Kevin Dunleavy

Maryland's Galt brothers: Together to the end

Twins got their chance to start this season Maryland seniors Tommy and Deege Galt are used to doing things together, like being born. They're twins, delivered 16 minutes apart. So in high school, when Tommy was named to a newspaper's first-team and Deege was selected to the second-team, Tommy boycotted the team picture in protest. "I think he probably just overslept," quipped Deege. This year the Galt brothers did something else simultaneously, they entered the Terps' starting lineup on the same night, Tommy at tight end and Deege at anchor (defensive end) for Maryland's opener at Cal. It was the culmination of a five-year odyssey (a redshirt season for each) for the...

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Vasquez takes a 'weight' and see attitude

Terps guard in slump, but team still winning Immediately after Maryland disposed of overmatched Fairfield Tuesday night, Greivis Vasquez escaped to the Comcast Center weight room, but not to work out the frustration of a shooting slump. "I'm trying to be a pro. I'm trying to work hard," said Vasquez. "Me and Landon (Milbourne) are trying to lift weights after every home game, see if we can get better. It helps your body recover." It also helps a troubled mind when you've hit just 6 of 25 shots (24 percent) in two games. The good news for the Terps (2-0) is that Vasquez has been his active, disruptive, catalytic self, leading the team in assists (19) and steals...

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Can Heyward-Bey hold the boo birds at bay?

Fans of the Redskins are bemoaning the lack of production from their trio of second-round receivers from the 2008 NFL Draft. But it could be worse. Ask fans of the Oakland Raiders. Consider the performance of Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft, out of the University of Maryland. In nine games, all as a starter, Heyward-Bey has 6 catches for 96 yards. Many of his drops have been poorly-timed. In Oakland's most recent loss, 16-10, to Kansas City, Heyward-Bey dropped two passes, one a 50-yard bomb that went through his hands at the goal line. The other bounced off his chest, then his knee and into the hands of a Chiefs defensive back for an interception. The...

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Feeling a draft: Who might the Redskins pick?

With the Redskins (3-6) in the second half of a lost season, it's time to look at their draft prospects. Who will be around when the Redskins pick, presumably between No. 5 and No. 10 overall? Here are five possibilities that would fill a need: 1. OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma) » The 6-5, 320-pound offensive tackle would address a major need, possibly stepping in for Chris Samuels, a tackle of similar size and pedigree. 2. QB Colt McCoy (Texas) » Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) will probably be gone by the time Washington picks. That could leave Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), if he declares, or McCoy as options. McCoy has been likened to Drew Brees. Comparisons of this kind often are...

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Niumatalolo spells hot property

Football success at the Naval Academy comes with apprehension. When a coach thrives with the Mids' always-undermanned roster, he becomes a target for major conference poachers. Could that be the case for Ken Niumatalolo? In two seasons as the head coach in Annapolis, Niumatalolo has a 19-8 record, has secured two bowl bids, and has beaten a pair of ranked opponents, a feat no Navy coach had accomplished even once in 23 years. It's an attractive resume, made all the more enticing by the offense Niumatalolo runs, the trendy triple-option. With many schools prospering this season by emphasizing the run, why would a BCS conference school needing a change and looking for a quick fix not...

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Fairfield no match as Hayes, Maryland cruise, 71-42

After slow start, Terps roll Stags at Comcast When Maryland took the floor against Fairfield Tuesday night at Comcast Center, the Terps' guards had started a combined 172 college games compared to 16 for the Stags. The resumes of the programs had a similar disparity as Fairfield entered winless in 12 tries against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Even with an overwhelming edge in talent, experience and pedigree, it took a while for the Terps to show it. But after 10 sloppy minutes, there were few anxious moments for Maryland on its way to a routine 71-42 victory. While senior guard Eric Hayes (14 points) and sophomore guard Sean Mosley (13 points, 4 steals, 7 rebounds) were...

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Local spotlight: Chester Stewart, quarterback, Temple

Changing quarterbacks when you are riding a six-game winning streak is an unconventional strategy. But Temple coach Al Golden couldn't wait to get sophomore Chester Stewart (DeMatha/Hanover) into the lineup. So Golden pulled junior Vaughn Charlton in favor of the more talented, but less experienced Stewart. Two wins later, Temple (8-2) has its winning streak intact and is ready to give more responsibility to Stewart, a 6-3, 225-pound prototype with big-play potential. In a 56-17 win over Akron Saturday, Stewart led a comeback from 10 points down, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two other scores. In two games as a starter, Stewart has not thrown much, but has made plenty of...

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Top 10: Redskins' most disappointing seasons

Is 2009 destined to become the most disappointing season in the 73-year history of the Washington Redskins? Disappointment is not just about the record. It’s about expectations. Consider the following seasons: 10. 1980 (6-10) Unhappy with his contract and the Redskins’ failure to make the playoffs despite a 10-6 record in 1979, John Riggins sits out the season. His replacement, Wilbur Jackson, has more fumbles (10) than touchdowns (4). Jack Pardee guides the Redskins to a 3-0 finish, but it isn’t enough to save his job. WORST SKINS RECORDS Going by record alone, the two worst seasons in Redskins history came back-to-back. In 1960 and 1961, the Redskins won one game...

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Dobbs carries Navy to victory over Delaware, 35-18

Navy quarterback scores five touchdowns ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With Navy fullback Vince Murray sitting out unexpectedly Saturday, a heavy load fell to Ricky Dobbs. No problem for the Midshipmen quarterback, he’s used to it. Rushing 26 times for 100 yards and five touchdowns, Dobbs carried Navy to a 35-18 Senior Day victory over Delaware. It was another virtuoso performance from the junior as he shattered Navy’s single-season mark for touchdowns. “The kid’s amazing,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. “His [knee] injury, a couple of weeks ago, the kid was supposed to be done. For him to come back and play the way he’s been playing … I...

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Winds of change at Virginia, Maryland?

Ugly home losses could be the tipping point for Friedgen and Groh With Virginia in last place in the ACC Coastal and Maryland bringing up the rear in the ACC Atlantic, the similarities between the slumping programs are unavoidable. Coaches Al Groh of Virginia and Ralph Friedgen of Maryland -- both in their ninth year, both at their alma mater and both signed through 2011 -- are under fire. While Groh is headed for his third losing season in the last four, Friedgen is assured of his fourth losing year in the last six. At Virginia's Scott Stadium and Maryland's Chevy Chase Field at Byrd Stadium, unrest now competes with disinterest. Crowds are shrinking but becoming increasingly hostile....

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2009 College Basketball Outlook

STORY LINES 1. Will it be about the basketball, or the coaches, in Kentucky? » New UK coach John Calipari is in the midst of having his second NCAA Final Four appearance vacated, but that hasn’t stopped him from ascending the coaching ranks to the pinnacle of traditional power conference basketball at Kentucky. Are the Wildcats boosters that desperate? Possibly, but winning clouds everything. And only a short drive away, Rick Pitino had the busiest offseason of any coach in the country, but it had nothing to do with recruiting — unless explaining to Louisville prospects what happened in his now infamous sex scandal counts as teaching. The players may not care, but that...

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Local spotlight: Craig Schaefer, Navy

When Schaefer was a tight end at Robinson High, Navy coaches liked what they saw. Just one problem: In their triple-option offense, the Midshipmen have no tight ends. But Navy continued its pursuit. And when Schaefer arrived in Annapolis, the Mids turned him into a linebacker. Saturday at Notre Dame, Navy was happy it didn't typecast the 6-2, 220-pound senior. Schaefer made the clinching play, sacking Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen in the end zone for a safety with 1 minute left, in a 23-21 victory. "The coaches call it 'running the hoop,'" said Schaefer, describing his circular route around the Notre Dame left tackle. "I didn't have much luck with it all game. Finally I...

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Ranking the notable nine

In the last seven NFL Drafts, nine quarterbacks have been picked in the top five overall. All currently are starters for their respective teams, although that could change by the time you read this. How good a Sunday was it for each of the highly compensated nine? We rated their day one to nine: 1. Philip Rivers (No. 4, 2004) » The Chargers QB was 24 of 36 for 209 yards, threw three touchdown passes and directed the game-winning drive in the final two minutes of a 21-20 win over the Giants. Beating the team that traded him and the QB he was traded for (Eli Manning) makes this a perfect day for the thin-skinned Rivers. 2. Vince Young (No. 3, 2006) » Since his return to the...

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Stunning upset? Not to the Midshipmen

Navy cornerback Blake Carter has only vague memories of the Mids' 2007 upset of Notre Dame that broke an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to the Irish, "a figment of my imagination," Carter said last week. But now Carter has a fresh memory of another South Bend upset. Navy's 23-21 win over Notre Dame on Saturday is not only more recent, but has a less surreal quality. Although Notre Dame (6-3) was ranked No. 17, Navy (7-3) wasn't awestruck. Playing on even terms with Ohio State in a 31-27 season-opening loss in Columbus gave the Mids the belief. "We felt like we had them in a perfect situation, similar to Ohio State," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. "We're a...

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College football Week 10 games to watch

GAME OF THE WEEK No. 6 LSU at No. 3 Alabama Players to watch Terrelle Pryor For the first time in his college career, the quarterback for No. 16 Ohio State (7-2) returns to his home state in what promises to be a hostile reception at No. 11 Penn State (8-1). The Lions won last year in Columbus, 13-6, en route to the Big Ten title. Toby Gerhart The Stanford running back has the size (6-1, 235) and skin color for comparison to former Cardinal star Tommy Vardell. Gerhart (994 yards, 13 TD) leads Stanford (5-3) against visiting No. 8 Oregon (7-1), a possible trap game for the Ducks after their win over USC. Steve Anderson Leading the Army defense at linebacker, the Damascus graduate...

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Identity change at Navy

Defense-minded Mids prepare for challenge at No. 17 Notre Dame Navy's identity is its triple option offense. The Midshipmen run it with such military precision that they have led the nation in rushing the last four years. But this season, Navy has been more about defense. With a yield of 315.6 yards per game, the Mids are No. 27 in the nation in total defense, easily their highest rank since Paul Johnson brought the triple-option attack to Navy in 2002. Meanwhile, the injury-riddled offense ranks No. 79, by far their lowest rank in the triple-option era. Saturday when Navy (6-3) travels to Notre Dame (7-2) for the 83rd game of their storied rivalry, the Mids will be counting on...

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No loss of productivity or intensity for Wujciak

In down season, Terps linebacker always up It was another offseason of uncertainty for Maryland middle linebacker Alex Wujciak. He had his third knee operation in less than two years, sat out spring practice and watched as others got acclimated to a new defensive system and coordinator Don Brown. But once this year began, Wujciak resumed his role as the undisputed leader of the Terrapins defense. The junior has 88 tackles, 40 more than any other Terp, ranking No. 7 in the nation (11.0 per game). Last year, Wujciak had 133 tackles to rank No. 12 (10.2 per game). UP NEXT » Maryland @ N.C. State Where » Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C. When » Saturday, 1...

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TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm lands Senior Players Championship

Tournament moves from Baltimore to renovated course Next year, Tiger Woods will move the AT&T National from Congressional Country Club to Aronimink in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But that doesn't mean the Washington area will be shut out of professional golf. Filling the void for 2010 will be the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. The tournament, hosted the last three years by Baltimore Country Club, will move to the newly renovated and renamed TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Changes everywhere » The last time a Champions Tour event was played in the Washington area was 1995, when Congressional hosted the U.S. Senior Open. » The Melwood Prince...

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Unforgettable knockout of Notre Dame still fresh for Midshipmen

Quarterback Dobbs is back in the lineup Wyatt Middleton had a concussion at the time, but has no difficulty recalling his feelings from Navy's historic 2007 upset of Notre Dame, which halted the NCAA's longest losing streak of all time -- 43 games. "I remember running out on the field and thinking, 'Wow, we really did this,'" said Middleton, a senior safety. "The crowd was silent. They were like, 'Wow, this really happened.' But at the same time they were supportive of us. That was shocking to me." After defensive end Michael Walsh, who still is with the Midshipmen, and linebacker Matt Wimsatt tackled Travis Thomas behind the line of scrimmage on a two-point...

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For Skins fans, I-95 envy

It was a bye week for the Washington Redskins. But for their fans, there was no respite from the Sunday aggravation on TV. In the marquee games on FOX and CBS, fans in Baltimore and Philadelphia, just up I-95, were fired up and enjoying uplifting victories. Ah, football, the way it was meant to be. While the Ravens were putting a sleeper hold on the previously undefeated Broncos, 30-7, the Eagles were all over the 2007 Super Bowl champion Giants, 40-17. Here in Washington, we view Baltimore as a goofy little brother, the one who flips his eyelids inside out at Thanksgiving. But when it comes to football, it's the Ravens' organization that consistently fields a quality product. Sunday...

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At emotional Lambeau, Favre stands, delivers

Brett Favre was lustily booed in his return to Lambeau Field Sunday. But that only made the stage more dramatic as the gunslinger delivered silencers. Favre's four touchdown passes paved the way in the Vikings' 38-26 win over the Packers. Afterward, Favre was deeply moved. In an on-field TV interview he nearly broke down, stopping in mid-sentence and looking down to signal he had nothing more to say. He was more composed later in a press conference. "It was about what I expected," said Favre of the loud reception. "It was probably worse every time I took the field. I consider it a good thing -- better than saying nothing, I guess." In two wins over his former team...

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Temple, Pierce too much for Navy, 27-24

Freshman back rolls for 267 yards in come-from-behind win ANNAPOLIS — Temple hasn’t been to a bowl game in 30 years. Navy has gone the last six. Saturday when the teams met, however, Temple freshman Bernard Pierce flipped the script. Rushing 29 times for 267 yards and two touchdowns, Pierce propelled Temple to a 27-24 victory before 28,305 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. With the Halloween victory, the Owls became bowl eligible, while Navy must wait at least another week to clinch a berth. “We have had some great team wins. This was a great team loss,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. “There is blame to go all around and it starts with me. I did a...

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No guts leads to glory at Navy

Pound-for-pound, undersized tackles are measuring up Weighing 280 pounds last year, Navy's Matt Molloy was lighter than the average starting tackle in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) by 21 pounds. When Molloy decided to get smaller, however, none of his coaches protested. At Navy (6-2), offensive tackles are better equipped to deal with the demands of the triple-option offense -- as well as the rigors of the academy -- if they are lighter and quicker. When Molloy reported to camp this summer, he was a lean 260 pounds. But even with 20 fewer pounds, the 6-foot-3 junior was still the heaviest starting tackle on the Midshipmen offensive line. On the other side is...

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Virginia Tech lights up Thursday nights

ESPN's go-to team faces North Carolina When Virginia Tech plays host to North Carolina Thursday night, it will be the eighth straight year that ESPN has broadcast a Thursday night game from Blacksburg. The sports network revels in the raucous atmosphere at Lane Stadium. And the school rises when the bright lights go on. Tech has a 15-4 record on ESPN Thursday night, including an 11-game winning streak (1999-2005). According to coach Frank Beamer, the exposure has helped catapult Tech to national powerhouse status. "I like to play on Thursdays. It's kind of like Monday night for the NFL," said Beamer. "Playing in Blacksburg, it has become a special thing. Our fans make...

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Rapidly improving Temple will be a formidable foe for Navy

No team has had a better view of the rapid ascent of the Temple football program than Navy. In each of the last three seasons under former Virginia defensive coordinator Al Golden, the Owls have been a tougher out for the Midshipmen. Last year, Navy needed a spectacular comeback from 20 points down to subdue Temple in overtime, 33-27. With the catalyst for that victory, Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs, out with a knee injury, the Midshipmen (6-2) are preparing for a difficult task Saturday in Annapolis. "They're a good football team," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. "We in for a big challenge. We have out work cut out for us." Temple (5-2) enters on a five-game...

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The return of a forgotten QB

Trailing at Houston, 21-0, Sunday, San Francisco coach Mike Singletary had seen enough. After watching his offense struggle for the previous six quarters, he replaced quarterback Shaun Hill with Alex Smith. The Niners lost, 24-21. But with the quarterback change, Singletary might have re-discovered a one-time prodigy and re-directed the course of the season. Smith, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft, completed 15 of 22 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, all to tight end Vernon Davis, to rally San Francisco to the brink of victory. Smith threw an interception in the final minute to seal the Niners' fate, but he's likely to be under center next Sunday when San Francisco...

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Generation next in golf's overlooked season

After the FedEx Cup, the PGA Tour's fall series is relegated to the Golf Channel and strained story lines about players trying to retain their playing privileges. But Sunday, the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., was an intriguing look at two of golf's next generation of stars as Jamie Lovemark, 21, and Rickie Fowler, 20, battled veteran Troy Matteson, 29, in a playoff. With a brilliant 6-iron shot from 185 yards out to within 2 feet on the second playoff hole, Matteson made the winning birdie to claim the tournament for the second time and assure his slot on the 2010 PGA Tour. But the event was notable for the play of the 6-foot-4 Lovemark, who won the NCAA championship as a...

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Proctor, Murray propel Navy past Wake, 13-10

Even in a deluge, with new QB and without throwing a pass, Mids offense runs smoothly against the Demon Deacons ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy’s vaunted triple-option offense faced two operational hazards Saturday – a driving rainstorm and a new quarterback. But against visiting Wake Forest, the Midshipmen survived the elements and the starting debut of sophomore Kriss Proctor in a 13-10 homecoming victory before 31,907 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. MIDS GET THEIR KICKS » Junior Joe Buckley’s 50-yard field goal in the first quarter was the longest for Navy in two years. » Navy junior punter Kyle Delahooke’s first punt went for a career-high...

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Nelson lands on his feet

Once jilted by Clemson, Germantown RB finds stardom at UMass Tony Nelson remembers a summer day more than five years ago when he sat in the office of then Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden and listened to his compelling sales pitch, delivered in a charming Southern drawl. Nelson, a standout running back at Northwest High in Germantown, accepted Clemson's scholarship offer, only to be jilted later by Bowden, three weeks before he was set to sign a National Letter of Intent. Losing his chance to play Division I-A football was difficult to accept. But things have worked out for Nelson, who has rushed for 2,423 yards, ranking No. 6 all-time at Division I-AA...

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College football Week 8 Five to watch

Jake Locker With a strong arm and 4.4 speed in the 40, the Washington star could be the top QB selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. The junior engineered a home upset of USC. Could he and the Huskies (3-4) pull off another one at home against No. 12 Oregon (5-1)? Tony Moeaki The Iowa TE came up big in victories over Michigan and Wisconsin. This week, QB Ricky Stanzi and the No. 9 Hawkeyes (7-0) may need another heroic performance from the 6-2, 250-pound senior as Iowa faces another tough road test at Michigan State (4-3). Blaine Gabbert The Missouri QB will take his shot at No. 3 Texas Saturday night on ABC. After throwing 11 TDs and no interceptions in leading Missouri to four...

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College football Week 8 capsules

No. 11 Georgia Tech at Virginia Where » Scott Stadium, Charlottesville When » Saturday, noon TV » WDCA My 20 Radio » 570AM Virginia (3-3), the only team left in the ACC without a league loss, has turned its season around by protecting the ball. After committing 10 turnovers in losing their first three, the Cavaliers have had just one turnover and forced nine in winning their last three. This is a good time to catch Georgia Tech (6-1) as it comes off its first win over a top-5 team in 47 years, 28-23, over Virginia Tech. QB Josh Nesbitt (151 carries, 625 yards) and RB Jonathan Dwyer (99 carries, 593 yards) lead the nation's No. 1 rushing...

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Terps' Pinegar makes grade

Sherwood graduate earns scholarship as walk-on at Maryland His high school coach thought Division III McDaniel was a good fit. But that didn't fit Paul Pinegar's ambition. He wanted to play Division I at a big state school, on television and in front of big crowds. After all, if his grandfather, a lineman at Ohio State, could do it, so could he. So Pinegar took his best shot as a walk-on at Maryland. Three years later, he won a starting job and a scholarship. This season, along with senior center Paul Costa, Pinegar is a rare commodity. The junior tackle is one of the few offensive linemen coach Ralph Friedgen can count on. Costa and Pinegar are the only blockers who have started all...

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Murray wins fullback job

Strong work in Texas earns junior a start It took Vince Murray three seasons to get his first carry in the Navy backfield. But the Midshipmen fullback is making the most of his long-awaited opportunity. Subbing for injured Alexander Teich during the Mids' Texas two-step, Murray carried 34 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns in wins over Rice and SMU to earn the starting job. "Vince has been playing well," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. "Normally a guy doesn't lose his position with an injury. But it's hard right now with the chemistry Vince has [provided], to take him out." Chemistry is key in Navy's triple-option offense, which demands precision and...

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Dobbs' status undecided

Injured last weekend, Navy QB evaluated What would happen to the Navy offense without quarterback Ricky Dobbs? The answer could come Saturday against visiting Wake Forest. Dobbs, the nation's leading scorer with 16 touchdowns, was injured Saturday at SMU. The junior did not practice Tuesday. He wore a brace on his right leg that ran from his thigh to his ankle. "I don't know -- day-to-day," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. "He's been kind of banged up. He's had some tough ball games." Dobbs was hurt on Navy's second snap Saturday, but continued to play all the way to the end of Navy's 38-35 overtime win at SMU. He participated in Monday's light workout. But was...

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They might not be Giants

As the New York Football Giants rolled to five straight victories, the assumption was that they were as formidable as ever. An offseason of tweaks, after losing Plaxico Burress (prison), had souped the Giants passing game and put them back on track for their second Super Bowl in three years. But Sunday at New Orleans, the Giants were exposed. In losing to the Saints, 48-27, the New York defense gave up more points in a game than it had in 10 years. The last team to score that many on the Giants were the 1999 Redskins of Steven Davis, Brad Johnson and Michael Westbrook. In Eli Manning's hometown, Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 23 of 30 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns....

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Taking care of business and working overtime

College football's overtime format (placing the ball at the 25-yard line for alternate possessions) has been much criticized. But it suits the Navy Midshipmen just fine. With Saturday's 38-35 overtime win at Southern Methodist, Navy has won five straight games that have gone to extra time. "These kids are unbelievable. Just when you think they can't one-up themselves, they pull out another big win," said coach Ken Niumatalolo. "Our kids are very resilient. Our kids are fighters. Even when the odds are stacked against them, they continue to plug away." It was a big win considering that Navy's next four opponents have wining records. The Mids (5-2) need two victories...

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Deluge of turnovers dooms Terps in 20-9 loss to Cavaliers

Saturday at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, the loudest boos of the afternoon were reserved for an unsuspecting referee early in the second half when he announced a “media timeout.” With rain pelting College Park and the Maryland football team fumbling away chances to take control of a dreadful game against docile Virginia, fans were in no mood to wait. TERPS NOTES » Three Washington-area players, all sophomores, contributed for the Cavaliers’ defense. S Rodney McLeod (DeMatha) had five tackles and forced a fumble, LB Cam Johnson (Gonzaga) had five tackles, and NG Nick Jenkins (Good Counsel) plugged the middle. » The Terps have committed 20 turnovers...

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College football Week 7 games to watch

Game of the week 5 TO WATCH Sam Bradford » The Heisman-winning Oklahoma QB returned to the lineup last week after he was out a month with a shoulder injury and passed for 389 yards in a win over Baylor. Saturday he and the No. 20 Sooners (3-2) face Colt McCoy and No. 3 Texas (5-0). Pat Angerer » The senior LB leads the disruptive defense of No. 14 Iowa (6-0) at Wisconsin (5-1). Iowa is No. 2 in the nation in forcing turnovers (19). Angerer will be focused on Wisconsin RB John Clay, the nation’s No. 17 rusher, who is averaging 106.8 yards per game. Ryan Mallett » The hulking (6-7, 240) sophomore QB piloted Arkansas to an upset of Auburn last week, completing 24...

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Expectations are high in College Park

Coming off a 21-14 season in which his team exceeded all reasonable expectations by reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Maryland coach Gary Williams laid out the plan for an encore performance at Terps Media Day Thursday. "This year, the key thing is to go from there," said Williams. "We want to start Saturday, from that point." With that, the 2009-10 Terps have their mission statement. Friday night the Terps will hold their annual Maryland Madness at Comcast Center, before practice begins Saturday. With eight of their top nine scorers back, joined by freshmen forwards James Padgett and Jordan Williams, expectations are high. But Williams knows it...

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A homecoming in the heart of Texas?

Traveling to Texas for two straight weeks has given several Navy Midshipmen a chance to play in front of family and friends. In all, 28 Midshipmen hail from Texas, more than any other state. With a win Saturday night at SMU (3-2), Navy (4-2) can take a giant step toward securing a seventh straight bowl appearance. This year, the trip will be to Houston's Reliant Stadium for the Texas Bowl. "When I found that out, I was grinning from ear to ear," said Navy guard and co-captain Osei Asanti, who played at Houston's Cypress Ridge High. "When I go home, it will be a true honor to bring my collegiate career to an end in Houston, Texas, at home." Three of the Mids' four...

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Can Clausen-Barkley make like Quinn-Leinart?

Four years ago, when USC and Notre Dame staged a spectacular shootout in Irish coach Charlie Weis' rookie season, Jimmy Clausen was in the stands as an Irish recruit. But he wasn't in his seat during the heart-stopping final seconds when USC quarterback Matt Leinart scored the winning touchdown for the then No. 1 Trojans. "We were on the field, about ready to storm the field," said Clausen. "It was a dramatic ending. That's what I remember." That game helped Clausen decide that Notre Dame was the place for him. Saturday in South Bend, the junior hopes he can author a similarly memorable game as he takes on USC and freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. Clausen and...

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Reviewing the year in local golf

Woods' triumph at Congressional topped a memorable season In July, when tournament host Tiger Woods presented himself the trophy for winning the AT&T National, the area had its signature golf moment of 2009 and a memorable sendoff as the tournament leaves Congressional Country Club to make way for the 2011 U.S. Open. Here are some other local golf story lines: Sponsors leaving » Sponsors are fleeing professional golf and the region has not been spared. Two prominent women's tournaments, the McDonald's LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock and the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill, have lost their sponsors and will not return to the region. In addition, the Senior Players...

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Courses You Can Play » Pennsylvania course is for those with a driving ambition

Location » Abbottstown, Pa. Phone » 717-624-9551 Fees » Weekdays $45; Weekend $49 Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope » 72/6713/71.7/132 Description » The Bridges is one of several excellent courses in the Gettysburg area of Southern Pennsylvania, 90 minutes from Washington. Traversing scenic woodland and wetlands, the 14-year-old course is mostly open, with trouble looming on the large, severely-sloped greens. Reasons to play » Fast, true greens, excellent conditions, attractive landscaping and an interesting, varied layout. Uncrowded course with relaxed pace. Turf driving range and inexpensive play-and-stay option in roomy clubhouse. Bridges? »...

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A rivalry renewed

Okay, it's only an NBA preseason game, but with the Wizards set to play at Cleveland tonight (CSN), this is a chance to revisit a heated rivalry. For three straight years (2006-08), Cleveland eliminated Washington from the playoffs in the opening round. Here are five memorable moments from Wizards-Cavs lore: 5. Jamison vs. LeBron (2007) » With Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler out with season-ending injuries, it's up to Antawn Jamison to carry the offense in the opening round of the playoffs. Jamison (32 points per game, 9.8 rpg) does his part, but doesn't get enough help as Washington is abused on the boards, 196-136, in a four game sweep. After getting benched in Game 4, Wizards...

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Navy remains well-grounded against Rice

After his team's 16-13 win over Air Force, in which the Navy defense out performed its struggling offense, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo bristled at the suggestion that the Midshipmen were undergoing an identity change. After leading the NCAA in rushing the previous four years, the yards have been harder to gain in 2009. "We have a long season to go. We'll be OK. We usually haven't played Ohio State and Pitt," said Niumatalolo. "I'm not worried about it. We'll be all right." In Saturday's 63-17 win at Rice, the Navy offense justified Niumatalolo's stance, rushing 80 times for 471 yards, possessing the ball for 40:36 of the game's 60 minutes, and making no...

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Top 10: Presidents Cup moments

The Presidents Cup is only in its eighth iteration. In the biannual team competition between the best golfers in the U.S. and their counterparts from the rest of the world, excluding Europe, the Americans have lost only once. Still, the event has produced many memorable moments. Here are the top ten: 10. Ken Venturi, 2000 At Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., the U.S. bounces back from its only Presidents Cup loss, to win by the most lopsided margin in Cup history, 21.5-10.5. Captain Ken Venturi’s team was led by Stewart Cink and Davis Love III. Fans divided about decision on how 2003 Cup ended When U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus and International captain Gary Player...

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College football Week 6 area capsules

No. 1 Florida at No. 4 LSU Where » Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge When » Saturday, 8 p.m. TV » CBS » Coming off the first concussion of his career, will Florida QB Tim Tebow see stars in college football's most raucous stadium? If the fans don't get to Tebow, the Tigers' formidable defense, led by LB Harry Coleman and LB Kelvin Sheppard, might. Baton Rouge has been unkind to the Gators, who have lost the last two trips by a combined seven points. Undefeated Florida has yet to be tested. Maryland at Wake Forest Where » BB&T Field, Winston-Salem When » Saturday, 6:30 p.m. TV » ESPN360.com Radio » 106.7 FM » The Demon Deacons have...

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Navy's Minister of Defense

Pospisil, the son of a preacher man, inspires the Midshipmen When Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green met senior linebacker Ross Pospisil's father, he wasn't surprised. As assistant pastor at the First Baptist Church in Boerne, Texas, Scott Pospisil has the ability to inspire others, just like his son. "To hear him speak, he reminds me a lot of Ross. And Ross reminds me a lot of him," said Green. "The leadership qualities, you can just see through his dad. The qualities come out in Ross on the field, off the field, everything that's involved with the defense and the program." Pospisil's ability to play and lead was evident last week when Navy won its seventh...

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Falcons challenge Stags, again

Elusive WCAC football title is the holy grail for Good Counsel Over the last eight years, Good Counsel coach Bob Milloy has built the second best football program in the Washington area. But in his efforts to win a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, he's been frustrated. Cover Story A culture of winning Rick Snider » For Wootten, it's a wonderful view Falcons challenge Stags, again Top 10 notable DeMatha alumni The team Milloy can't overcome is DeMatha. The coach he can't quite match is Bill McGregor. The Falcons have had their moments, beating the Stags three of the last five years in the regular season. But in each of the last five WCAC championship...

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A culture of winning

On a lowly campus lacking athletic facilities, the DeMatha Stags have built a national powerhouse Wedged awkwardly off Route 1 in Hyattsville, between a sagging commercial strip and an aging residential neighborhood, DeMatha Catholic High School has none of the earmarks of a private school athletic powerhouse. There is no grandstand, no track, no football field, no sign announcing you’ve entered sacred turf, just a banner on the backside of a brick school building that reads, “DeMatha College High School - Gentlemen and Scholars.” Cover Story A culture of winning Rick Snider » For Wootten, it's a wonderful view Falcons challenge Stags, again Top 10 notable...

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Courses you can play » Southern Maryland is home to 40-year old rolling land course

Location » Dunkirk, Md. Phone » 301-855-8228 Fees » Weekdays $46; Weekend $56 Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 70/6527/69.4/119 Description » Twin Shields is a 40-year-old course, set on rolling land in Southern Maryland. Traditional layout with tree-lined holes and large, undulating greens. A few blind shots and severe doglegs make this course a mystery for a first-time player, especially without the benefit of GPS or a scorecard schematic. Reason to play » Playable course in an attractive setting, with clubhouse high above a lake that separates the front and back nines. Accessible location, just over Prince George's County line, 15 miles from Beltway off Route 4...

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With some tweaks, Harding Park ready

Playing over an arm of Lake Merced, the dogleg 18th at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco is an inspired finishing hole, daring players to challenge the water and cut distance off the 468-yard par 4. Just one problem, it's the 18th hole. With Harding Park hosting the eighth President's Cup, today through Sunday, many matches will be over by the time they get to No. 18. In the Presidents Cup, which features match-play competition, the average round lasts 16.3 holes. So Harding Park has been re-configured to ensure that the best holes get the most visibility. No. 18 has become No. 15 and will be lined with corporate tents. No hole at Harding Park will retain its usual number,...

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College Football outlook, 10/6/09

TOP 25 Order restored among top 10 After a September of tumult in the top 25, order was restored as the big dogs played to form. The only loser among the top 10 was Oklahoma, but it was hardly a surprise considering the 21-20 defeat came at No. 11 Miami and without Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. Typical of early October, there are several undefeated teams from power conferences that are ranked but suspect. The list includes No. 23 Auburn (5-0) of the SEC, No. 14 Iowa (5-0) and No. 25 Wisconsin (5-0) of the Big Ten, and No. 15 Kansas (4-0) and No. 17 Missouri (4-0) of the Big 12. No. Team (Record) Comment Pvs....

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Terps understand what Brown can do for them

Sparked by defense, Maryland is rising after needed win For defining moments, it doesn't get any more definitive than Maryland's final defensive play Saturday. When blitzing freshman Demetrius Hartsfield swooped in from his weakside linebacker slot, jarred the ball loose from Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker, and recovered the fumble, it not only assured Maryland's 24-21 victory, it gave the young Terps hard and fast evidence that they are catching on to first-year defensive coordinator Don Brown's aggressive, gambling scheme. "Coach Brown's been hearing it from everybody that he's not a good coordinator," said Hartsfield. "But now we're just showing people the tip of...

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Melwood moving to U. of Maryland

After three years at Woodmore Country Club in Mitchellville, the Melwood Prince George's County Open is expected to announce Friday that it will move the Nationwide Tour event to the University of Maryland Golf Course. The recently renovated University of Maryland facility, will host a news conference Friday that will include tournament director Teo Sodeman, Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee, a former player at Maryland, and former University of Maryland golf coach and current Champions Tour star Fred Funk. The 50-year-old University of Maryland course recently re-opened after a year-long renovation by golf course designer Bill Love, who injected the course with an updated look that...

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Reversal of fortune for Terps, beat Clemson, 24-21

With his team trailing Clemson by 10 points late in the first period, Maryland quarterback Chris Turner hit Ronnie Tyler in the flat, triggering a mock cheer at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. It was Maryland’s initial first down of the game. Coming at the end of a week in which the struggling Terrapins had been dissected and spread open, all their flaws exposed, it was hard to tell if the crowd was with the Terps or against them. Terps notes » Maryland kicker Nick Ferrara, subbing for injured punter Travis Baltz (ankle), averaged 43.4 yards on eight punts, only one of which was returned for positive yardage by Clemson’s dangerous duo of C.J. Spiller (36.4 yards...

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Nielsen in good company at Constellation

Watson and Hass a stroke back of leader TIMONIUM, MD. — After a career on the fringes of professional golf, Lonnie Nielsen has discovered his pot of gold on the Champions Tour. In six years, Nielsen has won two events and more than $4.8 million. Thursday in the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, Nielsen fired a 5-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Watson and Jay Haas. Even after his success on the Champions Tour, it's heady company for the former Director of Golf at Crag Burn Golf Club in the suburbs of Buffalo. "I can think of better guys I'd rather have chasing me than Tom Watson and Jay Haas," said Nielsen, 56. "A course like this,...

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Can Navy continue the hex?

Midshipmen hold six-game unbeaten streak against Falcons Tradition dictates that Navy's most important game is against Army. But where the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is concerned, the key game comes two months earlier. For the last 12 years, Navy-Air Force has decided the trophy, awarded to the winner of the round robin between the three service academies. Saturday in Annapolis, when Navy (2-2) hosts Air Force (3-1) before a sellout crowd, the teams will renew an increasingly pivotal, competitive and bitter rivalry. From 1982-2002, Air Force dominated the series, beating Navy 19 of 21 times and claiming 17 Commander-in-Chief's trophies. Since then, however, Navy has won six straight,...

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Champions Tour pros are set to tackle historic BCC

Players must beware of ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ Baltimore Country Club (East Course) Location » Timonium, Md. Fees » Private Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 70/7037/74.6/137 Description » The East Course at Baltimore Country Club, built on rolling farmland, has sweeping fairways, elevated tees and greens, several holes that dogleg, and 96 bunkers. Named one of the nation’s top 100 courses by Golf Digest (2007). Architect » One of golf’s most illustrious designers, A.W. Tillinghast, built the East Course in 1926. Tillinghast, known for his distinctive bunkering and greens pitched back to front, also designed Northeast classics Baltusrol,...

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Watson keeps it simple

With his head down, 60-year-old shoots for Senior Players title TIMONIUM, MD. – At this time last year, golf legend Tom Watson missed the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship to have hip replacement surgery. Less than 10 months later, Watson nearly won the British Open. So how, at the improbable age of 59, did Watson contend for the world's most coveted golf championship? He used the most time-worn tip in the sport -- keep your head down. Senior Players What » The final major (of five) on the Champions Tour (50-and-over) Where » Baltimore Country Club (East Course), Timonium When » Thursday-Sunday TV » NBC Purse » $2.7 million,...

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Maryland lined up to struggle on offense

For source of turnovers, look at offensive line Running an offense that has committed 13 turnovers, Maryland quarterback Chris Turner is bearing the brunt of the criticism for the Terps' worst start (1-3) in the nine-year tenure of Ralph Friedgen. When the subject of turnovers is raised, Friedgen speaks of correction, implying Turner -- who has thrown five interceptions and fumbled twice -- is to blame. But Maryland's problems are deeper than the quarterback. UP NEXT Clemson (2-2) at Maryland (1-3) When » Saturday, noon Where » Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium TV » ESPNU Turnovers have come this season because the offense is stressed. A woeful offensive line, the...

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Carter: Navy’s good sailor

Cornerback shows a team-first attitude At the Naval Academy, it’s all about the group, not the individual. Last year, Blake Carter lived up to the ethic. After starting nine games as a sophomore, Carter found himself on the bench. Sure, it was a blow to his ego, but instead of sulking, Carter continued to plug away on special teams. His reward came against rival Air Force. Returning a blocked punt for a touchdown and blocking another himself that teammate Bobby Doyle recovered in the end zone, Carter was the difference in Navy’s 33-27 victory. Afterward, Carter received the Ben Martin Award, given to the most valuable player of the Navy-Air Force game. “It all goes...

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College Football outlook, 9/29/09

TOP 25 Where are the powerhouses? Only four traditional powers remain undefeated, and that’s counting LSU, which has been shaky. Losses by Penn State, Mississippi, and California make room in the top 10 for one-loss powers Virginia Tech, USC, Oklahoma and Ohio State. Undefeated teams TCU, Cincinnati, Houston and Michigan are starting to build nice resumes, but they still have much to prove. No. 8 Boise State, with its junior varsity schedule, is a whole other matter. As long as No. 15 Oregon, which lost to Boise in Week 1, keeps winning, the drum beat will grow louder for the Broncos. Where’s the RPI when you need it? No. Team...

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Local boxing » Lange wins in nine thrilling rounds

At Patriot Center, veteran Reid shows fight, but can’t hang with Lange There wasn’t much defense Saturday night when Jimmy Lange and Jonathan Reid met at George Mason University’s Patriot Center, which made their fight for the WBC USNBC Super Welterweight championship all the more entertaining. Ringside notes » Washington’s DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley rolled to a unanimous decision over Harrison “La Machina” Cuello of Albany, N.Y. to improve to 36-11-1. » Four other local boxers were successful in the preliminaries. Featherweight Jennifer “Bolivian Queen” Salinas of Manassas edged Caitlin Dance of Louisville in...

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Rutger's Lefeged reverses his fortune against Maryland, 34-13

At home in Maryland, safety throttles Turner and the Terps Two years ago, Rutgers safety Joe Lefeged helped make Chris Turner a hero. Saturday he made him pay. Playing in his home state for the first time in his college career, Lefeged forced two turnovers against the Terps quarterback, including the game-changer that gave Rutgers the lead for good in a 34-13 victory before a soggy and disappointed crowd of 43,848 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. Terps notes » With a 24-yard return on the opening kickoff, sophomore Torrey Smith became the Terps’ all-time kickoff return leader. Smith now has 1,632 yards, surpassing Keeta Covington (1983-86). Smith entered the game No....

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Homecoming for Rutgers duo

Brooks, Lefeged face Maryland Saturday As seniors at rival high schools in Germantown, Jourdan Brooks and Joe Lefeged were ranked the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers in Maryland. Trouble is, neither was a prototype. While Brooks (6-1, 245) was too thick, Lefeged (6-1, 190) was too thin. But Rutgers coach Greg Schiano wasn't deterred. He could see roles for them beyond their high school position. Three years later, Brooks and Lefeged are two of Schiano's best players. While the hard-charging Brooks, a redshirt sophomore back from Seneca Valley, ignites the offense, the hard-hitting Lefeged, a junior strong safety from Northwest, leads the defense. Saturday when Rutgers (2-1) travels to...

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Stunning views at new-look Olde Mill

McLean developer transforms resort near his hometown A few years ago, on a weekend trip to his hometown, deep in the hills of Southwest Virginia, McLean's Norris Mitchell went out to dinner with family members who still live in the area. They took him to a restaurant at a sleepy resort. The food was good, but the views, overlooking a golf course, were stunning. A few years later, when the resort was put up for sale, Mitchell bought it. Such are the options available to a well-to-do real estate developer, the co-owner of Gardner Homes Realtors. Nearly two years later, Olde Mill, 12 miles from the North Carolina border, is undergoing a $12 million facelift. The golf course and facilities...

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Courses you can play » Nothing run of the mill at Olde Mill

Location » Laurel Fork, Va. Phone » 800-753-5005 Fees » Monday-Thursday $60; Saturday $79; Friday, Sunday $75 Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6833/72.7/127 Description » Olde Mill is a 37-year-old, 18-hole resort course, undergoing a dramatic facelift, in a rustic Appalachian setting in Carroll County, 12 miles from the North Carolina border. Hilly terrain is full of lakes and streams. Lots of elevation change and water in play on all but three holes. Reasons to play » Scenery, solitude, hospitality, and a uniquely playable course with a great mix of holes. Quality layout by Ellis Maples, a Donald Ross disciple, and one of the world's most prolific course...

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Terps have been there, done that

Maryland's struggles similar to 2008 start A narrow escape against a Football Championship Subdivision team and a loss to non-BCS school Middle Tennessee State is not the recommended formula for success in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But it was the path Maryland took in 2008 on its way to an 8-5 season that included four wins over ranked teams. It's also the route the Terps must renavigate this fall to achieve their fourth straight bowl bid. A 38-35 overtime win against James Madison and Saturday's 32-31 loss to MTSU have raised questions about the strength of the Terps program, the same questions that emerged last September when Maryland edged FCS Delaware and lost at MTSU. This...

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College football outlook, 9/22/09

TOP 25 Top contenders dwindling fast With highly-ranked unbeatens USC, Utah, BYU and Georgia Tech falling, the contenders fit for a No. 1 ranking are dwindling fast. And with four of the top seven teams from the SEC, other unbeatens are soon to fall. Could this be a season where a two-loss team sneaks into the BCS championship? This week’s top eight are fairly straight-forward. After that, a trio of traditional powers, all with one loss (Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma) are bunched with five unbeatens who will be tested this weekend. At the bottom of the rankings, could have just as easily been Georgia, Georgia Tech, Nebraska or Oregon. No....

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Fearless Forecast for week of 9/20/09

EVENTS TO WATCH MLB » Dodgers at Nationals, Thursday, 7:05 p.m., MASN HD Nats have an outside shot at continuing a dubious streak. Each of last two seasons the Phillies have clinched an NL East division title vs. Washington. Even with nine games left after leaving the District, Joe Torre’s Dodgers could also be in position to clinch N.L. West by the series finale. NFL » Giants at Cowboys, Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC Lots of big story lines in Big D, but the biggest is the coming out party for new Cowboys Stadium. It’s so big it could have its own zip code. We also hear it has a pretty nice television set. NCAA men’s soccer » North Carolina at Maryland,...

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A benchmark game for Navy

The Navy football team has undergone a serious transformation. Incorporating the passing ability of junior Ricky Dobbs while sticking to its a run-oriented, triple-option formation has been a challenging experiment. The results, so far, have been impressive. The Midshipmen took Ohio State to the wire in a 31-27 loss, then whipped 2008 bowl team Louisiana Tech, 32-14. The offense has been more balanced, explosive and unpredictable. But is it better? Navy (1-1) will begin to answer that question as it faces a measuring stick game Saturday at No. 22 Pittsburgh (2-0). With 14 starters back, the Panthers have a similar look to last season when they whipped the Mids, 42-21, in Annapolis. This...

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Week 3 local college football preview

Middle Tennessee State at Maryland Players to watch Jarrett Brown Playing at Auburn (2-0), this is the first big test for the West Virginia senior quarterback who has shown his ability to pass (43-of-57, 577 yards, 4 TD) and run (19 carries, 142 yards) in leading the offensive-minded Mountaineers to a 2-0 start. Jahvid Best The Heisman Trophy candidate from No. 7 California (2-0) has had it easy so far in a pair of lopsided wins (52-13 over Maryland, 59-7 over Eastern Washington), but may have to extend himself into the fourth quarter at Minnesota (2-0), which has won ugly over Syracuse and Air Force. Tony Pike The Cincinnati quarterback, who ranks No. 4 in passing efficiency...

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Competitive on and off the course

The stereotypical female country club golfer is a married woman of leisure, playing weekday mornings after driving her kids to school. But the cliché doesn't apply at Mount Vernon Country Club, which draws a strong contingent of female players, many of them busy professionals with high-powered jobs. Earlier this month, when Mount Vernon won its second straight Virginia Women's Team title and fourth this decade, they did it with a lawyer, an FBI agent, a health care executive, a financial analyst and a software development manager. Mount Vernon won the title despite the absence of two-time Virginia Senior Amateur champion, Linda DiVall, the President and CEO of American...

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Packsaddle Ridge challenging with slope changes and water

Location » Keezletown, Va. Phone » 540-269-8188 Fees » Weekdays $45; Weekend $50 Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7024/74.2/139 Description » Set on the western slope of Masannutten Mountain, Packsaddle Ridge is a seven-year-old course that builds on the back nine. Minutes from Harrisonburg, but secluded in the wilderness, the course is full of elevation change, hardwood stands and streams that crisscross the property. Water in play on all but one hole, but is not the predominant feature. Like many mountain courses, greens have lots of hidden slope. Reason to play » Not for purists, but awesome views, reasonable prices, and playful accoutrements make...

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Terps struggle to grasp Brown ball

Defense not generating pressure or turnovers When Don Brown took over as defensive coordinator at Maryland, he introduced an aggressive risk/reward scheme. After watching their team surrender 87 points in the first two games, Maryland fans have become familiar with the risks. They're still waiting for the rewards. In the Terps' opener, a 52-13 loss at California, the Golden Bears had five plays that went for 39 or more yards. In Saturday's 38-35 overtime victory against visiting Division I-AA James Madison, the Terps yielded a 70-yard touchdown run by Dukes quarterback Drew Dudzik. Brown's unpredictable, blitzing defense is designed to get defenders to the quarterback and produce...

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College football forecast, 9/15/09

TOP 25 Mid-major teams look strong There’s not much argument about the top seven, but then it gets muddled. Weighing the relative merits of Boise St. of the WAC and Mountain West teams Brigham Young, TCU, and Utah against BCS conference powers is difficult because of strength of schedule. The three Mountain West teams will eventually sort themselves out. But Boise already has beaten its most serious foe (Oregon), and done so in unimpressive fashion. The bottom eight also are unclear. It easily could include Texas Tech, Nebraska and Boston College, or Oregon State and Georgia, teams that dropped out of the top 25 despite winning. No....

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Tuani turns the tide for Navy, 32-14

Defensive end’s first career interception is a game changer in win over Louisiana Tech ANNAPOLIS – Under a thick blanket of gray clouds, Navy’s home opener began ominously. With no apparent answer for the spread offense of Louisiana Tech and the fleet feet of Bulldogs’ speedster Phillip Livas, Navy surrendered two touchdowns before the game was 6 minutes old. For the Midshipmen, however, it was a call to arms. Answering was sophomore defensive end Jabaree Tuani, whose first career interception turned the momentum as Navy seized control and went on to defeat Louisiana Tech, 32-14, before 29,102, Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy...

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Fearless Forecast for week of 9/14/09

EVENTS TO WATCH NFL » Ravens at Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 4:15 p.m., CBS The unstoppable force meets the immovable object. The second-best scoring offense of 2008 (Chargers) will face the defense that gave up the second-fewest yards (Ravens). The edge will likely lie with Norv’s Chargers who don’t have the long plane ride — but you can never count out Ray Lewis and the boys from Charm City. MLB » Angels at Red Sox, Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., ESPN This Tuesday-Thursday series of postseason archrivals, puts the Halos in an interesting predicament. The Sawx are in a stiff Wild Card fight with the Texas Rangers — whom the Angels hold a solid, but...

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Private elegance in hunt country

The Golf Club at Creighton Farms Location » Aldie, Va. Phone » 703-957-4805 Fees » This is a private course. Initiation fee $80,000; dues $7,500 per year. Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7410/77.0/152 Description » Creighton Farms is a gated residential community with custom-built estates and an award-winning golf course, set on rolling land, rich with native vegetation, in Virginia hunt country. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course has lush bentgrass fairways and intricate green complexes with deep, furrowed bunkers. Reason to play » Immaculate conditions, an inspired layout with a great mix of holes, and top-notch amenities and service make...

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Survivor at Creighton Farms

Three ambitious golf course projects, all linked to the golden name of the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, sit tenuously on the outskirts of Northern Virginia, symbols of a bottomed-out golf industry and a struggling economy: » The Presidential in Dulles, conceived as a lavish playground for corporate high rollers, went out of business a year ago, then reopened in May as a downsized public course called the 1757 Club. » Harbor Station in Woodbridge, a residential, hotel, and conference center, sits idle, with roads barricaded, its Web site extinguished, none of its planned 4,000 units built, and Nicklaus's 18-hole, championship course going to seed. » Creighton Farms...

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College football 9/8/09

STORY LINES 1. KOed » It was the punch seen round the world. That's largely why Oregon RB LaGarrette Blount was grounded for the rest of the season after his straight right to the chin of Boise State DE Byron Hout. Sure it was an inexcusable act, but without ESPN cameras and the attendant sports talk radio uproar, the penalty wouldn't have been nearly as harsh. If Blount threw the same punch in a dorm dust up, he's in the lineup this week. But now his college career is over after rushing for 1,002 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns in 2008. 2. Bradford down, OU out? » For Oklahoma, perhaps as disheartening as the loss of 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford...

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Top 10 NFL quarterbacks to watch this year

Ten quarterbacks, ten story lines. As the 2009 NFL season kicks off, several quarterbacks are under the gun. Here are the most intriguing who will be feeling the heat of heavy expectations: 10. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs After he returns from a knee sprain — perhaps next week at Baltimore — it will be fascinating to see if Cassel can do it in Kansas City taking orders from rookie coach Todd Haley instead Bill Belichick. 9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers No stranger to offseason controversy (motorcycle accident without a helmet), Roethlisberger will try to lead the defending champion Steelers back to the Super Bowl while fending off a civil suit for sexual...

