning Giants jerseys in the stands. No interviews......

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Rick Snider: Temporary loss nets long-term gain ... hopefully

Published: Jul 25, 2006

The mating dance has begun.Washington outfielder Alfonso Soriano says he loves Nationals fans and doesn’t want to leave. Nats president Stan Kasten says he loves Soriano. After all, what’s not to love about the team’s only All-Star who’s banging out big hits once more?Everyone seems headed to the altar. Never mind that pesky Trader Jim Bowden is talking with a half dozen or so suitors as the July 31 trade deadline looms. Soriano wants to stay, Kasten loves him. It’s a done deal, right?Uh, the 800-pound elephant in the room......

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Rick Snider: Divas combine diversity with excellence

Published: Jul 22, 2006

The D.C. Divas are hard to define.There’s a shock trauma nurse who likes to knock people down. A couple police officers, prison guard, fireman and several military personnel playing alongside a chef, insurance agent and school teacher. A recent high school valedictorian is teamed with those in their 40s who are literally old enough to be her mother. After all, they are mothers."If there’s a walk of life, it’s on this team," said running back Rachelle Pecovsky, a personal chef who drives from Newport News, Va. "We’re all willing to......

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Rick Snider: Focus on fans returns, tastes great to me

Published: Jul 21, 2006

The Washington Nationals are rolling out the red carpet for fans.More than 2,000 yards of plush velvet flooring surrounds the main entrance to RFK Stadium for the Nationals "grand Re-Opening" against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Incoming owner Ted Lerner is laying a little pizzazz on the old gray lady of a municipal stadium.Lerner and his players will welcome fans at stadium turnstiles. So will lots more food carts. Caps, shirts and towels will be given away along with "random acts of kindness" so fans will know how politiciansfeel when......

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Rick Snider: Nice diversion fading fast in D.C.

Published: Jul 20, 2006

Roster purge can’t come quick enough. Look out below — here come the Washington Nationals.The Nats are fading faster than a fat man jogging through McPherson Square. Manager Frank Robinson said finishing .500 is a long shot. The only thing missing is a white flag atop RFK Stadium.Washington can’t trade Alfonso Soriano enough times over the next 11 days. The Nats have ordered emergency scouting reports of Seattle’s farm system to see what they can fleece from the Mariners. That is, if they can’t rob Detroit or the New York......

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Rick Snider: Red Zebra needs help to reach gallop

Published: Jul 19, 2006

Red Zebra is a red herring. Redskins coverage coming from team owner Dan Snyder’s stations is like listening to that Iraq minister swearing U.S. troops were being destroyed while the building behind him burned.You really want to trust the owner’s station to provide the real skinny when any unfavorable coverage by other media outlets in the past led to numerous bullying tactics by Snyder? Maybe now you understand why some TV stations broadcast from the Redskin Park parking lot in the winter when others are inside the building.If you want......

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Rick Snider: Caps’ Clymer stays on course in offseason

Published: Jul 15, 2006

There are times when Washington Capitals forward Ben Clymer would rather be anywhere than a breathtaking afternoon on a Minnesota golf course.The putts aren’t dropping. Approach shots overtake the hole. Don’t even start about the wayward drives. The summer vacation sometimes seems more like a prison sentence."There are days when you can’t get anything to go right," he said. "If this was a hockey game you could get in a fight and get thrown out. I have to stay out here for 3 1/2 hours with [his foursome.]"Before muttering "Poor......

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Rick Snider: Just one of the Guys

Published: Jul 14, 2006

Mark Moseley once needed 10 teammates to become the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. Now the former Washington Redskins kicker has Five Guys to thanks for his business success.Moseley has turned the popular local hamburger chain from five stores into more than 100 in just three years with another 900 franchises sold nationwide. It is a stunning post-football comeback for Moseley after bad luck and poor partners cost him a thriving travel company and restaurants. "I didn’t know what I had at first," said Moseley of franchising Five Guys Famous Burgers......

