07/02/09 8:54 PM
It's still about Lance Armstrong. Even though he hasn't raced in the Tour de France for three years, he's a seven-time winner who will enter as one of the favorites. So says Versus racing analyst Phil Liggett.
"He proved to us in the Giro d'Italia that he was -- by the time that race finished -- probably the best ride in the race," Liggett told The Examiner's Jim Williams. "His form had come great and he took a while to come back after his broken collarbone in Spain and when he started the Giro, he was behind. By the last week, he was very strong. I think the riders are scared of Lance right now."
Liggett said it's a two-man race between Armstrong and possibly his teammate, Alberto Contador.
Tour de France veteran Levi Leipheimer told Williams that the southern track will test the riders because of the heat.
If it becomes an even bigger test of wills, then it's once again advantage Armstrong.
"I guarantee -- he'll be a reckoner in this race," Liggett said. "He will not take it lying...
This is what we learned on the golf course. And not all of it was pretty. Speaking of which: Boo Weekley's outfit. Now, we know he's a popular player and perhaps some will disagree with our fashion sense.
But …
Camouflage shirts on the golf course? Did you see his brown shirt? And the orange hat that looked like someone took a paint brush and flung brown paint on it? If he had played in the group with Michael Allen, Greg Owen and Kevin Streelman then Weekley could have worn anything. Or even nothing. Because nobody would have noticed. Well, aside from the 30 people around the green.
And we learned that the cool thing about seeing the pros up close is to watch the stars of yesteryear. Like Fred Couples -- he's too old to be called Freddie. And much too old to be referred to as Boom Boom anymore. But he's still as smooth as a good Brunello. On the eighth hole, Couples drove into the rough and was blocked by a short hill. His approach landed in a greenside bunker. Then his bunker shot skidded across the green, nearly rolling into more sand. And Couples' reaction is that he swung his club just a bit faster before handing it to his caddy. That coolness is why he's lasted so long.
Ah, but this tourney is about Tiger Woods. Here's a tip: when he's about to tee off, close your eyes and listen. The impact of his club on the ball just sounds more explosive. Just like...
A week after the NBA Draft and two days after the start of free agency, it's still too early to discuss: (A) whether or not the Eastern Conference rankings from top to bottom have changed, and (B) whether any of the contenders have actually improved their chances to challenge for an NBA title.
By adding forward Charlie Villanueva and guard Ben Gordon, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars made good on his intention to go after the top free agents available. But the double move, which cost all of the salary cap space the Pistons had available, may end up being little more than a replacement for likely-to-depart Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson, not Chauncey Billups, the player the Pistons missed the most last season.
In addition, neither Villanueva, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds for Milwaukee last season, nor Gordon, who was Chicago's leading scorer with 20.7 points per contest, are upgrades defensively. They also don't prevent Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton from getting a year older.
However, like the Wizards, the Pistons have put themselves back in the discussion in what promises to be, if nothing else, a more thrilling and attractive Eastern Conference. We're simply reserving judgment on the overall balance of power until Orlando, Cleveland, and especially Boston play their offseason cards....
David Beckham caused a stir in Washington in August 2007, making his first appearance on the field with the Los Angeles Galaxy against D.C. United in front of a sellout crowd at RFK Stadium and sending the local paparazzi into fits as he popped up at different hotspots after dark.
But it was at Morton's The Steakhouse in Arlington where he infamously saw an early effort to fit with his new teammates backfire, details Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl in an excerpt of "The Beckham Experiment." The book is an explosive inside look at Beckham's first two seasons in Los Angeles, which hits bookshelves this month -- just as Beckham rejoins the Galaxy for his first MLS match this season vs. New York on July 16.
At the dinner he helped organize with 10 other players two years ago, Beckham wasn't recognized by the waiter, who promptly took his wine glass when Beckham said he didn't have an I.D.
Later, when the check came, Beckham paid only for himself despite a $6.5 million salary ($48.2 million with endorsements), leaving his five-figure salaried teammates to hope their $45 per diem would be enough.
Wahl offers an unprecedented behind-the-scenes account of Beckham's life with the Galaxy in 2007 and 2008, with the meal at Morton's just the first hint of disconnected times to come.
"[Landon] Donovan didn't call Beckham out at Morton's after all," writes Wahl....
A couple weeks ago Lucas Glover needed an ID card in his own house. Now he's known worldwide after winning the 109th U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.
Q » Was there a moment where you were like, 'What did I do?'
A » There were a lot of those. I think I said to myself, 'Really?' a couple of times. That part has definitely sunk in and it's a good feeling. But it took a few days.
Q » A lot of U.S. Open champions will take some time off, why didn't you?
A » I was committed. I wasn't in the British yet and needed Hartford and here and the John Deere to get into the British Open. I was scheduled to play and I won. I didn't want to change because of that.
Q » [Do you agree with the description of you as] an honest Texas Ranger type?
A » It's funny, one of my pro-am partners today said, 'Man, I'm glad I don't ask you too much, you'll tell me the truth, won't you?' That's the way I've always been, and that's not going to change....
One name came to mind when watching Redskin players Jason Campbell and Antwaan Randle El tee off at times at Congressional during the pro-am Wednesday: Mark Brunell.
Why? Because their tee shots often resembled Brunell's passes: high and out of bounds.
Thank you; we'll be here all week.
Turns out the safest place to be when they teed off was in the middle of the fairway. Unless it was an adjoining fairway. The first one we saw Campbell hit happened to be on the 11th. Alas, he was teeing off from 15.
And it only took one hole to see why Tiger Woods opted to play with Tony Romo instead of the local starting QB. Romo is a player; Campbell is still learning the sport. Here's a tip, Jason: pivot on your shots.
Judging by the crowd, they wanted to see Romo as well. Of course, he was playing with Woods as well as the Minority leader of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). Still, there were more fans wearing Romo No. 9 Dallas Cowboy jerseys than there were actually following Randle El and Campbell (as well as Mike Weir and Caps coach Bruce Boudreau). Their gallery numbered around 40. Heck, Romo got a polite reception for his first tee shot and only one fan shouted, "Go Redskins!" But before the opening ceremony, he was loudly booed.
In fact, we counted two fans wearing Redskins shirts during the first few hours of their round.
But the Campbell group was more relaxed,...
Shaq already joined Cleveland; Vince Carter was shipped to Orlando and even the Wizards acquired their talent by way of a trade. So when NBA free agency opens today, it could pale to what’s already taken place.
Still, all these players can help:
Impact
SF Hedo Turkoglu » He takes big fourth-quarter shots, can handle the ball and execute the pick and roll flawlessly. Is he worth $10 million a year? Tough call.
PG Andre Miller » He’s a terrific passer and underrated talent, partly because he’s so quiet. Do not take Mike Bibby instead of him. Bibby will not take you far in the playoffs; Miller can.
“I love him,” one former coach said. “Philadelphia would be seriously not as good if they let him go. He’s not a true leader because he’s so introverted, but he’s one of the best point guards in the NBA from the free throw line on down.”
SG Ben Gordon » He can score and would provide instant offense. ’Nuff said.
Enigma
PF Charlie Villanueva » Cleveland reportedly is interested. But any team should be wary of committing major dollars to Villanueva.
“I don’t know if he could be a starting power forward on a playoff team,” the former coach said. “But he had a great season and he can make shots all over the floor. Just don’t ask him to get big stops or big...
The Wizards need a big man. Free agency offers a couple choices. But will that make for a match? It's debatable. Even though Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said there's no mandate to avoid the luxury tax, one NBA source said, "I don't think they will go over."
But if they do -- and they're already committed to $75.8 million, which, if they enter the season at that mark, they might have to pay the tax -- they need to find more help inside. Aside from Brendan Haywood, the Wiz lack any real playoff experience or consistency.
Antonio McDyess would help; he's a good shooter, tough defender and rebounder. He wants to go to a contender, but he'll likely have better options than Washington, which has a mid-level exemption available ($5.6 million) and a veteran minimum (around $1.1 million).
Forget Rasheed Wallace; he and coach Flip Saunders reportedly clashed while both were in Detroit.
Zaza Pachulia, Shelden Williams and Marcin Gortat are other possibilities.
"Orlando feels he's a 20-minute player at best, but I really, really like him," said the NBA source about Gortat. "He'd be a good addition and wouldn't cost too much."
The Wizards also have a biannual exception ($1.99 million) and could find a lower-level big man.
Another option is to trade some guards, but will a team be willing to take on Mike James and his $6.46 million contract --...
Tiger Woods may be the biggest sports celebrity on the planet, but even he can't trump the importance of the Redskins in Washington, a lesson he'll learn first hand when he's paired Wednesday with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am.
Woods was asked Tuesday if it'll be the first time a member of his group has been booed.
"To have [Romo] come out and Jessica [Simpson] sing the National Anthem is going to be pretty special for all of us," said Woods. "For him to come here to D.C., certainly I didn't realize it was going to be this big a deal."
It wouldn't be if Woods -- who said he's always wanted to play with Romo -- had chosen to play with Jason Campbell or Antwaan Randle El.
He could've saved his round with Romo for his first try at Turnberry, the site of this year's British Open.
"Granted, [Romo is] used to getting booed," said Woods. "It comes with being, I guess, on a team sport, away from...
06/29/09 8:46 PM
The Capitals weren’t expecting to be busy in the free-agent market this summer. But with the loss of forwards Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov and the expected departure of Donald Brashear, Washington has three holes to fill and may not be able to plug all of them from inside the franchise. With no elite offensive talent left in the minors, a free agent to replace either Kozlov or Fedorov makes sense. But the Caps were tight against the salary cap all last season so any additions will have to be cost effective. Here are some possible candidates when free agency opens Wednesday:
Mike Knuble, F
The veteran winger would be a nice fit. Pittsburgh had success with a similar player in Bill Guerin, acquired at the trade deadline. Knuble is big at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and loves to crash the net. He is 37. But he made just $2.8 million last year with Philadelphia so a modest raise might work for the Caps. Knuble has scored between 21 and 30 goals in each of the last six years.
Nik Antropov, F
Another big man at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds. Has a skill set similar to Kozlov and scored a career-high 28 goals last year splitting time between Toronto and the New York Rangers. That came after a 26-goal season in 2007-08. He also had a good postseason series against the Caps last spring. The forward made $2.1 million last year, but that could double this summer. Antropov, 29, has been...
Houston's ascension » The Rockets, with a healthy Yao Ming, would have been a serious contender in the Western Conference next year. But Ming isn't healthy. And now comes a report that he might miss all of next season because of a broken left foot. Has an NBA franchise ever dealt with as many injuries as the Rockets? Oh, that's right. Forgot for a minute what town we lived in.
Brandon Jennings connections » Jennings, had a phone conversation with rapper Joe Budden that made its way onto YouTube, probably without Jennings' knowledge. Regardless, the conversation was loaded with f-bombs and the N word. At one point Jennings says, "[Bleep] the Knicks" for passing on him in last week's NBA draft. Milwaukee selected him 10th overall. Jennings' mouth will get him headlines his entire career. Budden benefited from this story. At least people still know he exists.
Matt Palmer's record » The Angels 30-year-old righty is 7-1. Very impressive, right? Not so much when you look inside his numbers, which likely foreshadow a tough second half. Look at his ERA: 5.16, ballooning after getting a win Sunday AFTER allowing six runs in five innings. He's allowing 1.45 walks and hits per inning pitched.
Frankie Rodriguez » Come on, dude. Walking a pitcher with the bases loaded? That's what the Mets reliever did Sunday night -- and to the Yankees' Mariano...
Apparently it wasn't just Shaq that Kobe Bryant did not want to share the spotlight with in Los Angeles. Turns out he's not a big fan of the mayor, either.
According to the Los Angeles Wave newspaper, the parade for the Lakers two weeks ago was held up because of a diva-esque battle between Bryant and Los Angeles's media-hungry mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (better known for dating hot TV anchors in the city).
The parade was delayed an hour because Bryant reportedly did not want the mayor on the same bus as him, loudly saying that he did not like him and that, "I'm not going to let him pimp my popularity!"
Bryant eventually got on the bus, but the mayor -- with the help of some of Bryant's teammates -- snuck on behind him. Later, at the rally, the mayor introduced the players. When he announced Bryant, he extended his hand only to have the Lakers star walk right past him....
It was like the jolt of the alarm clock on Monday morning.
The U.S. men's soccer team's first-half fantasy -- a 2-0 lead against Brazil in Sunday's Confederations Cup final -- was followed by a halftime spent daring to imagine the possibility of becoming most unlikely champions. But ultimately, a dream week in South Africa that began with a 3-0 win over Egypt for magical advancement out of group play, then crossed over into surreal territory with a 2-0 upset of top-ranked Spain, was always destined to end with a harsh dose of reality.
Just 41 seconds into the second half, Luis Fabiano played the role of the grating buzzer, lite-rock station or cheesiest FM morning show on the dial, a wake-up call that permanently wrested the stunning vision from the Americans' hearts and minds.
The rest of the half -- two more Brazilian goals, the dagger with only minutes to go in regulation -- was as cruel as the morning commute: both inevitable and unavoidable.
But the glaring light of day isn't entirely negative. First, in 90 minutes against Spain and one half against Brazil, the U.S. saw a glimpse of how it can win against the best opponents in the world: with confidence oozing forth from ever-stalwart goalkeeper Tim Howard into the rest of the team, and with masterful Landon Donovan and courageous Clint Dempsey slotted into the midfielder behind rugged, athletic and powerful...
A few years ago, Yi Jianlian refused to sign with Milwaukee for six months after the draft. You'd have thought they were the Red Army instead of an NBA team willing to pay him millions.
Eventually he won out -- sort of -- by getting shipped to New Jersey.
And now Ricky Rubio is pulling the same stunt. He has options, but so does Minnesota, which can afford to wait. Rubio's agent claims he has offers from Turkey and Spain. Heaven knows the NBA might fold if he stays overseas.
Agents always bring up the marketing opportunities, or lack of them, in certain places. Let's see: Tim Duncan (San Antonio); LeBron James (Cleveland) and Dwight Howard (Orlando) all have fared just fine. Hmm; win and play well -- that's what delivers marketing chances. (By the way, Rubio couldn't even help his team in Spain sell out this past season).
Why does Rubio want to come here? To play in warm weather and sell himself? Or to compete against the best? He'd better be good....
Jason Bay used to play in relative anonymity in Pittsburgh. That distinction ended at the trading deadline, when he was shipped to Boston. Now with 19 homers and 69 RBI entering Sunday, and no brain cramps, Bay has adequately replaced Manny Ramirez.
People are noticing you now, are you better or just playing on a bigger stage?
I haven't changed my approach or my stance. There's a lot of stuff before and after the games that goes into being a Red Sox, but ultimately it's a pretty easy environment to thrive in with the lineup we have.
What was it like last year going from Pittsburgh to Boston?
It was a little much when you get traded from a team that's not doing well and all of a sudden 12 hours later you're in Boston. Last year was a learning experience. We had a playoff race, my wife É had a baby at the end of September. No matter what I did it was a news story.
What opened your eyes the most?
I get to the airport and there's a greeting over the [intercom], 'Welcome to Red Sox nation; the bags from Pittsburgh are coming out on carousel 13." People were taking pictures with me in the airport. Everyone knows it's a little different, but until you get in the middle of it, you really don't know. At first it's a lot, but the more you're around it, it becomes normal. You go on the road and you've got 10,000 fans for [batting practice] screaming. It's great....
06/25/09 8:32 PM
They watched Alex Ovechkin take home more hardware last week. Now the Caps' goal is to land more prospects, starting Friday night at the NHL draft in Montreal.
And just because the Caps have a low pick -- 24th -- doesn't mean they won't find another one.
History suggests they will. Thanks to stellar scouting that hasn't hurt them in recent years. Since 2001, Washington drafted nine of the 23 players on last spring's postseason roster. And there are as many as five more at AHL Hershey who soon will push for a roster spot.
Everyone knows about Ovechkin (1st overall, 2004). That one's easy. But that same year Caps GM George McPhee pulled two defensemen from the late stages of the first round -- Jeff Schultz (27th) and then, improbably, Mike Green (29th). Not a bad spot to find a Norris Trophy candidate. That year's second-round pick, Chris Bourque, was one of the last cuts in training camp last fall and appears ready to make the jump to the NHL.
That's just one draft, you say? Fine. In 2006, McPhee and his staff grabbed Nicklas Backstrom -- a no-brainer at No. 4. But they weren't close to finished, They plucked not one, but two young goalies from that draft -- postseason hero Simeon Varlamov at No. 23 and, in the second round, Michal Neuvirth, who led Hershey to the AHL championship in 2009.
McPhee didn't need a top-five pick in 2002 to grab Alexander Semin, who was...
06/25/09 8:29 PM
Among the U.S. national team's accomplishments in the stunning Confederations Cup semifinals upset of Spain in South Africa was the quieting of the growing chorus of criticism over the team and head coach Bob Bradley.
And yet, there's little doubt that the blog-heavy disenchantment actually helped inspire the U.S., first to beat Egypt, 3-0, last weekend before Wednesday's front-page triumph, a 2-0 win that ended the Spaniards' 35-match unbeaten streak (including 15 wins in a row).
"All the [expletive] experts in America," said U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, a.k.a. the coach's son, after the Egypt game, "let's see what they have to say now, all right?"
"Yapping about the coach is a great step forward for the United States," reminded New York Times columnist George Vescey on Thursday, also pointing out that the biggest benefit of the match could be a higher seed for the U.S. at the 2010 World Cup draw in December.
Against Spain, a solid U.S. game plan and long overdue lineup changes also contributed to the equivalent of Appalachian State over Michigan. But that extra edge came from pressure, the kind that in the modern era, can be exerted from halfway around the globe.
"There's little intangibles that American players have, the will to put their face in a tackle and do everything that it takes to win a game," said D.C. United...
06/25/09 8:26 PM
Looks like Shaq needs a new nickname. Could be that he becomes the Big Kielbasa. Maybe the Big Snowflake. But if he delivers what Cleveland wants, he'll also become the Big Savior.
Cleveland's trade for Shaquille O'Neal does not guarantee the Cavs a title. They still need size on the perimeter. And O'Neal is 37.
"They're gonna have to leave him on ice and see where he is in March," one Eastern Conference executive told The Examiner's John Keim. "It's a luxurious move and it was done to combat Dwight Howard ... I know we won't mind if Shaq is on the court late in games. You can pick and roll him to death and foul the [heck] out of him at the other end."
But O'Neal's arrival certainly strengthens the Cavs, which in turn makes the Eastern Conference just a bit tougher.
It's also a nod toward 2010 for Cleveland, when LeBron James becomes a free agent (in case you hadn't heard). If O'Neal does not work out, his $21 million contract comes off the books, freeing up a lot of cash for Cleveland to pursue other free agents....
By: John Keim
06/24/09 10:00 PM
The Wizards improved themselves, adding veteran help that they would not have found in the draft.
The Wizards mortgaged their future, giving up a chance to possibly select the next Dwyane Wade. Or Devin Harris. Both were No. 5 picks.
Go ahead, pick your side.
But in reality, they did both. Which means they'd better do something in the next two years to make Tuesday's trade with Minnesota worthwhile.
We must say, however, that this draft is thin. No draft experts we've spoken with have had anything but questions after certain No. 1 pick Blake Griffin.
One former NBA coach said of the Wizards trade, "It's a slam dunk. I thought it was a steal. I did not like the fifth pick in the draft. Washington has proven that they want to win now. The Wizards really helped themselves."
We'll see.
This trade also makes us believe that GM Ernie Grunfeld will make another deal for interior help considering the glut of guards.
As one advance scout said, "You're trying to win games with [Brendan] Haywood, JaVale [McGee], [Antawn] Jamison and [Dominic] McGuire on the inside? I question that in many ways."
This scout views both Mike Miller and Randy Foye, obtained from the Timberwolves for the fifth pick and Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov Tuesday night in a deal not yet official, as good bench players. The ex-coach sees Foye as a starter. With an...
By: John Keim
06/24/09 10:00 PM
The outrageous predictions are long gone. Emilio Bonifacio won’t win the batting title. Nick Swisher isn’t receiving Cy Young votes. But 70 games is a pretty good litmus test, which brings us to the following players:
Joe Mauer
The Minnesota catcher is having a season (.395, 14 HR, 42 RBI) that borders on the surreal. He missed a month with back pain but is on pace to qualify for the batting title by the All-Star break. We’re not saying he’ll hit .400 (the odds certainly are against him) but Mike Piazza’s single-season record for a catcher (.362) is in serious jeopardy.
Albert Pujols
“The Machine” has unparalleled statistical consistency — eight straight years of .300, 30, 100. So we’re not surprised by his performance. But Pujols (.328, 26 HR, 70 RBI) is on pace to shatter his season-best homer (49) and RBI (137) totals. He leads the NL in runs, RBI and home runs. A Triple Crown bid is not out of the question. And one other little fun note on him: He’s batted four times with the bases loaded this season; he has three grand slams and a two-run single.
Carl Crawford
He put on a stolen base clinic earlier this season, swiping a record-tying six bags against the Red Sox. Crawford leads the league in steals (37) by a wide margin — seven more than Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, 13 more than anyone in the NL....
By: John Keim
06/24/09 10:00 PM
Tony Romo will have a chance to be booed in Washington long before his Dallas Cowboys come to town. That is, if golf fans want to boo someone on the course. Not that this is a New York golf crowd, however.
Still, maybe they'll ask if he ever gets the yips while, say, holding on extra points. We can't imagine anyone in Washington bringing up the topic of his winless playoff record or Terrell Owens. Regardless, Romo will be in town for Tiger Woods' tourney next week, playing in the Wednesday pro-am. He likely got the nod because girlfriend Jessica Simpson will sing the National Anthem at the opening ceremonies on Wednesday.
Before you get too upset: Yes, Jason Campbell will play as well. So, too, will Antwaan Randle El. Of course, based on crowds at FedEx, there will surely be Dallas fans in attendance. Certainly, they wouldn't say anything about Mark Sanchez or Jay Cutler. And no one would dare say to Randle El before a short putt, 'Hey, that's about as far as one of your punt returns.'" Or would they?...
In case you were wondering, Rubio definitely doesn’t mean “Orange” in English.
Actually, it means blonde, but Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim went red in his analysis of whether Ricky Rubio was worthy of a top-three pick in Thursday’s NBA draft for The Sporting News.
“I think he’s got a little too much American in him,” said Boeheim of the Spanish teenage point guard. “He’s a cocky little kid. He complained on all the calls. He’s good with the ball. He’s not a great shooter. I think he will have trouble guarding people. He didn’t play very well against us, especially in the [2008 Olympic] championship game. I’m not sold on him.”
Either that, or Rubio must’ve said something bad about the Carrier Dome, the 2-3 zone or the Big East.
Which leads to this: before you forward Boeheim’s warning to your neighborhood NBA general manager, remember that he has his own self-assured point guard in the draft, Jonny Flynn, who must be a saint....
The Nationals recent hot streak had them flirting with .300. It likely won't harm their pursuit of something else: next year's No. 1 pick in the baseball draft.
And, like this year's selection Stephen Strasburg, they could end up with another once-a-decade player.
Bryce Harper even took an unusual step recently to increase his chances of becoming the top overall pick next year. He's earning his GED this summer and will then play at the College of Southern Nevada.
So he'll be eligible for the June 2010 draft. Barring an unlikely extended run of success, the Nats will be in line to select him.
Did we mention that he once hit a homer that traveled 570 feet? And did we mention he was a freshman? Did we also mention his likely agent is Scott Boras, same as Strasburg?
According to Sports Illustrated, scouts have compared Harper to other No. 1 picks: Justin Upton, Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. But they said Harper might be even more advanced.
The Nats drafted his older brother, Bryan, in the 31st round in 2008. But he went to play at Cal State-Northridge instead. And then the Nats might get the Harper that could help turn around the franchise.
If they do, they'd land a developed 6-foot-3 catcher with a powerful arm and violent swing. And grand expectations.
"Be in the Hall of Fame, definitely," he told SI about his goals. "Play in Yankee Stadium. Play in...
They’re missing the stud at the top, unlike the past two years when Kevin Durant and then Michael Beasley were drafted second overall. Nobody from Prince George’s County will go that high in the NBA draft Thursday.
But the county will still get two more first-round picks. They’ll just have to wait until, oh, the middle of the first round this time. That’s when Ty Lawson and Sam Young, both from Clinton, Md., will be selected.
In all, four locals have a shot to be picked Thursday night:
Lawson » His size and the foot injury continue to worry some teams, as does his jump shot. In reality, he could be hurt by the fact that so many good point guards are in this draft. He’s not expected to go in the lottery, but Philadelphia, selecting 17th, is one team that’s been interested. There’s a lot to like: he’s quick, handles the ball well and is a good passer.
“Lawson gives you a little of everything,” said Ryan Blake, the NBA’s assistant director of scouting.
Young » His age (24) scares some teams; they see him as fully developed. That’s one reason he’ll likely be picked between 20-25. But those teams should keep this in mind: He’s probably more ready to help immediately. The 6-foot-6 Young’s ability to defend on the perimeter makes him valuable.
“When you look at...
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas dished out some thoughts on this week’s NBA draft on a conference call Monday. The Examiner’s Jim Williams was there as Bilas simultaneously hedged on the overall quality of this year’s draft and yet made sure it sounded like the Wizards could actually land a quality asset.
“We have guys who will go [in picks No.] 2-10 who last season might have been mid to late first-round choices,” said Bilas regarding the depth of the 2009 draft class. “That is not to say they are bad players. It is to say that we simply do not know who in this class can step on an NBA court and make an instant impact. That is the problem.”
Bilas said five years from now some guys will be busts and some will be good role players. In draft-speak, that sounds to us like very little upside.
However, Bilas offered a silver lining from the Wizards’ latest unlucky showing in the NBA draft lottery last month.
“To me the Wizards should take Tyreke Evans, the guard out of Memphis. He is as fine a talent as I have seen in college basketball,” said Bilas. “There is no doubt that he needs time to grow as a player, and yes, I know that the Wiz have Gilbert Arenas. But Evans, in my mind, four to five years from now could be the best-rated player in this draft. So if I am the Wizards, he is my pick, and I...
North Carolina State winning the 1983 NCAA tournament. Villanova winning it two years later. The Tampa Bay Rays making it to the World Series last fall.
This is what compares to Lucas Glover winning the U.S. Open.
Anyone pick him to win? Anyone? We're guessing the Glover family laid a few bills on someone else as well.
But he's not the most obscure golfer to capture the U.S. Open. And considering his age, 29 , he has a shot to do more than fade back into obscurity. Though one tourney win prior to the U.S. Open and a less-than-stellar mark in majors -- well, before this one -- suggests that he's not exactly a rising stud.
Some allowed this to launch them higher; others, well, did not. Lee Trevino captured this event in 1968. But he finished his career with six majors and 29 PGA victories. Will Glover pull a Trevino? Maybe an Andy North -- wining once more, albeit another Open and parlaying that into a nice TV gig?
Or will he join this list:
Orville Moody » He was a nobody before and after his 1969 U.S. Open championship. Moody won in 1969, but he didn't register another win on the PGA Tour. He did win 11 events on the Senior Tour and is one of four men to win the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open.
Michael Campbell » He won by two shots over Tiger Woods in 2005. But he missed the cut the previous four years and again in three of the last four. Talk about...
Nicknames » Tampa manager Joe Maddon came up with what seemed like a fun nickname for hot-hitting Ben Zobrist. He dubbed him the Zorilla. And then a day later he found out that an animal called a zorilla actually existed: it's related to the weasel and looks a little like a skunk.
Rants » Baseball superagent Scott Boras claims the Tigers might have rested slumping Miguel Cabrera because of clauses in his contract that could force them to pay him $18 million next season. All of Cabrera's numbers are down severely and he needs a break. The agent should be more upset with the client in this case.
Dress code » Caps star Alex Ovechkin showed up to a fashion show at a Las Vegas night spot in not-so-glamorous attire, according to the Las Vegas Tribuine-Review: in flip flops, a T-shirt and shredded jean shorts. But Ovechkin was saved. Someone recognized him and he eventually got in....
06/21/09 9:26 PM
Roger Federer said he was disappointed by Rafael Nadal’s absence from Wimbledon due to a knee injury.
Conspicuously, the same hasn’t been heard from Andy Murray, and it’s a sentiment unlikely to be found anywhere in SW19, especially on the hillside formerly known as Henman Hill and more recently christened Murray Mount.
The 22-year-old Scot was blitzed by Nadal, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, in his first-ever appearance in the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year. But he has a winning record (6-2) against Federer, making him the biggest obstacle to Federer capturing a record-setting 15th major championship and sixth Wimbledon title.
The British press and public won’t care who’s left if one of their own could win it all for the first time since Fred Perry in 1936.
Nadal’s withdrawal also opens the door for Andy Roddick, who is expected to be a top challenger despite rolling his ankle at the Queen’s Club tournament last week. But let’s be honest, the streak of 21 straight majors without a win by an American since Roddick won the 2003 U.S. Open is sure to continue — he’s already lost to Federer twice in the Wimbledon final....
06/21/09 9:18 PM
Trade star winger Alexander Semin? It would be a bold move. Semin, after all, gives the Caps that extra dimension, playing primarily on the second line. With a world-class winger waiting on the bench, the opposition can't focus squarely on Alex Ovechkin's top line.
But there are reasons to make a move. Semin is a restricted free agent at the end of next season. His $4.6 million salary-cap hit is reasonable now. But that will change. Either Semin gets a long-term contract extension from the Caps or, next summer, he is signed to an offer sheet by another team or goes to arbitration and gets a big raise.
This is a player who remains an enigma. He has missed 19 and 20 games the last two seasons and his ability to play with pain is sometimes questioned. Another issue: any young Russian player -- especially one as mercurial as Semin -- is a flight risk. If a team in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League offers a boatload of cash would he turn it down? Maybe. The chance to play with Ovechkin and contend for a Stanley Cup is a strong lure. But could anyone blame a 25-year-old for returning to his homeland for more money? It happened last summer to the Nashville Predators, who lost promising winger Alexander Radulov to the KHL.
So how about Semin for forward Dany Heatley, 28, who just this week demanded a trade from the Ottawa Senators. All things being equal, Semin is more valuable...
06/21/09 9:19 PM
Their duel was mostly a dud, but Jeff and Jered Weaver made a bit of history Saturday night, becoming the first siblings to pitch against each other in a major league game since Andy and Alan Benes in 2002. In the 21st "brother battle" in MLB history, 32-year-old Jeff (5 IP, 2 ER) got the best of 26-year-old Jered (5.1 IP, 6 ER) as the Dodgers beat the Angels, 6-4.
The Weaver boys, however, have a long way to go if they want to crack our top current sibling rivalries:
Peyton Manning vs. Eli Manning » Archie's kids have two Super Bowls and 13 playoff appearances to their credit. They also met in the 2006 season opener when Peyton (276 yards, 1 TD) and the Colts edged Eli (247 yards, 2 TDs) and the Giants, 26-21.
Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams » The most accomplished sisters in tennis history have combined for 25 major championships (eight as doubles partners). They have met seven times in the final of a Grand Slam singles event, with Serena holding a 5-2 edge.
Eric Staal vs. Jordan Staal » Ontario natives are two of four Staal brothers to be drafted into the NHL. Eric (40 G, 35 A) piled up the points last season, but younger brother Jordan got the last laugh when his Penguins swept Eric's Hurricanes in the playoffs....
06/18/09 8:15 PM
Despite being in South Africa, the U.S. national team couldn't be further away from feeling prepared for the 2010 World Cup after Thursday's 3-0 loss to Brazil. We'll spare U.S. head coach Bob Bradley for the moment, but here are three players that don't deserve to return to the continent next summer:
DaMarcus Beasley
With only 12 appearances in the last year for his club team, Glasgow Rangers, including only three in 2009, Beasley's poor form should come as no surprise. Yet, Bradley started him vs. Brazil, and he was the worst player on the field.
Sacha Kljestan
In a stunning dropoff since a hat trick vs. Sweden on Jan. 24, the 23-year-old has become the latest in a long line of American central midfielders to look so out of place in an international match that a red card for a reckless tackle is a foregone conclusion.
Clint Dempsey
He may be a hero at Fulham, where he scored seven goals last season. But he's strung together four straight dismal showings in a U.S. jersey, unacceptable for one of America's most dynamic attacking players....
06/18/09 8:21 PM
The Washington Wizards might be perfect for Jordan Hill, if for no other reason than he’s gone through as many coaches as Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell.
The 6-foot-10 power forward had a different coach in each of his three years at Arizona: Lute Olson, Kevin O’Neill and Russ Pennell. He also spent his senior year of high school at the Patterson School and played only AAU ball in the 11th grade, as he wasn’t eligible for his high school team in Atlanta.
Hill, who turns 22 next month, didn’t start playing basketball until the ninth grade, but after 18.3 points and 11 rebounds per game as a college junior, he’s widely regarded as second-best in the country at his position, projected solidly in the first 10 picks of next week’s NBA draft.
