Sorry purists, replay is needed on the pitch

By: Craig Stouffer
11/19/09 10:33 PM

You can blame Thierry Henry. If his blatant double hand ball in France's World Cup berth-clinching win over Ireland stands, he'll go down in history as heir to Diego Maradona and the Hand of God in the 1986 World Cup.

You can blame referee Martin Hansson, whose blown call at Stade de France was his second goal-line botch this year -- he missed a Brazil goal against the U.S. in the Confederations Cup final in June.

But the culprit is FIFA, whose refusal to adopt modern technology and improve officiating is a stain that has soaked through the entire sport, and replaying the match should be simply the first step.

Only by adding video replay, at the very least on goals, and ending the use of a single center referee -- no self-respecting team sport in the world is officiated by one person (the NBA can't get it right with three) -- can soccer rise above the regular suspicions that purists think are endearing but in reality are embarrassing.

Knucklehead of the week: Mark Mangino, Kansas Jayhawks, football coach

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/19/09 10:28 PM

The big man on campus has created the recipe for getting fired. After losing five straight games, allegations have surface about how he verbally abused players.

Mangino will still be waddling around the Jayhawks' sideline on Saturday against Texas, but he'll be shown the door if these allegations turn out to be true.

At least this guy has a future at the New York Friars' Club for celebrity roasts. He has no limits for his material:

This is what he allegedly told wide receiver Raymond Brown, who's brother had been shot in the arm in St. Louis: "If you don't shut up, I'm going to send you back to St. Louis so you can get shot with your homies."

Boom!

A player who had aspirations outside of football, but may have had some problems at home: "Are you going to be a lawyer or do you want to become an alcoholic like your dad?"

Zing!

The team captain: "I'll send you back to Oakland where you could drink out of a brown paper bag."

Whoaaa!

Mangino has helped turn the Kansas football program around, but winning is never a good reason to sweep this kind of abuse under the rug. Coaches yell and have a number of different ways to motivate players, but (if these allegations are true) there is no place in college football for these type of personal attacks.

D-Steve in the zone vs. LeBron

By: Craig Stouffer
11/19/09 9:00 PM

When the Wizards went to Cleveland earlier this month, DeShawn Stevenson tried not to inflame his ongoing feud with the Cavaliers but couldn't help himself. He ended up running the city itself under a bus ["Ain't nothing to do in Cleveland. You been there?"].

But after shutting down LeBron James in the fourth quarter on Stevenson bobble-head night, D-Steve disappeared from the locker room before reporters got there, and Thursday after practice, he didn't gloat. But he couldn't hide a slight grin either.

"I was in the zone," said Stevenson, who was asked about the crowd reaction every time he forced James into a missed jump shot. "It just felt good being out there, playing against a team that you like playing against."

Despite trying to win the game by himself, James had just six points in the final period. He was 3-for-7, but two field goals were vicious dunks -- "He looked like NBA Jam for a little bit out there," said Gilbert Arenas -- after the result had already been determined. Prior to that, a stone-faced Stevenson had a hand up nearly every time James shot the ball. He forced one shot clock violation and later rejected James on the break, which led to a technical foul when James questioned the call.

"What I was trying to do is make it a one-on-one thing so he'd forget about his teammates," said Stevenson. "Even though he...

The NFL's biggest headache

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/19/09 9:00 PM

The topic of head injuries in the NFL has never been more prevalent.

Research has been brought to light, Congress has tackled the subject and John Madden has a committee that will make recommendations to the league on ways to reduce the effects of concussions.

The list of former football players that are suffering long-term brain damage is growing.

But where do we draw the line? What changes can be made that won't take away from the physical nature of the sport? Here are some suggestions that have come up:

1. Taking off the helmets » Although helmets are worn to reduce injury, they also increase the amount of contact to the head. A game without helmets will never happen, but headgear may be limited in practices. But would the reduction of contact in training adequately prepare players for the pounding they encounter during games?