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Rick Snider: Nats’ new regime gets it

Published: Jul 12, 2006

So the Washington Nationals owners are ready to clean house upon arrival. Thank goodness. RFK Stadium is one notch short of growing mushrooms.The attitude of "who cares if it’s an old stadium, we’re just glad baseball is back" is steadily giving way to reality. RFK may be 44 years old, but there’s no excuse for concourse floors being grimy and slick. The excuses of absentee owners and a new stadium coming should no longer be tolerated for a dirty facility with food service from the 1960s.Incoming Nats president Stan Kasten......

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Rick Snider: Nats relish true getaway days

Published: Jul 10, 2006

Royce Clayton plans to spend the next few days at the zoo with his triplets. Ryan Zimmerman will be the one with a pile of tokens at the batting cage. Brian Schneider figures to ride the couch while Frank Robinson will walk 18 holes.With only Alfonso Soriano playing in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, the rest of the Washington Nationals will enjoy their only mini-vacation in eight months. The beaches of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida beckon men who make their living largely outdoors, but Damian Jackson is among......

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Rick Snider: Punt, Pass and Kick making needed comeback

Published: Jul 08, 2006

Dave Walker thought entering his players in a Punt, Pass and Kick competition would be simple. Just type in the local zip code and find the next event.Five failed zip codes later, the Maryland City, Md. youth league commissioner discovered he needed to start his own event. Today, more than 200 youngsters enter the town’s first PP&K competition since the 1990s.When did Punt, Pass and Kick fade from the sports landscape? It used to be one of the rites of youth ball. "When I couldn’t find any in the area,......

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Rick Snider: Robinson: No fire sale for Nats ... yet

Published: Jul 07, 2006

It was a simple question: What will the second half of the Washington Nationals season bring. Manager Frank Robinson’s answer was complex.Maybe the Nats will be disbanded in coming weeks in a fire sale that sets up the future. Perhaps the roster will soon become more youngsters looking to 2008. Then again, Robinson said on Thursday several veterans might not be traded in coming weeks while the Nats will remain somewhat competitive.In the end, the only certainty with the Nats is they stink and it’s probably going to get worse.......

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Rick Snider: Casserly enjoying break from huddle

Published: Jul 04, 2006

Charley Casserly is playing tourist nowadays. The Spy Museum was fun. The Corcoran Gallery and Stephen Decatur House were interesting. Casserly even bought Washington Nationals partial season tickets.Life between jobs isn’t a bad deal for the former Washington Redskins general manager. After 23 years in the area before spending the last six as Houston’s general manager, Casserly is finally seeing some of the local sights."We’ve been working on our house fixing things up, seeing the sights," he said. "It’s like being on a mini-vacation. This is just a great place......

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Rick Snider: Midseason report not a glowing review

Published: Jul 03, 2006

After a first-year honeymoon, the Washington Nationals second time around is starting to look like a good marriage going bad.Dr. Phil, do you make locker room calls?The Nats reached their second midway point since coming to Washington an awful 33-48. That’s 17 games worse than last year’s inaugural half season. Over the past 162 games, the Nats are 64-98, which is pretty much how this season looks to end.Why aren’t Nats fans more upset about a team whose pitching is one half-notch above disaster — thanks only to a couple......

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Rick Snider: Byrd’s wings don’t need much spreading

Published: Jul 01, 2006

There were dreams of 80,000 seats when Maryland won 31 games over coach Ralph Friedgen’s first three seasons.Then the expansion plan dipped to 65,000 after a 5-6 mark in 2004.Now they’re talking 50 luxury boxes, 600 mezzanine seats and better sight lines for the first 10 rows at Byrd Stadium following a second straight 5-6 mark.What happens if the team loses again this year — a dozen metal folding chairs and a couple crates?Maryland’s growth plan has certainly fallen from its halcyon days. The 2008 season may now see 55,000......

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Rick Snider: Bipartisan baseball is a serious matter

Published: Jun 29, 2006

Rep. Mike Doyle has big plans for Friday. The Pennsylvania Democratic congressman plans to hug the winner’s trophy of Thursday’s Congressional baseball game on the House of Representatives floor before envious Republicans."Both sides rub it in when they get the opportunity," said the Democrats first-year manager and catcher. Forget political football. Republican and Democratic congressmen have played baseball sporadically since 1909. The 45th meeting tonight at RFK Stadium should raise more than $100,000 for Washington charities in what’s more than a friendly game. The Republicans dominated, 19-10, last season, a......