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Five to watch

Tim Tebow, Florida QB Tebow won the Heisman in 2007 and received the most first-place votes last year, but lost to Sam Bradford. The left-hander has something to prove to NFL scouts, who consider him a better prospect as a TE. Can he lead the overwhelming favorite Gators to a third national title in four years? Sam Bradford, Oklahoma QB The reigning Heisman winner threw 50 TD passes last year, but will have to do it this time behind an inexperienced line. Taking the heat off will be a pair of 1,000-yard backs, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown. With an improved defense, Bradford won't have to match his gaudy stats of 2008. Colt McCoy, Texas QB With less help than Tebow or Bradford,...

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Local college football capsules

No. 4 Virginia Tech vs. No. 8 Alabama Where » Georgia Dome, Atlanta When » Saturday, 8 p.m. TV » ABC Key matchup » Special teams. In a low-scoring game, big plays will be the difference. Under coach Frank Beamer, Tech has made special teams play an art form. But the Hokies will be tested by perhaps the nation's best punt returner, Javier Arenas, who brought back three for touchdowns last year. Why Virginia Tech will win » Because it means more to the Hokies than the Tide. While Tech (1-4 vs. top-10 teams in the last four years) wants to certify its program and conference, there are no such questions about Alabama and the SEC. In addition, Nick Saban...

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Pigskin paradise

There's no denying Washington is a Redskins town. For many Washingtonians, however, the start of the football season isn't colored burgundy and gold. These locals aren't as unified, but their passion is just as deep. They are college fans. For them, the most important games are played on Saturdays in the fall. This weekend in D.C., as another college season kicks off, there is more than the usual opening-week buzz as several area teams start with a bang. While Maryland travels to No. 14 California, and Navy begins at No. 7 Ohio State, No. 4 Virginia Tech faces No. 8 Alabama. All of the games are on national television. All are compelling. "We've been looking forward to this...

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Tree-lined municipal course playable for high handicappers

Enterprise Golf Course Location » Mitchellville Md. Phone » 301-249-2040 Fees » $38 Monday-Thursday, $48 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6750/71.7/128 Description » The 33-year-old course is a dated, tree-lined, traditional municipal with pace of play issues on the weekend. Some of the parallel fairways are tight, but the well-maintained greens are large, flat, and slow, making the course playable for high handicappers. Reason to play » Attractive layout on a solid piece of property is top municipal course in Prince George's County, and compares favorably with other Washington area publics of its era, including Algonkian, Herndon,...

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Record-breaking Westfield a force

Five standouts give undefeated Bulldogs hopes for state title The Virginia State Golf Association Foundation High School Invitational is only in its third year of existence. But that didn't make the record-breaking performance of Westfield High any less impressive last week. Getting below-par rounds from three of its five players in Wednesday's final round -- an almost unheard of feat for a high school team -- Westfield ran away with the Richard V. Smith trophy, winning the tournament by a record 19 strokes and shattering the event's scoring record by 14 shots. While Wesley Liu fired a 3-under-par 69, fellow seniors Tim Ritter (71) and Jimmy Sanders (71) also sizzled at...

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Decisions for Couples, Norman

Captains will add two players each next week The Deutsche Bank Championship is the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup. But the buzz this week at the TPC at Boston surrounds another cup. Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, Presidents Cup captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman will reveal their choices for the final two slots on their respective teams. The Presidents Cup is set for Oct. 8-11 at Harding Park in San Francisco. This weekend, U.S. captain Couples will get a first-hand look at his potential choices as he plays in the Deutsche Bank. For International captain Norman, however, his candidates are scattered around the globe. With more quality players from which to...

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Friedgen reaching young squad

Terps lack experience, but gain speed, depth If a coach's affection for his team correlated to wins, Maryland might go undefeated. The running theme this preseason for Terps coach Ralph Friedgen was the coachability and exuberance of his young squad. It's a change from last year's experienced but inconsistent team, which Friedgen struggled to reach. The 2008 Terps produced four victories over ranked teams, coupled with confounding losses to Virginia and Middle Tennessee. "There doesn't seem to be a 'Don't worry coach, we got it down' type attitude," said Friedgen. "This team is fun to be around." Constantly energized by his players in the preseason, Friedgen, 62,...

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Keeping Dobbs upright is key

Navy will go as far as junior QB takes them Navy already has lost its most irreplaceable part on defense, nose guard Nate Frazier, who was dismissed from the Academy last month. Now the top priority for the Midshipmen is to protect their most irreplaceable part on offense. To that end, Navy placed a green jersey on junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs in the preseason, meaning he was not to be touched. The hands-off treatment ends Saturday in Columbus when Navy challenges No. 7 Ohio State. Dobbs' status is of particular importance as he is the team's only experienced skill position player. Dobbs started just one game in 2008, but ranked third on the team in rushing yards (495) and second in...

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Delp wins in bold fashion

Arlington resident captures Virginia Public Links title One might have been confused watching the 18th hole in the Virginia Public Links Championship Monday at Laurel Hill. After Jason Copeland, trailing 1 down, laid up on the par 5 hole, Jimmy Delp, leading 1 up, went for the green. Standing 210 yards from the pin and peering over a hazard, it was a daring choice. But with a towering, wind-aided 6-iron that he hit to within 15 feet, Delp pulled off the courageous shot and clinched the title in the 6th annual Virginia Public Links, a tournament limited to players not affiliated with a private club. In defeating 2005 Virginia Public Links champion Copeland of Virginia Beach, Delp,...

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Can Greene make a sudden impact for Midshipmen?

Freshman back gives Navy a shot of speed Naval Academy freshmen are treated with extra derision. It's a necessary component of military training. At the academy, "plebe" is a pejorative term. With the shock treatment Navy freshmen receive, transitioning to a significant role on the football team is a major feat. But it's one that Gee Gee Greene, one of the smallest Midshipmen at 5-8, 180 pounds, is accomplishing. In Friday's final preseason scrimmage, Greene was the most impressive player on the field. On two kickoff returns, he burst into the clear before coaches whistled the play dead. At slotback, he ran under a touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Dobbs. He also...

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Fearless Forecast 08/30/09

What to watch U.S. Open Tennis, All Week, USA » One of the signs summer is slipping away - late-night tennis at the U.S. Open. Even casual fans can find themselves drawn in by the rambunctious atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the top seeds try to deal with the heat, the disorderly NYC crowd, and upset-minded challengers. South Carolina at North Carolina State, Thursday, ESPN » In last year's season opener, the Gamecocks threw four interceptions and still stomped the Wolfpack, 34-0. So it's not that we think this is a great matchup (it isn't) or that we're dying to see these two teams again (we aren't). We just miss college football. It's good to see you again, old...

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Conquer a piece of the Rock in the Shenandoah Valley

Black Rock Golf Course Location » Hagerstown, Md. Phone » 240-313-2816 Fees » $51 Monday-Friday; $61 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6646/70.9/124 Description » The 20-year-old course, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley and maintained by Washington County Golf Corporation, is full of elevation change and scenic holes. It has generous landing areas and heavily-bunkered greens. Facility has a relaxed, spread-out, country feel, a place where people know each other. Reason to play » Despite the elevation change, there are few forced carries at Black Rock. Playable, stress-free course appeals to high handicappers, but still strong enough to host...

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Is the time finally right for Burke?

Golfer to make a run at Champions Tour After two short stints, more than 20 years apart, as a golf pro, Bethesda amateur Terry Burke will take one more stab later this year when he attempts to qualify for the Champions Tour. Will the third time be a charm? Considering the way Burke played last week, luck may not be required. Firing a 64-72 - 136 Monday and Tuesday at Chestnut Ridge, Burke won the 23rd Maryland Mid-Amateur by three strokes. It was an unprecedented third state Mid-Am for Burke, who also won in 2000 and 2007. The tournament is for players age 30 and over. There was little drama last week after an opening round in which Burke reached 7-under-par through 17 holes. On...

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Will new format improve FedEx Cup?

With Woods, PGA hopes for better finish As the PGA Tour rolls out its third edition of the FedEx Cup, the four-week competition remains as mystifying as ever. Here's what we do know: Tiger Woods is on board. That alone virtually guarantees the success of Commissioner Tim Finchem's new format, whatever it is. As the competition opens this week with The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club, a quirky new course with a New York City backdrop, many are trying to figure out exactly what it will take for Woods to hoist the Cup and gather the winning $10 million check in four weeks at the Tour Championship. The finish is key to the success of this year's format. Finchem doesn't want a...

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Tate emerges for Terps

DeMatha grad having a sensational camp Kenny Tate revealed his secret Tuesday -- jelly sandwiches. For the rapidly-emerging Maryland safety, a pregame meal isn't enough. Tate needs additional fuel. So he packs two sandwiches with strawberry jam and eats them on the field. "I use the bread to hold me up when the game gets tough," said Tate. "And the jelly is sweet, so that gives me energy." After a year as a backup safety, Tate will need the extra nourishment this year. Blossoming this preseason, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore speedster is not only making a case for a starting role, but a starring one. "Kenny Tate is having a sensational camp. He's all...

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At U.S. Amateur, match play is the goal

Four local qualifiers face the ultimate test at Southern Hills Fifty years ago, when Jack Nicklaus won his first of two U.S. Amateur championships, he emerged from a field of 1,696. This year 6,948 players -- all with handicap indexes of 2.4 or better -- entered the nation's oldest golf tournament. After local and sectional qualifying, 312 players remain. The survivors convene this week at Southern Hills in Tulsa for the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship. Among them are local players Kevin McLister of Leesburg, Steve Delmar of Gaithersburg, Zach Lese of Silver Spring and 16-year-old Denny McCarthy of Burtonsville, believed to be the youngest player from the Washington area ever to...

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Fearless Forecast 08/23/09

Events to Watch Little League World Series » Saturday, ABC, 3 p.m. OK, it’s become over-commercialized, and over-analyzed, but it’s still fun. Turn on ESPN any time this week and you’ll likely catch a dose of the 16-team extravaganza. Thankfully, the title game is still Saturday afternoon from Lamade Stadium on network TV. Golf » Solheim Cup » Sunday, Golf Channel, 11 a.m. Can the U.S. women make it three straight in their biennial Ryder Cup-style competition with Europe? Sunday singles matches should hold some intrigue with players such as Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis and Suzann Pettersen under the gun. NFL preseason » Patriots at Redskins...

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Adjustment of expectations at Navy?

Loss of Frazier leaves hole on defensive line With six straight Commander in Chief Trophies and as many consecutive bowl appearances, those once-lofty goals have become routine for the Navy football team. But with an upgraded schedule, that includes eight teams that made bowl trips last year, and news this week of the dismissal of nose guard Nate Frazier, the Midshipmen might be resigned to their modest goals again. Frazier, a 6-3, 292-pound senior who had started 26 straight games and led the team in tackles for a loss in 2008, was generally considered the squad's best player and the key to an experienced defense that figured to be vastly improved. First in line to fill Frazier's...

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Big dreams, big title for Lasso

Falls Church resident, 20, wins the Amateur at International Moving from his home in Falls Church and enrolling in a golf academy in South Carolina when he was shooting scores in the high 90s took a major leap of faith for Ben Lasso. It was an even bigger commitment for his parents, who provided the funds for his expensive golf education. But five years later, Lasso has proved that big dreams are attainable. Sunday when he won the 18th Amateur at International, Lasso claimed a tournament that draws the top amateurs from the Washington area and beyond. Coming from eight strokes back in the final round, Lasso (71-76-68 - 215) tied the area's premier amateur, Pat Tallent (71-68-76 -...

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Watson commits to Constellation

Tom Watson, whose bid to become the oldest major champion in golf history fell just short at the British Open last month, has committed to play in the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. The tournament, held at Baltimore Country Club in Timonium, Oct. 1-4, is the final major on the Champions Tour calendar. Watson, 59, who missed last year’s Senior Players Championship because of hip replacement surgery, lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink at the British Open. “Anyone who follows golf, both casually and closely, will remember Tom Watson’s performance at the British Open and what a special four days we were all treated to,’ said Constellation Energy...

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Top 10 Memorable PGA Championships

10. 1975 Jack Nicklaus On No. 16 at Firestone, after hitting into a hazard, taking a drop, then hitting across the fairway into rough, Nicklaus hoisted a 9-iron over the tallest tree on the course to within 30 feet, then made the putt for a world-class par 5 on his way to edging Bruce Crampton. 9. 1972 Gary Player Bogeys at No. 14 and No. 15 dropped Player into a tie with unknown Jim Jamieson. When Player sliced his tee shot into the crowd at No. 16, he needed to stand on a fan's chair to see the green. But he fired a 9-iron over water and tall trees to within 4 feet and made the birdie putt to win. 8. 2001 David Toms On the longest par four in major championship history, David Toms...

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With a push from dad, West emerges

Local high school rules limited the field to three players in the Women's District of Columbia Golf Association Junior Thursday at Belle Haven. But that didn't make the performance of Nicole West any less impressive. West, of Upper Marlboro, fired the best score of her career, a 5-under-par 67, on her way to a 19-stroke victory. It was the final tournament this summer for West before she departs for Hampton University, where she will play on a golf scholarship. Sister Dionne, a sophomore, also plays on scholarship at Hampton. The success of the West sisters is testament to their hard work and the power of the First Tee program, which teaches children of all backgrounds life lessons...

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Woods remembers his greatest shot

Seven years later at Hazeltine, the bunker shot from heaven Tiger Woods has called it the best shot of his career. It happened seven years ago at Hazeltine National (Minn.), site of this week's PGA Championship. Playing the 18th hole in the second round of the 2002 PGA, early on a Saturday morning, Woods hooked his tee shot into a bunker on the left side of the fairway. Crouching 202 yards from the hole, trees between him and the green, Woods hoists a 3-iron over the trees and straight over the flagstick. The ball stops 15 feet past the pin. Woods makes the putt, turning a bogey into a birdie on his way to a runner-up finish to Rich Beem. 5 to Watch Steve Stricker Too nice a guy...

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Long figures it out after two tough practice rounds

Centreville resident places sixth in British Senior Amateur Every serious golfer with a sense of history, dreams of playing in Scotland. When John Long of Centreville finally got his opportunity last week at age 57, his introduction to links golf could be summed up with the expression: Be careful what you wish for. In two windblown practice rounds in preparation for the British Senior Amateur, Long shot 90 and 85, horrifying scores for a player with a scratch handicap. But Long was learning valuable lessons on seaside golf. And he applied them in the tournament, shooting 78-76-77 -- 231 to tie for sixth place in a field of 144 players, 7 strokes behind winner Robert Vallis of...

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An unforgettable touch of the Old Country at family-owned Kastle Greens

Location » Midland, Va. Phone » 540-788-3144 Fees » $35 Monday-Friday; $45 weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6734/73.9/136 Description » Family-owned, undiscovered gem in an off-road, rustic location, surrounded by farmland. Front nine is open, back nine has several wooded holes. Greens are large and flat and most can accommodate bump-and-run shots. In keeping with the country theme, Kastle Greens has a pair of cement silos and a literal cart barn. Reason to Play » Uncrowded, unconventional, inexpensive course with a Scottish feel and a variety of memorable holes. Relaxed, family atmosphere, and one of the best bargains in the Washington...

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Better late than never for Weibring

Veteran will return to defend Constellation Energy Senior Players TIMONIUM, Md. – After 33 years as a touring pro, the impact of winning his first major championship didn’t hit D.A. Weibring until he played the following week. “I’m introduced on the first tee as, ‘Major Champion, Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship,’” recalled Weibring, 56, of his ah-ha moment at the Administaff Small Business Classic, near his adopted home in Texas. Weibring has won five PGA Tour titles and five more on the Champions circuit, has earned more than $12 million, and built a highly-successful course-design business. But little could compare to the...

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In lengthy slugfest, it's del Potro over Roddick for title

In third-set tiebreaker, Argentine prevails again at Legg Mason Throwing haymakers at each other for 150 minutes Sunday, Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick played a Legg Mason Tennis Classic final fit for the most powerful city in the world. When this dizzying display of grip-it-and-rip-it tennis was over, del Potro had defended his title with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) victory and the week's fifth sellout crowd of 7,500 had witnessed high-velocity tennis at its best. With his sixth ATP title and first in seven months, del Potro earned the biggest paycheck of his career, $300,000. This year with the Legg Mason pumped up to ATP World Tour 500 status, the winner's check was $220,000...

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Top 10 D.C. tennis championships

It’s been known by many names — the Washington Star International, the D.C. Bank Tennis Classic, the Sovran Bank Classic, and finally the Legg Mason. Here are 10 memorable finals in the tournament’s 40-year history: 10. 1997 Michael Chang def. Petr Korda After beating Wayne Ferriera in the 1996 finals, Chang made it a repeat with a come-from-behind three-set win over Korda. It was just the second time in tournament history that a player successfully defended his title. 9. 2008 Juan Martin del Potro def. Viktor Troicki After losing in the second round at Wimbledon, the 19-year-old, 6-foot-6 Argentine went won four straight tournaments. His fourth came decisively at the...

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The (double) eagle has landed

St. Maxens' rare feat helps Columbia to WMGA 'A' Team win Golf's iconic thunderbolt is the hole-in-one. Players fortunate enough to get one have a story to tell for a lifetime. But much more rare is a double-eagle. Scoring a 2 on a par 5 hole can't happen to anyone -- it requires length and luck. On Saturday, District resident Colin St. Maxens, 18, pulled off the feat and picked a good time to do it, helping Columbia to a victory over Washington Golf in the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association 'A' Team finals, 12-6. St. Maxens did it on the fourth hole at Washington, a 460-yard dogleg that bends right. Playing best ball, after teammate Marty West hit his drive down the middle, St....

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Roddick wins No. 500

Milestone victory over Querrey earns top seed a berth in semifinals Friday Haas rebounds for big win Former world No. 2 topples Ferrero Injury and age have eroded the tennis skills of Tommy Hass. Formely ranked No. 2 in the world, Hass, 31, now plays to extend his career in a sport that often discards players at a much younger age. But Thursday at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, Haas recaptured his power game with an impressive showing against former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero. In winning 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, Haas advanced to the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Play continues through Sunday at Rock Creek Park in Northwest. "[Andre] Agassi showed you...

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History and a small-town feel mark experience at the Shenvalee

Location » New Market, Va. Phone » 540-740-8337 Fees » $54 Monday-Thursday, $62 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope Olde-Creek 71/6306/69.7/122 Creek-Miller 71/6539/70.4/119 Miller-Olde 72/6301/69.6/123 Description » Historic, dated resort facility with three, distinct, playable 9-hole courses, each built in a different era. In the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenvalee is minutes from Interstate 81 and offers magnificent views and friendly, down-home service. Some rooms wrap around a swimming pool, others overlook the course. Reason to play » For a unique, small-town golf getaway at a reasonable price. This is a relaxed, golf-centric...

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Woods tries something new heading into a major

The week heading into a major is usually time for Tiger Woods to hunker down in Orlando, Fla., and fine-tune his game. It's a routine that's worked well for the 14-time major champion. But this week, Woods is diverting from the script, playing in one of his favorite events, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, as he prepares for the PGA Championship, next week at Hazeltine. Woods has never played the week before the Masters, the U.S. Open or the British. But he has occasionally played the week before the PGA and it has been a sound strategy. In 2007, after Woods won the Bridgestone, he followed up with a victory in the PGA at Southern Hills. In 2000, a week after finishing 11th in the...

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McCarthy emerges Sooner than expected

16-year-old qualifies for U.S. Amateur Last week, when Denny McCarthy of Burtonsville took his first trip to Oklahoma, he made it memorable, winning the 41st Trusted Choice Big 'I' National Championship in Ardmore. Little did McCarthy know that he would be returning to the Sooner State later this summer. Tuesday at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, McCarthy shot a 2-under-par 70 for the second straight day to capture a berth in the U.S. Amateur. McCarthy, 16, is believed to be the youngest player ever from the Washington area to qualify. He travels to Tulsa for the 109th Amateur, Aug. 24-30, at Southern Hills. "This is pretty awesome," said McCarthy, a junior this fall at...

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Another run for Devvarman?

What is it about the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center that so appeals to Somdev Devvarman? Is it the 90-degree heat that reminds him of his native India? Is it the cosmopolitan city that welcomes him as an appealing underdog? Or is it the D.C. fans who have adopted him as their own after a stellar career at the University of Virginia, where he won two NCAA singles titles? Whatever the reason, magic seems to happen when Devvarman plays at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Last year, it was a stunning run to the quarterfinals after surviving the qualifying rounds. Tuesday night, Devvarman pulled off his most impressive, and most improbable, win in Rock Creek Park, toppling No. 6 seed...

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Ohio State is a daunting test, but Navy is ready for opener

Mids relish the chance to face Buckeyes Any notion that the Navy football team might have had about easing into the 2009 season was dispelled when the Midshipmen discovered their opening-game opponent -- Ohio State. "September fifth, 12 p.m., Eastern time," says Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs, the date firmly imprinted in his memory. That's when the Midshipmen will make the long walk down the tunnel in Columbus and emerge in front of 100,000 mostly red-clad fans at the Buckeyes' monstrous stadium, a.k.a. "The Horseshoe." It's an atmosphere the Midshipmen have never experienced. But don't expect them to feel like the Christians being led into the Coliseum in...

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Kelly's timing is right

Villanova junior is brilliant in final round of the Metro Amateur How satisfying is it to play your best in the biggest tournament of your life? Ask Brendan Kelly of Annapolis, winner of the 90th Metropolitan Amateur. Sunday at Manor Country Club, in the 36-hole championship match against Bobby Fox of South Riding, Kelly, 20, played his final 18 holes in 6-under par -- 64 immaculate strokes to a title. Kelly, a junior this fall at Villanova, subdued Fox, a junior at Longwood, 3 and 1. "This was really big for me," said Kelly. "I won a college tournament in the fall, but this is the first big tournament I've ever won." On a day when he trailed 3 down after eight...

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A Legg up for Washington Tennis

A new designation pumps up the field at annual D.C. tourney Revamping the ATP Tour has done nothing to improve the moods of the world's top tennis professionals. But it has done wonders for the profile of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. As an ATP World Tour 500 event, the Legg Mason now offers more ranking points to the winner (500 vs. 175) and a larger purse ($1.4 million vs. $600,000). As a result, 14 of the world's top 25 players will compete next week. Preliminary play begins Saturday at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. "This is as strong a field as we've had since I've been involved," said Jeff Newman, tournament director since 1995. "In...

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Mulieri goes back-to-back

When the Washington area’s top juniors, most raised on elite private courses, make their annual trek to Glenn Dale Golf Club to compete in the Bubby Worsham Memorial, many turn their nose up on the heavily-played public course. But Jay Mulieri, a member at Avenel, has a special affection for the Prince George’s County course. He grew up playing Glenn Dale and has sweet memories, especially the last two years. Firing an even-par 70 in the final round Wednesday, Mulieri won the Bubby Worsham by one stroke, becoming just the fourth repeat winner in the tournament’s 58-year history. So after he was handed the trophy again in the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association...

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36 holes of heaven at Queenstown

Location » Queenstown, Md. Phone » 800-827-5257 Fees » $89 Monday-Thursday; $119 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope The River 72/7110/74.2/138 The Lakes 71/6569/71.0/124 Description » Two distinct 18 hole courses -- one long and tough, the other short and forgiving -- on one of the most inviting pieces of golf course property in Maryland. At the confluence of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay, the 18-year-old facility wraps around the historic Eastern Shore village of Queenstown, seamlessly incorporating ponds, wetlands, hardwood stands, and water views. Reason to play » Excellent scenery and conditions, a wide variety of interesting...

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Kim surprises many, including himself

First career victory comes in Maryland Amateur Public Links After firing an opening round 71 to take the lead in the 36-hole Maryland Amateur Public Links Friday, Joseph Kim waited out two rain delays and received some less-than-flattering encouragement from his friends. “They said, ‘You better pray for rain to keep pouring,’” said Kim, a Rockville resident. “They didn’t think I could keep the lead if we played 36 holes. So I started thinking, ‘If it storms, I win.’ Instead I should have been thinking, ‘If I play well, I win.’” But after the rain subsided, Kim surprised his pals, others in the field of 67, and even...

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Delmar is a qualified success

21-year-old secures U.S. Amateur berth HUNT VALLEY, MD. - If finishing six strokes shy of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur was mildly disappointing for Steve Delmar in 2007, missing by a single stroke last summer was downright unbearable. But Monday at Hayfields, Delmar, a 21-year-old from Gaithersburg, made sure, firing a 5-under-par 139 for 36 grueling holes in 90-degree heat at Hayfields Country Club to comfortably secure an elusive berth in the Amateur. Monday's humid conditions were preparation for what promises to be a warm U.S. Amateur championship, Aug. 24-30, at Southern Hills in Tulsa. "Sweet, excited, ready to go," said Delmar, a junior at Coastal Carolina. "I...

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Golf’s sympathetic figure?

When you’re tall, fit, tan, blond, rich, wildly successful in business, and married to an attractive tennis legend, it’s not easy to be a sympathetic figure. But that’s how golf fans view Greg Norman. After compiling a staggering list of major championship disappointments on the PGA Tour, Norman is keeping with the script on the Champions circuit. In the Senior Open Championship in the suburbs of London, Norman did it again with a signature Sunday collapse that included a tentative putting and questionable decision-making. At No. 17, a short par 4 where most players teed off with hybrids and irons, Norman pulled a driver out of his bag and blocked it right, into the...

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Fearless Forecast 07/26/09

Events to watch Golf » British Senior, Sunday, 1-3 p.m., ABC Tom Watson, 59, on the leader board in a tournament in the British Isles? Have we seen this episode before? The competition isn’t as stiff as last week in the British Open, but the story line is the same as Watson tries to become the oldest major winner, this time, on the Champions Tour. CONCACAF Gold Cup final » U.S. vs. Mexico, Sunday, 3 p.m., FOX Soccer Channel The meeting between these two clubs that really matters is in 17 days, when they meet in a crucial World Cup qualifying match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. But the region title is on the line today, and the intensity of this rivalry will add to...

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McCarthy falls in Junior Amateur

Denny McCarthy of Burtonsville fell in the second round of match play in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship Thursday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. McCarthy lost 3 and 2 to Yosuke Asaji of Japan. McCarthy, a junior this fall at Georgetown Prep, lost three of the first four holes and never got closer than 2 down in the match. McCarthy qualified for match play by shooting a 72-74 — 146 in the opening rounds of metal play Monday and Tuesday, tying for 15th place in a field of 156 players. Locals Sean Bosdosh of Clarksburg (81-77—158), Paul Warnquist of Rockville (74-85 — 159), and Tyler Wingo of Fairfax (81-84 — 165) missed the cut. The top 64...

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On brink of defeat, Lynch turns it around for the win

With brother's help, Lynch wins Maryland Women's Amateur Younger brothers are often a source of irritation for teenage girls. But Thursday after the 88th Maryland Women's Amateur, Kelly Lynch, 19, credited brother Jamie, 17, for helping her win the biggest title of her career. Trailing Elyse Smidinger 3 down with four holes left, Lynch's mood matched her predicament. But with a boost from her caddie, Jamie, a senior this fall at Severna Park High, Lynch regained her spirits and her swing. Winning the last four holes, Lynch, a junior at James Madison University, overtook Smidinger for a dramatic victory, 1 up, at Old South Country Club. "I didn't think I was going to win, to...

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Tallent emerges in Middle Atlantic Senior

Congressional member beats friend Brundred HAGERSTOWN - Playing with fellow Congressional Country Club member, Ben Brundred III, gave Pat Tallent a level of comfort in the Middle Atlantic Senior Amateur Wednesday. As the tournament co-leaders, sharing the same cart, rolled down the fairways of Fountain Head Country Club, they chatted throughout. But on the first hole, Tallent took the friendship a bit too far, hitting his ball out-of-bounds on his way to a triple-bogey, gift-wrapping a 3-stroke lead for his buddy. But Tallent, 55, got it back together quickly, playing the next 15 holes in 5-under-par on his way to a final-round 70 and the title in his first year of eligibility. Firing...

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Private feel and tough greens mark Greystone

Location » White Hall, Md. Phone » 410-887-1945 Fees » $56 Weekday; $76 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope » 72/6925/73.5/139 Description » Municipal course with the feel of a privately-owned upscale. In a picturesque valley surrounded by farms in the middle of Maryland horse country in northern Baltimore County, Greystone features elevation change, expansive, undulating greens, attractive landscaping, bunker clusters and two man-made lakes. Reason to play » Challenging layout with a variety of memorable holes. Amenities include top-notch clubhouse and state-of-the-art GPS. Ranked No. 26 among municipal courses in the U.S. by Golfweek. Only...

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At British Senior, all eyes on Watson

Does the British Open runner-up have some gas left in the tank? With his near-victory in the British Open, 59-year-old Tom Watson has given the Champions Tour a credibility boost. For the over-50 circuit, the synergy couldn't be better as Watson remains in the British Isles this week for the Senior Open Championship. Watson has done his best to bring visibility to the event, better known as the British Senior, winning in each of the last three odd-numbered years. With a victory in 2009, Watson would not only become the oldest winner of a Champions Tour major and the second man to win four British Seniors, he would further enhance his reputation as the best links golfer in...

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Top 10 Memorable British Opens

The British Open, the oldest major in professional golf, has a storied past that spans four-time winners Old Tom Morris and his son, Young Tom Morris, and three-time champion Tiger Woods. Here are 10 of the most memorable Open Championships: 10. 2007 at Carnoustie It was the Open nobody wanted. Sergio Garcia blew a 6-shot lead. Andres Romero made 10 birdies in the final round but a double bogey on the 71st hole. Padraig Harrington double bogeyed the 72nd hole but recovered to beat Garcia in a playoff. 9. 1979 at Royal Litham & St. Annes 22-year-old Seve Ballesteros made the clinching birdie on the 71st hole after hitting his tee shot under a parked car and getting a free drop. The...

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In dramatic fashion, Bassler wins Maryland Open

Amateur drains 25-foot birdie putt on final hole PHOENIX, MD. - It was all slipping away for Matt Bassler -- his game, his four-shot lead, his stranglehold on the biggest title of his golf career. But one thing Bassler never lost was his composure. Faced with the most crucial putt of his life, Bassler got it all back. Pouring in a 25-footer for birdie on the 18th hole at Hillendale Country Club, Bassler, 23, won the 88th Maryland Open, punctuating his dramatic recovery with an overhand first pump toward the hole. It was a win for the ages. After signing his scorecard, Bassler received a hug from his father, Billy Bassler, a teaching pro at Rolling Road, who has come close but never...

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Shotmakers course full of demanding par 3s

Location » Woodbridge, Va. Phone » (703) 497-1384 Fees » $49 Weekday; $59 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 70/5577/68.5/121 Description » Tight, 12-year-old shotmakers course, with a circuitous routing scheme, set on the water where the Occoquan River meets the Potomac. Course borders Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge and runs through the Belmont Bay development, which includes an array of new and old housing, high-rise hotels and condos, a marina, a river walk, and a town center. Course designed by Bob Mortensen. Reason to play » Great mix of memorable holes, incorporating woodlands, wetlands, highlands, river views, and a wildlife refuge. Given the...

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Who's Tiger's No. 2?

Phil Mickelson is home as wife Amy battles cancer. Ernie Els is making more wine than cuts. Padraig Harrington hasn't cashed a PGA check in two months. Jim Furyk hasn't won a tournament in almost two years. Sergio Garcia has a broken heart. And Vijay Singh is pitching Viagra. As the British Open begins today at Turnberry, the question is: What happened to all of Tiger Woods' competition? With so many other players with major-championship chops off the radar, has Tiger ever had such a clear path in a major? Woods, a victor two weeks ago at the AT&T National, is a 13 to 5 favorite. His chance of winning, according to the William Hill Betting House of London, is more than 10 times...

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The young and the stressful

We’re not putting Jason Campbell on this list. We know he’s on the hot seat and could be elsewhere. We’re not putting the rookie quarterbacks here, either, because, well, they need time. And we’d include Vince Young except that he isn’t likely to start, barring a major turnaround. But there are three other young quarterbacks who will be heavily scrutinized this season: Matt Cassel » He must prove that he was not a one-year fluke and that he deserves the money. One thing we do know is that he’s no Scott Mitchell, the epitome of one-year wonders. The difference is their approach: Mitchell was not considered coachable and thought he was above...

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Have the Lakers improved in offseason?

Is this a trade you would make: Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest? Me neither. But it could be one the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers essentially make this offseason. They've already lost Ariza and gained Artest. But they've now pulled their offer to Odom off the table. In pro sports, however, nothing is ever off the table permanently. Consider this an attention grabber. "He will come back crawling," one NBA source said of Odom. His options are limited: Few teams have the room to offer him the $10-million-a-year contract he wants. The Lakers only want to give him $9 million a year. Odom is an inconsistent offensive player, but his length as a perimeter...

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No loser in Virginia Women's Amateur

Oakton's Greenlief falls to U.Va. teammate Some losses are easier to accept. Take, for example, Lauren Greenlief's defeat in the 84th Virginia Women's Amateur. Facing close friend Whitney Neuhauser in the match-play finals Friday at Danville Golf Club, Greenlief engaged her University of Virginia teammate in a high-level showdown that went 20 holes. When Neuhauser hit a pitching wedge to within 10 inches on the second playoff hole, it was an appropriate conclusion to a dazzling match that included 13 birdies. Bidding to become the first player in 18 years to win the Virginia Women's Stroke Play and Amateur titles in the same season, Greenlief had no regrets on her performance -- six...

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From Russia with touch

Chantilly’s Ritter wins Bobby Bowers Memorial As an elementary schooler in Russia, Timur Khassanov’s favorite sport was soccer. But that was before he moved to the United States, acquired a new name and was introduced to golf. A decade later, Khassanov, now known as Tim Ritter, is one of the best schoolboy players in the Washington area. Thursday the Chantilly resident proved it with a resounding victory over Sean Bosdosh of Clarksburg, 7 and 5, in the Bobby Bowers Memorial at Springfield Country Club. Ritter’s domination of the 16-17 Division final was an appropriate conclusion. In winning six grueling rounds of match-play the last three days, the only time Ritter...

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Courses you can play: Maryland National Golf Club

Maryland National Golf Club Location » Middletown, Md. Phone » 301-371-0000 Fees » $79 Weekday; $89 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 71/6811/73.1/139 Description » Seven-year-old course with dramatic layout on rugged terrain. Plenty of trouble comes in the form of forced carries, wetlands, fairway bunkers, woodlands, tall fescue grass, and elevation change. Reason to play » Majestic mountain views, immaculate conditions, strong amenities, and another intriguing design by Arthur Hills. Latest among a competitive collection of upscale courses in Frederick County including Worthington Manor, Musket Ridge, Whiskey Creek, and P.B. Dye. All came online between...

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Women's U.S. Open under a cloud

This week spotlight falls on troubled LPGA Oh woe is the LPGA. In a week when Tiger Woods is changing diapers in Florida and his tour moves to one of its lowest profile events, the John Deere Classic, the women assume the spotlight in Bethlehem, Pa. for their signature event -- the U.S. Women's Open. But do they really want the attention this week? This Women's Open will be played under a dark cloud after news that a group of the circuit's most influential players have called for the resignation of Commissioner Carolyn Bivens. After Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, and others met for dinner during last week's Jamie Farr Classic, they sent a letter to the LPGA...

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Club techs keep pros on course

Trailers allow players chance to make tweaks Wearing safety glasses and an apron, Wade Liles looks like a junior high shop teacher. But he is a fixture in a much more glamorous environment, the PGA Tour. Liles works in the TaylorMade trailer, building, tweaking, and maintaining clubs. At Congressional last week, approximately 45 of the 120 players in the field were under contract with the California-based company. In a span of 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon, Liles was visited by pros John Malinger, Richard S. Johnson and Dean Wilson. Also waiting to see the club doctor were the caddies for two other players. On occasion, players will enter the trailer and work on the clubs...

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Nice story, not All-Star worthy

No, the fate of the free world doesn't depend on which players make the final rosters for Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis. But it would still be nice if the decisions were made with some sort of consistent logic. Instead -- with fans, players and managers all having some say in who represents the American League and National League teams -- there is always a list of head-scratching choices. This year's questionable decisions: Josh Hamilton as a starter? The Texas slugger was a great story at last year's Home Run Derby in New York and fans have a right to pick players they want to see. But it's still hard to accept Hamilton as an All-Star when he's played in just 35...

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AT&T National's perfect storm

Anthony Kim was an appealing winner of the AT&T National in 2008. But where television ratings are concerned, he was no match for tournament host Tiger Woods, who drew three times as many viewers Sunday as Kim's victory pulled last year. According to CBS, Sunday's broadcast drew a 4.6 rating and an 11 share, up from a 1.5 rating and a 3 share last year. It was the highest rating for a non-major on CBS since the Buick Invitational in January, 2008, also won by Woods. The tournament was an overwhelming success in person as well -- all four days drew record crowds. From Tuesday-Sunday, 194,073, came to Congressional, an increase from 107,120 last year when Woods missed the tournament...

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Don't expect Ovechkin to back down

Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin is Russian to the core. The two-time Hart Trophy winner said time and again last season that playing in the Winter Olympics in his home country in 2014 is a "dream" and that he would be bitterly disappointed if the NHL tries to prevent its players from participating. Ovechkin is backing up his words. He was named Monday an "official ambassador" to the 2014 games in Sochi, the Black Sea resort town that will host the Olympics when Ovechkin is still just 28. But will he even have the chance? NHL owners and general managers were not happy with the way injuries were reported back to them during the Turin Olympics in 2006 and tabled...

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Woods revises the script

Host edges Mahan to win AT&T National Battling his heir apparent, Anthony Kim, in the final twosome, tournament host Tiger Woods couldn't have conjured up a better story line for his third AT&T National. When Hunter Mahan inserted himself into the script, Woods re-wrote the ending. Rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, Woods defeated Mahan by a stroke to win at Congressional Country Club. Shooting a 3-under-par 67 Sunday, Woods (64-66-70-67 -- 267) finished 13-under to hold off the onrushing Mahan, who matched the course record with a final-round 62. In winning his tournament for the first time, Woods captured a first-place check of $1.08 million. "It was a...

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Prowling 18 holes with Tiger Woods

At Congressional, Woods' fans are in awe It's 7:35 a.m. Friday, 37 minutes before Tiger Woods is to tee off in the second round of the AT&T National, and his fans have already gathered at the driving range, 10 rows deep and on tiptoes, to see the world's greatest golfer. For the next five hours at Congressional Country Club, Woods will be the focus of tens of thousands. People will stand 10-20 deep at tee boxes and greens. They will line every fairway and every path from green to tee. They will pick spots on high ground, often hundreds of yards away. Walking 18 holes with Woods is an exercise in adulation. His fans are different. They are polite and respectful. When he walks off...

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Kim-pressive opening

With course-record 62, defending champ picks up where he left off AT&T National defending champion Anthony Kim said all the right things Thursday. He's not hitting driver on every par 4. He's not firing at every pin. He's not trying to drain every putt. He's gaining an appreciation for the course management skills of players such as Jim Furyk. So standing on the 9th fairway, 283 yards from the pin, leading the AT&T by two strokes at 8-under-par, what does Kim do? Naturally, he goes for it. Stuffing his 3-wood back in his bag and pulling out a hybrid, Kim fires just short of the green, into a bunker. After blasting to within 10 feet and missing his birdie putt, Kim...

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Even Tiger no match for Mother Nature

After 64, Woods wants Congressional to play harder and faster Tiger Woods says he’d like to see Congressional play tougher for his AT&T National, but admits there’s one thing even he can’t control — the weather. Wednesday night’s storm dumped enough water on Congressional Blue to soften the 7,255-yard course, especially for those who teed off in the morning. Defending champion Anthony Kim took advantage of the conditions to fire a course-record 62. In the afternoon, Woods shot a 64. “You can be so aggressive out there — fire at a lot of flags. The fairways get wide, because it’s not going to run out,” said Woods. “If you...

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Opening act is a success

Finchem addresses drug-testing program After leading his partners, including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and House Minority Leader John Boehner, around Congressional in the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, Tiger Woods hit the ceremonial first shot of the AT&T National Wednesday morning. Flanked by wounded warriors, Maj. Ken Dwyer of Fort Bragg, N.C. and Staff Sgt. Ramon Padilla of Walter Reed Medical Center, Woods told the others to hit "on the count of three." In unison, Woods and the soldiers, both with prosthetic left arms, hit solid shots down the first fairway of Congressional's Blue Course. The ceremony was hosted by WJLA anchor Leon Harris and included a...

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More Tiger-proofing?

Club specifications ruling will be upheld A day after playing newly refurbished Avenel, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem made an announcement that reverberated across the street Tuesday morning to Congressional, host of this week's AT&T National. Finchem said that the PGA is standing by the United States Golf Association's recent ruling on club specifications and will put them into effect on Jan. 1. Next year, PGA Tour professionals must play with clubs that will put less backspin on the ball. Recent club technology allows players to spin the ball from out of the rough, allowing them to stop the ball on the green and mitigate the penalty for drives that fail to find...

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Changes at Avenel

On most holes at Avenel, greens and tees are in relatively the same locations. These are the exceptions: Hole No. 6 Hole converted from a par 5 to par 4. The green was shifted from the right side of Rock Run to the left. It now measures a staunch 493 yards. Result » Hole has gone from gimmicky to one of the best on the course. Hole No. 9 Greg Norman will be happy to discover that the hole he suggested should "be blown up," finally has. The green, formerly a 60-foot drop from the tee, now sits on the hillside, further left. Result » Dramatic change for the better. Now a gentile 20-foot drop to green. Hole No. 10 Hole converted from par 4 to par 5. Green...

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Meanwhile, over at Avenel

Redesign has made the Potomac course tougher and better On the eighth green Monday when Brad Faxon saw Avenel general manager Mike Sullivan and designer Steve Wenzloff, he quickly made his feelings known about the steroid-injected course. "Man, this is the hardest course I've ever played," said the PGA Tour veteran. "You gotta take it easier on us." Faxon had yet to see 10 holes, but eight were enough to convince the PGA Tour veteran of Avenel's new teeth. At 7,262 yards and at par 70 (with a rating of 74.9 and a slope of 145), the renovated course with a new name -- TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm -- is longer, tougher, and more traditional than its quirky,...

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Not Tiger's field of dreams

Only 13 of the top 50 to play Congressional With Congressional undergoing renovation in preparation for the 2011 U.S. Open, this year's AT&T National is one last chance for the world's best players to take on the famed Blue Course. That would seem to be reason to draw a strong field for the third annual event. Instead, 37 of the world's top 50 are staying home this week. The poor turnout continues a trend of decreased player interest in the Tiger Woods-hosted event. The tournament drew 22 of the world's top 50 in its inaugural year, 2007, and 17 of the top 50 last July. Where television ratings and attendance are concerned, any field that includes Woods is a good one. His...

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Can the Congressional renew Kim?

Defending champion regaining his game When Tiger Woods missed the 2008 AT&T National, Anthony Kim did the near-impossible task of filling the void. With a final round 65, Kim fist-pumped his way to a charismatic victory. Clad in Nike and raised in Southern California with Asian bloodlines, comparisons to Woods was unavoidable. A year later, however, the AT&T National remains Kim's last PGA Tour win. What happened to the player who eagerly embraced his identity as America's next great golfer? "This year has been very frustrating to say the least," said Kim, 24. "I was definitely looking for far bigger and better things." This week at Congressional Country...

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Nats finally bust it loose

Heroes galore in Nats' 9-3 win over Red Sox Fans of the bullpen-challenged Washington Nationals have learned a hard lesson this season — no lead is safe. So as the Nats built a big advantage against the Boston Red Sox Thursday night, joy was tempered by memories of good games gone bad. But in the seventh inning, when Willie Harris blasted a two-run home run high in the rightfield stands, giving Washington an eight-run bulge, there was no more trepidation. As Harris circled the bases, the Nats piped Chuck Brown’s “Bustin Loose” over the loudspeaker. Report card MVP Rookie Jordan Zimmermann quieted the hot bats of the Red Sox and their boisterous fans, who took...

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1757 Golf Club building its way to a full 18-hole public course

Description » Originally designed as an upscale private course, catering to corporate clients, and named the Presidential, the facility has been opened to the public after builders were evicted last fall with the course halfway built. Ten holes are complete. The rest will be ready next spring. Built on marshland near Broad Run and Redskins Park, 1757 is managed by Billy Casper Golf. Reason to play » To preview what could become an outstanding public course. Interesting design and excellent bentgrass conditions leave you anxious to play the full 18 holes, the last eight of which are in various stages of completion. Range and practice facility are expansive and lush with all...

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Pooling their resources to an amateur title

They were once Washington area schoolboy rivals. But these days, Sheldon Buytenhuys gives Jason Pool swing advice. Last weekend at River Creek, when Pool, a former Virginia AAA state champion at Langley, won the 36th Northern Virginia Amateur, he credited Buytenhuys, a former Churchill standout, now a teaching pro at Trump National. Pool, 33, a member at River Bend, shot 68-74-73 -- 215 to beat Blair Johnson (Chantilly National) by two strokes, winning the tournament for the first time after runner up finishes in 2001 (to Brian Quackenbush) and 2005 (to Dan Hosek). "It was nice, especially being so close before," said Pool. "It kind of came out of the blue. I had not...

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Funk commits to Constellation

Former Maryland golf coach Fred Funk, the runner-up at the 2008 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, has committed to this year's event, tournament officials announced today. The tournament, the Champions Tour's final major of the season, returns to historic Baltimore Country Club Sept. 28-Oct. 4. "Fred put on a tremendous show last year when he finished one shot behind D.A. Weibring," said Tournament Executive Director Steve Schoenfeld. "He's a fan favorite here with his ties to the University of Maryland, and we're thrilled he's committed to play this year's event." One of three Champions Tour regulars in the U.S. Open, along with Tom Lehman and...

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New stroke garners record-breaking results

Local golfer matches event's best score ever After a redshirt freshman year at the University of Virginia, Oakton's Lauren Greenlief entered the summer with little idea how her new golf swing would hold up under tournament pressure. With her victory in the Virginias Women's Stroke Play Championship, Greenlief's rebuilt swing has passed a major test. Not only did Greenlief (72-68-70 - 210) win the tournament at Richmond's Meadowbrook Country Club, the 18-year-old matched the best score ever in the 32-year event, and fired her career-low round. "It's awesome to see it all pay off," said Greenlief. "The new swing has given me so much more consistency, and with that, more...

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The glamorous life at Woodmont

Wie, O'Neal draw fans but come up short Playing lead roles in U.S. Women's Open Sectional qualifying Monday at Woodmont Country Club were Michelle Wie and the fabulous navel of Blair O'Neal. Wie, arguably the most recognizable women's golfer in the world, despite her failure to win an LPGA tournament, and O'Neal, a struggling mini-tour pro, who owes her fame to her looks, her minimalist attire, and the Golf Channel reality show, Big Break Prince William Island, were an eye-catching duo as they played 36 holes together Monday. But despite drawing the most onlookers, neither qualified. In a strong field of 111 players, many who competed Sunday in the LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock,...

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Birdie binge propels Mulieri

Silver Spring resident closes in on winning Maryland Amateur Effortlessly, Zach Lese slipped the back edge of his Bettinardi putter under the coin and tossed it to Jay Mulieri. Conceding three straight holes in the finals of the Maryland Amateur, Lese became adept at the concession flip Tuesday at the Chevy Chase Club. It wasn’t because Lese was playing poorly. He was caught in his opponent’s buzzsaw. Making five straight birdies, Mulieri had taken control in his efforts to win the same tournament claimed by his brother, Mike, a year ago. When a thunderstorm struck and play was called in their 36-hole final, Mulieri had the lead, 3 up, with three holes left. Play will...

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Party time for Gronberg

Swedish veteran wins PG County Open Mathias Gronberg's first look at Woodmore Country Club was for a bachelor party. Eleven years later, when Gronberg returned to Woodmore, he had another reason to celebrate. Firing an immaculate 19-under par, Gronberg won his first tournament in six years, the Melwood Prince George's County Open. Shooting 68-69-67-65 - 269, Gronberg ran away from the field in the final round, turning the bunched leaderboard into a rout. On a day he played 36 holes after Friday's rainout, Gronberg rolled to a six-stroke victory over Robert Damron and Justin Bolli, matching the largest victory margin on the Nationwide Tour this year. "It was a pleasure to play...

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History beckons for Mulieri(s)

In Maryland Amateur, Mulieri shooting for a family repeat When defending champion Mike Mulieri, 22, was knocked out of the Maryland Amateur Saturday morning, it was younger brother, Jay, 19, who came to his defense. Defeating Phil Fairbanks in 19 tension-filled holes Saturday afternoon, Mulieri avenged his brother's surprising loss. Two days later, Jay Mulieri has a chance to make history. With a win Tuesday over Zach Lese, 26, in the 36-hole final at Chevy Chase, Mulieri can become the first player in the 88-year history of the Maryland Amateur to match the accomplishment of his brother. "We want to keep the family name on the trophy," said Mulieri, a member at Avenel....

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Fairbanks takes on the Mulieri family at the Maryland Amateur

Playoff survivor brings down defending champ It took 36 hours to complete a nine-man playoff for two slots in the Maryland Amateur. For the ultimate survivor, Phil Fairbanks, it was good preparation for his match-play opener against top-seeded Mike Mulieri. Matching the defending champion shot-for-shot, Fairbanks upset Mulieri, 1 up, Saturday morning at Chevy Chase Club. Quarterfinal pairings » Phil Fairbanks (Hobbits Glen) Jay Mulieri (Avenel) vs. Brendan Kelly (Naval Academy) » Charlie Winegardner (Old South) vs. Denny McCarthy (Argyle) » David Nocar (Chartwell) or Zach Lese (Argyle) vs. Jeff Graf (Little Bennett) or John Howson (Towson) » Chris Rockwell...

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Hultzen embraces full-time duty

Virginia recruited Bethesda's Danny Hultzen to be a pitcher. But Hultzen has been much more. This weekend when Virginia (46-12-1) plays at Mississippi (43-18) in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional, the Cavaliers will be counting on more from Hultzen than any other player. The St. Albans graduate is a rarity at college baseball's top level -- an everyday player who pitches. In his freshman season, Hultzen has a 9-1 record with a 2.01 ERA. When he's not on the mound, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-hander plays first base, batting .335. "It wasn't the plan," said Hultzen of his full-time role. "I didn't have the confidence that I could hit at this level. But once we got into...

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Who to watch this year at the Melwood

Nationwide Tour event begins play Thursday Nationwide Tour events include players in a variety of stages of their careers. Here are a few to watch when the Melwood Prince George's County Open tees off today at the Country Club at Woodmore: Michael Sim » Has won twice this year. With a victory this week, the Australian, 24, would become the first man to earn automatic promotion to the PGA Tour since fellow Australian (and housemate) Nick Flanagan achieved the feat two years ago. Sim leads the Nationwide in money ($370,567), putts per round (28.4) and is third in driving accuracy (83.0 percent), on which there is a premium at tree-lined, thick-roughed Woodmore. Sim graduated from...