2. Looking at recovery time » Running back Brian Westbrook raced back to play for the Eagles on Sunday only to suffer his second concussion in three weeks. Players are evaluated after head injuries, but there always remains a possibility of a reoccurrence. The variance in the severity of concussions makes it difficult to have a concrete guideline for head injuries. All concussions must be addressed on an individual basis. Hopefully with more research, there will be a more accurate timetable for proper recovery.

3. Rule changes » It's not f...

A bumper crop of talent

By: Brian McNally
11/18/09 3:40 PM

Alright, so Stephen Strasburg isn't the only Nats prospect performing well in the Arizona Fall League for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Drew Storen, the No. 10 overall draft pick in 2010, is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA, building on a fine start to his pro career since signing in June. He has pitched in 11 games, recorded three saves and ranks third in the AFL in ERA. He walked just three batters in 12 2/3 innings and struck out 11.

Nats prospect Chris Marrero has had a nice AFL season after making it to Double-A Harrisburg last season. Still a work-in-progress at first base, Marrero needs his bat to carry him to the big leagues, according to scouts. He has batted .338 (ninth overall) with six doubles and three homers. His 18 RBI is tied for seventh with teammates Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell -- both Orioles prospects. Marrero has a .398 OBP (19th) and .938 OPS (13th). We'll see if his numbers take a leap next year when he'll probably start at Harrisburg.

Ian Desmond drew most of the attention as the Nats' possible shortstop of the future. But don't forget about 2008 third-round pick Danny Espinosa. He is a steadier defensive player than Desmond -- though without the dynamic athleticism. His bat is a question mark at higher levels. But in the AFL he has 27 hits (eighth overall) with a .329 average (14th). He has five doubles, a triple and a homer and scored 22 runs (third overall). His .420 on-...

Are NHL and KHL destined to duel?

By: Brian McNally
11/18/09 3:29 PM

There was a summit in Washington, D.C. last week. No it had nothing to do with Dmitry Medvedev or President Obama -- although those men have their own problems to work out.

This meeting between Russia and North America was all about hockey. The NHL thinks the upstart Kontinental Hockey League -- made up of teams in Russia and former Soviet bloc states -- disrespects valid player contracts. For now, the KHL is signing aging Russian stars and younger players who can get more money playing back home thanks to big-revenue clubs there and the NHL salary cap.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with KHL President Alexander Medvedev at Verizon Center last week. Unlike pro soccer -- where transfer agreements are commonplace -- the NHL and KHL are free to target each other's players without compensation. That's a problem. Last year, Nashville forward Alexander Radulov left his team with a year left on his deal to play in Russia. He made more money, but the Predators received nothing in return.

"I think that if we're going to look for ways to cooperate, the KHL and the Russian Hockey Federation, from our standpoint, are going to need to respect our valid contracts," Bettman said. "That's something to date hasn't happened."

It's a viewpoint Medvedev doesn't agree with. For him, NHL teams have long used the KHL as a farm system. Stars like Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin leav...

A Cheers & Jeers farewell to Dick Jauron

By: Leon Saffelle
11/18/09 3:25 PM

Sizzle Zack Greinke » Newest AL Cy Young Award winner proves that it’s not all about how many wins you get — it’s about the quality of the pitching. The Kansas City hurler had 16 wins (three AL pitchers had 19 wins) and a Major-League leading 2.16 ERA.

Kobe Bryant » Dropped 40 for the 100th time Tuesday night against the Pistons. He has four 40-point games this season after the same number last season, and now trails only Michael Jordan (173) and Wilt Chamberlain (271) on the all-time list.

Fizzle

Dick Jauron » Hot Seat alumnus and Bills coach was fired Tuesday after a 3-6 start. He failed to get the offense running (28th in points per game), despite the offseason addition of Terrell Owens. Jauron is replaced by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Dwayne Bowe » The Chiefs wide receiver has caught a suspension for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances -- after taking a diuretic for weight loss, according to his agent — and will ride the pine for the next four games.

Can Heyward-Bey hold the boo birds at bay?