“I’m very overwhelmed because I came from nothing,” said Hill after Thursday’s solo workout for the Wizards. “Now, all of a sudden I’m just up on the radar. I’m surprised, but I knew I could do it. I just wanted to have the heart and the passion to play basketball.”
Hill also overcame the death of his mother, Carol Hunter, from breast cancer when he was three, and bouncing around multiple homes growing up. Lately, he’s got plenty of new cousins he didn’t know he had.
“I do have family that’s trying to get on my side, do all...
06/18/09 8:17 PM
Gilbert Arenas started the trend. Chris Cooley ably followed in his blogging footsteps. And now it's Brendan Haywood's turn; another Washington athlete with something decent to say.
Haywood, who blogs on yardbarker.com, even bravely (foolishly?) responds to the reader comments that follow the story.
His blog on the seven reasons Michael Vick should be allowed to play again drew 186 comments.
We like that he's not just an athlete sticking up for athletes. For example:
On Donte Stallworth's 30-day jail sentence for a DUI manslaughter: "This really hits home because my mother and I were hit by a drunk driver earlier this year. So let me get this straight, Michael Vick gets two years in jail for killing dogs and Stallworth gets only 30 days for killing someone? Now they say that justice is blind, but even Stevie Wonder can see that more than 30 days in jail was needed here. I think this was a terrible injustice. This is why so many people look at pro athletes with disgust and disdain."
On LeBron James not shaking hands with the Magic after losing the series: "The thing that bothers me most is that he didn't seem apologetic about not feeling the need to shake hands and do the interviews. When you're the face of the league, there's a responsibility that goes along with it."
And he dispenses optimism.
"For all of my Wizards' fans out there," he...
06/17/09 3:29 PM
One tournament changed the perception of Tiger Woods' golf game. It just so happened to be two weeks ago at the Memorial.
And now, there's this from NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller:
"He almost reminds me of his year from 2000," Miller said. "You have to watch out. É Not many defending champions defend and that could be broken this week."
A quick reminder of Woods' 2000 season: He won three major tournaments and captured nine events overall.
Only two golfers have won the U.S. Open in consecutive years: Ben Crenshaw (1988-89) and Ben Hogan (1950-51). If Woods hits 87.5 percent of the fairways again in regulation, as he did two weeks ago, he'll join the list.
"His swing is the best I've seen it in quite a while," Miller said.
The good thing for Woods is that Bethpage Black has a graduated rough this week, which should allow him a chance to recover from an errant tee shot.
Fellow NBC analyst Gary Koch said on the conference call that Woods' backswing with the long clubs was in better position at the Memorial than even a couple weeks prior.
Again, two words: Watch out.
"One thing I've seen from Tiger all this year," Koch said, "is that when he's had his practices on the range, his rhythm and tempo have been quite good. He's had a difficult time continuing that on the course. At the Memorial, he was able to maintain that...
06/17/09 3:28 PM
The immediate sting of American-born Guiseppe Rossi’s two goals for Italy in a 3-1 win over the United States on Monday was far easier to bear than the lingering throb of the painful truths he exposed about the state of soccer in this country.
Although the 22-year-old Rossi was born and raised in New Jersey, he and his Italian immigrant parents did only what was logical 10 years ago when he was offered a spot in the training program at Parma — they took advantage and moved to Italy. He’s been there ever since, playing at such clubs as Manchester United before moving to his current team, Spain’s Villareal.
Rossi’s love for his parents’ homeland and desire to play international soccer for the Italians instead of the United States was never in question, and for every player that spurns America, there are cases such as Freddy Adu, who chose the Red, White and Blue over his country of birth, Ghana, and German-born and -bred Jermaine Jones, the son of a former U.S. serviceman who recently stated he wants to switch his international allegiance.
But lagging player identification and development programs in the United States made Rossi’s choice to leave American soccer behind an easy one.
It is up to the U.S. Soccer Federation to build the kind of domestic youth training structure that attracts the best American-bred players. When young...
06/17/09 3:20 PM
The NBA draft is still one week away, but the offseason is already in full swing, and that means free agency. Watch out for these leading potential movers and shakers:
Phoenix » Should Shaquille O'Neal leave the Suns, he could fundamentally alter the NBA's balance of power, in either the Eastern or Western Conference, despite being 37 years old. Should Amare Stoudemire leave, the balance most greatly affected would be in Phoenix.
Detroit » Armed with salary cap space, the Pistons have been mentioned as frontrunners to land opt-out king Carlos Boozer or Ben Gordon. Joe Dumars' second rebuilding job could materialize quickly.
Orlando » The magic might literally disappear from the Magic if Hedo Terkoglu doesn't get a new longterm deal. The Eastern Conference champions' history of not paying the luxury tax will likely have to come to an end to retain the Turkish point-forward. Restricted free agent Marcin Gortat has also become an attractive backup center.
Cleveland » Yes, we can't avoid it. If LeBron James is to stay in Ohio through 2010, he's going to need an improved supporting cast. The Cavaliers are in the market for upgrades at power forward and center....
06/16/09 6:46 PM
A year ago the Capitals returned home from the NHL Awards Ceremony in Toronto with a truckload of hardware. Alex Ovechkin was named MVP and picked up three other major awards. Coach Bruce Boudreau earned the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year.
On Thursday in Las Vegas, Ovechkin again is a finalist for the Hart Trophy and the Pearson Award (NHL players' MVP) while Mike Green is up for the Norris Trophy as best defenseman. So do the Caps need a bigger trophy case?
Hart Trophy
In 2008 there would have been a riot if Ovechkin hadn't been named MVP. This season? His chances are 50-50. Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin had a brilliant regular season with 35 goals and 78 assists. That gives him three more points than Ovechkin (56 goals, 54 assists -- 110), who did play in three fewer games. Malkin led the NHL in takeaways (94). Ovechkin was a bit more productive on the power play with 47 points. The dark horse is Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, an elite two-way center second to Malkin in takeaways (89) who still managed 97 points.
The pick » Split the difference. Malkin wins the Hart while Ovechkin takes the Pearson Award as the players' choice.
Norris Trophy
No, Green isn't a classic big defenseman like Boston's Zdeno Chara, who can clear out a crease and still bomb shots from the point. Green also isn't like Nicklas Lidstrom, the 39-year-old Red Wings star who plays...
06/16/09 6:43 PM
It doesn't matter what sort of workout point guard Brandon Jennings had for the Wizards on Tuesday. We just wanted him to say it again. That Ricky Rubio was all hype. Whether or not you believe the statement, it sure adds spice to the draft.
Instead, Jennings reiterated what he said the other day, that he went overboard.
And then he even praised him.
That's not much fun, at least not for a reporter.
However, Jennings, who played in Italy this past year rather than go to college, was more than open about what he learned this past year, The Examiner's Craig Stouffer reported.
"It's more physical overseas," he said. "They don't call anything. You can grab, you can choke a player. You can do anything. It's real rough over there so I think it will be easier for me in the NBA. I won't mind getting bumped or being hit because I've been hit all year."
And he got a kick out of the atmosphere during a game in Siena.
"It was just like being at a soccer game," he said. "They have flares, they're smoking cigarettes. They're singing, playing drums the whole game, yelling at you, throwing stuff. It was real exciting."
But it was difficult adjusting to life in Italy. He missed the fast food choices, he couldn't get used to the long lunches and many stores were closed on weekends.
Still, he'd do it again. Making $500,000 didn't hurt, of course....
06/16/09 6:41 PM
Forget Tiger Woods, the toughest opponent in the U.S. Open could be the weather.
So says ESPN golf analyst, and former Open champion, Andy North. Rain is forecast through the weekend in New York.
"The course is long to begin with," North said. "If [it rains] then you have fairways that feel like they are playing longer. You have rough that is thicker, wet and tougher to get the ball out of and greens that play slower.
"That means 60 percent or more of the field is out of the Open on Thursday morning, because they're just not equipped for playing under those conditions."
Among the 40 percent: the grinders, he told The Examiner's Jim Williams.
"Mentally, playing in the rain is tough because it takes you out of your rhythm," he said. "Water is dripping off your face, the shots are twice as hard and keeping focus is the key. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington are names that come to...
06/15/09 9:14 PM
The rush to predict repeat titles for the Los Angeles Lakers is more than a bit premature. As good as the Lakers are, they benefited from facing a team they were perfectly constructed to beat.
And if Boston returns healthy next year, and somehow gets to the NBA finals, the Celtics, not the Lakers, could be looking at two titles in three seasons. Why? Because of matchups.
Great as the Lakers are, they struggled against Boston's physical style last year, especially inside. That might be the only team they're not built to defeat.
But they did not need to be as physical vs. Orlando in this year's final. The Magic are a perimeter-oriented team with one big man and not a lot of bruisers.
You also have to wonder about Phil Jackson's future (will he coach next year) and Kobe Bryant's age (31 in August, coming off the Olympics last year as well).
That said, the Lakers clearly were the best team this year. And here are three reasons why they were a good matchup vs. Orlando:
» Pau Gasol's feet. To defend Dwight Howard, a center must either be strong or nimble. Gasol is far from the former, but the ability to hold his ground enough and to beat Howard to spots proved to be huge. Cleveland could not stop Howard because it used slow-footed Zydrunas Ilgauskas or too short Ben Wallace. But Gasol is 7-feet tall and quick.
» Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza's length. Save for...
06/15/09 9:11 PM
The Nationals have apparently decided to stick with manager Manny Acta -- for now. Monday's day off would have been an appropriate time to make a change, allowing Acta to return home to the District to pack up his office and a new manager -- likely bench coach Jim Riggleman -- time to settle in before a three-game series begins tonight in New York against the Yankees.
But the front office has decided to wait -- a curious move considering no one in charge has offered a corresponding statement of support since team president Stan Kasten spoke with the media on Saturday.
Instead, Acta, 25 players and a coaching staff are left in limbo for another few days. Managerial changes are rare in the middle of a series and the Nats don't return to the District until Friday night when they begin a six-game homestand.
One thing is clear: There is some indecision amongst the Nats' top officials. Ted Lerner, the team's managing principal owner, was traveling out of the country late last week. It is unknown what affect his absence had on the process. Kasten briefly accompanied the Nats to Tampa Bay over the weekend and then met the team again in New York on Monday. But the lack of a move begs another question: What happens if the Nats actually perform well against the Yankees this week and how long a reprieve will Acta get?...
06/15/09 9:09 PM
We're going to miss Orlando backup center Marcin Gortat. Not because of his performance in the NBA playoffs -- though it's hard to find someone whose stock improved more than his. Anyway, we'll miss the Polish Hammer because of his quotes.
On his popularity in his native Poland: "I feel like the Dwight Howard of Poland … I'm scared to go home. If I get any more popular, I'll run for President."
On his black BMW M5: "I can pull up next to a Ferrari or Lamborghini at a light, look over, and they might start laughing. But when it turns green, I'm gone, waiting at the next light when they get there, and I'm the one laughing then."
And on the Jordan/Nike logo tattoo his shoe sponsor, Reebok, wanted him to remove: "I've heard from other people that even other players, if they don't know my name, they know I'm the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo," he said. "I like that. Reebok will have to get used to...
06/14/09 8:38 PM
If it's only about playing in the NBA, Maryland point guard Greivis Vasquez has one decision that makes sense: return to school.
As of last night, Vasquez had not yet announced if he was staying in the draft or returning to school. Draftexpress.com ranks him as the 72nd best prospect.
He has until 5 p.m. Monday to return to college. The consistent belief from others is that he should go back to Maryland. However, even if he returned, how much would he improve his standing? His lack of athleticism will be a problem next year, too.
He could play overseas, if his desire is simply to get paid to play hoops.
One problem is that NBA teams are fielding fewer summer league teams and there's talk that some will only carry 14 players this season, one less than the maximum, to cut costs. That limits opportunities for guys such as Vasquez.
"There are a lot of concerns about him," said Ryan Blake, the NBA's assistant director of scouting....
06/14/09 8:38 PM
As it did for general manager Jim Bowden -- and even pitching coach Randy St. Claire earlier this month -- the countdown begins for Nationals manager Manny Acta.
A man who still has plenty of supporters in the front office just won't be able to last much longer if the losses continue to mount. A FOX Sports report on Saturday afternoon has the Nats making a change by Monday -- a move team president Stan Kasten would not confirm over the weekend. Acta did board the team plane Sunday night bound for New York and a three-game series against the Yankees that begins Tuesday. But his job status clearly is shaky. There are plenty of reasons why firing Acta is justifiable -- and even a few to keep him around.
Pros
No manager can survive a 148-236 record over two-plus seasons. Acta hasn't been given much to work with. But he also hasn't done much with what he's had during that time. He is a patient man and he's needed to be. But there are some around baseball who think he's patient to a fault. Acta won't apologize for that. But at this point the approach clearly isn't working. Privately, Nats players respect Acta. But the record is so horrendous some team officials think a change is needed just to establish some accountability.
Cons
What could any manager realistically accomplish with the rosters Acta has been given over the last three years? The Nats won 73 games in his...
06/14/09 8:38 PM
The city of Pittsburgh accomplished a rare feat, winning titles in two sports in the same year. While Pittsburgh feels on top of the world right now, here are four cities that feel the opposite.
Washington » There's a reason the Wizards went 19-63 (injuries), but that doesn't exactly soften the blow now, does it? Who'd have thought anyone could finish with a worse winning percentage than the Wizards? Now we know: the Nats. It's a good thing we're not counting the Redskins 2-6 finish. The Caps salvaged the past half-year. Still, the Wiz-Nats combo might be the worst in sports in some time.
Kansas City » Thank goodness these people have access to terrific barbecue. It's not just the past sports year that has been awful. The Chiefs are a combined 6-26 the past two seasons and the Royals fourth-place finish last summer was its best since 2003. They're contending for last once again, as will the Chiefs again this fall.
Seattle » We're extending this to last season for a good reason. Nobody suffered like Seattle in 2008. First the Sonics lost 62 games -- and moved to Oklahoma City. Then the Mariners lost 101 games -- and stayed. Seattle fans are trying to determine which was worse.
Oakland » The Raiders were 5-11 last season (the sixth straight with five wins or less) and the Golden State Warriors completed a 29-53 campaign in April. In the...
06/11/09 5:56 PM
The time-honored tradition of Bring Your Son to Work and Give Him a Job has continued with the Washington Wizards, as new head coach Flip Saunders' son, Ryan Saunders, was seen for the first time this week helping run the team's predraft workouts at Verizon Center.
Reports say the younger Saunders, most recently a graduate assistant at Minnesota, will become the Wizards' video coordinator.
It's a familiar custom for the Wizards, with Wes Unseld Jr. on staff for more than a decade, but the Redskins also have a long history pulling family strings.
Brian Schottenheimer's first NFL gig was quarterbacks coach under his father, Marty Schottenheimer, in 2001.
Steve Spurrier Jr., was wide receivers coach with the Redskins for two years under Steve Spurrier Sr.
Even Joe Gibbs added Coy Gibbs as offensive quality control assistant during his second stint in Washington. And Al Saunders brought his son to the offensive staff.
Notice anything? None of these teams won.
Be glad that Jim Zorn, Bruce Boudreau and Manny Acta haven't followed suit. Then again, in some cases maybe their kids would want more job security....
06/11/09 5:56 PM
It's become the staple finale to a Flip Saunders-led Wizards predraft workout. From the elbow, players shoot their way down from seven to zero, after each shot, running to the opposite sideline before returning for the next attempt. Each make reduces the number remaining by one, each miss adds to the total.
On Thursday, Southern California freshman DeMar DeRozan's shooting performance in the drill was average: he made a few, missed a few. But coming at the end of the projected lottery pick's individual workout, the 6-foot-6 DeRozan could muster no more than a jog and barely got his feet off the floor for his shots.
"The pros are that [the] staff sees everything you can do," said DeRozan, 19, on the decision to conduct a solo session. "The main focus is you. The cons are you get real fatigued."
Six players were on the court the hour before DeRozan took to the floor, headlined by USC teammate Taj Gibson and Clinton, Md.-native Ty Lawson. Gonzaga duo Josh Heytvelt and Jeremy Pargo, former Arkansas guard Patrick Beverley and Coppin State guard Tywain McKee completed the group.
Lawson, the NCAA title-winning North Carolina point guard who worked out for Washington last year, finished the session with a stellar shooting performance, including just one miss in Saunders' signature closing drill.
"It was one of the best workouts I went through,"...
06/11/09 5:56 PM
The line is repeated often: there's nothing like a Game 7 in hockey. There have been 14 in history, including five in the past eight years.
Some stand out:
Detroit 4, New York Rangers 3 (2OT, 1950) » If this had occurred in the age of ESPN, this would be even more memorable. New York won Games 4 and 5 in overtime. Detroit then rallied in the third period to win the next game before winning this one with 8:31 left in the second overtime. The tradition of skating around the ice holding the Stanley Cup began after this game.
New York Rangers 3, Vancouver 2 (1994) » The Rangers won their first championship since 1940, which made the intensity of the final moments quite remarkable. There was no wild comeback as New York twice led by two goals. But the Rangers overcame several faceoffs in their own end late in the game.
Montreal 3, Chicago 2 (1971) » This is the series that gives Pittsburgh hope Friday night as Montreal became one of only two teams to win a Game 7 on the road in the finals. Also, the Canadiens had lost the first three games in Chicago. With 2:37 remaining, Rocket Richard scored the game winner.
Tampa Bay 3, Calgary 2 (2004) » This game will be remembered for what happened in the final seconds. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin made a terrific pad save of a Marcus Nilson shot; it was a couple inches from tying the game. Games 5 and 6...
06/10/09 2:37 PM
The Nationals did what they had to do Tuesday, selecting Stephen Strasburg with the first pick. What they now must do is trade off every part they can, trying to garner as many prospects as possible. Their farm system, once thought on the rise a couple years ago, offers little hope for the future.
And, for the first time since they had Alfonso Soriano in 2006, the Nats have the pieces to pull it off. Unlike what they did with Soriano, they need to turn their assets into more players. You can't build off the draft alone (as the Nats have proven). Good teams also rebuild by trading valuable parts. The Nats haven't always had those parts.
More than anything, they need to find middle infielders and a center fielder.
It starts with Adam Dunn. He's marketable for two reasons: he's on pace for his sixth straight 40-homer season and he has another year left on a relatively inexpensive contract.
Last summer, Cincinnati received three solid, but not high-impact, prospects from Arizona in return for Dunn, then a pending free agent. Any team that gets him this summer will have him for another.
The Nats should be able to parlay that into at least one top prospect -- close to major league ready -- in a multi-player package.
But don't stop there. Get rid of Nick Johnson. Get rid of Cristian Guzman. Get rid of Austin Kearns. On second thought, nobody would give up much for Kearns....
06/10/09 2:33 PM
Two thoughts on Orlando's Game 3 win over Los Angeles:
» If the Magic shot a record-setting 62.5 percent from the field -- including 75 percent in the first half, also a record -- how in the world did they manage to win by only four points?
By shooting 5-for-14 from three-point range, representing their fewest three-point attempts of the postseason and matching their lowest number made. In 22 playoff games, Orlando has hoisted less than 20 shots from behind the arc just four times. The two other times they made only enough to count on one hand were both losses: Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semis against Boston and the first game of the postseason in the conference quarters versus Philadelphia.
» Kobe Bryant paced the Los Angeles Lakers with 31 points, including a host of impossibly difficult jumpers in the first half. But he failed to deliver down the stretch, missing four straight shots in the fourth quarter -- including three 3-pointers -- not to mention half of his free throw attempts.
During the regular season, Bryant was the best in the NBA in clutch situations, leading the league with 56.7 points per 48 minutes of "clutch time" (4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points), according to 82games.com.
But the Lakers are only 4-3 in those games this postseason, with Bryant's clutch play...
06/10/09 2:32 PM
Ty Lawson knows his list of deficiencies. And there's not much the North Carolina star guard can do about them.
"People say I'm injury prone and too short [at 5-foot-11]," the Clinton, Md., native told reporters in New York this week. "I mean, we're just going to see what happens on draft day. And after the draft. I'll prove everybody wrong."
There's something else he's trying to prove in workouts:
"That I can shoot a deep three," he said. "Even though I made 47 percent from the three-point line, people still say I can't shoot."
Lawson will be in town Thursday to work out fro the Wizards at Verizon Center.
It's a deep draft for point guards, with Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings and Jeff Teague. Some like Eric Maynor more than Lawson.
There's also combo guards such as Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday, both of whom could go in the top 10.
Lawson likely falls in the middle. He's said he expects to be drafted anywhere between five and 14. The fifth pick seems high for him (if the Wizards hold onto that pick, they won't take him)....
06/10/09 9:53 AM
"On the way to DC me and Obama have some things to go over LOL Then he wants to play one on one So after these Iraq plans we good BFAM," announced TheRealTWill via Twitter on Tuesday.
We're assuming that means Louisville swingman Terrence Williams is set to work out for the Washington Wizards, but can we really be sure? We'd like to think so.
It's certainly not a playoff guarantee or the kind of snide remark that has some sports celebrities, such as Peyton and Eli Manning, turning their nose up at joining the social messaging system.
We understand their concern. Cheap identity theft is still identity theft.
But the power (read entertainment) of Twitter still compels. How else would we be able to commiserate with former Wizard Roger Mason (MoneyMase), who we think tweeted Tuesday afternoon just as the heavens opened over Washington,
"Man, this rain in Miami sucks. Almost every hour it's raining ... What can I do in the crib to by some time?"
Our suggestion: more Twitter....
06/10/09 9:53 AM
The Redskins might be a logical pick to pursue Michael Vick except for one problem: They don't want him.
According to multiple league sources, the Redskins briefly discussed signing the ex-Falcons quarterback and came to a quick and unanimous conclusion. It would not work here. It's a message league sources say has been consistent since January.
Vick is in house confinement until July 20 -- and one league source said he's struggling to find time to work out, especially in a way to prepare for an NFL season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell still has not said if Vick will receive further punishment. The former Virginia Tech star served 19 months in prison for his role in running a dogfighting ring.
Atlanta still owns his rights, but it's expected the Falcons eventually will release him. If there are any suitors, they're keeping it a secret.
But it's clear that Washington won't be one of them. Those who expected the Redskins to pursue Vick pointed to owner Dan Snyder's penchant for chasing big names, most of which happened earlier in his tenure as owner. Not to mention that the Redskins pursued quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez this offseason in an effort to replace starter Jason Campbell.
But the reasons for not wanting Vick are simple, starting with location. Playing so close to the seat of political power in the country would potentially make Vick, and the...
06/10/09 9:53 AM
Scottie Reynolds made the decision others said he should make all along. The Villanova standout, and Herndon High grad, is returning for his senior season after spending the past month working out for NBA teams.
"The best decision for me is to return to Villanova for my senior year," Reynolds said. "I'm blessed to be in the situation I am in."
When he first put his name into the draft two months ago, it was believed he would only stay in if he was guaranteed being a first-round pick. One NBA executive said that would never happen. He was right.
Reynolds can do what Ty Lawson did last year: return after testing his draft stock, then lead his team to a national title. Lawson improved his standing because he improved his game. Reynolds can do so as well. He can become a better decision maker, for starters.
Some things will be tougher to improve.
"The kid is a hell of a college player and has a heart like a lion," the executive said. "There are some nice qualities. But the reality is he's 6-feet tall and not exceptionally quick. His ability to score is intriguing."
And that latter ability will be tempting to NBA teams next season, even if it means they only see him as a 10-minute a game guy. Some have compared him to Boston's Eddie House, instant offense off the bench.
Reynolds was smart to give it a shot. He's equally smart for going back to school....
By: John Keim
06/09/09 10:13 PM
The Redskins might be a logical pick to pursue Michael Vick except for one problem: They don’t want him.
According to multiple league sources, the Redskins briefly discussed signing the ex-Falcons quarterback and came to a quick and unanimous conclusion. It would not work here. It’s a message league sources say has been consistent since January.
Vick is in house confinement until July 20 — and one league source said he’s struggling to find time to work out, especially in a way to prepare for an NFL season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell still has not said if Vick will receive further punishment. The former Virginia Tech star served 19 months in prison for his role in running a dogfighting ring.
Atlanta still owns his rights, but it’s expected the Falcons eventually will release him. If there are any suitors, they’re keeping it a secret.
But it’s clear that Washington won’t be one of them. Those who expected the Redskins to pursue Vick pointed to owner Dan Snyder’s penchant for chasing big names, most of which happened earlier in his tenure as owner. Not to mention that the Redskins pursued quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez this offseason in an effort to replace starter Jason Campbell.
But the reasons for not wanting Vick are simple, starting with location. Playing so close to the seat of political power in the...
06/09/09 10:10 PM
Scottie Reynolds made the decision others said he should make all along. The Villanova standout, and Herndon High grad, is returning for his senior season after spending the past month working out for NBA teams.
“The best decision for me is to return to Villanova for my senior year,” Reynolds said. “I’m blessed to be in the situation I am in.”
When he first put his name into the draft two months ago, it was believed he would only stay in if he was guaranteed being a first-round pick. One NBA executive said that would never happen. He was right.
Reynolds can do what Ty Lawson did last year: return after testing his draft stock, then lead his team to a national title. Lawson improved his standing because he improved his game. Reynolds can do so as well. He can become a better decision maker, for starters.
Some things will be tougher to improve.
“The kid is a hell of a college player and has a heart like a lion,” the executive said. “There are some nice qualities. But the reality is he’s 6-feet tall and not exceptionally quick. His ability to score is intriguing.”
And that latter ability will be tempting to NBA teams next season, even if it means they only see him as a 10-minute a game guy. Some have compared him to Boston’s Eddie House, instant offense off the bench.
Reynolds was smart to give it a shot....
06/09/09 10:07 PM
“On the way to DC me and Obama have some things to go over LOL Then he wants to play one on one So after these Iraq plans we good BFAM,” announced TheRealTWill via Twitter on Tuesday.
We’re assuming that means Louisville swingman Terrence Williams is set to work out for the Washington Wizards, but can we really be sure? We’d like to think so.
It’s certainly not a playoff guarantee or the kind of snide remark that has some sports celebrities, such as Peyton and Eli Manning, turning their nose up at joining the social messaging system.
We understand their concern. Cheap identity theft is still identity theft.
But the power (read entertainment) of Twitter still compels. How else would we be able to commiserate with former Wizard Roger Mason (MoneyMase), who we think tweeted Tuesday afternoon just as the heavens opened over Washington,
“Man, this rain in Miami sucks. Almost every hour it’s raining ... What can I do in the crib to by some time?”
Our suggestion: more Twitter....
06/08/09 8:21 PM
It is the ultimate conundrum for a Major League Baseball team. Scouts say that San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg is a no-brainer as the first pick in today's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The Nationals appear to agree as they are expected to take Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick. But as much acclaim and hype as the 6-foot-4 right-hander has received -- including cover stories by ESPN the Magazine and Sports Illustrated, among others -- history tells the Nats to do something decidedly different: run.
That's because pitchers selected with the No. 1 overall pick almost never work out as expected. Twelve of them have been taken since the draft started in 1965. Some have gone on to good careers -- Floyd Bannister, Andy Benes and Tim Belcher -- while others have imploded thanks to injuries or expectations -- Brien Taylor, a Yankees prospect who never made the big leagues after suffering a shoulder injury in a bar fight in 1992. And Paul Wilson, a New York Mets pick who won just 40 games in his career. There are no Hall-of-Famers and not even a consistent All-Star in the bunch. Just a lot of unfulfilled promise.
Ben McDonald is clearly the best approximation of Strasburg. He was chosen No. 1 by the Orioles in 1989 out of LSU with an eerily similar combination of a high-90s fastball, hard, biting curve and fine change-up. McDonald struggled under the...
06/08/09 8:19 PM
Dwight Howard has produced despite the turnovers. Rashard Lewis has kicked his shooting up a notch. And Hedo Turkoglu has done as much as he can with the massive burden he's been forced to bear.
But Orlando's supporting cast backcourt has been underwhelming in the NBA finals, and they'll need to change their ways if the Magic are going to hold off the surging Los Angeles Lakers.
Rafer Alston's streetball game hasn't left the cul-de-sac. His shooting was so poor (3-for-17) that the Lakers left him unguarded in Game 2. Courtney Lee (4-for-13) and J.J. Redick (3-for-11) have been cold, too. But the red flags that dogged Alston's career before his admirable stint filling in for injured Jameer Nelson have the greatest potential to detonate Orlando's once-prized team chemistry.
Speaking of Nelson, his decent return after four months out with injury in Game 1 (6 points, 4 assists) wasn't sustained for Game 2 (4 points, 1 assist). It's clear he can't give the Magic what he did in two regular-season wins over Los Angeles (27.5 ppg, 5.5 apg). It's up to Nelson to find other ways.
Mickael Pietrus also needs to regroup. He's a defensive specialist, but Orlando's three-point production suffered the most when Pietrus fouled out with just two points and two rebounds in Game 2. Pietrus also ended a streak of nine straight playoff games scoring in double figures and 11 with at least one...
06/08/09 8:17 PM
For the second time this season, Tiger Woods won his final event prior to a major, this time with a ringing endorsement from Jack Nicklaus.
“I suspect [major win] No. 15 will come for Tiger Woods in about two weeks,” said Nicklaus. “If he drives the ball this way, and plays this way, I’m sure it will. And if not, it will surprise me greatly.”
It will also be the 15th attempt for Woods to follow a tuneup victory with a major title. Here are the four times he won the major after winning the tuneup event (in golf, a .267 average isn’t bad). Note the first one:
2000 » Tuneup win: The Memorial; Major win: U.S. Open (Pebble Beach)
2001 » Tuneup: TPC at Sawgrass; Major win: The Masters
2006 » Tuneup: Buick Open; Major win: PGA Championship (Medinah)
2007 » Tuneup: Bridgestone Invitational (Firestone); Major win: PGA Championship (Southern Hills)
2009 » Tuneup: The Memorial; Major win: U.S. Open (Bethpage Black); Finish: ??...
06/07/09 9:31 PM
Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is expected to be in court Monday, finally facing misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving with an expired registration. The charges stem from a December accident that left a Tennessee man injured.
Haynesworth also faces a $7.5 million civil lawsuit, filed by Corey Edmonson, who was hurt in the crash and claims that the accident was Haynesworth's fault.
Haynesworth faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $500 fine. The expired registration charge is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail and a $50 fine.
The problem for Haynesworth is that the incident occurred four days after he was placed on probation because of a traffic violation the previous March (driving 103 mph in a 70-mph zone).
"What's troubling to me is that he was placed on probation and four days later is involved in another situation in which we believe speed was a factor," said Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper....
06/07/09 9:35 PM
Jim Bowden is long gone, stepping down as general manager of the Nationals in March. But the scouting and player-development staff put together on his watch remains intact -- led by acting general manager Mike Rizzo. Members of the 2008 draft class are just starting their pro careers.
Here are the early returns from the Nats' 2006 and 2007 drafts.
2006
No. 1 pick Chris Marrero is having a nice season at Single-A Potomac (.281 BA, 6 HR, 32 RBI), but at 20 certainly isn't close to being major-league ready. After that the draft falls off a cliff.
Pitcher Colton Willems (1st rd.) has a 7.52 ERA at Potomac. Outfielder Stephen Englund (3rd rd.) is batting .109 at low-A Hagerstown. Third baseman Stephen King (5th rd.) is hitting .203 at Potomac. Pitcher Cory VanAllen (7th rd.) has battled various injuries at Harrisburg.
Positives include reliever Zech Zinicola (8th rd.), who has a 1.74 ERA at Harrisburg and catcher Sean Rooney (10th rd.), who is taking off at Potomac with a .309 average.
Grade » Marrero is rebounding well from a season-ending ankle injury in 2008. But for now no other impact players on horizon. C-
2007
This draft class already has produced. Left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler (1st rd./6th overall) is in the majors and holding his own. The numbers for right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (3rd rd.) aren't eye-popping -- but he shows the poise of a...
06/07/09 9:32 PM
The debate will rage from here on out. That is, if it hasn't already been decided. And by most accounts, the title of GOAT already has been bestowed upon Roger Federer.
Does he deserve it?
Based on his accomplishments, you have to say yes. Federer now has won 14 Grand Slam events, tying Pete Sampras for the most ever. But Sampras never solved the French Open and never even reached the final -- and only one semifinal. That merits calling Federer the greatest men's tennis player of all time.
However, one strike against Federer is the era in which he's played. Others, like the 1980s, were more competitive with Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.
One Web site wondered how Federer would have fared against this group. Maybe he would not have had 14 titles; maybe it would have been around eight or nine. But the others also would have had fewer. And that still would have made Federer the best of arguably the toughest era.
One reason there haven't been more challengers, aside from Rafael Nadal, in this period is because of Federer. The same has been said of Tiger Woods. It was even said once about Michael Jordan.
Greatness tends to beat down others, making them seem ordinary. Like Federer, that's what Rod Laver did in the 1960s, winning the Grand Slam as both an amateur and a professional. He lasted seven straight years as the No. 1-ranked player.
Everyone wants to...