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Expect Woodmore to play tough at this weekend's Melwood Open

Country Club at Woodmore Location » Mitchellville, Md Phone » 301-249-6100 Fees » Private Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7059/75.0/137 Description » Traditional 28-year-old course with tree-lined fairways, dogleg holes, push-up greens, and water hazards. Arnold Palmer-Ed Seay design is rated by “Golf Digest” as one of the top 10 courses in the mid-Atlantic. The centerpiece of a gated community, but homes line the fairway on only four holes. Historical perspective » Established in 1923 as Prince George’s County Golf and Country Club and located on nearby Landover Road, the club moved to its present site in 1981. Name was changed to Woodmore...

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They don't know Jack

Grudgingly, Nicklaus softens Muirfield Last year when tournament host Jack Nicklaus kicked Muirfield Village Golf Club up a notch with furrowed bunkers, thick rough and rock-hard greens in an attempt to replicate major-championship conditions, he might have gone overboard. Playing to a stroke average of 74.6, the Memorial was the most difficult tournament on the PGA Tour. But this year, with an elite field returning to Dublin, Ohio, Nicklaus has softened his course and quieted his critics. Getting Nicklaus to admit that he did so under pressure, however, is another matter. According to Nicklaus, the PGA asked him to tone down some of the more penal aspects of Muirfield...

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Five to watch at Memorial

Tiger Woods Ya think? After skipping the Texas three-step, expect Woods to return to the tour with his driving woes corrected as he preps for the U.S. Open in two weeks. As a three-time winner of Memorial, it's safe to assume Woods likes this course. Kenny Perry Defending champion won his third Memorial last year and has shown no signs of decline at age 48, with six top-10 finishes in 13 events this season. Won the FBR in March. Kentucky native loves playing close to home in Ohio. Steve Marino After another close call last week, losing to Steve Stricker in three-man playoff, Marino is vying with Tim Clark for the dubious distinction of "best player without a PGA...

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At 42, Johnson a surprise

Winner last week tees off in Melwood P.G. County Open After missing 30 of 36 cuts the last two years on the Nationwide Tour, Kevin Johnson considered the possibility that his journeyman golf career was over. Who could blame him? With a wife and two young daughters at home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Johnson had ample reason to seek an alternate occupation after earning $6,479 in 2008. But this year has brought sudden and unexpected success. In winning in a playoff last week at the Rex Hospital Open in Raleigh, N.C., Johnson has virtually locked up a slot on the 2010 PGA Tour and done it at the unlikely age of 42. Thursday at Woodmore Country Club, Johnson tees off, along with 155...

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Fearless Forecast

WHAT TO WATCH PGA » The Memorial, Thursday-Sunday After skipping the Texas Three Step, Tiger Woods returns to the PGA Tour this week for Jack Nicklaus' annual event in Dublin, Ohio. Woods took the Memorial three straight years (1999-2001), but hasn't won since. He'll be challenged by defending champion Kenny Perry, also a three-time winner. NHL » Penguins at Red Wings, Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC HD Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals -- a rematch between last year's finalists -- will take place on network television in prime time. And that's a good thing because then the series disappears back to VERSUS for Games 3 and 4. NBC would broadcast the final three games. MLB »...

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Mason tries to make history

No Washington-area team has ever made the CWS When Billy Brown moved from New Jersey to Falls Church in middle school, he had no trouble fitting it. A sharp-tongued, three-sport star, Brown introduced his new neighbors to his humorous, Philadelphia lexicon, which he delivered in an entertaining staccato. Nearly four decades later, in his 28th year as baseball coach at George Mason University, Brown is still holding court, taking his loose, confident Patriots to the NCAA tournament. Tonight in Greenville, N.C., when Mason (42-12) plays South Carolina (38-21), the Patriots hope to take their first step toward uncharted territory — the College Baseball World Series. Since the...

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Traditional layout and affordable course at Potomac Ridge

Location » Waldorf, Md. Phone » (301) 372-1305 Fees » $49 Weekday; $57 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope Meadows/Hollow » 71/6603/71.9/135 Hollow/Ridge » 73/6747/72.8/139 Ridge/Meadows » 72/6600/71.9/131 Description » Secluded, 14-year-old, 27-hole course, on the border of Prince George's and Charles counties. Traditional layout and a mixture of wooded and open holes. Moderately-sized greens are flat and relatively slow. Reason to play » Affordable course for players of all skill levels, with three distinct nines and a country feel, although just eight miles from Beltway. Well-run with nicer facilities (clubhouse, terrace, range,...

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A quick round? No travel necessary

Silver Spring's Nogay has small course in back yard The first time Brian Nogay visited the Web site, Google Earth, and saw a satellite image of his back yard, he was thrilled to see it stand out from the rest in his Silver Spring neighborhood. Why? Nogay has built a small golf course -- one Bermuda grass green in the middle of his backyard, with nine small tee boxes cleverly situated around the perimeter of his 1.5-acre property. Nogay and his children, Justin, a freshman golfer at Mt. St. Mary's College, and Mary, a sophomore golfer at the Academy of the Holy Cross, are regulars on the makeshift course, along with Nogay's golf pals. "It sets us apart from our neighbors, that's...

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Nats-Mets Report Card

Most Valuable Player For the second straight day, menacing Gary Sheffield, 40, did in the Nats with a three-run home run. Sheffield pole-axed a low-inside pitch from Jason Bergmann in the bottom of the seventh for his fifth home run. He shall be Livan Mets pitcher Livan Hernandez dazzled his former team, scattering nine hits, walking one, and fanning six over nine laborious (127 pitches), but largely stress-free innings. Hernandez (4-1) coaxed Nats into three double plays. One Dunn Adam Dunn showed his immense power, blasting an opposite-field home run, 10 feet inside the left-field foul pole. It was Dunn’s 15th home run, third best in the NL behind the Phillies’ Raul Ibanez...

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Pats gets NCAA berth, Cavs gets Strasburg?

Losing back-to-back games in the Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament Friday was a blow to the NCAA tournament hopes of George Mason. But three anxious days later, the Patriots were rewarded Monday with their first NCAA berth since 2004. Mason (42-12), seeded third, will play No. 2 South Carolina (38-21) in a four-team double-elimination tournament next weekend, which includes No. 4 Binghamton (29-20) and the top-seeded host, East Carolina (42-17). Atlantic Coast Conference champion Virginia (43-12-1) will travel west, playing at Cal-Irvine. The No. 2 Cavaliers will open with No. 3 San Diego State (40-21) Friday at 7 p.m. and could face Aztecs' ace Stephen Strasburg,...

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Syracuse-Cornell Quarter breakdown

First Quarter Cornell senior M John Glynn owns the first period, scoring two goals, assisting on another, and winning three of six faceoffs to lead the Big Red to a 3-2 lead. Disciplined Cornell is at its best when it can dictate tempo. Key Play » Getting the lead. Going into the game, Cornell is 12-0 when leading after one period. Second Quarter Syracuse has a big edge in athletic ability. Orange defensive midfielder Jovan Miller makes the kind of play Cornell fears -- forcing a turnover at midfield, racing the ball upfield, and finding Dan Hardy for an easy fast-break tally to tie it 4-4. Key Play » As time expires on a man-up situation, Cornell All-America M Max...

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Syracuse-Cornell Report Card

We can be heroes When Cody Jamieson (two goals) scored the game-winner, 80 seconds into OT, he sprinted to the other end of the field to celebrate with senior defender Sid Smith, whose strip of Cornell's Ryan Hurley had just given Syracuse possession. Jamieson, academically ineligible for much of the year, and Smith grew up together on an Indian reservation in Canada and played at the same high school, Hagersville Secondary, in Ontario. Most Valuable Player Syracuse 6-foot-4 senior midfielder Dan Hardy (two goals, two assists) figured in three of the Orange's final five goals, including the game-winner in OT, when he faked a shot from the wing and passed to Jamieson for a better...

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Party-crashing Tar Heels in women's lacrosse final

Undefeated Northwestern will battle North Carolina A chance to play four-time defending NCAA champion Northwestern in its home state in the national title game was the dream scenario for the Maryland women's lacrosse team. But Friday night at Towson University, North Carolina spoiled the party in the semifinals, toppling the previously undefeated Terps, 8-7, as freshman attack Laura Zimmerman came off the bench to score a career-high three goals, including the game winner with 8 minutes, 22 seconds remaining. Sunday at Johnny Unitas Stadium, Carolina (16-4) will try to topple another undefeated power in Northwestern (22-0). The Wildcats survived Friday with a 13-12 victory over Penn...

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Outstanding layout, fast greens at Waverly Woods

Waverly Woods Golf Club Location » Mariottsville, Md. Phone » 410-313-9182 Fees » $64 Weekday, $79 Friday, $84 Saturday-Sunday. Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7024/73.1/132 Description » Designed by Arthur Hills, 11-year-old Waverly features wide, playable landing areas and fast greens. Built on farmland, the course defies easy description. Housing developments are springing up around Waverly, spoiling some sight lines, but rarely encroaching on the course. Reasons to play » Outstanding, thoughtful layout on rolling, varied piece property. The 2002 Maryland course of the year might have the best greens on a public course in the Washington area. The...

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Private loss is public gain

1757 Golf Club opens this weekend in Dulles The most prestigious golf course in Washington is Congressional. So when ground broke in Dulles on a facility called The Presidential, there was little doubt about its ambitions. Billed as a one-of-a-kind private club for the corporate community, The Presidential would eclipse nearby Landsdowne and take its place among the elites in the D.C. area. But last fall, when its manicured bentgrass fairways went to seed before The Presidential was even opened, it was a sign of the woeful economic times, and the struggling golf industry. Eight months later, the course has been revived. Recast as a public facility, the 1757 Golf Club has a more modest...

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Focus on Pac-10 in women’s golf

Top college players, teams compete at Caves Valley Inquiring minds want to know about the NCAA Women’s Championship, hosted this year by Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills. Here are some questions and answers: 1. Who is the defending team champion? No. 3 USC won the 2008 title and is led by freshman Jennifer Song and sophomore Lizette Salas, who are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in the nation. USC will be hard pressed to repeat, however, as it finished second to No. 1 Arizona State in the Pac-10 and West Regional championship. No. 2 UCLA, which won the Central Regional and has five players in the top 50, has superior depth. 2. Who is the defending individual champion?...

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Virginia poised to make history, again

No stopping Cavs’ offense in 19-8 rout of Hopkins ANNAPOLIS – Fans speak in reverence about the 2006 Virginia lacrosse team, which scored a tournament record 66 goals on its way to the NCAA title. Three years later, with a few holdovers from that undefeated squad, the Cavaliers’ offense looks ready to re-write the record book. Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Virginia swarmed Johns Hopkins, 19-8, in an overwhelming display of firepower before 12,142. Led by senior attack Garrett Billings (four goals, three assists), freshman attack Steele Stanwick (two goals, five assists), and sophomore midfielder Shamel Bratton (five goals), the Cavaliers delivered coach Dom...

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Duke blankets UNC star Bitter

Blue Devils stifle nation’s leading scorer, beat Heels for third time this year ANNAPOLIS – Frustrated all game by the Duke defense, dynamic North Carolina star Billy Bitter had the ball in his stick, running downfield in transition with 18 seconds left and a chance to tie the NCAA quarterfinal game. But as they did the whole day, the Blue Devils found a way to stop the nation’s leading scorer. Trailing the play, senior midfielder Sam Payton jarred the ball lose to sew up Duke’s 12-11 victory Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. With the win, the Blue Devils advance to the NCAA Final Four for the fourth time in the last five years. Duke (15-3) will play...

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Maryland falls hard in NCAA quarterfinals

Terps can’t solve Syracuse backup goalie as Orange win, 11-6 On the worst day of the season for Syracuse starting goalie John Galloway to be out with the flu, his replacement, Al Cavalieri was “sick.” That’s the description ESPN announcer Quint Kessenich used for Cavalieri’s back-to-back saves from point-blank range in Syracuse’s 11-6 victory over Maryland in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday in Hempstead, N.Y. Making the first start of his career, Cavalieri was a more than adequate replacement, making 13 saves. He shut out Maryland (10-7) for the first 16 minutes, 45 seconds, staking the defending NCAA champions to a 4-0 lead. “They had a couple...

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The stars come out in Annapolis

Focus is on standouts Sunday in quarterfinals When Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis hosts a pair of NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinal games Sunday, there will be no lack of star power. Here are the offensive leaders of their respective teams: Billy Bitter, North Carolina Explosive sophomore, perhaps the most potent scoring threat in the sport, arrives in Annapolis at the top of his game. Sunday against UMBC, Bitter had one of the greatest individual performances in tournament history, scoring eight goals on nine shots to propel Carolina to a 15-13 victory over UMBC. His only miss came on his final shot. Bitter was aiming at an open goal, but a defenseman deflected the...

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Some kisses better than others

Georgetown Prep dominates Landon, 11-3, earns tie for IAC lacrosse title Several minutes after the Interstate Athletic Conference lacrosse tournament final, Georgetown Prep coach Kevin Giblin shook the hand of Landon coach Rob Bordley at midfield. “Well, we kissed our sister again,” said Giblin, referring to their tie for the IAC title. Giblin and Bordley have been bitter combatants at rival schools for 23 years. Their tie for the crown this year was appropriate. But there was no question who felt better Wednesday afternoon after Prep’s resounding 11-3 victory. Series notes » It wasn’t Prep’s most decisive win of the series. The Little Hoyas won...

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Wide fairways, surprising elevation at Heron

Heron Ridge Golf Club Location » Virginia Beach, Va. Phone » 757-426-3800 Fees » $69; Virginia residents $52 (weekday), $62 (weekend). Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7017/73.9/131 Description » Ten-year-old course, designed by Gene Bates and Fred Couples, part links, part parkland, with a wide variety of holes, 14 of which have water or wetlands, and several on the back with surprising elevation change. Reasons to play » Great layout on a varied piece of property; excellent conditions, and with only a few forced carries, very playable for high-handicappers. This is a high-level course with a mid-range price tag. Signature hole » No. 12 »...

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Dressed for success for the Presidents Cup

Stylish captains Norman and Couples discuss their 2009 competition What has been Greg Norman's greatest challenge as captain of the International team in the upcoming Presidents Cup? "I have a eclectic collection of players," said Norman. "From the guys who like to dress European to the guys who like to dress conservative, from the guys who are young, to the guys who are old, from Vijay [Singh] to Camilo Villegas." Wardrobe is no small concern to a man known with his own successful line of apparel and as much for his golf style as his golf accomplishments. Another style-conscious player, Fred Couples, will captain the United States. "I've got Anthony Kim...

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Melwood goes Nationwide

P.G. County Open date moves to early June When asked the attendance at the first two Melwood Prince George's County Opens, tournament director Teo Sodeman answers, "25 to 30,000." The temptation is to ask the follow-up, "People?" Regardless of how many golf fans were actually at Woodmore Country Club the last two years, there is ample evidence that the Melwood Open is gaining traction on the Nationwide Tour. This year, Sodeman successfully lobbied for a better date, June 4-7, moving the Melwood off its traditional Memorial Day slot. "Memorial Day weekend cost us some fans and some sponsorship support," said Sodeman. "In this town, a lot of people go...

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New-look Terps topple Notre Dame in NCAA tourney opener

New-look Terps topple Notre Dame in NCAA tourney...

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Top 10: Sports moms

What does it take to be a great sports mom? You don’t have to play, but it helps. The one qualification is giving birth. With that in mind, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, here are 10 great sports mothers, in no particular order: 10 » Barbara Nicklaus Never played golf, but considered one of the greatest ambassadors of the sport with her generosity and devotion to husband Jack Nicklaus, their five children, and 15 grandchildren, all who live less than 15 miles away in Florida. Raised more than $10 million for charities. 9 » Brenda Frese The University of Maryland women’s basketball coach gave birth to twin boys — Tyler Joseph Thomas and Markus William...

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Courses you can play » Jefferson District

Jefferson District Golf Course Location » Falls Church, Va. Phone » 703-573-0444 Fees (9 holes) » $21 Friday-Sunday; $17 Monday-Thursday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 35/2472/68.8/101 Description » Executive, nine-hole, Fairfax County Park Authority course on rolling property with four ponds and some nice landscaping touches. Straight-forward layout with flat greens and no surprises. Reasons to play » Convenient location, excellent course for walkers, children. A nine-hole round can often be accomplished in less than two hours. Signature hole No. 4 » Par 4 » 335 Yards Intimidating hole with woods to the right, water left. Fairway slopes toward...

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LPGA » Only major champions need apply

Michelob Ultra Open identifies LPGA’s elite The PGA Tour holds its so-called “fifth major” this week, The Players Championship. If there is such a thing on the LPGA Tour, it’s the Michelob Ultra Open, which runs Thursday through Sunday in Williamsburg. In only in its seventh year, few tournaments on the women’s circuit have as distinguished a list of champions. Grace Park (2003), Se Ri Pak (2004), Cristie Kerr (2005), Karrie Webb (2006), Suzann Pettersen (2007) and Annika Sorenstam (2008) — major championship winners all — have triumphed at the River Course at Kingsmill. So it is no surprise that the Michelob, voted by players as the...

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Belle Haven 4-Ball » At 55, Tallent still young enough

Congressional member teams up with Reeves to win at Belle Haven At age 55, Vienna’s Pat Tallent was eligible to compete in the Senior Division at the Belle Haven 4-Ball last weekend. But that would have left his friend, 37-year-old Chris Reeves, without a partner in the 60th annual event. After winning in a playoff, it was clear that Tallent still has the game to compete with the top amateurs in the Washington area. Firing a 13-under-par 203 (68-65-70) in the best ball tournament, then outlasting Mike Wah and Vance Welch in five soggy playoff holes, Tallent and Reeves won for the second time in the last three years. “I owe it all to my partner,” said Reeves, who now...

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Golf » Five to watch

The par-three 17th hole is one of the shortest, but most diabolical. Here are some memorable moments at the hole: SEAN O’HAIR Leading by two strokes with two holes left in 2007, O’Hair rinsed his tee shot over the green, then duplicated his error from the drop area. O’Hair fell from first to 11th, handing Phil Mickelson his first Players Championship. BOB TWAY On the leader board at 7-under-par in the third round in 2005, Tway lost a battle with 30 mph winds, hitting five balls into the water on his way to a 12, replacing Robert Gamez’s Players record for futility (11) at the hole in 1990. LEN MATTIACE In 1998, local favorite Mattiace trailed Justin Leonard by a...

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Boxing » New trainer has Lange ready for match

Local boxer teams up with ex-Holyfield corner man What was the highlight for local boxer Jimmy Lange during five weeks of training in Arapahoe, N.C.? “Every Sunday, we had a field trip to Wal-Mart,” said Lange. “We didn’t really do anything but walk around, killing time. But it was our break from boxing, so we really looked forward to it.” Lange (29-3-2) thought he knew how to get ready for a match. But that was before he took on trainer Don Turner. In preparing for Saturday’s junior middleweight fight with journeyman Frank Houghtaling (19-15-5), Lange went through the most Spartan regimen of his career. “It was boxing 24/7,” said Lange,...

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Lost season turns heroic for Nagel

Injured attackman scores winning goal for Landon in 6-5 win over Georgetown Prep With his first goal of the season, Landon senior Andrew Nagel became the most unlikely hero in the rich history of the Washington area’s most intense high school lacrosse rivalry Wednesday afternoon. Scoring with 23 seconds left on a feed from Joe Paoletta, Nagel gave Landon a 6-5 victory over visiting Georgetown Prep. It was the first start of the season for Nagel, who suffered a partially torn ACL in February. Notes » Prep’s John Kemp (Notre Dame) had seven saves. » Landon, which won the first 18 games of the series, leads overall, 22-8. » Of the last 20 meetings, 16...

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Courses you can play » Pinecrest

Pinecrest Golf Course Location » Alexandria, Va. Phone » 703-941-1061 Fees » $21 Friday-Sunday; $17 Monday-Thursday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 35/2462/64.9/103 Description » Executive, nine-hole, Fairfax County Park Authority course dotted with hills and water hazards. Replaced Pinecrest’s original full-sized course, which was reconfigured in the early 1980s to build single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. Signature hole No. 8 » Par 5 » 450 Yards » Funky hole designed to be a three-shot par-five, but can be reached in two with power (a huge drive past fairway bunkers), height (a second shot from left side of fairway that...

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Courses you can play » Westfields Golf Club

Location » Clifton, Va. Phone » 703-631-3300 Fees » $89 Monday-Thursday; $109 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 71/6897/72.7/136 Description » Magnificently manicured, upscale course on wooded, varied piece of property, set apart from bustling surroundings. Great mix of holes and green complexes with elaborate bunkers. Front nine is long and straight-forward, with three par-4s clocking in at 448-plus yards. Shorter back nine has more variety, elevation change, and requires more strategy. Course rating Conditions » 5-out-of-5 Layout » 5-out-of-5 Facilities » 5-out-of-5 Value » 3-out-of-5 For more courses you can play, check out...

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Top 10 » Redskins draft busts

No team in the NFL has shown more disdain for the first round of the NFL Draft than the Washington Redskins. In a span of 22 years (1969-1990), the Redskins held on to their first-round pick only three times. But they used those three picks wisely, electing Art Monk (No. 18 in 1980), Mark May (No. 20 in 1981), and Darrell Green No. 28 in 1983). But since that brief span, when General Manager Bobby Beathard ran the draft, the Redskins draft history has been spotty. The following are the Redskins' top 10 draft busts: 10 » Richie Lucas • 1960 • No. 4 • QB In consecutive years with the No. 4 overall pick, the Redskins selected dud QBs. In 1959 they took Boston...

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Can Saunders flip the Wiz’s record?

New coach excited about ‘unique opportunity’ Flip Saunders’ first job as a basketball coach came at age 22. He took over a Golden Valley Lutheran team that won six games. In Saunders’ first year, the Minneapolis Junior College went 23-4. In hiring Saunders 32 years later, the Wizards hope for a similar turnaround. After matching the franchise record for losses (63), the Wizards not only want to return to the playoffs, “but make some noise” there according to President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld, who introduced Saunders Thursday at Verizon Center with the words, “This is the man to lead us there.” Saunders, former coach of...

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Golf » Five to watch

Nick Watney Notched his first PGA Tour win here in 2007 and has been solid this season, with a victory at the Buick and eight top 25 finishes in nine starts. Fourth on money list and FedEx Cup standings. On pace to receive his first Presidents Cup berth. Steve Stricker Great putter overdue. Has been on leader boards all year, finishing sixth or better four times, but has no wins to show for it. No. 9 Stricker and No. 8 Sean O’Hair are the only players on the money list top 10 without a victory. Steve Marino Penal Pete Dye course does not suit Marino’s go-for-broke style, but Fairfax native, has been in top 20 in last two starts. After 12 top 10s in three seasons, what better...

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Lots of support for Perry

After Augusta breakdown, the Masters runner-up is feeling the love Heartbreak at Augusta National has brought many golfers to tears, some in public — such as Brandt Snedeker, Len Mattiace and Kenny Perry — and many more, it is assumed, in private. After losing a two-stroke lead in the final two holes, then falling in a playoff to Angel Cabrera 11 days ago in the Masters, Perry was not only overwhelmed by his emotions, but later, by his legions of support. “I received almost 600 e-mails, hundreds of cards and letters, people who genuinely cared,” said Perry, who returns to the tour this week at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Perry, 48, knew he was popular...

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Former Naval Academy star on Golf Channel’s ‘The Big Break’

As former Naval Academy All-American Aaron Wright prepares to hit an iron shot in the Golf Channel’s “Big Break Prince Edward Island,” one of his competitors says in awe, “This guy can play.” It’s not just Wright’s game that’s impressive. It’s his look — tall, broad shoulders, flat stomach, square jaw. It’s a look made for commanding troops, as Wright did as a Marine infantry officer in Afghanistan. It’s also a look made for television. In selecting competitors for it’s Big Break reality series, the Golf Channel is as aware of a pretty face as it is a pretty swing. This is the tenth installment of the Big...

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For Wizards, who stays, who goes?

Washington faces crucial decisions this offseason Signing Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison last summer set the Wizards on course to win now. But in their just completed, injury-riddled 19-63 season, it was clear that the roster had too many young players unable to contribute to the mission. So what will Washington do in the offseason? Expect a deal or two, maybe even one involving their first-round choice. If the Wizards can’t get a player who is ready to contribute immediately (Blake Griffin), why take on another long-term project? Thursday at Verizon Center as players received final evaluations, it was time to wonder who will be back. They’re back » Gilbert...

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Wizards 109, Cavaliers 101 » Just like old times

With lineup nearly intact, Wizards halt Cavaliers 13-game winning streak This is what the Washington Wizards envisioned in the preseason – a potent lineup with a trio of All-Stars, a noisy sellout crowd, Verizon Center rocking for an April game against the nemesis Cleveland Cavaliers. The only part of the scenario they didn’t accurately foresee was the stakes. So while the Wizards’ 109-101 victory over Cavaliers before 20,173 on Thursday night lacked magnitude, it at least held some promise for the future for the last-place team in the Eastern Conference. Up next » Heat @ Wizards When » Saturday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN/980...

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College Lacrosse Capsules

No. 8 Maryland at No. 14 Navy Where » Navy-Marine Corps Stadium When » Friday, 7 p.m. Maryland (6-3) is coming off an historic 7 OT loss at No. 1 Virginia, the longest game in NCAA Division I history. Junior A Will Yeatman, who had his best game as a Terp (two goals, three assists), will test the staunch defense of Navy (7-3). The Midshipmen rose Saturday with a 10-8 win at Georgetown as senior G Tommy Phelan made 15 saves. Maryland leads the series 50-31-1. No. 20 Fairfield at Georgetown Where » Multi-Sport Field When » Saturday, 1 p.m. The Hoyas (4-5, 0-3 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) can get their first set of consecutive wins this season by...

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Wizards » Turn back the clock

Wizards host LeBron, Cavs tonight at Verizon Up next » Cavaliers at Wizards » LeBron James leads Cleveland in scoring (28.3 points per game), rebounding (7.7 pg), assists (7.3 pg), and steals (1.8). For three years they were mortal enemies in the Eastern Conference, their annual playoff clash, filled with drama on and off the court. But this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, quite literally, couldn’t be further apart. While, Cleveland (61-13) is in first place in the Eastern Conference, Washington (17-58) is last. So what happened? While the Cavaliers gained an All-Star guard, Mo Williams, and some other key pieces, the Wizards lost an All-Star...

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Another can’t miss kid

Ireland’s McIlroy, 19, has the game and the poise Golf’s next big thing comes along, oh, about every three months. Among those recently anointed — Danny Lee (New Zealand), Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Jason Day (Australia), and Californians Anthony Kim and Jamie Lovemark. So what makes golf’s latest, greatest wunderkind, Rory McIlroy, different? It’s the walk, the talk, the way the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland breezes around a Doral or a Redstone, unaffected by his sudden fame, comfortable in a new country, at ease with the players he’s idolized since primary school. “You’re watching guys like Tiger and Phil and Ernie on the TV growing up...

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The 25 percent solution

By losing, Wiz, Grizzlies have very little to gain What’s at stake Wednesday night when the Wizards (17-58) face the Memphis Grizzlies (19-54)? Ranked No. 29 and No. 27 respectively in the NBA standings, both teams are positioned well for the lottery in the 30-team league. History tells us no team should be in a rush, however, to finish last. It’s rarely a ticket to the first pick. Since the current system was instituted in 1994, only one team that finished with the NBA’s worst record, and another who tied for the worst, have secured the top pick. Over the last 15 lotteries, teams that finished with the seventh-worst record have been awarded the coveted No. 1 as many...

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FINAL FOUR » NORTH CAROLINA

Analyzing the Tar Heels The Key Motivation. Falling behind 40-12 in last year’s national semifinal against Kansas was humiliating, especially for former Jayhawks coach Roy Williams. With mostly the same cast returning, will that spook the Tar Heels or spur them? The Troublemaker Opponents don’t game plan for Danny Green — the Heels’ threats are Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, and Wayne Ellington — but the stat-stuffing 6-6 swingman has length and athleticism that semifinal foe Villanova can’t match. Why they’ll win it all Because Carolina has at least five NBA players and one of them, Lawson, runs the most important position on the floor. This has...

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Arenas confident this time

After two failed attempts, guard trusts his rehab Three knee surgeries. Two failed comebacks. What will be different this time for Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas? After playing well (15 points, 10 assists) in Washington’s 98-96 loss to Detroit Saturday, in his first game this season, Arenas sounded convinced that his left knee troubles are behind him. His next test will likely come Thursday against visiting Cleveland. “The best part of this return is I actually stuck to the program in rehabbing,” said Arenas. “My legs are ten times stronger than they were. And I think the pressure wasn’t on as much this time around.” With no reason to rush back to a...

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Finally, it’s Zero hour at Verizon Center

Arenas returns in Wizards’ loss to Pistons, 98-96 At first it sounded like “Free Bird.” Then it was obvious what the voice, high in the stands, cried out during the national anthem. “Gill-Berrt,” was the joyous exclamation of a single fan speaking for a sellout crowd of 20,173. Up next » Wizards at Pacers When » Sunday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM Indiana (30-43), a loser to playoff hopeful Chicago Saturday, is close to mathematical elimination in its quest to catch Detroit (35-37) for the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference. All-Star Danny Granger (24.8 points per game) is back from the injured list. G...

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Midwest • Elite Eight » No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 2 Michigan State

Midwest Region » No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 2 Michigan State • 2:20 p.m. • CBS How they got here No team can match the credentials of Louisville (31-5), regular season and tournament champion in the powerful Big East. The Cardinals have had it easy in the tournament running past No. 16 Morehead State, 74-54, subduing No. 9 Sienna, 79-72, and overwhelming No. 12 Arizona, 103-64. Michigan State (29-6) earned a No. 2 seed by running away with the Big Ten. The Spartans have taken a tougher path to the region final, defeating No. 15 Robert Morris, 77-62, No. 10 USC, 74-69, and rallying past defending NCAA champion Kansas, 67-62. Why Louisville will win Because Indianapolis is...

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South • Elite Eight » No. 1 UNC vs. No. 2 Oklahoma

South Region » No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Oklahoma • 5:05 p.m. • CBS How they got here North Carolina (31-4) earned a No. 1 seed by winning the ACC regular season and going 17-0 against non-conference foes. The Tar Heels have been equally dominant in the tournament, defeating No. 16 Radford, 101-58, No. 8 LSU, 84-70, and No. 4 Gonzaga, 98-77. Oklahoma (30-5) started 25-1 and reached a No. 2 rank, before losing four of six when star Blake Griffin suffered a concussion. The Sooners have rebounded, however, with wins over No. 15 Morgan State, 82-54, No. 7 Michigan, 73-63, and No. 3 Syracuse, 84-71. Why North Carolina will win Because coaches Roy Williams (Carolina) and...

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Lacrosse » Virginia-Maryland is history, in seven OTs

There was a lot at stake Saturday when No. 9 Maryland took on No. 1 Virginia. Little did the teams know, they would make history. In the longest game ever in Division I men’s lacrosse, Virginia defeated Maryland, 10-9, in the seventh overtime on a goal by Brian Carroll. The junior midfielder scored one minute into the seventh extra session, after 85 minutes of action, including 25 of sudden-death. Before Saturday the longest game in Division I was a six-overtime affair in 2001 between Navy and North Carolina. That one lasted 83, minutes, 39 seconds. On a misty, chilly day before 5,019 at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, both teams had chances to put it away. In the first...

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South • Sweet 16 » No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 Gonzaga

South • Sweet 16 » No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 Gonzaga, 9:57, CBS NORTH CAROLINA GONZAGA Ol’ Roy Williams is a slick recruiter, but his sideline skills have been exposed in past. Coaching X Mark Few always demands defense, and this might be the best defensive squad he’s had. Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson are an NBA backcourt. But they can run hot and cold. X Guards Good PG matchup in Ty Lawson and Jeremy...

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South • Sweet 16 » No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Syracuse

South • Sweet 16 » No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Syracuse, Friday, 7:27 p.m., CBS OKLAHOMA SYRACUSE The Krzyzewski coaching tree has yielded some bad fruit. Questions remain about Jeff Capel, 34. Coaching X At age 64, Jim Boeheim has 30 years and one national championship on Capel. Freshman Willie Warren will be the best guard on floor, but his mates are a liability. Guards X PG Jonny Flynn delivers to reliable wings and is...

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College Lacrosse Capsules

Navy at Georgetown Where » Multi-Sport Field When » Saturday, 1 TV » MASN Radio » 1500 AM, 820 AM, 1050 AM, 1430 AM The Hoyas (3-4) have won five in a row against the Midshipmen (6-3) — the last two games by one-goal margins. Georgetown leading scorer Ricky Mirabito’s (15 goals, 5 assist) brother Nick graduated from Navy last year and led the Mids with 23 goals and 23 assists. Maryland at Virginia When » Saturday, noon Where » Klockner Stadium TV » ESPN2 Virginia (10-0) is shooting for its second perfect season in four years behind senior As Dan Glading (14 goals, 18 assists), Garrett Billings (26 goals, 14 assists), and Steele...

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At Bay Hill, Woods jars memories

Last year’s winning putt at Invitational resonates If you watch the Golf Channel this week, you might see Tiger Woods’ winning putt last year at Bay Hill, oh, about 47,000 times. And why not? It was vintage Tiger, a curling, clutch 24-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that gave him a one-stroke victory over Bart Bryant. It was Woods’ fifth-straight PGA Tour win and his fifth career victory at Bay Hill. Those facts have long since been forgotten. But the indelible images remain — Woods crouched and backpedaling, spiking his black cap to the turf, a quick, double-fisted uppercut to the crowd, followed by an embrace with the other King, Arnold Palmer. This week,...

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Golf » Five to watch

Vijay Singh You think Vijay likes Bay Hill? How about this for a resume — T2 (2005), 7 (2006), 1 (2007), T3 (2008). Course favors long hitters. Vijay qualifies there. Perfect place to jumpstart his campaign coming off knee surgery. Retief Goosen Twenty fewer pounds, a new fitness regimen and the return of his syrupy putting stroke has the two-time U.S. Open winner back in the top 25. Win last week at the Transitions was his first in U.S. since 2005. Davis Love III After playing in 70 straight majors, Love’s streak ended last year when he failed to qualify for the Masters. But the 44-year-old can get back to Augusta with a top-50 rank. Currently No. 47. Has never won at Bay...

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Will he or won’t he?

On his comeback, only Arenas knows for sure The long, lost features of a Wizards practice were in place Tuesday — cameras, microphones, TV reporters, bloggers, a buzz. In short, all the elements Gilbert Arenas needed to be Greta Garbo. Leaving Verizon Center without a word, Arenas extended the suspense over his imminent return from October knee surgery. Ah, the elusive Agent Zero is back. The Wizards guard has been practicing on and off since the All-Star break. But when he fired off a text message to Comcast’s Chris Miller on Monday, revealing his intention to come back Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, the Washington press was mobilized. Can it really be...

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Wizards take Bulls to buzzer

Washington rallies late, but can’t catch Chicago The Chicago Bulls are fighting to hold the eighth and final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference. For the Washington Wizards the fight was called long ago. Monday night at Verizon Center, however, the depleted Wizards made the Bulls earn a 101-99 victory, battling to the end before an announced crowd of 15,421. Led by guards Ben Gordon (20 points), John Salmons (19 points), and Derrick Rose (12 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds), the Bulls were too young and too quick in the second half. Up next » Bobcats @ Wizards When » Wednesday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM This is one of two games...

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Wizards » Report Card

Most Valuable Player After failing to score in the first half, Bulls guard Ben Gordon had 14 points in the third quarter as Chicago turned a 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead. Gordon added three clutch jumpers in the final four minutes. Instant offense Acquired in a trading deadline deal with Sacramento, John Salmons (19 points, 4 assists) has been a find for the Bulls. The wing guard made key plays in a 14-0 third-quarter run with a dunk and a steal and feed to Joakim Noah for a breakaway slam. Driving ambition Wizards reserve guard Javaris Crittenton sparked a fourth-quarter rally, scoring on four straight Washington possessions, all on drives to the hoop. He finished with a...

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TIPOFF » TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

HE SAID WHAT? “I don’t think because we finally won a game against the East that we got comfortable.” – Sacramento’s Jason Thompson on the Kings’ 112-100 loss at Philadelphia Sunday, coming after their win over the Knicks Friday, their only win in 30 games against the East this season. PLAYER OF THE WEEK Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets Since Devin Harris went out with a shoulder injury five games ago, Carter has picked up the scoring load in the Nets backcourt, averaging 28.8 points, 4.8 assists and 6.8 rebounds as the Nets (30-40) have stayed alive for the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference. During that time, Carter has hit 50 percent of...

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Ping-pong balls and dubious records

It was the most brutal road trip of the season — four Western Conference cities in five days — and the Wizards showed the effects, losing all four games decisively. UP NEXT Bulls at Wizards When » Monday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV » Comcast SportsNet Radio » 980 AM » The Wizards next four games are against teams vying for playoff slots in the Eastern Conference. Washington plays eighth-place Chicago (32-38), followed by ninth-place Charlotte (31-39) on Wednesday, seventh-place Detroit (34-35) on Saturday, and at 12th place Indiana (29-42) on Sunday. Perhaps the best thing left for Washington (16-55), is that none of its final 11...

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Lucky Maryland goal leaves Carolina blue

On Senior Day, Groot scores on deflection for Terps’ 8-7 win In its five-year losing streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference, North Carolina has been riddled by bad luck. But nothing compares to what happened to the Tar Heels Saturday at Maryland. When Terrapins’ midfielder Dan Groot shot from close range in a tie game in the fourth period, a defender knocked the ball out of Groot’s stick and it deflected high above the crease. One of the last to locate it was Carolina defender Ryan Flanagan, who watched helplessly as the ball bounced off his stick and into the cage, past goalie Grant Zimmerman. The goal gave Maryland an 8-7 win and handed Carolina the most galling of...

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Many tourney coaches have local ties

The metro area is not only a hot bed for basketball playing talent, but coaching talent as well. Nineteen head and assistant coaches that made it to this year’s Big Dance have area ties. Brad Greenberg (Radford) The Radford head coach, the older brother of Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg, led Radford to the Big South title. Greenberg played at American (1974-77) and began his coaching career there. He also served as a consultant with the Washington Wizards (Bullets). Oliver Purnell (Clemson) The Tigers head coach hails from Berlin, Md. The former standout player at Old Dominion was an assistant at Maryland (1985-88) under Lefty Driesell and Bob Wade. He also served as head...

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Saturday's NCAA Tournament Preview

No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Purdue Firecracker Can’t ask for a better second-round matchup. Both teams took care of business in their opener. Purdue (26-9), the Big 10 tournament champ, took control early against Northern Iowa and held off a late charge. Washington, (26-8) the Pac-10 regular-season champ, overwhelmed Mississippi State in the second half. Why Washington will win Huskies finished first in the Pac-10 for a reason: Led by 6-foot-7 forward Jon Brockman, only four teams in the country rebound better. Guard Isaiah Thomas was the Pac-10 freshman of the year. The Huskies also should get a boost from a partisan crowd in Portland. How Purdue pulls an upset Not really an...

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Fearless forecast » NCAA Tournament

Games to watch Midwest Region » No. 11 Dayton vs. No. 6 West Virginia, 3 p.m. The Mountaineers (23-11) could be a dark horse in the stacked Midwest Region. F Da’Sean Butler (17.3 ppg) leads the way. West Virginia is an excellent defensive team (42 percent FG allowed), but poor from 3-point range (33 percent). Dayton can defend as well (43 percent) and has wins over Marquette and Xavier. Midwest Region » No. 10 USC vs. No. 7 Boston College, 7:20 p.m. USC (21-12) needed a late run through the Pac-10 tournament to secure an NCAA berth. F Taj Gibson (14.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg) earned the conference’s defensive player of the year honors. The Trojans will need to defend Boston...

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Terps must stop threes

Cal bombers pose a huge threat in NCAA opener With a 13-2 record in opening-round games in the NCAA tournament, coach Gary Williams would seem to be the best thing the No. 10 Maryland Terrapins have going for them Thursday against No. 7 California. But when Williams, 64, looks down to the sideline in Kansas City to the bench of the Golden Bears, he’ll see a coach with similar credentials. Mike Montgomery, 62, has a 10-2 record in first-round NCAA games, all at Stanford, where he was coach from 1986-2004. So don’t look to the coaches for an edge in their West Region tournament game. Look at the players. The California (22-10) players that Maryland (20-13) will be most...

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NCAA Tournament » Fearless Forecast

BOLD PREDICTIONS 1 Carr won’t be the only reason American is a tough out After scoring a game-high 26 points last year versus Tennessee, Garrison Carr is item No. 1 on Villanova’s game plan for American. Except that as Carr has gained more attention this season, his teammates have begun to rise to the occasion to step in when he can’t open to knock down shots. Against the Wildcats, Brian Gilmore will have one of the biggest games of his career, and Jordan Nichols will make a key block on Corey Fisher down the stretch to keep the Eagles in the contest. Again, we’re not calling for the upset. But we have a feeling it could happen. 2 Connecticut won’t make...

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Klauk was anointed by Woodmore

2008 Melwood winner is thriving on PGA Tour Birdies are plentiful on the Nationwide Tour. But when Jeff Klauk won the Melwood Prince George’s County Open last May, he did it on one of the tour’s toughest courses, the Country Club at Woodmore. The victory not only catapulted Klauk to the PGA Tour, it elevated his game. Ten months later, Klauk is proving he belongs. In making seven cuts in his first eight starts, Klauk has earned $544,265, the top figure among the 25 graduates of the 2008 Nationwide Tour. “I’m not here just for a year and that’s it and go back to the Nationwide,” said Klauk, 31. “This is where I want to be, and contend and win...

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Golf » Five to watch

Jim Furyk Third-place last week at Doral indicates he’s ready to end his title drought (20 months without a win). Copperhead is a good course for grinder Furyk. Maybe it’s time to dump “Fluff.” Worked for Tiger. Sean O’Hair Defending champion at Copperhead. At age 26 is on the short list of players in their 20s who have won multiple PGA Tour titles. Long hitter has been in the top 25 in all six of his starts this season. Adam Scott In a lackluster field, why not pick a guy with at least a little charisma? Ranks No. 117 in scoring average. That has to change soon. At age 28, Australian has six PGA Tour and eight international titles. Steve Stricker Emerged...

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Vasquez, Terps look to advance

Maryland faces California Thursday in NCAA opener Maryland vs. Cal When » Thursday, 3 Where » Kansas City Stakes » NCAA opening round » Winner faces No. 2 Memphis (31-3) or No. 15 Cal St. Northridge (17-13) Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez made the ultimate sacrifice — he stopped talking. It wasn’t easy for the Terrapins foremost chatterbox. But when Vasquez’s father and others from his native Venezuela called after a late season loss to Wake Forest, Vasquez had heard enough. “They said, ‘You’re eliminated. You’re eliminated,’” said Vasquez. “I said, just don’t call me no more. Just...

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Different paths, same destination

Neal and Johnson reach NCAA tournament Dave Neal was patient. Brian Johnson was not. That led the former teammates at Bishop O'Connell High in Falls Church to take widely divergent paths that cross in the NCAA tournament. Neal, a senior forward at Maryland, and Johnson, a senior forward at Mississippi State will play this week in the NCAA West Regional. While Neal graduated from O'Connell, elected to play close to home at Maryland, and waited four years for his chance to start, Johnson bounced around, searching for a hoop Nirvana. In high school he transferred to national powerhouse Oak Hill for his senior year, then went to Louisville for two unsatisfying seasons on the Cardinals'...

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NCAA Tournament » Local Players

Ty Lawson (UNC) The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year averaged 15.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game for the Tar Heels, improving his shooting percentages to 53.8 from the floor and 46.7 from 3-point range. Lawson played at McNamara before transferring to Oak Hill. Mike Davis (Illinois) After averaging 2.6 points per game as a freshman, the 6-9 Davis blossomed this season, becoming the leading rebounder in the Big Ten (8.1 rpg) and the second-leading scorer for the Illini (11.2 ppg). The former Northern Region Player of the Year at T.C. Williams was named second-team All-Big Ten. Joey Lynch-Flohr (Radford) The 6-8 junior averaged 13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and hit...

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Maryland, Cal have lots in common

Perimeter offenses to clash Thursday in Kansas City With look-alike teams from either coast meeting in Kansas City on Thursday, there’s a bit of symmetry in Maryland’s NCAA opener against California. The similarities are unavoidable. Both had their ups and downs in power conferences. Both looked better suited at times for the NIT. Both have veteran coaches who have been to the Final Four. And both have perimeter offenses, fueled by emotional, shoot-first point guards. The similarities will end Thursday when either No. 7 California (22-10) or No. 10 Maryland (20-13) advances. The winner will play No. 2 Memphis (31-3) or No. 15 Cal State Northridge (17-13),...

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Start your brackets

As a working mom with 9-year-old triplets, Arlington’s Kay Tiernan has no time to watch college basketball. Even if she did, she wouldn’t. She’s not a sports fan. But every March she enthusiastically fills out her office pool and follows college basketball, her interest growing if her teams are progressing. Tiernan, a project manager at a major telecommunications company, gives strong consideration to schools from her native Iowa, then fills the rest of her brackets with the traditional powers she knows — Duke, Carolina, Kansas, UCLA. Tiernan is not alone. With the FBI estimating that $2.5 billion will be wagered on the NCAA this year — and only 3 percent...

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Lacrosse » UMBC brings down Maryland

Retrievers defense key in 9-7 victory in College Park Dwarfed by huge Maryland attackmen Will Yeatman (6-6, 265) and Grant Catalino (6-5, 240), tiny UMBC goalie Jeremy Blevins (5-8, 135) symbolized the Retrievers’ struggle against their larger in-state rival Saturday. Up next » Bryant at Maryland When » Sunday, 1 Where » Ludwig Field This is the first time the teams have met. In its first year in Division I, Bryant (4-3) has lost to ranked teams Virginia, Loyola and Army. This will be the first time Maryland has played games on back-to-back days since beating Air Force and Denver in the 2001 Denver Pioneer Face-Off Classic. Bryant is led by former Duke coach...

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Wizards go young, fall to Magic, 112-103

Orlando overcomes Jamison’s season-high 36 points Wizards rookie JaVale McGee deposited a rim-rocking dunk follow early in the fourth quarter and a surge rolled through the Verizon Center crowd of 18,152 as they realized Washington had cut the lead of Orlando to two, and had done it with five players age 23 or younger on the floor. Up next » Kings at Wizards When » Sunday, 6 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM The Lottery Bowl. Sacramento (14-50) is the only team in the NBA with a worse record than Washington (15-51). The team that finishes with the worst mark will get the most ping pong balls in the lottery draw for the first pick in the NBA...

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College Lacrosse Capsules

No. 9 UMBC at No. 7 Maryland When » Saturday, noon Maryland leads series 24-6, but has lost last two meetings, 9-8 in 3OT in 2008 and 13-9 in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. UMBC (3-2) has lost to Princeton, 6-5, and Johns Hopkins, 14-11. Top scorers are midfielders Alex Hoppmann (13 goals), Kyle Wilmer (12 goals), and Peet Poillon (6 goals, 13 assists). No. 12 Georgetown at Hobart When » Saturday, 1 p.m. For the third time in four games, Georgetown will face a goalie that is among the top ten in the nation in both save percentage and goals against. Hobart junior Max Silberlicht leads Division I in both, stopping 70.3 percent shots faced and allowing just 4.75 goals per...

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Transition game for Greer

Ex-Duke star helps old coach move to Division I This spring, Bryant University has stepped up from Division II to Division I lacrosse. Helping ease the transition is three-time Division I All-America, Zack Greer. After playing four years at Duke and graduating last spring, Greer moved to Bryant for a fifth season of eligibility, granted by the NCAA to players who endured the 2006 Duke rape scandal. Greer and Bryant (4-3) are meeting the challenge head-on. Their first-ever Division I game last month was against No. 1 Virginia. Sunday they take on No. 7 Maryland (4-1) at Ludwig Field in College Park. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Greer said Thursday of his move to...

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Wizards playing a familiar tune

Tapscott will stay the course with his veterans Up next » Magic at Wizards » Orlando (47-17) was expected to slump with the loss of PG Jameer Nelson (shoulder). But the Magic have gone 8-3 since acquiring Rafer Alston. C Dwight Howard (21.0 points per game, 14.0 rpg, 2.99 bpg) leads the NBA in rebounds and blocks. F Hedo Turkoglu (Achilles) is day-to-day. With the Wizards (15-50) going nowhere, maybe you were expecting to see more Javaris Crittenton, JaVale McGee, Nick Young, and Oleksiy Pecherov. Guess again. Judging from interim head coach Ed Tapscott’s words after the Wizards’ 109-98 loss to the Hornets Wednesday night, Washington will stick with its...

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The true Wizard is Paul

Hornets All-Star dazzles Wiz with a triple-double UP NEXT Magic at Wizards When » Friday, 7 p.m. Where » Verizon Center TV » CSN Radio » 980 AM Orlando (46-17) was expected to slump with the loss of All-Star PG Jameer Nelson (shoulder) for the season. But the Magic have thrived with trading deadline acquisition Rafer Alston, going 7-3 since his arrival. Orlando is in third place in the Eastern Conference behind the stellar frontcourt trio of C Dwight Howard (21.0 points per game, 14.0 rpg, 2.99 bpg), who leads the NBA in rebounding and blocks, and F Rashard Lewis (18.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and F Hedo Turkoglu (17.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.7 apg). This is always a tough...

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ACC Tourney » Capsules

Who’s Fading? Clemson After starting the year 16-0, the Tigers have gone 7-7 and have lost three of four coming into the tournament, with the lone win at home over doormat Virginia. At 23-7, the Tigers have an NCAA bid wrapped up. The only thing at stake for the Tigers is seeding for the NCAA Tournament. Winning four games in four days is not out of the question however for this athletic squad. Last year Clemson caught fire and advanced to the finals for the first time in 46 years. Who’s Dangerous? Virginia Tech The winner of the Miami-Virginia Tech game will play a North Carolina team that might be ripe for an upset, especially if Tar Heels coach Roy Williams rests point...

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Can Sergio uproot Woods at Doral?

Spaniard can rise to No. 1 this week (in rankings) If Sergio Garcia wins the CA Championship at Doral, he has a chance to unseat No. 1 Tiger Woods in the world golf rankings after 539 weeks. The question this week in South Florida: How can a man with no major championships be ranked above one with 14? When asked about this on Tuesday, Garcia gave a cordial answer with due deference to Woods. When Woods faced the press Wednesday, no one brought up the issue, because they already knew the answer: Woods doesn’t care. Here’s what matters to him — major championships. So instead on Wednesday, Woods fielded questions about the Masters, even though the tournament is four...

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Golf » Five to watch

Sergio Garcia Latin heartthrobs El Nino and Camilo Villegas will attract attention in South Florida. Garcia is No. 1 in scoring average (68.25) and greens in regulation, but 131st in putting. Has four top five finishes in this tournament. Geoff Ogilvy Right now, the real No. 1 in the world? Has won three of 10 WGC events, is the only player with two wins this year, and the current leader in FedEx Cup points. In addition, he’s the defending champion at Doral. Phil Mickelson After a poor start to 2009, prevailed at Riviera three weeks ago. Has never claimed this tournament. In the nine years of the CA Championship, however, only major winners have won. So Lefty’s got that...