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/17/09 10:37 PM

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 only consolation for Heyward-Bey, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, was that "the NFL's fastest rookie got out of the locker room before reporters were allowed in, leaving teammates to feel his pain." Ouch.

"I just told him to keep his head up," cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "You know he is going to battle with it tomorrow and the next day, but you have to let it go."

Maybe "letting it go" isn't the best advice.

Feeling a draft: Who might the Redskins pick?

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/17/09 10:35 PM

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 odious.



3. OT Russell Okung (Oklahoma State) » Both Williams and Okung (6-6, 305) are ranked in the top 10, the consensus top two linemen in the draft. One of them should be around if the Redskins pick in the top 10.



4. CB Joe Haden (Florida) » The best corner in the draft is a homegrown product of Friendly High in Ft. Washington. It's hardly a compliment, but he'd be an upgrade from Carlos Rogers, whose contract expires this year.



5. QB Tim Tebow (Florida) » If the Redskins take Tebow, it would be a reach, but who would really be surprised, especially if owner Dan Snyder is running the War Room.

We have LeFevour, and the only prescription is more cowbell

By: James Irwin
11/17/09 9:00 PM

The best dual-threat quarterback in college football doesn't play for Florida. He doesn't have two championship rings and he isn't a Heisman Trophy favorite.

That's because the best dual-threat quarterback in college football isn't Tim Tebow. It's Dan LeFevour, the senior from Central Michigan (8-2), who is putting up PlayStation numbers for a team steamrolling to the Mid-American Conference title game.

LeFevour doesn't receive Tebow-like publicity. The MAC is not the SEC and Central Michigan's only losses this season have come at the hands of Pac-10 Arizona and ACC Boston College. But the Chippewas did beat Michigan State earlier this year. And for all the hype over Tebow's incredible production, LeFevour's numbers actually are just as impressive.

In 51 career games at Florida, Tebow has rushed and passed for 10,761 yards and 132 touchdowns. In 49 career games at Central Michigan, LeFevour has rushed and passed for 14,458 yards and 137 scores. The gap in yards is inflated because LeFevour started right away, while Tebow came off the bench behind starter Chris Leak.

Still, LeFevour has been nothing short of spectacular. His career TD:INT ratio is 92:34. His record as a starter is 32-17. Last week against Toledo, he passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns and ran for four more scores in a 56-28 win.

This isn't a knock on Tebow, who arguably is the most iconic college quarterback of t...

Niumatalolo spells hot property

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/17/09 9:00 PM

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 consider the 44-year-old?

The template already has been established by Niumatalolo's predecessor, Paul Johnson. After moving from Navy to Georgia Tech, Johnson went 9-4 in 2008 with a team picked to finish last in the ACC Coastal. This season, Tech is 10-1 and will play in the conference title game.

Like Niumatalolo, Johnson owes his success to the triple-option. Is it not unreasonable to expect that his disciple could work similar magic?

That's what San Diego State was thinking last year when it asked Navy's permission to talk to Niumatalolo about its coaching vacancy. Niumatalolo is under contract for the next four years, making more than $1 million annually, according to the Annapolis Capital.

But other...

The Greatest Show on Court returns

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/16/09 9:29 PM

The most fun team to watch in the NBA is back.

The Shaquille O'Neal experiment did not work last season and the Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004 -- the season before they acquired Steve Nash.

With Shaq in Cleveland, the Suns have regained their run-and-gun mentality -- averaging a league-best 110 points per game.

Nash is playing like he did during his two MVP seasons -- averaging 17.6 points and 11.5 assists per game. Last year was the first time the point guard had less than 10 assists per game in his five seasons in Phoenix.

The Suns have always been able to find players that fit in their system around their pass-first Canadian point guard. Raja Bell, Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw and Quentin Richardson all flourished with the Suns, but failed to play up to expectations after leaving Phoenix.

Their new system guys are Jason Richardson and Channing Frye.

Richardson was acquired last season in a trade that sent Bell and Diaw to Charlotte. The scoring guard adds more outside shooting and athleticism to the perimeter.