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Rick Snider: The dream is about cashing in

Published: Jun 28, 2006

It’s payday for every kid who bounces a basketball.Tonight’s NBA Draft goes beyond which big man the Washington Wizards will select. (Please don’t tell me it’s some 7-footer from Senegal that makesManute Bol seem ready-made. The Wizards may be picking 18th, but find someone who’s not a project.)Draft day is about the dreams of kids as young as eight years old thinking about the day they can dunk. It’s about the 1,100 kids at Maryland coach Gary Williams’ camp this week who envision appearing on their own video game.Kids today......

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Rick Snider: PGA Tour is washed up in Washington

Published: Jun 26, 2006

It was a fitting Viking funeral on the water. The Booz Allen Classic bade farewell to Washington fans with a torrent of rain that turned the hilly course into flash flood warnings. Ponds emerged on greens. A dog chased a cat and they were both swimming.OK, just kidding about the last one. But there were plenty of people wondering why they braved the final day of a tournament that has more or less said "see-ya" to a town that did nothing but support the PGA Tour event.Don’t believe the PGA......

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Rick Snider: Nats recent schedule has distinctly American feel

Published: Jun 24, 2006

When did the Washington Nationals move to the American League East?The Nats are spending the weekend in Baltimore amid a 15-game, five-team swing through the division Washingtonians know well after a generation of following the Orioles.Honestly, wasn’t it more fun to watch the Yankees and Red Sox (on public TV twice, no less) than National League games versus Houston and San Diego? Didn’t it just feel like going home again? This old divisional swing will even make Toronto seem nostalgic.Washingtonians have always been AL fans from the start. Even when......

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Rick Snider: Three years after British win, Curtis finally getting his groove back

Published: Jun 23, 2006

It turns out Baltimore Ravens are quite the birdies.Donning the purple and black outfit as part of his deal with the NFL to wear local teams’ colors, Ben Curtis birdied four holes of the Booz Allen Classic by 9 a.m. on Thursday. "Who would have thought [while wearing] my least favorite team that I would shoot my career low?" said Curtis, a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. Who would have thought Curtis would finish with a sizzling 9-under 62 at the TPC at Avenel? He’s winless in four years on the......

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Rick Snider: PGA Tour has disrespected D.C.

Published: Jun 22, 2006

Tom Kite says the PGA Tour’s treatment of the Booz Allen Classic is a "travesty." He was being polite.The Booz Allen is being kicked to the offseason and probably into extinction after this weekend. No matter the TPC at Avenel course plays well while lined with more than 100,000 over four days. Washington’s major golf tournament has lost the political game and summer date. Now it’s just a funeral procession to Sunday."I think it’s a travesty," said Kite, the 1987 Kemper Open winner at the same Potomac course. "How you......

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Rick Snider: Where has the time gone?

Published: Jun 19, 2006

Maryland basketball star Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose 20 years ago today.Where has the time gone? More importantly, what has been done over the two decades to ensure it won’t happen to anyone else’s child?The answer greatly depends on whom you ask.Dr. Lonise Bias will tell you her son’s death was a great wakeup call. That drug use among high schoolers has declined 19 percent in the last four years.Ernie Graham, a close childhood friend and college teammate of Bias, counters nothing has changed. Sadly, a White House......

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Rick Snider: There’s a sucker born on every street corner

Published: Jun 17, 2006

There is a game played on the streets of Washington every day. It looks real easy, but will cost every dime in your pocket. Even worse, you’ll never know what a sucker you were. I’m talking three-card monte, shell games or whatever new scam is used. All you have to do is find the pea under the shell or the lucky red queen. In reality, you have no chance.They play this game on street corners near tourist sites. It lasts as long as it takes to beat you out of......