06/04/09 9:29 PM
Since the ill-fated drop in the NBA Draft Lottery two weeks ago, falling two spots to land the fifth overall pick in the June 25 draft, the Washington Wizards have become one of the most talked about teams in pre-draft trade rumor circles. Two significant trade rumors have emerged courtesy of various NBA Web sites. Both are worth exploring.
Rumor No. 1
Washington gets Amare Stoudemire from Phoenix in exchange for the No. 5 pick, [a Wizards star] and [a Wizards expiring contract].*
Financial pressures on the Suns, as well as other teams in the NBA, make this less surprising than you might think.
In this case, if the Wizards superstar is aging Antawn Jamison, the deal is lopsided in favor of Washington and would be hard to pass up. However, the Suns could push for Caron Butler instead. Despite Butler's increasing role with the Wizards, especially over the past season, the NBA is a versatile big man's league. The opportunity to nab a great one can't be regarded lightly.
Rumor No. 2
Washington gets [a combination of players] from Dallas in exchange for the No. 5 pick, [a combination of players and expiring contracts].*
Despite the organization's belief that the Wizards can win next season if healthy, this longer-term play begins with Mavericks' rumored interest (as reported by Draftexpress.com) in Arizona forward Jordan Hill, a likely prospect for the fifth pick....
06/04/09 9:25 PM
The skeptic looks at it like this: Chris Samuels is coming off a triceps injury, not to mention knee surgery; center Casey Rabach will soon be 32 and undersized in the era of the 3-4 front with big nose tackles; right guard Randy Thomas is 33 and had surgery on his neck and knee; and there's no set starter at right tackle.
Naturally, the optimist (read: Jim Zorn), views it differently.
"We are in better shape, no question," he said. "I'm not as concerned today as I was last year, with all the unknowns."
But he should be concerned about the offensive line, which perhaps is the key to Washington's 2009 season. The problems were not all Jon Jansen's or Pete Kendall's (both of whom are now gone).
And the questions don't end with their departure. Samuels can still play, but what about Thomas? Like Jansen, he's had an injury-filled recent past (broken leg/torn triceps/neck/knee). If he can't play -- and he said he'll be ready when camp starts July 30 -- is second-year Chad Rinehart ready? One team source recently labeled him as a career backup.
The last thing Washington needs is a young guard next to a young Stephon Heyer at right tackle. Communication along the line is vital and it's hard to imagine this tandem doing that at a high level so young.
Samuels is still a good player, but can he punch the way he needs to coming off his injury? That's a...
06/04/09 9:23 PM
Bad news » The U.S. men's national team's 3-1 loss at Costa Rica on Wednesday night was an embarrassing step backward for a team aiming to be the North and Central American region's top qualifier for next summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Good news » U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has more European-based players at his disposal than ever before.
Bad news » There wasn't enough value in rusty performances by Clint Dempsey (England), Jozy Altidore (Spain) and DaMarcus Beasley (Scotland) to cover the cost of their trans-Atlantic plane tickets.
Good news » Currently in second place in the region, the U.S. is still on target for one of three automatic qualifying spots.
Bad news » The likelihood of finishing fourth and having to face a South American team in a two-game playoff has increased dramatically, as the U.S. will be shorthanded due to yellow card suspensions and injuries vs. Honduras in Chicago on Saturday. The U.S. then visits Mexico City in August, where it has never won....
06/03/09 3:35 PM
What did the Orlando Magic get for defying expectations to emerge victorious in three grueling playoff series? Nothing less than one more chance to be respected but near unanimous underdogs against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
(By the way, President Obama has the Lakers in six, as mainstream a pick as selecting North Carolina to win the NCAA tournament. Next we'll expect him to forecast the Patriots in the Super Bowl.)
Perhaps not surprisingly, Orlando scout and former NBA assistant coach Brian James says no one's giving the Magic a chance. Equally expected is his first contention for why it's not quite so cut and dry: Dwight Howard.
"I think you still have to contend with the guy in the middle," said James. "He's bigger and stronger than [Pau] Gasol, and I think you're going to have to look for Andrew Bynum to play much better than he did against Denver."
At the defensive end of the floor, the Magic will have to reproduce and improve on what they achieved against Cleveland.
"[Mikael] Pietrus did a credible job guarding LeBron [James] with every teammate that he has," said James. "So he's going to be asked to guard Kobe [Bryant] a lot, along with Hedo Terkoglu and Courtney Lee, who is a great competitor. Those three are going to have a chance to guard Kobe. I don't see J.J. Redick guarding him much, but Orlando's deeper...
By: John Keim
06/03/09 3:32 PM
His talent leads to predictions of All-Pro seasons. His absence leads to talk of disappointment.
Third-year safety LaRon Landry was the only Redskin absent from the voluntary organized team activity sessions Wednesday. He has missed all seven OTA days thus far, appearing only at the three-day minicamp the first weekend of May. Landry also worked out away from the facility last offseason.
"I'm very disappointed because everyone else is here," said Redskins safeties coach Steve Jackson. "I'll be candid with you: He has to be here in the offseason not so much just because it's OTAs, but his teammates are here and there are a lot of things we're discussing that he's a part of that he has no idea are even going on -- calls, coverages, techniques.
"He's our free safety and he's the one who has to get the ball rolling. As he improves, our defense usually improves, but when he's not here …"
Jackson made it clear he wasn't speaking for the team, but for himself. Secondary coach Jerry Gray said if Landry makes the Pro Bowl, then all is forgotten -- and Gray predicted an All-Pro season.
"LaRon can become an elite safety," Gray said. "He has the tools."
That's why Jackson wants him in Ashburn.
"He has talent," Jackson said, "but we need him to be a better player. You become a better player working on the field,...
06/03/09 3:18 PM
There's one thing the NBA offices will be thankful for during the finals: caller ID. Considering that the coaches are Phil Jackson (Los Angeles) and Stan Van Gundy (Orlando), we suggest taking the "over" on complaints about officiating.
"The NBA is dreading the onslaught of griping to come," said one NBA executive.
It's what Jackson has done for, oh, forever -- including last year vs. Boston when the Lakers lost the first two games of the series. After one game, Boston coach Doc Rivers said of Jackson, "I'm just surprised he didn't whine about fouls tonight."
That's why the executive lists the officials as one of his X-factors. And, considering Jackson has nine rings, he knows which direction they'll tilt.
Which means that Van Gundy (one blogger referred to him as Mario Bros.), will then get in on the act. He criticized his peers for ripping officials, then publicly lobbied/complained about Dwight Howard's fouls in the playoffs. We're guessing he won't say much about Howard's elbows, which seem to keep flying after the whistle is blown....
06/02/09 9:11 PM
Randy Johnson won't be the last 300-game winner. It'll just seem that way for a while. Somehow, we don't think 46-year-old Jamie Moyer, he of the 250 wins but 6.75 ERA this season, will get there.
Who will become the 11th 300-game winner since 1982? (Keep in mind: 14 of the last 17 300-game winners had won No. 200 by age 35).
Here are some possibilities:
» CC Sabathia: At 28, he already owns 122 career victories -- the most by any pitcher under 30. Playing for the Yankees should give him a few more wins every season. And the fact that he can pitch complete games helps. Johnson had 48 wins at a similar age.
» Johan Santana: The 30-year-old lefty has 116 career wins, with 93 coming in the last six-plus years. But he turns too many games over to the bullpen.
» Roy Oswalt: He's won 131 games and is only 31. Getting to 200 wins by age 35 might only occur if he's traded. San Diego's Jake Peavy (91 wins, age 28) falls in the same category.
» Andy Pettitte: The Yankee lefty has 220 career wins, but he's nearing his 38th birthday. His durability helps, but his fastball has lost some zip.
» Roy Halladay: He's won 139 games, including 72 in the last four-plus seasons. Halladay also pitches complete games (41 in his career). He has a shot.
» Mark Buehrle: He's won 128 games, is only 30 and never gets hurt. But he hasn't won more than 16...
06/02/09 9:09 PM
The NBA wasn't exactly thrilled that it didn't get one hundred percent participation at last week's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A number of guys -- mostly those concerned that their stock might take a hit -- only got measured and did interviews but didn't play. It's also important to keep in mind that one workout and some measurements won't ultimately decided a players fate come June 25. But here are five guys that have come out with some buzz, be it good or bad.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Everybody loves the Orange's 6-foot floor general, particularly his leadership abilities. To lead a team in the big, bad world of Big East basketball says plenty, and it could make up for his lack of size. He's still stuck around the bottom of the top 10, but it would be surprising to see him fall any further.
Stephen Curry, Davidson
Questions remain about whether or not his smallish frame will prevent him from playing point guard and handling full court pressure. But there's no question he can shoot and distribute.
"It's surprising when Stephen Curry hits the rim," said one league source. "That kid did nothing in my mind to get himself below eight."
At pick No. 8, of course, sit the New York Knicks.
Jrue Holiday and
Darren Collison, UCLA
This item may be two people, but scouts are high on both Bruins guards. Holiday, the complete package of size and ability,...
06/02/09 9:07 PM
Much to the delight of his teammates, San Francisco Giants shortstop Emmanuel Burriss welcomed a small gathering of reporters to his locker prior to Tuesday night's game at Nationals Park.
It was more low key for the District native -- a Wilson High graduate -- than last year's first visit home, reports The Examiner's Brian McNally. But as Burriss fielded questions -- with veteran teammate Randy Winn hooting at him a few lockers away -- the 24-year-old desperately tried to avoid sounding like a young pro grown too big for his britches.
Winn secretly had a San Francisco PR staffer ask if Burriss felt like the Giants "were his team" now.
"No. Absolutely not," a horrified Burriss said to much laughter. "I feel more a part of the team."
Just then, Winn popped into the middle of the scrum. "What did you say?"
"You heard me say no," Burriss pleaded.
His teammates, however, showed no mercy, doing their best Burriss imitations.
"This is my city," one mocked. "I'm going to lead us to the playoffs," said another. "Everybody get on my back." Burris could only shake his head....
06/01/09 9:11 PM
Maybe Ohio State shouldn't let any of its sports teams play schools from the South. It hasn't worked out well for the football team, pummeled twice in recent years in the BCS championship game. And it sure didn't work for the Buckeyes baseball team, which lost to Florida State 37-6 in a first-round NCAA tournament game Sunday.
Obviously pitching depth was an issue for Ohio State, a solid team with a 42-19 record. The Buckeyes ended No. 22 Georgia's season earlier Sunday and beat No. 19 Miami in March. But things tended to get ugly, too, against better competition. Ohio State lost to No. 18 Louisville 21-5, gave up 20 runs to unranked Ball State and last Friday lost 24-8 to Georgia.
Florida State set or tied 18 NCAA, school or postseason records during the game and led 32-0 after five innings. The scary part? The Seminoles weren't even trying to run up the score.
"A guy we've been platooning some goes 5-for-5," Florida State coach Mike Martin told reporters Monday. "We started a freshman in left field and he gets three...
06/01/09 9:14 PM
The Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan just 11 games into the 2008-09 season. The Caps needed 21 games to let Glen Hanlon go in 2007. Even the Redskins once fired Norv Turner with three games remaining in the 2000 season -- a rarity in the stability-conscious NFL.
Now a firing watch must begin for Nats manager Manny Acta, too. His team returns to the District with 18 losses in the last 21 games and, at 13-36, has by far the worst record in Major League Baseball.
The situation is clear -- if Acta's club doesn't improve soon, the Nats will make a change just on principle. But how much of this debacle is really Acta's fault?
Certainly not the defense. Throughout an entire 11-game homestand last month at Nationals Park, Acta ran his club through fielding drills before batting practice. But this isn't spring training and a terrible defensive team isn't going to improve with 45 minutes of infield practice.
The Nats needed a slugger in the offseason. But that also meant dealing with Adam Dunn's struggles in the outfield. A hamstring injury to Elijah Dukes has meant more of Josh Willingham in left -- himself a poor outfielder -- and Austin Kearns playing out of position in center. The trio put on a comedy of errors on the road trip to New York and Philadelphia, killing Washington's baby-faced pitching staff night after night. Fans can thank former general manager Jim Bowden for...
06/01/09 9:12 PM
David Beckham's six-month loan spell with AC Milan -- it was initially three -- ended last weekend. With third place in the Italian Serie A secured, Beckham can get back to what he's done best over the last two years: generating headlines off the field as a Major League Soccer midfielder.
When he has been in the Los Angeles Galaxy's starting eleven, he's been MLS' best player. But Beckham's 5 goals and 10 assists for the Galaxy last season dwarfs in comparison to what his name has meant for jersey sales and awareness of MLS around the world since his arrival on North American shores.
Beckham is slated to begin training again with L.A. on July 11, and MLS can't wait to have him back; he can still play, he's a marketing phenomenon, and of course, he does remain under contract. The league also received some $10 million in exchange for his extended stay in Italy, adding insurance to what has been the ultimate savvy business play.
"I've always said, and I will always say, that I am still committed to MLS and to the Galaxy, no matter what anyone says," Beckham told the Los Angeles Times last week.
But MLS shouldn't have to explain to its fans why he left in the first place.
The Beckham tidal wave was a huge temporary surge for MLS, but the only way to create a longterm tide that lifts all boats is to remain bigger than any one player....
05/31/09 9:41 PM
There’ll be plenty of time for shooting percentages, rebounding statistics and one-on-one matchups before the 2009 NBA finals begin Thursday at Staples Center. For now, here are the three story lines that have caught our attention:
Who’s afraid of the big bad finals » Certainly not the Los Angeles Lakers, who thanks to Kobe Bryant, play until the official start of summer nearly every season and under the glare of their intense following — celebrity and otherwise — every night. Meanwhile, Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic have grown up before the public’s eyes over the past month and a half, and that could be a bigger factor than the fact that they actually beat the Lakers in both regular season meetings. But the backing of Tiger Woods alone can’t match Hollywood’s legions, and the final exam for greatness in the NBA is one that few players have passed, much less mastered, on their first try.
Supporting role of a lifetime » Not everyone may be happy that Superman Howard swooped in to claim a lead part that had been penciled in for LeBron James. But the rest of the cast for the NBA’s yearly blockbuster drama is yet to be determined. It’s there for the taking for Lamar Odom, who came to life over the final two games of the Western Conference finals. He’s finally playing with the urgency appropriate for...
05/31/09 9:39 PM
Even Rafael Nadal is beatable. Who knew? But the following players certainly know anything can happen at any time. And even on any surface. They all took part in five of the biggest upsets in recent tennis history.
Julie Coin over Ana Ivanovic » In the first round of the U.S. Open last year, the top-ranked Ivanovic lost to 188th-ranked Coin, marking the first time a top seed had lost earlier than the third round since 1973. Coin had made the tournament as a qualifier.
Jelenka Dokic over Martina Hingis » At Wimbledon in 1999, the 18-year old Hingis became the first top-seeded woman to lose in the first round of a Grand Slam event to a player ranked as low as Dokic (129th).
Lori McNeil over Steffi Graf » The five-time Wimbledon champ failed to make it No. 6 in 1999, losing to a career underachiever. The 30-year-old McNeil entered as a 100-1 underdog to win the event. Graf, meanwhile, was a 2-7 favorite.
Alexander Volkov over Stefan Edberg » The Swede became the first top-seeded player to lose in the opening round of the U.S. Open in 19 years, falling in straight sets to Volkov in 1990. Upsets dominated this tournament as 19-year-old, and 12th seed, Pete Sampras won the event.
Michael Chang over Ivan Lendl » Chang, 17, used quickness and smarts to overcome constant cramping and the top-seeded, and three-time winner of this event, Lendl in the...
05/31/09 9:37 PM
Cleveland’s LeBron James skipped the post-game interviews after being eliminated by Orlando in Game 6 Saturday night. How wrong was he for doing so?
Stouffer » Actions may speak louder than words, but LeBron James’ wordless exit from Amway Arena after losing the Eastern Conference finals in Game 6 wasn’t what Cavaliers faithful needed from their hero. The emotions James felt were clear, but more important than his professional obligation to offer at least a thought or two — we’re not asking for a Tim Tebow-like declaration — Cleveland sports fans deserved to share in disappointment that was more than his own.
Keim » LeBron James erred in not talking Saturday night. Worse, he shouldn’t have left the court without congratulating Orlando. But I’m cutting him some slack. Very few superstars are as accessible as James. Last year after losing to Boston, he publicly stated a need to improve the roster. But knowing that the same thing needs to be said, he opted for silence rather than speaking negatively about teammates he likes and...
05/28/09 7:38 PM
It is a Stanley Cup finals matchup almost every hockey fan wants to see -- even if it will go over like a ton of bricks in the District.
The Detroit Red Wings will try to defend their 2008 championship against the same team they beat to get it -- the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were last seen around these parts playing the role of Scrooge with their blowout Game 7 win at Verizon Center in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
It won't be of much comfort to Capitals fans -- but your team lost to the group that will skate home with the Stanley Cup. The Penguins looked that good in the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes with a four-game sweep. And the Red Wings are that beat up with five regulars out of the lineup in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night, including Norris Trophy finalist Nicklas Lidstrom (lower-body injury) and Hart Trophy nominee Pavel Datsyuk (foot).
"Pittsburgh's gone through a huge cultural metamorphosis since they made the coaching change," said NBC analyst Pierre McGuire, noting the mid-February firing of coach Michel Therrien, who led Pittsburgh to last year's finals, for minor-leaguer Dan Bylsma. "Rather than playing passive hockey they're playing aggressive, in-your-face skilled hockey. They're playing to their strengths. It will be interesting to see if Detroit has enough healthy bodies to handle...
05/29/09 12:11 PM
Every baseball fan in the region knows that no true rivalry between the Nationals and Orioles will bloom until both teams get better.
But while the Nats wait to draft their super prospect, San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, Baltimore has already promoted its own -- and it's a huge deal in Charm City.
Matt Wieters will make his major-league debut against Detroit tonight at Camden Yards. The 23-year-old destroyed Single-A and Double-A pitching last year en route to being named baseball's top prospect by Baseball America. The fifth pick in the 2007 draft is a 6-foot-5 switch-hitting catcher with power and an elite arm and will fit well in a lineup led by young stars Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
"He's made the progress, the power is starting to come. It's time," said Baltimore general manager Andy McPhail. "He's done what he needed to do at that level. We just didn't want to get into a circumstance where he had to go back [to Triple-A]."
It's no coincidence the Orioles made the decision Tuesday, lending a few extra days of hype to build a good walk-up crowd for Wieters' debut. The club drew crowds of just 10,130 and 13,713 earlier this week and has had 14 home games draw 17,000 fans or fewer in 2009....
05/28/09 7:35 PM
Peter Nowak might as well already have a ticket to the biggest worldwide event in sports, the 2010 World Cup next summer in South Africa, thanks to his role as assistant coach for the U.S. national team, a position he left D.C. United for in 2006 after three seasons -- including the 2004 MLS Cup.
But according to a report by the Web site SoccerbyIves.net, Nowak is giving up the international game for the day-to-day grind of Major League Soccer as the inaugural head coach of the Philadelphia Union, an expansion team that will enter MLS next season.
It's akin to Sam Cassell taking a head-coaching job at a junior college instead of joining Flip Saunders' staff at the Wizards.
"He's had a lot of success in our league, and he knows the game," said United head coach Tom Soehn, who was Nowak's assistant for three seasons. "I think it's adding one more guy who's going to make the league attractive."
Respect is nice, but does Nowak know something about the U.S. team's chances that we don't?...
05/27/09 10:00 PM
The Redskins love to fancy themselves a certain way, trotting out Super Bowl trophies for news conferences (after removing the 18 years of dust, of course), talking about things like Redskins grades for draft picks.
That's their reality.
Then there's that of others, who naturally view a franchise that hasn't won more than 10 games in 18 years in a different way.
Look at a couple offseason ratings of players by position. The Redskins don't rate highly. In some cases the ratings are comical. In other cases they're telling.
Take one that appeared on Sports Illustrated's Web site Tuesday, ranking the backfields of all 32 teams. Washington, with Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis, checked in at 26th.
Behind Denver with Kyle Orton and a rookie running back. Behind Tampa Bay with Byron Leftwich and anybody. Behind San Francisco with Shaun Hill and Frank Gore. Behind three unproven New York Jets quarterbacks and Thomas Jones.
Seriously?
Campbell isn't a Pro Bowler, but he's closer than Hill, and Campbell's athleticism and arm strength give him more to offer than Leftwich.
But the ratings by Sporting News today, using a team of former NFL scouts is more telling. Only one Redskin rated in the top five at their position -- defensive tackle Albert Hayneworth was considered the top player at his spot.
Other than that, a lot of low numbers. Portis was the sixth-rated running back;...
05/27/09 10:00 PM
The Eastern Conference Finals may be on the verge of being decided, with Orlando owning a 3-1 advantage over Cleveland. It could easily be 3-1 Cleveland if the Cavaliers played better in a quarter rarely discussed in the NBA: the third. Have a look at where it's gone wrong.
Game 1 » Halftime: Cleveland by 15, 63-48; End of third: Cleveland by 4, 82-78
Result » Orlando win. The Cavaliers missed four of six shots and turn the ball over three times in the final 4 minutes, 48 seconds of the quarter.
Game 2 » Halftime: Cleveland by 12, 56-44; End of third: Cleveland by 6, 75-69
Result » Cleveland win. After stretching their lead to 16, the Cavaliers made just one field goal and turned the ball over three times the final 4:45, missing their final four shots. Luckily, LeBron James rescued them at the final buzzer.
Game 3 » Halftime: Orlando by 1, 42-41; End of third: Orlando by 5, 68-63
Result » Orlando win. The Cavaliers retake the lead for 17 seconds early in the period, then relinquish the advantage for good, missing three consecutive field goal attempts down by three points or less.
Game 4 » Halftime: Cleveland by 8, 58-50; End of third: Cleveland by 1, 79-78
Result » Orlando win. The Cavaliers never trail but hit only one of their last six shots in the quarter. Consecutive misses by James to end the third mean he...
05/27/09 3:43 PM
Three Up
Minnesota's offense » Three Twins have driven in at least 11 runs in the past week -- Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau.
Los Angeles Angels OF Torii Hunter » He's off to an MVP start, entering Wednesday with a .323 average, 11 homers and 40 RBI. And, as always, playing Gold Glove defense.
Oakland Politics,Republicans Adam Kennedy » In his first 15 games with the A's, Kennedy is hitting .441 with 13 RBI. The 10-year vet, and former ALCS MVP, had been in Triple-A.
Three Down
Philadelphia P Jamie Moyer » The 46-year old could finally be done. In his last 24 1/3 innings he's allowed 26 earned runs, has walked 10 and allowed 38 hits.
Philadelphia P Brad Lidge » The supposed closer has a 9.00 ERA in 20 1/3 innings. He's allowed a combined 42 walks and hits. But, hey, he's only hit one batter!
Instant replay » It's working, but it's also slowing games down. Maybe that's why baseball will start its night playoff games 40 minutes earlier....
05/26/09 9:17 PM
The NBA's pre-draft camp changed its ways, trying to lure the big names. They succeeded. But it took away another chance for teams to watch the top players face off against each other in games. Sixty two players were invited, including locals Ty Lawson, Greivis Vasquez, Sam Young, Dante Cunningham and DaJuan Summers. It's now more like an NFL combine, with drills and interviews with the teams.
If the Wizards keep the fifth overall pick, here are some players they'll pay close attention to this week, with analysis from Ryan Blake, the assistant director of NBA scouting.
Arizona forward Jordan Hill
"The guy rebounds, is athletic and he improved his energy and confidence. His skill level improved leaps and bounds. He has big hands and he's becoming more fluid and is more decisive around the rim. He needs to improve his lack of post moves, but he has really good upside."
Arizona State guard James Harden
"I really like Harden. So much is overblown about athleticism that someone who has basketball IQ and an ability to make others better is overridden. He's not the greatest athlete in the world, but he can play. He's like a Steve Nash, a guy who knows how to play. Harden will get better and better and become smarter and more valuable.
Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet
"If you make a mistake make it big. He can dominate on the defensive end. Sure it...
05/26/09 9:15 PM
From the surface, the Western Conference Finals were always a matchup of megastars Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. The sound bite happy sports world wouldn't have it any other way. But the following story lines have been far more intriguing:
Birdman taking flight » For every time Chris Andersen flaps his tattooed wings or looks to the crowd for acknowledgement after a highlight reel dunk or block, the seventh year forward also pulls down yet another rebound -- he had a playoff-career-high 14 boards in Game 4. It's the blue-collar effort that makes his redemption story a compelling one.
Dahntay's hit and run » After his pathetic trip of Bryant, less-than-20-minutes-per-game starter Dahntay Jones is on the verge of an automatic suspension for accumulation of flagrant fouls. We know it will happen, but will it be Game 6 that he misses, or Game 7?
Top-billing for Billups » What hasn't Chauncey Billups done right? Besides scoring better than his season average 17.7 points per game in each of the last eight playoff games, Billups has cut his regular-season turnover average in half, down to 1.6 per contest -- a stark contrast to his 6.8 assists.
Pouting Pau » With all due respect to Pau Gasol, his frustration over the Lakers not taking better advantage in the post might be better directed at the mirror -- just two of his 21 rebounds in the last two...
05/26/09 9:12 PM
Manhattan College men's basketball team had a hole in the middle and Kevin Laue had a dream he needed to fulfill. That's often how it works in recruiting. Except this one is a bit different.
Laue only has a right hand. His left hand ends just below the elbow, making him perhaps the most unique player in Division I. The 6-foot-10 center played for Fork Union Military Academy this past season, averaging 10 points and five boards a game vs. top-level competition. He apparently is a good shot blocker and also athletic.
Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen told the New York Daily News memories of ex-MLB pitcher Jim Abbott, who did not have a right hand, aided his decision.
"Some of the things he did inspired a lot of people with similar problems and just people as a whole," Rohrssen told the paper. "I think with a guy like Kevin, playing in Manhattan and being in New York City, presents an opportunity that can be rewarding for Kevin and also have a ripple effect for everyone...
05/25/09 8:36 PM
They have just reached the quarter pole of the Major League Baseball season with a long way left around the track. But teams have at least played enough games over the first two months that some early judgments can be made about a few surprises -- and whether they are staying or fading as the races for division titles and wild-card spots heat up.
Toronto Blue Jays » The Jays are a nice story and will probably still finish with a winning record. But in the monster AL East, that's all they can expect. They already have lost seven in a row heading into today's game with the Orioles and dropped into third place. The Blue Jays' offense topped the majors in runs scored for much of April and May, but that unit is finally starting to slow. RHP Roy Halladay (8-1, 2.25 ERA) will keep the Jays competitive, but it won't be enough.
Verdict » Fading
Texas Rangers » They have no such impediments in the AL West. The Los Angeles Angels won't go away quietly, but are far from the team they used to be. Seattle and Oakland are mediocre at best. The Rangers' offense -- which hasn't even had Josh Hamilton at full strength yet -- can feast on those two clubs all summer. Ready for another shock? Texas -- with the No. 1-ranked farm system, according to Baseball America -- has too much pitching, including rookie Derek Holland, the first in a wave of minor-league prospects the...
05/25/09 8:32 PM
Mo Williams as sidekick » The Cleveland guard excelled during the regular season, making 46.7 percent of his field goals and 44 percent of his three-pointers. He's been a dud in the playoffs, especially in his last five games. He's made 27 of his last 80 shots, including 11 of 37 from three. The Magic aren't doing anything special to stop him. He's just missing shots. LeBron James can't do it alone.
Mark Sanchez posing for GQ » OK, there aren't many men who wouldn't have done the same thing. And he met a super model who's now his girlfriend to boot. So far be it for us to tell Sanchez this was a bad idea. But it was. He's an NFL rookie playing in New York. Win a game or two first. Then pose.
Carolina over Pittsburgh » We thought (foolishly) and even wrote that Carolina would win the Eastern Conference and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Instead, the Hurricanes must win Tuesday night to avoid being swept. Now we know the real culprit: Editors! Why didn't someone catch such a silly prediction?
Tampering charges » Those who think the Redskins didn't "discuss" contract terms with Albert Haynesworth's agent before free agency started also believe Roger Clemens didn't take steroids. It's hard to imagine any top free agents not knowing what they might get. If the Redskins hadn't signed Haynesworth, the New York Giants would have. Don't forget,...
05/25/09 8:29 PM
If ex-Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey lives up to his draft status, he won't have to worry about a second career anytime soon. But the seventh overall pick by Oakland in the NFL draft last month already has his eye on what he wants to do once football ends.
Become a movie director.
"That is the goal one day after football, get into film and directing plays," Heyward-Bey told The Examiner's Rick Snider.
This is a passion for him and he's already developed a strategy to help increase his chances of becoming a director. This isn't some fad.
"I go see everything twice," he said. "I go see it as a fan and analyst. I saw Benjamin Button three times. I sit in different spots. If you sit on the right side it's a little bit better. The light on the right side is better."
He does not do the same thing while watching game films.
"I just watch [game] film to get better," he said....
05/21/09 8:21 PM
The Battle of the Beltways begins anew tonight at Nationals Park. That's both good and bad. It's good because at least more fans might attend. It's bad because, well, both teams stink.
Given the low stakes, let's take a look at how the younger stars for both the Nationals and Orioles are faring -- and the future for both teams.
Young stars
Both have promising 25-and-under players already in the majors. Two of the Nats' top youngsters are on the disabled list -- outfielder Elijah Dukes and catcher Jesus Flores (.311 average). But third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is living up to his big contract (.355, 10 HR, 31 RBI). The rotation now has four under-25 starters -- the overlooked John Lannan (3.63 ERA) and rookies Shairon Martis (5-0, 4.53 ERA), Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler.
The Orioles, meanwhile, have the best 25-and-under outfield in the game. Nick Markakis (.318, 6 HR, 34 RBI) and Adam Jones (.370, 9 HR, 27 RBI) are both elite defensive players. Left fielder Nolan Reimold was destroying Triple-A pitching before his recall to Baltimore last week (.394, 9 HR).
The Edge » Baltimore
Prospects
The Orioles are loaded. Catcher Matt Weiters is off to a slow start at Triple-A Norfolk -- at least by his high standards. But baseball's No. 1 prospect, according to Baseball America, should be at Camden Yards for good sometime next month. Norfolk pitcher Chris Tillman...
05/21/09 8:17 PM
It's the second major of the season. For ESPN tennis analyst Patrick McEnroe, it's also the one he considers the toughest to win. McEnroe gave The Examiner's Jim Williams four reasons why the French, which begins Sunday, is so difficult to win:
1. Physical conditioning » No tournament forces players to work harder. A player will be forced to play more sets here in Paris than they will at any other major.
2. A total game » You can't just be a big serve player at the French. No matter how hard you hit the ball the clay will slow it down and your opponent will be able to return it. So you must be able to serve and volley and that can be a problem for some of the elite players in the world who have used power to win championships.
3. The mind game » Because you are playing more sets you must think more about every aspect of the game. What angles do I use; do I lob here; do I put more topspin on that shot? Do I sit back on this point, choose to volley for a while and hope the person on the other side of the net makes a mistake?
4. The weather » Paris is beautiful in the spring, however the wind, the cool temperatures and the sun all play a role in changing the surface. The wind kicks up the clay and gets in your eyes. Rain makes the service play slower and the sun dries the court out, making it hard; thus the ball moves faster....
05/21/09 8:14 PM
News » Notre Dame and Army might play a football game at Yankee Stadium, possibly in 2013.
Commentary » Nothing like a team trying to stage an easy win while playing the first football game at the Yankees' new home. But what the heck, Army is allowed to schedule a cream puff or two.
News » Sprint Cup driver Carl Long suspended 12 weeks and his crew chief fined $200,000 for using an engine that was .17 cubic inches above specifications.
Commentary » The good news is they failed to fine him for another transgression: he tried to mess with drivers by leaving his right turn signal on during an entire race. But, seriously, why throw the hammer at this guy? Because it sends a message and doesn't hurt the sport.
News » Monday's WWE event moved from Denver to Los Angeles to avoid conflict with Nuggets-Lakers playoff game.
Commentary » But to satisfy the WWE fans in Denver, they've invited Dallas owner Mark Cuban to sit with Kenyon Martin's mom during the Nuggets-Lakers game. Just to see what happens....
05/20/09 3:18 PM
The Wizards entered the lottery selection already thinking about a trade. Even if they had landed the second overall pick, they likely would have explored a deal. As one team source said recently, they already have a lot of young guys to develop. Why add another one?
But with the fifth pick? A trade just got harder.
"I don't see many teams being interested," one former coach said, "unless they're trying to dump a player."
Or unless the Wizards get real bold and include a veteran such as Antawn Jamison in the deal.
We already know the Los Angeles Clippers will take Blake Griffin in the draft; coach/GM Mike Dunleavy said so yesterday. What the Wizards will do remains more of a mystery.
The other mystery is how close are the Wizards to being a top team? Not that close, according to some experts. Too much time and injuries sit between their 27-17 mark midway through 2007 and the present.
One Eastern Conference scout talked about how much he liked them; we expected him to punctuate his gushing by calling them a top three team in the East. Nope.