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Wizards » Opportunity has knocked, some have answered

Running the gamut from McGuire to Young Because of a rash of injuries, opportunity has knocked for six Washington Wizards, age 23 and younger. Some have seized it better than others. Here’s a rundown: Up next » Hornets at Wizards When » Wednesday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV » CSN Radio » 980 AM New Orleans (39-24) is in sixth place in the Western Conference behind the play of All-Stars Chris Paul (21.4 points per game, 11.1 apg) and David West (20.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg). C Tyson Chandler is back from a foot ailment. Dominic McGuire (seized it) Drafted No. 47 in 2007, the Wizards thought they had a player who might make the roster and find a limited...

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TIPOFF » WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

HE SAID WHAT? “Why can’t I be injured and rehab and do what I have to do and go about my business? … Sometimes [Portland] seems so small it feels like high school. Everybody knows everybody.” – Oft-injured Blazers center Greg Oden on his struggles this year. PLAYER OF THE WEEK Troy Murphy • Indiana Pacers The 6-11 forward is quietly doing a left-handed impersonation of Dirk Nowitzki, ranking No. 3 in the NBA in total rebounds (713) and No. 8 in 3-pointers (130). Murphy has helped keep the Pacers in contention for a playoff berth despite the loss of Mike Dunleavy (knee) and All-Star Danny Granger (foot). Last week, Murphy averaged 19.5 points and 14....

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CAA Tourney » Déjà vu all over again for Mason

Maynor, Sanders propel VCU into NCAA tourney RICHMOND – All season, whenever the name Eric Maynor entered the conversation, George Mason coach Jim Larranaga shuddered and changed the subject. It was part schtick from the affable coach, part genuine anxiety. Monday night, in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game, however, there was another Ram to fear. With Larry Sanders dominating the lane and Maynor doing the rest, Virginia Commonwealth rolled to a 71-50 victory before 11,200 at Richmond Coliseum. Hello again Monday night’s CAA title game marked the fifth time in six seasons that either VCU or GMU played for the conference’s automatic bid: Year...

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Wizards owner Pollin honored in ceremony at alma mater

When Wizards owner Abe Pollin was first shown the piece of property where he would build Verizon Center, he was told to stay in the car. Walking the streets above the Gallery Place Metro was too dangerous. Abe Pollin timeline 1945 » Graduated from GW. 1964 » Bought Baltimore Bullets for $1 million 1973 » Moved Bullets to D.C. 1973 » Opened Capital Centre 1974 » Awarded an NHL franchise, the Washington Capitals 1979 » Took Bullets to China 1996 » Renamed team Wizards 1997 » Verizon Center opened But 15 years later, those streets are bustling with people who live, work, and are anxious to visit the neighborhood. Pollin’s ambitious...

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GMU takes the Long way

Guard’s huge 3-pointers repel Towson’s upset bid CAA FINAL » George Mason vs. VCU Where » Richmond Coliseum When » Monday, 7 TV » ESPN Radio » 570 AM VCU (23-9) defeated Mason (22-9) in their lone meeting, 76-71, in Richmond behind G Eric Maynor (28 points, 6 assists). This time he’ll have to deal with GMU defensive stopper John Vaughan, who missed the Jan. 24 game with a concussion. The Rams topped the Patriots 55-54 in the 2004 CAA final and 65-59 in the 2007 title game behind Maynor. GMU has won four CAA titles. VCU has won three. RICHMOND – George Mason knows Cinderella. So there was no mistaking the identity of 11th seeded...

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Galloway comes up with all the answers for Syracuse

Sophomore goalie makes 19 saves to frustrate Georgetown, 8-5 Taking over in goal as a freshman for a program as rich in lacrosse history as Syracuse was a daunting task for John Galloway. Doing it in his hometown, just added to the pressure. But after a rough indoctrination, Galloway rewarded the trust of coach John Desko, helping the Orange to the 2008 national championship. Up next » Georgetown at Delaware When » Wednesday, 7 Delaware (2-3) has lost to quality teams Albany, Fairfield, and UMBC. The Blue Hens get the bulk of their offense from juniors Curtis Dickson (14 goals) and Pat Lombard (12 goals), and senior Josh Coveleski (7 goals, 4 assists). Georgetown will be...

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Who’s who in the CAA

Handicapping the field in the 12-team tourney The Colonial Athletic Association Tournament begins Friday afternoon. Sorting out the field in the balanced, 12-team conference is not easy. But here’s an attempt to identify who’s who and what’s what. CAA Tournament All games at Richmond Coliseum Friday No. 8 Georgia State (11-19) vs. No. 9 Delaware (13-18), noon No. 5 Hofstra (20-10) vs. No. 12 UNC Wilmington (7-24), 2:30 No. 7 James Madison (18-13) vs. No. 10 William & Mary (10-19), 6 No. 6 Drexel (15-13) vs. No. 11 Towson (10-21), 8:30 Saturday No. 1 Virginia Commonwealth (21-9) vs. Georgia St./Delaware winner, noon No. 4 Old Dominion (20-9) vs. Hofstra/UNC...

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CAA Tourney » Mason positioned well for tourney

Patriots have brackets, history on their side George Mason coach Jim Larranaga won’t admit it publicly. But he has to like how the brackets shook out for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Mason is the No. 2 seed, which means it won’t have to deal with regular-season champ, Virginia Commonwealth, playing in its home city, or the hottest team in the conference, Old Dominion, until the finals. Taking anything for granted in this balanced conference, however, is risky business. That point was brought home this year when the CAA’s bottom two teams, UNC Wilmington and William & Mary, upset the top two, VCU and Northeastern, respectively. So it is with...

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College Basketball » Capsules

Maryland at Virginia Where » John Paul Jones Arena When » Saturday, 3:30 p.m. TV/Radio » ABC/106.7 FM Much is at stake as the Terps (18-11, 7-8) can finish .500 in the ACC. Virginia (9-17, 3-12) beat Clemson and Virginia Tech in back-to-back games, Feb. 15 and 18, but has dropped four games since. The top threat is freshman G Sylven Landesberg (17.4 points per game, 6.0 rpg), who has been named ACC Freshman of the Week six times. Sophomore F Mike Scott is the top rebounder (7.1 pg). DePaul at Georgetown Where » Verizon Center When » Saturday, 5 p.m. TV/Radio » ESPNU/980 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM There is little left to prove for the Hoyas (15-13, 6-11 Big...

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Bearing down at the Honda

Players must be careful when negotiating the Bear Trap at PGA National One of the top stories this week at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., has nothing to do with this tournament. It’s the swirl concerning Tiger Woods’ appearance next week at nearby Doral. Will he or won’t he? Woods has until 5 p.m. Friday to commit. Honda Classic When » Thursday-Sunday Where » Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Course » PGA National Resort and Spa, Champion Course (7,241 yards, par 70) Purse » $5.6 million Winner’s share » $1,008,000 TV » Golf Channel (Thursday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m.; Friday, 12:30-3:30 a.m., 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30...

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Maryland has a sizable problem with Wake

Demon Deacons too big, too good on Senior Night, 65-63 Wake Forest doesn’t move the Comcast Center crowd like a Duke or a North Carolina. No outrageous signage. No orchestrated mayhem. No X-rated chants. But this year, Wake Forest is as good as its perennial powerhouse neighbors from the Tar Heel state. Maybe better. Up next » Maryland at Virginia When » Saturday, 3:30 Where » John Paul Jones Arena TV/Radio » ABC/106.7 FM » Virginia (9-17, 3-12) is one of just two teams in the ACC with a losing record. The Cavaliers’ beat Clemson and Virginia Tech in back-to-back games, Feb. 15 and 18, but have dropped four games since. The top threat is...

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Wizards » More PT to come for McGee?

Wizards rookie played a season-high 32 minutes Monday against Atlanta Up next » Wizards at Thunder When » Wednesday, 8 p.m. » Oklahoma City (15-45) could be without its top two scorers, Washington-area products Kevin Durant (ankle) and Jeff Green (back), leaving the Thunder offense in the hands of rookie G Russell Westbrook (15.8 points per game, 5.2 apg). In JaVale McGee’s career-high 32 minutes Monday night — a loss to the Atlanta Hawks — everything was on display that the Wizards love and hate about their 7-foot rookie center. There was a wraparound dunk in transition that few NBA players could have even conceptualized. There was a blocked shot...

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Tired Hawks have enough against Butler-less Wizards

Atlanta doesn’t get much sleep, but still gets Washington, 98-89 On a Monday night, after a snowstorm, against a starless opponent, the last-place Washington Wizards discovered who their most loyal fans are. Up next » Wizards at Thunder When » Wednesday, 8 Where » Ford Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM Oklahoma City (14-45) could be without its top two scorers, Washington-area products Kevin Durant (ankle) and Jeff Green (back), leaving the Thunder offense in the hands of rookie G Russell Westbrook (15.8 points per game, 5.0 apg). After a rough start, the Thunder has shown signs of improvement behind its trio of young lottery picks. But with Caron Butler out...

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Tipoff » Tuesday, March 3, 2009

HE SAID WHAT? “Anybody could wear a head band if you had the guts to go into his office and ask. Jermaine asked and we’re progressive now.” – Miami coach Erik Spoelstra on Jermaine O’Neal’s appeal to Pat Riley to wear his signature head band. PLAYER OF THE WEEK Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat Angered by a no-call elbow that gave him a bloody lip, Wade scored 24 of his 46 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Heat from 16 points down in a spectacular rally against the Knicks Saturday. Wade’s binge tied his own franchise record for points in a quarter and moved him past LeBron James for the NBA scoring lead (29.0 points per game). The performance capped...

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Wizards’ center Songaila efforts the situation

But few teammates are following his lead Up next » Hawks at Wizards » Washington is 0-12 against Southeast Division foes. This is one of four games left, all at home, against teams from the Southeast. No team in NBA history has gone winless in division play for a season. There was a poignant moment in the Wizards’ otherwise forgettable 109-93 loss Saturday at Milwaukee. Darius Songaila won a scramble in the lane, gained possession, and, from his backside, passed to Caron Butler for a layup. It was a good hustle play, but seemed extraordinary because it was so rare from the visitors. Washington was beaten in all the hustle categories by an injury-riddled Milwaukee...

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A Face-Off Classic indeed

Reynolds’ sudden strikes fuel Maryland past Duke BALTIMORE - It took defensive-minded Duke more than a quarter to dig out of a hole against Maryland Saturday. It took Terrapins midfielder Jeff Reynolds 12 seconds to push the Blue Devils back in. Up next » Maryland at Towson When » Saturday, 2 Where » Johnny Unitas Stadium TV/Radio » ESPNU Series » Maryland leads, 25-5 Maryland has beaten Towson (1-1) seven straight. The Tigers, however, have won both times the teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. Towson defeated Air Force Saturday despite losing the battle of shots, 42-35, and ground balls, 42-26. Top threats are senior A Bill McCutcheon (6...

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Wizards » Yes they did

Energized by Obama, Wizards roll past Bulls, 113-90 The Washington Wizards might consider a house-warming gift for one of the District’s newest residents — season tickets. With President Barack Obama seated in the front row Friday night at Verizon Center, the Wizards had one of their most inspired efforts in this disappointing season, defeating the Chicago Bulls, 113-90, before a crowd of 18,114. Up next » Wizards at Bucks When » Saturday, 8:30 Where » Bradley Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM Milwaukee (28-33) is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. But with Michael Redd (knee) and C Andrew Bogut (back) out for extended time, its hold on the...

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Obama on hand tonight? Maybe

President could make visit to Verizon for Wiz-Bulls McGee and Young fined » Wizards JaVale McGee and Nick Young were fined $250 each for reckless driving Thursday in Fairfax County General District Court. » McGee and Young were pulled over on Jan. 1 on the Dulles Access Road. They were on their way to the airport to catch a flight for their game at Boston on Jan. 2. You think the most powerful man in the free world can get good seats at Verizon Center? Yes he can. But will he? On Thursday afternoon, President Barack Obama hosted his hometown Chicago Bulls for a tour of the White House and a brief reception in the Blue Room, fueling speculation that Obama will be in the...

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Birdie binge sinks Woods

Clark defeats Tiger in second round of play Leaderboard Bobby Jones bracket 8. Tim Clark def. 1. Tiger Woods, 4-and-2 2. Geoff Ogilvy def. 10. Shingo Katayama, 19 holes 3. Camilo Villegas def. 6. Miguel Jimenez, 5-and-4 4. Rory McIlroy def. 12. Hunter Mahan, 1-up Ben Hogan bracket 9. Luke Donald def. 1. Vijay Singh, 19 holes 2. Phil Mickelson def. 7. Zach Johnson, 1-up 6. Stewart Cink def. 3. Lee Westwood, 23 holes 4. Ernie Els def. 5. Steve Stricker, 3-and-2 Gary Player bracket 6. Paul Casey def. 14. Mathew Goggin, 6-and-4 8. Ian Poulter def. 16. Charl Schwartzel, 1-up 15. Peter Hanson def. 10. Stephen Ames, 2-and-1 12. Sean O’Hair def. 13. Boo Weekley, 2-and-1 Sam Snead...

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Weekend area college basketball outlook

Games for the weekend of Feb. 27-March 1: George Washington at Richmond Where » Robins Center, Richmond • When » Saturday, 7 • Radio » 1500 AM With 25 points from Damian Hollis in an overtime win over Charlotte on Wednesday, the Colonials (9-16, 3-10 Atlantic 10) have won two of their last three but remain one game behind the 49ers with three games left in a battle for 12th place in the A-10 and the last berth the conference tournament. American at Lafayette Where » Kirby Sports Center, Easton, Pa. • When » Saturday, 2 • TV » MASN While the Eagles (20-7, 12-1 Patriot League) sewed up the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament...

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Lacrosse » Four teams have much to prove at Face-Off Classic

In just its third year, the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic, Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, has come to be known as the unofficial start of the college lacrosse season. Here’s a look at the games. No. 7 Maryland (2-1) vs. No. 12 Duke (2-1) When » 2:30 p.m. Mission » To rebound. Both were ranked in the preseason top 10, but were upset Saturday. While then No. 3 Maryland lost to No. 17 Georgetown, 13-10, then No. 6 Duke fell to unranked Harvard, 9-6. History » Maryland leads the series 53-17, but the Blue Devils have won 12 of the last 18, including the last two by seven and eight goals. What Maryland must do » Make stops and clear. Neither...

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Energized Maryland takes its best shot

But Duke is accurate when it matters most in 78-67 victory at Comcast Fear the trampled turtle. For 35 minutes Wednesday at Comcast Center, that was the message Maryland sent No. 7 Duke. The Terrapins and their raucous fans were fueled by the memory of their worst loss in 46 years, last month in Durham. Up next » Maryland at N.C. State When » Sunday, 7:30 Where » Reynolds Coliseum TV/Radio » FSN/106.7 FM North Carolina State (15-10, 5-7 ACC) needs a hot finish or a long run in the ACC Tournament to capture an NCAA bid. Going into Thursday’s game at Wake Forest, State had won three of four. This is the lone regular season game between Maryland and N,C,...

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Quick opening propels Woods to victory

First round after break is a success for Tiger At 12:14 (MST) Wednesday in the high desert of Arizona, Tiger Woods struck his first shot in competition in eight months. Hitting a 3-wood off the first tee in the Accenture Match Play Championship, Tiger Woods 2.0 was online. Will the surgically improved version be better than ever? In Wednesday’s opening-round victory, 3-and-2, over Brendan Jones of Australia, Woods, playing for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in June, produced some of the vintage magic that has made him a 14-time major championship winner. Round 1 results Bobby Jones bracket 1. Tiger Woods def. 16. Brendan Jones, 3 and 2 2. Geoff Ogilvy def. 15....

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In desert, Woods thirsts for competition

Tiger’s eight-month respite ends today in match play If he maxes out in the Accenture Match Play Championship this week, Tiger Woods will play seven rounds in five days on an undulating course that measures nearly 7,833 yards, a daunting task for a player coming off June knee surgery. Dreamweaver A look at some potential dream matchups at each stage for Tiger: Thursday » Retief Goosen Mr. Charisma of the Tour now has the perfect accessory to complete his dour image — prescription sunglasses. Three-time major winner is playing well. Was third at Pebble Beach. Friday » Mike Weir Punch-and-Judy left-hander would make an interesting contrast to slugger Tiger....

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Finally Tucker is ‘that guy’

Sophomore rewards Maryland’s patience Before Saturday’s game against visiting North Carolina, Maryland coach Gary Williams outlined his formula for success in the locker room. One of the bullets struck a cord with sophomore Cliff Tucker. Up next » Duke at Maryland When » Wednesday, 9 Where » Comcast Center TV/Radio » ESPN/106.7 FM » Duke (22-5, 8-4) blasted Maryland in Durham, 85-44. “Coach wrote on the board that somebody else nobody knows about needs to step up tonight,” said Tucker. “I just had it in my mind the whole night, I wanted to be that guy.” In Maryland’s 88-85 win over the No. 3 Tar Heels, Tucker...

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CAA is a one-bid conference this year

Has the league taken a step back from last year? Coaches in the Colonial Athletic Association sound resigned to landing just one team in the NCAA Tournament. Up next » GMU at UNC-Wilmington When » Wednesday, 7 Where » Trask Coliseum TV/Radio » MASN/1260 AM » The Seahawks (7-22, 3-13) beat Elon, 75-72, in an ESPN BracketBuster game Saturday as junior G Montez Downey (26 points) scored a career high off the bench. Up-tempo UNCW is led by sophomore G Chad Tomko (15.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) and junior G Johnny Wolf (14.1 ppg). Mason blasted UNCW, 101-60, on Jan. 3. While an 8-4 record last weekend in ESPN BracketBuster games strengthened the CAA’s case, two of...

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Shuler rises for Georgetown lax

In 13-10 win at Maryland, sophomore notches hat trick in 1st college start As a freshman last year at Georgetown, Ryan Shuler was buried on the bench behind a talented attack line. At times, the only way Hoyas coach Dave Urick could get him on the field was to play him in the defensive midfield. But Saturday at Maryland, Shuler was back where he belonged. Scoring a hat trick in his first college start, Shuler helped No. 8 Georgetown to a 13-10 victory over No. 3 Maryland before 2,530 at Ludwig Field. Notes » In his first start, Georgetown goalie Jack Davis had seven saves. » Junior attack Ricky Mirabito (3 goals, 1 assist) had two goals in the 6-0 run, which was finished...

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Woods anxious for return to the links

Golf superstar says he could have returned earlier than next week Tiger Woods said Friday that he was ready to come back from June knee surgery earlier this year, but delayed his return because of the birth of his son. Woods comments, by teleconference Friday, are a clear indication that the golf icon believes that his repaired anterior cruciate ligament is fully healed. He will play next week in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Ariz. “More than anything, it was making sure the family was all good,” said Woods, 33. “After that was taken care of, then I could start focusing on playing again. I wouldn’t have played if our baby was delayed or if...

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Can GMU bust loose on road?

Mason at Creighton in ESPN BracketBusters By Kevin Dunleavy It started harmlessly enough, a clever promotional vehicle of sports giant ESPN. Six years later, it’s the beast that ate the mid-majors. It’s the ESPN BracketBusters, a weekend extravaganza that began in 2003 with 18 teams, but now has swelled to 102, a monument to mid-major excess. Up next » GMU at Creighton When » Saturday, 9:30 Where » Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb. TV/Radio » ESPNU/1260 AM » The Jays have won seven straight behind senior G Booker Woodfox (15.9 points per game), sophomore G P’Allen Stinnett (12.7 ppg), and sophomore C Kenny Lawson Jr. (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6...

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Maryland breaks the mold for attack

A generation ago, lacrosse players as large as Will Yeatman and Grant Catalino would have been pigeonholed. They would have been issued long sticks and relegated to defense. But this is 2009. The sport has evolved. Yeatman (6-6, 260) and Catalino (6-5, 240) start at attack for Maryland. A new day has dawned. Yes they can. Yeatman and Catalino are not just a sideshow curiosity. They’re a major reason Maryland is ranked No. 3 (Nike/Inside Lacrosse). Up next » No. 9 Georgetown (0-0) at No. 3 Maryland (2-0) When » Saturday, 1 Where » Ludwig Field, College Park TV » ESPNU Series » Maryland leads, 7-1 » Georgetown junior goalie Jack Davis will make...

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Monroe’s put-back delivers Mason over Drexel, 49-48

All you need to know about the style of the Drexel Dragons is embodied in the name of their coach – Bruiser Flint. So in preparation for his team’s grudge match with George Mason, Flint showed his team some game tape. Actually it was film of a fight – “The Thrilla in Manila,” the famed boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Wednesday night at the Patriot Center, almost as many blows were thrown. The last haymaker that connected – a put-back by Mason center Darryl Monroe with seven seconds left that gave the Patriots a 49-48 victory. After Monroe (15 points, 9 rebounds) scored seven points in the final 4:35, he joined John Vaughan (7 points,...

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Wizards » Must be the shoes

Crittenton has a lot to learn, but he’s starting to get the point Leaning on a railing on a catwalk above the practice floor at the Verizon Center Monday, Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott lectured Javaris Crittenton on proper basketball footwear and foot care. “You’ve got to tape those ankles, if you’re going to wear those low-tops,” said Tapscott. Up next » Wizards at Nets When » Friday, 8 Where » Izod Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM After a solid start, New Jersey (24-30) has lost 11 of its last 16, but many of the defeats came with starting Fs Jianlian Yi and F Bobby Simmons out of the lineup. Both were back for the Nets’...

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Is Ishikawa a crouching Tiger?

Young Japanese star, 17, makes PGA Tour debut Is there any doubt about the ambition of Japanese golf prodigy Ryo Ishikawa? Last month when he opened a practice facility five minutes from his home in the suburbs of Tokyo, it was not only seeded with the same bentgrass used at Augusta National, the bunkers were filled with the same type of sand. Five to watch Mike Weir The Canadian left-hander won in Los Angeles in 2003 and 2004. In addition, he’s hot, having finished in the top three at this year’s two previous California tour stops. Due for a big year? Charley Hoffman Four top 20s in four starts indicate Hoffman is ready to win. Will have a high Q-rating in LA with his...

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Crittenton lightens Butler’s load

Second-year guard leads late rally in win over Minnesota Wizards forward Caron Butler described in no uncertain terms Monday what he expected in the second half of the season. The two-time All-Star said his younger teammates must finally produce. One night later, guard Javaris Crittenton heeded Butler’s call, scoring three big baskets down the stretch and making the key assist as the Wizards rallied from six points down in the final four minutes to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-103, before 11,623 at Verizon Center. Report card MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Wizards forward Antawn Jamison (29 points, 11 rebounds) hit 10 of 17 shots from the floor. The best sign for Washington,...

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Can local teams handle stretch run?

With March Madness one month away, schedules aren't forgiving for area college programs Georgetown at South Florida, tonight, 7 (MASN/980 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM) vs. No. 10 Marquette, Sat. vs. No. 7 Louisville, 2/23 at No. 12 Villanova, 2/28 at St. John's, 3/3 vs. DePaul, 3/7 Postseason prospects » Two years ago it was the Final Four. But the Hoyas (13-10, 4-8 Big East) don't appear to have a ticket to the Big Dance this season. They're going to need two victories out of their three remaining games against top 12 opponents, along with a defining run at Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament. Silver Lining » After throwing caution to the wind, Georgetown nearly rallied...

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Tipoff » Feb. 18, 2009

HE SAID WHAT? “That’s the first time I’ve seen an MVP play 11 minutes in an All-Star Game.” — Western Conference coach Phil Jackson, on the selection of Shaquille O’Neal, as All-Star Game co-MVP. PLAYER OF THE WEEK Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns » The NBA All-Star Game has become increasingly contrived and decreasingly memorable. The lone highlight this year — O’Neal in pregame introductions, donning a white mask and break dancing with the dance troupe, the JabbaWockeeZ. The Big Baryshnikov also had some impressive moves on the basketball floor, hitting 8 of 9 shots, scoring 17 points, grabbing five rebounds, and helping the West...

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Return of Arenas brightens the mood in D.C.

All-Star guard practices for first time this season The Wizards stepped lively through a high-spirited practice Monday, refreshed by the All-Star break and rejuvenated by the return of Gilbert Arenas. Out since undergoing surgery on his left knee in September, Arenas practiced for the first time this season. “Today seeing him on court, practicing and handling the contact, hitting shots and pushing the ball up and getting out in transition, was wonderful,” said forward Caron Butler. “It brought back a lot of memories. I look forward to playing with him and getting him back as soon as possible.” The possibility of the return of Arenas, who had three surgeries on...

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Terps hunker down for stretch run

First of three tough games tonight at No. 13 Clemson Rankled by the harshest scrutiny it has received in coach Gary Williams’ 20 seasons, the Maryland basketball team has taken on a bunker mentality. It seems to be working. Last week’s victories at Georgia Tech and at home over Virginia Tech were testament to Williams’ ability to close ranks and circle the wagons. “That’s our family. You don’t really listen to what’s going on on the outside,” said senior forward Dave Neal. “The past couple days and weeks, there’s been stuff in the papers that we can’t really let us affect us. We have to stay focused. We’re out here...

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Mason finds the range, rolls past Northeastern

Patriots score 47 in second half of 64-53 win at Patriot Center When Army Sgt. James Bryant came out of the stands in boots and camouflage fatigues and hit a 3-point shot to win $200 Saturday at George Mason, he accomplished something the host Patriots hadn’t done in more than three halves of basketball. But after a half of ugly offense and more futility from beyond the arc, Mason finally rediscovered its long, lost touch against Northeastern. Hitting three 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the second half, Mason rekindled its offense and ran past the Huskies for a 64-53 victory before a homecoming crowd of 9,840. Up next » Drexel at GMU When » Wednesday, 6 Where...

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Trade now, or trade later?

As deadline looms, that is the question for Wizards Nobody likes to pay taxes, not even a millionaire like Abe Pollin. But if his Wizards don’t make a trade before next season, they will likely exceed the NBA luxury tax threshold and Pollin will have to reach for his checkbook. The options for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld — trade now, before Thursday’s league deadline, or wait until the offseason. With Washington (11-42) out of the playoff picture at the All-Star break, this would normally be an opportune time to sell off veterans. But few of the Wizards have value other than Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. And Grunfeld doesn’t appear ready to break up his...

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Harrington set to weather Pebble

Rough weather forecast for AT&T National Pro-Am Three to watch Mike Weir » Short courses such as the three he will play this week — Pebble (6,816 yards), Spyglass (6,858) and Poppy Hills (6,833) — agree with Weir, who is playing well and has finished in the top five the last four years. Jim Furyk » His beloved Steelers started the month with a Super Bowl victory. Is Furyk, making his 2009 tour debut, ready to end his relative drought (no titles in 2008)? Finished last year with top-10s in his last four events. Davis Love III » Johnny Miller came out of semi-retirement and made a shocking run to the title at Pebble in 1994. Love, a winner here in 2001...

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George Mason is questionable outside Fairfax

For the last four weeks, George Mason coach Jim Larranaga has heard the same question, usually prefaced with a different apology. » Coach, I hate to ask you this … » Jim, I know this is getting old … » This sounds like a broken record … Larranaga is all too familiar with what follows: But why can’t you win on the road? Saturday’s 68-66 loss at James Madison was the Patriots’ latest road failure and one of the most mystifying. It came against an injury-riddled JMU squad, which had lost to Mason 10 straight times, including a decisive 71-57 verdict in Fairfax three weeks earlier. It was the fourth straight road loss in the...

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Just like in the movies

Wizards turn to Butler, Jamison for more heroics It was appropriate that Wizard Caron Butler’s buzzer-beating shot Sunday night downed the Indiana Pacers. The play was reminiscent of the 1986 film “Hoosiers,” about Indiana high school basketball. In the movie, coach Norman Dale of underdog Hickory High, designs an intricate final play, but is over-ruled by his star player, Jimmy Chitwood, who tells Dale, “I’ll make it.” Hickory inbounds to Chitwood, who holds the ball for the last shot. With the clock ticking down, Chitwood dribbles to his right, pulls up, swishes a jump shot at the buzzer, and is swarmed by teammates as he delivers Hickory the...

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Butler delivers dagger

Forward scores 15 points in final 3:45, hits jumper at buzzer to drop Indiana Moments before the opening tip each night at a Wizards home game, a voice comes over the public address imploring fans, “We need some energy. We need some noise.” REPORT CARD Most Valuable Player In his first game back from a bout with the flu, Caron Butler (35 points, 13 rebounds) scored the last 15 Wizards points over the final 3:45, hitting the winning shot at the buzzer, a 20-foot step-back jumper. T.J. Hooker With the Wiz hot in the third period and threatening to pull away, T.J. Ford (23 points, 7 assists) rescued the Pacers with 14 points, including one on a hook shot, in the final 9:22 of...

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Madison flips the script

Dukes end 10-game losing streak against Mason, extend Patriots’ road woes Eighty-one north. Sixty-six east. Propelled by a lively home crowd, strong 3-point shooting, and clutch play down the stretch, James Madison flipped George Mason’s familiar chant and reversed the tide of a one-sided rivalry Saturday, edging its nemesis, 68-66, before 5,470 at the JMU Convocation Center. Freshman guard Devon Moore hit three free throws in the final 67 seconds, and the Dukes sweated out Mason freshman Ryan Pearson’s desperation 50-foot heave at the buzzer that clanged off the rim. With the win, JMU (16-9, 8-5) ended its 10-game losing streak to GMU, which prompted Dukes’...

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‘... Guys are not taking it seriously’

Ed Tapscott, interim head coach of the severely-depleted Washington Wizards, delivered ominous news in his pregame talk with reporters Friday night – the visiting Denver Nuggets were at full strength. But even with starter Chauncey Billups and Kenyon Martin back in the lineup, it was little-known, but outrageously appointed, Chris Andersen who stole the show. Igniting Denver with his high-flying energy, Andersen had 13 points and five blocks, sparking the Nuggets to a 124-103 victory before an announced sellout of 20,173 at Verizon Center. With spiked hair, a baby-blue headband, long navy socks, and a body full of tattoos, the 6-foot-10 Andersen strikes a distinctive pose. Friday...

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Can Wiz hang with Nuggets?

With Butler questionable, Washington might have only eight players tonight The ineptitude of the depleted Wizards has made history. With losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets this week, the Wizards achieved a franchise first — back-to-back home losses by double-digit margins to teams with losing records. Up next » Nuggets at Wizards When » Friday, 8 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » ESPN, CSN(HD)/980 AM » The Wizards get their first look at Denver, thriving with PG Chauncey Billups (18.5 points per game, 6.3 apg) running an offense that features F Carmelo Anthony (21.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and a lot of spare parts who have panned out. F Kenyon...

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Mason back in Colonial chase

Can Patriots snap road skid Saturday at JMU? Is the Colonial Athletic Association the most balanced conference in the nation? Evidence to the affirmative was provided Wednesday when the league’s bottom two teams stunned the top two. While last-place William & Mary upset first-place Northeastern, next-to-last UNC-Wilmington toppled second place Virginia Commonwealth. The results put George Mason (16-6, 9-3) back in the CAA race. The Patriots are tied with VCU (16-7, 9-3) and face league-leading Northeastern (15-7, 10-2) a week from tomorrow. Before that, however, Mason must deal with its road woes. The Patriots play at rival James Madison (15-9, 7-5) on Saturday and at Delaware...

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Without Butler, Wizards can’t compete

Nets roll past injury-riddled Washington, 115-88 How much does Caron Butler mean to the Washington Wizards? Wednesday night at Verizon Center, with their two-time All-Star out with the flu, the Wizards found out the hard way in a humbling 115-88 loss to the New Jersey Nets. Led by guards Devin Harris (26 points, 7 assists) and Vince Carter (20 points) and rookie center Brook Lopez (12 points, 12 rebounds, who hit all six of his shots from the floor, the Nets registered 61.3 percent from the floor, their best since March of 2003. What does an uncontested jumper look like? They were available all night to a New Jersey team that had lost eight of its previous 11. “We had enough to...

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Different scene at Torrey Pines

But still intrigue as Lefty leads strong Buick field This week’s Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines will bear little resemblance to last year’s memorable U.S. Open on the same course. There’s no Tiger Woods. No Rocco Mediate. Even San Diego’s most reliable constant — the sun — might not appear until the weekend. The forecast is for rain and cool temperatures. But don’t bemoan the fate of the Buick Invitational. Torrey Pines is one of the sport’s signature venues. And this week’s strong field is sprinkled with quality players from San Diego, including favorite son and the sport’s No. 2 drawing card, Phil Mickelson. Five players...

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Patriots throttle Pride, 78-54

As George Mason forward Ryan Pearson, a native of New York, stood at the foul line Tuesday in a game against Hofstra, the loudest member of the boisterous Patriots’ band noticed the irony. “Why didn’t you recruit him, Tom?’ the Viking-horned clarinet player screamed at Pride coach Tom Pecora. “He was right in your own backyard.” It was an appropriate comment on a night when Mason dominated Hofstra in every way possible. With Pearson sparking the offense, John Vaughan doing a little of everything, and all of the Patriots swarming on defense, Mason led all the way in a 78-54 win before 5,067 at the Patriot Center. Coming off three Colonial Athletic...

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Tapscott calling for more effort

Energy boost needed for depleted Wizards tonight Have the Wizards hit rock bottom? Monday’s 113-97 loss to Memphis was witnessed by the smallest Verizon Center crowd in more than two years, 11,442, and came against a team that had lost 12 straight games and starts three rookies. Afterward even the Wizards’ power-of-positive-thinking coach, Ed Tapscott, had nothing good to say. Up next » Nets vs. Wizards When » Wednesday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN(HD)/980 AM » The Wizards will face their former draft pick, All-Star G Devin Harris (21.5 points per game, 6.4 apg). In 2004, Washington made Harris the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft, then...

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Wizards can’t hold the Mayo

Young Memphis runs away from Washington in second half The Washington Wizards got an up-close look at a living, breathing lottery pick Monday night. In this year’s NBA Draft, they can only hope they’ll be as fortunate as the Memphis Grizzlies were in 2008. Taken No. 3 last June, O.J. Mayo was the best player on the floor Monday. Scoring on a breakaway dunk with 14 seconds left, Mayo matched his career high, 33 points, propelling Memphis to a 113-97 victory in front of the smallest crowd at Verizon Center this season, 11,442. In breaking their 12-game losing streak, and delivering the first win for new coach Lionel Hollins, the Grizzlies (12-35) also got a big night from...

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Wizards’ Young is prone to excess

Is the guard back in the zone? Global warming causes temperature extremes? Climatologists may have their most compelling evidence yet — the shooting of Wizards guard Nick Young. Is there a player in the NBA more prone to boom or bust? After hitting 43 of 60 shots (70.7 percent) in a ridiculous four-game splurge earlier this month, Young followed it up with a 12-for-42 free fall (28.6 percent) in a seven-game span. But Saturday night Young snapped out of it just as suddenly, hitting 8 of 11 shots on his way to 22 points in the Wizards’ 106-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Young gun The up-and-down shooting of Nick Young. Game...

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Wiz go back to the future to beat Clips, 106-94

McGee, Young lift Washington as Wizards pull away in the fourth After four straight playoff appearances, it has been humbling for the Washington Wizards to find themselves associated with the worst teams in the NBA. So Saturday night, when they faced the standard-bearer for NBA ineptitude, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wizards played with a certain disdain. Led by Antawn Jamison and reserves JaVale McGee and Nick Young, Washington rolled to a 106-94 victory before 18,227 at the Verizon Center. Forward Jamison (25 points, 12 rebounds) had his second big game on back-to-back nights while McGee (18 points, 9 rebounds) and Young (22 points) provided energy off the bench as Washington (10-36)...

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There will be no cake for the Wizards this season

2008 All-Stars Jamison, Butler will stay home “Where’s the cake?” Those were the memorable words of Washington owner Abe Pollin when he threw a party for Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, celebrating their selection to the 2005 All-Star Game. The cake party had become a regular January event at Verizon Center. In a span of four years, Pollin feted seven Wizards’ selections. Up next » Wizards at Sixers When » Friday, 7 Where » Wachovia Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM » Philadelphia (22-22) swept two games with Washington, six days apart in December. Sixers are led by Andre Iguodala (17.7 points per game, 6.2 rpg, 5.3 apg),...

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Pearson, Morrison have the inside stuff for Patriots

The graduation of Will Thomas was a significant loss for George Mason. But the Patriots are making do inside with another pair of left-handers. Ryan Pearson and Mike Morrison, both freshmen, have combined with senior Darryl Monroe to make a potential trouble spot an area of strength. Up next » George Mason at ODU When » Saturday, 7 Where » Ted Constant Convocation TV/Radio » CSN/1260 AM The Patriots knew what Monroe could do. After sitting out last season after toe surgery, the only question about the 6-foot-7 senior was his health. But the freshmen have been a revelation, giving Mason (15-5, 8-2) immediate and unexpected flexibility inside and potential that the...

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Wizards can apply Heat

Washington faces Miami without injured Blatche To ease the pain of their lost season, the Wizards can consult tonight’s opponent, the Miami Heat. At this point last year, the Heat had the same record as this year’s Wizards (9-35). And that’s not where the similarities end. Like Washington, Miami was coming off four straight playoff appearances, was wondering if its franchise player, Dwyane Wade, was done, and was hamstrung by other injuries. But this season has brought a reversal of fortune. With everyone healthy and with the addition of lottery pick Michael Beasley, Miami (24-19) has returned to its familiar neighborhood, tied for fifth place in the Eastern...

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O’Neal, Suns eclipse Wizards

Rejuvenated veteran leads Phoenix past Washington, 103-87 Wizards forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison brought their All-Star stuff to the Verizon Center Monday night. But they had a huge task literally and figuratively. Despite scoring a combined 55 points, Butler and Jamison couldn’t quite scale mountainous Shaquille O’Neal and the Phoenix Suns. Led by the 7-foot, 360-pound center, Phoenix handed Washington a 103-87 defeat before 17,344. At age 36, O’Neal is no longer the best player in the NBA. But he still might be the most entertaining. Monday night after he blocked the path of Butler to the basket, swallowing the 6-foot-8 forward with his enormous right arm,...

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Coming of age for GMU’s Long?

With Vaughan out, sophomore guard raises his game on big stage When asked last week if he viewed Saturday’s nationally-televised game against VCU and CAA Player of the Year Eric Maynor as an opportunity to break out individually, George Mason guard Cam Long said all the right things. “I don’t really look at it that way,” said Long. “I just play to win.” But then the 6-foot-4 sophomore relented. “It’s going to be a big game because he’s one of the best point guards, pretty much in the nation,” said Long. “Me being a point guard and trying to come up to his same level, it would give me a big jump. It would be like,...

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Winning record, but Shaq, Suns feeling the heat

‘Struggling’ Phoenix faces Wizards tonight Some NBA teams would be thrilled with a 23-18 record. But not in the Land of the Sun. When you’ve been to the playoffs 18 of the last 20 years, a mark matched only by the Spurs and Lakers, and are paying Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and newly-acquired Jason Richardson at least $12 million each, ninth place in the Western Conference is unacceptable. But that’s the plight of the Suns, who visit the Wizards (9-34) tonight. Up next » Wizards vs. Suns When » Tonight, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN(HD)/980 AM » Suns are led by F Amare Stoudamire (21 points per...

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Maynor is too much for Mason

Senior leads VCU with 28 points as Rams down Patriots, 76-71 For the first 13 minutes of its Colonial Athletic Association clash with VCU, George Mason’s strategy to contain Rams star Eric Maynor was more like “Operation Shutdown.” But once Maynor got his explosive game in gear, there was no stopping the conference scoring leader or his Rams. Scoring 28 points in the final 27 minutes, Maynor led VCU to a 76-71 victory before 7,594 fans at the noisy Siegel Center. After failing to score against Mason guard Cameron Long in the first 13 minutes, Maynor got into the flow with the help of a blistering VCU press, which accounted for most of the Patriots’ 14 turnovers...

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If you think the action on the court is fast ...

The speed inside of TNT’s ‘truck’ is even faster “Keep on. Keep on ... Animate!” Those are the words of TNT director Renardo Lowe during a Wizards-Celtics broadcast last month. As he speaks, viewers across the country are watching Boston center Kendrick Perkins at the free-throw line. It’s a lull in an inconsequential NBA game. But in the truck, the nerve center for an “NBA on TNT” broadcast, there’s no down time. Albert, Fratello have great rapport Just as it is on the basketball floor, chemistry in a broadcast booth is essential to success. TNT’s Marv Albert and Mike Fratello had it almost instantly when they were matched...

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Wizards midseason report

What to expect in the second half 1. PLAY THE YOUTH » The Wizards should find consistent minutes for their six young players, none older than 23 — Javaris Crittenton, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Oleksiy Pecherov, Dominic McGuire and Andray Blatche. Play them, evaluate them, then make decisions on their future. This is the best time to figure out if they are part of the puzzle or should be dealt. 2. SIT THE VETS » Don’t be surprised if the Wizards use a minor injury as reason to shut down Antawn Jamison or Caron Butler. Both are averaging 38.4 minutes per game. There is no reason these cornerstone players should continue that pace for a lottery-bound team....

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Wizards face lottery-bound Kings

The Wizards hit the mid-point of their frustrating season today on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history. Tonight when Washington (8-32) plays at Sacramento (10-31), the Wizards will meet another lottery contender. This is unfamiliar territory for both teams. The Wizards have been to the playoffs the last four years. The Kings went eight straight times between 1999-2006, and have been in the hunt for a playoff berth the last two seasons before this year’s free fall. This is the Wizards’ best opportunity for a victory on this four-game West Coast road trip, which includes games against the Los Angeles Lakers (31-8) Thursday and Portland (24-16) Saturday. The...

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Let them eat toast

On empty stomach, Pearson fills stat sheet Has George Mason coach Jim Larranaga accidentally discovered the perfect pre-game meal? After a mid-week bout with the flu, George Mason freshman Ryan Pearson could stomach only a piece of toast Saturday morning before the Patriots’ game with visiting James Madison. But the 6-foot-6 forward scored 13 points in the first half to help the Patriots get a lead they never relinquished in a 71-57 victory. Up next » GMU at Northeastern When » Wednesday, 7 TV » MASN Northeastern is led by 6-5 junior Matt Janning (15.0 points per game) and junior Manny Adako (11.6 ppg).. “Toast, no butter, no jam,” said Larranaga....

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Butler, Wizards miss out on historic event

As the nation turns its eyes to Washington, team departs on road trip If you’re young, black and American — a description that fits 13 of the 15 Washington Wizards — the District is the place to be this week. But instead of witnessing Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, the Wizards are making like Republicans, and leaving town. Up next » Wizards at Warriors When » Today, 4 p.m. Where » ORACLE Arena, Oakland, Calif. TV/Radio » CW50/980 AM Washington travels to Golden State (12-29) for a Martin Luther King Day matinee. The Wizards got their season high against the up-tempo Warriors in a 124-100 victory in Washington on Nov. 25 in interim...

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Rivalry? What rivalry?

George Mason extends its spell over James Madison After trailing all the way en route to a 71-57 loss at George Mason Saturday, James Madison rookie coach Matt Brady was asked about the rivalry between the schools. “My first impression of the rivalry?” said Brady. “Guys keep using that word ‘rivalry.’ I don’t know what the rivalry is. We’re 0-10 the last 10 times we played George Mason. Where’s the rivalry? I don’t know.” It was an admission that the Dukes have a way to go to reach the level of the Colonial Athletic Association elite. Mason’s win Saturday, before a boisterous crowd of 8,665, was accomplished with its...

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Wizards find the finishing touch

Washington rallies past New York with 15-0 stretch run For one night in the Washington Wizards’ long, frustrating season, magic returned to the Verizon Center. No, we’re not talking about illusionists Quick Change, who entertained at halftime. For once, it was the Wizards who conjured up a clutch stretch run to rally past the New York Knicks, 96-89, before 17,526 Friday night. Reeling off 15 straight points in the final 2 minutes, 37 seconds, Washington did to New York what so many opponents have done to the Wizards. Guard Mike James (19 points) hit a pair of 3-pointers from the top of the key and forward Caron Butler (11 points, 7 assists) sewed it up with a jumper and...

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Wiz host Knicks, hope for more big things from red-hot Young

Shooting guard has hit 43 of his last 60 shots In the midst of the best stretch in his two years with the Wizards, Nick Young’s confidence has peaked. So what happens when he runs into the inevitable dry spell? Interim coach Ed Tapscott isn’t concerned. “If you’ve earned your minutes and you know you’re part of the rotation, you’re confidence will take you through any mini-slumps,” said Tapscott. While Young’s talent has never been questioned, his confidence has. It was up early this year, wavered in December, but has returned. In the last four games, he’s averaged 25.7 points, hitting 71 percent of his shots. “He knows...

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Wizards’ Thomas is out indefinitely with a torn MCL

Team faces Knicks tonight without its reserve center Wizards reserve center Etan Thomas has suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, the team announced Tuesday. He will be evaluated in two weeks and is out indefinitely. Thomas was hurt in the first period of the Wizards’ 97-91 loss to Milwaukee Monday night. Up next » Wizards at Knicks » The Knicks (14-22) are coming off their best win this season, 101-95, at New Orleans Monday. F David Lee had 24 points and G Quentin Richardson and G Chris Duhon combined for 17 of the Knicks’ 30 assists as New York responded to the plea of first-year coach Mike D’Antoni to distribute the ball. Former...

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Wizards: Just fade away

Young sparkles, but Washington can’t prevent another late collapse “Fade” describes the best shot in the arsenal of Wizards guard Nick Young. It also tells the tale of the fourth quarter woes of his struggling team. Both were on display Monday night at the Verizon Center. REPORT CARD MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Former All-Star guard Michael Redd scored 29 points and hit the game’s biggest shot, a 3-pointer with 1:20 left that gave the Bucks a 93-90 lead. The left-hander hit 11 of 20 shots and had seven points in the final three minutes. ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE Wizards guard Nick Young hit his first seven shots on his way to a career-high 30 points. The second-year man from...

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Closing woes for Wizards

Struggling Washington looks for answers tonight The themes of the Wizards’ lost season have become all too familiar. The most persistent and frustrating for the last place team in the Eastern Conference? Its inability to close. The Wizards (7-29) have lost 11 games that they led in the fourth quarter, another that was tied, and 10 more in which they had whittled the deficit to five or fewer points. On the flip side, they’ve won three times after trailing in the fourth quarter, once after the score was tied, and once after their lead had been sliced to four. Add it all up and it’s a 5-22 record in winnable games. That’s supposed to happen to inexperienced teams...

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Wizards go young, but lose in familiar fashion

Charlotte comes from 13 down in second half to win, 92-89 If the Wizards aren’t going to be good, then why not have some fun? That was the message Saturday night at Verizon Center as 7-foot JaVale McGee peeled off his warm-ups for the first time in five games and put a charge in a sleepy Saturday crowd. With three huge strides, two dribbles, and a sensational windmill dunk, McGee suggested that the Wizards are headed in a new direction – maybe not better, but decidedly younger, more entertaining, and with an eye to the future. Saturday’s 92-89 loss to Charlotte was another in a series of second half fades for Washington, but at least the sellout crowd of 20,173 could...

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Terps play ugly, but win, 68-61

The opening tip Saturday at Comcast Center resembled a rugby scrum — the ball squirting out of a wild scramble of players. Maryland senior Dave Neal had time to make an easy pickup, but dove to the floor instead. With that, the tone was set for the Terrapins’ high-intensity, low-artistry ACC opener with Georgia Tech. But playing ugly suits Maryland. Rebounding from Wednesday’s shocking upset to Morgan State, the Terrapins staged an inspired second-half rally led by guards Eric Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, and Adrian Bowie to defeat Tech, 68-61. In storming back from a 10-point deficit, Maryland (12-3, 1-0) out-scored Tech 28-11 over the final 9 minutes, 17 seconds, to the...

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Resignation taking hold for Wiz?

Struggling team hopes for better tonight at Chicago What a difference two losses can make. Monday when he was asked if he thought Gilbert Arenas would return this year, Caron Butler said, “Oh, yeah, definitely.” But three days later, after deflating defeats at Orlando and at home to Toronto, Butler did a 180-degree spin when he was posed the same question. “Me personally, I don’t think he’ll be back, just for the simple fact of where we’re at right now,” said Butler on ESPN 980’s “The John Thompson Show.” Wizards at Bulls » The Bulls are led by the perimeter trio of G Ben Gordon (21.0 points per game), F Luol Deng (13.1...

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Wizards back to square one

Rebounding, defensive woes resurface in loss to depleted Raptors, 99-93 By Kevin Dunleavy It wouldn’t be accurate to say the Toronto Raptors were “missing” three starters Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, and Jose Calderon just didn’t play. Even without 60 percent of its starting lineup, Toronto had plenty against the equally depleted Wizards. Reserve center Andrea Bargnani hit 8 of 9 shots from the floor on his way to 25 points, leading the Raptors to a routine victory, 99-93, before 13,864 at the Verizon Center. With the 7-foot Bargnani showing the touch that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft...

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Wizards are anything but crabby

After beating James’ gang, Washington faces Orlando Nothing puts Washington in a better mood than beating nemesis Cleveland. A day after Sunday’s 80-77 win over the Cavaliers, the Wizards still were enjoying LeBron James’ curious explanation of his crucial traveling violation. The question of the day: What exactly is a “crab dribble?” “I don’t know,” said Antawn Jamison. “But I know what a travel is.” “Being from the Maryland Eastern Shore area, we should know that,” joked interim coach Ed Tapscott. “I’ll have to check in my book.” Caron Butler had the best explanation. “Crab dribble is...

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For once, Wizards get the call

A late traveling whistle against LeBron seals win How many times has LeBron James broken the hearts of the Washington Wizards? Sunday at the Verizon Center a sellout crowd of 20,173 held its breath as James had the ball twice in the final 10 seconds of a one-possession game. But finally it was the Wizards turn. With James drawing a traveling call with 2.3 seconds left and missing a fade away 3-pointer at the buzzer, Washington escaped with an 80-77 win. After blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead, forward Antawn Jamison (26 points, 13 rebounds) hit the game winner with 10 second left, an 18-foot catch-and-shoot baseline jumper on a pass from Nick Young. Up next » Wizards at...

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Celtics will test Wizards’ new-found desire; Butler expected back

It took a coaching change, a trade, lineup shuffling and soul searching, but the Wizards are finally beginning to live up to their marketing slogan — character, commitment, connection. Starting with a 109-103 loss Christmas night in Cleveland, the Wizards have put together their best stretch of the season. Four games is a modest sampling size, and 2-2 is no cause for celebration, but Washington (6-24) appears more committed to defense and rebounding than at any time this year. Did Santa finally bring those elusive public relations characteristics to the last place team in the Eastern Conference? Tonight at Boston (28-5), Washington’s newfound strength will be tested by the...

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Year in review » D.C. sports

10 best stories in D.C. of 2008 Caps get city to ‘Rock the Red’ as Ovi wins MVP; Zorn era begins at Redskins Park; a new ball park debuts on the Anacostia; Super Bowl stars find their way to Canton; Agent Zero gets paid; a legend retires. Capitals playoff run 1 » No one accuses Washington of being a hockey town. But it became one last spring as the Capitals played before red-clad sell-out crowds at Verizon Center, winning 11 of their final 12 games to clinch the Southeast Division title and first playoff berth in five years. The run also vaulted former Hershey coach Bruce Boudreau to NHL Coach of the Year in his first shot at coaching in the majors. Search ends with...