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Rick Snider: Zimmerman adjusting off the field as well

Published: Jun 14, 2006

Ryan Zimmerman knows his way around third base, but detour the Nationals rookie off his commuting path from Arlington to RFK Stadium and life in Washington suddenly becomes daunting for the rookie."I learned to get to the stadium and get home and anything else I have to use the [GPS] navigational system," he said. "I use it all the time."There are plenty of firsts for Zimmerman nowadays. Only three months into his first season after a brief call-up last summer, the National League Rookie of the Year candidate sometimes finds......

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Rick Snider: LeCroy’s tune keeps Nats on even keel

Published: Jun 13, 2006

Washington Nationals first baseman Matt LeCroy can’t help it — sometimes you just have to sing the blues. Or a country ballad. Or hip-hop. Maybe even some Prince.If you think facing a fireballer on the mound is nerve-wracking, try listening to LeCroy belt out a love song in the locker room. Up close and personal.First baseman Nick Johnson can be forgiven if wincing when LeCroy serenades him with "Endless Love." It may be in good fun and teammates get a chuckle out of the crooner some say should try out......

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Rick Snider: Belmont Stakes has little juice to speak of

Published: Jun 10, 2006

Bob and John will win Saturday’s 138th Belmont Stakes and the nation will yawn. That is, if anyone notices.The first Belmont without Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes champions in six years is a snoozer. Derby winner Barbaro is retired after a near-fatal broken leg in the Preakness. That the colt didn’t die will be the biggest story during ABC’s two-hour telecast. Preakness winner Bernardini’s fluke score left even his owner unwilling to validate the colt’s talent in the Belmont.So the Belmont is a dud. Maybe two-thirds of the usual attendance......

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Rick Snider: Nats appear to have future in focus

Published: Jun 08, 2006

The last two days have shown the Washington Nationals are planning for short-term pain, long-term relief. Fans can only hope they’re right.Drafting six straight high schoolers with their opening picks, two in the top 22, proves the Nationals incoming owners are indeed thinking more about 2008 in their new stadium than the next couple seasons in the RFK dungeon. It’s not a bad strategy despite operating in a town where everything is about the last five and next five minutes.The first pick could be a power-hitting outfielder. The second has......

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Rick Snider: Montgomery County baseball no minor detail

Published: Jun 06, 2006

The Shady Grove Senators. The Gaithersburg Gridlocks. The Montgomery Monties. Minor league baseball may find its next niche in Montgomery County.The incoming Washington Nationals owners have a not-too-minor decision to make in coming months over their farm system. New Orleans (Class AAA) and Savannah (Class A) are in the final year of their contracts and some Montgomery County officials are considering plans for a minor league stadium near the Gaithersburg fairgrounds or Shady Grove metro. The Nats would be smart to ring the region with their minor league teams just......

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Rick Snider: End of Bruckner’s run is our loss

Published: Jun 05, 2006

Wally Bruckner knows how an old backup quarterback feels when the starter is entrenched."I became a salary cap casualty," he said. "The reality is I’m the longest standing sports anchor in town continually other than George [Michael]. For a city that endorses term limits, to be on the air for 16 years is a pretty good run."Bruckner will leave NBC 4 by July 16 when his contract ends. Money was part of the dynamic, though not all of it. The region’s leading TV news team is undergoing changes with rumblings......

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Rick Snider: McCaffery’s take endures

Published: Jun 03, 2006

Watching Bill McCaffrey’s "Inside Sports" is like walking into a roadside oddities museum — you never know what you’re going to see. A heavyweight champion boxer might be followed by a 10-year-old drag racer or a fencer. A college basketball coach, high school baseball players and sports writers have shared stages.McCaffrey’s weekly grass roots sports cable TV show mixes amateurs with pros, mainstream and X-treme sports. Friday nights on Prince George’s County cable channel 76 (CTV) means 30 minutes of frank interviews with prominent and obscure sports figures deflecting McCaffrey’s......

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Rick Snider: A day meant for remembering

Published: May 30, 2006

The tour guide was talking to the wrong audience when asking if anyone knew the name on the tombstone. Not one of the teens raised their hand.The guide should have waited a few more minutes to hear a group whose Spanish was punctuated with "Joe Louis, Joe Louis." Or the Elizabethtown, N.J. scoutmaster who told his kids of the "Brown Bomber." Or see the Native Americans whose long feathers highlighted their colorful Vietnam Veterans vests when surrounding the large brown stone nestled under the long outreached branch of a pin......