"They're a team that's going to be a seventh or eighth seed," he said. "They're not one of the top four teams as they came close to being before. But they're definitely a playoff team if they stay healthy. They're a sleeper."
One former coach said the Wiz have too many issues.
"Their...
05/20/09 3:11 PM
Jason Taylor did not like the way he was used. He did not like living apart from his family. He did not like the snow.
So it's no wonder that he told reporters in Miami that his one year with Washington, "felt like five years, to be honest."
Well, now. Redskins fans might say that watching his one season felt like five to them as well. After all Taylor finished with just 3 1/2 sacks after being acquired for second- and sixth-round draft picks.
Taylor never seemed comfortable here. He entered as a star, fresh off his TV appearance on "Dancing with the Stars." The media were initially told he'd be available once a week, creating a barrier between the press and Taylor that never really dissolved. He was accommodating when approached, but to some he felt unapproachable.
A bigger issue to him was injuries and that he had to play left end, a spot ill-suited for him. In Miami he'll likely move around in a 3-4 front.
"Everyone should know I'm not a left end; it's just not what I do well," Taylor said.
Another factor was the doubts before the trade about his ability to still play at a high level. This was not a match made in heaven.
"I don't want to slight the Redskins in any way," Taylor said. "There were a few guys I was close to on the team up there that knew where I was throughout the whole process from the minute I got on the...
05/20/09 3:08 PM
Sizzle
1. Welcome to the Show » The Chicago Blackhawks are seeing what it takes to be a championship team -- courtesy of rival Detroit, the defending Stanley Cup champ. Veteran Red Wings schooled young Hawks in first two games of Western Conference final.
2. A-Bombs? » The average stinks. But the power is still there for Alex Rodriguez, who shook off hip surgery and a steroids admission to hit five homers with 10 RBI entering last night's game against Baltimore.
Fizzle
1. Late Hits » Penguins winger Matt Cooke whined for days about Alex Ovechkin's knee-on-knee hit against Pittsburgh D Sergei Gonchar, saying he'd be suspended by the NHL for similar play. We'll soon see thanks to Cooke's knee-on-knee hit that took out Carolina's Erik Cole in Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals.
2. Denver Nuggets » Late-game maneuvers and fouls cost them a chance to win Game 1 in Los Angeles. And it left some wondering if the Nuggets had too many "knuckleheads" to win a series of this magnitude. Maybe. Also, why such a lazy entry pass late in the game?...
05/19/09 8:21 PM
Nationals manager Manny Acta could only shake his head. Relief pitcher Garrett Mock did his best to field questions about why the bullpen endured yet another meltdown -- but really didn't have any answers at all. His best try?
"Just look at the line score. That's what happened," Mock said, a touch of shock on his face.
That's about what it comes down to for the Nats, whose much-maligned bullpen -- already revamped once this season -- has sabotaged what could have at least been a decent start thanks to the National League's third-ranked offense.
"I've been in the game for a while and I've never seen anything like it," Acta said.
After Monday night's 12-7 loss to the Pirates -- when four different relievers combined to allow nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings -- the Nats' somber locker room resembled a tomb. A few players ambled out to address the media -- Mock among them. But there are only so many ways to answer the same question and several players came and went quickly, hushed tones passing between them on the way out the door. Outfielder Adam Dunn addressed the subject at length the day before. With no real reason to say more, he was dressed and outside in the main corridor in the basement of Nationals Park 20 minutes after the final pitch. Teammate Anderson Hernandez was right behind. They have become a team that expects any lead built to disappear...
05/19/09 8:18 PM
With help from an Eastern Conference scout, here are three things to watch for when Orlando plays Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals:
» Matchup issues: Orlando does not have anyone who can handle LeBron James. Not many teams do, but the Magic suffer greatly in this area. On the other hand, James can defend Hedo Turkoglu, so he might find it much harder to excel offensively than he did vs. Boston.
The other Cavalier that the scout thinks will be tough for Orlando to defend is guard Delonte West. Neither Courtney Lee nor J.J. Reddick match up well vs. him, partly because West is so adept at creating shots for himself off the dribble.
» Where Dwight Howard catches the ball: If it's outside the paint and he is forced to put the ball on the floor to get to the basket, it's a major plus for the Cavs. Their guards, West and Mo Williams, do an excellent job at "digging" the ball out of the paint. They're quick enough to help inside, force Howard to pick up his dribble and pass it back outside. The further Howard is away from the basket, the shorter the distance they must recover.
"They do a tremendous job of that," the scout said.
» Orlando's size: The Magic are big on the perimeter, which will limit Cleveland's ability to play small ball, as the Cavs like to do. The problem is, if Cleveland goes small, it won't be able to...
05/19/09 8:15 PM
Then it would be warranted. What Vick, the ex-Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, did was deplorable and will haunt him forever. But if some team deems him worth signing, then that's their right.
As awful as his crimes were, he served his time (and is expected to be released today and his sentence ends July 20). He did not make a mistake; he committed heinous acts. There's a difference. And we also think the NFL is a privilege not a right.
But, we stress, Vick served his time.
The best thing for any team that signs Vick would be to have him wait until after this season. They have enough things to worry about once the games begin other than the inevitable protests that will follow the former Virginia Tech star.
Who will sign him? Hard to say. But the second-chance teams are Oakland, Dallas and Cincinnati. The Redskins are becoming a second-chance stop for players as well. But they would be wise to let him go elsewhere. This team is not equipped to handle the circus his arrival would bring....
05/18/09 7:07 PM
The ping pong balls knew nothing about Derrick Rose when they chose the Chicago Bulls to receive the No. 1 pick in last year's NBA Draft. Will fate again intervene on a team's behalf when this year's NBA Draft Lottery takes place Tuesday in Secaucus, N.J.? Here's how things could unfold for some of this year's lottery teams.
Rapid Rise
Washington (2008-09 record: 2nd worst record in NBA) » Health concerns abound, for sure. But if the Wizards get the pick they deserve thanks to their horrible 2008-09 record, a place in the Eastern Conference's top four is possible. And that means either by taking Blake Griffin or making a trade.
Phoenix (08-09: 14th worst) » No one expected this team to be here. If they manage a top-five pick or higher, the Suns could immediately be back in serious contention. The Suns don't need Ricky Rubio immediately. However, he could ensure an up-tempo system for years and allow them to trade Steve Nash.
Toronto (08-09: 9th worst) » Frontcourt depth needed, and Chris Bosh can't get away. The Eastern Conference is weak enough that the Raptors don't need much.
Slow climb
Memphis (08-09: 6th worst) » Some nice pieces in place already (Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo), but here's the problem: the Grizzlies are in the Western Conference. One top pick isn't enough.
Oklahoma City (08-09: 4th worst) » Still a pretty bad team....
05/18/09 7:03 PM
We don't mind the choice of Jon Gruden to replace Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football (though we do wonder if he'll still wake up at 3:17 a.m. after working one of these games).
Anyway, here are a few others we wouldn't have minded replacing Kornheiser. Heck, they might need this list next year if Gruden gets another head coaching job.
» Brett Favre: What if Favre showed up each week wearing the jersey of one of the teams playing that night? Then we could get 17 more weeks of debate about his return. And if one of the quarterbacks that night gets hurt, Favre could come out of the booth. Oh, the fun.
» Charles Barkley: We know, it's another sport. But Barkley is the most entertaining studio analyst and he's never been afraid to rip a player, often doing so in a humorous way. He's a legit sports fan, not just of basketball. Besides, if Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser could get a shot, why not someone like Barkley? We're joking. Sort of.
» Matt Millen: The reason is simple. First off, he's a good analyst. Second, there's no chance of him being hired back into the NFL. Plus it would give us a chance to share this story we heard once upon a time: When Millen did MNF games on the radio, he was in Washington early in Dan Snyder's tenure. He bumped into Snyder in the bowels of the stadium and called him Danny. When the owner said he likes to be called...
05/18/09 7:01 PM
We were going to talk about Michael Vick. But then we read another Q&A with Redskins tight end Chris Cooley online. Cooley is too good to ignore.
In an interview on SI.com talking about an athlete's life on the road, Cooley related a story from his rookie season:
"We were playing in Denver during my second season and I was trying to fit in with all the guys. So, Cory Raymer had an entire backpack full of mini bottles of Jack Daniels. So we got into a drinking contest on the bus. The next day I found 13 or 14 of those bottles, empty, in my bag. And this was just on the bus to the airport after a game. Before we even took off, I'm conducting the pre-flight announcements. Twenty minutes into the plane ride I'm on the floor in the aisle eating out of an applesauce container. Needless to say, I had a visit with the head coach [Joe Gibbs] the next morning."
Our colleague Rick Snider is right: Cooley is the new John Riggins....
05/17/09 9:49 PM
The drill tested Sam Young’s vertical leap. Turns out it tested a little bit more, like his pain tolerance.
Young, a Clinton, Md., native preparing for the NBA Draft, was temporarily left with a screw in his arm after testing his leaping ability during a workout with Toronto. As Young jumped to touch the vertical pole, a screw lodged into his arm, requiring a trip to the hospital to remove it. He did not need stitches.
Not that Young was concerned.
“It’s not going to affect anything, not even a little bit,” he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “It was a freak accident.”
The 6-foot-6 Young is expected to be a first-round pick in next month’s NBA Draft. He’s scheduled to attend workouts in Oklahoma City on June 2 and in New Jersey on June 14. Approximately a dozen teams are expected to attend each session.
He’ll also participate in the NBA pre-draft camp May 27-31 in Chicago.
Though he had to take it easy after his injury more than a week ago, Young is intent on improving his stock for the draft. According to the Tribune-Review, Detroit, Indiana, Oklahoma City and Portland have shown the most interest thus far.
“I’ve improved my ability off the dribble, shooting off the dribble, being able to read defenders better and manipulate what they do,” Young said. “I rarely ever dunk in my process...
05/17/09 9:46 PM
The Nuggets and Lakers are the West’s top two scoring teams this postseason, but it will be defense that will dictate which team represents the conference in the NBA Finals.
Denver is the hottest team; the Lakers were the team everyone expected to reach the finals. And don’t be misled by Los Angeles’ 3-1 advantage over Denver this season. One win came before Denver’s trade for Chauncey Billups and Denver is playing its best basketball of the year right now.
» Who will guard Kobe? The Nuggets’ Dahntay Jones starts because of his perimeter defense, but he won’t play in crunch time. Expect J.R. Smith to guard the Black Mamba when it counts. In the Nuggets only win against the Lakers this season, Smith hounded Kobe (29 points on 10-31 shooting). In the three L.A. wins over Denver, Kobe shot 55.7 percent and averaged 31.6 points.
» Can the Lakers stop the point? Derek Fisher has struggled as Utah’s Deron Williams and Houston’s Aaron Brooks ran all over L.A. in the first two rounds. Jordan Farmar’s minutes drastically increased in the Rockets’ series. If Fisher can’t handle the Nuggets red-hot Billups, Lakers coach Phil Jackson won’t be hesitant to bench him.
» Which team will reach the magic number? In the playoffs the Lakers are 7-0 when scoring 100 points and 1-4 when held under the...
05/17/09 9:42 PM
3 up
» Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander: He’s allowed just three earned runs in his last 29 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts.
» Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford: In the last 10 games, Crawford is hitting .400 with six RBIs, 11 runs, five doubles, two triples and a homer.
» Texas Rangers: They’ve won seven straight games and just swept the Angels. Closer Frank Francisco is perfect in nine save opportunities. Their defense is superb, but can the pitching hold up?
3 down
» Arizona manager A.J. Hinch: The Diamondbacks consider their new manager unconventional. If by that they mean one who loses, then … they’re right. The D-backs have lost six of their first eight games under him.
» Boston DH David Ortiz: He’s in a 144 at-bat homerless drought. Don’t blame the Manny Ramirez trade; Jason Bay, who now hits behind Ortiz, has six homers in his last 12 games.
» AL Central: Only one team has a winning record in their last 10 games (Detroit) — and three have lost seven of 10....
05/14/09 8:42 PM
Gary Stevens is a Hall of Fame jockey, an NBC analyst and a fantastic quote. He doesn't need us getting in his way with our words. So we won't. Here's what he had to say to The Examiner's Jim Williams about the Preakness.
Stevens on the addition of Rachel Alexandra » She provides an honest pace and will be able to stick around, and she doesn't have to be on the lead. She's very versatile. That should help Pioneerof the Nile because I think what he needs is a horse with class and speed that can carry him within the shadows of the wire. When Pioneerof the Nile gets in front he seems to go aloof a little bit and think the game is over.
On how will the race differ from the Kentucky Derby » There is going to be much more early pace than there was even in the Kentucky Derby. So what does that do to Mine That Bird? It helps his chances of repeating the Derby performance.
More on Rachel Alexandra » She's going to have to run equally as well in the Preakness as she did in the Kentucky Oaks to beat this field ... I rode three fillies that are in the Hall of Fame: Winning Colors, Serena's Song, and Silverbulletday. I don't want to take away anything from any of them, but Rachel Alexandra makes goose bumps stand up on the back of my neck, like a good racehorse used to when I was on her back.
On Mine That Bird racing without jockey Calvin Borel » It may...
05/14/09 8:40 PM
Alex Ovechkin tried to force his way between two Penguins, one of whom happened to be Sidney Crosby. The opening was minimal, a high-risk play. Crosby poked the puck away, retrieved it and skated in for an easy breakaway goal.
It was far from one player committing these hockey sins. But it's the sort of play the Capitals must curb in next year's playoffs, unless they want more Game 7 misery.
"The areas we struggled in the most was turning the puck over and odd-man rushes," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier. "Those plagued us every game almost. We had one game against the Rangers where we were really air tight. We had stretches [against Pittsburgh] as well. But not for an entire game where we were just locked in and played real good simple hockey. We were trying to do too much.
"Every time we touched the puck you're feeling like you have to score a goal. That gets you nowhere pretty quick. That works in the regular season, but not in the postseason."
Youth is one culprit: four key players in this series -- Ovechkin, Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom and Simeon Varlamov -- are 23 years or younger. Another seven are between 24 and 26.
"We're a young team and we want to play with the puck," forward Tomas Fleischmann, 24, said, "and do a lot of things by ourselves and make plays on the blue line and you get bad turnovers. Teams like...
05/14/09 8:32 PM
News » HBO picks the Bengals for their Hard Knocks series.
Commentary » Goodness sake, did the Bengals leave themselves open for easy punch lines. Here's one. This beats the previous series most Bengals have starred in: Hard Time.
News » Jason Taylor returns to Miami.
Commentary » That's funny; it was his career that went south a year ago. Taylor, though, is a better fit in Miami's 3-4 front. His arrival in Washington last year represented the most panicked decision in a long time. And fans still wonder why the Redskins don't win.
News » Delaware governor signs a bill to allow betting on sports.
Commentary » Finally, something to do in Delaware besides visit rest stops and pay obscene tolls. That is, if the NFL, or another pro sports league, doesn't win its inevitable legal challenge....
05/13/09 10:00 PM
It was fitting for the Wizards to begin their pre-draft workouts of potential rookies on Wednesday with Marquette small forward Wesley Matthews.
The Bullets selected his father, Wes Matthews, in the first round of the 1980 NBA draft with the 14th overall pick.
"I don't think I processed that my dad played here until I walked into the locker room and saw the Bullets," said Matthews, after working out alongside Temple guard Dionte Christmas, Central Florida guard Jermaine Taylor and San Diego State forward Kyle Spain. "I thought about that, but now it's my turn."
The elder Matthews, a 6-foot-1 point guard, lasted only one season in Washington but spent nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 7.9 points and 4.2 assists. His son's most vivid memories are the two rings he earned coming of the bench during the Los Angeles Lakers' back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988.
Wesley Matthews averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and shot 48 percent from the field this past season with the Golden Eagles. Projected as a second-round pick at best, the next six weeks are crucial to make his lifelong dream come true.
"It basically feels like a season," said Matthews, who's also been to Portland, and visits Houston, Milwaukee and Detroit in the next week. "You're in a hotel, you're finding stuff to eat. You're trying to make sure you get to bed on time,...
05/13/09 10:00 PM
Orlando center Dwight Howard showed with his postgame comments Tuesday why the Magic won't win a championship. Too much friction exists between the star player and the coach; that's never a good thing.
Howard questioned coach Stan Van Gundy's fourth-quarter strategy in trying to explain how the Magic blew a 14-point lead to Boston on Tuesday.
"Our coach has to recognize when he has a certain group out there and they are getting the job done and we have to leave those guys on the floor," Howard told reporters after the game.
Think Kobe Bryant or Paul Pierce or LeBron James would say that about their coach?
Last month, one NBA source thought the Magic were in trouble because, he said, "all the stuff coming out about the coach and how he panics and the players hate him."
It's no surprise that Orlando is 2-4 in postseason games decided by five points or less.
Orlando has been an interesting team to watch this season. Things could get more interesting in the offseason....
05/13/09 3:34 PM
The line is the only memorable part from an otherwise sub-par movie. If you're a Godfather fan, can you really like the third and final installment? But one line is best remembered, delivered by Michael Corleone: "Just when I thought I was out ... they pull me back in."
And so it is with steroids and baseball. Every time you think the sport can start escaping the grasp of steroid use, something happens to bring everyone back into the discussion.
We want to ignore it. We want to get past it. But every day brings something new. Just look at this week: Angels pitcher Joe Saunders (whom we covered while he pitched at West Springfield HS) takes an honest, and effective, shot at Alex Rodriguez (whom we did not). Then it's former utility player Lou Merloni — those aren't "Louuuu's" you're hearing, it's "whoooo?" — claiming that the Red Sox had doctors talk to the team during spring training about the right way to take steroids. It's sort of like sex education, he said; if you're going to do it, here's the best way to protect yourself.
Then we get the biggest fool of all, Roger Clemens, coming out and again defending himself (a negative book about him was released this week). Clemens was quiet for a year and now we know why he should have stayed that way: he's an idiot. It's hard for him to answer why everyone is against him. Listen,...
05/12/09 7:46 PM
Pittsburgh had its chance. And the Penguins blew it. So says ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose. And this is why: They had overcome a lot already without injured playmaking defenseman Sergei Gonchar and were at home.
“That was the game they had to win,” Melrose said.
Which is one reason he picks the Caps to win Game 7 Wednesday night.
“This is why you get home ice,” he said. “They showed true character [Monday]. They found a way to win when they weren’t playing great. That’s the sign of a good team.”
In a sign of the popularity of this series, Melrose and Steve Levy will host their studio show from a non-finals site for the first time. Actually, there was one other time they broadcast the show from a non-finals site: 2004 when Mario Lemiux played his first game since returning from his battle with cancer. But that’s it.
“It’s everything we hoped it would be,” Melrose said.
But to make sure his initial prediction is correct (he has the Caps going to the Stanley Cup finals), then Washington must do a couple things right Wednesday.
For starters — in no secret to Caps fans — defenseman Mike Green must play better. He has not taken advantage of Pittsburgh playing without Gonchar, their power-play ace.
“Green is never going fast,” Melrose said. “He’s always going slow...
05/12/09 7:44 PM
Joba Chamberlain is not a stoic person. He’s fiery and, as we saw this past weekend, a bit confrontational.
Chamberlain, you see, pumps his fist after “key” strikeouts. This breaches a code of baseball etiquette, especially when the celebration is in the sixth inning of a game the Yankees are losing. So in the first inning Sunday, Baltimore’s Aubrey Huff, after hitting a three-run home run off Chamberlain, mockingly pumped his fist twice, a not-so-subtle message that the 23-year-old needs to tone it down.
Chamberlain’s numbers (2-1, 3.89 ERA, 34 Ks in 34.2 innings) aren’t bad. But his behavior is overkill for a starter, where perspective is necessary. His fastball, which touched 98 mph as a reliever last season, ranges from 89-94 now that he has to pace himself. And he rarely goes past six innings, thereby taxing a weak New York bullpen.
Joba is more effective as an eighth-inning stopper, where he can enter tight games in a fury of fist pumps, theme music and triple-digit smoke. But until Chien-Ming Wang figures out how to lower his zip code of an ERA, that isn’t an option for the Yankees....
05/12/09 7:41 PM
The Capitals have a chance to end a long, and ignominious, drought Wednesday night. At least by a North American city that has at least three major sports teams.
Since 1998, Washington is the only such city that has failed to see a team reach a conference final. The Capitals were the last team to do so, winning a conference crown after the 1997-98 season en route to a Stanley Cup loss to Detroit.
In fact, the Capitals are the only area team in a major sports league that has won more than it has lost in the past 10 years. But when you factor in ties and shootout losses, the Caps slip below .500.
Heck, Sports Illustrated included Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Nats owner Ted Lerner among the top five worst owners in their respective sport.
Here's how bad it has been:
» The Redskins haven't been to a conference title game since January 1992 en route to a Super Bowl victory. Since that time, the Redskins have won two playoff games and qualified for the postseason only four times. In the last 10 years, the Redskins are 76-84.
» The Wizards have not been to a conference championship since the 1978-79 season and have won just one playoff series in the past 26 seasons. The franchise is 337-483 in the past decade.
» The Nationals have only been here for the past four years, so it's hard to lump them in here. We're guessing there is no NLCS in their...
05/11/09 8:48 PM
Acclaimed swing coach Hank Haney is losing the battle to solve the unsightly hitch in Charles Barkley’s get along. Much more is at stake for Haney in his efforts to solve the swing problems of Tiger Woods.
After Woods failed to close the deal in the Players Championship — his third straight Sunday fade — some speculated that Woods needs a new coach to go along with his new left knee.
“I think that would be a mistake,” said Steve Bosdosh, teaching pro at Four Streams. “I think Tiger just needs time to get his arms and the lower part of his body synchronized. He’s been away from the game for a long time. His mechanics are fine. It’s his timing and rhythm that are off.”
According to witnesses, Woods and Haney had heated words — most of them spoken by Woods — last month on the practice tee at the Masters.
The problem is Woods’ driver. He ranks No. 142 in driving accuracy, finding the fairway with just 56.8 percent of his tee shots. Some of Woods’ pull hooks, deep into the trees at Augusta, Quail Hollow and the TPC at Sawgrass, have triggered Woods’ fiery temper. Most surprisingly has been his slumping body language.
“We know what it is. It’s just a matter of me doing it,” said Woods Sunday night after his final-round 73. “It’s not that bad.’’
One...
05/11/09 8:43 PM
With the NBA Lottery happening in seven days, and a big prize in Blake Griffin ready to be taken No. 1, it’s time for a history lesson. Which teams have been the luckiest?
Forget about the Knicks getting the No. 1 pick in the controversial first lottery and ending up with Patrick Ewing. That was before the lotto was weighted in favor of the weakest teams.
It’s reassuring to this year’s lottery participants that none of these lucky lotto teams are in the drawing this year.
Chicago » The Bulls had the ninth-worst record in 2008, giving them a 1.7 percent chance of securing the top pick, but got the first pick and made an astute choice, selecting Derrick Rose, over Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo.
Houston » The Rockets had the fifth-worst record in 2002, but won the lottery and used the No. 1 selection on Yao Ming.
San Antonio » Since 1990, the Spurs have been in the lottery only one time. After finishing with the third-worst record in 1996-97, they got the first pick, choosing Tim Duncan.
The unluckiest teams in the lotto?
Los Angeles Clippers » Amazingly, the perennial doormats have only received the No. 1 pick twice, selecting Michael Olowakandi (1998) and Danny Manning (1988).
Washington » In 11 trips to the lottery, the Wizards/Bullets got the No. 1 pick just once and when they did, they selected the mother of all...
05/11/09 8:38 PM
Lakers as favorites » They might still win the NBA title, but it’s hard to think that after watching them flop vs. the Yao Ming-less Rockets. Championship teams don’t give that sort of effort. Any time Lamar Odom or Andrew Bynum want to show up, the Lakers coaches probably would be most appreciative.
Cito Gaston critics » The guy won back-to-back World Series titles and nobody hired him for 11 years? How was that possible? Since Gaston returned to Toronto last summer, the Blue Jays are 73-49. Gaston’s expertise is hitting — the first-place Jays are the American League’s top hitting team.
Antoine Wright » Listen, man, if you’re going to foul someone, then foul him. But don’t leave it up to the refs to read your mind. Was it a foul at the end of the Dallas-Denver game Saturday? Yeah. But it’s also the sort of foul at the end of games that is often not called. Somebody should have informed the officials before the play and Wright should have made it more obvious, if indeed that was his intent....
05/10/09 7:10 PM
The teams follow a familiar plot: get everyone excited; fall down in the end. That’s what the Redskins have done (all too often). And the Wizards. And, come to think of it, even the Nationals.
Will the Capitals join them tonight?
If Pittsburgh clinches the series, the Caps will join their local pro brethren in this category.
The difference is, the Capitals should have enough to continue contending beyond this season. But others thought they were built for long-term success too.
» The Redskins roll into the postseason! Todd Collins is money! Look out Seattle! They just grabbed a fourth-quarter lead! Next stop: Super Bowl!
And then …
Just when the Redskins completed a stunning fourth-quarterback comeback to take a 14-13 lead in the first round of the playoffs two years ago, they collapsed. Seattle scored the next 22 points to win by three touchdowns. Joe Gibbs resigned a couple days later.
» The Redskins open the 2008 season 6-2! They might get home field advantage! They’ll have the league MVP! Jim Zorn is the greatest coach ever!
And then…
They lose six of their next eight games, Clinton Portis no longer is mentioned as an MVP candidate and Jason Campbell’s tenure at QB almost comes to an end. Oh, and Zorn was on the hot seat, saved by a late win over Philadelphia.
» The Wizards have the Eastern Conference’s...
05/10/09 7:07 PM
Bob Melvin was the first. He won’t be the last. Not when you look at some of the managers who are hoping to avoid the fate of the former Arizona Diamondbacks manager, who was fired last week. Here are our top three bulls-eye bosses:
Eric Wedge • Indians
Why he should be fired » The Indians entered Sunday with the worst record in baseball. If they pitch well, they don’t hit; if they hit, they don’t pitch well. This, not surprisingly, is a problem.
Why he shouldn’t » Cleveland’s bullpen is a disaster. The Tribe makes good trades for young talent, but has done a horrendous job in the drafts under GM Mark Shapiro. Injuries haven’t helped.
Joe Girardi • Yankees
Why he should be fired » Because it’s New York. And Girardi isn’t Joe Torre. And the Yanks, with their enormous payroll, are scuffling in the AL East. Oh, and they’re also 0-5 against the Red Sox this season.
Why he shouldn’t » There’s no way the pitching staff (5.88 team ERA entering Sunday) is this bad. Alex Rodriguez, Xavier Nady, Jorge Posada and Chien-Ming Wang have spent considerable time on the DL.
Clint Hurdle • Rockies
Why he should be fired » The 2007 World Series honeymoon is over. The Rockies were 74-88 last year. They entered Sunday with the second-worst record in the NL.
Why he shouldn’t...
05/10/09 7:03 PM
Eddie Jordan hasn’t worked since the Wizards fired him in November. He might have a new home by the end of the week. Jordan is expected to interview with the Kings this week, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Sacramento has Jordan on the top of their list (after an apparent failed attempt by the Kings to lure Rick Pitino) and it makes sense for him to eventually get a job that he once lost.
But the caveat in this is Philadelphia. The Sixers have not yet said what they’re going to do with interim coach Tony DiLeo, but the longer they go without saying their intentions, the more it looks like the job will become available.
Coaching the Sixers, simply because of proximity, would have to be welcomed by Jordan. However, he has a good working relationship with Kings GM Geoff Petrie.
Petrie opposed then-owner Jim Thomas’ decision to fire Jordan before the 1998-99 season. Petrie reportedly was upset with the decision.
Also, Jordan’s mentor, former Princeton coach Pete Carrill, is a Kings consultant — and the father of the offense that Jordan loves to run. One way or another, Jordan should be back in the league real soon....
05/07/09 9:11 PM
One day, shortly before his first and only draft in Washington, then-coach Marty Schottenheimer recalled his final season in Kansas City, marred by lots of penalties, bad characters and a losing record.
He admitted he rolled the dice too often, taking on too many players of questionable character. And he vowed not to repeat that mistake.
Which brings us to the 2009 Redskins, who have become a second-chance team. More accurately for some, they represent a last chance.
In some cases it’s about character: Albert Haynesworth has his own set of issues, ranging from stomping on a player in a game to driving incidents. Mike Williams weighed 410 pounds when Washington signed him and he hasn’t played in three years. They signed offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges earlier this week, who has his own arrest record.
They drafted a linebacker who lied about why he had been suspended. They signed a rookie free agent who had been suspended for his senior season for taking a banned substance. It’s not a roster full of bad guys by any means; but there are some where they’ll have to cross their fingers.
“It’s very difficult to judge a guy when we weren’t there at the time,” coach Jim Zorn said. “Guys do make poor judgments and some mature more than others. I put it to some of these guys that this is their next chance and they never know...
05/07/09 9:09 PM
Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension for a use of a banned substance will have a wide-ranging effect on baseball, but it might not be the end of the world. Here’s how it might go:
First, writers and pundits will pile on.
Ramirez’s happy-go-lucky approach and savant-like hitting ability have always made him a target for anyone in a ballpark wearing a credential. The line will stretch around the block with guys salivating at a chance to rush to judgment on “Manny being Manny,” regardless of what is eventually learned. And, like everyone else, they’ll wonder: who’s next?
Second, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ storybook start will have a not-so-pretty chapter.
Opposing pitchers will have an easier job, and Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp all will be under pressure. But because the Dodgers’ 13-0 start at home is already a Major League Baseball record — not to mention, they entered Thursday night with the best record in baseball —it’s not as if the season just careened off a cliff.
Third, the Dodgers will remain in contention.
Fifty games isn’t a season, the National League West isn’t the AL East, and the Dodgers have something the Nationals don’t: starting pitching and a bullpen. L.A. could still be in first when Ramirez returns July 3.
Fourth, it’ll be like 2008 in Chavez...
05/07/09 9:07 PM
Then get ready for speculation about him coming to Washington. It makes sense: Merriman played at Maryland and grew up in the area.
Merriman has heard the talk.
“All that stuff to me is garbage,” the San Diego linebacker told The Associated Press. “Whatever happens is going to happen. If that’s the case, I’m going to make the best of it, period.”
Even if Brian Orakpo can handle the strongside for Washington, there will be doubt over weakside linebacker Rocky McIntosh’s knees, now and in the future. However, Merriman might be more comfortable staying in a 3-4 front. He also said he wants to stay in San Diego.
The Chargers drafted a pass-rushing linebacker in the first round last month (Larry English). And Merriman is rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee.
“I want to go out there and I want to fly around and try and take somebody’s head off,” Merriman said. “That’s the only thing that’s important to me right now. I don’t care about anything...
05/06/09 3:45 PM
Johnny Miller needs to be more candid. OK, that might not be possible. Miller always delivers honest opinions and insight into golf. Few are better.
And Miller is honest about himself. Like with the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass, site of this week’s Players Championship.
“I just freaked out when I got on courses with water,” he told The Examiner’s Jim Williams. “I can play out of the trees, I can play out of the long rough, but I just can’t play out of 10-foot deep water.”
Miller on the finishing holes » “Those last three holes really expose the choke factor and the heroic factor, too. I’m choking in the booth just looking at those holes.”
Miller on the famous 17th island hole » “Most players will wait till the wind stops and then it is an easy nine iron and you’re on the green. If the wind kicks up then it can land anywhere. So watch the reactions of the player’s faces after they hit the ball. It is a major exhale when the ball lands on the...
05/06/09 3:46 PM
One person is threatening to turn Alex Rodriguez into a sympathetic figure. And that’s something we did not think would be possible.
But just watch: When Rodriguez returns off the disabled list (possibly Friday), he’ll get a standing ovation from the New York Yankee fans. Not because they condone all that he’s done, but it will be a statement that says enough is enough. They might know he’s really a scumbag at heart, but he’s their scumbag.
Besides, Selena Roberts’ book on A-Rod is overkill. Too much of the book is based on her belief that the reader should simply trust what she, Roberts, a Sports Illustrated columnist, writes because, well, it’s her. So, without much proof, we’re asked to believe that A-Rod did steroids in high school. And we’re supposed to believe, without attribution, that he was somewhat obsessed about the possibility, or even likelihood, that Derek Jeter is clean when it comes to performance enhancing drugs.
There are other allegations (including tipping of pitches that benefited A-Rod) from anonymous sources.
We don’t mind the use of anonymous sources; they’re necessary to gain information and insight. But a book like this demanded more.
Three years ago Roberts, then with The New York Times, all but convicted players from the Duke lacrosse team over a stripper’s accusations....
05/06/09 3:46 PM
Even if the Capitals don’t win the Stanley Cup, they can do no wrong in Washington these days with a second-to-none atmosphere and a team well stocked for present and future success.
How far behind are the rest of D.C.’s teams?
Wizards
This offseason will determine whether the Wizards can get themselves headed in the same direction as their co-tenants at Verizon Center.
The first pieces are in place, with a healthy Gilbert Arenas and a respected and proven veteran head coach, Flip Saunders, whose only blemish on his resume is no NBA title.