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Stevenson likely out of Wizards' lineup

After 275 consecutive starts, Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson will probably start tonight’s game at Charlotte (9-19) on the bench. According to interim coach Ed Tapscott, Stevenson offered to move to the bench in an attempt to get his “swag” back. “I thought it was an enormously gracious thing to say,” said Tapscott. “We’re looking at different combinations to see who we might put in the lineup — see if we’ll go big or small and let DeShawn go with the second unit for a while. The ultimate team guy and that’s why I have so much respect for the guy. He’s the type of guy who’ll do anything to get a win.” Tapscott...

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Wizards stars can’t get their shots

Philadelphia takes advantage of another fourth-quarter flame out for Washington In the final minutes of a close game last night at Verizon Center, the Washington Wizards figured to have the advantage over the young Philadelphia 76ers. In all-star forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, who have a combined 18 years of NBA experience, the Wizards have a nice pair of options on either side of the floor. But on the three most important possessions Friday night, neither got off a shot. Instead it was Andray Blatche missing a 21-footer from the key and a 15-footer from the baseline. In between DeShawn Stevenson missed a 3-pointer from the wing. It all added up to another fourth-quarter...

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Wizards’ reliable forwards flounder in low-scoring loss

Jamison a game-time decision tonight The Wizards are so used to penciling in forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler for their usual 20-plus points, that when they don’t produce, it’s glaring. Such was the case in Wednesday’s 88-74 loss at Detroit as Jamison (14 points, 41 minutes) and Butler (5 points, 36 minutes) made only six field goals, their lowest combined output in their four seasons together in Washington. As a result, the Wizards (4-19) scored their fewest points in a game this season and hit a season-low 33 percent from the floor. Up next » Sixers at Wizards Philadelphia got bad news Thursday. Top scorer and rebounder Elton Brand (shoulder) is out for...

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Young aims to get in the flow

Wizards guard looks for return to form tonight at Detroit No one is immune to the shooting woes that have cursed the Washington Wizards’ backcourt. Even their most dependable scorer over the first five weeks, Nick Young, has been infected. Mired in a 5-for-21 slump over his last five games, Young has seen his minutes slip. After playing at least 15 in every game, Young has logged a total of nine in the last two contests. But tonight when Washington (4-18) travels to Detroit (13-9), Young will get a longer look. “I told him, ‘I’m gonna play you a full segment. Don’t worry about making a mistake,’” said Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott. “I...

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Indiana feasts on woeful Wiz

Pacers end six-game skid with victory at Verizon The struggling Indiana Pacers found the cure for their December woes Monday at Verizon Center — the indifferent play of the Wizards. Up next » Wizards at Pistons When » Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Where » The Palace of Auburn Hills TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM » After losing at Verizon Center last Tuesday, Detroit (13-9) beat Indiana and Charlotte, both by four points, on Friday and Saturday. New PG Rodney Stuckey had 34 points and 18 assists in the two games and appears to have found chemistry with SG Allen Iverson (37 points, 15 assists) and SF Richard Hamilton (46 points). Both shifted up a slot to...

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After lopsided losses, Wizards talk about practice

Tapscott issues more work for young players Are the Wizards reaching the boiling point with their young players? Up next » Pacers at Wizards When » Monday, 7 p.m. Where » Verizon Center TV/Radio » CSN/980 AM » After starting the month with an upset of the Lakers, Indiana (7-16) has lost six straight — including five on the road. Like the Wizards, the culprit has been defense. Seven of their last eight opponents have shot 50 percent or better from the field. F Danny Granger (23.5 points per game) is the top scorer. The Pacers have a new starting backcourt with SG Marquis Daniels (15.5 ppg) having the best season of his five-year career. PG T.J....

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Wizards no match for energized Celtics

A different story this season in 122-88 rout Beware of a motivated team: especially if it’s is the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, especially if the game is on national television, and especially if you’ve beaten them three straight times. That was the unfortunate set of circumstances that the Wizards faced Thursday at Verizon Center. To make matters worse, they were breaking in a new pair of guards – Mike James and Javaris Crittenton, acquired in a Wednesday trade. It all added up to the Wizards’ most decisive loss this season, 122-88, one in which their usual flaws were exposed, and the power of their opponent was showcased in front of a sellout crowd of...

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Something old, something new for Wizards

Different strokes for Crittenton and James Javaris Crittenton is thrilled to be in Washington. For Mike James, it’s just another routine stop in his well-traveled basketball career. Those are the disparate feelings of the Wizards' two newest players, both acquired in a three-team deal Wednesday. The guards were in uniform for last night’s game at Verizon Center against the Boston Celtics. Crittenton, 20, has at long last, a chance to play. He was buried on the bench in his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers. This year in Memphis, the 6-foot-5 guard was playing behind O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry. “I’m very happy to be here. I’m very excited....

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Changing of the guard

James, Crittenton arrive; Daniels, Brown depart Mired in last place in the NBA East, the Wizards have shaken up their backcourt, acquiring guards Mike James from New Orleans and Javaris Crittenton from Memphis. In the three-team deal, the Wizards (4-15) sent veteran guard Antonio Daniels to New Orleans, and a conditional first-round draft choice to Memphis. The pick was acquired from the Grizzlies in August 2007 for Juan Carlos Navarro, who never played in Washington. To make room on the roster, the Wizards waived guard Dee Brown. “This is gonna upgrade our backcourt with a solid veteran in Mike James, and a very talented young player in Javaris,” said Wizards President of...

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Wizards bench the difference against Pistons

Songaila, Dixon show the way, Blatche, McGuire follow the lead While Detroit Pistons went small last night, the Washington Wizards went old. Badly in need of a spark after 20 unsightly minutes of uninspired basketball, the Wizards got it from an unlikely trio of veteran reserves. With Darius Songaila, Juan Dixon and Antonio Daniels helping reverse a terrible start, Washington rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to defeat Detroit, 107-94, before 14,707 at the Verizon Center. Dixon (16 points, 7 assists), Songaila (15 points, 5 rebounds), and Daniels (5 points) led an inspired effort by the entire Wizards bench. After the vets showed the way in the second period, young reserves Nick...

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Chemistry class tonight for Wizards, Pistons

Experiments for teams continue at Verizon Center As rookie coaches trying to win with new lineups, the Wizards Ed Tapscott and the Pistons Michael Curry have similar challenges. The urgency of their tasks is different, however, when one considers the records of their respective teams. Tonight when Detroit (11-8) faces Washington (3-15) at Verizon Center, it will be a matchup of perennial playoff contenders, struggling to find chemistry and identity. For the injury-plagued Wizards, the struggle has been more pronounced. Tapscott summed up the difference. “[Detroit] is still a veteran team, one that plays hard all the time, knows how to win games,” said Tapscott....

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For sagging Wizards, the song remains the same

Perimeter defense still the culprit for Washington At least the Wizards are changing the script. With determined fourth-quarter comebacks Friday against the Lakers and Saturday at Chicago, the Wizards deviated from their pattern of blowing fourth quarter leads. But the results were the same — two more frustrating, close-call defeats in a season that is spinning out of control. In the fourth quarter Friday night, the Wizards (3-15) whittled a 19-point deficit to one. Saturday, they cut a 17-point margin to four. But the losses left them 1-11 in games decided by 10 or fewer points. “I think I’m going to tell the guys at the start of the second half, it’s the fourth...

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The great sports debate » NFL: Baltimore vs. Washington

All-time NFL teams: Baltimore vs. Washington The Redskins have two NFL titles and three Super Bowl wins, and Baltimore’s teams have won three NFL titles and two Super Bowl championships. But which city has been home to the better players? We asked Ron Snyder of The Baltimore Examiner and Kevin Dunleavy of The Washington Examiner to go one-on-one in the greatest debate of all: Which city would win a game of fantasy football? There was just one rule: A player had to spend three seasons with the Redskins, Colts or Ravens to be eligible. Sorry, Deion Sanders. Ron Snyder » It’s not close, Baltimore’s better...

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Wizards’ rally, Butler’s shot, fall just short

Down but not out, Wizards push Lakers to the brink, 106-104 The Washington Wizards turned back the clock Friday night. Wearing Chicago Zephyr throwback uniforms, they revisited an era when it mattered more about who they played than how. But hosting a sellout crowd of 20,173, many who came to cheer Kobe Bryant and the powerful Los Angeles Lakers, the Wizards weren’t content to play the role of Washington Generals. Staging a furious rally, the Wizards came from 19 points down in the final 7 minutes, 26 seconds and nearly spoiled the Lakers’ Showtime exhibition, a 3-point shot by Caron Butler was just short at the buzzer, in a 106-104 defeat. Trailing by two points with 14...

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Wiz search for finishing touch

Washington will try to find it against hot Lakers The Wizards will wear throwback Chicago Zephyrs jerseys tonight. If only they could really turn back the clock. With a 3-13 record, the Wizards have matched their worst start in franchise history. In an effort to find answers, Washington conducted practice Thursday, an unusual measure considering the team usually rests after playing back-to-back nights. The deviation from routine also has something to do with tonight’s opponent. The Los Angeles Lakers (15-2) bring Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s second-best record, and perhaps the league’s deepest rotation. “They’re playing better than anyone in the NBA right...

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This formula all too familiar for Wizards

Another game, another fourth-quarter fade, as Washington falls to Portland In the early stages of his tenure as Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott has constantly stressed finding a “formula.” His team has certainly found one. It’s just not successful. After another teeth-gnashing fourth-quarter fade Wednesday night at Verizon Center, the Wizards are still searching. Surrendering 12 points in the final eight minutes to Brandon Roy, Washington fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 98-92, before 12,802 head-scratching fans. It was the eighth time the Wizards (3-13) lost a game they led in the fourth period. “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,”...

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Tapscott: Wiz need better team defense

Washington will need it tonight against Nets The Wizards are getting defensive about their 2-12 record. Interim head coach Ed Tapscott wants them to hold that thought when they play tonight at New Jersey (9-7). “We had a theme — us,” said Tapscott after practice. “When an individual player scores, he doesn’t score on one of our players, he scores on us. We’re all accountable.” Team defense has been a sticking point. After ranking No. 12 in the NBA in points allowed (99.2) last season, the Wizards rank No. 26 this season (103.2). They also are No. 27 in opponent’s field goal percentage (.475), up from .461 last season. Backcourt defense...

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Wizards' rally goes for naught

Horford's 3-point play is clutch in Atlanta’s 102-98 win Three games into his tenure as interim coach, Ed Tapscott is discovering the same thing as his predecessor: It’s the Wizards veterans that he can trust most. Last night against the Atlanta Hawks, Tapscott turned to his two most experienced reserves, Antonio Daniels and Darius Songaila, who sparked a second-half rally from 17 points down. Their efforts weren’t enough in a 102-98 loss before 18,110 at the Verizon Center, but it was at least a positive in a season that is quickly spinning out of control. Such is the state of the Wizards (2-12), who have matched their worst start in franchise history (1966-67) —...

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Role reversal for Sherwood duo

Splain, George lead Warriors to state championship game Basking in the afterglow of Sherwood’s 45-8 victory over Wise in the Maryland 4A state semifinals, wide receiver Ralph George was amused by the incongruity: He used to be the starting quarterback and Zack Splain was his backup. But that was four years ago, when both played for the Olney Bears, and before both discovered their niche. Friday night at Sherwood it was clear what both do best as Splain fired six touchdown passes, including three to George, as the Stormin’ Warriors advanced to the Maryland state championship game for the third time in four years. Splain completed 16 of 21 passes for 238 yards. George...

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A Magic night at the Verizon Center

Wizards offer little resistance against Howard, Orlando Fans had plenty of suggestions for Ed Tapscott in his second game as an NBA head coach Thursday night. They were easy to hear as there was little competition from a sparse, sleepy Thanksgiving Day crowd at the Verizon Center. “Play Juan Dixon.” “Where’s Nick Young?” “Suit up, Gilbert.” Those were some of the clearly audible (and printable) exclamations from fans in the Wizards’ dreadful, 105-90 loss to the Orlando Magic before an announced crowd of 13,295. With center Dwight Howard (26 points, 14 rebounds) dominating the Wizards for the second time this month and receiving perimeter...

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New challenge for Wizards

Game plan changes tonight against Orlando, Howard For new Wizards coach Ed Tapscott, tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic will present a completely different, and decidedly more difficult, challenge than in Tuesday’s 124-100 victory over run-and-gun Golden State. Orlando (10-4 going into last night’s game at Philadelphia) is one of the NBA’s toughest teams to match up with in the frontcourt with powerful center Dwight Howard and perimeter-skilled forwards Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Howard had his way with Wizards’ rookie JaVale McGee in a 106-81 Magic win 19 days ago, scoring 31 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. McGee has comparable athleticism, but...

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Tapscott opens to raves

Wizards run, gun their way past Golden State The Wizards have a new coach, and at least for one night, a new identity. Running, gunning, attacking the boards, and doing it all with newfound zeal, the Wizards blew past one of the NBA’s foremost practitioners of the art, Tuesday night, delivering Ed Tapscott a 124-100 victory over the Golden State Warriors in his NBA head coaching debut. From the opening tap, when rookie JaVale McGee directed the ball to Caron Butler and sprinted to the basket for a successful alley-oop slam, the Wizards played loose, free, and with a shoot-first mentality. For one night, in front of 13,852 at the Verizon Center, it was goodbye Princeton, hello...

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Wizards bounce Jordan

Tapscott named interim head coach for 1-10 squad Off to their worst start in 42 years, the Washington Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan Monday, naming Ed Tapscott as interim head coach. Jordan, the third-longest-tenured coach in the league and 21 months removed from coaching in the NBA All-Star Game, served five-plus seasons, guiding the Wizards to the playoffs the last four years, and compiling a 197-224 record, including 1-10 this year. Saturday’s 122-117 loss in New York to a Knicks team that had only seven available players, was the tipping point. It was the third straight time, and sixth this season, that the Wizards lost a game that they led in the fourth period. “Our...

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DeMatha does it again

Stags shut down Good Counsel, win sixth straight WCAC title, 34-7 Six weeks ago, DeMatha coach Bill McGregor had a simple message for his downtrodden team – smile. The five-time defending champions of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference were struggling. They had lost to Good Counsel, 42-21, and were coming off a shockingly close call against perennial league doormat Paul VI, 21-13. But taking their cues from their legendary coach, the Stags looked on the bright side. Saturday night in the WCAC title game, the Stags were wearing the smiles of champions. With a 34-7 defeat of Good Counsel at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, DeMatha won its sixth straight WCAC crown, beat Good...

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Arenas waxes on return

Free-falling Wizards host Rockets tonight at Verizon The Wizards will roll a wax figure of Gilbert Arenas onto the Verizon Center floor tonight when they host the Houston Rockets. With the team at 1-8, the real thing can’t return soon enough. “You ever seen that movie ‘Click,’ where you just fast-forward through time?” asked Arenas Thursday. “I wish I could just [do that] all the way until I could play.” According to Arenas, the actual timeline for his return is between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. He said, however, that he is anxious and if the playoffs began today he could be on the floor, but would probably be unable to play back-to-back...

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More of the same from listless Wiz

Heat backcourt too much in 94-87 Washington loss The Washington Wizards’ quest for a promising combination, a spark, a finishing touch — anything — continued to no avail last night. With the exception of a few spectacular JaVale McGee alley-oops, it was another fruitless exercise as Washington fell to Miami, 94-87, before 15,102 lethargic fans at the Verizon Center. Surrendering big nights to starting guards Dwyane Wade (19 points, 10 assists) and Mario Chalmers (15 points, 6 assists) as well as backcourt reserves Daequan Cook (13 points, 5 assists) and Chris Quinn (10 points), the Wizards had no answer for the Heat on the perimeter. The Wizards starting unit continued...

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For Jordan’s Wizards, the Heat is on

Spotty not only describes the early-season play of the Wizards. It also applies to their schedule. With only seven games in the first 20 days, the Wizards have been the least active team in the NBA. “It’s sort of weird that teams have 11 games and we have seven,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “It doesn’t give you rhythm. Once the season starts, players love playing games, and they feed off of that rhythm.” With four games in the next five days, however, this is catch-up time for Washington (1-6) in the schedule, and the standings. After facing Miami (5-5) tonight, the Wizards play at Atlanta (6-3) on Wednesday, against visiting Houston (6-4) on...

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Redskins-Cowboys rivalry » The instigators

Ten figures who stoked the fire of the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry, as compiled by Kevin Dunleavy. DEXTER MANLEY » The defensive end was mixing metaphors in 1986 when he famously said of Joe Montana, that he would “ring his clock.” If Montana needed any evidence, all he had to do was remember the hit Manley delivered to knock Dallas QB Danny White out of the 1983 NFC Championship Game. When he named his daughter “Dalis,” Manley said he could no longer hate the Cowboys. GEORGE ALLEN » Gave the Redskins instant credibility when he took over as coach in 1971 and kicked the rivalry up a notch. Allen took karate lessons from local TV commercial icon Jhoon Rhee...

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Is JaVale McGee the next big thing for the Wizards?

Team is excited about rookie center’s potential Forget the 1-5 record. With each blocked shot, each extra-terrestrial alley-oop, each windmill dunk, rookie center JaVale McGee fires the imagination. Who cares about the present when the future is so tantalizing? When asked which NBA player reminds him of McGee, Wizards guard Juan Dixon was stumped. “In his class?” asked Dixon. “Well, Dwight Howard can finish, block shots, and run the floor, like him. He’s about the only one.” The Wizards would be thrilled to present Superman II, the sequel. McGee did a reasonable impersonation of Howard Wednesday night with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 27...

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Jurgensen’s Redskins were the beginnings of the rivalry

Former QB said games in the 60s were competitive but cordial until Allen put the “gas on the fire” Former Washington Redskins coach George Allen gets most of the credit for stirring up the rivalry between his old team and the Dallas Cowboys. But the initial instigator was former Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen. “We got the rivalry started,” said Jurgensen. “George Allen put gas on the fire.” With Washington mired in mediocrity and Dallas an emerging power under Tom Landry, Jurgensen was a burr in the Cowboys’ saddle. In 1965, Dallas led Washington, 24-6, in the third period. But Jurgensen threw for 411 yards and three touchdowns to lead a...

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With late run, Wizards break through

Butler leads 12-0 run in final two minutes Pulling his jersey over his head and flinging it to the crowd, Caron Butler expressed the Washington Wizards’ relief — Gilbert Arenas-style — Wednesday night at Verizon Center. Butler’s gesture was in response to the Wizards’ long-awaited first victory, 95-87, over the Utah Jazz. With the win, Washington (1-5) avoided its worst start in franchise history before a crowd of 14,885. “King Kong was on my back, man,” said Butler. “Just a sigh of relief.” With 27 points, 9 rebounds, and the clinching 3-pointer from 27-feet out with 30 seconds left, Butler did his part. “I was about to take...

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Everybody’s a critic

At 0-5, the Wizards are hearing it from all sides The Wizards opened practice to season ticket holders on Tuesday. As players went through drills, assistant coach Ed Tapscott conducted a Q&A. With the team at 0-5, even the Wizards’ most loyal fans are posing tough questions. “Why are we giving up so many threes this year?” asked one fan. Everywhere they go the Wizards are facing a barrage. “I hear it from my mom every day,” said guard Nick Young. “After we lose, it’s, ‘What happened?’ I tell her, ‘It’s coming, pray for us.’” With their next six games against teams with winning records, the Wizards might...

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Marino falters down stretch

Fairfax native finishes in tie for third; Love wins In the last PGA Tour event of the year, Fairfax native Steve Marino was in position for his first victory. But tied for the lead with veteran Davis Love III with seven holes left, Marino faltered while Love thrived to win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. At Magnolia Golf Club, Love shot a 25-under 263 (66-69-64-64) to beat Tommy Gainey by a stroke and claim the 20th victory of his distinguished PGA Tour career. Marino finished five strokes back at 268 (65-66-66-71), tying for third place and finishing the season with more than $2 million in earnings. Marino, 28, fell just short of finishing in the...

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Wiz fade again late, lose to Knicks 114-108

Washington remains winless despite more positive signs With each game of their young season, the Washington Wizards flash tantalizing glimpse of the future. Friday night at Verizon Center it was rookie center JaVale McGee who thrilled a sellout crowd of 20,173 with a startling array of high-wire work. But potential is all the Wizards can claim in another slow-start season. With a 114-108 loss to the New York Knicks, the Wizards extended their losing streak to four, remaining the only team in the Eastern Conference without a win. It was another fourth-quarter fade for Washington, which has held the lead in the final period in three of its losses. A 10-0 run in the final five minutes...

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A change of the guard?

Wiz still seeking first win; Jordan thinking shakeup After practice Thursday, Eddie Jordan postponed his usual chat with reporters to work out the frustration of the Wizards’ 0-3 start. “My stress-buster run,” said the coach, glistening with sweat after 30 minutes on a treadmill. It was his way of dealing with Washington’s 112-104 overtime loss at Milwaukee Wednesday in which the Wizards missed 17 of 51 free throws and 16 of 18 three-point tries, surrendered a 14-point lead in the final 10 minutes, and again got uninspired play from their starting five. “We’ve been seeing a trend since the beginning of training camp,” said Jordan. “The...

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Wizards seek breakthrough

Can Washington stop skid against Bucks? It is with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that Caron Butler returns home tonight when the Wizards play at Milwaukee. Excitement comes from playing 15 minutes from his hometown of Racine. Trepidation, from a history of bad luck in his home state. Last year in Milwaukee, Butler suffered a torn labrum in his hip that knocked him out for seven weeks. In 2006-07, Butler’s season ended prematurely when he broke his hand on a backboard at the Bradley Center. But Butler also has played well in Wisconsin, albeit in losing causes. In the game he injured his hip, he scored a career-high 40 points in an overtime loss. The previous season he had...

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Thomas fills void for Wiz

A promising first game back for veteran center Now on to the positives of the Wizards’ 95-85 opening-game loss to the New Jersey Nets. Well, make that singular — the positive. Playing his first NBA game that mattered in 18 months, center Etan Thomas scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked a shot in 18 minutes, 45 seconds. Coming off heart surgery, performed last October, it was a strong start for the nine-year veteran. “Definitely happy with that,” said Thomas of his production. “I’ve come a long way. It’s been a long journey. It’s great for me just to be out there playing at all.” Thrust into a starting role after the...

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Courses you can play » Bay Creek Golf Club

Bay Creek Golf Club Location » Cape Charles, Va. Phone » 757-331-8620 Fees » $70 Nov.-March; $59 (Va. resident); $100 April-Oct. Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/7,417/76.6/144 » Nicklaus Course 72/7,250/75.4/143 » Palmer Course Description » Two championship-length courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus (2005), the other by Arnold Palmer (2001), are the centerpiece of a resort community, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from Virginia Beach, on the bay side of the Eastern Shore. Both courses have seaside holes and others that roll through maritime forest. Reasons to play » Two of the most immaculately conditioned and scenic public courses in...

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Carter, Nets sink Wizards in opener

New Jersey pulls away in final minutes When asked this week if he welcomed an opening game match-up with the rebuilding New Jersey Nets, Eddie Jordan shuttered, then said he would never look forward to facing All-Star Vince Carter. Wednesday night at Verizon Center, Jordan’s words were prophetic as Carter hit three step-back jumpers in the final 6 minutes to lead the young Nets to a 95-85 win over the Wizards before a sellout crowd of 20,173. Carter (21 points) scored his biggest basket right in front of Jordan and the Wizards’ bench, with 61 seconds left, giving the Nets a 90-82 lead. “Vince Carter controlled the game with his post-ups, pick-and-rolls, drives and...

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Wizards still forward thinking

For team to thrive, Butler, Jamison must get help Hopeful that their young players are ready to contribute, hopeful that their injury woes are in the past, and hopeful that other teams in the NBA Eastern Conference have not passed them by, the Wizards open tonight against the New Jersey Nets, the promise of a new season, tempered by the hard-luck reality of the past. Misfortune has already befallen the Wizards in the form of injuries to starters Gilbert Arenas (knee) and Brendan Haywood (wrist), but on opening day, hope is eternal. “We have a lot of doubters out there, now more than ever,” said Caron Butler. “Losing Gil and now losing Brendan, that’s another...

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High school musical (chairs) for Wizards

Rotation is a mystery for Wednesday opener Closing with line drills and full-court weaves, the Wizards’ practice Monday was so high school. Near the end of the grueling session, coach Eddie Jordan spurred on his tired players. “Commitment and pride,” he yelled. After two-plus hours of work, it was clear that Jordan wants his team fit for Wednesday’s opening game with visiting New Jersey. “There is a sense of urgency,” said Jordan. “The second team is really giving the starters a run for their money. Hopefully, that’s a good thing.” Jordan takes nothing for granted when it comes to the Wizards’ reserves. After a shaky 2-5...

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Courses you can play » Northwest Golf Course

Northwest Golf Course Location » Silver Spring, Md. Phone » 301-598-6100 Fees » $47 Weekday; $63 Weekend Par / Yardage / Rating / Slope 72 / 7,376 / 74.1 / 122 Executive 9 » 34 / 2,711 / 34.5 / 116 Description » At 7,376 yards, this is the longest public course in the Washington area. Northwest is wide open, has huge greens and few hazards. Formerly a Maryland Park and Planning Commission course and called Northwest Park, it is now one of eight courses under the Montgomery County Golf umbrella. Facility includes an executive 9-holer, which is tighter and hillier. Reason to play » Despite years of heavy play, conditions are strong. The 44-year-old...

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Wizards waive FAs Johnson & Johnson

The Wizards released free agents Linton Johnson and DerMarr Johnson, Tuesday, bringing their roster to 15 players, the maximum the team can hold. Both players are NBA veterans who were signed on Sept. 22. DerMarr Johnson, a Prince George’s County native, was impressive in five preseason games, averaging 8.8 points. But the versatile 6-9 swingman faced an uphill battle, competing with free agent guards Juan Dixon and Dee Brown, who had signed partially guaranteed contracts.

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Getting serious

It’s only preseason, but Wizards find their play unsettling Before he answered questions Monday, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison insisted a television cameraman remove his Kentucky T-shirt. When the cameraman eventually complied, Jamison, a North Carolina alum, had won a small victory and provided some levity on a day when it largely was missing. Coming off back-to-back blowout defeats to New Orleans last week in Europe, the Wizards are preparing for their season opener in eight days against New Jersey with some anxiety. Washington (1-4) has averaged a paltry 78.6 points per game, shot 43.7 percent, and been out-scored by an average margin of 13.2. The Wizards look to iron out the...

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Cheers & Jeers » For Wizards rookie, it’s all in the shoes

Kill + Mode = Cheese. That is the message, scrawled in magic marker, on the side of one of the size 19 basketball shoes of Wizards’ rookie JaVale McGee. The words remind McGee to be aggressive and monetary rewards (cheese) will follow. When the season begins in eight days, McGee may be mumbling his mantra more on the court than anyone expected when he was selected No. 18 overall as a long-range project. In September, when Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was asked if there was any chance McGee would be in the rotation, he smiled and said an unequivocal, “No.” But that was before starter Brendan Haywood suffered a wrist injury that will likely keep him out of the lineup until...

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Cheers & Jeers » Philadelphia says ‘yes’ to Tiger Woods

Has Washington seen the last of Tiger Woods? Aronimink Golf Club’s eager acceptance of the AT&T National for 2010 and 2011, announced Thursday by the Tiger Woods Foundation, could be the first step for the exclusive suburban Philadelphia club to eventually become the tournament’s permanent home. Yes, Congressional Country Club in Bethesda has agreed to host the tournament in 2012-2014, with an option to continue for three more years. But that decision wasn’t reached without considerable discussion within the ranks of the old-guard club. Even after Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem came to Congressional to lobby members for votes, the tally was surprisingly...

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Cheers & Jeers » A Euro League audition for Wizards’ Johnson?

With a non-guaranteed contract, DerMarr Johnson is unlikely to make the Washington Wizards roster. But in scoring 17 points in the final 10 minutes of the Wizards 96-80 loss Tuesday in Berlin, the 6-foot-9 swingman made a strong case for employment, if not for the Wizards, certainly in the European League. In his flurry, Johnson showed an array of skills, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, driving layups, an and-one runner, a dunk, and three free throws. Johnson’s play put a positive spin on a game that the Wizards trailed at one point by 41 points. “He’s intriguing because he’s 6-9. He’s a two guard,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “He’s...

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In Berlin, Hornets throttle Wizards

Preseason injuries are piling up for Washington Ick, yuck, ugh, Berliner. The Wizards injury-riddled preseason reached an unsightly low Tuesday in Berlin. In their NBA Europe Live Tour opener, the Wizards trailed by as many as 41 points en route to a 96-80 loss to New Orleans. “They went uptown and we went downtown,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan of a first half in which Washington was out-shot 56 percent to 23 percent and committed 13 turnovers. But with six veterans out of the lineup, there was a good reason. Antonio Daniels (hip, knee), Juan Dixon (calf) and Nick Young (knee) are the latest casualties. Daniels and Antawn Jamison (knee) are expected back for the Wizards...

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Parity reigns on the Champions Tour

Constellation of possible contenders at the Senior Players Championship Picking a favorite in the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, which begins today and runs through Sunday at Baltimore Country Club, isn't easy. Unlike past years, when high-profile stars such as Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, and Hale Irwin won as many as seven tournaments in a season, no player has more than three wins this year on the Champions Tour. “The talent pool gets deeper every year,” said Jay Haas, 54, the leader in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. “The Champions Tour is on the horizon for these guys now. When I started out, there was no such thing, so there wasn't a goal...

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Cheers & Jeers » Mize takes shot on senior circuit

One perfectly struck golf shot, at a perfectly opportune moment. That is Larry Mize’s legacy. The shot came in the 1987 Masters, at No. 11 at Augusta National, at appropriately enough, “Amen Corner.” Mize, battling Greg Norman in a playoff, chipped in from 140 feet to stun the Australian superstar and win his first and only major, in his hometown no less. Is there a player more identified with one shot than Larry Mize? So when Mize chatted on the putting green Tuesday at Baltimore Country Club he was asked if he ever revisited the place he made history. “Never. I’ve never gone back to that spot and I’ll never go back there again, unless I hit one...

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Cheers & Jeers: Competitive Wiz open preseason

Coach Eddie Jordan gathered the Wizards at mid-court for his customary end-of-practice message Monday. “This is the most competitive group we’ve had here in six years,” Jordan told his players. “That means a lot.” With the Wizards about to fly to Dallas for tonight’s preseason opener (Comcast), Jordan made it clear that he appreciated their effort after a particularly spirited workout. Now the question is, will Jordan reward his reserves with more consistent minutes? By any reasonable measure, Jordan did an outstanding job squeezing 43 wins from his injury-riddled squad last year. If Jordan were to get low marks in any area, however, it would be his...

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Hokies' Whitaker suspended

The Virginia Tech Hokies suspended junior wide receiver Ike Whitaker indefinitely, coach Frank Beamer announced Thursday. Whitaker was previously suspended from spring practice in 2006 and spent 28 days at an alcohol rehab center later that year. As a standout high school quarterback, Whitaker led Northwest High of Germantown to the 2004 Maryland 3A state championship.

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Starry, starry night for Good Counsel

On ESPN2, Falcons thrash DeMatha, 42-21 When ESPN landed in Olney this week to broadcast the Good Counsel-DeMatha football game, the all-sports network turned its cameras toward Jelani Jenkins. But Thursday night, Good Counsel showed it is much more than a one-man show. With several Falcons rising on the national television stage, Good Counsel dominated nemesis DeMatha, 42-21. With senior tailback Caleb Porzel rushing 15 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Tyler Campbell completing 9 of 9 passes for 174 yards, Good Counsel toppled the five-time defending champions in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Good Counsel (5-0, 2-0) did it with a flawless...

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Cheers & Jeers: It’s make or break for Andray Blatche

As Antawn Jamison fielded questions on this year’s prospects for the Wizards, he kept bringing it back to the same subject. Andray Blatche. “My message to Andray is — he wants to be treated like a veteran, he says he’s matured, he says he’s ready for the task — you have to show me,” said Jamison. “Excuses. It goes in one ear and out the other.” If there are polar opposites on the NBA professionalism scale, they are Jamison and Blatche. One is an All-Star who has made the most of his abilities. The other is in his fourth year, has had multiple off-the-court scrapes, and the Wizards are still waiting. With soft hands, a smooth shot and...

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Courses you can play » Bowling Green Country Club

Bowling Green Country Club Location » Front Royal, Va. Phone » 540-635-2024 (North) 540-635-2883 (South) Fees » $30 Weekday; $46 Weekend Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope North » 71/6,364/70.4/129 South » 70/5,938/68.3/119 Description » Scenic course set in the Shenandoah Valley, was built on rugged farmland. Bowling Green has two 18-hole courses, North and South, with separate clubhouses. Play one and you can play the other for a replay rate of $1 per hole. Reason to play » Low rates, good conditions (except for several dirt bunkers), not crowded, playable, country course with relaxed, small-town atmosphere. Different courses, different horses...

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Cheers & Jeers: Congressional approval is no rubber stamp

Not many people say “No,” to Tiger Woods. But Congressional Country Club nearly did, agreeing to host the AT&T National by a very slim margin, 791 for to 745 against. Last year when members were polled on hosting the 2009 event, they approved by a resounding 91 percent. What changed? “A lot of members are asking, ‘Where does this all end?’” said Congressional president Bret Hart of the club’s busy tournament schedule. Congressional now will host Woods’ tournament in 2012-14, with an option to continue in 2015-17. Congressional hosted the AT&T in 2007 and ’08, and will do so again next summer, but will relinquish the...

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Cheers & Jeers: Butler gives, receives in summer trip

Wizards forward Caron Butler was deeply moved by his summer trip to South Africa, part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders initiative. It was not the kind of summer trip Butler considered when he came into the league. “I never envisioned wanting to go to other countries and see other things,” said Butler. “I had tunnel vision. I wanted to get some money, go to Vegas, go to Maui, sit back in the sun, lay back, feet up in a hammock.” His trip, in early September, was anything but. In the Basketball Without Borders program, players conduct camps and speak about the importance of education, leadership, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. “It was...

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Wizards are thinking big

Rotation, expectations heightened at camp It’s Eddie Jordan’s go-to colloquialism. “Bigs” is the term the Wizards coach uses to refer to the tallest members of his basketball team. Through much of Jordan’s five-year tenure, however, it’s been a contradiction. His “bigs” have often come up small. Last year, 7-foot Brendan Haywood did his best to alleviate the perennial problem. This year, he’ll get more help. Etan Thomas (6-10), out last season after undergoing heart surgery, is back. Oleksiy Pecherov (7-0), hampered last year by a gimpy ankle, is healthy. Andray Blatche (6-11), plagued by inconsistency, is another year older. And...

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Johnson takes long way home

Former local star trying to catch on with Wizards The comparison was unavoidable. As a 6-foot-9 point guard with a pass-first mentality at Newport Prep in Kensington, DerMarr Johnson fit a familiar tintype. A national publication called him “Magic Johnson with a jump shot.” Even the surname matched. But that was 10 years ago, when DerMarr Johnson was the nation’s top-ranked high school junior. A lot has happened since. Now a fringe player in the NBA, Johnson, 28, is trying to catch on with his hometown Wizards. “I just hope I can extend my career here,” said Johnson. Johnson is competing for a roster spot with Winthrop rookie Taj McCullough, and NBA...

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Cheers & Jeers: Kim revels in Ryder Cup experience

With a 2-1-1 record and a convincing Sunday singles victory over Europe mainstay Sergio Garcia, Californian Anthony Kim, 23, had a remarkable debut in the Ryder Cup, playing a major role in the U.S.’s 16-11 victory. We caught up with the reigning AT&T National champ. What did it mean to you, the youngest guy on the team, to be sent out first in Sunday singles? It gave me a great deal of confidence. Sergio is a very good player. I watched him on TV hit that shot against Tiger, close his eyes, running up the hill. So I know all about Sergio. It was a challenge that I really wanted. When you beat Sergio you looked like you didn’t know the match was over. What did he say...

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Courses you can play » Cannon Ridge Golf Club

Cannon Ridge Golf Club Location » Fredericksburg, Va. Phone » 540-735-8000 Fees » $70 Monday-Thursday; $82 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 71/6,853/73.8/144 Description » Five-year-old course, built on rugged, historic property, follows natural contours and has an old-style feel with wide landing areas and small, push-up greens, all protected by lots of bunkers. No man-made ponds or surrounding homes. A few tees have significant carries over ravines. Reason to play » Excellent conditions and layout. Civil War touches — blue and gray carts, toy cannons as tee markers and plaques to mark historic touchstones. In 2004, was named one of the...

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Onward and upward for Gerlach

After win at Laurel Hill, Falls Church resident is set to turn pro There’s little debate that Laurel Hill is the best public golf course in Fairfax County. There’s no question that A.J. Gerlach agrees. Earlier this month, when the Falls Church resident won the Virginia Public Links Championship at the Lorton course, it was his third victory there in 15 months. Last year at Laurel Hill, he won the Northern Virginia Amateur and was medalist at a Virginia Amateur qualifier. “The course fits my eye. It gives you a lot of different looks and its always in great condition,” said Gerlach, 24. “It can play fairly long. The fairways are wide. It really suits my...

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Cheers & Jeers: Wiz give Jordan more job security

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said Tuesday that “it was a total shock” the team picked up a one-year option on his contract, keeping him on through the 2009-10 season. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. The move came five days after his best player, Gilbert Arenas, had knee surgery — his third in 18 months. As long as Arenas’ left knee remains inoperable, Jordan has job security. In his five seasons, the longest tenure in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, Jordan has a 196-214 record. The Wizards have lost to Cleveland three straight years in the opening round of the playoffs. Most teams stuck in neutral consider a coaching change, especially in the...

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Wizards pick up Jordan's contract option

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced Monday that the team has picked up the option on the contract of Head Coach Eddie Jordan, keeping him under contract through the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, financial terms of the contract were not released. "Eddie has done an outstanding job and has been instrumental in making us a perennial playoff team, so we are pleased to reward that success by picking up the option on his contract," said Grunfeld. "We are very excited about the upcoming season and feel that this team is ready to progress to another level under Eddie's leadership." Jordan has compiled an overall record of 196-214 (.478) in five seasons as head coach...

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A grassroots win for U.S.

Led by Weekley, U.S. ends Europe’s Ryder Cup reign Captain Paul Azinger took an appropriate NASCAR-style victory lap in his golf cart Sunday in Louisville after the United States dethroned Europe in the 37th Ryder Cup. After his team’s 16.5 - 11.5 Southern-style victory, Azinger could thank Kentucky natives Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes, and the most conspicuous member of his “Dukes of Hazard” lineup, Boo Weekley. Playing in the middle of the U.S. order in Sunday’s singles matches, the trio pumped up the volume at Valhalla Golf Club and delivered consecutive victories, setting the scene for Jim Furyk to clinch the Cup on the 17th hole with a 2 and 1 victory...

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Cheers & Jeers: Azinger goes with his gut and gets the win

When Paul Azinger was named captain of the U.S. team for the Ryder Cup, he successfully lobbied the PGA of America to name four extra players instead of the traditional two. When Azinger selected rookies J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker, along with veteran Chad Campbell, he was widely criticized for passing over others with more experience and charisma, players such as Woody Austin and Rocco Mediate. If there was anything the U.S. team didn’t lack this weekend in their 16.5–11.5 Ryder Cup win over Europe, it was charisma. “These guys contributed so much for us,” said Azinger. “Everybody to a man contributed. I knew I had twelve gamers.” Led...

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Cheers & Jeers: Will U.S. team get off to quick start?

A quick start has been elusive for Team USA in recent Ryder Cup competitions. With six rookies on the squad, it is imperative today in the 37th Ryder Cup. To that end, U.S. captain Paul Azinger will send perhaps his two best players out first at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Teeing off at 8:05 in foursomes (alternate shot) will be Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, facing Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson. “Mickelson called me up and said he’d love to play with [Kim],” said Azinger. “But so did about six other guys.” Azinger has paired up Texans Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan for the second foursomes match against Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey....

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U.S. looks for a fresh start

Can inexperienced squad end Ryder Cup drought? Don’t call it Redeem Team II. That puts too much onus on the rookie-laden U.S. squad in the 37th Ryder Cup. But redemption is the unavoidable theme as golf’s most fiercely pursued international competition gets underway this morning at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. In an event it once dominated, the U.S. has failed to win eight of the last 11, including three straight. For once, the U.S. is the inferior team on paper. With six rookies on the 12-man squad and Tiger Woods rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, this is the most inexperienced group the U.S. has fielded since 1959. Ironically, that’s the year America began...

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Courses you can play » Twin Lakes - Oaks Course

Twin Lakes - Oaks Course Location » Clifton, Va. Phone » 703-631-9372 Fees » $47 Friday-Sunday, $37 Monday-Thursday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 71/6,715/72.5/137 Description » The Fairfax County Park Authority facility has two 18-hole tracks, the older Lakes Course (1967) and the newer Oaks (1998). The Lakes (71.7/124) is wide open and forgiving, with large, flat greens. The Oaks, built around the perimeter of the Lakes, has tree-lined fairways, undulating greens, more hazards, and is significantly more challenging. Reasons to play » Inexpensive and well-conditioned, with strong practice and clubhouse facilities, and two distinctly different 18s. No...

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Gil has another knee operation

Wizards guard will miss camp, start of the season Nine weeks after signing a six-year, $111 million contract with the Wizards, Gilbert Arenas has undergone surgery on his troublesome left knee for a third time. Arenas had an arthroscopic lavage procedure Wednesday morning at Sibley Hospital, clearing “debris after saline solution was washed through the knee,” according to Wizards physician Dr. Marc Connell, who performed the operation. “After Gilbert’s normal course of rehabilitation was ramped up, he experienced some swelling and discomfort in his knee,” said Connell. “A subsequent MRI showed that the knee is structurally sound … This was a...

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Cheers & Jeers: Will Lefty take control?

The United States has lost the last three Ryder Cups with Tiger Woods. How can they win without the world’s best player? Easy. Lowered expectations. The absence of Woods, who is recovering from June knee surgery, is what the U.S. needs to play its best this weekend at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. With Europe attempting to win its fourth straight for the first time, the pressure shifts to Nick Faldo’s men. U.S. coach Paul Azinger is playing up the underdog role. Is there a better man to take up the cause of feistiness than cancer-survivor Zinger? “I think the Europeans have brought an incredible team over here and we have a great opportunity to change it,”...

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Cheers & Jeers: Not so fast, Europe

Loren Roberts, a former U.S. Ryder Cup team member and assistant captain in 2006, isn’t ready to conceded this weekend’s event at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., to the Europeans. “All I’m going to talk about in the Ryder Cup is I’m going to go back to the immortal words of Ben Crenshaw in 1999 — ‘I have a great feeling about this,’” the current Champions Tour member said. “I think this year the U.S. is going to do it.” But it will take more than a feeling for the U.S. to upset the Europeans. The Americans have lost eight of the past 11 competitions in the biannual contest. In 2004 and 2006 the Americans were...

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Against Cal, Terps show no fear

Maryland corrals Best, No. 23 Golden Bears Kicking straight downfield to California supernova Jahvid Best, Maryland announced its intention on the opening play Saturday. The Terrapins wanted the first shot at the Golden Bears’ sophomore. It was one of many on a long afternoon for the speedster billed as “Little Bush.” Holding Best to 25 yards on 10 carries, Maryland upset No. 23 California, 35-27, and momentarily rescued a potentially lost season at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. It was literally a sickening afternoon for Best. The lasting image — caught by an ESPN camera — was Best on the sidelines, vomiting after taking a vicious hit from...

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Can jet-lag slow down speedy Cal?

Terps look to rebound against Golden Bears No. 23 California has gone to extremes to get ready for Saturday’s game at Maryland. The Golden Bears have practiced at 8 a.m. this week to get acclimated to the three-hour time change and noon start. It might be a necessary tactic considering how rare this trip is. The last time California came to the east coast was 2001, when it beat Rutgers. The most severe trip coach Jeff Tedford has undertaken in his seven-year tenure was in 2003 when the Golden Bears had an 11 a.m. start at Illinois. “Flying across country provides challenges. We have to get our body chemistry acclimated to the East Coast,” said Tedford, who has never...

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Courses you can play » Westpark Golf Club

Westpark Golf Club Location » Leesburg, Va. Phone » 703-777-7023 Fees » $39 Monday-Thursday; $59 Friday-Sunday Par / Yardage / Rating / Slope 71 / 6,521 / 70.4 / 124 Description » Traditional, straightforward, 40-year-old course, with wide fairways and few hazards, winds through housing developments. Designed by perhaps the Washington-area’s most prolific golf course builder, Ed Ault. Reason to play » Good location at intersection of Routes 15 and 7. GPS on carts. Good course for beginners. And you have to like a course that doesn’t bow to convention — Westpark opens and closes the front nine with par-five holes, and open and closes the...

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D.C. goes bowling

First EagleBank Bowl set for Dec. 20 at RFK It’s a crowded party and Washington has arrived late. But the District will finally host a college football bowl game. The inaugural EagleBank Bowl will kick off the college football bowl season, Saturday, Dec. 20 at RFK Stadium. Navy and the ninth-place team from the Atlantic Coast Conference will play, provided they qualify by winning six regular-season games. If they don’t, two other teams — likely from low-level conferences — will receive invitations. Wednesday at the Navy Memorial (8th St. and Pennsylvania Ave.), D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty led the cheers for Washington’s latest sports venture. “The District...

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Cheers & Jeers: Pie in the sky for the EagleBank?

D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty will be watching college football with more than passing interest. The success of the District’s EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 20 at RFK, will depend on the final standings. The area’s first college bowl game was trumpeted Wednesday as a match-up between Navy and an Atlantic Coast Conference school. But that’s assuming Navy (1-1) and nine of the 12 teams in the ACC win six games. It’s a big assumption. In order to qualify for the postseason, teams in the NCAA must finish .500 or better. Navy’s loss Friday to Ball State was a blow to the Midshipmen’s postseason hopes. Among the teams left on the schedule are No. 20 Wake Forest, Rutgers,...

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Friedgen’s talking points

Coach says Maryland must communicate better on defense What we seem to have, is failure to communicate. Those aren’t the exact words of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen, but they do sum up his feelings on the leaky pass coverage of his team in Saturday’s 24-14 loss at Middle Tennessee State where the Terps had no answer for Blue Raiders’ quarterback Joe Craddock (29 of 40, 256 yards). This week, as Maryland (1-1) prepares for the explosive offense of No. 23 California (2-0), averaging 52 points per game, the Terrapins are vowing to talk the talk. “Communication - that was the big thing against Middle Tennessee,” said senior safety Jeff Allen....

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Terps’ resiliency to be tested

How will team rebound after stunning loss to Middle Tennessee? For shock value, it wasn’t Appalachian State-Michigan. But Maryland’s 24-14 loss at Middle Tennessee was at least a major tremor, with potential implications for the future. Can the Terrapins rebound from such a demoralizing defeat? It’s not as if coach Ralph Friedgen hasn’t been here before. In 2003, his team opened with a loss at I-AA Northern Illinois, then was thrashed by Florida State. But Maryland rallied to win 10 of its last 11, certifying Friedgen’s ability to stare down adversity. How will Friedgen handle it this time? “I think it’s very important that I stay...

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Can Maryland overpower Middle Tennessee?

Terps look to use size advantage, running game While drama swirls around the Maryland quarterback situation, there are no such worries with the Terps’ running game. With a big, experienced offensive line clearing the way for young speedsters Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett, the Terps’ rushing attack — an area of concern heading into the season — is looking more like an area of strength. Saturday night, when Maryland (1-0) travels to Middle Tennessee State (0-1), the unsettled Terps will look for stability through their emerging running attack. In last week’s 14-7 win over Delaware, redshirt sophomore Scott (26 carries, 197 yards) and true freshman...

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Courses you can play » Brambleton Golf Course

Brambleton Golf Course Location » Ashburn, Va. Phone » 703-372-3403 Fees » $47 Monday-Thursday; $59 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6,648/71.2/125 Description » Traditional, flat municipal course, in Brambleton Regional Park, feels older than its 14 years. That’s both a good thing and bad. Course has been heavily played and facilities have a dated, planned community feel — think the towns of Reston or Columbia. Reasons to play » Enjoyable, stress-free course where one can post a good score. Interesting historical touchstones remain from plantation era, including stone fences, a cemetery, and on No. 5, the preserved foundation of a small...

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Foxhole mentality at Maryland

Friedgen blasts boo birds, no decision on starting QB Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen couldn’t hold it in any longer. After calmly fielding some innocuous questions on the status of embattled quarterback Jordan Steffy, who was booed at home in Saturday’s 14-7 win over Delaware, Friedgen lit into the Byrd Stadium fans. “With what he’s dealing with and the scrutiny of every pass that’s being judged, some of those people that are booing him would love to have children like Jordan Steffy,” said Friedgen. “The perseverance, the courage, the toughness that this kid is going through, and keeps a smile on his face and positive attitude, he has...

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Terps face known commodity

Subdivision runner-up Delaware is packed with D.C.-area talent Suitland graduate Mark Duncan is one of four starting receivers back for Delaware. The big question for the Blue Hens, however, is: Who will throw the ball to Duncan and his posse? With Delaware traveling to Maryland for the opener for both teams Saturday, the Terrapins don’t know who to prepare for — Lou Ritacco or Rob Schoenhoft. As far as preparations go, it hasn’t made a difference. “Neither one of them has played, so we don’t have any tape on them,” said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. “Hopefully, they’ll be doing the same things they did last year, but we don’t know...

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Golf an acquired taste

Late arrival to sport, Schlesinger making up for lost time on the links Last week at Congressional Blue, Lisa Schlesinger won her third Women’s District of Columbia Golf Association title, an impressive feat considering it took her more than three decades to warm up to the sport. Growing up in Kensington with family privileges at Norbeck Country Club, Schlesinger had the access, but neither the interest nor temperament. She was too enamored of action sports, which she played quite well. The Athlete of the Year at Walter Johnson High in 1975, Schlesinger went on to play basketball at Maryland, and two professional seasons in the Women’s Basketball League. When the league...

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Courses you can play » Prince William Golf Course

Location » Nokesville, Va. Phone » 703-754-7111 Fees » $29 Monday-Thursday; $31 Friday; $39 Saturday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 70/6,367/72.1/125 Description » The 38-year-old, no-frills course remains unchanged from its original, minimalist design. Built on farmland, Prince William is an open, straightforward, relatively flat course with little bunkering and few other hazards. Reasons to play » Low rates and uncrowded, with a relaxed atmosphere and decent greens for a casually maintained course. A fireplace, more than 100 years old and part of the property’s original farmhouse, typifies the rustic clubhouse. Good course for beginners. Municipal...