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Rick Snider: Soriano: Extended power source of fleeting export

Published: May 29, 2006

Alfonso Soriano may be the future for the Washington Nationals whether the outfielder’s here or not.The Nats are playing for the future given they’re 10 games back on Memorial Day. The playoffs are a long shot. Even .500 may be a stretch.The stadium seems half empty many games. The hitting sometimes appears thinner than Michael O’Connor. The manager is crying.It’s a tricky time for the Nats. They could blow up the roster for prospects, but that’s really condemning the team to a terrible season. Fans around here won’t pay big......

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Rick Snider: Navy grad tees up his future

Published: May 27, 2006

The Booz Allen Classic might be headed for extinction, but it could launch Billy Hurley’s career.The Navy ensign currently teaching economics at the U.S. Naval Academy gains his fourth sponsor exemption on the PGA and Nationwide tours in the June 19-25 tournament at TPCat Avenel. Two recent missed cuts after finishing 43rd in the Bay Hill Invitational means a good finish is needed to impress Navy officials deciding his career path. Hurley might be deployed after his current year of teaching or he could play pro golf full-time and fulfill......

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Rick Snider: Kaenel carries on family trade

Published: May 26, 2006

Armed Brat didn’t seem to have much chance after losing his last his six starts by long margins. It didn’t look any better when shuffling back midway through the race.But the son of one of Maryland’s most colorful riders broke his own maiden locally. Kyle Kaenel worked Army Brat between horses for a clear path with one-eighth mile remaining. Kaenel soon reached the Pimlico’s winner’s circle after nine runner-up finishes.Maybe it wasn’t the 1982 Preakness Stakes his father "Cowboy" Jack Kaenel won at age 16 aboard Aloma’s Ruler that earned......

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Rick Snider: Nats need help to tune in

Published: May 23, 2006

The Washington Nationals are searching for a new theme song for the seventh-inning stretch. Not something stolen from another team, but a catchy tune Screech can lead from the stands.It’s not an easy choice, which is why the Nats are getting fan input later this week. Our town is really about politics, which most songs are against. I mean, how many tax increase ballads do you know? "Young Lawyers in Love" is possible, but it’s hard to go to sleep afterwards with that thought in mind. I mean, have you......

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Rick Snider: Barbaro’s injury mars otherwise grand Preakness

Published: May 22, 2006

It was a Triple Crown tragedy.The 131st Preakness Stakes on Saturday will not be remembered for its record 118,402 crowd or Bernardini’s impressive victory. Instead, it will recalled for the ending of Barbaro’s promising career just yards out of the starting gate.Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby champion who looked a lock in the Preakness and a favorite in the Belmont Stakes to end racing’s 28-year Triple Crown drought, could have been a superstar. The undefeated colt was also 3-0 on the grass, making him the most exciting U.S. horse since John......

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Rick Snider: On second thought ...

Published: May 20, 2006

It’s Barbaro once again.OK, I know I wrote two days ago the Kentucky Derby winner is vulnerable. And he is. But Saturday’s Preakness Stakes sets up perfectly for Barbaro. It won’t take a supercolt performance for him to head to the Belmont Stakes seeking the Triple Crown.There are three realistic contenders — Barbaro, Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint. Diabolical is the only one of six non-Derby entrants who has a snowball’s chance of hitting the board.But here’s the rub — any of the big three could win. It’s going to come......

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Rick Snider: Setting your Preakness itinerary

Published: May 19, 2006

If Saturday’s Preakness Stakes was just another good horse race, maybe 10,000 would file into Pimlico. Maybe.But the Preakness is the real summer kickoff for Marylanders. Forget the beach or your grill -- it’s time to head for the infield to get sunburned, drunk, bankrupt and ... let’s say overstimulated by college coeds wearing beach gear. In other words — let’s go have some fun.This is a better party than the Kentucky Derby. After all, Marylanders were running horses through the streets of Annapolis before George Washington when Kentucky was......