Frye signed with the Suns over the summer. The 6-foot-11 center was forced to play under the hoop with his previous two teams -- the Knicks and Trailblazers. But in the Suns' system, Frye has become one of the team's best perimeter shooters -- averaging three 3-pointers a game and shooting 47 percent from behind the arc.

The up-tempo, high-scoring Suns -- w...

Zim wins the U.Va. hot corner showdown

By: Brian McNally
11/16/09 9:23 PM

The irony didn't escape Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. In a span of two days last week he won both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.

The defensive award? Not a surprise. Zimmerman has been touted as a defensive whiz since he was drafted out of Virginia in 2005. But the whole reason Zimmerman even plays third base is because of former college teammate Mark Reynolds. He was the star shortstop on those Cavaliers teams earlier this decade and his presence pushed Zimmerman to third in the first place.

And it's there, of course, that Zimmerman beat out Reynolds for the Silver Slugger -- despite 44 homers and 102 RBI for the Arizona Diamondbacks star.

Zimmerman got to talk a little trash during a phone conversation with Reynolds while co-hosting ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" Web Gems show last month. He even beat his friend in that category, too.

Where are the Manning haters?

By: Brian McNally
11/16/09 9:00 PM

You know who you are. Three years ago -- at about this time of year as a matter of fact -- you tried to look like a know-it-all. "Peyton Manning is a loser," you smugly told your friends. "Couldn't win at Tennessee when it mattered. Can't beat the Patriots in the playoffs when it matters. Chokes at home against the Steelers when it matters."

You didn't like all his commercials -- not even the one where he chants "cut that meat" at the butcher. You hated his annoying pointing and primping and gyrating as he gets the Colts' offense set. "Just snap the ball, you bum!"

Sure, you had to eat your words a bit when Indianapolis won the Super Bowl later that year. And yeah, the Saturday Night Live skit where he winged footballs at little kids -- and ominously said he'd kill a snitch if he had to -- made you chuckle. But deep down, you thought, Manning was still the same guy he was in college. Too corporate. Too image-conscious. The kind of kid who asked the teacher for more homework. He may have one Super Bowl. But even his little brother has done that. Tom Brady has three.

But admit it. You're getting a little nervous now. Because Manning has a rag-tag Colts team at 9-0 and is putting together a historic season. Indianapolis now has the second-most regular season wins in a row (18) in NFL history. And Sunday night he had the Patriots so scared they ...

Forget the big name, Irish should court Kelly

By: James Irwin
11/15/09 10:44 PM

There now is little doubt that Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is in danger of losing his job. Back-to-back losses to Navy and Pitt have cranked the dial on his hot seat from simmer to boil. The end of his tenure seems inevitable.

So who replaces Weis? Irish fans will clamor for a big name. They will implore the Notre Dame athletics department to pony up the cash and lure a big-time coach like Mack Brown or Les Miles to bring the program back to glory.

The problem with that logic is Notre Dame is not what it used to be. The Irish haven't won a BCS bowl game (Fiesta, Orange, Sugar, Rose) since before the BCS existed. They no longer hang with top teams in power conferences. These are not your father's Fighting Irish. Pete Carroll is not leaving USC -- and his palace in Southern California -- to coach in South Bend, Ind.

Instead, Notre Dame should focus its attention on Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, who won two national titles at Division II Grand Valley State, nurtured Cheers & Jeers favorite Dan LeFevour at Central Michigan, and is piloting Cincinnati to its second BCS bowl in two years.

Notre Dame has a big decision to make. Remember, in 2004 the Irish attempted to lure another rising star (Urban Meyer) and were beaten out by Florida. If the Irish fire Weis, expect them to make a move to wrestle Kelly away from Cincinnati. And expect that it will happen quickly, perhaps even befo...

Local spotlight: Chester Stewart, quarterback, Temple

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/15/09 10:33 PM

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 big plays, completing 12 of 22 passes for 288 yards.

"Am I worried about changing quarterbacks during a winning streak?" asked Golden last week. "What winning streak? For us, it's all about today."