The next move is the most critical: making the best use of a guaranteed top-five pick in the 2009 NBA Draft — even if it means trading it away. Etan Thomas’ contract has to go, and how long can Antawn Jamison last as a starter? Blake Griffin is a can’t miss, but is Ricky Rubio? Could Hasheem Thabeet provide immediate help defensively?
Redskins
Their plan shifts by the year. The teams that sustain success rely on the draft — Philadelphia, New England, the New York Giants, Pittsburgh. Even Baltimore. Those teams maneuver to stockpile picks, the best way to build depth and groom young talent. Washington does not do that enough. Hence, the Redskins won’t become perennial contenders as they often look to patch holes from the outside rather than add final pieces.
Nationals
The Nats actually want to...
05/05/09 9:22 PM
Those who love exuberance and personality and toughness love one guy. The rest like Sidney Crosby. Oops, did we say that? We kid because, well, we don’t like the Penguins. Sorry.
But we will say this: the Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry has quickly become one of the best in sports. They’ll never meet for titles, but they’ll always be in each other’s way. They’ll compete for MVPs and the honor of being considered the best in hockey.
The best part: Ovechkin is 23 years old and Crosby is 21. Just think where this one is heading.
Here are the other best individual rivalries:
Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal
The only one where they truly go head-to-head. Like Crosby/Ovechkin, they have distinctly different styles. Nadal is the flashy Spaniard, with rock-star hair and a vibrant personality to match. Federer is calm and likes to attack; Nadal opts to stay at the baseline. They have met for three of the past four major championships and eight overall (Nadal leads 6-2). However, Federer is declining; Nadal is peaking.
Kobe vs. LeBron
No last names needed. They haven’t met for a championship — yet. But they’re always at the epicenter of any debate over who is the MVP or world’s best player. They rank 1-2 in terms of jersey sales. But they’d better get together soon in the finals. Kobe is 31. LeBron is only 24.
Tom Brady vs....
05/05/09 9:18 PM
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to Boston last year in the NBA Finals because they were physically pounded. Center Andrew Bynum’s presence this playoffs was supposed to help solve that issue. But after a Game 1 loss to the Rockets it may be the reason for their demise this year too.
Here is why the Rockets will advance:
1. Shane Battier is the best Kobe stopper » Please Ruben Patterson don’t take offense to this. It’s actually fun to watch Battier play defense. He forces Kobe to spots on the floor where he is less effective and always puts a hand in his face. The Black Mamba scored 32 points, but he took 31 shots and only got to the free throw line five times.
2. Rockets big men are better » The trio of Yao Ming, Luis Scola and Carl Landry (45 points on 16-30 shooting) outplayed Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom (33 points on 15-32 shooting). It’s a luxury to have a 7-foot-6 center to dump the ball to in crunch time and not worry about him getting fouled. Yao shot 87 percent from the line in the regular season and was a perfect 10-for-10 Monday.
3. Aaron Brooks is too quick for the Lakers point guards » Brooks changed Game 1 when he became aggressive offensively. He flew past Derek Fisher and the 6-footer was able to finish inside, scoring 19 points. Benched guard Jordan Farmar may be the only Laker who can stay in front of Brooks....
05/05/09 9:14 PM
Oh, the words you didn’t want to hear anymore but knew you would: Brett Favre wants to return to the NFL.
In equally shocking developments, a Drew Rosenhaus client wants a raise or a trade; Bill Belichick refused to smile and the sun is expected to rise today (except in the D.C. area where it will continue to rain every stinkin’ day).
And now back to Favre. ESPN reported Tuesday evening that he was going to meet with Minnesota coach Brad Childress at an undisclosed location. If all goes well, the report said, then Favre could soon be a Viking. And, really, what every football fan wants to see is Favre’s continued pummeling of his stature. As if the second-half collapse this past season wasn’t enough.
Does this mean more Wrangler commercials? By the way, how many times have you ever seen a group of men play football in jeans? Besides never, that is.
If Brett Favre tells me it’s sunny outside, I’m carrying an umbrella.
Where were we? Oh, yeah. Brett, stay home. Please. We loved you once, but the act is old and tired....
05/04/09 7:14 PM
Mia Hamm’s gift for soccer has been enjoyed by fans around the world. But her unique drive and passion remains hers alone. Like any gifted artist, expectations of perfection don’t easily translate into instruction.
“I don’t know if I have the personality for it,” said Hamm, ruling herself out of a coaching career prior to the Washington Freedom’s match at Maryland SoccerPlex on Sunday. “I don’t want to deter any girls from playing the game because it’s such a great game. Now that I have kids, my patience has grown a lot, but I still have a long way to go to coach other people’s kids.”
Sporting a retro Freedom warm-up jacket from the team’s days in the WUSA — with her appropriate Nike logo (WPS’ apparel sponsor is Puma) — Hamm and goalkeeper Siri Mullinix were inducted into Washington’s Hall of Freedom at halftime.
With twin 2-year-olds and husband Nomar Garciaparra still plying his trade in Major League Baseball, Hamm, 37, is a family woman now — not that the idea of rejoining the pro game hasn’t crossed her mind.
“I was kicking around last week with these 15-year-olds,” said Hamm, “and they just were flying by me. There’s no way. I would love to be as fit as these players are. I am still competitive, but I don’t have the commitment...
05/04/09 7:04 PM
When the Redskins resumed their voluntary workouts, known as Organized Team Activities, several players opted out. One was predictable: Clinton Portis. After spending all last season in Washington training (aided by incentives in his contract), Portis has returned to his old ways.
“I don’t know where Clinton is,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “He’s doing his thing.”
Mike Sellers is staying away because he’s upset with his contract (no surprises here: his new agent is Drew Rosenhaus, whose new clients always seemed to be upset with their old deals. Wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact he doesn’t get paid unless they get a new contract, would it? Nah). Sellers also declined every media request this past weekend.
He has a large presence in the locker room and not just because of his size. He’s constantly playing jokes on teammates, commenting on bodily features, mugging for the camera while they’re being interviewed. Harmless stuff. But he didn’t do it that much in the first half of last season when his role had decreased. He got more action; his personality returned. Is his absence during the OTAs a negative harbinger? Probably not; but it’s also not a positive sign. We’ll add that Sellers looked to be in terrific shape and that’s largely what matters. LaRon Landry also is...
05/04/09 6:56 PM
Selena Roberts » Just signed new book deal to profile LeBron James. Sources say when he was 10 years old he couldn’t dunk and that one Akron resident doesn’t like him.
Alex Rodriguez » Headed to Barnes & Noble. Any suggestions for some light reading for when I head back to New York?
Mine That Bird » I don’t know about anyone else, but my plan is to hide the cooler underneath this blanket of roses.
Brett Favre » Don’t read into this, but can anyone recommend some good restaurants in the greater Minneapolis area?
Tracy McGrady » Can’t wait to watch TPC at Sawgrass. Sean O’Hair is my new favorite, and then there’s always Tiger!
Chris Andersen » Looking for a Brooks Brothers store in Dallas. Have some time in between wins, and I heard there’s a big sale.
Andre Miller » Having breakfast after alarm went off early. Have two early meetings: first, my agent; second, my realtor. Both are can’t miss!...
05/03/09 9:43 PM
“Tattoo” Tommy Mitchell won the admiration of Washington-area fight fans, making his professional boxing debut at age 41 last November to raise money for his 18-year-old daughter’s battle against cancer.
When Mitchell returned to the Patriot Center Saturday night, he did so with a heavy heart. His daughter, Shayla, had succumbed to Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Disease on Jan. 28.
Fighting with the raucous support of 4,132 fans, Mitchell couldn’t duplicate his surprisingly competent debut performance, losing in 58 seconds to Yieta Johnson. Mitchell barely got off a punch as Johnson landed a big left hook 10 seconds in, drawing a standing 8 count.
Mitchell struggled to regain his legs and clear his head, but was snowed under by another Johnson barrage before the fight was stopped.
“He just caught me,” said Mitchell, a handyman from Centreville. “I was just a little over-excited, a little overwhelmed. I didn’t stick to the game plan.”
In his first fight, also against Johnson, Mitchell landed some solid punches before it was stopped, in an unpopular decision. This time there was little for Mitchell fans to cheer except his extraordinary courage.
“A lot of work I put into this fight,” said Mitchell. “I gave it my best. I don’t know that I have more to...
05/03/09 9:41 PM
Conventional thought in evaluating college basketball teams is that point guard is the most important position on the floor. This postseason, you can extend that notion to the NBA. Nearly every team still alive has made a key change at the point within the last two years that is paying off.
Chauncey Billups (Denver) » Trading away a malcontent, Allen Iverson, and getting a willing star in hometown hero Billups, was a masterstroke for the Nuggets. Still in his prime at age 32, Billups averaged 22.6 points per game, matching Chris Paul (22.8) shot for shot in the Denver’s surprisingly decisive 4-1 playoff victory over New Orleans.
Aaron Brooks (Houston) » Dealing starting point guard Rafer Alston to Orlando was an indication that the Rockets were playing for the future. But it also said they trusted Brooks, a second-year man from Oregon, to handle the position now. The 6-foot waterbug averaged 15.3 points per game in Houston’s 4-2 series win over Portland.
Jose Juan Barea (Dallas) » Trading for Jason Kidd wasn’t the answer for Dallas last season. But this year, pairing him in the backcourt with Barea, a third-year man from Northeastern, has worked. The tenacious, 6-footer has covered for Kidd’s lack of quickness, dealing with swiftees such as Tony Parker in the first round.
Mike Bibby (Atlanta) » Getting Bibby in a deadline...
05/03/09 9:42 PM
Paying $103.20 on a $2 bet, Mine That Bird was the second most unlikely winner in the 135-year history of the Kentucky Derby Saturday.
In 12 days, will Mine That Bird come back to earth at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore? History says don’t count on it. Three of the 11 most unlikely winners at Churchill Downs went on to win the Preakness, and several others have been close. So on May 16 at Pimlico, consider the possibility that Mine That Bird wasn’t lucky, but instead was misjudged by handicappers.
Remember War Emblem, the 2002 Derby longshot who paid $43.00? That horse went on to win the Preakness before fading to an eighth-place finish after stumbling from the gate in the Belmont.
Another longshot Derby winner, Charismatic (31-to-1), still had plenty of doubters heading into the 1999 Preakness at 8-to-1 odds. But Charismatic proved his mettle, winning at Pimlico, then making a strong bid for the Triple Crown, finishing third at the Belmont, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Lemon Drop Kid.
In 1936, Bold Venture paid $43.00 for his Derby win, then repeated his success in the Preakness before suffering a bowed tendon that not only prevented him from running in the Belmont, but ended his racing career.
Four other Derby longshot winners — Giacomo (2005), Thunder Gulch (1995), Proud Clarion (1967), and Gallahadion (1940) — finished third in the...
04/30/09 9:23 PM
The Pittsburgh Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008. Barry Melrose calls them a better team now than they were last season.
But that won’t matter in the end.
He still likes the Capitals.
“I picked them to win the East and I see no reason to change my prediction,” said the ESPN hockey analyst. “They’re playing better than they were in the regular season. They have deeper scoring than the Penguins and that’s one reason I like them.”
But the Penguins could easily win this series. And one major reason they’re playing so well is because of ex-Capital Sergei Gonchar.
“He changes everything,” Melrose said. “He makes the power play better and is a great passer of the puck, so it’s not going off the glass or the boards, it’s going tape to tape which helps the offensive players. Dan Bylsma has done a great job as coach, but Gonchar has changed the team more than anything.”
That’s where this could get interesting. Simeon Varlamov was outstanding vs. the New York Rangers. But the Rangers were about as offensive as a Tom Hanks interview. The Penguins have just a bit more, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
“They have to get better defensively,” Melrose said. “They can’t give up breakaways as they did against the Rangers. They’ll see a lot of...
04/30/09 9:23 PM
We’re a month into the baseball season and already teams are diving into their minor league systems for extra manpower. Here’s a look at three teams who have helped themselves from within and three who could use an extra jolt:
Making moves
Nationals » After two starts, Jordan Zimmermann looks like the real deal. The 22-year-old has good presence and command. He’s 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA. A promising start for a franchise in desperate need of good news.
Yankees » Right-hander Phil Hughes was miserable in 2008. But the former first-round pick tossed six shutout innings Tuesday night against the Tigers in his 2009 debut.
Royals » The AL Central is wide open and the Royals will stay in the mix with pitching. Brian Bannister is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA since being called up.
Need some help
Rays » The reigning AL champs rank in the bottom-third of the league in team ERA. Meanwhile, David Price has 20 Ks in 17 innings at Triple-A Durham.
Indians » Pitching is the real problem. But with Travis Hafner on the DL, isn’t it time to bring up Matt LaPorta? The 24-year-old is hitting .368 at Triple-A Columbus. If he doesn’t come up now, he’ll be up soon.
Orioles » The catching platoon of Gregg Zaun and Chad Moeller is hitting .167 with 2 RBIs. Stud prospect Matt Wieters batted .333 in spring training. Any questions?...
04/30/09 9:24 PM
Garry Stevens and Bob Neumeier, both NBC horseracing analysts, had a hard time coming up with a winner for the Kentucky Derby, a testament to the lack of a dominating horse.
But they disagree on one thing: Stevens said every horse has a chance. Neumeier disagrees.
“Conventional wisdom suggests the Kentucky Derby is annually a wide-open, ultra-competitive race, with many of the 19 entrants enjoying a reasonable chance for success,” Neumeier told The Examiner’s Jim Williams. “But lately the Derby has been controlled by highly-rated favorites and this year’s edition figures to be won by one of the top three choices. They would include Pioneerof the Nile, I Want Revenge and the lightly-raced but talented Dunkirk.”
Among the other storylines Neumeier likes:
» Will newly elected Hall-of-Fame trainer Bob Baffert win his fourth derby courtesy of Pioneerof the Nile?
» Will conditioner Todd Pletcher break an 0-for-21 Derby slump with Dunkirk?
» Will former high school principal Tom McCarthy provide the stunning upset with his horse, General Quarters? He bought the horse for only — yes, only — $20,000....
04/29/09 3:45 PM
Ears rang more than cell phones. Not that anyone would know; it was too loud to hear any phones. Even 20 minutes after the Capitals Game 7 victory over the Rangers, it was hard for many — players, media, anyone — to still not feel the effects of the throaty sellout crowd.
“My ears were popping the last five minutes,” said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier. “You get some chills.”
“That was by far the loudest I’ve ever heard any building,” said fellow defenseman Tom Poti, in his 11th season.
“Guys should never forget something like that,” said captain Chris Clark.
There’s a genuine embrace of the Capitals by the fans, some of whom came on board five minutes ago. So what? But there’s something different about this team compared to the other ones in town. The Redskins always will be first here, but there are many fans who have a hard time rooting for them because of ownership. Warm and fuzzy they aren’t. And that won’t change. That’s also not the case with the Caps.
“We’ve been honest and transparent,” Caps owner Ted Leonsis, who loves engaging with the fans, said. “We told people the truth. ... We’ve done every single thing as we said and it’s come together.”
The Nats seem to be following the Caps’ blueprint, building from the ground...
04/29/09 3:46 PM
Love » Honesty from San Antonio. To a man, player or coach, the Spurs blamed no one but themselves after getting ousted from the playoffs, 4-1, by Dallas. No blaming refs or injuries. Tony Parker said it would’ve been difficult even with Manu Ginobli. “They had more firepower than us. They played better than us,” said Tim Duncan. Having class must be easy when you’ve won three titles this decade.
Hate » Gratuitous bench shots of Kevin Garnett. We know he’s injured. We know he’s intense. But he’s turned into Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo’s wife at the Final Four, except with a far dirtier mouth. What is this, an audition for a Quentin Tarantino film?
Love » The rest of the Bulls/Celtics rivalry. Three overtime games. The Rajon Rondo/Derrick Rose point guard battle. Ben Gordon’s gunning. Paul Pierce’s relentless determination. Blood and guts everywhere. A series like this can only bring fans into the game.
Hate » Carlos Boozer saying he wants to stay in Utah. He bailed on Cleveland five years ago, and he already said last December he would definitely opt out of his Jazz contract this summer in search of a raise. Who is he kidding? The question isn’t whether he wants to remain with Utah. It’s what it’ll take to make it happen....
04/29/09 3:06 PM
It’s probably not a big deal. But it doesn’t look good — on Cody Glenn’s part or the Redskins.
After Washington selected him in the fifth round, the Nebraska linebacker told reporters that he was suspended last season for selling tickets. Wrong. Glenn admitted to The Associated Press that he had lied.
“It was me being dumb, just trying to have people leave me alone,” Glenn said. “It’s something I said that I probably shouldn’t have, looking at it now.”
He declined to cite the real reason — and the Nebraska coaches aren’t saying either.
On Sunday the Redskins acknowledged the ticket-buying reason, which negates to some degree their claim about knowing everything about their draftees. However, one team source said he was well-researched.
“We’re comfortable with everything,” Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said.
Glenn also was involved in a civil suit for not paying rent, a matter that was resolved in February when he paid back rent of more than $2,000. Glenn needs to learn to tell the truth. There’s no doubt the new media covering him will put him on notice....
04/29/09 3:06 PM
The Lakers and Cavaliers both finished off their first-round series and appear headed toward an NBA Finals showdown. But could they be vulnerable before the finals? Probably not, but here is how they can be exposed:
Lakers
The point » Derek Fisher helped bring three titles to L.A., but he may be the reason why the Lakers don’t win this year. Jazz point guard Deron Williams dominated him. The Lakers have turned to mid-season acquisition Shannon Brown, now with his third team. But is a guard who struggled to get playing time in Charlotte really the answer? A Finals MVP — Denver’s Chauncey Billups — could be waiting in the Western Conference Finals.
Cavaliers
Scoring rut » The Cavs are a defensive-minded team and when they lose it’s because they struggle to score. Since the 2006 postseason, Cleveland is 17-1 when scoring at least 94 points. The Cavs failed to reach 100 points in 14 of their 16 losses this season. The main issues are a lack of a consistent scoring threat on the bench and the lack of big man to dump the ball down to in the post. And the Cavs big men — Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joe Smith and Ben Wallace — are great defenders, but none are reliable scorers in the post; Z and Smith both rely on outside shots. A high-scoring team like Orlando could give the Cavs problems, especially if Cleveland...
04/29/09 2:54 PM
Brian Orakpo is exactly what the Redskins needed. So says the former scout of Washington’s first-round pick.
“It was a great pick,” said Russ Lande, a former NFL scout who is the Sporting News’ draft expert. “He’ll make an impact and he’ll upgrade their entire pass rush from day one. It’s the speed, the explosiveness and the power. He’s able to drive through contact a lot of the time. And when he gets near the quarterback he has a real finishing burst.”
Orakpo is not going to solve the Redskins pass-rush problems. So writes the former player.
“Brian Orakpo looks like Tarzan,” wrote ex-Redskin Ross Tucker on SI.com, “but too often plays like Jane.”
Ouch.
But Orakpo’s defensive line coach at Texas, Oscar Giles, is convinced the Redskins have more of the former player than the latter.
“The Redskins got a kid who is passionate about football,” Giles said. “He has a tremendous work ethic. Everything he got his senior year was through hard work. He’s loyal and he’s one of those guys who you tell him something once and he’s gonna do it.”
This is Giles’ scouting report:
On Orakpo’s versatility » “He rushed from a two-point stance and with his hand on the ground. He dropped into coverage. He can cover the tight end...
04/28/09 12:43 PM
It is a playoff series where the bizarre is now the norm. So when New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky accused Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrisonn of biting his right wrist during a scrum in Game 6 on Sunday — well, let’s just say it fit perfectly with what has gone on so far.
The alleged incident occurred moments after Dubinsky had slammed Washington’s Mike Green from behind and earned boarding, roughing and misconduct penalties — a bit of a credibility hit there for a player later crying foul.
But he did immediately show the referee the alleged bite mark and did the same for reporters at practice Monday. The Rangers also said Dubinsky needed a tetanus shot and is taking antibiotics. For his part, Morrisonn on Monday denied biting Dubinsky.
“I don’t know what that’s all about, actually,” Morrisonn said. “I think it’s weird that they said that.”
He repeated that denial several times and Caps coach Bruce Boudreau vehemently defended his player — although a good prosecutor might have a field day contrasting Morrisonn’s quote that he first heard the allegations Monday morning with an earlier one that he learned about them Sunday evening.
Either way — there was no visual evidence that he bit Dubinsky and no action taken by the NHL. Just another day in a playoff series that apparently...
04/28/09 12:43 PM
In light of news from the NFL that it will look into teams “revealing their draft picks on their Web sites and through Twitter even before commissioner Roger Goodell might have announced the selections,” here are ten sports Twitter accounts we’d like to see.
1. Redskins quarterback pursuits. “Vinny Cerrato says Skins targeting Sam Bradford.”
Might as well start this one as soon as possible.
2. Nationals farm team signings. “The Nationals announce they have failed to come to terms on a contract with Stephen Strasburg.”
Washington could put this out before or after they select Strasburg with the first pick on June 9, even though the signing deadline isn’t until August.
3. Capitals injuries. “Alexander Ovechkin is expected to miss three games due to a right hamstring strain suffered in practice.”
That’ll help explain the Russian’s absence in February — but the tweet won’t happen until July. (This didn’t actually happen. We’re just saying.)
4. NBA Draft Lottery winner. “The New York Knicks have won the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery, and will make the first selection in the draft on June 25.”
It’ll make headlines on May 19, the night before the lottery itself. It also, ahem, won’t be the first time.
5. Wizards draft plans. “The Washington Wizards are...
04/23/09 8:46 PM
New Wizards’ head coach Flip Saunders’ year out of the NBA didn’t cause him to think twice about the circumstances that led to his firing by the Detroit Pistons at the end of the 2007-08 season.
In fact, it was the exact opposite.
“I became even more entrenched in my philosophy of how I did things was the right way,” said Saunders. “I think I also came to appreciate the game.”
It’s more unlikely that he appreciated losing his job after following orders from the Pistons’ brass to play young Detroit players, according to league sources.
Saunders said conversations with players helped to reinforce his own beliefs about coaching.
“I still have a lot of players who call me all the time, tell me what’s going on around the league and all that,” said Saunders. “And then you have players who call you up and maybe appreciate you more now than they did before. They almost sell you on the idea that what you did was the best way to do...
04/23/09 8:46 PM
The timing is ironic. The NHL announced Thursday that Capitals defenseman Mike Green is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy.
Green’s play in the regular season showed he’s worthy of that honor. But Green has not matched that performance in the playoffs, one reason the Caps are down 3-1 in their best-of-seven series to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
He has just two secondary assists — both in Game 1. He is also tied for the worst plus-minus (-3) total among any Caps player in the series.
Despite missing 14 games, Green led all defensemen with 31 goals — the most since another Caps player, Kevin Hatcher, scored 34 in 1992, and the youngest to hit 30 since Hall-of-Famer Paul Coffey in 1984.
Green ranked seventh in points per game (1.07) and set an NHL record for defensemen by scoring at least one goal in eight straight games. But that offensive genius has been missing so far.
“Sometimes he feels the weight of the world on shoulders,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said earlier this week. “Instead of just playing like Mike Green, he’s trying to impress people with hits and skating and staying out on the power play. When you try to do all of those things, usually you don’t do any of them as well as you can.”
The Caps need for that to change. They need Green to play like the guy...
04/23/09 8:46 PM
In the online-dominated world of soccer journalism, wildly off-color ranting masked as objective analysis is everywhere, but not usually on the respected site CenterLineSoccer.com, one reason why its offering last week ahead of the D.C. United/New England Revolution match was so shocking.
The other reason: its stir-inducing piece was written by Houston Dynamo assistant coach Tim Hanley.
In a nearly 1,000-word “pre-match analysis,” Hanley unleashed criticism at every part of United’s team and front office, beginning with an anecdote about D.C. management’s indecisive machinations at the 2009 draft.
“I think the owners, pen and paper in hand, wanted to ‘help out’ as well as discover who was making the personnel decisions and why things did not go so well last year,” said Hanley.
Despite being on the sideline when the Dynamo were shutout by D.C., 1-0, two weeks before, Hanley then called the United defense “a bit wooden” and said, “D.C. keeper Louis Crayton is poor and New England would be well advised to test him as often as possible.”
Um, scoreboard?
He also argued that “D.C. United really only has one or two players that would start for the Revolution,” and “I figured out what Fred does during a match. He kicks people. That is it. Really.” Asserting in closing that United...
04/22/09 3:53 PM
Robinson grad Chip Vaughn entered Wake Forest as a receiver and started only two years at safety, leading some experts to consider him raw but talented. But at least one person is highly confident in what Vaughn can do: Vaughn himself.
When the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock left him off his list of top-five safeties in the draft Vaughn dashed off an e-mail to him.
“His numbers are off the charts,” Mayock said. “Good size; very smart. But he’s got things to learn, which I told him in my response. He’s a core special teams guy who can develop into a starter. I really like him.”
Vaughn’s speed (4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and size (6-foot-1, 221 pounds) make him attractive. He’s projected to be a second- or third-round pick.
“Physically he’s as good as anybody at the position,” ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said.
Russ Lande, a former scout who now heads the Sporting News draft coverage, said Vaughn is a good match for today’s game.
“He’s more valuable in today’s NFL,” Lande said, “than he would have been 10 years ago because his strength is not in run support. He will do that occasionally, but he’s a top athlete who can cover and do stuff in coverage that not many can.”
Vaughn has two safeties in mind when he plays: 1970s Oakland star...
04/22/09 3:54 PM
The MLB season is young, but, entering play Wednesday, some stats may surprise you during the first few weeks:
» The Pirates lead baseball in quality starts with a rotation of Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karsten.
» Cleveland’s Victor Martinez played in 57 games before hitting his first home run last year. After 14 games this season, he already has five homers.
» The Orioles have been outscored by 22 runs after 14 games, but they were 7-7.
» Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang would need to pitch 46 straight scoreless innings to get his ERA under 4.00.
» Phillies closer Brad Lidge allowed 15 earned runs and two homers without blowing a save in 72 games last season. In his first seven appearances this year, he has allowed seven earned runs and three homers and blew a save against the Padres last weekend.
» Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis is on pace to drive in 208 runs this season.
» And, the big shocker, 65 players have as many home runs, 3, as the Oakland A’s....
04/22/09 3:53 PM
Welcome to the third annual This-is-a-big-offseason-for-Andray-Blatche summer tour. The Wizards forward has been given one chance after another to become a consistent player. Which, those around the team say, will only happen when he starts taking the game more serious.
But, perhaps, the hiring of Flip Saunders will help that development. This could be a stretch, but: Blatche’s favorite player growing up was Kevin Garnett; Saunders coached Garnett for 10 seasons in Minnesota. Maybe he can coax something out of Blatche, whether by using him in similar ways or simply by saying: this is how Garnett did it.
“That’s the NBA way,” one executive said. “Players know who coached who. They listen to a coach who can make them money.”
Of course, at some point, it has to come from the kid himself.
Now would be a good time for that to happen. Because what the Wizards really need is to add another veteran and break up a young gang of players whose approach irks the veterans. Young guys such as Nick Young and JaVale McGee both need to become more professional in their approach. If they don’t, the rift between them and the vets surely will increase. The vets see a chance to win next year; do the young players share that vision?
Caron Butler, already a top player, is going to work out with the elite stars — guys who could go by one name...
04/21/09 8:39 PM
The biggest hole is at outside linebacker. Naturally, that means the Redskins could wind up with someone who plays … in the middle. That is, if their flirtation with Southern Cal linebacker Rey Maualuga is serious.
Washington has met with him privately and likes him, according to several league sources. But the Redskins could have their choice of linebackers who played at Southern Cal.
» Brian Cushing: He would fill an immediate need at strongside linebacker and one GM rated Cushing the best of the three Trojan ’backers. The one knock on Cushing is his durability, but he’s also versatile. Cushing played all three linebacker positions at USC.
“He gives you a lot of things like [former Redskin LaVar] Arrington,” the GM said. “But he’s a smarter player. You can do more with him. There’s no bust factor with him.”
“I think he’s the best of the group,” said ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay.
» Maualuga: One talent evaluator said Maualuga could play on the strongside for a year, or two, and then eventually replace London Fletcher in the middle. We’ve heard his name mentioned a few times in connection to the Redskins. He also fits the profile of players Dan Snyder likes: big highlight-reel plays, rough around the edges. And he’d sell a lot of jerseys.
But, the GM rated him third among...
04/21/09 8:40 PM
Scottie Reynolds’ game pleases a lot of people in the NBA. But it might not please them enough to give Reynolds what he apparently would like: a first-round guarantee.
The Herndon grad, and Villanova star, announced Tuesday that he’ll put his name in for the NBA draft. However, he will not hire an agent and simply wants to see what his value is before deciding if he’ll return to Villanova for his senior year.
“I don’t see it,” one NBA executive said of Reynolds getting a first-round guarantee. “The kid is a hell of a college player and he has the heart of a lion. But the reality is he’s 6-feet tall and not exceptionally quick. His ability to score is intriguing.”
Reynolds’ ability to score has prompted some to compare him to Boston’s Eddie House, a 2000 draft pick who only recently started to blossom. Reynolds, a hero in Villanova’s run to the Final Four, is considered a better ballhandler and his strength is a plus.
But the executive said, “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go back to...
04/21/09 8:40 PM
It was the play of the game and probably one that Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom could not have made last year.
During Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Monday, he turned on his skates just as New York Rangers forward Ryan Callahan — arguably the team’s toughest player — lined up the 21-year-old Swede for a crunching check.
Instead, Backstrom was the one to deliver a shoulder check that knocked Callahan to the ice. He quickly slipped a pass down low to teammate Alex Ovechkin, who then found Alex Semin on the opposite side for a wide-open goal.
“Last year in the playoffs I felt kind of like I was new to the game,” Backstrom said of the draining seven-game series vs. Philadelphia last April — his first postseason appearance. “You have to be more physical. You have to fight out there. I’m not a guy that can hit that much. But I have to hit, too, to show my teammates I’m here for work.”
Backstrom’s reputation may not be as a physical player. But at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, he’s not some undersized playmaker, either. He just has the skills of one. And that is a scary package.
“He doesn’t look like a big guy out there,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “[But] he doesn’t get knocked off the puck. He’s really strong and it showed on Monday...
04/21/09 1:26 AM
The Big East dominated college basketball this season because of its heavy stock of seniors and NBA-bound underclassmen. With nearly all of them gone — including nine of the 11 members of the 2009 All-Big East first and second teams — Georgetown center Greg Monroe’s decision to return makes him an early frontrunner for 2009-10 Big East player of the year. Here’s who he’ll battle for the accolade:
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, 6-8 » After being named Big East player of the year as a sophomore in 2008, Harangody improved his numbers in nearly every category this year (23.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.1 apg). A big body with a surprising arsenal of athletic shots, he’s still destined to be the next Bryant Reeves.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, 6-9 » Da’Sean Butler will be the Mountaineers’ senior leader next winter, but the long and deceivingly tough Ebanks got better as his freshman year went along, finishing with 10.5 points and an impressive 7.8 rebounds per game. Can you say upside?
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, 6-2 » In 2008-09, the former Big East rookie of the year’s great nights — a game-winning runner at the buzzer vs. Pitt in the Elite Eight — were too often matched by his off nights — 3-for-11 from three vs. UNC in the Final Four. If he can be consistent and improve his 35 percent...
04/21/09 1:25 AM
If the Redskins want to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez, the scenario is simple: trade to the third pick, leaping ahead of any other team seriously interested in the Southern California passer.
Of course, it would take this year’s first- and third-rounder and almost definitely next year’s first rounder to jump the 10 spots. Keep in mind that last year’s third overall pick, quarterback Matt Ryan, received $34.75 million in guaranteed money from Atlanta.
Which begs this question: Should the Redskins make that investment?
“If I don’t have a quarterback, and it’s obvious that’s the way they feel, then yes I would do whatever I have to do to get one,” said one NFL front office executive.
There’s some doubt as to whether Redskins owner Dan Snyder would be willing to part with next year’s No. 1.
“I don’t know if he’ll do that,” said another NFL source who knows Snyder well.
But Snyder did not take losing the Jay Cutler sweepstakes well. And multiple sources have said he really likes Sanchez (whom they hosted Friday, taking him out to dinner). NFL decision makers say Sanchez is a good fit for the West Coast offense, which Washington runs.
Snyder also could opt to wait and see if Sanchez gets past Seattle, which still had Sanchez among their list of candidates as of late last week, at No....
04/21/09 1:26 AM
The 90-year old baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller will pitch an inning in the first Baseball Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown, N.Y., in June. On April 16, 1940, the ex-Cleveland Indian pitched the only Opening Day no-hitter in history.
How often do you still pitch?
I throw in fantasy camp and in spring training I work out with my grandson, Daniel. I throw in the backyard with a rubber ball up against a backboard. I won’t throw 99 miles an hour, but hopefully I can throw strikes.
What do you remember about the no-hitter?