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Rick Snider: Barbaro’s wings can be clipped

Published: May 18, 2006

Barbaro does not have wings, but opposing trainers have somehow turned him into a modern Pegasus. Only eight rivals will face the Kentucky Derby winner in Saturday’s 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico — the second fewest in 15 years. Barbaro finished the final quarter mile of the Derby in the fastest time since Secretariat’s 1973 domination and industry rivals have annointed him as the next Triple Crown champion.Don’t believe the hype. Barbaro is beatable. Very beatable.Now Barbaro is not some fluke Derby winner like last year’s Giacomo, who never won......

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Rick Snider: O’Connor provides relief to rotation

Published: May 16, 2006

Mike O’Connor never envisioned playing pro baseball cross-town while pitching for George Washington University. After all, RFK Stadium was an empty barn save for United games.But it has been a series of impossible dreams for the Washington Nationals pitcher over the last month. The Baltimore native is one of the few "feel good" stories of the downtrodden team that may lose 100 games this season. On a pitching staff whose ace, Livan Hernandez, is struggling and several other injured arms, an unlikely prospect with four seasons in Class A ball......

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Rick Snider: Army’s Smith finds home in the ring

Published: May 13, 2006

Reggie Smith, Jr. remembers the first time someone nailed him in the ring. Bada-bing, a real jolt to the head that fueled a response."I just got mad," he said. "I started throwing punches."It turns out those punches contained the power of a champion. A national champion. The Magruder High alumnus recently won the 185-pound title of the National Collegiate Boxing Association that will be shown on CSTV on May 29.Smith thought about joining the Naval Academy or enrolling at Maryland. However, Army came calling first so Smith entered the U.S.......

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Rick Snider: Williams worthy of D.C. Hall invite

Published: May 12, 2006

Maryland men’s basketball coach Gary Williams has taken plenty of abuse over the last two seasons when the Terrapins missed the NCAA tournament. It seems the 2002 national title and 11 straight NCAA appearances after reviving a sanctioned program still reeling from Len Bias’ 1986 death mean nothing to the Internet hot heads.But not everyone has forgotten the Terps’ winningest coach’s accomplishments. Williams will be inducted into the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame on June 1 along with schoolboy and coaching legend George Leftwich and former Gonzaga coach......

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Rick Snider: Funding Montgomery sports council the right move

Published: May 09, 2006

One voice has been found to represent 160,000 Montgomery County residents who swim, lift weights, play ball or even kayak. It says — beef up the county’s recreation programs.The Sports Council of Montgomery County meets with the county council today to seek funding for the startup group to improve recreation facilities, attract sporting events, create a volunteer database and even raise funds.It’s a grass roots effort to help government help its citizens. Plant a little seed money and watch the panel, whose membership ranges from soccer to basketball to swimming,......

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Rick Snider: Rookie camp runs smoothly

Published: May 08, 2006

For so many years, life at Redskins Park was so turbulent that no one knew what would happen next. Coaches and players rotated through like campaign workers approaching elections.But the Washington Redskins ended their third rookie camp under coach Joe Gibbs on Sunday with a sense of certainty. Workouts were so organized that several invited players were sent packing each day because coaches didn’t need a second look. They already knew whether the long shot would realistically rate a chance when training camp opens July 31.The Redskins have settled into......

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Rick Snider: Kentucky Derby is a day like no other

Published: May 06, 2006

Lawyer Ron will win the Kentucky Derby.There you go. Sit back, sip your mint julep and amaze friends with your horse knowledge. Just send my 10 percent on Monday.Most Americans care about horse racing one day annually. Marylanders add a second for the Preakness Stakes on May 20. And if the Triple Crown is a possibility, then circle June 10 for the Belmont Stakes. Otherwise, horse racing draws a niche audience.This is the first time since 1986 I’m not sitting at Churchill Downs. For those who have never smelled the......