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ACC releases men’s basketball schedule

Home-and-home games with Atlantic Coast Conference rivals North Carolina and Duke highlight the University of Maryland’s 2008-09 schedule released Tuesday by the ACC. The season tips off with a Nov. 14 home game against Bucknell. Later in the month, the Terps travel to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic. Michigan State will be Maryland’s opening-round opponent, Nov. 27, with Gonzaga or Oklahoma State waiting in the second round. An interesting possibility looms in the final round of the Old Spice Classic, if Maryland and Georgetown were to meet. The Hoyas are on the other half of the bracket. The local powers have met only three times since 1980. The last time was in the NCAA...

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With Navarre’s shift, Maryland downsizes

Three-year starting end tackles new position Breaking the news to Jeremy Navarre that he was changing positions was easy for Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. He simply penciled in the name of his three-year starting defensive end at tackle. “The idea was never brought to me. It just happened,” said Navarre. “First day of spring ball my name was at defensive tackle on the depth chart. I knew it was coming.” After the graduation of two-year starting tackles Carlos Feliciano (6-5, 315) and Dre Moore (6-4, 311), Navarre knew his days at defensive end, where he had started 35 straight games, were numbered. He also could have suspected by observing the trend in college...

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Local Olympian a commercial success

Malaythong gives badminton a leg-up For elite athletes in obscure sports, the Olympics can be their 15 minutes of fame. For Rockville-native Bob Malaythong, a member of the U.S. badminton team, his 15 minutes has come in 45-second increments, starring in a humorous TV commercial for VitaminWater. In the ad, Malaythong, 27, and his U.S. doubles partner Howard Bach, are fictional Chinese players “Lao” and “Yang.” Their opponents are Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. It’s match point of the badminton “world championships,” according to the affected British announcer (think “Best In Show”)....

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Courses you can play » Maple Run Golf Club

Location » Thurmont, Md. Phone » 301-271-7870 Fees » $28 Monday-Friday; $40 Saturday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 72/6,626/71.2/128 Description » The 16-year-old course, a privately-owned “Ma and Pop” operation (rare in the Washington area), has interesting topography. Front nine is hilly and open with views of the Catoctin Mountains and towns of Thurmont and Emmitsburg. Back nine is flat, tight, and quirky (a power line runs through two of the fairways). Reason to play » Low rates, fast pace of play, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, stunning mountain views. Despite minimal course maintenance, greens are in good shape and surprisingly...

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Hey 19: del Potro finishes in style

With 19th straight win, 19-year-old wins fourth tournament in a row Most fans at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic finals Sunday didn’t get what they wanted — an appearance by defending champion, and part-time bus driver, Andy Roddick. Instead they perhaps got something better — a look at the sport’s next big thing. Six-foot-six Argentine Juan Martin del Potro is just that, literally and figuratively. Sunday the 19-year-old put an appropriate finish on a tournament he dominated, winning his 19th straight match and fourth straight ATP tournament, defeating Viktor Troicki of Serbia, 6-3, 6-3. On a day when he said he didn’t play particularly well, Del Potro did...

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Courses you can play

South Wales Golf Club Location » Jeffersonton, Va. Phone » (540) 937-3250 Fees » $28 Monday-Thursday; $38 Friday-Sunday Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope 71/7033/73.2/126 Description » The 48-year-old course, with wide fairways and large greens, follows the natural contours of the Virginia Piedmont, and remains virtually unchanged from its original version. Layout is crisscrossed by streams that are in play on 13 of the first 14 holes. Streams empty into the nearby Rappahannock River. Reason to play » Low rates and no waits. Despite its age, South Wales remains undiscovered. Many who played the course decades ago are surprised it still exists. For a course with...

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Many are called, few chosen

The PGA has long been considered the most attainable of golf’s major championships. Now with two-time defending champion and four-time winner Tiger Woods convalescing, it is more winnable than ever. With the tournament underway today at Oakland Hills (Mich.), the question is: Who is ready for a major breakthrough? In the Tiger Woods generation, many seem destined for frustration in their quest for a major title. Sergio Garcia holds the best-player-never-to-win-a-major distinction, followed closely by Adam Scott. But there are many others who are worthy. “It’s an opportunity for a lot of people to try and take advantage of the world’s No. 1 not being in the golf...

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Leaving with lots of memories

After 10 consecutive appearances, Goldstein has played his last Legg Mason Next week at the Legg Mason Classic, Washingtonians will not have a chance to root for their professional tennis touchstone. Rockville native Paul Goldstein has retired, stepping out of the sport in his typical unassuming fashion. There was no announcement, no press release, just confi rmation over the phone from his home in San Francisco last week. “I stopped playing in September and started working in January,” said Goldstein. “So yeah, I guess I’m retired.” Goldstein, who turns 32 on Tuesday, leaves with a flood of memories from his hometown tournament — his first...

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Mulieri finds that you can come home again

Before his family moved to the TPC at Avenel in lower Montgomery County, six years ago, Silver Spring’s Jay Mulieri spent his formative years at Glenn Dale Golf Club, in upper Prince George’s.This week Mulieri renewed his memories of his old club and did it in style, winning the 62nd Bubby Worsham Memorial. Firing......

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In an old place, Parrish to break new ground

DeMatha junior Jerrell Parrish is excited and proud to be the first African American to compete in the Euro Junior Golf Cup, a Ryder Cup-style international competition, which takes place next week in St. Andrew’s, Scotland.But, please, don’t ask him about Tiger Woods."To be honest, that does get a little old," said Parrish, a resident of Glenn Dale. "I am a Tiger Woods fan. But he’s not the only player I like."The comparison is unavoidable, not just because of Parrish’s angular build (5-foot-10, 165 pounds). Like Woods, the only African......

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Ireland’s Own

In the final round of the 137th British Open, there was no man better equipped to contend with the nostalgic tale of 53-year-old Greg Norman, than Irishman Padraig Harrington.Battling sentimental favorite Norman in the final twosome was a defending champion, in the prime of his career, urged on by his own sizable contingent from across the Irish Sea.  Steeled by his flag-waving fans,......

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Welcome to the Sweet life

On the 18th hole, as Bowie’s Caroline Sweet stood over her 15-foot putt with a chance to win the Maryland Women’s Amateur, she tried to forget her last two putts in the same situation.Leading Laura Schlesinger on the 17th green, Sweet took three putts, from 12 feet, extending the championship match.But with another opportunity on the 18th green Sweet didn’t waste it, rolling in her right-to-left breaker to halve the hole, and......

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With Tiger out, is it Lefty's time?

With a win in his lone appearance, Ben Hogan consecrated the British Open in 1953. Since then, every great American golfer has won multiple British titles — Tom Watson (five), Tiger Woods (three), Jack Nicklaus (three), Arnold Palmer (two) and Lee Trevino (two).Which brings us to Phil Mickelson. Great American golfer? Yes. British Open titles? None yet.With Woods out after undergoing season-ending knee surgery, is this Mickelson's time? The Open Championship begins today at Royal Birkdale. "I've practiced hard. I've developed a good game plan," said Mickelson. "I am excited......

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Two, four, six, eight

Even as Chip Sullivan bogeyed three of five holes on the front nine Wednesday at Fountain Head Country Club, there was a sense of inevitability in the final round of the 87th Maryland Open.With titles in this event in 2002, 2004, and 2006, Sullivan had history on his side. And just to make sure, he played the final 10 holes in 3-under-par to close with a 68 and claim his fourth Maryland Open. All have come in even numbered years.Sullivan, a pro at Ashley Plantation in Richmond, finished with a......

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What can Brown do for Wiz?

Dee Brown will be the last guard off the Wizards bench when the NBA season begins this fall. But that doesn’t mean he won’t have a valuable role.Tonight in Las Vegas, when Washington opens its 2008 Summer League season against Portland, Brown will be in......

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DeFrancesco is a qualified success

Later this month in Colorado, when Woodmont teaching pro Wayne DeFrancesco playsin the U.S. Senior Open, he hopes to find the course more manageable than his last foray into a Champions Tour event. Playing at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. in the Senior PGA in May, DeFrancesco shot 78-79 — 157, 17-over-par. He......

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The Wizards of (long) odds

Is there a John Starks, Bruce Bowen, or Ben Wallace out there?That is the question the Wizards have posed to nine free agents — including locals Jonathan Wallace of Georgetown and Will Thomas of Continued...

 

Kim buckles down to earn win at Congressional

Tiger Woods couldn’t be here this week. But Sunday at Congressional Country Club, Anthony Kim delivered the next best thing.Seizing the stage with a Tiger-like performance, Kim emerged from a jumbled field to win the second AT&T National by two strokes over Fredrik Jacobson.......

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Marino’s day in the sun

It wasn’t even noon yet, but as Steve Marino approached the 16th tee in the opening round of the AT&T National, the loudest fan in his gallery, toting a Budweiser in his left hand, extended his right. Marino slapped a high five, shook his head, and shared a laugh with his caddie.Leading a PGA Tour event in your hometown is cool, even if it’s just the opening round. With a 5-under par 65 Thursday at Congressional Country Club, Marino, a native of Fairfax, leads the AT&T National by a stroke,......

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Miles from the ordinary

Any notion that the AT&T National is a run-of-the-mill PGA Tour stop were dispelled Wednesday morning when a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter made a low-altitude flyover and a Screaming Eagles parachutist unfurled a huge American flag and landed gently on the first tee at Congressional Country Club."This doesn’t happen every day on the PGA Tour. I can guarantee that," announced Continued...

 

Wiz celebrate Jamison’s return, focus now on Arenas

Wizards owner Abe Pollin paid Antawn Jamison the ultimate compliment Tuesday, comparing him to franchise great Wes Unseld. The ultimate reward for the All-Star forward came the night before, when Jamison signed a four-year contract for a reported $50 million. Tuesday at Verizon Center, Pollin made it obvious that, where Jamison is concerned, character......

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Wiz celebrate Jamison’s return, focus now on Arenas

Wizards owner Abe Pollin paid Antawn Jamison the ultimate compliment Tuesday, comparing him to franchise great Wes Unseld. The ultimate reward for the All-Star forward came the night before, when Jamison signed a four-year contract for a reported $50 million. Tuesday at Verizon Center, Pollin made it obvious that, where Jamison is concerned, character matters."He’s not only a great and fantastic athlete, he’s a human being of the highest caliber," said Pollin. "He reminds me of ... Wes Unseld. I’ve never had anybody else I’ve said that to."Jamison, 32, is......

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Seeking Congressional approval

Tiger Woods wants the AT&T National to return to Congressional Country Club in 2012. Now it is up to the members to agree, said Congressional President Bret HartMonday.  According to Hart, the Tiger Woods Foundation has proposed a long-term agreement that would keep......

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Fatherhood, PGA Tour style

Fourteen major championships is impressive. A victory at the U.S. Open with a torn ACL and a double-stress fracture is awe-inspiring. But here’s what amazes PGA Tour veteran Chris Riley most about Tiger Woods: He won nine of 14 tournaments, including two majors, after becoming a father.Want to know how difficult it is to have a family and stay competitive on the......

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Wizards select McGee at 18

If athletic pedigree is important, the Washington Wizards have the steal of the 2008 NBA Draft.In selecting 7-foot JaVale McGee of Nevada with the No. 18 pick in the first round, Washington has obtained a player from a basketball family. McGee’s father, George Montgomery, was a standout at Continued...

 

A Passage from India

The big question Monday at Hog Neck Golf Course in Easton was, "Who’s she?"Authoring an even-par 72 and taking the lead in the Maryland Junior Girls championship, was a player no one knew.Karishma Thiagaraj, participating in her first tournament in the United States after moving from India in March, was on her way to winning the title. With a 72-79 — 151, Thiagaraj, defeated the......

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Wizards have lots of choices

Will they trade up? Will they trade down? Will they trade for the future? Will they trade for the present? Or will they pick in their assigned slot?There are lots of options for the Wizards as they plan for Thursday’s NBA Draft. Tuesday at Verizon Center, Wizards President of Basketball Operations, Ernie Grunfeld, didn’t tip his hand."There’s a lot of conversation going on around the league," said Grunfeld. "There have been a......

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Status unknown

Tiger Woods has not yet scheduled a date for his season-ending knee surgery and it is not known whether Woods will be able to host the AT&T National, said Tournament Director Greg McLaughlin Thursday."Tiger wants to be here," said McLaughlin from his office at Congressional Country Club. "He was thrilled with the way everything turned out last year and he wants the momentum......

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Collegians go extra holes

Two of the best college golfers from Virginia staged a high-level battle in the Virginias Women’s Stroke Play Championship Thursday at Mount Vernon Country Club. Separated by no more than a stroke on the back nine, Kristen Simpson of the University of Virginia and Sara......

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No nursing the lead for Savage

Alexandria’s Shelley Savage says that caring for seriously ill patients in the Navy Nurse Corps has given her perspective as a competitive golfer.Considering what Savage accomplished earlier this month the Virginia Golf Association Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship, other golfers might want to consider a career in nursing.Making four birdies in the final five holes earlier this month at the Country Club of Petersburg, Savage......

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The power of three

Rock’s original "supergroup," Cream, had nothing on the 11:06 threesome in today’s first round of the U.S. Open — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.Pairing up the top three golfers in the world is an unusual strategy. Tournaments usually prefer to sprinkle their top draws throughout the field.But the Open isn’t any old Buick or Continued...

 

Rookie rolls at Bulle Rock

 When Annika Sorenstam’s birdie pull slid past the 18th hole, ending her hopes in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, it triggered a partial retreat from steamy Bulle Rock Sunday. Those who remained were left to speculate how to pronounce the last names of playoff combatants Yani Tseng and Continued...

 

Hudson proves to be an intriguing prospect

After dropping out of both high school and junior college, Lester Hudson was destined to be nothing more than a Memphis playground legend.But Thursday morning at Verizon Center, as one of six players auditioning for the Wizards, Hudson appeared ready to make his improbable tale complete and seize a spot in the first round of......

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Creamer answers major question

Wearing a pink ribbon in her hair, biting her lip, and standing with hands on hips, Paula Creamer strikes a decidedly feminine pose. But, somehow, it was possible to overlook the world’s fourth-ranked player Wednesday at Bulle Rock, as she prepared for the McDonald’s LPGA Championship.In a season in which longtime No. 1 Continued...

 

Comeback trail makes pit stop

Tiger Woods walked with a slight limp Tuesday. It was in contrast to his tournament, the AT&T National, which hit the ground running last July. Tuesday when Woods returned to Congressional Country Club, he sounded anxious to return from April knee surgery, resume his quest for a 14th major championship at the U.S. Open next month and piggy back on the success of last year’s National."What we did last year in 112......

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Klauk blows away Woodmore

His playing partners had long since hit, but Jeff Klauk stood in the eighth fairway contemplating the swirling winds Thursday at the Country Club at Woodmore.He pulled an 8-iron from his bag, stepped to his ball, and backed off. He put the club back and pulled a 9-iron, addressed his ball, and backed off again. Back to the 8-iron, Klauk finally pulled the trigger.Thanks to unpredictable wind gusts of 30 m.p.h., it was a day of indecision, but ultimately a successful......

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Sherwood gets even with victory

After seeing its undefeated season ruined in the state final last year by Eleanor Roosevelt, Sherwood came to Wednesday’s rematch — this time in the Maryland 4A semifinals — anxious for revenge.And although the Warriors were playing with a largely new cast, it didn’t diminish their desire as they scored two clutch runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to repel the pesky Raiders, 7-5, at the Continued...

 

Ones to watch this weekend

Nationwide Tour events have players in a variety of stages of their careers. Here are a few to watch when the Melwood Prince George’s County Open kicks off today at the Country Club at Woodmore.Ricky Barnes » The 27-year-old from California arrived with a splash, winning the 2002 U.S. Amateur and sharing the 2003 Continued...

 

Enterprising Porter is one to watch

What would you pay to caddy in the British Open?Australian pro Ewan Porter, in town this week to play in the Melwood Prince George's County Open, posed the question last year on eBay. Auctioning the job off for $28,000, Porter covered expenses to Carnoustie, took his mother along, and, in the process, struck up......

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Wiz look to young foursome

With Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld watching from a catwalk at the practice court at Verizon Center last month, forward Oleksiy Pecherov drilled rapid-fire 3-pointers."We know you can do that, but you can hit the boards too," said Grunfeld. "If you get closer to the basket, you can help us a lot in there. You’re a good rebounder."Grunfeld’s mix of criticism and praise is......

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Grunfeld wants Wizards intact

In response to Gilbert Arenas’ blog ultimatum that he’ll stay with the Wizards only if the team re-signs free agent Antawn Jamison, President Ernie Grunfeld took the high road Thursday."It’s good because we’re on the same page," said Grunfeld. "We want to sign Antawn. We want to sign Continued...

 

Blanks looks to take next step

There were "eight million stories" in "The Naked City," according to the old TV police drama. There’s nearly that many on the Nationwide Tour. One of them belongs to Kris Blanks, a former standout at Springfield’s Robert E. Lee High and now a pro at Four Streams in Beallsville.A year ago, Blanks, 36,......

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Season’s end brings awards

It was a season of drama for the Wizards as they rode a roller coaster of varying expectations, depending on who was on the injury list. In the end, the Wizards performed well when little was expected, but not so well when the expectations were high. With the theme of drama in mind, here are the first annual Wizzy Awards, minus the red carpet.Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role — Antawn Jamison. Salary drive or not, Jamison’s 21.4 points......

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A questionable offseason for Wizards

As the Wizards consider their future, it’s essential to look at the past.It was the 2007 All-Star break. The Wizards were healthy, had the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the future seemed limitless. But 15 months later, injuries to All-Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler have contributed to back-to-back first-round playoff defeats to the Continued...

 

Baltimore CC win is for the ages

Research by members at Baltimore Country Club has proven futile. They can’t find anyone who played for the club when it last won a Maryland State Golf Association team championship. Little surprise, it was 58 years ago.Sunday when BCC toppled 11-time champion Columbia, 9.5-8.5, in the 80th annual team championships, it was a long-awaited victory for the storied 110-year-old club. Since claiming the MSGA title in 1950, BCC had lost in......

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Time to put up and shut up

Are the Wizards all talked out?Tuesday before they boarded a flight for tonight’s game at Cleveland, down 3-1 in their best-of-seven series, prime agitators DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood were not available to the media.Finally some vanilla from the bulletin board darlings of the NBA.Poking the bear — Continued...

 

Desperation time for Wiz

Desperate times call for desperate measures.So on the verge of elimination, down 3-1, in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, what measures will the Wizards take when they play at Cleveland Wednesday night?"We will throw everything at them," said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. "We will change the defenses up. We will try to keep them off balance as much as we can. We have to create more offense. We......

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Cavaliers rebound against Wizards

For all the outrageous, high-wire excitement LeBron James provides, there’s also a blue-collar component to the success of the Cleveland Cavaliers.Sunday at Verizon Center, the Cavaliers tightened their drawstrings, popped in their teeth guards and hit the boards in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Propelled by a 51-31 rebounding edge and a 3-pointer from Continued...

 

UMGC emerges prior to course renovation

Time is running out for fans of the old-style University of Maryland Golf Course. In July, the facility will undergo renovation, bringing the 1959 design up to date.This month the top players at UMGC are imprinting sweet memories of their pre-renovation layout with a surprise run in the 78th Maryland State Golf Association Team Championships.Last week in the quarterfinal round, the semi-private club, which has never been to the MSGA team finals, upset two-time defending champion Breton Bay of Continued...

 

Stevenson, crowd lift Wiz

Published: Apr 25, 2008

With smoke, fire, video, and spectacular pyrotechnics, the Wizards introduced their starting lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.Then the fans took over. Wearing white T-shirts, waving towels, screaming to the rafters, and booing Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James every time he touched the ball, the usually indifferent Verizon Center crowd lifted......

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Wiz turn to Butler tonight

Published: Apr 24, 2008

According to the age-old NBA cliché, teams take on the personality of their best player.Cliché or not, it certainly seems true of the Wizards’ difficult start to the postseason. In losing two games to the Cleveland Cavaliers, both the Wizards and their best player, Caron Butler, have looked out of sorts.The 6-foot-8 forward has hardly been terrible in hitting 9 of 23......

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Wizards have proven they can take a punch

Published: Apr 23, 2008

Despite their winning record, the Wizards know what it’s like to be blown out. In an injury-filled season, it’s often about self-preservation. When a game is out of hand, such as Monday’s 116-86 loss in Cleveland, it’s best to pack it in early, rest, and prepare for the next game, final score be damned.For the Wizards this season, few of those blowout defeats have had lingering effects. After games they’ve lost by......

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What prescription will cure Wizards’ ills?

Published: Apr 21, 2008

The Wizards did the dirty work — defense and rebounding — in their 93-86 playoff-opening loss Saturday at Cleveland.They held the Cavaliers to 39.5 percent shooting from the floor. And against a team that out-rebounded them 147-96 in their previous three meetings, the Wizards (42) played the Cavaliers (43) to a virtual standoff on the boards.So why did Washington lose its eighth straight playoff series opener? Their offense was spotty and they let Cleveland get inside in the final four minutes.......

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National Golf Day christened

Published: Apr 17, 2008

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon hailing the first annual National Golf Day, Joe Steranka, CEO of the PGA of America, put the impact of the business of golf into perspective."We’re an industry now that is at $76 billion a year," said Steranka. "Golf [is] bigger than the motion picture industry, bigger than the newspaper publishing industry, bigger than all the spectator sports, and professional sports combined."Steranka stopped short of uttering Continued...

 

Wizards full of bravado

Published: Apr 16, 2008

DeShawn Stevenson says LeBron James is "overrated." Gilbert Arenas contends Cleveland can’t "beat us in the playoffs three straight." Brendan Haywood asserts that the Cavaliers "aren’t as athletic as they were before [the trade]."The regular season isn’t even over yet, and the Wizards have tossed the opening salvos in their first-round playoff series with......

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Mason rescues Wizards

Published: Apr 15, 2008

This has been a season of discovery for Roger Mason. In his sixth year of professional basketball, including two overseas, the Wizards guard has finally found his place in the NBA.Monday night at the Verizon Center, Mason produced on a night that the Wizards needed him badly. With three of their top four threats out of the lineup, Mason came off the......

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Still some work left for Wizards

Published: Apr 14, 2008

For the third straight year, the Wizards will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Now what?Yet to be decided is who will have the home-court advantage. If Washington (42-38) wins its last two and Cleveland (43-36), which faced woeful Miami last night after......

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Wiz set rotation minus rookies

Published: Apr 11, 2008

After some initial stumbles, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire and Oleksiy Pecherov helped the Wizards survive an injury-plagued regular season. Playing out of necessity, each made contributions while taking successful baby steps in his rookie season.But now, with the Wizards healthy and the postseason approaching, the trio is at the end......

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Woods has Grand expectations

Published: Apr 10, 2008

Are expectations preposterously high? The odds certainly are. Tiger Woods is listed as a 6 to 5 choice by wagering Web site, bettingEXPRESS.com, to win the Masters golf tournament.When Woods’ quest for his fifth green jacket, and record fourth this decade, begins today in Augusta, Ga., all eyes will be on the 32-year-old. With Woods enjoying the most dominant stretch of his career — he’s won eight of his last 10......

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Celtic kryptonite

Published: Apr 10, 2008

Elbows and expletives were flying Wednesday night at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, both with postseason berths assured, were playing as if it mattered.In a possible preview of a second-round playoff series, the Wizards halted the Celtics’ seven-game winning streak, 109-95, as Washington’s Big Three of Antawn......

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More injuries for the Wizards

Published: Apr 09, 2008

How do you blend three high-scoring All-Stars into an NBA lineup? It’s a question the Wizards are anxious to answer.The long-awaited chemistry experiment may have to be delayed, yet again, as Caron Butler is questionable for tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics.In practice yesterday, Butler collided with teammate Continued...

 

With a full squad, Wiz chart course

Published: Apr 08, 2008

There was a high-spirited, but business-like tone to the Washington Wizards practice Monday at Verizon Center. To ensure it stayed that way, coach Eddie Jordan stopped the proceedings during a rare lull."We’re hunting for fourth [place]," announced Jordan. "You’re not gonna be hunting, sitting on your [butt]."Jordan’s message left little doubt about what he wants to see in the......

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With playoff berth assured, now what?

Published: Apr 07, 2008

The Wizards are in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. But that’s all that’s assured. With a strong finish in its final five games, No. 5 Washington (40-37) could catch slumping No. 4 Cleveland (42-35) and earn the home court advantage in an opening-round series with the Cavaliers.But that won’t be easy. Left onthe Wizards’ schedule are the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, plus No. 6 Philadelphia (39-38),......

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Jamison doubtful tonight

Published: Apr 04, 2008

On the night the Wizards celebrated the return of three players from the injured list, two others got hurt.Forward Antawn Jamison (shoulder sprain) and guard DeShawn Stevenson (ankle sprain), both injured in the final frantic 10 seconds of Wednesday’s 110-109 loss to Milwaukee, did not practice Thursday. While Jamison is doubtful......

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Wiz search for health, defense

Published: Apr 02, 2008

After suffering their most decisive loss in six years, minus three starters Monday at Utah, the Wizards look to regain their literal and figurative health over the next four days with games against three of the bottom five teams in the Eastern Conference.With Milwaukee (24-48), Miami (13-61), and Chicago (29-44) on the......

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Wizards look to rebound

Published: Mar 28, 2008

With center Brendan Haywood and forward Antawn Jamison having career rebounding seasons, the Wizards have had few worries under the boards — until this week.After getting out-rebounded Tuesday at Portand, 55-36, and Wednesday at Seattle, 49-32, the Wizards have to consider themselves lucky to be 1-1 on this road trip.Jamison (20 rebounds) and Haywood (13 rebounds) have produced their norm this week, along with Caron Butler (12 rebounds). But the Wizards have been out-hustled by the likes of journeymen Joel Przybilla, who had 17 rebounds in Portland’s 102-82 win Tuesday,......

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How Mason found his jumper

Published: Mar 27, 2008

Finding his lost jump shot was an odyssey that took Roger Mason halfway around the world.After flunking tests with the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, Mason played in Greece and Israel, where he rediscovered the skills that that he displayed at Good......

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Wizards hit the road on high note

Published: Mar 25, 2008

The will-he-or-won’t-he-play drama surrounding the return of Gilbert Arenas from knee surgery is having little effect on the resurgent Wizards. With six wins in its last seven games, Washington (36-33) has vaulted past struggling Toronto (35-35) in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Even with the daunting prospect of five road games in the next seven days, the Wizards can consider catching......

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Wizards re-incarnated

Published: Mar 24, 2008

The Wizards are starting to resemble their former selves. Remember the nasty, defensive-minded Wizards of January who beat Boston back-to-back?Well, those Wizards and their leader, Caron Butler, are back, evidenced by a 95-83 victory over the Detroit Pistons Sunday night at Verizon Center.Led by Continued...

 

Wizards hope to avoid trap

Published: Mar 21, 2008

As confidence boosters go, they don’t get much better than Washington’s 87-86 win Wednesday night in Orlando. But as the Wizards prepare to face the woeful Miami Heat tonight, perhaps a dose of humility is in order.For evidence of the dangers posed by underwhelming teams, coach Eddie Jordan can......

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Early to bed, early to rise

Published: Mar 19, 2008

Caron Butler’s birthday celebration Thursday night, a lavish soiree at The Park at Fourteenth that reportedly cost the All-Star more than $250,000, showed that the Wizards know how to play — off the court.But this week, with the Wizards on their way to two of the NBA’s favorite destinations, Continued...

 

King Jamison

Published: Mar 17, 2008

Antawn Jamison’s unique repertoire includes running jumpers off the wrong foot, long-distance finger rolls and, his piece de resistance, a half-hook, half-scoop — 45 degrees of separation between the two.Kids, don’t try this stuff at home. These shots are best left to a trained professional.If anyone on the Wizards fits that description, it’s Jamison. Saturday night at Verizon Center, with the Wizards on the brink of defeat against the woeful......

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On Butler’s birthday, Wiz want ‘Juice’

Published: Mar 13, 2008

On the night he turns 28, the Wizards have a birthday wish for Caron Butler — health, happiness and a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.With the Wizards set to face their nemesis tonight at Verizon Center, Butler expects to play for the first time since Feb. 3. Barring a pregame tweak of his torn labrum (hip), Butler will be in......

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Butler is up, Arenas is down

Published: Mar 11, 2008

Caron Butler tested his injured hip Monday at Verizon Center and indicated his first practice in 20 days was a success. But such pronouncements carry little weight these days for the star-crossed Wizards.On the same day that Butler took an apparent step forward in his recovery from a torn labrum (hip), fellow All-Star Continued...

 

Wizards hope for the best

Published: Mar 07, 2008

Who are the Wizards without injured All-Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler?The answer lies in their first two games without Butler, five weeks ago on back-to-back nights against the Toronto Raptors.In the first, the Wizards rode their best characteristics — their resiliency and experience — winning in overtime, 108-104, after......

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Wizards don’t have the Magic

Published: Mar 06, 2008

Before Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan smiled when he was asked about a possible match-up with the Magic in the postseason."It would mean we’re in the playoffs," Jordan explained, careful not to suggest that he relished a match-up with Dwight "Superman" Howard.Later in the evening, the Magic showed why no team in the Eastern Conference should want to face them as they took apart......

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Wiz energized by Arenas

Published: Mar 05, 2008

With two of his injured players back yesterday, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was in a relatively giddy mood as his team prepared for tonight’s game against Orlando. Speaking about Magic center Dwight Howard, who wore a Superman cape in winning the NBA Dunk Contest last month, Jordan joked about......

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Johnson, Woodson impose on McNamara

Published: Mar 05, 2008

Driving the baseline Tuesday night in the City Title Game, McNamara’s Tierra Thomas challenged H.D. Woodson center Jeniece Johnson. Bad idea. As Thomas rose and released her jump shot, the 6-foot-5 Johnson, standing flat-footed, spiked the ball to the floor.And so it went at the Verizon Center as Johnson and the Lady Warriors blocked McNamara’s path to the championship, winning......

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Arenas cleared to practice

Published: Mar 04, 2008

The Wizards’ murky injury situation is getting more confusing by the day.Monday at Verizon Center, on a second straight day that coach Eddie Jordan said he wasn’t going to discuss his team’s injuries, guard Gilbert Arenas announced that he is ready to return to practice."I’ve been cleared to practice, and play," said Arenas, who is recovering from knee surgery.......

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Wizards stymie Paul, Hornets

Published: Mar 03, 2008

The appearance of well-rested All-Star Chris Paul was an ominous sign for the Wizards, when he entered in a close game with 7 minutes, 14 seconds left, Sunday night at Verizon Center.And on his next trip down the floor, Paul drew the defense, freeing Mike James for a driving 3-point play, pulling the Continued...

 

More questions than answers

Published: Feb 29, 2008

With the Wizards’ future hinging, in more ways than one, on the torn hip labrum of All-Star Caron Butler, the theme for tonight’s game in Chicago is uncertainty.When will Butler return? Are the Wizards destined to finish a second straight year with Butler and Gilbert Arenas sidelined? If the season ends in disappointment, will it alter the Wizards’ ability or......

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Wizards welcome the rest

Published: Feb 28, 2008

Yesterday as the Washington Wizards flew to Chicago for a game Friday night against the Bulls, they could be thankful for one thing — they don’t play tonight.Back-to-back games on the road are never easy in the NBA. But they’ve been particularly unkind to the Wizards. In seven road games after playing the previous night, Washington is 1-6. Contrast that......

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Rockets can inspire Wizards

Published: Feb 26, 2008

Back in January, when then struggling Houston put together a modest five-game winning streak without top scorer Tracy McGrady, some suggested that the Rockets were better off without the perennial All-Star.Sound familiar?Here in Washington, when the Wizards had a similar run of success later that same month, and did so without Continued...

 

Wizards look to do ‘the hustle’

Published: Feb 25, 2008

Washington coach Eddie Jordan couldn’t ask more of his starting five. Each is having arguably his best season in a Wizards uniform.So as long as injured All-Stars Caron Butler (hip flexor) and Gilbert Arenas (knee) remain the world’s best-dressed cheerleaders, there’s only one resource Jordan has left to mine......

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Young returns to the scene

Published: Feb 22, 2008

If one highlight in Wizard rookie Nick Young’s brief career stands out, it came last month in Cleveland. Receiving a pass in transition, Young loses a defender with a crossover dribble, rises and dunks over LeBron James.In a brief moment, Young showed the potential the Wizards saw when they made him their first-round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2007......

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Battered, bruised, waiting for help

Published: Feb 21, 2008

With nine losses in their last 10, the Wizards have fallen three games under .500 for the first time since November. With a roster full of injuries, both major and minor, and a daunting schedule this month, it’s likely get worse before it gets better.After Tuesday’s 113-100 overtime loss at home to the New York Knicks, the Wizards’ frustration was apparent in the words of Continued...

 

Before the harvest, can the Wizards make hay?

Published: Feb 19, 2008

In the parlance of quotable Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, early March will be "harvest" time. It’s when his team plays seven of eight games at home and expects to do it with All-Stars Caron Butler (hip flexor) and Gilbert Arenas (knee) back in the lineup.Until then, however, the Wizards (25-27) must take a one-game-at-a-time approach, starting tonight against the......

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One will play, the other will watch

Published: Feb 15, 2008

In the halls of Verizon Center the morning after learning they were selected for the NBA All-Star Game, Wizards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler were a study in contrast.While Jamison wore Mardi Gras beads, a huge smile and slapped hands with a flood of well wishers, the usually-affable Butler was sullen as he limped on his sore left hip, disappearing......

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Wiz are injured and defenseless

Published: Feb 13, 2008

The Wizards cooked up a potent recipe Monday night at Golden State.It included big games from Roger Mason (32 points, 6 assists), Brendan Haywood (20 points, 10 rebounds), DeShawn Stevenson (18 points, 7 assists), and Antawn Jamison (25 points, 10......

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Without Butler, the Wizards have no shot

Published: Feb 08, 2008

Need evidence of how Caron Butler’s hip injury affects the Wizards? Look no further than the shooting of fellow All-Star Antawn Jamison.In six games since Butler suffered a strained hip flexor, Jamison has hit 36.3 percent from the floor, including 22.2 percent from the arc. Those numbers pale in comparison to Jamison’s marks in the first 42 games — 44.0 and 35.0 percent respectively. "It makes a world of difference when you......

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Moral victory for Wizards?

Published: Feb 07, 2008

After running out of legs against the young, quick 76ers Tuesday in Philadelphia, the Washington Wizards returned to the bump and grind Wednesday against a team that has perfected the art — defending NBA champion San Antonio.So there were two ways to view the Wizards’ 85-77 loss before......

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Best of the West looms

Published: Feb 05, 2008

After losing twice this weekend to formidable foes from the Western Conference, a daunting task looms for the Wizards.Starting Wednesday at home against defending NBA champion San Antonio, Washington plays four straight against teams from the West with winning records. With that in mind, the Wizards are attaching importance to tonight’s game at Continued...

 

Washington Wizards are no answer for Kobe Bryant

Published: Feb 04, 2008

Wizards’ defensive stopper DeShawn Stevenson had the ultimate challenge Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. His job, described by Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, was to "limit the touches" of Kobe Bryant.So much for strategy.Six minutes and 25 seconds into the game, Stevenson was on the bench with three fouls and Bryant had 10 points.And so it went Sunday at Verizon Center as the Wizards had no answer for the irrepressible Bryant, who scored 30 points to lead the Lakers to a routine 103-91 victory before a sellout crowd of 20,173......

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With Butler out, McGuire emerges

Published: Feb 01, 2008

Playing ineffectively and getting inconsistent minutes was a vicious cycle for Wizards forward Dominic McGuire. Releasing pent-up energy when he got a rare chance to play, McGuire experienced a common malady for rookies in all walks of life — the harder he tried, the worse he performed.But this week, on back-to-back nights against the Toronto Raptors, with Continued...

 

The good, the bad and the ugly

Published: Jan 29, 2008

The Wizards weren’t sure what to make of their 105-102 overtime loss Sunday at Milwaukee. Their rally from 11 points down in the final 95 seconds of regulation was reminiscent of one of the season’s highlights — an amazing comeback win two weeks ago at Boston. But their leaky backcourt defense, against a team missing top scorer Michael Redd, was a......

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Memphis the remedy for a grizzly loss?

Published: Jan 25, 2008

Coming off their most decisive loss of the season on Wednesday at Cleveland, the Wizards are thankful to play again quickly and at home, as they face the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Verizon Center.Memphis (12-30) might appear to be the perfect foil for Washington (22-18) to erase the memory of......

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LeBron vs. Caron

Published: Jan 23, 2008

It’s been a season of discovery for Caron Butler. With Gilbert Arenas out with a knee injury, the Wizards’ forward has grown into a variety of roles — scorer, leader, playmaker, go-to man, defensive force.Tonight when the Wizards (22-17) face Cleveland (22-18) at Quicken Loans Arena, Butler will face......

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Ailing center inspires big win

Published: Jan 22, 2008

On a day the Wizards welcomed center Etan Thomas back to their bench, they treated him to one of their best all-around efforts of the season, defeating Western Conference power Dallas, 102-84, Monday at Verizon Center.Wearing a blue three-piece suit and looking fit 15 weeks removed from open-heart surgery to repair a leak of his aortic valve, Thomas’ presence inspired......

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Wizards finding their stroke

Published: Jan 21, 2008

Caron Butler is mum on the subject. He doesn’t want to jinx his run of 54 straight free throws, a team record and the most in the NBA this season. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan also toes the line."If he doesn’t want to talk about it, I won’t talk about it," said Jordan. "So we’ll just be silent about......

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Missing the point

Published: Jan 18, 2008

The Washington Wizards have adjusted to life without high-scoring point guard Gilbert Arenas. Tonight at Verizon Center, they face a team that is undergoing the same transformation, and thriving. After the loss of Stephon Marbury (ankle), the New York......

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Bench struggles continue for Wiz

Published: Jan 17, 2008

Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin wrote "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back." It’s a sentiment Wizards coach Eddie Jordan can apply to his inconsistent bench.With the tired Wizards playing their fourth game in five nights Tuesday in New York, the reserves got a rare opportunity for big minutes. But the verdict after the Wizards’ 105-93 loss, was that Jordan can’t......

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Can Wizards double their pleasure?

Published: Jan 14, 2008

It wasn’t so much that the Wizards beat the Celtics Saturday at Verizon Center, it was how.Engaging the NBA powerhouse in its numbing bump-and-grind, dominating the glass, rallying in the fourth quarter, and winning a slugfest Boston-style, 85-78, was perhaps a transforming prescription for a team trying to establish it’s toughness."The NBA is physical. But this game was, I......

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Head fills the void for Houston

Published: Jan 09, 2008

Serving as an understudy to seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, doesn’t leave much playing time for Houston guard Luther Head. Tuesday at Verizon Center, however, with McGrady out of the lineup with a knee injury, Head made the most of his rare opportunity — scoring a season-high 24 points to......

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Can Wizards meet the challenge?

Published: Jan 08, 2008

After registering back-to-back wins by more than 20 points for the first time this year, the Wizards face a challenging week, starting tonight against visiting Houston and 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.After traveling to Atlanta Friday, the Wizards face the ultimate challenge, a home-and-home series with Continued...

 

Wizards school young Sonics

Published: Jan 07, 2008

Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Delonte West received their elementary basketball education in the schoolyards of Prince George’s County. Sunday at Verizon Center, the trio got an advanced lesson from their hometown team.After toying with the precocious Seattle SuperSonics......

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Detroit has more in reserve

Published: Jan 03, 2008

It’s been a recurring theme for the Wizards — inconsistent play from their bench. Wednesday night, against one of the hottest and deepest teams in the league, the Wizards couldn’t survive a particularly listless performance from their bench.With forwards Jason Maxiell and Jarvis Hayes providing an injection of offense off the bench, Detroit rolled to its 10th straight win, 106-93,......

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Winning in football, losing in life

Published: Dec 21, 2007

These would seem to be the best of times for Damascus High football coach Dan Makosy.Earlier this month, he guided Damascus to its third Maryland state championship in the last five years. With a 102-20 mark and a Maryland record 10 playoff appearances in as many seasons, Makosy is at the top of his profession.But controversy surrounds Makosy. He has hinted that......

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Bulls slow down depleted Wizards

Published: Dec 20, 2007

For the past month, the Wizards have shown little of the effects of their depleted state. Wednesday night at Verizon Center, however, the Wizards finally played like a team with four significant players out of the lineup.Running out of gas in the final four minutes, after staging a stirring second-half rally, the Wizards fell to Chicago, 95-84, before 14,792.The play of forward Caron Butler belied his recent illness as he......

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No bricks for this Mason

Published: Dec 12, 2007

Washington native Roger Mason took the long way home. His circuitous route included stops in Chicago, Toronto, Greece and Israel. The summer before last, a few days after signing to play in Japan, Mason was......

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Half brothers make QO whole

Published: Dec 11, 2007

It took Travis Hawkins only a week of practice at Rockville High to realize it wasn’t for him.He was a big-time player who ached for a big-time program. So he asked his mother if he could leave home, move in with his father, and attend Quince Orchard High.Two years later, Hawkins realized the promise of his adopted school, scoring the winning touchdown as QO defeated Arundel, 36-30, in the Maryland 4A......

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Frazier’s final act at Damascus is his best

Published: Dec 11, 2007

For three years, Damascus coach Dan Makosy has extolled the virtues of quarterback Kyle Frazier. But when it came time to use him, he often demurred, employing the Hornets’ longtime staple — tailback off tackle. But Thursday night in the Maryland 3A state championship game, Makosyturned Frazier loose. Well, sort of. Completing......

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Forward thinking delivers Wiz

Published: Dec 10, 2007

This has become apparent in the first quarter of the Wizards’ season: Coach Eddie Jordan can depend on his starting lineup, and he has no idea what to expect from his bench.Sunday night against the New Jersey Nets, with his young reserves misfiring, Jordan relied on his veteran starters and they rewarded a crowd of 13,712 with a 104-89 victory at Continued...

 

Celebrating football, life

Published: Nov 30, 2007

With his raspy voice, Quince Orchard head coach Dave Mencarini could barely speak. With his buckling knees, assistant coach Joe Mencarini, could barely stand.Few post-game celebrations were as poignant as the one at QO following the Cougars’ 25-13 win over Sherwood Friday night. After 39 years as a football coach, Joe Mencarini, 60, had watched his 33-year-old son win his first region championship after losing in the title game the previous two years. He also witnessed his son toppling a Maryland football legend, Sherwood coach Al Thomas.But this was more......

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Maryland 4A final on Comcast Cable

Published: Nov 30, 2007

Comcast Cable will broadcast the Maryland 4A state football championship game live from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Friday, Dec. 7, according to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.In addition, the MPSSAA announced that Comcast will broadcasttwo Maryland state championship boys basketball games (Class 2A and 4A) and two lacrosse state finals (boys and girls 4A/3A) live and make 13 other games available on its video on demand option. kdunleavy@dcexaminer.com......

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Hammer time: DeMatha defends WCAC crown

Published: Nov 19, 2007

Good Counsel assistant coach Tom Crowell emerged from the locker room, shook his head and said, "Groundhog Day."Crowell was referring to Good Counsel’s 12-7 loss to DeMatha, their fourth in a row to the Stags, in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game.The feeling was the same for Good Counsel. But this time there were no bad bounces, no game-changing turnovers, no horrendous bad luck that left the Falcons feeling cursed. Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, the story was the DeMatha defense. Limiting Good Counsel (10-2) to one......

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Arenas, new lineup produce in home win over Indiana

Published: Nov 15, 2007

His trademark explosion is not quite there. His step-back jumper still needs work. And his surgically repaired knee remains encased in a protective stocking.But Wednesday night at the Verizon Center, Gilbert Arenas was back. It wasn’t quite the breathtaking Agent Zero of his breakout 2006-07 season. But it was a productive one and the catalyst of the Wizards’ 103-90 victory over Indiana.Arenas hit 9 of 18 shots, scored 30 points, and dealt a season-high 11 assists as Washington (2-5) snapped its eight-game home losing streak, which matched the longest in......

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Melo is in tune with East Coast vibe

Published: Nov 14, 2007

A high school star at Towson Catholic in Baltimore, Anthony returned home last week, scoring 32 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 118-92 win over the Wizards. In his lone college season, he led Syracuse to its first NCAA championship, then was taken by Denverwith the No. 3 selection in the 2003 NBA Draft. Now in his fifth season, Anthony is averaging 25.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game.1 How much has your USA Basketball experience helped you as a player? It helps your confidence. It......

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Dempsey delivers state title to Fallston

Published: Nov 14, 2007

Thick fog lent a surreal atmosphere to the Maryland 3A state field hockey championship game. Even when the fog lifted in the second half, there was little clarity in a hotly contested match-up of perennial state powers Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Fallston.With the specter of co-champions hanging over the game deep in the second overtime, Fallston finally brought the picture into focus. Sophomore Caitlin Dempsey’s goal with 3 minutes, 11 seconds left, gave Fallston a 1-0 win."We had to do it for our seniors," said Dempsey. "We came so far,......

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Poolesville proves to be no match for Pocomoke

Published: Nov 14, 2007

In the tiny Eastern Shore town of Pocomoke (pop. 3, 897), girls begin playing field hockey in primary school. The fruits of their early indoctrination are state championships — lots of them. Tuesday night at Broadneck in the Maryland 1A final, Pocomoke demonstrated its hard-earned proficiency in a 3-0 victory over Poolesville. Senior Erica Henderson scored two goals to lead the Warriors to their fifth straight state title and 15th overall.Pocomoke’s skill was apparent on a fastbreak goal in the first half. Two players made one-touch passes on the run......

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Arenas, Wizards earn their first win with balanced effort

Published: Nov 13, 2007

The Washington Wizards have grown accustomed to relying on the scoring of guard Gilbert Arenas. In Sunday’s 101-90 victory at Atlanta, however, the Wizards found a way to win on a day in which Arenas scored 18 points. It was a positive development as Washington (1-5) ended its five-game losing skid.Make no mistake. Arenas played a major role, penetrating the Atlanta defense and keying the Wizards’ best ball-movement game so far. Arenas had six of the Wizards’ season-high 26 assists. "I like to think of him as the quarterback of......

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New offense sets Barnes, PB free

Published: Nov 09, 2007

Paint Branch quarterback Scott Barnes speaks in a low-key monotone. But even he can’t disguise his enthusiasm when discussing his team’s turnaround season under rookie coach Mike Nesmith."It’s like night and day," said Barnes. "Last year, we couldn’t wait for practice to be over. This year, we don’t want it to end."Barnes was speaking Wednesday night, after an exhausting four-hour session — practice followed by film study — in preparation for Friday’s game against visiting Damascus (8-1). There’s a playoff berth on the line for Paint Branch (7-2) and meaningful......

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Getting there is half the battle for tested QO squad

Published: Nov 08, 2007

The Maryland field hockey final four is an annual rite for Quince Orchard. For neighborhood rival Wootton, it’s a once-a-decade event.Wednesday when the teams met in the 4A state semifinals at South River, their divergent experience showed. Scoring three goals in a 6-minute, 49-second span of the first half, defending state champion QO put novice Wootton in its place from the start on its way to a routine 3-0 victory.Monday night at Broadneck, QO will play in the state final for the fourth time in the last seven years."Playing......

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Big start from big man

Published: Nov 07, 2007

The Wizards have started slowly, but a bright spot has been center Brendan Haywood. In his sixth season out of North Carolina, the 7-footer is averaging 10 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game, thriving in an expanded role after the loss of Etan Thomas, who had heart surgery last month.1 Right now, you’re the only established center on the team. Can you talk about that? There’s a different type of comfort level for me out there. Before I felt like I had to get things going right away,......

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Arenas sits out practice

Published: Nov 06, 2007

The Wizards are 0-3, have the worst shooting percentage in the NBA, and Gilbert Arenas sat out Monday’s practice to rest his surgically repaired knee. Is the sky falling?Yesterday at Verizon Center, forward Antawn Jamison didn’t sound particularly concerned as he provided a review of the new Denzel Washington film, "American Gangster.""That was the best movie I’ve seen in 10 years," said Jamison. "I missed some of the [Sunday] football games. But any time you can watch Denzel in a movie, with your popcorn, and an Icee, it took my......

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Casey blocks Maret’s repeat bid

Published: Nov 06, 2007

With a sheepish grin and a shoulder shrug, Good Counsel’s Brighid Casey peered up at the referee, waiting for his call. The 5-foot-4 junior had just blocked a spike attempt by Maret’s 6-2 Langley King, but wasn’t sure she had accomplished the feat without breaking a rule.When the referee awarded the point to Good Counsel, Casey applauded, exhaled, and set herself for the next point. Her determined work at the net typified the struggle for Good Counsel Monday night at National Cathedral in the Metro City Volleyball Championship where the......

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At linebacker, Wittenberger a hit

Published: Nov 02, 2007

Early this year, when Damascus coach Dan Makosy needed to find a new linebacker, he didn’t hesitate. He picked an aggressive, intelligent, big hitter with closing speed.The only qualification Brian Wittenberger lacked was size. In fact, the 6-foot senior was slight enough last winter to wrestle at 152 pounds. But that hasn’t kept him from becoming an impact player at inside linebacker.Since Wittenberger’s shift from safety, Damascus (7-1) has won five straight and surrendered only two first-half touchdowns. Last week in a 21-7 win at Seneca Valley, Wittenberger had 10......

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QO coach Reis will step down

Published: Nov 01, 2007

One of Montgomery County’s most successful field hockey coaches, Jenna Reis, will relinquish her duties at the end of the season, she said Wednesday. In nine years, Reis has a 133-27-6 career record with seven region titles and two state championships. She guided the defending Maryland 4A champion Cougars to a 2-0 win over Churchill in the region quarterfinals Tuesday. Reis, who also gave up her position as lacrosse coach at QO earlier this year, is leaving high school coaching to devote more time to her club program, Champions of......

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The envelope please ...

Published: Oct 26, 2007

It’s week eight in Maryland, which means the football season is winding down, but only for some. Others hope their seasons are just half over. That would mean they are bound for a state championship game. With that in mind, The Examiner presents its half-season awards.Most Valuable PlayerMelvin Harris » KennedyWhere would Kennedy (5-2) be without its spectacular runner, passer, return man and safety? Harris has completed 61 of 118 passes for 1,151 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed 80 times for 715 yards and 11 scores, drawing comparison to......

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A matter of public record

Published: Oct 25, 2007

For kids raised on the lush private courses of lower Montgomery County, golf is a literal birth right. For others, it’s an acquired pursuit. Count Whitman seniors Alex and Michael Kamargo in the latter group. The twins picked up the sport the summer they entered high school, and quickly played catch-up.Wednesday at the University of Maryland, when Whitman ended neighborhood-rival Churchill’s five-year stranglehold on the state 4A/3A championship, they owed half of their success to the public-course-trained Kamargo twins, the other half to senior Louis Spear and junior Stephen Fisher.Whitman......

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Contenders and pretenders

Published: Oct 23, 2007

After seven weeks of play in Maryland, the playoff picture is taking shape. Here’s a look at the regions.4A West » Quince Orchard (7-0) is a lock. Sherwood (6-1) can clinch a slot with a win this week over Richard Montgomery (2-5). Gaithersburg (5-2) and Northwest (4-3) have the No. 3 and 4 slots. But both have tough games remaining. In Week 9, Gaithersburg plays Sherwood, while Northwest faces QO. If either loses, Wootton (4-3) or Whitman (4-3) could jump into contention by winning out. Wootton has the best chance......