There were only 14,000 people in the ballpark [in Chicago]. It was cold and windy and cloudy. If you hit a ball on the fists, you had a handful of bees. I only struck out eight, which wasn’t that many for me.
Should Roger Clemens get in the Hall of Fame?
Would I vote for him? The answer is no. Sorry to say that. He could have handled [the steroid controversy] much better. He had some very bad advice....
04/20/09 9:04 AM
The Wizards now-vacationing forward plans to work out with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for several weeks this summer.
Q » Why do you want to work out with Kobe, LeBron and Dwyane?
A » I’ve got to work out with the best. I look [at] Dwyane, the way he came back with strength and ability and how fast he is with his explosiveness and LeBron, his transition game and a guy that will be the MVP, probably. He’s a great guy to work out with. And always Kobe. The skill level is so high. Once you’re at this point in your career you want your skill level to get better.
Q » Think Wizards fans can accept you getting help from LeBron?
A » I can accept it so they obviously will too. If it’s good for me it’s good for the franchise.
Q » Is this LeBron’s time?
A » It looks like there’s something special going on in Cleveland. This has been a magical year by LeBron. But you can’t ever count out Kobe Bryant....
04/20/09 9:04 AM
The Nats have a lot to worry about these days. Does anyone really need to have them recounted now? Or does the 1-10 record suggest the problem is a little bit — OK , maybe a lot — of everything?
But one of their worries, at least in the eyes of the Great Falls Little League, is not Elijah Dukes. And that’s why they’re trying to pay the fine the Nats levied on their talented outfielder.
Dukes attended their Opening Day ceremonies and left around 9:25 a.m. Saturday. But he didn’t arrive at Nationals Park until around 10:05 — approximately five minutes after he was supposed to be there. So he was fined and benched for a few innings. A team source said Dukes understood and took it well.
The team also knew what he was doing, which is why the fine wasn’t greater. But he’s playing for a manager, Manny Acta, who is catching heat and Dukes was late to work. The front office did not seem too pleased when Lastings Milledge was late for a meeting on Opening Day and not punished.
Times are tense for the Nats.
Understood.
Still ... the Great Falls Little League is hoping to bail out Dukes, their new favorite player. They plan on sending the Nats 500 $1 bills, each one signed by a player in their league. Dukes was paid $500 for his appearance and apparently fined the same amount.
“We’ve already gotten 30 or 40 emails from...
04/20/09 8:54 AM
An easy way to have a Capitals player bristle this week is to suggest that New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has somehow gotten into their heads.
It is a fair question. Lundqvist, after all, has stopped 67 of the 70 shots he has faced through the first two games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. And he has certainly stoned teams before in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
One clear problem for Washington has been tracking down the rebounds that Lundqvist is kicking out from deep in his crease. That happened at least a half-dozen times during Saturday’s Game 2 as Caps players skated harmlessly past pucks that bounced off Lundqvist.
“He’s doing a good job of sending the rebounds by us,” said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier. “And I think that’s intentional. He gives up a lot of rebounds. But he also does a good job of kicking them past our guys. Pucks are not dropping at our feet.”
The solution? The same one that’s been there all season for the Caps. Get more traffic in front of Lundqvist to give themselves a better chance to knock one home.
“He does a very good job at [directing rebounds] like any good NHL goalie does,” said Caps forward Brooks Laich. “But also their [defensemen] do a very good job of clearing the pucks before we get to...
04/17/09 4:07 AM
The New York Rangers know one thing. They can’t give Washington the same number of chances it had Wednesday night. Not if the Rangers want to pull the upset.
New York is terrific at killing penalties — and the Rangers ability to do so frustrates opponents, making them try to be more precise and perfect at times. On Washington’s last power play in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss, it took 40 seconds before the Caps got off a shot.
All totaled, the Caps were two of seven on power play chances.
But this also takes a toll on the Rangers, who have to constantly defend in tense situations. It’s physical and mental; that’s why Rangers center Blair Betts was the last out of the locker room Wednesday. He was limping around almost an hour after the game, getting treatment on various parts of his body.
“A lot of [other] guys have to sit and we lose momentum,” Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. “It could have hurt us big time. That’s something we have to cut down if we want to win.”
“If we keep doing that, it’ll bite us, especially with the talent they have,” Rangers winger Ryan Callahan said.
ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose said the Caps must tweak their strategy to make sure it does hurt the Rangers. Melrose said Caps center Nicklas Backstrom must shoot more on the power play. He attempted one power...
04/17/09 3:43 AM
The NBA playoffs begin this weekend, so which players and teams are under the gun?
Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) » After five quick playoff exits, the heat is on the All-Star, whose playoff numbers (21.1 points per game, 38.9 FG percent) pale compared to his norm (24.2 ppg, 46.0 percent). The Nuggets are 4-20 in the postseason in the Carmelo years, but this is the first time he will have the home-court advantage as Denver faces New Orleans.
Dwight Howard (Magic) » Detroit has spoiled Superman’s postseason the last two years, going 8-1 against Orlando. This time the Magic has a tough first-round test against the Sixers who are thrilled not to have to face Boston. Howard wants to tell Philly, “Be careful what you wish for."
Mavericks » Two years ago, Dallas (67-15) was seeded No. 1 and fell to No. 8 Golden State, 4-2. Last year, Chris Paul and the Hornets needed only five games to dispatch the Mavs. Can a new coach (Rick Carlisle vs. Avery Johnson) make a difference as Dallas, which finished the season strong, takes on San Antonio?
Celtics » With Kevin Garnett out, the pressure is on defending champion Boston in the opening round. Even without their leader, a loss to Chicago, which enters having won five of six, would be a major disappointment....
04/17/09 3:16 AM
Around the time John Madden started to become a beloved broadcaster, his wife, Virginia, called with a request. She wanted her husband to make plans to help teach their son, Joe, how to drive.
According to Evan Weiner, one of Madden’s producers at Westwood One radio (where Madden had a show), Madden said, “Why would we have to worry about that? It’ll be another year or two at least.”
To which his wife replied, “How old do you think he is?”
Madden answered, “13 or 14.”
Wrong. His son was 16 and a month from getting his permit, she told him.
“I’ll be damned,” Madden said. “I wouldn’t have thought he was that old.”
Broadcasters become elevated because of their personality. Madden was as successful as they come, but he maintained an every-guy, just-like-your-absent-minded-uncle demeanor that allowed him to connect with viewers.
“During a broadcast, you’d think he was talking directly to you,” FOX analyst Troy Aikman said in a statement. “I, along with millions of other fans, will miss hearing an old friend on...
04/15/09 3:48 PM
The whispers started right after the Redskins failed trade attempt for quarterback Jay Cutler. By the end of the night, one name started to pop up: Mark Sanchez. The Redskins had already worked out the Southern Cal quarterback; sources at Sanchez’s Pro Day say it was clear that Washington coach Jim Zorn and owner Dan Snyder liked him (Zorn ran the meeting with Sanchez, by the way).
And it’s clear that the Redskins feel a need to upgrade at quarterback.
But good luck trying to find a consensus on what that means for the draft.
Here’s what three experts have the Redskins doing. Of course, with 10 days left before the draft, this could change.
Mel Kiper (ESPN): Sanchez. “He has a passion for the game. He’s the fifth best player in the draft. If he’d gone back he could have been No. 1. Teams don’t win without great quarterbacks in this league.”
Mike Mayock (NFL Network): OT Michael Oher, Mississippi. “To get Sanchez, they have to expend draft picks of which they don’t have many. They don’t have the ammo to move up. So if they’re sitting there at 13, they’re looking for an offensive tackle. If all four of them are gone, then there’s a dropoff before the next one. They have to make a decision on what they’ll do if they don’t get a quarterback or a [tackle]. Do they look at an end...
04/15/09 3:43 PM
Sizzle
Evan Longoria » Is Longoria (.441, 5 HR, 12 RBIs) the best offensive third baseman in baseball? Before you answer consider this: entering play on Wednesday, the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year had more home runs than the A’s and Giants.
Nick Swisher » An afterthought in a busy offseason for the Yankees, Swisher (.458, 4 HR, 11 RBIs) has been New York’s best acquisition. He homered and pitched a scoreless inning (more on that later) in Monday’s 15-5 loss to Tampa.
Josh Johnson » His first start (six-plus innings of shutout ball against the Nationals) was strong. His second start (a complete-game gem in which he outdueled Johan Santana) was fantastic. The Marlins righty has a 15-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Fizzle
Lincecum & Lee » Talk about the difference a year makes. In 2008, Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee were untouchable. This season? Not so much. The reigning Cy Young winners are a combined 0-3 with an 8.95 ERA in four starts.
Lance Berkman » Few players in the NL are as productive as Berkman, who has averaged 34 home runs and 113 RBIs per season since 1999. But the 33-year-old first baseman has struggled, hitting just .167.
Chien-Ming Wang » The 29-year-old righty lasted less than two innings in his start against the Rays, prompting a parade from the bullpen and Swisher’s emergency relief appearance....
04/15/09 3:39 PM
The Phillies shortstop, done with making predictions, is trying to look forward and not backward.
C&J » You play for a rather notorious fan base. Did winning a title finally make them happy or less angry?
Rollins » They were happy for 2008 and are looking forward to 2009, definitely. No doubt about that. Going to Sixers games and getting that reception there and even the couple of Eagles games I went to. But the fan base is like any other fan base. They always want more. You can never satisfy a fan base. Never.
C&J » Have you noticed a difference on the field as the champs? Do you feel more like the hunted?
Rollins » No. We’re not the champions. We were the champs. This is a new season. I guess that won’t be determined until, what, November now? We get to wear our rings, but none of that really transfers over.
C&J » What did you do with your ring?
Rollins » I’ll wear it for the first week, but after then it’ll be on a shelf until I have another championship appearance to go to, like a Super Bowl or something....
04/14/09 7:54 PM
When the Capitals Stanley Cup playoff series begins at home Wednesday against the New York Rangers, they can expect one thing: Sean Avery — the bad boy of the NHL — will get under someone’s skin.
That’s what Avery does. He’s a 5-foot-10, 195-pound pest. He will pop an opponent just a half-second after the whistle. He will charge into a goalie a little extra hard. He will dish out a sly slash and draw a retaliation penalty.
So, that begs the question: How will the Caps handle Avery?
“He’s part of their team and he can do a good job at what he does best,” said Caps goalie Jose Theodore. “Disturb and create some guys to lose their focus. For me, there are so many guys I’ve got to watch on that team. He’s just one of them.”
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur no doubt said something similar before his team’s series with New York last spring. But on a power play during Game 3 of that series, Avery stood inches in front of Brodeur while waving his stick back and forth — basically ignoring the play while setting a “screen” no one had ever seen before. It took the NHL all of 12 hours to outlaw that bit of chicanery. But Brodeur never looked comfortable, allowing eight goals over the next two games as the Devils lost in five.
Don’t expect Avery to go after Caps star forward Alex...
04/14/09 7:50 PM
The Nationals sent a message to outfielder Lastings Milledge and their entire clubhouse Tuesday afternoon.
A demotion to Triple-A Syracuse tells the 24-year-old that coasting on pure talent isn’t good enough. If Milledge can’t play a decent center field then he will go back to the minors and learn — or fall out of favor completely. It also tells the other 24 Nats that every one of them will be held accountable. There are no safe jobs on an 0-7 team coming off a 102-loss season.
“The major leagues is all about performance and winning games,” said acting general manager Mike Rizzo. “We unfortunately are trying to develop some of our young players in the major leagues. … But we need them to perform.”
So while Milledge heads down to the minors to get himself straight — Rizzo would not give a timetable for his return — the Nats outfield situation gains some clarity. Barring an unforeseen roster move, Elijah Dukes — the team’s most talented player, who is heating up at the plate — will play full time in center. The move also frees up right field for either Austin Kearns or Josh Willingham — though neither is off to a great start.
Milledge may have been 4-for-24 with just one walk. But Kearns is 3-for-19 and Willingham is 0-for-11. The loser of that battle gets at-bats both there and in left...
04/14/09 7:45 PM
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Flip Saunders coaching the Wizards — we know, it’s not a done deal; wink, wink — is who he’s bringing with him as an assistant: Sam Cassell, formerly one of the most entertaining players in the NBA.
“That would be nice,” Wizards forward Caron Butler said, after chuckling about the possibility for seven seconds. “Sam really understands the game. He’s a dude I grew up watching. We went to the same prep school so we have a great relationship. He’d be good for the locker room.”
Kenny Smith once told ESPN The Magazine that Cassell “eats a speaker sandwich for lunch and washes it down with a microphone.”
Cassell could be what the Wizards need. He’s unafraid of superstars, which means he’ll also ride the youngsters. Cassell used to badger Kevin Garnett when they both played for Minnesota; they became tight.
While playing with Milwaukee, he irritated Michael Jordan. After Jordan missed a potential game-tying three, Cassell yelled to defender Gary Payton loud enough for Jordan to hear, “Way to lock his [butt] up!” Jordan shot Cassell an angry glance....
04/13/09 10:33 PM
The Washington Capitals are better than the New York Rangers. The second-seeded Capitals should win their first-round matchup. We know this.
But there are three nagging concerns entering this postseason series:
Jose Theodore » The Caps goalie’s playoff misses have become a blemish on his otherwise impressive resume. But it’s the playoffs that matter most. Theodore, a former league MVP, has never advanced past the second round and, in some ways, is the baseball version of A-Rod — a guy who can’t get it done when it counts.
Will that be different this season? Clearly the blame can’t all be placed on one man. But goalies have a big say in the postseason.
“I’m comfortable that he’s our No. 1 go-to guy. When he’s wanted to and he’s put his mind to it he’s an outstanding goaltender,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said.
But Boudreau did not want to address the second-round failures.
“I don’t even want to look at the second round,” he said. “Let’s hope he gets through the first round and then go talk.”
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist » See above: hot goalies can carry a team in the postseason. And few are better than Lundqvist, who has a 2.43 goals against average. In large part because of him, the Rangers have the best penalty kill in the league (the Caps power...
04/13/09 10:28 PM
Ever since Tiger Woods won the 2005 Masters on the back of a magical 16th hole pause-and-drop putt on Sunday, the hoards at Augusta have waited for him to deliver again. But although Woods’ final rounds have been full of drama, there’s been no payoff. Here’s a recap of his last four final rounds:
2006 » Without his dying father, Earl Woods, in attendance, Tiger could never close a two-shot gap behind winner Phil Mickelson. Woods rallied for four birdies over the final six holes, but by then he was already out of contention.
2007 » Having won his final six starts in 2006 and two of his first four in 2007, Tiger started Sunday in the final pairing. Despite taking the lead, Woods finished with a shaky 72 that included three bogeys. Zach Johnson had three bogeys, too, but also six birdies and ultimately, the green jacket.
2008 » See 2007, then add the potential of a Tiger Slam — four major championships in a row. But Woods left it late, starting Sunday six shots behind eventual winner Trevor Immelman. Woods had three birdies and three bogeys but his afternoon was defined by disappointing pars on all four of Augusta’s par 5s.
2009 » Woods again started Sunday well back — seven shots off the lead — and was overshadowed by Mickelson’s front nine 30. Woods birdied No. 13, 15, and 16 to pull within two shots....
04/13/09 10:18 PM
He had no impact on the game. Just on the thousands listening to him at home. And that’s why Harry Kalas will be missed, more than in just Philadelphia. The Phillies broadcaster of 39 years collapsed in the broadcast booth at Nationals Park before Monday’s home opener and died at 1:20 p.m.
The Phillies cancelled Tuesday’s trip to the White House.
“This is like losing one of the great players in the game,” said Bob Carpenter, Washington’s play-by-play announcer and a Kalas acquaintance for at least 20 years.
“He reminded me of Jack Buck. They said a lot with a little. They had great pauses. Their pauses were sometimes as good as what they actually said.
They just had a real instinct for a big moment in a game. The great announcers you listen to and they leave you wanting more. Harry and Jack were those kind of guys.”
Nats assistant GM Bob Boone, a former Phillie who was friends with Kalas, said, “I’m going to miss him and the baseball world is going to [miss] him tremendously. He was one of the all-time great...
04/12/09 9:50 PM
The Nationals have lost their first six games of the season, ensuring that there’s already a nice, deep hole for themselves when they take the field for Monday’s home opener against the Phillies.
True, no one really expected a contender this season. But how about a 15 or 20-game improvement over last year’s miserable 59-102 record?
One word: relax.
“We’re not going to go 0-for-April.” Manager Manny Acta said after Saturday’s disheartening 5-3 loss at Atlanta.
Of course, they might go one-for-April. Or two-fer.
But we’ll shelve the cynicism for a moment.
What — if any — positive signs does Acta’s club actually bring back from its season-opening six-game road trip? Mind you, this isn’t pennant-winning stuff; but it’s a start.
Cristian Guzman’s bat » Maybe it really was the laser-eye surgery. Guzman seems intent on proving his comeback season in 2008 was no contract-year fluke. Through the first six games he already had 12 hits. Last year, Guzman set a career high with 183 — despite missing 24 games. His offense has made up for Lastings Milledge’s early struggles in the leadoff spot.
Zim’s shoulder » 3B Ryan Zimmerman said he was fully healed from last year’s shoulder injury, which kept him out two months. And while he has struggled some at the plate...
04/12/09 9:48 PM
Maybe it was the thrilling overtime finish. Maybe it was the title his team had just won. Or maybe Boston University hockey coach Jack Parker just liked it here. Regardless, he did what others do all the time in Washington: lobby.
Only he was stating the case for a return to Washington, a city without a Division I hockey program.
“This is not just because we won,” Parker said. “But this is the best NCAA tournament I have ever brought my team to.”
Parker’s comments could be taken just as the requisite polite thanks to the organizers who ran what was — by all accounts — a smooth operation. But this is also a man who has been to 23 NCAA tournaments in his 36 years in Boston.
Unprompted, Parker singled out the Capitals and general manager George McPhee, a former college hockey star at Bowling Green who was part of the committee that brought the Frozen Four to Washington. He also said the NCAA should bring the event back to Verizon Center “quick” and that other Division I sports should do the same.
Jack’s a fan, apparently.
“To be able to see a hockey game and then go out and see what else is here,” Parker said. “We’re driving back and forth because of the million things we had to do and on every corner there was unbelievable architecture. The city is so clean. The restaurants were fabulous....
04/12/09 9:47 PM
Rumors of a failed drug test have caused some players stock to drop when it comes to the NFL Draft. They, of course, deny the rumors.
And one former scout dismisses the concerns as well.
“What bothers them more is if they fail it at the combine,” he said. “They worry if they’re smart enough to be in the NFL.”
Anyway, here are the three falling stars:
Vontae Davis » At one point, Davis was pegged as a mid first-round pick, helped by solid numbers at the scouting combine. But his inconsistent play in college and some character issues, according to a league source, have him falling fast.
B.J. Raji » Part of this is the rumored failed drug test. Part of it is need-based. Some teams just don’t want to spend a high pick on a defensive tackle. Still, it’s hard to see him getting out of the top 10.
Percy Harvin » The Florida standout is considered a major game breaker. But the off-field issues have him possibly going much later than he should. This is a solid class of receivers, which would hurt him, too....
04/09/09 9:30 PM
When Blake Griffin opted to leave Oklahoma early, it’s safe to say nobody argued with his decision. Let’s see, should he leave college early to be the No. 1 pick in the draft or return and ... what? He can always get his degree, but he can’t improve his draft standing.
Here are some others who have declared for the draft who yield more mixed opinions:
DeJuan Blair
Good move » He’s strong and he rebounds well, a trait that usually translates well from college to the NBA. Blair has been compared to Paul Millsap and Jason Maxiell, which would bode well for his future. Also, keep in mind that this is considered a weak draft. That helps him.
Bad move » At 6-foot-7, he’s a tweener who needs to develop more of a mid-range game. He’s not considered explosive and that will hurt him in the NBA.
Jordan Hill
Good move » At 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, the Arizona junior has good size. Draftexpress.com said, in a best-case scenario, that he would become a better rebounding Chris Wilcox in the NBA. That means someone who is athletic, dunks a lot and can help on the boards.
Bad move » He’s still a raw, developing player. He needs to work more on his post-up game, something he’ll need in the NBA.
Tyreke Evans
Good move » Memphis is about to stumble with the loss of coach John Calipari. So why should the...
04/09/09 9:26 PM
Three teams who could fall short of expectations this season:
Los Angeles Angels » We still expect the Angels to win the AL West, considering the gap between them and the rest of the division is sizeable. However, with Oakland and Texas being improved, the Angels will have a harder time winning the division. Also, on a bigger scale, Boston and New York, and possibly Tampa Bay are better. We don’t like that Kelvim Escobar still has shoulder issues and Vlad Guerrero is showing more age. Worse, fellow starters Ervin Santana and ace John Lackey already are on the disabled list.
Cleveland » Some picked the Indians to win the AL Central and after a rough opening series it’s easy to put them in this category. However, there are way too many questions about every pitcher in their rotation, even Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. A fluke year or the start of big things? And their No. 3 starter is Carl Pavano. Any Yankee fans want to take a stab at what might happen to Pavano this season? Realistically, the Tribe is a year away from being a major contender again.
Philadelphia » OK, the Phils won the World Series. But they would not have won the AL East last year. They’ve returned largely intact and have the usual MVP candidates in Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. However, the Phils also have an ace, Cole Hamels, who pitched a ton of innings...
04/09/09 9:22 PM
A team motto is being kept under wraps at this week’s Frozen Four college hockey championships.
Several Boston University players were seen wandering Verizon Center on Wednesday with t-shirts that read “Burn the Boats.” But don’t ask what it means because the Terriers aren’t talking — unless they happen to win the championship on Saturday night.
Even longtime coach Jack Parker has been sworn to secrecy and wouldn’t bite when asked. But he did let slip that he has a “Burn the Boat” shirt of his own — and it almost got him into trouble.
Parker was wandering BU’s campus during a rare off day earlier this season. Unfortunately, the school was hosting a National Rowing Association event that day. With more than 800 career wins and four national championships, Parker is a legend at Boston, akin to Dean Smith or John Wooden. But that didn’t help him any. He still spent the morning fending off angry stares from rowers.
“I thought about explaining it to them, but I realized I was sworn to secrecy,” Parker laughed. “I just had to get out of there.”...
04/08/09 3:46 PM
Those expecting to see a repeat of Jordan Williams’ backboard-breaking dunk, that he first pulled off in February, will be disappointed. Or, at the least, they’ll now have to wait until next college season.
Williams had to pull out of Thursday night’s Capital Classic at American University.
But his replacement should please Terps fans: fellow Maryland recruit James Padgett, fresh off his MVP performance in Sunday’s Charm City Challenge.
“Those guys will have to battle each other for minutes next year,” said Dave Telep, Scout.com’s recruiting analyst.
In the Charm City game, Padgett scored 22 points on 11 of 13 shooting while Williams had seven boards and seven assists in limited action.
Padgett, a 6-foot-8 power forward, lives inside and, Telep said, “owns his area.”
“His greatest strength is that he can finish plays and he’ll block shots that come at him,” he said. “He doesn’t play out of his area and that’s something he has to get better at. Physically he has the body. … But it just depends what he can add to his offensive arsenal.”
Williams, a 6-foot-10 center from Connecticut, earned YouTube fame when he shattered a backboard in February, dunking a miss. He pulled out of the game because he did not want to miss a week of school with spring break upcoming next...
04/08/09 3:43 PM
Three baseball teams to watch this season:
Kansas City
The Royals have two excellent pitchers in Gil Meche and Zack Greinke and an elite closer in Joakim Soria. Young power hitter Mike Jacobs adds immediate hope with top prospects Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer possibly in the mix this season.
“We can be a surprise in the Central,” one member of the Royals organization said. “Soria is as good a closer as there is. It’ll come down to our four and five starters. Hopefully our arms keep us in the race. ... Jacobs has unreal power and is fun to watch.”
Downfall » They need more offense. Also, Sidney Ponson is their No. 4 starter.
Texas
One analyst joked — we think that if you combined the Rangers and Nats top 20 prospects, 19 would come from Texas. The Rangers have one of the game’s best offenses and the two best pitching prospects in Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland.
Downfall » The Rangers have too little big-league pitching. They’re probably a year away, but will be worth watching.
Cincinnati
The Reds are the chic pick to be baseball’s surprise, but there’s a reason. They have a lot of good young talent: ace Edinson Vazquez, RF Jay Bruce and 1B Joey Votto among others.
“I don’t know if they’re ready to win this season or make a run at the playoffs,” ESPN analyst Steve...
04/08/09 3:37 PM
Sizzle
1. Beckett and the BoSox » Nothing like 10 strikeouts and two hits over seven innings for Josh Beckett to send expectations spiraling out of control after one game.
2. Blonde ambition » Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio — his last name is the Spanish word for “blonde” — could be close to declaring for the 2009 draft, according to DraftExpress.com, which has the 18-year-old projected as the second pick overall. Hello, Washington?
Fizzle
1. D.C. United in Prince George’s County » Funds for a stadium study get the smackdown from the Prince George’s Council, effectively meaning two jurisdictions (including D.C.) have now said, “No way,” to a soccer stadium. Arlington hates sports, too. The next three on United’s list are Fairfax, Loudoun and Montgomery counties. After that? Call Mayflower.
2. Pastner’s plan at Memphis » Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said he would hire a new coach who would “wow” Tiger fans and keep up the winning tradition at Memphis following John Calipari’s departure for Kentucky. Josh Pastner has the best of intentions, but may not be able to do either....
04/07/09 10:34 PM
One thought popped into the heads of many — it had to, right? After North Carolina dominated Michigan State to win the National Championship on Monday: Man, has Magic Johnson gotten big.
OK, that’s not the thought. This is: What if North Carolina had been healthy all season?
Could the men’s game had seen its first undefeated season since 1976? Given how the Tar Heels dominated the NCAA tournament, it’s not an unreasonable question. After all, they did not get healthy until later in the year.
Heck, they were missing their best defender, Marcus Ginyard, all season.
The Tar Heels won every tourney game by at least 10 points. And they led by double-digits for 154 of the 240 minutes they played.
Here’s why:
» Defense: The Tar Heels, perhaps because of their health, did not play great defense all year — until March. But they were fantastic in the tournament. They forced teams to take shots before they were ready. Those hurried shots resulted in three excellent teams — Oklahoma, Villanova and Michigan State — shooting a combined 14 of 69 from the three-point line. Along with this, UNC was excellent on the defensive glass Monday. The Heels bolted to a big lead by getting turnovers (Michigan State played faster than even it wanted, a result of UNC’s speed) and holding the Spartans to one shot. MSU grabbed 13 offensive...
04/07/09 10:21 PM
After Kansas cut down the nets and North Carolina’s stars decided to return to Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels became the instant favorite to win in 2009.
Well, Tyler Hansbrough and company look like they made the right decision. If players return, here’s a look at Final Four favorites for 2010:
1. Kansas » The Jayhawks overachieved this year and center Cole Aldrich was a main reason. He matured into a beast inside as the year progressed, posting a triple-double of 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks against Dayton in the tourney. Pair him with point guard Sherron Collins and Kansas has an elite inside-outside punch.
2. Duke » Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are all dangerous on the perimeter. Scheyer shifted to point guard by the end of the season, but Nolan Smith will probably get another chance next year. The Blue Devils also have some big recruits to help their frontcourt depth.
3. Syracuse » The Orange return their top six players, including Big East tournament MVP Jonny Flynn. By season’s end, Flynn became one of the top point guards in the country. Look for Syracuse to be the favorite in a Big East conference that is losing a lot of talent to the NBA.
4. Tennessee » The Vols didn’t live up to expectations this year — much like the entire SEC. But with their top three scorers returning — Tyler...
04/07/09 10:16 PM
The evaluator, based on talking to scouts and his own knowledge, panned the notion of Vernon Gholston as a top-10 pick in 2008. Or even a first-round pick. Some teams had him no better than a second-round pick.
Now the evaluator has a new target: Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin.
He’s unanimously projected as a high first-round pick, possibly going around the top 10. However, he only had one really good season, posting 12 sacks for the Nittany Lions this past fall after being a backup in his only other season (he redshirted in 2006).
He put on 20 pounds after the season to prepare for life as an NFL end. He’s a major risk, according to some.
“That’s a slam dunk,’’ the evaluator said. I’d like to see him make a play here and there. He’s not as unproductive as Gholston was, but he did not make nearly the amount of plays for a guy who is a top 10 or 15 pick. He doesn’t jump out at you and say, ‘I’m the one making all the...
04/06/09 9:13 PM
The Washington Capitals remain involved in a playoff race at the top of the Eastern Conference. They also remain quite interested in the race at the bottom of the conference.
Especially the one involving Pittsburgh and Montreal. It determines the Caps first-round playoff opponent — and there’s a distinct difference between the two, making it much better for Washington if it faced one over the other.
The Capitals should, based on the schedule, finish in second place in the conference. They hold a two-point lead over New Jersey with three games remaining, none against teams currently in the playoffs.
Here are the possible first-round playoff opponents:
» Montreal: The Canadians trailed Pittsburgh by one point for the sixth spot, which would get them away from Washington. Montreal entered Monday night’s game vs. Ottawa on a six-game unbeaten streak. But the Habs are a banged-up team that is prone to slumps.
» New York Rangers: They’re currently the No. 8 seed and have one of the game’s best goalies in Henrik Lundqvist, with a 2.46 goals against average. Hot goalies take teams far in the postseason.
» Florida: The Panthers, whom the Caps visit Saturday, are out of the playoffs as of now, but are only three points behind Montreal. So they can still get a spot. The Panthers don’t score a lot; the Caps should welcome this...
04/06/09 9:09 PM
Here’s a shocker: Golf analysts consider Tiger Woods the favorite entering the Masters this week. They also think a duel between the top-ranked golfers is possible. Others say don’t rule out the lesser-profile golfers.
ESPN golf analyst Andy North told The Examiner’s Jim Williams that Woods’ performance at Bay Hill proves he’s ready for Augusta. He also likes what Phil Mickelson has done this season.
“We could very well see the two best players in golf playing together on Sunday for the green jacket and how cool would that be,” he said.
CBS’ Jim Nantz pegs Sergio Garcia as a possible surprise, in part because of his desire to play well for mentor Seve Ballesteros, who is recovering from a cancerous brain tumor.
“Garcia has played here well over the years and he loves the big stage,” Nantz said. “Also never count out Greg Norman, who has played this course as well as anyone. We all know about his problems here but if we’re looking at long shots I would never rule him out.”
And CBS analyst Nick Faldo likes to remind people of one thing: previous winners and a certain two-time majors winner from 2008.
“People forget that Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman who won here last year and Vijay Singh are among a pack of at least seven to ten guys who can win at Augusta,” Faldo said....
04/06/09 9:03 PM
Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma should be congratulated for his third perfect season and for recruiting harder and better than the rest of the NCAA. Who doesn’t want to play for a winner that goes for the jugular every time out on the court? Just like Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls or Tiger Woods, the best teams and players are the one’s that drive TV ratings.
The problem is there’s no rising tide to lift the rest of the boats, and while droves of viewers hang on Tiger’s every putt, they’re flipping channels when UConn goes ahead by 30 points, a comfortable margin on the court but not at ESPN headquarters.
Ultimately, it hurts the next generation of players, too, who won’t believe they’ll have a chance to win anywhere but in Storrs, College Park or Knoxville, and the underdog coaches like Utah’s Elaine Elliott, whose first to NCAA games this year were at Comcast Center. With pathetic regional attendances, soon it could be the first two weekends.
“I happen to believe [upsets are] the best thing for women’s basketball,” said Elliott prior to facing Maryland in the second round two weeks ago, “not that the same teams win all the...
04/05/09 9:36 PM
Three years ago George Mason University raced to the Final Four in part by defeating Michigan State and North Carolina, tonight’s championship participants. Which means few are better qualified than GMU coach Jim Larranaga to break down these programs.
Here’s his scouting report:
How MSU can win » “They’re the most fierce rebounding team in the country. They can get to the offensive boards and beat you even when they’re having a bad shooting night. They have to defend the post and keep the ball out of Tyler Hansbrough’s and Ed Davis’ and Deon Thompson’s hands more than anyone else in the tournament has been able to do that. MSU is so physical in the paint. It’s how they beat Louisville and Connecticut. They were able to outrebound and outphysical them; they were never able to establish any rhythm or continuity where they were scoring in bunches. When you don’t have the fast break, nurse the clock and keep Carolina on defense, which I think Michigan State will do. They’re comfortable running their sets.”
Curveball strategy » “Throw in some 2-3 matchup zone. Carolina wears you out inside and if they keep pounding you inside you’ll end up in foul trouble. They live at the line and they’re good foul shooters.”
Under the radar Spartan » “Draymond Green....
04/05/09 9:33 PM
North Carolina was the team to beat in October, and it’s the team to beat in April, entering Monday’s NCAA final against Michigan State as the clear favorite.
Imagine what the Tar Heels would be if they had their best perimeter defender and unquestioned team leader.
As he’s been all season, Alexandria native Marcus Ginyard will be a noticeable presence on the Tar Heels bench at Ford Field on Monday, but only because of his striking presence in a suit, not because of his versatility and lockdown one-on-one skills.