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Rick Snider: Baseball makes family decision

Published: May 04, 2006

In the end, it came down to family.Ted Lerner emerged from eight bidders for the Washington Nationals largely because Major League Baseball wanted one person who could write the check for $450 million. They wanted one person who could make things happen without a committee meeting. They wanted a family-owned operation that could endure for decades. MLB commissioner Bud Selig wants another O’Malley family, not a faceless corporation. That’s the bottom line on why Lerner joins Dan Snyder, Abe Pollin and Ted Leonsis as the cornerstones of Washington sports."The family......

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Rick Snider: A different view of Derby day

Published: May 03, 2006

Trainer Michael Trombetta can smell the roses ... and a winner.The Maryland conditioner sends Sweetnorthernsaint to Saturday’s 132nd Kentucky Derby with the confidence of a politician running unopposed. Rated among the top contenders, the front-running gelding could steal America’s most famous race if competitors don’t respect his early speed. "It’s an excellent spot to be in," Trombetta said, "but we still have to prove it against the tough guys. I feel confident about the hand we have going in."It is a story more than 35 years in the making. Rudy......

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Rick Snider: Not a great one, not a bad one

Published: May 01, 2006

Are the Washington Redskins better off today than they were on Friday? In the end, a little ground was lost, but not enough to make a difference this fall.The Redskins did OK with what they had — they just didn’t have much. Washington picked up a linebacker who may help by midseason, a reserve runstopper and a safety who can play special teams. It’s not exactly the foundation of success unless the practice squad has a game on Saturday.Washington knew entering the draft that it wasn’t going to do much.......

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Rick Snider: Red-White game gives sneak peek

Published: Apr 29, 2006

More than 100,000 will crowd the University of Maryland on Saturday for the school’s 150th birthday. A cake for 10,000 has becoming an engineering project.But is it also a coming out party for the Terrapins? The Red-White football game provides the biggest crossroad of coach Ralph Friedgen’s era. Either the Terps exit the scrimmage convinced quarterback Sam Hollenbach can deliver in his senior season, running back Josh Allen’s year-long injury rehab is past and the loss of two veteran coordinators can be overcome or Maryland faces another shaky season.Consecutive 5-6......

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Rick Snider: Maryland’s Davis was destined for NFL

Published: Apr 28, 2006

Around 1 p.m. on Saturday, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will step to the podium and say, "With the sixth pick in the draft, the San Francisco 49ers take Vernon Davis of Maryland."To be honest, I could have told you the Dunbar High star would be a first-rounder three years ago. After spending 10 years at Redskin Park for a crosstown paper, I went to College Park to cover the Terrapins at the same time Davis arrived in 2003. And on the first day — and I’m not kidding — I......

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Rick Snider: Nats waiting game almost over

Published: Apr 27, 2006

Strap it on — we’re finally coming down to a decision on who gets to buy the Washington Nationals.Is it the Lerner family that owns everything not built of white marble in this town? Is it the Fred Malek group that has plenty of everything in its background? Is it Jeff Smulyan, the ultimate outsider whose best hope is becoming the compromise candidate?Despite reports, the envelope hasn’t been opened just yet. Oh, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has looked inside, but it’s still a pretty close race. It wouldn’t......

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Rick Snider: Terps leave embarrassing legacy

Published: Apr 26, 2006

It’s bad enough the seniors on Maryland’s men’s basketball team played with so little heart the Terrapins missed the past two NCAA Tournaments. Now they’ve bolted the moment their eligibility ended to risk further damaging the program. Nik Caner-Medley, Travis Garrison, Chris McCray and Sterling Ledbetter recently withdrew from Maryland without even finishing the semester. That’s like spitting on Testudo on the way out the door. The group’s legacy has now officially gone from underachievers to fools.Anyone pretending major Division I basketball players care about education is nuts. The only......

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Rick Snider: Navy plans for triple play

Published: Apr 22, 2006

A lacrosse showdown against a regional rival, a baseball doubleheader at Camden Yards versus a historical nemesis and a spring football game -- not a bad long weekend for Navy fans.Navy’s Triple Option Weekend offers four games for $10 as the Midshipmen package their three biggest spring events. Athletic director Chet Gladchuk wants fans to sample several sports rather than pick one.If the weekend card still isn’t cheap enough despite costing less than half the price of parking at Redskins games, active duty military personnel and youth teams wearing jerseys......