Charlton (90 of 178, 1,200 yards, 9 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) was having a solid season, but was benched after struggling (5 of 17, 37 yards) in a win over Navy.

Golden has never doubted Stewart's ability. In fact, he offered Stewart a scholarship in the spring of his junior year, before he'd even started a varsity game.

After Stewart led DeMatha to an undefeated season and a WCAC championship in 2006, throwing the winning TD pass in overtime of the title game win over Good Counsel, m...

Um, who wants to win the NFC East?

By: Craig Stouffer
11/15/09 9:00 PM

The game of hot potato continues unabated in the NFC East. Every time a new team ascends to the top, they treat it like they've been handed a live grenade. Yet, nearly the entire division is still in strong contention for the playoffs -- even the Redskins can take a page out of the playbook of Dumb & Dumber: So you're saying there's a chance!

The Dallas Cowboys (6-3) are the latest to show they want nothing to do with a division title, turning over the ball three times against Green Bay to submarine the four-game winning streak that had propelled them into first. Instead of pulling away, now Dallas next week must beat a revived Washington team just to maintain its slim one-game advantage.

Not that Philadelphia (5-4) has any clue about how to lead. The Eagles have agonizingly dropped two straight since waltzing by the Redskins on Monday night and embarrassing the New York Giants as a diversion for doomed Phillies fans. A team that can't convert in the red zone has no chance in the playoffs, yet Philly remains a top wild card contender.

Meanwhile, the Giants (5-4), of course, are the definition of free fall. Remember when they were 5-0 and everyone's favorite to reach the Super Bowl? The sports psychologists spent the bye week trying to help the G-men erase the memories of the four games they've lost since, because New York also has no reason to lose sight of the postseason.

Inst...

Paging Agent Zero ...

By: Craig Stouffer
11/15/09 9:00 PM

The biggest question facing the Washington Wizards (2-7) isn’t how they’ve lost six straight games. It’s who the heck is Gilbert Arenas going to be this season? He had his first double-double (19 points, 10 assists) of the year in Saturday’s 106-103 loss to Detroit but never seemed comfortable. Not every quarter he plays seems to add up to 25 cents:

First quarter After proclaiming prior to the game that Agent Zero had returned, Arenas missed his first six shots, most notably an off-balance heave over multiple collapsing defenders at the first-quarter buzzer that took the shine off four assists.

Final line » 0 points (0-for-6), 4 assists, 2 rebounds Actual value » Maybe a dime, only because we’ll add a nickel for the assists.

Second, third quarters After two jumpers in a row, Arenas starts warming his hands — signs of the hibachi? — and then he line drives a three from 33 feet, leaving him bouncing with attitude at the halftime buzzer. After the break, Arenas sets the tone, with a runner right out of the gate and two huge threes a short time later. He orchestrates the break with both long and short passes, and picks his spots as the Wizards turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a lead of as much as 10.

Final line » 15 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal Actual value » We’ll buy that for a dollar.

Fourth ...

Brady, Manning meet again

By: Craig Stouffer
11/12/09 10:36 PM

It's been said that the NFL inspires a unique kind of devotion, thanks to the helmets that protect the players' heads and shield their faces from plain view. Fans are known to root for the insignia far more than they do for the player, as they do in the NBA.

When Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and his arch nemesis from New England, Tom Brady, take opposite sides of the field on Sunday night for the eighth time since 2001, that theory basically can be tossed out the window.

Nevermind that the Colts (8-0) and Patriots (6-2) are again two of the best teams in the AFC. Regardless of the score, NBC will spend as much of its evening as possible gushing over Manning and Brady, and there's a good argument that they should, given that in the prime of their respective careers, they compose what could be the greatest quarterback rivalry ever, if not in the last decade.

"These guys know what to expect," said NBC analyst Tony Dungy, Manning's former coach in Indianapolis, explaining during a conference call why the two quarterbacks have been able to succeed. "They're going to be on top of every detail. There's not anything that they've seen that's going to fool them, and then I think that both have the right weaponry around them. The fact that the system fits them perfectly, and they've got all-star players everywhere around them is really what helps."