Surgery in October for a stress fracture in Ginyard’s foot was supposed to keep him off the court until December. Instead, it forced him to redshirt his senior season.
“I just stopped thinking about wanting to be out there,” Ginyard recently told The Associated Press. “That’s what kills you, when you start thinking about that. So now, I’m just trying to watch. I’m just trying to support.”
The 6-foot-5 Bishop O’Connell High graduate has been healthy enough to return to practice — there’s probably no better practice-team player in the nation.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to push them harder,” said Ginyard. “Give them an extra push. Foul them a little harder. Try not to kill them, but it’s getting them ready to take that extra bump or push knowing that...
04/05/09 9:31 PM
Jason Campbell » Any team with a quarterback question should have looked at Jay Cutler. But if the Redskins felt they needed a quarterback of the future enough to pursue Cutler, their thinking clearly would not have changed by the fact that they didn’t get him. And if this was a one-time pursuit, then why not extend Campbell’s contract?
Byron Leftwich » He would be a backup, if signed. But Leftwich is not the answer, now or in the future. Jim Zorn wants a quarterback with a quick release and mobility. Leftwich has a slow release and is immobile.
The draft » Washington attended the Pro Day for USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. If they doubt Campbell’s future in D.C., how can they not consider drafting a QB?
Colt Brennan » He might be a longshot, but several players are high on Brennan, liking his moxie. Others in the organization are high on him, based on comments they’ve made to associates. But realistically he’s two years away from being ready to start....
04/02/09 7:27 PM
Need the lowdown on the NCAA Final Four? Who better than George Mason coach Jim Larranaga, who beat three of this year’s remaining teams — Michigan State, North Carolina, and Connecticut — on his way to the Final Four in 2006.
“If I was facing those teams today, our game plans would be similar,” said Larranaga. “Most of the players have changed. But the coaches are the same and that’s the thing that determines their style of play. Those coaches have certain philosophies that they’ve had their entire careers.”
Michigan State vs. UConn
Larranaga is fascinated by this matchup because the basic tenet of coaches Tom Izzo and Jim Calhoun is rebounding. This year among the 330 teams in the NCAA, Michigan State (9.6 per game) and UConn (9.2 pg) ranked No. 1 and No. 3 respectively in rebounding differential.
“When we played Michigan State, our top priority was to stop the five-second layup. They’re not really a running team, but they’re great at getting the ball and outletting it,” said Larranaga. “UConn is not as focused on that, but they’ve always been great on the boards. Jim Calhoun actually wrote a book on the subject (“Rebounding Drills and Basketball Wisdom”).”
Larranaga says look for Izzo to use ball screens and the shooting ability of 6-10 center Goran Suton to...
04/02/09 7:23 PM
The most affable Washington Wizard, Antawn Jamison, turned uncharacteristically surly when asked if he had played in an NCAA Final Four.
“Man, you don’t know that, man,” said Jamison. “I played in two of ’em. I played in Indianapolis and San Antonio.”
Jamison had to be prodded for more.
“I don’t have too many good memories,” said Jamison. “We lost in the first game, both opportunities. First one, we thought we had the team to win it. Second one, we definitely thought we were the better team.”
Jamison and Vince Carter were the stars of Carolina teams that were seeded No. 1, but lost in the national semifinals to No. 4 Arizona in 1997 and No. 3 Utah in ’98.
Despite a storied past, disappointment in the Final Four is a sore subject in Tar Heels Land. Carolina has lost more national semifinals (10) than any team. The only school close is Louisville (6). Legendary coach Dean Smith was haunted by NCAA failures before breaking through with Michael Jordan in 1982.
So Jamison treads lightly when asked for a prediction for his favored Tar Heels this weekend.
“I know they’re hungry and want to come out better and redeem themselves after what happened last year,” said Jamison. “I think they have a great opportunity. If they get past Villanova, it might be our destiny.”...
04/02/09 7:19 PM
Jason Campbell knew what was happening. He knows he has one year left on his contract.
And he doesn’t have a problem with how his situation has unfolded over the past 24 hours. Campbell was nearly traded in a three-team deal for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.
One NFL source said the Redskins now “have a mess.” However, Campbell said he’s not going to let this bother him. The Redskins could still trade Campbell, but if they don’t he wants to return.
He only has one year left on his contract and the Redskins have not made any movement toward an extension.
“I’ll still show up even if they don’t give me one now,” Campbell said. “I’ll go out and play hard and get one then. It’s not like I’m running from any issues. I’m doing what I need to do.”
He also defended his development and pointed to the opportunity to play in the same offense for a second consecutive season.
“Franchise quarterbacks are developed,” he said. “You don’t just go get them and in the first or second year they’re good. Now I’m at a point where I don’t have to learn new stuff.”
Nor will he carry a grudge.
“I met with [coach Jim] Zorn and they all want me to be the quarterback and they support me,” Campbell said. “It has nothing to do with them....
04/01/09 10:00 PM
The Redskins continue to say they have no interest in Jay Cutler. Others around the NFL continue to dismiss their denials.
But there’s a good reason to issue a denial: Washington might not have what Denver wants, or needs, to make a trade. And other teams, such as the New York Jets, might be more desperate to land a new starting quarterback. They also might want a big name to help sell personal seat licenses to their new stadium, set to open in 2010.
“I would go to the Jets; I think they’ll pay the most,” an NFL source said. “Quarterback is a big weakness for them. They have to be the leader.”
The Broncos said late Tuesday they now will try to accommodate their Pro Bowl passer and trade him. As many as 10 teams, including Detroit and Tampa Bay, could also be interested in Cutler, only 25. One league executive said he’d be “shocked” if the Redskins weren’t still interested, despite their public denials. The source said owner Dan Snyder was the one leading the interest.
“Maybe they’ve had a change of heart, but I don’t think so,” said the executive who has maintained, from the beginning, Washington’s interest in Cutler.
“I don’t doubt the interest at all,” another NFL source said. “It’s exactly the kind of move Snyder would make.”
The Redskins...
04/01/09 10:00 PM
Sizzle
1. Calipari heads for the bluegrass and green » John Calipari did what any normal coach with a career record of 445-140 and a history of success in the NCAA tournament would do, take the $31.65 million over eight years and all the baggage that comes with it in taking over at Kentucky. Apparently, the economy is better in the Commonwealth than in Connecticut, eh, Jim Calhoun?
2. Baylor roars into NIT final » Scott Drew’s resuscitation of the Bears basketball program took another huge step with Baylor defeating San Diego State for a place in the tonight’s NIT final against Penn State at Madison Square Garden. Instead of murder and NCAA violations, Baylor (24-14) has won the second-most games in school history and could be on the verge of its first title of any kind since 1950.
Fizzle
1. Moats cop calls it a career » Dallas police officer Robert Powell handed in his resignation a week after detaining NFL player Ryan Moats and his family as they attempted to enter a Plano hospital to be by Moats’ dying mother’s bedside. Dallas mayor Tom Leppert said Powell’s departure was “a good solution.”
2. ESPN’s soccer push gets pushed back » One of the horses in what was ESPN’s growing stable of soccer programming got out of the barn, as Fox Soccer Channel claimed TV and broadband rights to the UEFA...
03/31/09 8:00 PM
The first question that sprang up when Georgetown junior forward DaJuan Summers announced his declaration Monday to enter the upcoming NBA draft was not, “Where will Summers get picked?”
It was, “Will Hoyas Big East rookie of the year Greg Monroe follow him out the door?”
As of Tuesday, the answer is not yet.
Reached by phone in Gretna, La., on Tuesday, Monroe’s head coach at Helen Cox High School, Byron Mouzon, said that Monroe hadn’t made a decision on his future. He was expected to go home during Easter and discuss his plans with his family.
“I haven’t received even light inquiries on Monroe,” said one NBA executive. “I usually would have heard from someone in his camp by now. It’s very doubtful he’ll enter the draft, but if someone promises he’ll go in the top five, I imagine the family would have to look hard.”
The 6-foot-11 Monroe lurched into NBA lottery territory in Georgetown’s conference-opening victory at Connecticut in December. At one point he was considered as a potential second pick overall behind Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin.
Monroe led the Hoyas in rebounding (6.5 per game) and was second in scoring (12.7 points per game) and assists (2.5 per game).
At 6-8 and 236 pounds, Summers, on the bubble for the first round, is built like a prototypical NBA small forward...
03/31/09 7:57 PM
Jeff George wants back into the NFL. That’s 41-year-old and hasn’t-thrown-a-pass since 2001 (and not spent any real time on a roster since 2004) George, he of the golden arm and lack of desire to be a leader.
Nobody is buying it, but George is still selling it.
“It just amazes me that I’m not on somebody’s roster,” George told Yahoo’s Michael Silver. “I’ve been throwing two or three times a week, and every time I go out there to throw, I can’t believe I’m not a backup somewhere. I know it’s a young man’s game, but you can’t tell me I’m not better than some of the quarterbacks that are out there. I look at teams like Minnesota or Chicago, and I want to scream at the people in charge, ‘What are you thinking?’ ... If I was in Minnesota, I guarantee I’d be wearing a ring right now. ... If Tony Romo goes down, who’s better out there to run the Dallas offense than somebody like me?”
Really, this is just a chance for us to share stories about George as a Redskin, back in 2000 and ’01. Owner Dan Snyder wanted him; coach Norv Turner did not.
George knew he didn’t have Turner’s support, which might have led to this nugget: George liked to cut his practice pants above his knees, something Turner knew. So he told George that it wasn’t...
03/31/09 7:54 PM
Three quarterbacks could be drafted in the first round, but the one who might be most intriguing could go in the second round: West Virginia’s Pat White.
With the Wildcat possibly growing in popularity, a multi-dimensional quarterback such as the 6-foot White could be more dangerous.
Several teams have worked him out as a receiver.
“His athleticism is rare,” one NFL general manager said. “People are manufacturing him as a quarterback a little bit, but he’s such a great athlete. I don’t think anyone sees him being a bust.”
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper agreed.
“He’s not just a Wildcat QB,” Kiper said. “When he’s back there he can throw the ball. He threw well in a lot of games last year. It’s not out of the realm that he could be a quarterback in this league. Teams could give him seven or eight snaps a game as a rookie, with the idea he won’t just run. He could be a real headache for defenses. He has great...
03/30/09 9:32 PM
Nobody is pinching themselves to be headed to the Final Four. Not this year. Three of the teams expected, or at least rightly thought it had a chance, of landing in Detroit. And the fourth, Villanova, competed in the nation’s best conference and was one of its top teams.
The trick now is figuring out how these teams compare with one another. Here’s how we rank them:
No. 1 North Carolina
The favorite again after crushing No. 2 seed Oklahoma in the South Region final. There is no better inside-out combo than F Tyler Hansbrough (20.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and PG Ty Lawson (16.3 ppg, 6.5 apg). Whoever beats the Tar Heels better be able to keep up. All five starters average double-figures and North Carolina scored under 80 points just eight times — yet it still won six of those games. Freshman F Ed Davis has seven blocked shots off the bench.
No. 2 Connecticut
Who says you need depth to roll through the NCAA tournament. The Huskies — despite losing G Jerome Dyson, their fourth-leading scorer (13.2 ppg) to a knee injury — still have three players who can carry them on a given night. C Hasheem Thabeet, PG A.J. Price and F Jeff Adrien are a formidable trio. But the x-factor is G Kemba Walker, an electrifying presence off the bench who dropped 23 points in West Region final vs. Missouri.
No. 3 Michigan State
A very close No. 3, we might add. The Spartans are...
03/30/09 9:27 PM
With just a few days left in spring training, the Nationals’ starting rotation has fallen into place. But what, exactly, do they have?
Four of the starters are 25 years old or younger. The one “veteran” in the group is Daniel Cabrera, 27, a reclamation project from Baltimore who has posted an ERA over 5.00 three times in his five-year career.
“There is some promise there,” said ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips. “But when I look at the Nats’ roster right now I still think they’re undermanned in the rotation.”
John Lannan, 24, gets the nod on Opening Day. Scott Olsen, a 25-year-old acquired from the Marlins in a winter trade, is entering just his fourth full season. Both ideally would be back-of-the-rotation starters.
And then there are the two youngsters — Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann — both extremely impressive in camp at just 22. But Martis has pitched all of five major-league games and Zimmermann, the organization’s top prospect according to Baseball America, will make his debut on April 19, the first time Washington needs a fifth starter.
“Unless by the end of the season we’re fighting for a playoff spot and they continue to throw the ball well, we’re going to limit their [innings],” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “We’re not going to jeopardize these...
03/30/09 9:22 PM
The Redskins might have shipped a second-round draft pick, plus a sixth-rounder, to Miami simply to rent Jason Taylor for one season. Talk about a bargain for the Dolphins.
Now the word out of Miami is that Taylor might return to the Dolphins, with whom he spent his first 10 seasons.
Taylor told reporters at his annual golf tournament in south Florida that he would consider returning to Miami, though it’s uncertain if the Dolphins share that desire. However, the Miami Herald reported that club president Bill Parcells and Taylor now seemingly have a good relationship. That’s not how it was last offseason when Taylor was busy on Dancing With the Stars.
Taylor, who had just 3 sacks with Washington last year, has drawn interest from New England as well.
Taylor also told reporters that he ended his contract with the Redskins after one season because “it didn’t work.” He added that he didn’t want to “just take the money to take the money.”
Now, if only the Redskins could get those draft picks back....
03/29/09 8:44 PM
The last thing Gary Hall was surprised to see was Scottie Reynolds’ shot fall through the net, beating the buzzer and Pitt by half a second Saturday night.
It’s the same shot the Villanova junior took countless times last summer, when the suddenly-household-name Reynolds worked out with his former Herndon High School coach.
The 6-foot Hall would stand on a chair in the middle of the lane, hitting Reynolds with a blocking bag as he shot.
“People were saying, ‘How did he get that shot off?’” Hall said. “And I was like, ‘That’s the same shot he shot a thousand times with me standing on a chair.’”
Here are four things you need to know about Reynolds:
He’s a throwback » The 5-foot-11 guard, blessed with more heart than athleticism, has outworked everyone else. But here’s why he starts: in high school after returning from one summer basketball tournament around midnight, he was in the gym the next morning at 7 a.m. There’s no secret to his success.
He’s competitive » During four years at Herndon, he lost one pick-up game — and stormed off the court after that one time.
He’s loyal » To many such as Hall, whom he called shortly after Saturday’s win, and to his faith. In high school he left a Northern Region tournament game late in the game to attend...
03/29/09 8:40 PM
Grant’s a goner from the CAA
The moment VCU senior guard Eric Maynor missed his attempted game-winner against UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the clock started ticking for Rams head coach Anthony Grant, who probably had a moving truck lined up and a For Sale sign on his Richmond lawn the next day.
Now we know where that truck is headed, with Grant jumping to Alabama and the Southeastern Conference. It’s got to be easier to succeed in Tuscaloosa than Kentucky.
Coleman scores as many points as there are fans
The only thing more amazing than Maryland senior Marissa Coleman’s school-record 42 points in the Sweet 16 against Vanderbilt was how few people saw it happen in person. With an announced attendance of 2,915 at RBC Center in Raleigh, perhaps the second weekend of the women’s NCAA tournament should be at home, too.
U.S. battles in Central America
After taking a 2-0 lead over the U.S. late in the second half at home, El Salvador tried to bring the World Cup qualifying match to its knees, with multiple “injuries” leading to seven minutes of extra time. But the U.S. clawed back before the end of regulation with goals by Jozy Altidore and Frankie Hejduk to save a draw and stay atop the CONCACAF standings and in the driver’s seat for a place in South Africa in 2010.
D.C. United kicks off; few notice
Scheduled against...
03/29/09 8:37 PM
It’s not surprising that this topic is being discussed. Perhaps it’s surprising that it took this long for it to be raised.
But don’t be surprised if, some point soon, NFL teams sell advertising on their jerseys. This was discussed at the owner’s meetings last week and it will be addressed once more at the league’s May meetings as well.
Considering that some teams are feeling the pinch of the economic situation, it’s not surprising that they’d look for more ways to increase their revenue stream.
Don’t worry, though, because the ads would only be worn on jerseys in minicamps and training camp and not during games — not even in the preseason.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti told USA Today that the logos would not be big, only about the size of the patches worn during the Pro Bowl, for example.
But once it becomes part of the NFL culture, don’t be surprised if these ads make their way onto game-worn jerseys....
03/26/09 7:51 PM
The Nationals made a legitimate run at star free agent Mark Teixeira. They actually signed slugger Adam Dunn. They even pulled off a well-received trade with the Florida Marlins and jettisoned besieged general manager Jim Bowden.
But if those offseason moves have you dreaming of a visit to Nats Town this summer, maybe its time for a quick detour to Reality Land. It’s a dark and gloomy place where national analysts look at Washington’s roster and see … well, not a whole lot.
“I think they’re still trying to piece together what they are and who they are as an organization,” said ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips, who this season joins the longtime Sunday Night Baseball crew of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. “And obviously now with the front office changeover that is going to take some work. I think the Nats are still a ways away from competing in the National League East.
“They’re undermanned in the rotation. They’re undermanned offensively.”
Wait a minute, what about a possible 100-run improvement by the offense? Dunn is a lock for 40 home runs. Nick Johnson is back healthy at first base. Ryan Zimmerman is over last year’s shoulder issues. Outfielders Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes are ready for breakout seasons. What’s not to like?
“They need to start looking at the pitching,”...
03/26/09 7:45 PM
The Detroit Lions have an easy choice when it comes to the No. 1 draft pick. If they think Georgia’s Matthew Stafford will be an excellent quarterback — if they have him as one of the top players in the draft — they must take him.
There’s no more important position in sports. With a couple exceptions, there’s almost no way a team can win a title without terrific play at this spot.
Anyone know the name of Pittsburgh’s left tackle? Outside of Pittsburgh, that is.
Not everyone thought Matt Ryan would play the way he did as a rookie. Even fewer anticipated Joe Flacco’s performance.
“Unless you make a deal for Jay Cutler, Stafford is the guy you have to take,” said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper. “Had [Stafford] stayed another year, he would have been off the charts. He has incredible talent. He’ll be a sponge. His arm strength is in the rare category.”
Stafford will not be ready to play as a rookie. But the Lions were 0-16 — where the heck are they going this year? Besides, if they really want a tackle, they also have the 20th pick and as many as six tackles are worthy first-round picks.
Kiper defends the criticism against Stafford, that he came up short in big games, and points out his bowl record (3-0).
“Forget the criticisms and concerns,” Kiper said. “Everyone didn’t...
03/26/09 7:38 PM
Sizzle
1. Steve Fisher » Remember him? Won a national title at Michigan? He’s invigorated the program at San Diego State, which is in the NIT semifinals. Not a big deal elsewhere, perhaps, but it is for the Aztecs.
2. Twitter » It’s become a hot topic thanks to Charlie Villanueva tweeting — yes, tweeting — at halftime of a game. Shaq has a large following on Twitter. Let’s be honest: How many people had heard of twitter about two months ago? OK, how many people over 35 had heard of it?
Fizzle
1. UK hoops » Kentucky lost in the NIT quarterfinals Wednesday night, which could have been coach Billy Gillispie’s last game as coach after only two seasons. The Wildcats are 40-27 under Gillispie, who could learn his fate today.
2. Thanksgiving Golf » Yes, the 26-year-old Skins Game might be dead, according to Sports Illustrated. Hard to believe that an event where millionaires can win another million for sinking a few putts would be in jeopardy these days....
03/25/09 3:52 PM
The one guarantee in the NCAA tournament it that every team is vulnerable — even if all four No. 1 seeds made it to San Antonio last year. That had never happened before. And it won’t happen again. Here’s why:
Pittsburgh (30-4)
The best way to beat Pitt is to make sure star sophomore F DeJuan Blair gets into foul trouble. That’s actually not difficult in the NCAA tournament, where referees are known to blow an extra whistle or two. Blair fouled out of three Big East games this season — each time on the road or a neutral court. The Panthers lost all three games. He also picked up four fouls in a loss at Villanova and wins over West Virginia, Rutgers and Florida State.
Louisville (30-5)
No team can beat the Cardinals without handling their press. Do that first and then you have a chance because Louisville’s half-court defense — primarily zone — is an easier puzzle to solve. To do it, a team needs a good outside shooter and a tough inside presence who won’t back down against long Fs Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels. That sounds a lot like Arizona 6-10 junior F Jordan Hill.
North Carolina (30-4)
The Tar Heels lack a true defensive stopper so teams with an elite scoring guard can torch them all day. Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez did just that with a triple-double on Feb. 21. That’s where North...
03/25/09 3:47 PM
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said the Redskins should give Jason Campbell one more chance. If Denver quarterback Jay Cutler doesn’t become available, then they would have no choice. Even if he does, so many teams would want Cutler that the Redskins might not get him.
But, Kiper said, that’s how it should be.
“When you made the move to get Jason, you’ve got to ride it out,” Kiper said. “He has continuity in the same system. He’s got young receivers in Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly who need to step up this year and play better. This is Jason’s year, his time to shine. This year is it and if he doesn’t then it will impact [coach] Jim Zorn and Vinny [Cerrato]. It will impact everybody.”
But Kiper also acknowledged that it was former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs who wanted Campbell. Gibbs is gone. However, one reason Zorn was hired was to help Campbell.
“The thing he needs to do is be more assertive,” Kiper said. “Don’t be passive and laid back. Be more vocal. Be more a take charge I’m-the-man-follow-me-leader. That was the concern with him coming out. He was very methodical and workmanlike, but he was not an emotional take-charge leader. Can they mold him into that?
“They can get by without him being that type, but the team has to get better in other areas. We’ll see what he...
03/25/09 3:43 PM
Derrick Rose led Memphis to a near NCAA tournament title as a freshman point guard last year and now is leading his hometown Chicago Bulls to a possible playoff berth. The latter takes a backseat to March Madness.
Where is Memphis different than last year?
It’s a surprise who will kill you that night. They have Tyreke [Evans] who other teams will double. So everyone else steps up on different nights. It’s hard to stop a team like that.
Are they better defensively and shooting free throws?
They shoot way better than us and their defense is better. They defend the perimeter better. They don’t have a shot blocker like Joey [Dorsey], but they’re playing good.
How long did last year’s loss stay with you?
Not really that long, especially going right into a draft workout. I didn’t have that much time to think about it. It’s just a regular game; I’m just thankful I was in a game like that.
Who did you pick in your pool?
I picked Memphis and Oklahoma. I have the Tigers going all the way....
03/24/09 8:51 PM
The NCAA tournament has always been about guards. If a team has someone running the point who can control a game it stands a far better chance of reaching the Final Four. Star forwards like Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan have found that out the hard way. Kansas (Mario Chalmers) and Memphis (Derrick Rose) last year found that out in a good way. So Blake Griffin beware.
Ty Lawson, North Carolina
No player controls the pace and tempo of a game better than the Tar Heels’ floor general. He destroyed LSU in the second half of last week’s second-round win and is the default scoring option when star forward Tyler Hansbrough is blanketed and streaky guard Wayne Ellington is cold. The only question: Can Lawson play through a balky right toe for two more weeks?
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Sophomore’s NBA draft stock is exploding — except he says he’ll be back at Syracuse next year (we’ll see). Scary thought for Big East foes. Flynn’s game seems to have calmed down in the postseason. His shot selection is better and he is getting the ball to teammates in good spots. And few in the tournament are better at getting a shot off when their team needs it.
Tyreke Evans, Memphis
Not a true point guard (though he did play it in high school). But the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder plays there for the Tigers because he’s just that good. Memphis has yet to lose...
03/24/09 8:46 PM
Josh McDaniels says Jay Cutler is his quarterback. For now, at least. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not when it comes to any quarterback saga, especially this one.
McDaniels has to say that, if only to convince other teams they do want to keep him, keeping his value at a certain level.
If they really do want to keep him, they’ll let the matter die, remind Cutler he has a contract and force him to honor it. After a while Cutler can truly judge whether or not he can trust McDaniels. If Denver wants to, it can make this work simply by saying: shut up and show up.
Meanwhile, the Redskins are working out USC’s Mark Sanchez today.
But, just so you know, Jason Campbell — he of the no-offers-to-extend-his-contract — is their quarterback. Uh, huh.
But, actually, it makes sense for the Redskins to work out Sanchez.
Will they likely draft a quarterback? No. Better make that probably not. But if Sanchez falls to them at 13 they must be prepared. It’s also good to work out, and get to know, as many players as possible in case they become a free agent or are available in several years. Teams do this all the time.
Also, with Campbell in the last year of his contract, league sources say they would be interested in Cutler. So why not look at a college quarterback too? Or at least why not make other teams think you are?...
03/24/09 8:42 PM
Curt Schilling announced his retirement on Monday and it took all of five minutes for the right-hander’s Hall-of-Fame credentials to morph into a hot topic. So does he belong?
Of course.
Schilling was 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA and 3,116 strikeouts in 20 seasons. Those stats are excellent, to be sure, but are they Hall-of-Fame worthy?
After all, Jack Morris posted more wins (254) and has one of the few postseason resumes (6-1, 3.80 ERA, two World Series titles) even close to Schilling’s (11-2, 2.23 ERA, three World Series titles). Yet Morris likely won’t ever make it.
But wins aren’t everything. That stat is often based on how good a team was behind a given starter. Schilling was consistently excellent during a steroid-fueled era and will finish with about the same number of wins as contemporaries Pedro Martinez (214) and John Smoltz (210). And Catfish Hunter (224 wins) already proves a pitcher can make the Hall despite falling far short of that magical 300 number — a mark harder and harder to reach in this age of relief specialization. In that context, Schilling belongs....
03/23/09 9:58 PM
The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament answered some questions. But others remain as Sweet 16 games kick off on Thursday night. Here’s what we learned from an opening weekend that had its share of exciting finishes, but few major upsets.
» Conference pride. Can’t dispute that the Big East is college basketball’s best conference. The league’s seven NCAA teams went a combined 11-2 through the first two rounds and five of them — Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Syracuse — made it through to the Sweet 16. The Big 12 wasn’t far behind at 9-3 with three Sweet 16 teams — Oklahoma, defending national champ Kansas and Missouri. The ACC (5-5) and Big 10 (6-5), meanwhile, each entered seven teams, but are left with just two each. The tournament was a virtual washout for the SEC (1-3) and the Mountain West (0-2).
» Coaching behemoths. The list of coaches whose teams are still alive entering the Sweet 16 reads like a who’s who of the profession. Seven of the 16 remaining coaches have combined to win 10 national championships — Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (three) and Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun (two) have won multiple titles. Louisville’s Rick Pitino, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Kansas’ Bill Self and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim have...
03/23/09 9:53 PM
Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels isn’t convinced that his quarterback needs to be traded. And he’s doing his best to lobby against it; publicly at least.
Jay Cutler has asked to be traded by Denver, which would still like to find a way to hang onto its Pro Bowl starter.
McDaniels told the NFL Network that Cutler is “our quarterback. … We can’t predict the future. He’s our quarterback, we want him to be our quarterback. We made that very clear to him and we hope he feels the same way.”
A number of teams would line up as suitors as soon as Denver decides the relationship can’t be repaired. Two league sources say the Redskins would be interested, though they have denied the reports. With the owners meetings ongoing this week, plenty of proposals could change hands.
One league source said Friday that Denver wanted to repair the relationship. Cutler, irked by reports over a possible trade earlier this offseason, has said he can’t trust McDaniels.
“Conversations were had and we’ve never denied that,” McDaniels told the station, “but at the same time it’s our job to look at every opportunity that we can to see if it’s something that could improve our football team and that’s what we were doing.”
McDaniels wants to meet again with Cutler, who has not attended...
03/23/09 9:49 PM
Caps forward Alex Ovechkin has taken a beating around the NHL in recent weeks for his goal celebrations, especially after No. 50 last week with a staged skit where he pretended his stick was too hot to touch.
The Caps star is done with the issue, refusing to discuss it Monday. But his teammates have steadfastly defended him.
“You know how they say it’s Manny being Manny in baseball? That’s Ovie being Ovie,” said Caps forward Brooks Laich. “I love the guy. I have so much respect for him. The celebrations are not in any way to try and embarrass the other team or showboat.”
For all the diversity in the NHL, hockey in North America is still steeped in a rural Canadian ethic — work hard, play with pain and keep your mouth shut. And while Ovechkin hits two of those categories, his flashiness grates on some.
“It’s just the tradition of hockey. Guys kind of get upset about it, but I think it’s exciting,” said Caps defenseman Mike Green. “You obviously won’t see a Canadian player doing that and people will make a fuss. But that’s okay. If Alex wants to do it it’s up to him. I thought it was fun.”...
03/22/09 9:24 PM
Under fire during a rare down season nearly three decades ago, former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell famously declared, “I can coach.”
Current Terrapins mentor Gary Williams never spoke those words this season, but it seemed his sentiment, as he rallied his limited team to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Now that Williams is back as head honcho of Garyland, his sovereignty unquestioned — at least until another loss to an Ohio U. or a Morgan State — what does next year hold for his program?
A lot depends on the intentions of a certain pair of 6-foot-5 guards. Will junior Greivis Vasquez declare for Maryland or the NBA? Will Brooklyn prep phenom Lance Stephenson declare for Maryland, Kansas or St. John’s?
Vasquez’s choice will come after he sticks his toe into the NBA draft pool; scouts like that he makes things happen, but wonder if he has NBA athleticism. Speaking of toes, Maryland fans hope Vasquez takes the path of sore-toed Ty Lawson, who did the NBA pre-draft workout tour last summer before realizing he needed another year at North Carolina to enhance his stock. This season, Lawson was the ACC Player of the Year.
Stephenson, said to have an NBA-ready game as well as NBA-ready character issues, is expected to announce March 31 at the McDonald’s All-Star Game.
Without Vasquez or Stephenson, Maryland would...
03/22/09 9:20 PM
Best disappearing act » Arizona State’s James Harden. He was scoreless at halftime of Sunday’s loss to Syracuse, meaning that the Sun Devils top player had made just one field goal in the first 60 minutes of NCAA Tournament action. He finished with 10 points Sunday (and 19 for the tournament).
Sweet 16? » It was for Xavier. But it was a bitter 16 for Wisconsin, which made just that many of field goals — shooting 28.6 percent — in its second-round loss to the Musketeers.
Best awareness » Pitt’s Levance Fields missed the front end of a one-on-one late in the first half vs. Oklahoma State. But nobody went for the rebound except Fields. As a Cowboys finally did, Fields grabbed the ball and called time. The Panthers inbounded the ball and Fields drilled a three-pointer to tie the score. Think OSU could have used those three points later?
Best decisions » By the selection committee. All the No. 1 and 2 seeds advanced to the Sweet 16 (five from the Big East; two from the ACC. Hmmm). And it’ll be a who’s who of the coaching community. Someone towel off Dick Vitale.
Best nugget to file away » Louisville’s foul shooting was horrendous vs. Siena. The Cards shoot 64.2 percent as a team and their top players all are under 70 percent. Sunday, in the last 44 seconds, they made three of six and missed the...
03/22/09 9:17 PM
Spring training struggles can quickly be forgotten. All it takes is a good first month and anything that happened in February and March are rendered meaningless. The following three players, and their teams, had best hope that’s what happens to them:
Travis Hafner » The Indians’ designated hitter hasn’t produced the past two seasons and underwent offseason shoulder surgery. It hasn’t helped yet. Hafner is hitting just .160 with no homers. The Indians could overcome his decline if they had a deeper, more consistent rotation. They don’t.
Nick Johnson » Washington’s likely starting first baseman has missed almost the entire past two seasons combined. His timing reflects that absence as he had just five hits in his first 30 at-bats. The good news: Three of the hits were homers.
John Maine » The New York Mets’ pitching rotation is not deep, so Maine, who had offseason shoulder surgery, must deliver. The early reports suggest trouble. He has allowed 14 runs in 11 innings and the New York media have noticed less pop on his fastball....
03/19/09 8:32 PM
Nothing quite matches the fun of sneaking out of the office to catch the opening afternoon of the NCAA tournament. Fans around the country who left work early for a “meeting” were treated to a wild afternoon of college hoops.
Biggest Upset » Well, there wasn’t one, which is a bummer. So instead we’ll go with Memphis forward Roburt Sallie, who had the game of his life and almost single-handedly kept his team from an all-time upset at the hands of No. 15 seed Cal State-Northridge. Sallie was averaging 4.5 points per game entering the contest. He scored a mind-boggling 35, including a first-round record 10 three-point baskets. Memphis would have been just the fifth No. 2 seed in tournament history to lose in the first round.
Worst Repeat » There really was no way for the NCAA selection committee to avoid a rematch between Texas A&M and BYU in the first round? It worked out for the Aggies in a 79-66 victory. They have now won four straight times in the first round, including last year’s 67-62 win over the Cougars. Texas A&M scored 26 of the game’s first 34 points and trailed for all of 49 seconds.
Best Finisher » LSU guard Marcus Thornton had 30 points in a tight 75-71 win over Butler. But the SEC player of the year was at his best in the second half, scoring five different times in the final 20 minutes when his...