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Kennedy, Seneca renew hostilities

Published: Oct 19, 2007

For seismic effect, few high school football upsets can compare to Kennedy’s 19-7 defeat of Seneca Valley in the 2006 playoffs. It was more than an upstart toppling a perennial power. It was a team erasing the effects of a 49-7 loss to the same squad seven weeks earlier. Count the Screaming Eagles among those who were the most shocked."It was the most upsetting loss we’ve ever had, definitely," said tight end Alex Betancourt. "We were really looking ahead to the next game against Urbana. We beat Kennedy by 40......

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Hickman makes the move, wins title

Published: Oct 17, 2007

Among the compelling reasons for Ralfe Hickman to enroll at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School were: 1) His next door neighbor was a player on the St. Andrew’s golf team; 2) St. Andrew’s had an affable man of the cloth as its golf coach; 3) girls.So after a year at the all-boys Landon School in Bethesda and an enjoyable round this summer with Rev. John Thomas, Hickman moved to coed St. Andrew’s in Potomac.Tuesday at Worthington Manor, Hickman and his new teammates were glad he made the switch as he won......

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An athletic triumph for Good Counsel

Published: Oct 16, 2007

Since she took over at Good Counsel three years ago, Kelly Stodter has specialized in finding strong athletes and turning them into field hockey players.Monday afternoon in Olney, one of Stodter’s finds played a big role as sophomore Shannon Lechner scored in overtime to give the Falcons a 2-1 victory over defending Maryland 4A public school champion Quince Orchard.As a first-year field hockey player last fall, Lechner didn’t score a goal. This year, she leads the team with 15."I’m a lacrosse player. That’s really my sport," said Lechner. "I didn’t......

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Not everything’s bigger in Texas

Published: Oct 12, 2007

It was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck for Rockville football coach Mark Maradei. His new transfer was the MVP of an undefeated state championship team from Texas.But that was before Maradei discovered the rest of the story. The player, Tarik Paul, actually was the star back of tiny Faith Christian Academy of El Paso, winner of Texas Six-Man Football — Private School Division."Six-Man football is a completely different game," said Maradei. "We had to break him of his old habits and start from scratch." Apparently Paul is a quick learner.......

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Fitzgerald makes return to the links

Published: Oct 11, 2007

Kensington’s Jane Fitzgerald doesn’t do anything half way. So after having her best year in 2001, winning the Maryland Open and Mid-Atlantic Amateur and qualifying for two USGA events, Fitzgerald gave up competitive golf.Raising two school-age children and holding down a full-time job left little time for practice.But now, with one of her children in college and another in high school, Fitzgerald, 45, has the time. With the Maryland Open staged at her home club next week, she has a compelling reason to return.When the Maryland Open comes to the......

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Always a fresh supply at Churchill

Published: Oct 03, 2007

Gary Raizon and Peter Johns made the golf team at Churchill last year, but neither played a significant match. Marc Youngentob and Steven Bernitt weren’t as fortunate as they were cut from the team.But Monday at Poolesville Golf Club, the unlikely foursome propelled Churchill to District 2 Championship. While Raizon shot an even-par 71 to claim medalist honors, Youngentob (74), Bernitt (76) and Johns (77) finished in the top 15 as Churchill (298) defeated fellow state qualifiers Wootton (304) and Magruder (314). It was the sixth straight District 2 title......

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Wizards look to health, cohesion

Published: Oct 02, 2007

While other teams in the NBA Eastern Conference made significant upgrades in the offseason, the Wizards stood pat. As the team opens training camp this week, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld is counting on improvement through continuity and good health.Last year, the Wizards had the best record in the conference on Feb. 1 and led the Southeast Division in early April. But season-ending injuries, three days apart, to All-Stars Gilbert Arenas (torn meniscus) and Caron Butler (broken hand), ruined the Wizards’ playoff hopes as they were swept in four......

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QO has a new MO

Published: Sep 28, 2007

For an appropriate sound bite reflecting Quince Orchard’s newfound emphasis on defense, look no further than the Cougars’dangerous offensive weapon — Travis Hawkins."Offense sells tickets," says the junior safety/running back. "Defense wins championships."Last year, the Cougars discovered how not to win a title when they surrendered 56 points in a lopsided loss to Northwest in the Maryland 4A West Region final. But after a summer committed to defense, No. 1 QO (3-0) has given up just six points — a cosmetic fourth-quarter score by Wootton in a 41-6 blowout. Last......

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Seneca coach suspended

Published: Sep 25, 2007

Seneca Valley head football coach Fred Kim and an unnamed assistant at Northwest were suspended last week, apparently for their roles in an altercation after Seneca Valley’s 34-13 victory at Northwest earlier this month.Montgomery County Coordinator of Athletics Duke Beattie confirmed the suspensions, but declined further comment. Calls to Kim and athletic directors at both schools were not returned.Kim missed Thursday’s 55-12 victory over Bethesda-Chevy Chase, but will be back for the Screaming Eagles game Friday against visiting Paint Branch.After the Seneca win on Sept. 14, in which the Screaming......

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Lucas a quick study

Published: Sep 20, 2007

Sherwood sophomore Brian Lucas has vivid memories of the fall of 2000. He was only 8 years old, but he’ll never forget watching his brother, Paul, play at Byrd Stadium in the state championship game. The following summer, Lucas was back on the Byrd sidelines as a ball boy in the Super 44 All-Star game.But for all his inculcation to football, Brian Lucas never played it. Since age 4, his sport was soccer, and he played it to the exclusion of all else.As his freshman year of high school approached,......

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Porzel makes it socially, athletically

Published: Sep 14, 2007

Raised in a home with three black siblings and two white parentshasn’t presented any challenges for Good Counsel running back Caleb Porzel. The way he see it, he has a rare insight on race. Better yet, he fits in everywhere."It’s never been a big issue," said Porzel. "Yeah, it’s different. But it can be an advantage too. I’ve never felt odd or out of place."Another place Porzel has fit in is the Good Counsel backfield. Last week, the junior rushed 15 times for 107 yards and a touchdown, helping the......

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Mulroy is fully armed

Published: Sep 07, 2007

When Sam Mulroy first picked up a football in the seventh grade, he tossed it left-handed. The fact that he had thrown a baseball for years with his right hand didn’t strike him as odd.After all, Muroy had become used to using both sides of his body. He kicked with his right foot, but wrote, brushed his teeth, and ate with his left.Five years later, Mulroy is a unique two-sport standout at the Maret School. As a left-handed quarterback, he threw for 1,500 yards and ran for 1,010 last fall.......

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The Rehmans are kings for a day

Published: Aug 30, 2007

Robert Rehman has a handicap of 3.5. His son, Ryan, is a 10. When they played in the Maryland State Golf Association Father/Son earlier thismonth, they figured to be a threat for the net title, not the gross.But after 18 charmed holes at Wakefield Valley Golf Club in Westminster, the Rehmans of Silver Spring were the Father/Son champions. In a field that included several duos with close to scratch handicaps, the Rehmans fired a 3-under-par 69 to win by two strokes."Surprised? I’d have to say we were," said Robert Rehman,......

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DeMatha accepts Challenge

Published: Aug 29, 2007

Bill McGregor has heard some dumb questions in his 26 years as DeMatha football coach.One of them came on a pleasant day in June when he was interrupted while jogging. On the phone was Josh Johnston, promoter of the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge, who asked McGregor if he’d "mind" playing a game on ESPN."No, I didn’t have to think about it," said McGregor. "I told him, ‘yes, of course.’"Less than three months later, McGregor is preparing his perennial powerhouse squad for the first national TV game in the......

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On Hooters Tour, Rattan has driving ambition

Published: Aug 23, 2007

Dothan, Ala., is where John Scott Rattan finds himself this week. It’s another stop on the NGA Hooters Tour, a long way — literally and figuratively — from Westchester, N.Y., where the PGA kicks off its inaugural FedEx Cup this week.But for Rattan, a Montgomery Village resident, crisscrossing the Southeast, playing mini-tour golf, is his route to success."I see a lot of my steering wheel. My Honda and me are best buddies," said Rattan, 25. "But I love doing this. I don’t have a girlfriend. There’s nothing making me wish......

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Carlin puts it all together

Published: Aug 16, 2007

In his days as a junior golf standout, few Washington-area players could match the resume of Kensington’s Greg Carlin. But none had his rare combination of gifts — his powerful, balanced swing; his flair for recovery; his creativity; and his angular golf build.Earlier this month at the Members Club at Four Streams, Carlin fused all his talents in winning one of the area’s most prestigious events, the 88th Washington Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur. Carlin’s 8 and 7 victory over Trey Treadwell, in the 36-hole final round, was a fitting conclusion......

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Strang has Bosdosh's number once again

Published: Aug 09, 2007

Sean Bosdosh is having the best summer of his golf career. Just one problem - so is Wes Strang. Three weeks ago, in the Bobby Gorin Memorial, the duo battled to the 18th hole, with Strang winning 1 up. Wednesday in the 25th Dewey Ricketts Memorial, they were at it again in another high-level duel. Fighting for the title in the 14-15 division, Bosdosh fired a 1-under-par 69, only to see Strang match him stroke for stroke at Manor Country Club.With a closing-round 69, Strang finished with a three-day total......

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Roddick answers the challenge

Published: Aug 03, 2007

The Legg Mason Tennis Classic was in danger of losing its top drawing card Thursday night. But just when Andy Roddick looked most vulnerable against Radek Stepanek, the top seed finally got control of his hyperkinetic game.With a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 victory at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, Roddick advances to a quarterfinal match against Korea’s Hyung-Tiak Lee tonight."[Stepanek] won in L.A. He’s been playing well," said Roddick. "I saw the draw and thought it was the toughest draw for both of us. He was the toughest player I......

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Isner comes up aces again fighting off another rough start

Published: Aug 03, 2007

Six-foot-nine John Isner continued to captivate fans at the Legg Mason Thursday. His unconventional 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) victory over American qualifier Wayne Odesnik was the third straight time that Isner has rallied after losing the first set and won on a third-set tie-breaker.After outlasting Odesnik in an amazing match, in which both players won all of their service games, Isner slumped deep in his courtside chair, knees high, with a grin as wide as the Mississippi. Forget being cool, the recent University of Georgia grad and NCAA......

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Having a ball at the two-ball

Published: Aug 02, 2007

As top players for four years at their respective high schools, Hilary Lawson (Magruder) and Joseph Kim (Walter Johnson), were high-level rivals who forged a friendship through competition. This summer they have combined forces with impressive results.At the Bobby Bowers Memorial last month, Kim caddied for Lawson, helping her capture the Girls Division for the first time. Then last Friday, Lawson and Kim combined as players to win the Maryland State Golf Association Mixed Two-Ball.In an alternate shot format, featuring male-female teams, Lawson and Kim fired a 33-32 — 65......

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Isner deals aces against Henman

Published: Aug 01, 2007

Growing to a height of 6-foot-9 is many a kids’ dream in basketball crazy-North Carolina. But for Greensboro native John Isner, it was his ticket to tennis success.Tuesday at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, in his second appearance in an ATP event, Isner showed he has found his calling as he upset veteran and former Legg Mason champion Tim Henman of England, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).Using a bullet serve that topped out at 140 mph, Isner ripped 18 aces to beat the Brit at his own serve-and-volley game. Isner advances......

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No queasy feelings for Roddick

Published: Aug 01, 2007

He came. He saw. He digested.Bothered by an upset stomach brought on, he said, by an ill-advised late-night food run the night before, Andy Roddick, lost a semifinal match in Indianapolis Saturday.But Tuesday night in Washington, after a sumptuous early-evening meal in cosmopolitan Washington, D.C. the night before, Roddick was in top form, handing Tomas Zib a 6-4, 6-2 defeat in his opening-round match in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic."Fortunately there are a lot more options at 8 o’clock in Georgetown, than at 1 in the morning in the middle......

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In 'epic' fashion, it’s Hathway

Published: Jul 27, 2007

As he approached the 18th tee Thursday, Trevor Matese went into Jim Nantz mode."And this epic battle continues at Glenn Dale Golf Club," said Matese, drawing giggles from Dan Hathway.Matese and Hathway had reason to be giddy. They are longtime friends at Georgetown Prep. When Hathway enters college this fall, he will join Matese on the Georgetown University golf team. After they matched birdies on the 17th hole Thursday, they shared the lead in the 56th Bubby Worsham Memorial.So on the 18th green, when Matese, grazed the cup with his......

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Summer reading — golf style

Published: Jul 26, 2007

Late July is an annual celebration of British golf. Last weekend was the British Open at Carnoustie, this weekend, the Senior British at Muirfield.In keeping with that theme, two vastly different books provide insight to the birthplace of golf. "Where Golf is Great," by James W. Finegan, is a reverential coffee table book with more than 500 pages of spectacular photographs and descriptive prose on the finest courses of Scotland and Ireland."Money Golf," by Alexandria’s Michael Bohn is a thoroughly researched, anecdotal history of betting in golf. It takes the......

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Potemra gets his kicks in a new place

Published: Jul 25, 2007

Things went as well as could be expected for Poolesville’s Paul Potemra in his freshman year at University of Maryland-Baltimore County. He made friends quickly. He earned a 3.3 grade-point-average. He played well enough in the spring to earn a starting slot on the men’s soccer team. The school was the right fit academically, athletically and socially.So why is Potemra giving it all up to attend a school that most of his friends have never heard of, Bemidji State (Minn.)?Because he’s a dreamer. Potemra wants to play football. He wants......

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QO’s Wolz defensive on and off court

Published: Jul 25, 2007

Ask Charles Wolz about his lack of playing time last winter at Quince Orchard, and he scolws."I was behind two all-league players [Kevin Kennedy and Neal Kosciulek]," Wolz is quick to point out. "We had a pretty good team."This summer, with Kennedy graduated, there is room in the frontcourt for Wolz, a 6-foot-7 left-hander. Monday night in the semifinals of the Montgomery County Recreation league, Wolz scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots, propelling QO to a 57-42 come-from-behind victory over Richard Montgomery.Last winter Wolz started the......

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Brady too much for Damascus

Published: Jul 23, 2007

An opening-round loss Tuesday in the Montgomery County American Legion playoffs complicated the task for Damascus Post 171. Five days later, Damascus faced the ultimate complication — Gaithersburg Post 104 pitcher Kevin Brady.Beating the 6-foot-3 right-hander, a senior this fall at Gaithersburg High, is a monumental task. Sunday at Damascus Regional Park, Damascus had about as much success as most, generating just two hits in a 9-1 loss in the county title game.Brady walked one and fanned 14 — including three in a dominating seventh inning — as Gaithersburg earned......

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With little help, Strang wins

Published: Jul 20, 2007

Among the spectators watching Bethesda’s Wes Strang in the Bobby Gorin Memorial Thursday was his swing coach Steve Bosdosh. But Strang wasn’t about to receive any tips. His opponent in the 14-15 Division final was Bosdosh’s son, Sean.After Strang’s 1 up victory in a competitive, well-played match at Woodmont Country Club, Steve Bosdosh had reason to be proud — of his student and his son."Either way I would have had one of my students win," quipped Bosdosh, an acclaimed teaching pro whose tips appear in Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine.......

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Prep’s Malphrus makes U-19 national lax team

Published: Jul 17, 2007

Recent Georgetown Prep graduate Bray Malphrus was named to the U.S. Lacrosse under-19 national team, announced Monday. Malphrus, a defender bound for the University of Virginia, will play in the International Lacrosse Federation U-19 World Championship next summer in British Columbia and will be joined by his high school coach, Kevin Giblin, who will serve as an assistant to head coach Chuck Apel (Bridgewater, N.J.).Malphrus was selected from a pool of 120 players who tried out at UMBC, Thursday-Sunday. Others from the Washington area selected for the try out were......

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Match play agrees with Lawson

Published: Jul 13, 2007

As they walked off the 14th green at Springfield Country Club, Gaithersburg’s Hilary Lawson and Oakton’s Amanda Steinhagen were fuming. Both had three-putted from close range and lost a precious opportunity to win a hole in a tight match.But that’s the beauty of match play. And that’s the deal in the Bobby Bowers Memorial, a tournament that for 33 years has frustrated and exhilarated the top junior golfers from the Washington-area and beyond. Putting her angst aside, Lawson finished with four straight pars to hold off Steinhagen in the girls......

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Wingerd’s victory is a Hoot

Published: Jul 12, 2007

Missing the cut in 21 of 26 events the last three seasons on the Hooters Tour has made life difficult for aspiring touring pro Billy Wingerd. Attracting financial backing, to continue playing mini-tour golf, has been even tougher.But Wednesday at Chartwell Golf and Country Club, Wingerd bought himself at least a few more months chasing his dream as he earned the biggest check of his golf career, winning the 86th Maryland Open.Rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Wednesday, the Baltimore native pumped his fist as he......

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At Congressional, it’s all in the family

Published: Jul 12, 2007

Playing in the club championship at a course with as many quality players as Congressional Country Club would make most golfers proud. Now imagine getting to the final and facing your son.That’s what happened to Skip Tendall of North Potomac, 12 days ago, as he competed against Ryan Tendall for the club championship. They are the first father-son duo in Congressional history to play for the title.With a remarkable comeback from 4 down, Skip rode his magic putter to a 1-up victory in the 36-hole final. For Papa Tendall, itwas......

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A stroke of genius

Published: Jul 09, 2007

You know the type — young men with fashionable golf shirts with upturned collars, flip flops, Budweisers and loud mouths. They’re standard issue at PGA Tour golf tournaments. Sunday at Congressional Country Club, four of them were stationed at the 16th hole, cheering on K.J. Choi.But with this foursome came a twist. They weren’t yelling in English. What is "You da man," in Korean?Tiger Woods might have been the toast of Washington, D.C., this week as he hosted the AT&T National. But the second most popular man Sunday was Choi.......

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Congressional is hard and soft

Published: Jul 06, 2007

On a day when the fairways were hard and fast and the greens soft and receptive, the conflicting conditions at Congressional Country Club produced an eclectic mix of leaders in the opening round of the inaugural AT&T National Thursday.Tied for first place at 4-under-par 66 were Australia’s Stuart Appleby, Fiji’s Vijay Singh, Korea’s K.J. Choi and Americans Jim Furyk and Joe Ogilvie.Among a group of six, a stroke back are the tournament’s oldest player, Fred Funk, 51, the third-oldest, Corey Pavin, 47, the youngest, Jamie Lovemark, 19, who won the......

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Tourney could move out of area in ’09

Published: Jul 04, 2007

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem hinted Tuesday that the AT&T National could move to another market in 2009 when Congressional Country Club is scheduled to host the U.S. Amateur Championship."I wouldn’t rule it out. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out," said Finchem. "But I do think the [Tiger Woods] Foundation and we agree that Washington is where we want it to be."Congressional has agreed to host the tournament next year, but there is much uncertainty after that. The club will host the U.S. Open in 2011. Robert Trent Jones in......

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A fan’s guide to the AT&T National

Published: Jul 04, 2007

With the AT&T National making its debut this week at Congressional Country Club, here are tips for spectators.How to watch Tiger: Get a jump on the pack. Tiger Woods, obviously, will draw a huge throng. To get a view of him along the ropes, you need to get a hole or two in front and stake your spot at a tee or a green. Another option — come early this morning. He tees off in the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am today at 6:30 a.m.Who to follow (other than Tiger): The......

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Is Lovemark the next big thing?

Published: Jul 03, 2007

Jamie Lovemark just couldn’t resist.On the monstrous ninth hole at Congressional Country Club, Lovemark had just layed up from 320 yards out. But that wasn’t enough. He had to see how far a 3-wood would go.So Lovemark dropped a ball at his feet and asked his pro-am partners to stand back. Stroking his shot as solidly and as straight as he believed possible, Lovemark let out a satisfying yelp, urging the ball to the pin. When it dropped just short, in a bowl in front of the green, Lovemark shrugged.He’s......

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Tiger's tour loaded with star power

Published: Jul 02, 2007

Regardless of who played it, when they played it, where they played it, or what they called it, one thing remained constant about Washington D.C.’s stop on the PGA Tour — the area’s support for its star-crossed event.But as local golf fans discovered last year, their unconditional love was not enough to sustain a big-money PGA tournament as they witnessed the demise of the Booz Allen Classic after 27 years.One summer later, however, the PGA has returned to Washington with an event whose enormous promise can be summed up in......

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For Sullivan, family comes first

Published: Jun 28, 2007

On the fringes of professional golf, there are those who live out of a suitcase, chasing the dream to the exclusion of all else. There are others who get married, have children and settle into the life of a club pro, teasing themselves with occasional competition, and often wondering, "What if?"One of the latter is Chip Sullivan, the head professional at Ashley Plantation in Roanoke. Sunday in Sunriver, Ore., when Sullivan won the PGA Professional National Championship, the emotional scene on the 18th green at Crosswater Golf Club was a......

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Tiger likely to lurk at Congressional

Published: Jun 20, 2007

For Tiger Woods, timing is everything. It’s a quality he apparently has passed on to his daughter. Born Monday morning, less than 24 hours after her dad finished playing the U.S. Open, Sam Alexis Woods’ timely arrival is likely to clear the way for her father’s participation in the inaugural AT&T National, July 5-8 at Congressional Country Club, said Greg McLaughlin, president of the Tiger Woods Foundation Tuesday."Currently Tiger is focusing on his family and getting to know his new daughter," McLaughlin said Tuesday. "We are expecting he will play......

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Waskewich lives the dream, for a while

Published: Jun 14, 2007

Mark Waskewich got a sinking feeling when he walked to the practice tee the morning of June 4th at Woodmont Country Club and noticed Fred Funk hitting iron shots so precisely, "you could throw a blanket over them."Waskewich, a recreational player from Laytonsville, found himself in competition with Funk and several other PGA Tour players at the U.S. Open Sectionals. In a field of 65, Waskewich, 22, was fighting for one of five available slots for the Open, which starts today at Oakmont, Pa.For a relative novice, with no high......

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Peros’ hit delivers Osbourn

Published: Jun 06, 2007

A glitch in the public address system brought an abrupt halt to an inspired version of the national anthem by Osbourn senior Simeone Sattler before Tuesday’s Virginia AAA quarterfinal.Then for five innings, Stone Bridge pitcher Ashley Gardner silenced the bats of the host Eagles. But playing in its fifth state quarterfinal in the last six years, Osbourn calmly solved the Bulldogs’ ace as junior Nikki Peros delivered a single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Osbourn a 3-2 victory.Peros’ solid liner to right center, her third hit......

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Rich history, strong competition

Published: May 31, 2007

No metropolitan area in the United States has a junior golf circuit as steeped in tradition as Washington. And for that, the D.C. golf community has Frank Emmet to thank. The former Georgetown Prep teacher established the Junior Golfers of Washington in 1927, the first youth organization recognized by the U.S. Golf Association. Eighty years later, the local junior golf schedule is loaded with prime summer events.With the establishment of the Charley Ridgway Junior, the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association will conduct six junior tournaments this summer, giving local players a......

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Will he or won’t he?

Published: May 30, 2007

Even a case of strep couldn’t dampen the mood of Tiger Woods Tuesday at Congressional Country Club as he talked of his upcoming AT&T National golf tournament.Between long sips of water to clear his sore throat, Woods playfully answered questions aboutthe first annual event, which runs July 3-8 and will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.With his wife, Elin Nordegren, due to have the couple’s first child in early July, the biggest question is: Will Woods play?"My intention is to play, but my wife has something to say about that," said......

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Claxton: Steady as she goes

Published: May 28, 2007

After three trips to the PGA Tour, each lasting a single season, Paul Claxton knows how fleeting success can be. After earning more than $1.6 million, Claxton also knows how fleeting the money is."It’s all gone, unfortunately," said Claxton, 39. "That money’s been gone for a while."It might take Claxton a while to spend his earnings from the Melwood Prince George’s County Open, however. Firing a final-round 67, he staved off a host of challengers to claim the inaugural tournament. Claxton shot 18-under (70-66-67-67 — 270) at the Country Club......

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Clash of the softball titans

Published: May 25, 2007

DAMASCUS (18-2) vs. CHESAPEAKE (23-3)Maryland 4A state championshipUniversity of MarylandSaturday, noonStoryline » Two of the state’s most successful programs play for the 4A championship. Both are motivated by recent championship game losses. Chesapeake fell in the 2006 final, 4-3, to C.M. Wright, and the 2004 final, 4-2, to Westminster. Damascus lost to North County in the 2005 title game, 4-2. Damascus history » Damascus seeks its fourth state championship. This is the Hornets’ ninth appearance in the title game. Damascus won 2A championships in ’87, ’92, and ’94, the last......

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Undefeated Sherwood looks to make history

Published: May 25, 2007

SHERWOOD (21-0) vs. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT (23-3)Maryland 4A state finalJoe Cannon Stadium (in Severn)Today at 3 Storyline » Sherwood is bidding to become Maryland’s first undefeated state champion since 2000 (Damascus). Game was scheduled for Friday night at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, but was moved to accommodate the ER prom Friday night.Sherwood history » The Warriors are gunning for its first state title. Coach Billy Goodman took Sherwood to the state finals in 2004, where they lost to Bowie. ER history » After losing nine straight times in the state semifinals,......

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Veterans emerge in first round of Melwood

Published: May 25, 2007

Often billed as a chance to "catch arising star," the Nationwide Tour also includes those who have fallen from grace. Their stories are often the most compelling.Thursday in the opening round of the inaugural Melwood Prince George’s County Open, Jay Williamson shot a 6-under-par 66 to tie Jimmy Walker and Jon Mills for the lead. Among a group of eight players a stroke back are three of Williamson’s former compatriots on the PGA Tour — Steve Pate, Scott Dunlap, and Greg Chalmers. Play continues today through Sunday at the Country......

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For Stough, less is more

Published: May 24, 2007

You’ve heard of the "freshman 15." For Laurel’s Kyle Stough, it was the "freshman 50." And, unlike so many college freshmen, it’s the weight Stough lost, not gained, in his first year at the University of Virginia.Wednesday afternoon at the Country Club at Woodmore, as Stough, 18, practiced for the Melwood Prince George’s County Open, it was difficult to recognize the former DeMatha standout. Minus 50 pounds and the bushy hairdo he sported in his schoolboy days, the only clue to Stough’s identity was his U.Va. hat."We work out a......

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Sherwood ‘masters’ Stone

Published: May 23, 2007

Getting cut from the Sherwood junior varsity was just the ticket for Drew Hoffmaster. Three years later, the work he put in to make the team is paying dividends for him and the Warriors.Tuesday afternoon in the Maryland 4A state semifinals, Hoffmaster dazzled Thomas Stone with his less-than-overpowering stuff. Keeping the Cougars off balance with his impeccable control and wide array of pitches, Hoffmaster limited the Waldorf school to four hits in a 10-0 victory.Hoffmaster walked one (his ninth of theseason in 73 innings) and fanned four, throwing an economical......

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Can Wootton buck history?

Published: May 18, 2007

After Wootton defeated Springbrook, 15-8, Wednesday night in the Maryland 4A/3A West Region title game, Jonathan Keslow called his bobbing, boisterous teammates to order, pointing to the scoreboard."When you’re determined, that’s what you can do," bellowed the senior defender. "We’re one step closer to where we want to be. We got division. We got region. Now we get state."If a similar proclamation was made last year, after the Patriots won their first region championship, they might not have bought in. But Wednesday night, Keslow’s words had resonance. This time Wootton......

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With one swing, Barrett gets it all back

Published: May 17, 2007

A season that began with so much promise — and considerable interest from Division I baseball programs — came crashing down on Wootton pitcher Peter Barrett in the preseason when he blew out his arm in a scrimmage at Sherwood.Unable to play in the field because of his damaged elbow, Barrett has had to be content as the Patriots’ designated hitter. But he couldn’t even do that to his capabilities. After hitting five home runs last spring, the 6-foot-3 Barrett has had a power outage, getting only two extra base......

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Marino enjoying life on PGA Tour

Published: May 17, 2007

It was a little more than a routine stop on the PGA Tour for Steve Marino. Flying to North Carolina for the Wachovia Championship, the Fairfax native had just earned the biggest check of his rookieseason, $157, 500, closing with a round of 67, and getting some national TV face time at the Byron Nelson Championship. After landing in Charlotte, Marino located a booth welcoming players, filled out paper work for his courtesy car, stepped outside, and saw his ride for the week — a new Mercedes-Benz sedan."All the players......

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Victory is much consolation for resilient Prep

Published: May 16, 2007

If Georgetown Prep had any misgivings about playing in the Interstate Athletic Conference consolation game, all the Little Hoyas had to do was look down the sideline to their opponent Tuesday afternoon.Wearing its familiar road brown was arch-rival Landon.So six days after suffering a shocking 7-6 loss in the IAC semifinals to St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Prep rebounded with one of its best games this year, adding another chapter to rich Landon-Prep lore with a 10-9 victory."Their world fell apart. That one loss carried a heavy weight," said Prep......

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The feel good hit of the season

Published: May 15, 2007

After the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference girls championship game, the players from Holy Cross doused their coach with ice water, screamed at the sky, blew kisses to their fans and hugged each other with wide smiles.Just one problem: They lost.But that really wasn’t really the point of Good Counsel’s 11-10 double-overtime victory. While the powerhouse Falcons claimed their fourth straight conference crown, the upstart Tartans toasted an extraordinary turnaround, from 4-11 in 2006 to the brink of the WCAC title."We had a great season and we played our best," said......

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P.G. pair to St. Bonaventure

Published: May 15, 2007

St. Bonaventure has signed a pair of Prince George’s County basketball products, according to the school’s athletic Web site. Hillary Haley, a 6-foot-6 forward from Friendly High, signed a National Letter of Intent on Friday. Former National Christian player Chris Matthews, a 6-4 guard, has declared that he will transfer to the Bonnies from Washington State.Haley, who played last season at North Atlanta Prep, will be a freshman next season for the Bonnies. He averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game at Friendly and played in the 2006 Capital......

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Simons shows the way for St. Albans

Published: May 14, 2007

Making two throwing errors in the opening inning paved the way for two unearned runs Thursday. But St. Albans third baseman Sam Simons wasn’t about to let those be the defining events in the Interstate Athletic Conference semifinals.Simons, a .475 batting clean-up hitter, leads St. Albans with his bat and he showed it with a line-shot over the head of the Landon left fielder. Simons’ double led off the second inning and jump-started the Bulldogs’ sometimes-stubborn offense in a 9-3 win."I really wanted to do something to forget about the errors,"......

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Let the games begin

Published: May 11, 2007

After a handful of opening-round playoff games last night, the Maryland public school lacrosse playoffs begin in earnest Saturday with the region quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals Monday and Wednesday.Here’s a look at the prospects of the local boys teams.4A/3A WEST» Favorite: No. 5 Wootton (14-0) enters the postseason in top form with hopes of becoming Montgomery County’s first team to get past the state semifinal round. Wootton has more depth and experience than last year when it fell to eventual state champion Severna Park, 12-6, in the semis. Leaders......

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Talent, Tallent propel Reeves to title

Published: May 10, 2007

Chris Reeves, 36, has been a member for life at plush Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. Pat Tallent, 53, grew up in Eastern Kentucky playing on a 9-hole course with sand greens and an annual family membership fee of $30.So how did this odd couple team up to win one of the Washington area’s most prestigious amateur events, the 58th annual Belle Haven 4 Ball, last weekend?They did it with a pair of brilliant wedge shots. Reeves hit an L-wedge 85 yards to within six inches for a birdie......

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Breton Bay does it again

Published: May 07, 2007

It was wet. It was cold. And it was windy. But Saturday was beautiful for Breton Bay Country Club as it won its second straight Maryland A-Team championship, defeating Mountain Branch of Joppa, 10.5 to 7.5.The small Leonardtown club has approximately 300 members. But for the second straight year, Breton Bay demonstrated that it can compete with big-name clubs such as 11-time champion Columbia and 10-time winner Congressional in this 79th annual event."We’ve always had good players," said Breton Bay pro Roger Welch. "I think the difference is that now......

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March of the Penguin

Published: May 04, 2007

Wearing a back brace from his neck to the top of his legs earned Bray Malphrus the nickname "Penguin." There were other amusing monikers for the Georgetown Prep senior, none fit for a newspaper.Immobilized to protect a stress fracture in his lower back, Malphrus, one of the best lacrosse defenders in the Washington area, was declared out for the season. By his own accounting, the University of Virginia recruit looked "absurd" and felt "miserable.""People would tell me, ‘You’re going to UVa. You’re set,’" said Malphrus. "But all I wanted was......

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Einstein a welcome edition

Published: May 03, 2007

The metaphors for the first day of spring training are endless — rebirth, awakening, renewal. This year, for Quince Orchard pitcher Rebecca Einstein, opening day seemed like the beginning of the end.Coming down awkwardly on the side of her foot, Einstein tore ligaments and saw her senior year flash before her eyes. The timing couldn’t have been worse. In each of her three previous seasons, QO had taken incremental steps from a winless 2003 all the way to contender status. How could the Cougars — with little softball tradition —......

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Mountain Branch on pins and needles

Published: May 03, 2007

Scot Forbis said he will undergo acupuncture for the first time in his life this week, Forbis, the pro at Mountain Branch Country Club in Joppa, Md., is willing to try anything to ease the pain in his back in preparation for Saturday’s Maryland State Golf Association A-Team championship.After all, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Mountain Branch and defending champion Breton Bay of Leonardtown have survived five elimination rounds, emerging from an NCCA basketball-like field of 72 teams."A few needles in my back for a chance to play in......

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Brady shows QO his best stuff

Published: May 02, 2007

For Gaithersburg pitcher Kevin Brady, the numbers are staggering — 43 innings, 12 hits, five walks, 85 strikeouts and three earned runs. The junior has twirled a perfect game and three no-hitters, has an ERA of 0.50, and — perhaps only fantasy baseball devotees can appreciate this — a WHIP of 0.39.So after shutting out Seneca Valley on three hits recently, Brady was asked the inevitable: "What’s wrong?"Nobody posed the question Tuesday after Brady pitched a four-hitter with 16 strikeouts, powering Gaithersburg past perennial Montgomery County power Quince Orchard, 3-2.Brady......

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Home cooking suits Breton Bay just fine

Published: Apr 30, 2007

Last year when Breton Bay won its first Maryland State Golf Association A-Team championship, the small Leonardtown club did it by frustrating opponents on its rudimentary, wide-open, 7,053-yard layout.Sunday in the MSGA semifinals, Breton Bay used its familiar formula to pull off another impressive victory. Sweeping all three of its home matches against 11-time champion Columbia Country Club, Breton Bay earned a berth in the championship round with a 13-5 victory.Next Saturday Breton Bay will face Mountain Branch of Joppa for the A-Team title. Mountain Branch, which advanced to the......

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Springbrook takes its best shot

Published: Apr 27, 2007

It was a cold, wet, foggy night. But Ben Simmons’ memory is crystal clear.His Springbrook lacrosse team trailed Damascus by a goal in the final seconds of the division championship game and Simmons, then a freshman, took the final shot. He doesn’t remember seeing it. He was decked on the play. He only remembers the sound — doink.For three years, Simmons has lived with the sound of his failed shot that bounced off the pipe. On occasion his senior teammates tease him about it. But it’s not a sore subject......

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Sherwood passes its test

Published: Apr 26, 2007

After dispatching nine straight opponents by 10 or more runs, all the Sherwood softball team was looking for this week was a little competition — and seven full innings of work.Tuesday the Warriors got it in the form of undefeated, perennial power Damascus. Sherwood’s 6-2 road victory was proof that the No. 6 Warriors (11-0) could rise to a challenge. "It was a huge confidence boost," said catcher Katie Obal. "That was the biggest competition we’ll have in the county. When you’re winning games easily, you can get a little......

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Catch a rising star

Published: Apr 26, 2007

Washington-area golf fans might have trouble getting enthused about the Nationwide Tour’s Melwood Prince George’s County Open, especially after news of Tiger Woods’ AT&T National coming to Congressional in July.But here are a few reasons to pay attention — Zach Johnson, Boo Weekley and Nick Watney. The last three winners on the PGA Tour are recent graduates of the Nationwide. Players of their pedigree will compete May 24-27 at the Country Club at Woodmore in Mitchellville for a $600,000 purse with $108,000 going to the winner."We will not have Tiger......

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Hathway survives No. 6, wins title

Published: Apr 25, 2007

On the tough sixth hole on the White Course at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal, Va., St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes senior Chris Beveridge expressed the sentiments of the field Tuesday in the Interstate Athletic Conference golf championship."I wish I was good at golf, then I wouldn’t have to worry about how big the green was," said Beveridge, on his way to a double bogey.No. 6 was a humbling experience for several players who dreamed of an IAC title. Bullis sophomore Nick Sorkin came to the par-4 even......

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High Point, Oxon Hill seek postseason with new football coach hires

Published: Apr 25, 2007

Two of Prince George’s County’s top football assistants have taken over sagging programs with the goal of restoring them to past glory. Former Potomac assistant Marvin Jackson is the new head coach at High Point. Former Flowers defensive coordinator Kevin Wolfolk has taken over at Oxon Hill.Jackson replaces former University of Maryland receiver Greg Hill, who went 7-23 in three seasons, including 1-9 last year. High Point made the playoffs seven times in a 12-year span (1983-94), but hasn’t qualified for the postseason since.Jackson served six seasons at High Point......

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Undefeated, unimpressed

Published: Apr 24, 2007

With a dynamic one-two punch at the top of the rotation, a lineup sprinkled with experienced players at key positions and a perfect 10-0 start, Sherwood is the team to beat in Montgomery County. The Warriors, however, aren’t buying in."We’re really not hitting the ball like we can," shortstop Carter Willson said. "There’s a lot of room for improvement."Ask coach Billy Goodman to compare his team with last year’s 12-5 squad, and he stops short of saying they’re improved."We’re playing well right now," Goodman said. "But we haven’t really hit......

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Kenwood slays one tournament giant, not two

Published: Apr 23, 2007

Competing in the Washington Lower division of the Maryland State Golf Association A-Team Championship has always been a David vs. Goliath proposition for Kenwood Country Club.Bringing down the likes of 11-time state champion Columbia or 10-time champ Congressional is a difficult task, even with what David undoubtedly would recommend for the job – a set of Nike Slingshot irons.But Saturday in the A-Team Round of 32, Kenwood pulled off the upset of the tournament, surprising Congressional, 10.5-7.5.Linked by their respective River Road addresses in Bethesda, Congressional and Kenwood have little......

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Comfortable in transition game

Published: Apr 20, 2007

When she arrived at girls basketball powerhouse Good Counsel as an aspiring point guard, it didn’t take Ashley Stodter long to realize she was in over her head, literally. While 5-foot-6 is not considered short for a freshman girl, it’s positively puny in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, where 6-foot guards are commonplace.So Stodter turned her attention to lacrosse, playing wall ball to hone her skills. Four years later, Stodter’s set to become the school’s all-time scoring leader. With 162 career goals, Stodter is one shy of the standard set......

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In his day, West was the best

Published: Apr 19, 2007

If ever there was a time for Marty West III to make one last run at the Maryland Amateur championship, it was this year at his home course, Columbia Country Club.With nine Maryland Amateur titles on his resume, one shy of all-time leader Ralph Bogart (Chevy Chase), West has reason to covet another.But the sign-up period for the Amateur came and went. West will be in Boston that weekend, celebrating the graduation of his son, set to receive his doctoral degree from Harvard. West also expects to get his first......

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Weather still playing havoc with championships

Published: Apr 16, 2007

For the second straight weekend, weather forced the Maryland and Virginia State Golf Associations to juggle schedules for their respective team championships.In Virginia, the 36th annual Sectional Team Championship, scheduled for 36 holes, was cut to 18 due to heavy rain in Williamsburg. In Northern Virginia, the quarterfinal round of the A-Team Championship was played Saturday, but Sunday’s semifinals were postponed. The final two elimination rounds will be played back-to-back Saturday and Sunday. In Maryland, the State A-Team Championship round of 64 was played Saturday, but Sunday’s rounds were postponed.......

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‘Hoosiers,’ golf style

Published: Apr 06, 2007

The difference between Congressional Country Club in Bethesda and Breton Bay in Southern Maryland starts with the price tag. To join stately Congressional, it costs $90,000. At bare bones Breton Bay, that sum would initiate 60 players.The difference wasn’t lost on Leonardtown’s Pete DeTemple last spring when Breton Bay hosted Congressional."Their clothes cost more than our bags and clubs," said DeTemple. Think Happy Gilmore vs. Shooter McGavin.Welcome to the Maryland StateGolf Association Team Championship, where small clubs compete with, and sometimes surprise, the blue bloods. This year’s 77th annual competition......

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Lots of stratosphere, not much atmosphere

Published: Apr 06, 2007

All of the requisite elements of an all-star basketball showcase were in place Thursday night in the 34th annual Capital Classic. There were high-flying slam-dunks, gratuitous alley-oops and, in the end, a ridiculous total of points. The only thing missing was the crowd — only 3,127 showed up at Comcast Center.They had plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the Capital All-Stars’ 149-145 victory over the U.S. All-Stars.It started auspiciously for 6-foot-9 Gus Gilchrist (Progressive Christian) as he elevated for a breakaway slam dunk, but pinned the ball on......

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Branch’s 24 leads District stars in win

Published: Apr 06, 2007

Of the 48 players in the program for Thursday’s 34th annual Capital Classic at Comcast Center, Carroll’s Danny Branch had the shortest bio.But after he led the District All-Stars past the Suburban All-Stars, 149-131, in the preliminary game, Branch had the best stat line. The 6-4 guard hit 11 of 15 shots from the floor, scored a game-high 24 points, and grabbed eight rebounds. "I just made every shot," said Branch who averaged 13.5 points per game this season. "I had a bad ankle most of the year. Now it’s......

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Nicklaus design creates a buzz

Published: Mar 29, 2007

Route 635 buttonhooks up hills and down, running east to the Potomac River, connecting aging ramblers in Prince William County. A gravel driveway is marked Dale Jarrett Blvd., an ode to the famed NASCAR driver. At the end of the road, the Potomac stretches wide, gray, and undisturbed.Cherry Hills Peninsula is the unlikely site of golf legend Jack Nicklaus’ first Washington-area course. Harbor Station Golf Club will be the centerpiece of an ambitious resort and upscale housing development that aims to transform an unremarkable piece of property into gold.At the......

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Local soccer coach Alexander dies

Published: Mar 29, 2007

Scott Alexander, coach of the Magruder High soccer team, died suddenly of a brain tumor Monday, according to the school’s Web site. Alexander, 36, coached the Colonels for seven seasons, guiding them to the state championship in 2001, his rookie season.There will be a viewing for Alexander Thursday at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home in Silver Spring from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. On Friday, a memorial service will be held at the Magruder Auditorium from 3:15-3:45 p.m. followed by a reception in the school cafeteria. Donations to Alexander’s family can be......

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Streaking Prep depends on Tabb

Published: Mar 24, 2007

On a bus ride back from Baltimore Wednesday, after Georgetown Prep defeated Gilman, 8-7, senior Brian Tabb calculated his faceoff percentage. He had won 15 of 19 draws against the Greyhounds, but it wasn’t enough. Tabb was short of his 80 percent goal.So the Little Hoyas teased him. Tabb was a slacker. He wasn’t pulling his weight. He was the reason Prep didn’t win big.The Little Hoyas know better. For three years, the Georgetown-bound Tabb has been the possession engine fueling the team’s 34-game winning streak that will be tested......

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On any stage, Twyman rises

Published: Mar 13, 2007

Summer league basketball is contested in empty gyms with little at stake. On a steamy July night at Magruder in 2005, however, Sherwood’s Deontay Twyman used the lowly stage for validation.Officially, it was a Sherwood-Montrose Christian playoff game in the Montgomery County Recreation League. In reality, it was a one-on-one contest between the 5-foot-11 Twyman and Montrose’s 6-5 Greivis Vasquez, now Maryland’s starting point guard.Twyman dominated, scoring close to 30 points, leading the Warriors to a near upset of the Mustangs, and frustrating Vasquez so thoroughly he was kicked out......

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Barons move on, set to face River Hill in final

Published: Mar 09, 2007

In its Class 3A state semifinal game against undefeated Largo, Bethesda-Chevy Chase had to pull out all the stops.So with his team down by five points in the first period, 6-foot-8 Maurice Pearson whirled on 6-11 Maurice Sutton, gathered himself in the lane, and rose for a one-handed slam as he drew a foul.It was only one play and it was early, but it energized a big B-CC crowd and infused the Barons with the confidence they used to score 30 points in the fourth quarter on their way to......

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Woods to livedream in Washington

Published: Mar 08, 2007

Calling it a "dream come true for myself" and the realization of the dream of his father, golf superstar Tiger Woods announced Wednesday the creation of the AT&T National, an annual tournament Woods will host in Washington that will benefit his Tiger Woods Foundation.Joined Wednesday at the National Press Club by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre, Woods said he planned to play in the inaugural event, July 5-8, "hopefully at Congressional [Country Club]," Woods said with a smile.Members of the Bethesda club have yet to......

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Another Tate rises for DeMatha

Published: Mar 01, 2007

Playing on the wing opposite of McDonald’s All-American Austin Freeman has cast DeMatha’s Isaiah Tate in a subordinate role. Making matters worse, the Stags’ senior isn’t even the most famous Tate on his team. That distinction belongs to explosive shot blocker and football standout Kenny Tate.Wednesday night in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title game, however, Isaiah Tate played a starring role as he scored a career-high 24 points to spark DeMatha to a 76-62 victory and its 36th conference title in 47 years.With his future college coach, George Mason’s......

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St. John’s solves Harrison, Good Counsel

Published: Feb 27, 2007

Two losses to Good Counsel in the final three days of the regular season didn’t bode well for St. John’s when the teams met again Monday in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference semifinals.But that was before the Cadets discovered how to defend the Falcons. Using a diamond-and-one to negate Good Counsel junior Shanel Harrison, St. John’s rolled to a 72-53 victory at Gonzaga to advance to the WCAC title game for the 10th time in the last 11 years.St. John’s (20-9) will play Holy Cross (23-5), Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.......

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Sherwood’s Beattie has periodic success

Published: Feb 27, 2007

Former Olympic gold medal winner Dan Gable is credited with perhaps wrestling’s most repeated adage: "The first period is won by the best technician. The second period is won by the kid in the best shape. The third period is won by the kid with the biggest heart."For validation of Gable’s words, Sherwood wrestling fans can point to senior Rhett Beattie.Saturday night in the 3A/4A West Region championships, Beattie trailed Damascus senior Keith Obendorfer by two points with 19 seconds left. But fueled by an enthusiastic home crowd, Beattie summoned......

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Let the games begin

Published: Feb 23, 2007

After a handful of opening-round games tonight, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association playoffs begin in earnest next week. A full slate of boys games Monday are followed by the girls on Tuesday and so on throughout the week.Here’s a look at the prospects of the local Class 4A teams:Boys4A West » Favorite: Magruder (16-5) enters the postseason in top form following a 54-52 defeat of B-CC (18-3) Tuesday despite Colonels top scorer Donald Robinson being out sick.» Who’s Hot: Defending 4A state champ Whitman (12-9) has won five......

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Prep’s Weldon to exit on high note

Published: Feb 21, 2007

It took 17 years, but in his final season as coach at Georgetown Prep, Kirby Weldon is on the verge of perfection. With a win this weekend in the Washington Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Championships, the Little Hoyas can send Weldon off in style — five championships and 11 dual meet wins without a loss, the first perfect season in school history."I do not like to rank my teams," said Weldon, who refuses to comment on his departure. "It is the deepest team I’ve had. But more than that, it’s......

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Quince Orchard: Senior class

Published: Feb 20, 2007

Decisive losses to Northwest and Damascus in a ballyhooed tri-meet in December, eased perennial power Quince Orchard off the wrestling radar much of this season.But two months later, the Cougars have re-emerged. In winning the Montgomery County championship Friday and Saturday at Blair, QO demonstrated it perhaps never should have been overlooked.Senior Mike Mascio (160) and sophomore Dake Williams (215) won individual titles while eight other Cougars placed, earning berthsin the 3A/4A West Region tournament this weekend."It was great because nobody expected us," said senior Robert Dudley (130) who placed......

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Wootton gets with the program

Published: Feb 16, 2007

As a gung-ho rookie coach at Wootton three years ago, Maggie Dyer spelled out her plan for ending the girls program’s decade-long string of losing seasons. Dyer installed preseason and conditioning programs, expecting a year-round commitment.Dyer thought the September introduction to her new players went well. Then at the Patriots’ first workout, no one showed up. Undaunted, Dyer trained several members of the Wootton wrestling team."Me and the wrestlers, we really bonded that fall," said Dyer with a laugh.These days, Dyer can find amusement in her early struggles. Three years......

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Faint memories, enduring talent

Published: Feb 14, 2007

Sherwood swimmer Heather Denman can only vaguely recall her dad. It’s a shame. According to those who knew John Denman, few people were as magnetic.He was athletic enough to star in two sportsat Wheaton High, trusted enough to room with the Baltimore Orioles’ prized farmhand, Cal Ripken, when they played together in the minor leagues, and handsome enough to work as a stand-in for actor Corbin Bernsen in the movie "Major League II." But unfortunately, Denman also was unlucky enough to die of colon cancer at age 38, when his......

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Flowers’ Spriggs excels, inspires

Published: Feb 13, 2007

In his first season of wrestling, C.H. Flowers junior Michael Spriggs has an 11-9 record. He has held his spot in the starting lineup by consistently beating an experienced teammate. Those are solid accomplishments for a rookie. But they are much more significant considering Spriggs is blind.After losing his sight at age 13, Spriggs’ athletic endeavors had been limited to goal ball, a sport specifically designed for the visually impaired. But this year, after transferring from Baltimore’s Maryland School for the Blind, Spriggs told his geometry teacher he wanted to......

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Largo pumpedfor postseason

Published: Feb 09, 2007

There is tangible evidence of Kwame Morgan’s offseason weight-lifting regimen — 25 additional pounds and 29 points per game.But there also is an intangible benefit of the long hours Morgan and his Largo teammates spent pumping iron. With the weight room serving as their chemistry lab, the Lions laid the groundwork for their 18-0 start."That’s where we became one," said senior point guard Mo Colter. "Working out hard and playing together, all of us, all summer, all spring, all fall." With 6-foot-10 junior Maurice Sutton manning the lane, the relentless......

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Wheaton’s Lazear has made his choice

Published: Feb 08, 2007

Wheaton High senior Pat Lazear, ranked one of the top five high school football prospects in Maryland, has selected a college, according to his father. But the choice will not be revealed to the media.According to Harry Lazear, his son has chosen a school whose interest didn’t waver after his arrest for armed robbery. Lazear pled guilty to the robbery of a Bethesda Smoothie King and served 10 days in prison in December."His letter of intent is sitting here on the table and it’s waiting to be signed," said Harry......