There's no go...

Bengals, Benson are rejuvenated

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/12/09 10:32 PM

The NFL season has reached its halfway point. Here are the three biggest surprises through the first nine weeks:

1. The Bengals are actually good » What happened to that dysfunctional team that had more player arrests than wins? Well, the Bengals have a complete new identity led, ironically, by running back Cedric Benson -- who Cincinnati signed after being released by the Bears following two alcohol-related arrests in five weeks in 2008. The Bengals are 6-2 behind Benson's 837 yards rushing (second in the NFL) and a defense that is holding teams to 16.9 points per game (fifth in the NFL). Has Cincinnati broken the "Hard Knocks" curse?

2. The dominant Colts defense » Indianapolis being undefeated isn't surprising -- considering the Colts have won at least 12 games in six consecutive seasons. But their defense giving up an NFL-best 13.5 points per game -- with former defensive player of the year Bob Sanders playing in only two games -- is shocking. Defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have been unblockable -- combining for 16 sacks. But can the Colts continue to be dominant without Sanders and cornerback Marlin Jackson the rest of the season?

3. An NFL full of bad teams » Every year there are bad teams. Last year we had the "pleasure" of watching history be made in Detroit. But this season a quarter of the NFL has reached pathetic le...

Knucklehead award: Corwin Brown, assoc. head coach Notre Dame

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/12/09 10:22 PM

If the Irish's loss to the Midshipmen wasn't enough embarrassment, Brown criticized Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo's postgame comments and blasted Navy's blocking.

"I think the one thing that helped us, and I really hope this doesn't come across wrong, but I think the thing that helped us this year was last year because we knew that they'd line up the same way," Niumatalolo said about Notre Dame's similar defensive scheme in 2008.

Brown took offense to the comments.

"In all the classy guys I've watched and played under, they would never say something like that," he said.

Really? Your boss is the arrogant Charlie Weis. And "classless" is the last word associated with anyone from the Navy.

Notre Dame had the same defensive principals as last year, so what. Maybe next year the Irish will better prepare to defend the fullback dive and be ready for those two times Navy drops back to pass.

Also, Brown had an issue with the way Navy players block -- referencing an illegal cut block from last season that injured a Notre Dame player and a personal foul on a Navy receiver on Saturday.

"Very malicious," Brown said. "In this game, which we're supposed to be playing for our kids and we're working for our kids, you don't let your players do something like that."

Yeah, Navy should take notes on how Notre Dame treats their scholarship, high-profile athlet...

George Washington rebuilding team, facilities

By: Craig Stouffer
11/12/09 10:12 PM

From the outside of Smith Center in Foggy Bottom, it looks like George Washington is destined for another dismal men's basketball season, picked second to last in the Atlantic 10 following 10-18 and 9-17 debacles the last two years.

But inside the Colonials -- who went to the NCAA Tournament three straight times from 2005-07 -- are rebuilding both their team and facilities, with renovations that include a new court, basketball hoops, seating, locker rooms and a swank, glass-enclosed courtside members club.

"I don't think it gives us a clean slate because last year was a disappointing year," said sophomore Aaron Ware. "But as far as the GW community, it brings excitement to the people and the boosters and helps recruiting. It's a good vibe."

Colonials head coach Karl Hobbs also is raving about team chemistry -- his 15-player roster has 10 freshmen and sophomores -- after consecutive seasons dominated by bad apples, poor offense and turnovers.

"Without question, that's what is exciting for me," said Hobbs. "We are in the process of sort of re-establishing the energy of the building, and rebuilding our brand, meaning our style of play. We've kind of gotten away from that."

Riggleman tops Valentine in Nats' managerial sweepstakes

By: Brian McNally
11/11/09 3:59 PM

The quietest managerial search in Major League Baseball history — still not sure how team president Stan Kasten pulled that off — came to an end last night when interim manager Jim Riggleman was named to that position permanently, according to Major League Baseball sources.

The final candidates were believed to be Riggleman and ESPN baseball analyst Bobby Valentine. But Riggleman won out for several reasons.