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Rick Snider: Maryland’s new triple threat?

Published: Apr 20, 2006

The Mid-Atlantic may be ready to deliver another Triple Crown surprise.Smarty Jones won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes from his unlikely Philadelphia Park base. Afleet Alex took the 2004 Preakness and Belmont stakes from even more unlikely Delaware Park last year.The smart money may now rest on Sweetnorthernsaint to smell the roses on May 6. The Laurel Park gelding may be the first Maryland-based runner since Spectacular Bid in 1979 to win the Kentucky Derby after his recent Illinois Derby runaway victory."Let’s hope we can do it one......

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Rick Snider: Drunk driving charge means Nats GM has to go

Published: Apr 19, 2006

It’s time for Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden to go.Bowden’s arrest for driving under the influence on Monday morning in Miami probably won’t be decided by the courts for months. And even if found guilty (and assuming this is his first offense), Bowden likely faces a suspended sentence, small fine and loss of driving privileges. The penalty is rarely harsh because most Americans invoke the "there but for the grace of God go I" mentality of everyone having driven when they probably shouldn’t.Bowden has the right to be considered......

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Rick Snider: Angelos not the villain we thought

Published: Apr 18, 2006

Defending Peter Angelos is like backing a bully. But sometimes even the billionaire of Baltimore is right. For so long, it was easy to blame the Orioles owner for not only blocking Washington’s bid for a major league team, but for Comcast subscribers’ inability to watch Nationals games. Well, you can still hold a grudge against him for delaying baseball’s return, but the TV deal is much more complicated.Angelos remains partially to blame for the Nationals skimpy TV package. Comcast shares some of the fault while Major League Baseball gets......

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Rick Snider: Hollenbach’s growth provides optomism

Published: Apr 15, 2006

The two-year wait may be over for Maryland. The Terrapins once more have an experienced senior quarterback.Sam Hollenbach appears increasingly sharp midway through the Terps spring workouts. The offensive line is giving more protection with left tackle Stephon Heyer returning after missing last season. Same goes for the running game with Josh Allen back after missing 2005 because of knee surgery.But for Maryland to rebound from consecutive 5-6 seasons, the Terps need Hollenbach to provide the same senior season predecessor Scott McBrien delivered in 2003 with 10 victories and the......

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Rick Snider: Future takes stage at Capital Classic

Published: Apr 13, 2006

If you didn’t get enough college basketball, a preview of next season comes to the Smith Center tonight.The 33rd Capital Classic features incoming freshmen for Maryland, George Washington, George Mason and Georgetown when the U.S. All-Star team meets the Capital All-Stars at 8 p.m. preceded by District versus Suburban all-star teams. The highly-touted Eric Hayes of Potomac High (Va.) is supposed to become Maryland’s desperately-needed point guard this fall along with Montrose Christian guard Greivis Vasquez. Forward Louis Birdsong of Baltimore’s Mount St. Joseph’s is headed for Mason. Forward Damian......

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Rick Snider: Baseball is to blame for Nationals’ struggles

Published: Apr 12, 2006

The four sections of empty seats in dead center field shined like a beacon. Nay-sayers couldn’t wait to stupidly claim Washington isn’t a baseball town.Don’t believe the hype.Opening day wasn’t quite the same love fest as last year, no question. Last season was special, the end of a generational quest for native Washingtonians. Nothing beats recovering a stolen dream.Everyoneseemed to have a good time despite the Nationals 7-1 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday. Nothing like the first sunburn of the season while drinking beer, eating dogs and......

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Rick Snider: Maryland programmed for success

Published: Apr 08, 2006

The Triple Crown has come to College Park.Maryland’s women’s basketball team joined field hockey and men’s soccer squads at the White House on Thursday.National champions all. President Bush joked of "fearing the turtle." Kind of a nice break from fearing terrorists.Maryland became the first Division I program to win three national crowns in one school year. Men’s and women’s lacrosse teams this spring give the Terrapins two more chances. It is an embarrassment of riches amid the embarrassment of the school’s two major programs — football and men’s basketball —......

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