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Panthers pool resources

Published: Feb 08, 2007

For Holton-Arms swim coach Chris Lynch, explaining the success of his team is simple: It’s about the facilities.With a six-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, the Panthers have a significant edge on most Washington area programs. It’s had much to do with the Panthers’ record four straight titles in the Independent School League, but isn’t the only reason. After all, ISL rivals Madeira and National Cathedral also have pools.But Friday at Madeira, the ISL Championships had a familiar refrain as Holton-Arms (310) easily out-pointed runner-up Madeira (180) and third-place NCS (173). The......

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Edwards’ redemption song

Published: Feb 06, 2007

If you want to know what drives Northwest senior Jason Edwards, look at his wrestling shoes. On one Nike swoosh, written in Sharpie ink, is "Underdog," on the other, "Underestimated."Edwards’ assessment of his own image comes after a junior season cut short when he was declared academically ineligible."I think a lot of people think — bad kid, ineligible," said Edwards. "This year, I have a lot on my shoulders. I have a lot to prove."That’s exactly what Edwards (24-1) has done so far, winning the 119-pound title at the Mad......

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Covenant Marshalls its resources

Published: Feb 01, 2007

Early this season, there was a familiar name in the box scores of small private school powerhouse Covenant Life. But it didn’t belong to standout Ellen Marshall. The Marshall in question was Ellen’s younger sister, Kara. While the eighth-grade rookie was helping Covenant Life continue its dominance of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference, her senior sister was resting her injured left knee after tearing her ACL in the summer.Wednesday night in Gaithersburg, however, both of the Marshalls were on the floor, demonstrating why it will require a Herculean effort to......

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Minturn, Edwards tackle new challenge

Published: Jan 30, 2007

Peer pressure. Sometimes it’s a good thing.Consider Damascus senior Ben Minturn and junior Tony Edwards, football standouts who, at the urging of friends on the Damascus wrestling team, joined them this season for the first time.Saturday at Wootton, it was clear both made a good decision as they played key roles in the Hornets’ surprisingly decisive, 52-16 victory over the upstart Patriots. Shortly after Minturn (173 pounds) edged one of Wootton’s best wrestlers, Nate Richards, 5-4, Edwards (287) overpowered David Taylor with a devastating first-period headlock.Minturn (18-7) and Edwards (18-8)......

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Here comes the Judge

Published: Jan 26, 2007

With all the standout big men this season in Prince George’s County, in order to compete for a title, it’s a virtual prerequisite to have one.Filling the requirement for Bladensburg is 6-foot-7 sophomore Wally Judge. With fluid moves around the basket and a knack for blocking shots and grabbing rebounds, Judge is a rarity for a big man — as valuable to his team as he is talented.While others his size venture from the low post, anxious to flash their all-court skills, Judge stays true to his position."He takes care......

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Harvey always in right place

Published: Jan 24, 2007

Spending her formative years in Australia led Katura Harvey to swimming. According to the Richard Montgomery senior, the sport "is a much bigger deal there."So at age 8, when Harvey moved from tropical Brisbane on the east coast of Australia to the east coast of the United States, it was sure to put a crimp in Harvey’s freestyle.But eventually Harvey settled in the right town to pursue her swimming ambitions. Competing for the Rockville Rays in the summer, Richard Montgomery High in the winter, and the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club year......

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Feldman shows the way, historically

Published: Jan 24, 2007

Early in the third quarter Tuesday night, after Wootton hit its sixth 3-pointer, Damascus coach Steve Pisarski called timeout and scolded his girls."Their whole game is shooting three-pointers," barked Pisarski. But the Hornets’ coach should have issued another warning, "Don’t foul."In the fourth quarter, Wootton proved adept from the free throw line as well, hitting all 17 attempts in the final 4 minutes, 21 seconds, pulling away for a 63-45 victory at home. It was Pisarski’s first loss to Wootton in his 10 years as the Hornets’ coach."There is no......

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Lowy’s defining moment

Published: Jan 23, 2007

His shoulders were slumped, his chin was in his chest and his eyes were squeezed shut. Seated on a cold floor in a dark hallway outside the gym at Springbrook High, Sherwood wrestler Andy Lowy was a shadowy picture of dejection.The sophomore had just lost for the seventh time in his career. After building an impressive resume as a Beltway League standout, Lowy was wondering if he had what it took to be successful in high school.But that was then. This is now. Saturday night when Lowy returned to Springbrook......

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Wise arrives, ahead of schedule

Published: Jan 19, 2007

Remember this date: Jan. 11. That’s when the Wise Pumas came of age.Trailing perennial power Eleanor Roosevelt by six points midway through the fourth quarter, Wise had just blown a 12-point lead. The Pumas had seen this movie before, surrendering late leads in wrenching losses to Oxon Hill, Fairmont Heights and Bladensburg.And why not? Wise is a first-year school with no senior class. No one expects much this season.But getting close wasn’t good enough on Jan. 11. With 5-foot-8 freshman point guard Daryl Traynham driving relentlessly and 6-10 junior Roscoe......

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Churchill boys: Go figure

Published: Jan 17, 2007

Ask Michael Stanton to explain the improvement of the Churchill boys, and he hesitates, then proceeds with a breakdown of the Bulldog girls.Pose the same question to coach Rodney Van Tassell, and he too is stumped."I’m not really sure," said Van Tassell. "I still think our girls are better than our boys."But the proof is in the results. With dual meet wins over Montgomery County’s reigning champions at the division (Walter Johnson) and county (Whitman) level, it’s the Churchill boys (3-0) who have emerged. Not bad for a team relegated......

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Cooper rallies Holy Child with triple-double

Published: Jan 17, 2007

On a night when she was honored for scoring the 1,000th point of her career, Rocelia Cooper didn’t want it ruined by a loss. So the Holy Child guard led a furious fourth-quarter rally and made the night complete, leading the Tigers to a 55-53 overtime win. Cooper scored 21 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, made 10 steals and blocked three shots as Holy Child rallied from 14 points down. The Tigers did it with defense as Cooper had half of her steals in the final five minutes of regulation to......

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For Civan, a cruel twist of fate

Published: Jan 16, 2007

In the end, it wasn’t a mere mortal who dealt Whitman senior Eren Civan his first high school wrestling loss. It was Civan’s own knee.Hurt in the first period of the 160-pound title match in the Mount Mat Madness Saturday night, Civan wrestled on. He earned a point for an escape, taking a 1-0 lead on Luke Rebertus of Caravel Academy (Del.).But later in the second period, when Civan tried to put weight on his right leg, he collapsed. Face down on the mat, Civan had suffered his first defeat......

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Decisions, decisions

Published: Jan 12, 2007

Public school coaches are not allowed to recruit players from other schools. In the last year, however, Damascus girls coach Steve Pisarski had to recruit players from his own school.One battle Pisarski lost was for Morgan Wrightson, Montgomery County’s top player, who departed for Middleburg (Va.) powerhouse Notre Dame Academy. But one battle Pisarski won was for Jaquelyn Adcock. A key varsity player for three seasons, Adcock won the state discus title in the spring, accepted a track scholarship to Coastal Carolina and was considering participating on the indoor track......

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Clarksburg is ready, willing

Published: Jan 09, 2007

Saturday afternoon at Clarksburg, when a recording of the national anthem went awry, Coyotes’ wrestling manager Megan Ramos grabbed a microphone and filled the void.Slightly off key, but full of style and attitude, Ramos’ impromptu performance was emblematic of the wrestling program at the first-year school. The Coyotes — with a lineup fullof freshmen — are diving into varsity competition with no hesitation.Saturday’s 48-28 loss to Einstein did little to contain Clarksburg’s enthusiasm. The Coyotes believe it’s only a matter of time before they come of age."This is a very......

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He, too, can Garner attention

Published: Jan 05, 2007

After strategizing against Springbrook’s Folarin Campbell and David Brewster for six seasons, Montgomery County coachesmight have assumed they were due a respite from the Blue Devils’ reign of Division I-caliber perimeter players.No such luck.With junior C.J. Garner on the perimeter this year, Springbrook has yet another dangerous scorer. Averaging 16.6 points per game, Garner has been the catalyst for the inexperienced Blue Devils (8-1).In the season opener, he wrecked Damascus with 27 points. Later, in a win over Whitman, Garner made a steal with 10 seconds left and raced down......

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Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson

Published: Dec 20, 2006

Last season the two best teams in Montgomery County were Whitman and Magruder. When the teams met in the 4A West Region final, the outcome was settled by the best player, Whitman’s Michael Gruner, who went on to lead the Vikings to their first state championship.Tuesday night when the teams resumed their emerging rivalry, another player was the difference maker. Guard Donald Robinson scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made four steals to propel visiting Magruder to a 59-47 victory. In his previous two seasons, the 6-foot-3 senior has......

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Same county, a world of difference

Published: Dec 13, 2006

Both teams are from Prince George’s County. Both head coaches have won two state titles. But that’s all that 2006 Maryland football champions Friendly and Suitland had in common this season.While Friendly won an anticipated 3A championship in utterly dominant fashion, outscoring playoff foes by a combined 112 points, Suitland claimed a surprising 4A title by winning its four postseason games by a combined seven points. The teams’ respective celebrations last weekend at M&T Bank Stadium reflected their varying expectations.Friendly toasted its 37-18 win over River Hill on Saturday night......

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Twyman on the run, finally

Published: Dec 08, 2006

There was no bolt from the blue, no head slap, no light bulb moment for Sherwood coach Al Thomas. He always knew his quarterback, Deontay Twyman, could run.So with his team facing undefeated Northwest in the state semifinals — and by his accounting, as a "100-point underdog" — Thomas gave offensive coordinator Terry Changuris the thumbs up."We had to let it all hang out," said Thomas.With Twyman running a shotgun offense, carrying a career-high 18 times and rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns, Sherwood upended Northwest, 27-24. Tonight against......

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A Friendly football fixation

Published: Dec 01, 2006

What’s the saying? A family that plays together, stays together?If that’s true, expect a long, happy association for the Hadens, Prince George’s County’s first family of football.You might already know about record-setting senior quarterback Joe Haden III and junior running back/linebacker Josh Haden, the twin engines of the No. 3 Friendly football team.But tonight when the Patriots host Urbana in a 3A state semifinal, many more Hadens will play roles. On the sidelines will be strength and conditioning coach Joe Haden, Jr. and his sons, freshman wide receiver Jordan Haden......

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Lazear pleads guilty

Published: Nov 30, 2006

Wheaton High football star Pat Lazear entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, admitting his role in the robbery of a Bethesda Smoothie King on March 30.Lazear, one of five former Whitman High student-athletes accused in the case, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. It is the same charge a jury found another defendant in the case, Justin Schweiger, guilty of last week.According to terms of the agreement with Lazear, the state will seek......

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Lazear steps up at Shepherd

Published: Nov 29, 2006

As football teammates for the Whitman varsity in 2003, Tyler and Pat Lazear seemed juxtaposed physically. While big brother Tyler, a senior, was a lithe, 6-foot, 160-pound quarterback, little brother Pat, a freshman, was a bruising, 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker.Three years later, the Lazear brothers are juxtaposed still. This week, while Tyler prepares for the biggest start of his college career as a sophomore quarterback at Shepherd (W.Va.) University, Pat is set to stand trial for armed robbery, one of five former Whitman student-athletes accused of stealing $463 from a Bethesda......

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Former Whitman High athlete found guilty of conspiracy

Published: Nov 23, 2006

Justin Schweiger, one of five former Walt Whitman High student-athletes charged with robbing a Bethesda Smoothie King, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery Wednesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court.Schweiger, 17, is alleged to have waited in a car while Robert Warren entered the store, presented an inoperable gun, and took $463. The jury found Schweiger not guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a dangerous weapon. On Tuesday, Judge William Rowan dismissed a charge of armed robbery against Schweiger.Schweiger will be sentenced Jan. 23. Until then, he......

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Schweiger cleared of armed robbery

Published: Nov 22, 2006

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge William J. Rowan dismissed an armed robbery charge against Justin Schweiger Tuesday. Schweiger is one of five former Walt Whitman student-athletes charged with robbing a Bethesda Smoothie King.Schweiger, however, still faces a conspiracy charge in the March 30 crime. His trial resumes this morning. Schweiger is alleged to have waited in a car while Robert Warren entered the store wearing a ski mask, presented an inoperable gun, and took $463.Also charged are Pat Lazear and Thomas Ashley, who also are alleged to have been waiting......

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Johnson and Johnson fit to be tied

Published: Nov 21, 2006

If ever a case could be made for Maryland’s strange-but-true rule that permits ties in state championship games, it was put forth Monday night at UMBC in the Class 4A boys soccer final.When Walter Johnson and Thomas Johnson finished tied, 0-0, after 100 minutes, it seemed a just outcome of an evenly-matched game. They are co-champions, the 17th pair the last 24 years of boys soccer competition."We wish we could keep playing," said WJ senior George Marchant. "But that’s not the rule. We’re champions. We had a great year. We......

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In WCAC final, things happen in threes

Published: Nov 20, 2006

It happened again. Same teams. Same game. Same site. Even the same side of the field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Was it Groundhog Day?Sunday in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, DeMatha handed Good Counsel a third straight excruciating defeat, 20-14, as Stags quarterback Chester Stewart fired a 25-yard touchdown strike on the first play of overtime to Rodney McLeod and Good Counsel saw its hopes vanish on the ensuing series with a fumbled snap. The previous two seasons, Good Counsel lost this game due to fumbled snaps as......

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Tate gives DeMatha a leg up

Published: Nov 17, 2006

In an age when me-first wide receivers command attention often disproportionate to their deeds, DeMatha’s Kenny Tate is refreshingly low-key. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior has the talent, minus the ’tude.His only concession to style, it seems, is one long white sock on his right leg, one short one on his left. As it turns out, however, Tate’s leg wear is not for show. It’s a reminder to stay humble.Three years ago, in a middle school basketball game, Tate leaped, was undercut by an opponent, came down awkwardly and suffered a......

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In state semis, it’s Sherwood, for sure

Published: Nov 16, 2006

Late in the first game Wednesday in the Maryland state semifinals, Sherwood setter Kerry Collins glanced at the Warriors’ bench, nodded and cracked a knowing smile.She just knew.It was still early against perennial Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck, but Collins’ demeanor told her teammates that they were on their way to the state championship match.And Collins followed up her reassuring glance by quarterbacking the Warriors to a stunningly-decisive, 25-10, 25-13, 25-17, victory over a team making its seventh straight appearance in the state semifinals and gunning for its fourth championship......

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B-CC’s Bowie has goal-den year

Published: Nov 15, 2006

After Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s Chris Bowie won the Maryland 3A cross country title Saturday, the first man to congratulate the senior was a race official. Nothing unusual there. But it was the way the man in the yellow vest showed his approval — a hug, a kiss on the forehead, and an extended, emotional embrace.Actually, the official was Don Bowie, father of the winning runner, overjoyed at his son’s first state title.The bonds between fathers and sons are often accentuated in cross country. It’s a sport that multiple generations can enjoy......

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Severna Park wins heavyweight title

Published: Nov 14, 2006

They are Maryland’s two most storied field hockey programs, with decidedly different styles. At halftime Monday night at the University of Maryland, while players from Bethesda-Chevy Chase sat quietly around their cage, absorbing instructions from their coach, their counterparts from Severna Park were at midfield, arching their backs and yelling to the sky.And the teams’ halftime demeanor reflected their style of play in the Class 3A state championship game. While Severna Park attacked, B-CC countered. But this night belonged to the aggressors as Severna Park won 3-1.B-CC (15-4) hung in,......

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Campbell: M’m, m’m, good

Published: Nov 10, 2006

College football prospects abound in talent-rich Prince George’s County. For many, however, they don’t emerge until they let go of their hoop dreams.That was the case for Forestville’s Devonte Campbell.When the 6-foot, 205-pounder showed up for basketball practice three years ago, coach O.J. Johnson — a former linebacker at the University of Virginia — knew that Campbell was destined for a Division I football scholarship, even though Campbell had never played the sport.Three years later, Campbell is the state’s No. 3-rated prospect (rivals.com). He is 6-foot-2, 235 pounds and plays......

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Szabo has the magic for WJ again

Published: Nov 10, 2006

A 6-1 defeat of Bowie, two months ago, might have given Walter Johnson the impression its Class 4A state semifinal rematch Thursday night would be a walkover. But those notions were dispelled late in the first half when the favored Wildcats trailed.That, however, only set a more dramatic stage for WJ junior Lucas Szabo as he scored three goals to lift the Wildcats to a 3-1 victory and the state championship game for the first time since 2000.First Szabo scored a spectacular goal in the 40th minute to close the......

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Ries has faith, Cougars have title date

Published: Nov 09, 2006

Picking an overtime lineup is a key element of field hockey strategy. Facing the situation Wednesday in the Maryland state semifinals, how did Quince Orchard coach Jenna Ries decide who to play?She let senior defender Kelsey Richards decide for her. Not only did Richards prove adept at decision-making, she made the key play as QO defeated Whitman, 1-0.Hustling for a ball deep in the defensive half, Richards got possession and ran it upfield, setting up a penalty corner the Cougars converted. When senior Emily Ellenberger deflected a hard shot by......

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WJ gets defensive against backyard rival

Published: Nov 07, 2006

In recent years, teams from Montgomery County’s periphery have encroached on the soccer dominance of traditional Downcounty powers. But Monday night, the Class 4A West Region championship game went back to the future with an old-school Battle of Bethesda.In a game worthy of the high-level rivalry, Walter Johnson got a goal from junior Lucas Szabo, stingy goalkeeping by juniorMichael Swindale, and stellar defense from senior Michael Ramsey, in a 1-0 victory at Whitman."Look at this crowd. It’s great," said Szabo. "To beat them here, in a game that means as......

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In the name of the father, and the son

Published: Nov 03, 2006

They have the same voice, same hair line, same jaw line. It’s the genetic makeup that Tony Edwards, Sr., has passed to his son, Tony Edwards, Jr., a standout junior lineman at Damascus.That’s not all the father passed on to his son. As the offensive line coach at Damascus, Tony Edwards, Sr. dispenses instructions to Tony, Jr. The advice comes from a man who started three seasons at the University of Maryland (1983-85), blocking for celebrated quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, and Stan Gelbaugh.Tony, Sr. says he never pushed football......

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Déjà vu, not quite all over again

Published: Nov 03, 2006

Standing in the shadows, with a ball at her feet, a hockey stick in her hand, and a Churchill goalie five meters away, Emily Ellenberger had been there before.The Quince Orchard senior was focused on the westernmost cage on her home field. The same cage she missed badly last year when her team lost in penalty strokes and saw their state championship dream die.Thursday afternoon, Ellenberger was there again — same team, same goal, same 4A West Region championship game — but with a twist. This time QO led by......

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Quince Orchard’s depth is overkill

Published: Nov 01, 2006

Seann Pelkey always knew he wanted to be a teacher and cross country coach. The bonus, Pelkey says, is doing it at his alma mater, Quince Orchard.As a runner at QO from 1992-94, Pelkey helped the Cougars to three state state titles. Twelve years later, Pelkey is using the same pack-running style stressed by his former coach, Jerry Link, and the team has similar ambitions.The Cougars will attempt to win their second straight 4A West Region title Thursday at Watkins Mill, a stepping-stone to success at the state championship the......

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Schweiger trial moved

Published: Oct 31, 2006

The trial of Justin Schweiger, one of five former Whitman students accused of robbing a Bethesda Smoothie King, has been moved to Nov. 20.On Monday morning, Circuit Court Judge Joseph Dugan agreed to Schweiger’s request for a continuance. Assistant State’s Attorney Tom DeGonia did not contest the request.Schweiger’s attorney, Gary Diamond, contended that inconsistencies in the testimony of Robert Warren, who was sentenced Oct. 19 in the same case, necessitated the continuance. According to Diamond, Warren’s testimony and his original statements to police did not match. Warren was sentenced to......

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Haden sells it, Friendly wins it

Published: Oct 31, 2006

For three quarters Monday afternoon, Douglass quarterback Victor Bradford frustrated No. 4 Friendly with his quick feet and clever ball fakes. But the best quarterback in Prince George’s County is Joe Haden, so he took notice and answered in kind.Rolling to his right and drawing the Douglass defense on the first play of the fourth quarter, Haden stuck the ball in the stomach of Lamaar Thomas, who raced around left end untouched and sprinted 77 yards for a go-ahead touchdown, propelling visiting Friendly to a 34-15 victory."Nobody knew I had......

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Lefeged is no average Joe

Published: Oct 27, 2006

No team in Montgomery County has a multipurpose weapon as dangerous as Northwest senior Joe Lefeged. Ask Jaguars coach Randy Trivers to compare Lefeged to one of his former players, Salim Koroma, and a knowing smile spreads across the face.Trivers’ countenance reflects sweet memories of 2004, when Koroma — now a return man at Villanova — did a little bit of everything in helping Northwest win the Class 3A state championship. Those at Quince Orchard last Friday night have reason to believe Lefeged and the 2006 Jaguars have a similar......

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Mighty wind doesn’t hinder Churchill

Published: Oct 26, 2006

Wind gusts of up to 40 mph made playing the University of Maryland Golf Course difficult Wednesday. But it also provided an appropriate milieu as Churchill blew away the field in the final round of the Maryland State Public School Championships.Led by senior Billy Peel (146) and junior Connor Wielgus (146), Churchill won a record fifth straight state championship and did it in astonishing fashion. On a day when the wind blew Titleists all over College Park, Churchill (604) shot the lowest score in the 36-year history of the state......

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In the long run, Gay finds her sport

Published: Oct 25, 2006

As a freshman at Whitman, Morgane Gay was a state champion gymnast and good enough, barring injury, to be assured a college scholarship. But after nine years of rigorous training, Gay was burned out. So she turned to a less demanding sport — cross country. Less demanding?Few would describe running 50 miles a week as easy. But compared to the hours, bruises and trauma Gay experienced in gymnastics, cross country is a relative jog in the park. Saturday at the Montgomery County Cross Country Championships, Gay made her new sport......

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Edwards goes down, not out

Published: Oct 24, 2006

It’s the go-to play in soccer. Go down in a heap. Grab your shin. Wail in agony. Lay on the turf. Limp off the field. Sprint back into the game.Monday afternoon at Trinity University, however, when DeMatha junior Darnell Edwards was kicked in the shin by a player from Archbishop Carroll, there was little doubt he was hurt.The hit failed to produce a penalty, but was so frightening it prompted an obscenity-laced tirade from DeMatha assistant Judah Cooks, which earned him an immediate ejection.But moments later, Edwards returned and delivered......

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Watkins Mill forfeits football wins

Published: Oct 20, 2006

The resurgent Watkins Mill football team must forfeit three of its four football victories for using two ineligible players, principal Pete Cahall said yesterday. The players failed to meet academic requirements for eligibility.Watkins Mill’s forfeiture is one of several in Montgomery County this fall. On Thursday Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast sent a letter to athletic directors urging increased vigilance as ineligibilities have forced several teams to forfeit games this fall.Weast named eight schools that have used ineligible players — Bethesda-Chevy Chase (four students), Churchill (two), Einstein (24), Quince Orchard (two),......

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Sweet Caroline swings her way to county golf title

Published: Oct 20, 2006

A week after one Prince George’s County girl made history by winning a region championship, another P.G. girl has followed suit, winning a county title.Thursday at Enterprise Golf Course, Eleanor Roosevelt junior Caroline Sweet became the first girl in the 30-year history of the tournament to win the Prince George’s County Championship.Sweet shot a 2-over-par 74 to win by five strokes over teammate Alex Mihalovic. Last Tuesday at the District III tournament, also consisting of 17 teams from Prince George’s County, Flowers senior Airielle Dawson shot an even-par 71 to......

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ER’s reluctant champions

Published: Oct 19, 2006

Three years ago, Kelli Thibou missed the first day of football practice. That same season, Markia Walker broke a bone in her foot playing soccer. Those are the reasons the Eleanor Roosevelt students, then freshmen, turned to cross country. Wednesday afternoon at Fort Washington Park they won the boys and girls titles respectively at the Prince George’s County Championships.Both dominated, winning by better than one minute. Both led the Raiders to runaway team titles. And both were unimpressed by their performances on a warm afternoon."It’s hard to run by yourself,......

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Georgetown mines another local gem

Published: Oct 18, 2006

Sitting at the press table at the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game last February at Gallaudet, Georgetown University coach John Thompson III accepted congratulations for his latest recruit, DeMatha guard Austin Freeman. Little did anyone know then that Thompson was watching two other players who would later commit to his school. Last week, St. John’s guard Chris Wright announced his decision to play for Georgetown. This week, DeMatha forward Chris Braswell followed suit.Braswell, a 6-9, 230-pound junior, averaged 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds last season for a......

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Harris is never harassed

Published: Oct 13, 2006

If a single moment encapsulates Kennedy’s football resurgence this season, it came late in the fourth quarter Saturday.First a buzz overtook the home crowd. Then a cheer that rose to a crescendo as fans recognized the Cavaliers’ star, quarterback Melvin Harris, was limping into the game.Kennedy trailed, 24-19, with 2 minutes, 13 seconds left, and faced fourth and 10 from its own 35-yard line. In other words, it was desperation time. But Harris turned darkness into light. First he scrambled for the 10 yards needed to keep the drive alive.......

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Walter Johnson’s part-time star

Published: Oct 12, 2006

Walter Johnson junior Lauren Wolman has stopped playing tennis year round to concentrate on her favorite sport, lacrosse. But she’s starting to reconsider her choice.Playing No. 1 singles this fall, Wolman (10-1) has beaten several year-round players. Making it that much more fun is the success of her team. With a 5-2 victory Wednesday afternoon over visiting Magruder, WJ claimed its first Montgomery County Division I championship in 11 years.Wolman rolled past sophomore Moriah Burke, 6-1, 6-2, leading a Wildcats’ sweep of the singles matches. In each of the other......

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Arena rises on the big stage

Published: Oct 11, 2006

The Whitman boys soccer team accomplished much of which it set out to do Tuesday against neighborhood rival Churchill. The Vikings controlled the midfield, possessed the ball and limited Churchill’schances. But those were just subscripts in their 3-1 loss."In high school soccer, it’s all about scoring goals and winning games," Whitman coach Dave Greene said. "In three days nobody’s going to remember that we possessed the ball. They’re just going to remember the final score."Those in attendance at Churchill Tuesday night will likely remember the go-ahead goal, senior Justin Arena’s......

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At Sherwood, son also rises

Published: Oct 11, 2006

Two things always have been foremost for Bonnie Gilchrist — family and sports. As a teen, she chose to trek across country from California to play volleyball at the University of Maryland. Her decision was guided in large part by her desire to be near her brother, former Redskins Pro Bowl tight end Jerry Smith.Thirty years later, sports and family have intersected again for Gilchrist, as she is a volunteer coach for the Sherwood volleyball team, assisting her son, first-year head coach Tim Gilchrist.At several schools in the Washington area,......

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Bladensburg walks the Walk

Published: Oct 10, 2006

Renovating Bladensburg High was a project so extensive the school was unable to host a football game for six years. When Ken Roberts took over as coach last season, it seemed his rebuilding job would take at least as long. The Mustangs gave up 423 points and went 0-10.But memories of that abysmal season are in the distant past. Monday afternoon, after Bladensburg registered its third straight shutout, 6-0 over visiting Northwestern, the Mustangs celebrated their newfound success."We’re stepping up," yelled senior defensive tackle Alonzo Olden to a chorus of......

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Bowie’s passing fancy

Published: Oct 06, 2006

The tried and true formula for offense in Prince George’s County is simple — rely on a physical ground game. Finesse? Isn’t that a brand of shampoo?But Bowie is challenging the model, perhaps by accident. After injuries to tailback Evan Harrington and 250-pound fullback James Washington, the Bulldogs had to improvise. The results have been a revelation.In the last two weeks, senior quarterback Andrew Trimmer has completed 28 of 40 passes for 412 yards and seven touchdowns. Wideout Gabriel Cazares has been on the receiving end of 16 of those......

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Einstein under investigation

Published: Oct 06, 2006

Einstein’s football team may have to forfeit one of its two wins for using ineligible players, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Einstein athletic director Brady Blade and football coach Mike Bonavia referred questions to principal James Fernandez. Attempts to reach Fernandez were not successful."There is an investigation of allegations of grade changing," said Brian Edwards, director of public information for Montgomery County Public Schools. According to the source, the alleged infraction occurred last spring before the arrival of Blade and Bonavia and concerns the eligibility of......

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Churchill’s Lindblad mails it in

Published: Oct 04, 2006

On Monday night, Churchill’s Karl Lindblad mass mailed his resume to college golf coaches. He should have waited a day.Tuesday at Poolesville Golf Course, Lindblad claimed the biggest title of his career, winning the District 2 (Montgomery County) Championship. Lindblad shot an even-par 71 to beat Brian Hollins of Wootton by two strokes. Last fall, Lindblad wasn’t even good enough to crack the stacked Churchill lineup. But after a year of hard work — on his game and head — he is oneof Churchill’s top ‘Dogs."I’m a range rat,"......

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Good Counsel lax about field hockey success

Published: Oct 03, 2006

In the Washington area, field hockey and lacrosse success often go hand-in-hand, evidence St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Quince Orchard, and W.T. Woodson.In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, field hockey competition is only three years old. But the league has quickly fallen in line as Good Counsel, the three-time defending lacrosse champion, is also pursuing its third straight WCAC field hockey crown.Judging from Monday’s 5-0 defeat of St. John’s at Layhill Village Park, Good Counsel’s prospects for a field hockey three-peat are strong. Using a lineup sprinkled with lacrosse players,......

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Less is more for Good Counsel duo

Published: Sep 29, 2006

During Tom Landry’s heyday as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, he had a sign in the locker room with the words "Ugly Fat" in large letters. In smaller print were the negative effects of fat on a football player’s body.In those days, prototype linemen had broad shoulders and flat stomachs. Bob Lilly, Merlin Olsen and Randy White were the ideal.Three decades later, players their size are considered small. Some high school teams now have bigger lines than those in the NFL a generation ago.Bucking the trend however is Good Counsel.......

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Whitman’s victory not half bad

Published: Sep 29, 2006

Athletic ability is not the primary asset of the No. 4 Whitman girls soccer team. And, for that, the sport’s purists can rejoice.For theirs is a game of anticipation and execution. Their unspoken communication and seamless connections make the game look easy. The players are skilled, but most of all, they are one.Thursday at Whitman, the Vikings played only 40 minutes of soccer, but it was plenty to demonstrate their cohesion in a 2-0 victory. When a thunderstorm hit at halftime, the game was called and the score deemed official.Senior......

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Fast pace suits Magruder’s Lawson

Published: Sep 28, 2006

Any golfer will tell you. The only thing worse than a bad round of golf is a slow one.Wednesday at Laytonsville Golf Course, Magruder senior Hilary Lawson had a perfect day — beautiful weather, a fast round and the winning score. Lawson shot a 2-over-par 73 to run away with the District 2 (Montgomery County) Girls Championship by eightstrokes.When Lawson and her two partners walked off the 18th green, it was less than four hours after they teed off. The next foursome, which included defending champion Alex Brown of Churchill,......

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Wilson finds reversal of fortune in Potomac

Published: Sep 22, 2006

At halftime Thursday afternoon at Bullis, when former NFL kicker Nick Lowery was introduced, he grabbed the microphone and implored the host team to "stay focused and kick some butts today." Unfortunately for Bullis, it was visiting Wilson which heeded Lowery’s advice. Rallying from 14 points down, Wilson dominated the second half and left Potomac with an uplifting 15-14 victory, its first of the season. The winning points came on a botched play as Tigers junior Daniel Powell, holding for a conversion kick, fielded a rolling snap, then scooted into......

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Shuler’s mantra: Be like Mike

Published: Sep 22, 2006

The quintessential moment of Ryan Shuler’s athletic career at Georgetown Prep came last year at Gonzaga. Playing the lonely single safety spot in the Little Hoyas’ three-deep defense, Shuler was the target of Purple Eagles fans.First came a heavy dose of basic derogatory comments followed by a more creative chant, "NOOR-RAH SHOOL-LER," Gonzaga students bellowed, razzing Shuler with the name of his older sister, Nora.But that only narrowed his focus. In a numbing series of six plays, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound speedster nailed Gonzaga receivers four times, breaking up three passes......

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Northwest offense juggles, thrives

Published: Sep 21, 2006

Incorporating two speedy transfers on a team already loaded with talented veterans at the skill positions has been a delicate balancing act for Northwest coach Randy Trivers. Egos, college scholarships, futures, and most importantly, this team’s fortunes, are at stake. Friday’s 21-19 victory over rival Seneca Valley was evidence that Trivers is striking the balance.It was a rainy night and a muddy field. But the Northwest offense still made big plays thanks mostly to the accurate right arm of senior Josh Volpe (9-for-14 passing, 220 yards, 3 TDs) and his......

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Magruder is tournament tough

Published: Sep 20, 2006

Magruder volleyball coach Scott Zanni was the first to arrive at the Rockville public school Saturday morning, making preparations for the annual Magruder Invitational. Fourteen hours later, he was the last to leave. In between, his school accomplished an extraordinary feat, winning tournament titles in four sports — boys soccer, girls soccer, volleyball, and field hockey.Three of the tournaments were played at the school. In all, 18 teams and approximately 300 athletes converged on Magruder. It’s been that way on "Tournament Saturday" for several years."We want to do that. We......

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It’s a ‘Sammy-Molly thing’

Published: Sep 19, 2006

Few high school athletes know each other as well as Blake seniors Molly Wannen and Sammy Allen. After playing together in three sports for three years, they can anticipate each other’s moves, communicate without a look, finish each other’s sentences.Monday afternoon their rare simpatico produced an overtime goal to propel Blake to a 1-0 victory over rival Springbrook.Employing an old-school give-and-go — one like they might use on the basketball court or lacrosse field — Wannen sent a long pass in transition to Allen and kept running downfield, knowing a......

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Flowers’ power rush attack

Published: Sep 15, 2006

Most high school coaches inflate the weights of their players. And why not? Precious college scholarships are at stake.But one coach bucks the trend. Mike Mayo, coach at C.F. Flowers underestimates the size of his players, listing none of his five massive offensive linemen at more than 260 pounds. Press him on the matter, and he admits a couple of them "might be 270.""He must have said 260 and meant 360," joked Eleanor Roosevelt coach Rick Houchens. "Those guys have got to be bigger than that."Houchens would know. Last Saturday,......

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Barons are queens for a day

Published: Sep 14, 2006

In the absence of strong public school competition, Maryland field hockey powerhouse Bethesda-Chevy Chase plays private school Holton-Arms each season to get a rare test. Wednesday afternoon at B-CC however, the Barons used the occasion for target practice.Going against Holton goalie Sam Nelson, a member of the U-21 national field hockey squad, B-CC aced the test. With two goals off the stick of senior Shay Smith, theBarons rolled, 4-0.The final score was an accurate indicator of the domination of the inexperienced Barons who earned 14 penalty corners to none for......

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The force is with Okoji

Published: Sep 13, 2006

There’s a certain mythology attached to the position of middle linebacker.Filling the role more than adequately for the Kennedy football team is Chimso Okoji. The senior is 6-foot-3, 228 pounds, runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds and in his words, likes to "read quickly and attack downhill." In the Ibo language of his native Nigeria, his given name means, "God is with me."Last month during two-a-days, however, Okoji had to defer to a another authority. During practice, his mother, Naya, strode across the field to deliver an important message. Okoji......

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QO’s Coe conspirators

Published: Sep 08, 2006

First things first: The nickname. Pepper?"My mom and dad made documentary films," explains Quince Orchard quarterback Pepper Coe. "When I was born, they were working on one about The Great Waldo Pepper."But that’s not the whole story. Before Coe was born, his brother would point to his mother’s stomach and ask the question of the day among preschoolers: "Where’s Waldo?""Yeah, it could have been worse," said Coe. "For a while there, I was Waldo."In addition to his catchy nickname, Lowry "Pepper" Coe III, has a catchy quartet of senior receivers......

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Magruder’s twin terrors

Published: Sep 08, 2006

You’ve heard of sibling rivalries.Here’s what happens when the siblings happen to be identical twins, excel in the classroom and play the same sports at the same school.There’s a two-on-two basketball tournament in their driveway — 16 neighborhood kids, eight teams, everyone in for $5, winners take all. The twins lead their respective teams to the championship round. It’s the final point of a tie game. One of the twins drives on the other and dishes to an open teammate who drops a 15-footer to win the cash.Losing twin grabs......

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Change in position, not attitude

Published: Sep 06, 2006

"Forward" was the position Springbrook’s Lauren Kessler played last season. It also described her body language.Always pressing, always attacking, always storming the cage, Kessler was the irrepressible leader who carried the Blue Devils to the 4A state championship game. When Springbrook trailed Whitman, 3-0, in its playoff opener, it was Kessler (two goals, one assist) who ignited an improbable comeback win, 4-3.This year, however, Kessler’s body language will change as she moves to goalie. Can the tall, aggressive speedster who scored 17 goals last season settle into a defensive posture?......

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Two Saints land on national girls lacrosse squad

Published: Aug 23, 2006

Four players from suburban Washington, including two from powerhouse St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, have made the U.S. Lacrosse U-19 girls national team following tryouts this month at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.St. Stephen’s/SA defender Liz Downs and midfielder Mia Hurrin join Good Counsel defender Lauren Fenlon and Bowie resident Megan Fitzgerald, a defender from Archbishop Spalding, on the 24-player squad. The team will be pared to 18 for the 2007 World Games next summer.More than 140 players from 19 states competed for slots. Nine of the selectees were from......

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At Legg Mason, a real blister in the sun

Published: Aug 07, 2006

Temperatures were hot and so was the tennis in the first set of the singles final in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic Sunday afternoon. With Arnaud Clement and Andy Murray trading haymakers, spontaneous combustion seemed possible.Then it happened. A blister on Murray’s finger popped, and with it went his chances. Clement won 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to become France’s first champ here since Yannick Noah in 1985.Clement, 28, claimed his fourth career title and second this season. Sunday’s win capped a brilliant Legg Mason run for the No. 11 seed. He......

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In the heat, Winegardner sizzles

Published: Aug 02, 2006

As a former player on the Hooters and Nike tours, Tom Winegardner is one of the top golfers at Congressional Country Club. Last month, however, he lost a match to his 15-year-old son. It’s something Winegardner might have to get used to.Tuesday at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, the son in question, Charlie Winegardner, fired a 68 to come from four strokes back and win the Bob Riley Junior Open. Winegardner (78-68 — 146) bested Clarksburg’s Stephen Bosdosh (76-73 — 149) and Potomac’s Conor Wielgus (74-75 — 149) to......

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Agassi’s final stay sure to heat up

Published: Aug 01, 2006

Andre Agassi was raised in Las Vegas and still lives there. So he knows heat. Ask tennis’ eighth Grand Slam champion his most vivid memory of the Legg Mason Classic and his answer fittingly features Washington’s summer swelter.It was the finals in 1995. Agassi was up two breaks in the third set, trying to close out Sweden’sStefan Edberg, when he felt faint."I would hit a ball way up in the air, drift back to the baseline, and puke in the bushes," said Agassi. "And then sort of re-enter the point."Agassi......

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For Legg Mason, Agassi’s image is everything

Published: Jul 29, 2006

What a long strange trip it’s been for Andre Agassi. Through hairstyle, wardrobe, image, and life changes, as well as precipitous trips up and down the tennis rankings, one thing has remained constant -- Agassi’s annual appearance in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.While others shun Washington in the dog days of summer, Agassi shows, updating fans on his latest metamorphosis. This year finds Agassi, 36, nearing retirement mode. His 17th appearance next week at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center will be his last. The former renegade is now a......

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Kay: The last man standing

Published: Jul 28, 2006

Montgomery County’s top two public high school golfers — Bethesda’s Devin Kay and Gaithersburg’s Steve Delmar — met in a playoff for the 55th Bubby Worsham Memorial title Thursday. How they got there, you don’t want to know.There was blood all over Glenn Dale Golf Club in Glenn Dale, Md. The ultimate survivor was Kay, a recent Churchill High graduate, who won on the second playoff hole, making a routine two-putt par.The victory came as a surprise to Kay, who will continue his career this fall at Division II power......

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Sherry, Shapiro among early leaders

Published: Jul 27, 2006

It’s no surprise graduates of Georgetown Prep and Landon are contending in the 55th Bubby Worsham Memorial. But it’s probably not who you think.Patrick Sherry (Landon) and Thomas Shapiro (Prep) were solid players on their respective high school teams, but overshadowed by talented teammates. This morning at Glenn Dale Golf Club in Glenn Dale, Md., both will be gunning for their first Washington Metropolitan Golf Association title — and a measure of long-awaited recognition.Sherry (72-68 – 140), a smooth-swinging left-hander who plays at Georgetown University, has a 1-stroke lead......

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All Examiner Track & Field

Published: Jul 21, 2006

Girls Performer of the YearKrystin LawsonRiverdale Baptist, sophomoreEstablished herself as state’s top sprinter as she ran the 100 in 11.77 in the Southern Track Classic. Set meet records at six events this spring. MVP of the Southern and XBC Charger events where she won both the 100 and 200.Boys Performer of the YearAntwan FarmerOxon Hill, seniorFarmer resisted running track until this season, but took to the sport immediately, winning the 300 hurdles (37.9), long jump (22-2) and triple jump (46-2.75), leading Oxon Hill to the 4A state championship.Coach of the......

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Mulieri has the magic putter early

Published: Jul 21, 2006

Jay Mulieri describes his golf game as "aggressive." It’s safe to assume Ray Hyre agrees.Playing Thursday for the Bobby Gorin Memorial title at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Mulieri made birdies on the first three holes and went on to easily defeat Hyre, 8 and 7, to claim his first Washington Metropolitan Golf Association title."I was even par after five holes and I was three down," said Hyre, a recent graduate of Bowie High who will continue his career at Mount St. Mary’s. "I don’t think anybody in the field......

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All Examiner Baseball

Published: Jul 20, 2006

Player of the YearMike Celenza, Quince Orchardsenior, pitcher/first basemanLed Cougars (21-1) to division and region titles, as well as their third appearance in the state semifinals in the last four years. Left-handed slugger batted .533 with seven home runs and 43 RBI. As a right-handed pitcher, Celenza went 6-0 with two saves and a 0.69 ERA. Had a win in the region semifinals and a save in the finals. As a junior, had the game-winning hit in the state championship game victory over Arundel. Will play at Salisbury.Coach of the......

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Courtney meets his destiny at USTA Nationals

Published: Jul 20, 2006

At age 13, Raymond Sarmiento of Fontana, Calif., is "playing up" this week in the USTA National Boys 16s Clay Court Championships. Wednesday at Woodmont Country Club, the 5-foot-3 Sarmiento "played up" in more ways than one, facing 6-foot-4 Drew Courtney, of Clifton.It was a fascinating duel as the 107-pound, unseeded Sarmiento, a rising eighth-grader, countered the big serve and powerful baseline strokes of the ninth-seeded Courtney, a rising junior at Robinson Highand reigning Virginia Group AAA state singles champion.Unlike their disparity in height, the margin of the match was......

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All Examiner Coed volleyball

Published: Jul 19, 2006

Player of the YearDavid FitzgeraldBlake, seniorIn his second year of volleyball, the 6-foot-7 middle hitter developed into a devastating force at the net, carrying Blake to its first appearance in the Montgomery County championship game. The Bengals lost to Sherwood in five games, but Fitzgerald was the game’s dominant player as he registered 35 kills.Coach of the YearPete Siarkis, SherwoodIn his first year as a volleyball coach, Siarkis guided Sherwood (16-0) to a perfect season and its sixth Montgomery County championship in nine years. The 34-year-old, a physical education teacher......

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Mixed results for Pine brothers

Published: Jul 18, 2006

When identical twins Zach and Jon Pine of Vienna played Monday morning in the USTA National Boys 16s Clay Court Championships, there was little to tell them apart.Same white outfit. Same white hat. Same sweatband on the right wrist. Same Prince socks and shoes. Same Babolat racquet. Both even had the same fiery demeanor, admonishing themself on virtually every lost point.The only differences were Jon’s two-fisted forehand and shirt collar, and the final results. While Zach defeated Billy McCall of Woodside, Calif., 6-2, 6-3, at Indian Spring Country Club in......

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All Examiner Boys volleyball

Published: Jul 18, 2006

Player of the YearMatt LeeChurchill, seniorThe 6-foot-1 Lee was the leading vote getter in balloting by Montgomery County coaches for postseason honors. Big hitter, strong jump server, outstanding all-around. Four-year starter led Churchill (12-3) to its third straight division title and fourth appearance in the Montgomery County final four in the last five years. Will play club at the University of Maryland.Coach of the YearSang Ahn, BlairWas in two championship games this year — one as a player and one as a coach. Ahn, a senior at the University of......

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All Examiner Golf

Published: Jul 14, 2006

Player of the YearTrevor MateseGeorgetown Prep, seniorAfter firing a 71 at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, Matese needed pars on two playoff holes to defeat Landon’s Andy Gagarin in the Interstate Athletic Conference tournament, leading the Little Hoyas to the team title. Matese, a member at Congressional Country Club, had a 36.7 stroke average. As a junior he placed second in the Metro and IAC tournaments. The long-hitting 6-foot-4, 225-pounder will play college golf at Georgetown.Coach of the YearTroy BradburyEleanor RooseveltFor years Bowie has dominated Prince George’s County golf, but this......

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At Bobby Bowers, Bonifant wins, inspires

Published: Jul 14, 2006

What’s Jack Bonifant’s handicap? That question had more than the usual golf implications Thursday in the Bobby Bowers Memorial.As the Silver Spring resident limped around Springfield Country Club, it became clear he had more than a simple foot injury. Bonifant, a rising junior at Good Counsel High, is partially paralyzed on his left side.But Bonifant’s condition didn’t hinder him in the championship round of the 16-17 division as he defeated Michael Taylor of Ashland, Va., 1-up.Bonifant did it by sinking 15-foot birdie putts on two of the final three holes.......

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Prep player makes final group before falling to pros

Published: Jul 13, 2006

Baltimore’s Greg Stamas wasn’t even the best player on his high school golf team this spring. But Wednesday in the 85th Maryland Open at the Members Club at Four Streams, Stamas found himself in the final group, battling former PGA Tour player Chip Sullivan.It was heady stuff for the recent Gilman graduate. In his first Maryland Open, facing the top professionals in the Mid-Atlantic, the 19-year-old was in contention. But Stamas’ big dream didn’t last long. He bogeyed the first hole while Sullivan made a birdie. After that Stamas, never......

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All-Examiner Girls Tennis

Published: Jul 13, 2006

Player of the YearMaggie MacKeeverChurchill, seniorFour-time Examiner Player of the Year went 18-0 this season, winning her third Montgomery County title in the fall and third state championship in the spring. In four years, MacKeever lost only one match to a Montgomery County opponent - Quince Orchard’s Alice Chen in the 2004 region final. In her career, MacKeever beat Chen in the county final four times and the state final twice. Will play next year at Maryland. Coach of the YearAli YagciHoly CrossIn his first season, Yagci led the Tartans......

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All-Examiner Boys Tennis

Published: Jul 12, 2006

Player of the YearJared PinskyChurchill, juniorWon his second Montgomery County championship, but — saddled with a sore back — failed to capture his third straight Maryland public school title, falling in three sets in the semifinals to Wilde Lake sophomore David Nguyen. It was the lone loss on the court this season for Pinsky (16-2), who defaulted in the Region II title match. Pinsky is ranked No. 3 in the nation among players 16-and-under.Coach of the YearJoe ParishNorthwestIn his first season with the Jaguars, Parish guided Northwest (9-3, 6-1) to......

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All Examiner Girls lacrosse

Published: Jul 11, 2006

Player of the YearKaitlin DuffStone Ridge, senior, attackWith extraordinary speed and skills, Duff scored 101 goals and led the Gators in ground balls, draw controls and interceptions. Had seven goals and three assists in ISL semifinal win over Episcopal. Finished career with 253 goals. A three-time All-Examiner and All-Independent School League choice, Duff will play at Virginia.Coach of the YearJill Marks, Stone RidgeGuided Gators (16-3) to their best season in program history, finishing second to Independent School League powerhouse St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes in the regular season and tournament.......

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Progressive signs for Whitfield and Co.

Published: Jul 11, 2006

Van Whitfield has written best-selling books. He’s appeared on national television and radio. He’s written scripts for TV shows. His latest work, an as-yet untitled autobiography of former Washington mayor Marion Barry, promises to be anything but boring. There’s something else Whitfield does well — recruit basketball players.That talent, that he first demonstrated in the AAU ranks, landed Whitfield at Southern Maryland Christian last year where he led the Charles County private school to a 27-6 record and a No. 10 rank in the nation (according to hoopsusa.com).This year, Whitfield......

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2006 All-Examiner Boys Lacrosse

Published: Jul 10, 2006

Player of the YearAndrew BrancaccioGeorgetown Prep, senior, midfielderFirst player outside Baltimore area to win Kelly Award, given to the best high school player in Maryland. Had Montgomery County-high 57 goals, leading Prep to its first undefeated season. In IAC final, the 6-5 Brancaccio had five goals as Prep beat Landon, 15-3. In junior year, Brancaccio scored winning goal in OT of IAC final at Landon. Will play at Georgetown.Coach of the YearKevin GiblinGeorgetown PrepGuided Little Hoyas to their best season (22-0) in school history, third IAC title in four years,......

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For talented Peters it’s a matter of control

Published: Jul 06, 2006

It really doesn’t matter who’s across the net from 18-year-old Eleanor Peters. Like a talented, but scatter-armed baseball pitcher, her stuff is tough to control but nearly unhittable.Even when the Washingtonian steps up a notch in competition — as she did Wednesday in the FNMC National City Tennis Classic — the match is on her racquet. Her only opponent, it seems, is herself.The 5-foot-11 left-hander’s impressive talent, as well as her frustrating inconsistency, were on display Wednesday at the Tennis Center at College Park as she lost 6-2, 2-6, 6-2......

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Two Bethesda teams win soccer titles

Published: Jul 05, 2006

Tuesday in the championship round of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region 1 tournament in Virginia Beach, the fortunes of the Bethesda Soccer Club broke down on genderlines.While two of the club’s boys teams won titles via shutout, three of its girls teams lost final-round matches, failing to produce a goal.Coach Steve Campbell felt the highs and lows as much as anyone. He coaches the U-17 Bethesda United boys, 2-0 victors over Seacoast United SC of New Hampshire, and the U-19 Bethesda Excel girls, 1-0 losers to longtime local rival......

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Marymount hoops mines Maryland

Published: Jul 04, 2006

When George Mason made its stunning run to the NCAA Final Four, the Patriots did it with five starters who were Maryland natives. Maybe Scott McClary, coach at another Northern Virginia college, Division III Marymount, took note. The Saints third-year coach recently received commitments from three Maryland players: Magruder High forward Elvis Ellis and Eleanor Roosevelt High guards Patrick Prewitt and Redell Spinks. Ellis, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound three-year starter with a rare blend of power and quickness, averaged 14 points and five rebounds in leading Magruder (22-3) to the 4A......

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Good Counsel’s Jenkins feels Cavalier

Published: Jul 04, 2006

Two tr