A steady hand in the second half of last season, Riggleman went 33-42 with a team Manny Acta could only manage to a 26-61 record. Riggleman’s players never quit, winning their last seven games. There’s also no question that he was a cheaper option than Valentine. And maybe that matters for a team unlikely to contend in 2010. Why switch managers when whomever you choose will be hard-pressed to win with an incomplete roster? Just ask Acta how difficult that is.

Riggleman is a local, of course. That’s meaningless on the field, but it does have at least a limited appeal to fans. The Rockville product grew up a Senators fan and has a feel for the history of baseball here — what it meant to have a team and what it meant to lose it before baseball returned in 2005. That’s something that Valentine — who would have brought a ton of buzz with his supersized personality to a team in desperate need of that — couldn’t match.

There...

Cap space opens if Nylander's gone

By: Brian McNally
11/11/09 3:54 PM

With the expected subtraction of forward Michael Nylander's $4.875 million salary-cap hit, the Capitals will have a little bit of money to get by the rest of this season under the NHL's $56.8 million limit.

Washington entered the season about $75,000 or so under the ceiling. That effectively handcuffs general manager George McPhee's ability to improve his club later in the year.

With Nylander gone, however, wiggle room opens up. A healthy 23-man roster would put Washington about $4.2 million below the cap ceiling at this point in the season. That won't get you a star player, but at the very least the Caps could add a quality defenseman as teams fall out of the playoff chase and dump pending free agents. The problem is there aren't a ton of lower-price options on non-contending teams. And the ones that are -- Dan Hamhuis (Nashville), Niclas Wallin (Carolina), Aaron Ward (Carolina), maybe Andy Sutton (New York Islanders) -- are not necessarily better than what the Caps already have.

But the space would be there for internal solutions, too, if the front office thinks top prospects Karl Alzner or John Carlson -- both playing well early this season at AHL Hershey -- can contribute. Whether the organization's top 10 defensemen are up to stopping the Flyers or Penguins in the playoffs is up for debate. But for now, it's not an instant upgrade McPhee is after. It's having the chance to ge...

Quinn gets nod for Cleveland's mess of a team

By: Leon Saffelle
11/11/09 3:51 PM

Sizzle

Brady Quinn » Who says life doesn’t give you second chances? The Browns quarterback will get the start Monday following Derek Anderson’s 1-4 run. Not sure who the winner is here ...

Adam Jones » The Orioles All-Star outfielder, not the former cornerback, won his first AL Gold Glove despite playing in just 118 games.

Fizzle

Sureyya Ayhan » The Turkish runner's appeal of her four-year ban for testing positive for steroids in 2007 was rejected and got worse when the IAAF also appealed her case, and won, giving her a lifetime ban for her second doping offense.

Larry Johnson » According to an ESPN source, no team claimed the Chiefs running back off waivers, putting Kansas City on the hook for his $2.1 million contract and Johnson now is a free agent. But will anyone want him?

We're just talking about retirement?

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/10/09 12:33 AM

Allen Iverson was the third-highest scorer in the NBA for the 2007-2008 season. Just a year and a half later the six-foot lightning-quick guard is mulling retirement as he takes a leave of absence for a personal matter, according to reports.

What has happened to A.I.?

Last year after three games, Iverson was shipped out of Denver to Detroit -- one of the worst situations for the four-time scoring champ. The Pistons' backcourt contained a veteran with a new contract -- Richard Hamilton -- and Detroit's point guard of the future -- Rodney Stuckey. Iverson was the man left out.

He was forced to come off the bench, which wouldn't sit well with any former MVP who averaged 26.4 points per game the season before.

During the offseason, few teams were interested in The Answer -- knowing he demands the ball on offense and won't be satisfied coming off the bench.

The Grizzlies signed him and tried to bring him off the bench. Shockingly, this didn't sit well with Iverson.

The future Hall of Famer has the sixth highest points per game average in NBA history and he's still got something left in the tank.

Will the most polarized basketball figure and his killer crossover return to the NBA?

Strasburg's road has lots of bumps

By: Brian McNally
11/09/09 11:00 PM

The Nationals have lost so often over the last two years we think they deserve to have No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg immediately become one of the game's best pitchers. All the scouts say he has the talent to do so. But is it ever that easy?

"As much talent as Stephen has, that road to becoming an [elite player] is paved with a lot of bumps," said former major-leaguer Tony Clark, who saw his share of phenoms during a 14-year career. "And they'll leave some bruises on you along the way."

Clark, now an analyst with MLB Network, was set to see Strasburg pitch Saturday in the Arizona Fall League All-Star game before he was scratched with a sore neck. It's a minor injury. But also a warning not to take stardom for granted.

There was Matt Anderson, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from Rice who was the top pick in the 1997 draft by Clark's Detroit Tigers. The right-hander could reach 101 mph before a muscle tear robbed him of that velocity. He made it seven years in the majors, retiring in 2008. Justin Thompson -- a Tigers' first-rounder in 1991 -- was an All-Star at 24 and out of the majors by 26 after an elbow injury. It happens.

"You carry a lot of responsibility as a top pick," said Clark, who like Strasburg is a San Diego native and former San Diego State player. "I'm excited to see how he commits himself to that."

Luck has run out on Weis

By: Jeffrey Tomik
11/09/09 11:00 PM

Navy's victory over Notre Dame marked the first time an Irish coach lost back-to-back home games against the Mids.

It was the first time an unranked Navy team beat a ranked Notre Dame team since 1936, the first year of the AP Poll.

It was the second time the Irish lost to the Mids in the last three years -- after winning 43 consecutive games against Navy from 1964-2006.

But Notre Dame's struggles against their Annapolis rival aren't the only reason that Charlie Weis needs to get the boot out of South Bend.

Weis' tenure at Notre Dame is full of embarrassment and lacks a real signature win.

He started strong with two trips to BCS bowls, but a loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl in 2006 and a blowout 41-14 loss to LSU in the 2007 Sugar Bowl marked the Irish's ninth straight bowl game defeat, the longest drought in NCAA history.

The 2007 season was a mess for the Irish, losing the most games in school history (9).

Notre Dame was able to bounce back to end its bowl skid with a win over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl last year, but the 2008 season will also be remembered for the Irish's first loss to an eight-loss team -- a 24-23 home defeat to Syracuse.

Weis has a 35-24 record as head coach at Notre Dame. He's a loss away from having the same winning percentage as former Irish coaches Ty Willingham and Bob Davie and he's not too far behind Gerry Faust's 30-26-1 record -- which some believe is ...

Local spotlight: Craig Schaefer, Navy

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/08/09 11:00 PM

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 got through. I guess persistence paid off."

Persistence has been a quality Schaefer has exhibited throughout his Navy career. Mostly a special teams player, Schaefer has been a stuck on the depth chart behind a pair of talented three-year starters, Ram Vela and Clint Sovie.

But on Saturday, after a strong week of practice, Schaefer was rewarded with a rare start, and produced. In addition to his sack, Schaefer made eight other tackles, tying for team honors.

At the academy, Schaefer is realizing a life-long dream, but it's not what he imagined.

"My dad was in the Air Force for 21 years, retired Lieutenant Colonel," said Schaefer. "I wanted to go to the Naval or Air Force Academy to...

Stunning upset? Not to the Midshipmen

By: Kevin Dunleavy
11/08/09 11:00 PM

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 pretty good team too. We've had tough losses, but we fell like every ballgame we've been in, we've had a chance to win."

Navy may not be stunned, but Notre Dame is. In the South Bend Tribune, columnist Eric Hansen pointed out that Charlie Weis is the first Irish coach in history to lose back-to-back home games to Navy and that his 35-24 record is one loss shy of the mark compiled by former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie when he was fired.

Contrast the panic in South Bend to the calm in Annapolis. When Navy players checked in Sunday to get medical help for their bumps and bruises, it was all business.

"Nothing different," said linebacker Craig Schaefer. "I think it's pretty cool that nobo...