03/19/09 8:27 PM
Increasingly concerned about their bullpen as spring training winds down, the Nationals patched up that unit by signing free-agent reliever Joe Beimel on Wednesday night.
With so much attention on the crowded outfield and a rotation shedding contenders by the week, the bullpen hasn’t attracted the same scrutiny. But Beimel fills two gaping holes — both as the new set-up man for closer Joel Hanrahan and a left-handed pitcher.
No one is expecting the Nats to contend for anything this season. But a good bullpen is a prerequisite for a playoff team. Last year, four of the top six bullpens in baseball — the Philadelphia Phillies (second), Los Angeles Dodgers (third), the Tampa Bay Rays (fifth) and the Los Angeles Angels (sixth) — helped their team to a division title. The Milwaukee Brewers finished ninth overall in bullpen ERA and won the NL Wild Card.
Beimel, a 31-year-old left-hander, posted a 2.02 ERA in 71 games with the Dodgers last year. His ability to pitch equally well vs. right-handed (.263 batting-average against) or left-handed batters (.278 batting-average against) allows manager Manny Acta to match pinch hitters without bringing in another reliever. Mike Hinckley, the only other left-hander in contention for a bullpen job, performed well last September, but has struggled this spring and is no lock to make the final roster....
03/19/09 8:21 PM
Pro golfer Fred Funk knows how bad his staph infection could have been. Apparently, some of his brethren on the PGA Tour thought it actually did get that bad.
And one of them, Tim Petrovic, sent Funk flowers for what he thought was the worst-case scenario turned reality: amputation.
“I think he was assuming I already had my leg amputated,” the former Maryland golf coach told the media Wednesday during a break at the PGA Tour Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. “That was the rumor … and they [doctors] even painted that picture to me that the worst-case scenario could happen with a staph infection if they lost control of it.”
Thanks to the staph infection, he underwent three surgeries on his right knee and was on an antibiotic drip 24 hours a day for six weeks.
Funk will play more on the Champions Tour, where he can use carts, than on the PGA Tour. However, doctors told him if he has additional swelling on his knee then he’ll be out for the year and could need knee replacement surgery....
03/18/09 3:22 PM
The questions start as soon as the NCAA tournament brackets are posted. There are playing styles to examine, one-on-one defensive matchups to ponder — even home-court advantages for some lucky teams. Here are specific questions facing three championship contenders.
Does Syracuse have anything left in the tank?
The Orange played an epic six-overtime game in the Big East quarterfinals last week against Connecticut. They had to play four games in four nights, finally losing in the title game. Will the Orange be able to recover? This is a team, after all, that uses a two-man bench. Syracuse did catch a break when it earned an extra day of rest, starting NCAA play on Friday against Stephen F. Austin instead of Thursday. But those legs will be tested in a potential second-round matchup with Temple or Arizona State.
Can Duke sustain its improved defense?
Looking to pull his team out of a mid-season funk, Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski moved junior Jon Scheyer to point guard and inserted freshman Elliot Williams into the starting lineup as senior Greg Paulus returned to the bench. Not an easy change to make. But the 6-foot-4 Williams stabilized Duke’s defense at shooting guard. He can blanket opposing stars of various size and doesn’t have to worry much about his offense — yet. Meanwhile, Scheyer — one of the nation’s most versatile players...
03/18/09 3:18 PM
If anyone knows the NCAA tournament, it’s the guys who call the games, right? They should know more than anyone else, yet they can be as wrong as everybody. When you look at who some of the analysts are predicting, most keep it safe and choose teams from the power conferences.
Of the three that The Examiner’s Jim Williams asked for their favorite four — regardless of region — and eventual champion, all stayed with teams from the power conferences — with one exception.
And it wasn’t last year’s runner-up Memphis who cracked the list.
Jay Bilas (ESPN via CBS) » North Carolina (had to be hard for a Dukie alum to say this), Pittsburgh, Louisville and Michigan State. So that’s three No. 1s and a No. 2. His champion: North Carolina. His Duke degree has been rescinded.
Len Elmore (ESPN/CBS) » North Carolina, Connecticut, Pitt and Gonzaga. Like Bilas, he likes Carolina to win it all. But at least he threw Gonzaga in the mix, a nice little curve. Maybe someone will pick the Zags to reach this point every year simply because it’s a good program and capable of a good run. But winning a game or two would be different.
Bill Raftery (CBS/ESPN) » Pitt, North Carolina, Louisville and Michigan State. Not a lot of differences with the other two, but his champion at least is different. Raftery likes Pitt — with...
03/18/09 3:14 PM
Thank goodness with the economy in shambles, his Treasury secretary getting ridiculed and his approval ratings dropping, President Barack Obama has enough time to do what everyone else is doing: fill out his NCAA tournament brackets.
Now, if anyone on his Cabinet wins an office pool will they, you know, pay taxes on the winnings? We know, it’s far-fetched that any would shirk that responsibility, but, hey, we’ve gotta ask. And what happens if someone from AIG wins their office pool, will their winnings get sent to the government to pay down the bailout cash?
Or would that be considered a bonus?
Anyway, the President — whom Dick Vitale has dubbed, “The Commander in Swish” — filled out his bracket with ESPN.com senior basketball writer Andy Katz.
And here’s who the President likes in his Final Four: Louisville, North Carolina, Memphis and Pitt. He likes Carolina over Louisville in the championship (dare we mention that the Tar Heel state voted for Obama, but Kentucky did not. Hmmm). Yes, he went out on a limb with his choices (not that we disagree with his picks and he got the Super Bowl right with Pittsburgh, a tough choice we know). It’s not like this President to simply go along with the popular notion, is it?
Hey, we kid because we’re broke....
03/17/09 10:38 PM
A pair of No. 1 seeds face injury concerns heading into the NCAA tournament and a third is still adjusting to life without a top player. Does that leave some tournament favorites vulnerable when the action starts on Thursday?
» North Carolina junior guard Ty Lawson — the ACC player of the Year — missed the ACC Tournament with a sore right big toe. And he is still questionable for Thursday’s first-round game against Radford, according to Tar Heels coach Roy Williams. Lawson participated in some shooting drills on Monday, but “didn’t look very good doing it,” Williams said on his weekly radio show.
That’s a problem. North Carolina — the top seed in the South Region — looked shaky in an ACC quarterfinal win over Virginia Tech and lost to Florida State in the semis. Without their steady point guard controlling the pace and tempo, the Tar Heels are ripe for an upset.
» Things aren’t quite that dire for Pittsburgh, the No. 1 seed in the East Region. But the Panthers, too, will be in trouble if point guard Levance Fields is still hobbled by a groin injury. He did not practice last week at the Big East tournament and had a poor showing in a quarterfinal loss to West Virginia. Fields leads the nation with a 4.1/1 assist-to-turnover ratio yet committed five turnovers during that game. Pitts’ talented...
03/17/09 10:33 PM
Sizzle
Fresh start » Pittsburgh changed coaches, a system and a mindset last month. Now the Penguins are taking advantage of the new approach, vaulting from out of the playoffs to solidly being in. They’re 10-1-3 since turning to new coach Dan Bylsma, who wanted, and has received, more forechecks
Buckeye Basketball » We’re not talking Ohio State; we’re talking the state of Ohio. Five teams made the NCAA Tournament (Dayton, Xavier, Ohio State, Cleveland State and Akron), the most of any state. Look for Xavier to go the farthest.
Wanted man » Pedro Martinez is drawing serious attention from a few teams after his performance in the WBC. Some scouts have said his ball moved as much as it had in years. Martinez will get another contract, but will he last all year?
Fizzle
Summit meeting » Tennessee women’s basketball has its lowest seed ever (fifth) in the women’s tournament. But beware of the Vols: last time they lost at least 10 games was in 1997. They won the tournament.
Ice cold » New Jersey’s Yi Jianlian is in danger of again losing his starting job thanks to his penchant for streaky shooting. Jianlian has scored in single digits in 13 of the past 14 games. And in the last four games he’s made just five of 23 field goals.
Knicks 2010 plan » Now the Knicks are saying that LeBron James...
03/17/09 10:27 PM
One rumor surrounding the NCAA tournament involves gambling. Specifically, there are multiple reports of people gambling on all sorts of aspects involving the tournament.
Frankly, we’re shocked. Next thing you know, we’ll receive e-mails about things such as office pools. Where will it end?
Anyway, the folks at BetUS.com, are ready with their odds:
The team most likely to get in a brawl » Siena (2-1) followed by Maryland at 3-1 and four teams at 4-1 — Syracuse, Michigan State, UConn and Texas A&M.
The coach most likely to get ejected » USC’s Tim Floyd (2-1) followed by LSU’s Trent Johnson (3-1) and UConn’s Jim Calhoun. Who, of course, would probably be upset about his team getting into a brawl.
Floyd, not surprisingly, is at 2-1 odds to get the first technical.
Blake Griffin (2-1) is pegged as the player most likely to lead the tournament in scoring.
And the teams most likely to be upset? Michigan State and Kansas, both at 3-1.
Oh, incidentally, the odds that you will fill out that bracket 100 percent accurate: 1 in 150 million....
03/16/09 10:34 PM
Every team has something to play for entering this week’s NCAA tournament. But a few high-profile programs may have added incentive to produce a good showing and advance to the second weekend. The Examiner takes a look at five:
Duke » A team that’s won three national championships doesn’t have much to prove. But the bar is set so high in Durham that anything shy of a Sweet 16 berth feels like a failure. The Blue Devils have lost on the first weekend each of the last two years. The last time that happened was 1996 and ’97 when the program was rebuilding after coach Mike Krzyzewski’s back surgery.
UConn » Another marquee program trying to return to its former heights. The Huskies have spent much of the season ranked in the top five. But the postseason is what matters. Connecticut missed the tournament entirely in 2007 and lost in the first round in 2008. They’ve been past the first weekend just once since winning the program’s second national title in 2004.
Pittsburgh » The Panthers are looking for that NCAA breakthrough. First under Ben Howland and now Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh has made the tournament every year since 2002 and been to the Sweet 16 four different times. But a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country earlier this season has higher aspirations than just two tournament wins.
Arizona » Mid-major...
03/16/09 10:30 PM
It didn’t take long for Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier to make his return to the NHL. Recalled from AHL Hershey, where he was on a four-game conditioning stint, Pothier was in the lineup Monday night vs. Atlanta for Mike Green (flu).
So what are the Caps getting in Pothier? The 31-year-old hadn’t played in an NHL game since suffering a serious concussion on Jan. 3, 2008. He is not the nasty, physical defensive presence the Caps need — and tried to get when they inquired about Anaheim’s Chris Pronger at the trade deadline.
But Pothier, a solid, puck-moving defenseman, adds quality depth to a unit considered by some a weakness on a true Stanley Cup contender.
Pothier won’t play anywhere near the team-high 23 minutes, 59 seconds of ice time he logged in 2006-07, his first in Washington. But his presence gives coach Bruce Boudreau an option if defensemen Jeff Schultz, John Erskine or Milan Jurcina struggle.
One issue: Pothier’s $2.5 million salary is back on the payroll after he spent the entire year on the Long-Term Injured Reserve list. Caps general manager George McPhee has said he can’t fit both Pothier and top prospect Karl Alzner on the roster and stay under the salary cap. That likely leaves the 20-year-old stuck in Hershey for the rest of the regular season....
03/16/09 10:26 PM
Chris Cooley hasn’t stumbled onto fame. But it certainly has latched on to him. First it’s a movie and now it’s a cameo on a popular TV show.
Thanks to his blog (chriscooley47@blogspot.com), the Redskins tight end will have a guest spot on “One Tree Hill.” He’s not sure when — it could be in the fall — but he’ll be receiving physical therapy in the spot. He got the, um, gig, by proclaiming on his blog that he watches the show. Two days later they contacted him and asked if he’d want to do a cameo.
They’ve already sent him a copy of the script as well as some “One Tree Hill” hats.
This isn’t his only shot at acting. He’ll have three speaking lines as a sheriff in a movie called “Ghosts Don’t Exist.”
“So you know how big-time a movie that is,” he said, laughing. “It should be a lot of fun. … My acting career is really taking...
03/15/09 10:32 PM
Hooray, American got stay close to home and play just a couple hours drive from Northwest D.C. Boo, the Eagles get Philadelphia’s best team, Villanova, who boast multiple Washington-area natives, on the Wildcats’ home court at Wachovia Center.
“That’s just more for us to deal with,” said American G Garrison Carr. “We’re still happy to be there.”
Frontcourt
No Wildcat taller than 6-foot-8 gets any significant playing time, eliminating a huge worry for the Eagles right away. American F Jordan Nichols’ arms make him a couple inches taller than his 6-5 listing, and American F Brian Gilmore is quick enough to stay with Villanova F Dante Cunningham when he steps out for his signature 15-footer.
“Hopefully, maybe there’s a little bit of fear on their side, too,” said Gilmore. “[Cunningham is] a great player. It’s going to be as big a challenge as I’ve had guarding anyone all year.”
Backcourt
Carr and G Derrick Mercer are the best backcourt in the Patriot League. But Villanova is built on guard play, starting with Herndon native Scottie Reynolds. Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes complement Reynolds but have a tendency to deviate from the game plan if the Wildcats get in trouble.
“Actually, Stokes and I are Facebook friends,” said Mercer. “I’m going to message him...
03/15/09 10:30 PM
Gar Ryness was just doing what any baseball-loving kid does: mimic the batting stances of major league ballplayers.
The only difference is that Ryness isn’t a kid. Heís a 35-year-old married father of two. He’s also a YouTube sensation, dubbed the Batting Stance Guy. The Los Angeles resident was filmed by two friends performing stances of Red Sox hitters. After sending the video to noted Boston fan and ESPN columnist Bill Simmons, more mentions followed. And Ryness’ fame started to grow.
He’s appeared on the MLB network and some teams hired him for their pregame shows. Sony hired him to help its programmers for MLB 2009. They put movement-tracking electrodes on him while he mimicked stances to help make the game more realistic.
Ryness gets it right down to the subtle nuances of a player’s stance.
“It’s been really gratifying to have all these people fall in love with a chunk of their youth,” he told the New York Times. “It feels like I’ve unearthed something people did in their backyard when they were 12 years old and they’ve always found funny.”
Ryness apparently only needs to study a batter once or twice to memorize his stance. It works; some players, such as Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, have told him they love what he does.
“The guy is absolutely hilarious,” Nationals...
03/15/09 10:28 PM
The draft boards will change often between now and the April 25-26 NFL Draft. For now, these three players are among the fastest risers, with two, or possibly three, rated as first-round prospects:
DE Michael Johnson » Entering his senior season at Georgia Tech, Johnson was considered a first-round talent. His stock dropped after a sub-par season. However, his athleticism showed at the scouting combine and at his Pro Day. Now some peg him as a late first-rounder and perhaps best-suited for a 3-4.
WR Derrius Heyward-Bey » The Maryland wideout has become a workout star, which, as in the case with Johnson, should be reason for pause. Heyward-Bey had an impressive Pro Day last week, showing athleticism, improved route-running and better hands than anticipated.
DT B.J. Raji » Actually, for Raji this is a continuation of his offseason. His workouts appear to have solidified him as a top-10 pick. Of the three listed here, Raji has the film to match the workouts. He also started the draft process projected as a top-15 pick....
03/12/09 8:47 PM
Former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden has left his successor Mike Rizzo with a bit of a puzzle.
The Nats have six legitimate big-league outfielders on the spring training roster — far too many considering first baseman Nick Johnson appears healthy and productive so far.
Rizzo told reporters in Viera, Fla. earlier this week that the Nats were speaking with other teams about possible trades from their outfield surplus. But the question is, who goes?
Slugger Adam Dunn is a lock for left field as long as Johnson remains healthy at first. Manager Manny Acta has also made a public commitment to Lastings Milledge in center field despite his defensive struggles at that position.
That leaves right field open. But Elijah Dukes showed such potential when healthy that he must be the favorite — as long as no off-the-field incidents derail him. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder has 23 home runs in just 460 career at-bats and demonstrates a patient approach at the plate. Rare for a 24-year-old, especially one with a volatile reputation.
So what to do then with Josh Willingham, acquired via trade from Florida, and Austin Kearns, who endured a miserable, injury-plagued 2008? Neither has ever been a reserve. And both would have value if Johnson does get hurt again — a likely scenario given his history. Dunn could then move to first and the Nats would have a capable...
03/12/09 8:43 PM
Sizzle
Vikings » First, Cleveland State earned its first tournament berth since 1986 by winning the Horizon League tournament. Then Portland State won the Big Sky for its second straight NCAA appearance.
Russell Westbrook » The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard deserves strong consideration for rookie of the year. He took over when Kevin Durant and Jeff Green were sidelined and the Thunder have won five of their last seven. He’s averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 assists per game.
The WBC » Just a few weeks ago it appeared this tournament was a major fizzle, with several big names dropping out. Instead, it’s turned into the talk of baseball. Having a mix of powerhouses and Cinderella stories, a recipe that also works for March Madness, helps make it work.
Fizzle
Future Hall of Famers » It hasn’t been a good month for players bound for Canton, Ohio. Receiver Marvin Harrison and linebacker Derrick Brooks remain unsigned; left tackle Orlando Pace was released; receiver Terrell Owens was released and sentenced to, we mean signed by, Buffalo.
Rock, Chalk ... Baylor? » Kansas entered the Big 12 tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation. Then the top-seeded Jayhawks went splat in their tournament opener, losing to Baylor.
Wildcats » In one day, three Wildcats lost in their respective conference tournaments. Arizona,...
03/12/09 8:39 PM
They should pass. If anyone saw the pictures from Smith’s Pro Day workout Wednesday they’ll understand why. We don’t want to rip his physique, but needless to say Kramer and Frank Costanza had a client for the Bro (Manzere). The 325-pound Smith was a bit jiggly and not the least impressive enough to offset a poor scouting combine.
The problem is the Alabama left tackle has talent. In fact he might not even make it to the Redskins, who have the 13th pick in the first round. But we’d never invest first-round money in a guy who does not seem to take preparation seriously. If football becomes a job, then this is a job interview. Would you hire someone who failed the interview?
The Redskins would be wise to either trade down in the first round, get a second-round pick and then fill multiple needs. UConn’s William Beatty and Arizona’s Eben Britton both are tackles to watch late in the first round and into the second....
03/11/09 3:19 PM
Nationals outfielder Adam Dunn has never played in a postseason baseball game. Eight years of losing can take a toll on a player and it’s unlikely he will see October with Washington this season, either.
But Dunn’s initial experience at the World Baseball Classic has shown him what playoff baseball is like.
“The crowds have been incredible,” said Dunn, whose USA team has already clinched a berth in the second round entering last night’s game with Venezuela. “It’s probably the most exciting brand of baseball I’ve ever played. If you don’t match the intensity of these other teams you’re in trouble.”
Enough drama existed in Saturday’s 6-5 win over Canada in Toronto that TV cameras caught Dunn checking his pulse late in that contest. Of course, it isn’t easy to go from routine spring training drills to the thrill-a-minute games that have made up the WBC so far. Dunn, a free agent slugger who spent much of the offseason preoccupied with finding a new team, wasn’t even sure if he would be part of Team USA until he received an offer from manager Davey Johnson on Feb. 28.
“But I knew if I did get the call it would be an easy answer for me,” Dunn said by phone.
Dunn apparently didn’t need much time to find his swing. In wins over Canada and Venezuela, he was 3-for-4 with four...
03/10/09 9:36 PM
There was a common element during two devastating losses last week that all but crippled Maryland’s NCAA tournament hopes. In games against both Wake Forest and Virginia, the Terrapins struggled against zone defenses.
They were employed differently. Wake Forest used its superior athleticism in a tough-to-crack 1-3-1 zone while Virginia went with a 3-2 zone to rally from a 13-point first-half deficit. After shredding North Carolina State’s man-to-man defense in a March 1 victory, Maryland should expect to see the Wolfpack switch things up, too, when the two teams meet Thursday in a first-round ACC tournament game.
“I’d be more concerned [about the zone struggles] if we weren’t getting good looks,” said Terrapins coach Gary Williams. “We’re getting good looks so that’s what you try to do with any offense, whether it’s man or zone.”
Indeed, the Terrapins made just five of 22 three-pointers against the Cavaliers on Saturday in a 65-63 loss. Star guard Greivis Vasquez was 1-for-6 while reserve guard Eric Hayes was 1-for-7.
“We made some shots against [North Carolina] State the first time,” Williams said. “We didn’t make them against Virginia on Saturday. You have to make shots.”
In fact, 6-7 forward Dave Neal has been Maryland’s most consistent outside threat over the last...
03/10/09 9:33 PM
Khalif Barnes should have been signed long ago — if the only question about him related to talent. The free agent offensive tackle has plenty of it. What he doesn’t have is, well, everything else.
That’s why he’s still available in free agency. And it’s also why we wouldn’t take him. Though only 26, he’s established who he is: an undisciplined player who won’t live up to his ability.
But these are intriguing free agents who can be had at a decent price:
Byron Leftwich » For some reason the D.C. native seems to have had zero looks. He’s not the most mobile quarterback and he has a slow delivery, but he’s also better than what teams, like the New York Jets, have now. When Leftwich played for Pittsburgh last year, particularly vs. the Redskins, he showed he could still play.
Leigh Bodden » He was solid at corner for Cleveland two years ago and wasn’t bad for Detroit last season. He’s athletic enough to help and is only 27.
Angelo Crowell » The former Buffalo linebacker, and Virginia product, likely will only get a one-year deal thanks to knee issues. But he would make a solid weakside linebacker.
Roy Williams » But only if there’s a very good free safety behind him. Williams is strictly limited to playing in the box as a de facto linebacker. His play has clearly slipped...
03/10/09 9:30 PM
Michael Vick could be playing pro football again next season. Just not in the NFL. Various reports state that a United Football League team will try to sign Vick for its first season, giving it attention and star power. Vick is scheduled to be released from prison in May, but faces a possible suspension by the NFL.
Meanwhile, the coaches of the four-team league are about what you’d expect: guys who won’t get NFL head coaching jobs anymore.
Jim Fassel was an Internet revolution away from being the Redskins coach. Now he’ll coach Las Vegas. Dennis Green (San Francisco), Jim Haslett (Orlando) and Ted Cotrell (New York) are the others.
The $500,000 they’ll receive isn’t bad for a season that lasts a little more than a month, starting in October and ending after Thanksgiving.
If the UFL is smart they have an eye on 2011. That’s when the NFL could be, and most likely will be, in a lockout. Though it will never compete with the NFL, it might be able to establish itself in the league’s absence....
03/09/09 8:15 PM
In a Nationals’ spring training camp filled with question marks, the status of first baseman Nick Johnson looms largest.
The oft-injured 30-year-old missed 124 games last season after suffering a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist. That injury — thanks to a simple check swing on May 13 — came after Johnson shattered his right leg late in the 2006 season and then missed all of 2007.
Despite the leg injury, 2006 was a career year for Johnson — in games played (147), hits (145), doubles (46), homers (23), RBI (77), runs (100), walks (110), slugging percentage (.520) and on-base percentage (.428). Those are the numbers the Nats missed desperately the past two years. Given Johnson’s injury history, manager Manny Acta said several times during the offseason that he is reluctant to expect too much. But he and the rest of the Nats still hope.
“I’ve known Nick a long time,” said Nats outfielder Adam Dunn, himself a new addition to a lineup that ranked 28th in runs. “Right now, from what I saw when I was still in camp, he’s healthy. If he stays healthy, that’s a tremendous asset for our team.”
First base was a wasteland minus Johnson last season. Dmitri Young, who filled in well in 2007, struggled with diabetes, starting just 37 games. By the end, third baseman Aaron Boone (35 starts) and second baseman...
03/09/09 8:09 PM
With less than a week remaining before the NCAA Tournament teams are selected, some things are clear.
They should be in:
» West Virginia (21-10). Honestly, why are the Mountaineers on the bubble? They have a strong RPI (25th) and strength of schedule (18th). And they have a 10-8 record in a loaded conference. Case closed.
» Oklahoma State (20-10). Another team that shouldn’t need to win another game. The Cowboys have won six of their last seven and own an excellent RPI (26th).
» Arizona (19-12). Despite a less-than-stellar RPI (52nd), the Cats have a solid resume, with non-conference wins over Kansas and Gonzaga and conference victories over Washington and UCLA. That should be enough to overcome a 2-9 road record.
They should be out:
» Davidson (26-7). Hard to believe, but the darlings of last year’s tourney do not deserve an at-large bid this season even with star guard Stephen Curry. They won only two games vs. teams in the RPI top 100. The Southern Conference, ranked 20th of 32 conferences, does not warrant an at-large team.
» Kansas State (21-10). Barring a deep run in the Big 12 tourney, the Wildcats and their 112th-rated schedule should be in the NIT.
» Northwestern (17-12). Like the other Wildcats, this one has to spring an upset in the conference tournament. Otherwise, their streak of no NCAA berths will...
03/09/09 8:03 PM
Three contenders added one more piece in preparation for the playoffs. A week later here’s how one front office executive views those moves:
Boston » Our front office executive isn’t impressed with Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore, questioning the former’s past and the latter’s skinny frame. He said Marbury is still capable of going on a tear, but will that override the mental garbage he brings? They won’t help enough.
Cleveland » “Joe Smith will help the Cavs’ depth, but I don’t see him moving the needle,” the source said. Smith helps the Cavs chemistry and, though they lost at Boston on Friday, the executive said, “The Cavs have a big leg up on the Celtics right now. If [Kevin] Garnett isn’t 100-percent healed … they will not hang their 18th banner this year.”
San Antonio » Drew Gooden is not considered the smartest player. It’s one reason Cleveland got rid of him last year, despite his ability to score and rebound. But Gooden, if healthy, should give the Spurs a boost. That is, if he can learn their system....
03/08/09 9:55 PM
Here’s what we’re down to: hoping George Mason and American win their conference finals so the area doesn’t get shut out of the NCAA Tournament.
Wow.
Of course, Maryland could still get an at-large berth, but Saturday’s loss at Virginia won’t exactly help its chances. The good thing is if Maryland doesn’t make it we get to hear about Gary Williams’ recruiting all over again. And Georgetown could get one by winning the Big East Tournament. Go ahead and chuckle; we’ll wait.
One question: do offices hold NIT pools? Guess we’re gonna soon find out, right Hoyas? But what an NIT field it could be: Cincinnati, Kentucky, Notre Dame. And we still won’t watch.
Anyway, here’s a scorecard for the bubble watch.
Helped themselves » Boston College should have solidified a bid with a win at home over Georgia Tech on Saturday. They should be the sixth — and final? — bid from the ACC. Ohio State has played sloppy ball of late, but managed a narrow win — its 20th of the season — over Northwestern on Sunday.
Michigan posted a good road win at Minnesota, which puts them back on the fence. The Wolverines have lost nine of their last 15.
Texas A&M continued its surge, winning its sixth straight game Saturday. They’ve defeated Texas and Missouri during this stretch. Nobody should have...
03/08/09 9:50 PM
Maybe it was nothing more than the long NHL season taking its inevitable toll.
But a Capitals team that had gone 24-3-2 at Verizon Center since last March entered Sunday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 7-8 record in its last 15 games in The District and looking for reasons why.
After a 4-3 shootout loss, several players said they had identified a few possible reasons.
“We got back to working and tightened up defensively,” said Caps forward Brooks Laich. “I think we gave [Pittsburgh] 21 or 22 shots. When we’ve been losing recently we were giving up 34, 36 a game.”
But it’s not just the Caps scuffling. The top four teams in the league — Detroit, San Jose, Boston and New Jersey — have all had their struggles lately.
Despite 95 points, most in the NHL, Boston is 4-7-3 in its last 14 games. San Jose and Detroit are next with 94 points each. But the Sharks are 6-6-5 in their last 17 and 1-4-1 since Feb. 28. The Red Wings are a decent 6-4-1 in their last 11, but have twice been embarrassed in the last week — 8-0 vs. Nashville and 8-2 vs. Columbus. New Jersey has actually been hot lately with a 9-3 record. But even the Devils were whipped, 7-3, at the lowly New York Islanders on Saturday.
“It is like the dog days of August in baseball,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “Now you see...
03/08/09 6:57 PM
Here’s a shocker: The Nationals were the least successful franchise in town last year, according to bizjournals.com. Not only that, they’re dangerously close to being the least successful one in all of sports.
According to bizjournals, the Nats ranked 113th in their study of 122 sports franchises. Apparently 102 losses and overcharged food items don’t mean as much as they used to in these studies.
They were the 28th rated baseball franchise, but at least they were ahead of the Orioles, who checked in at 115. Won’t that make for a good sales pitch by MASN this season.
The Web site ranked teams based on a number of criteria, including on-field success — taking into account margin of victory and playoff wins — home attendance and the franchise’s change in value from 2007 to 2008.
The best franchise in Washington was the Capitals, who were 41st (10th in the NHL) and had a 10-percent gain in franchise value. The Redskins were 42nd (12th in the NFL) and the Wizards were 82nd (19th in the NBA). The good news for the Redskins: the Dallas Cowboys were 62nd.
The best franchise in sports last year was the Boston Celtics. The worst? It shouldn’t be a surprise: the Detroit Lions. Yet another loss....
03/05/09 9:56 PM
The list of teams who don’t want Terrell Owens continues to grow. It’s one thing to be a pain in the rear; it’s another thing to be a pain in the rear who no longer performs at a Pro Bowl level.
And that’s where Owens is right now. The team that takes him must have two things: a strong head coach and an established quarterback. Those are two reasons why Washington was wise not to sign him.
Actually, Owens’ negative karma is as much to blame as anything for the lack of suitors. He ticked off the folks in Philadelphia, which then cancels out Baltimore (coach John Harbaugh was with the Eagles during the T.O. days) and Minnesota (ditto for coach Brad Childress). There’s Kansas City! Oh, wait. Chiefs coach Todd Haley was a Dallas assistant and told Jerry Jones that he couldn’t win with Owens. Jets coach Rex Ryan was in Baltimore when Owens rejected a trade to the Ravens.
The list goes on.
So, in reality, there aren’t many options for Owens.
Among the candidates:
Oakland » Al Davis is, well, daffy enough to toss a lot of money at Owens. However, with a relatively new head coach and a young quarterback, is this really the right place? Owens wasn’t happy when his teams were winning. But at least he could be a No. 1 receiver, or at least pretend to be, with the Raiders. Oakland put out hints Thursday that they...
03/05/09 9:50 PM
The bubble burst for several teams on Wednesday night, including Kentucky and Miami (Fla.). This weekend provides a final chance for redemption before postseason tournaments get underway. Here’s a look at three contenders:
Northwestern
Resume » 17-11 (8-9 Big 10); RPI 70
Why they’ll make it » Don’t laugh. The Wildcats took out Purdue Wednesday so a win at Ohio State this weekend would give them a sweep of the Buckeyes and seven top-50 RPI team wins.
Why they won’t » Needed a ton of energy to overcome a poor conference start with losing streaks of three and four games.
UNLV
Resume » 21-8 (9-6 Mountain West); RPI 50
Why they’ll make it » Chance to finish top four in the tougher-than-you-think Mountain West Conference; 9-6 record against RPI top-100 opponents, including wins vs. Louisville and Utah.
Why they won’t » Could get jumped by conference rival San Diego State when the two teams meet this weekend. Rebels also have bad losses to Colorado State and Texas Christian.
Florida
Resume » 21-9 (8-7 SEC); RPI 52
Why they’ll make it » They go on a late run starting with Saturday’s home game against Kentucky. Gators also need another signature win during the SEC tournament.
Why they won’t » Poor road record. Wednesday’s loss at Mississippi State dropped Florida to...
03/05/09 9:46 PM
The Redskins tried the young route with their punters. It didn’t work. So they opted for veteran Dirk Johnson, who was cut by Arizona late in the season.
Which means the Redskins’ punting situation could once again be a problem area. If nothing else, however, perhaps they’ll finally find someone who can be consistent. Even if that means a low average.
Johnson punted in 12 games last season for Arizona, averaging 41.8 yards with a net of 35.2. He averaged 41.7 yards per punt in four seasons with Philadelphia (2003-06); that’s also his career average. He has also served as a placeholder, a role he would fill in Washington.
This was a necessary signing with only one punter on the roster, the inexperienced Zac Atterbury. Washington struggled in this department last year with rookie Durant Brooks showing a big leg in practice and a lot of anxiety in games, leading to woeful inconsistency. Ryan Plackemeier was equally inconsistent....
03/04/09 10:00 PM
Logic has little choice but to finally prevail over the luster of having Georgetown in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The battle hasn’t been easy.
All season opposing coaches marched one after the other into Verizon Center’s media room, many reluctantly basking in the glow of victory and each expounding on all that Georgetown head coach John Thompson III has done to reestablish the Hoyas as one of the nation’s preeminent programs.
“They lost a lot of players and they are playing guys in new roles and they’re a young team,” said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin on Feb. 7. “You have great teams in our conference with losing records.”
And despite the overwhelming ugliness of a stretch of nine losses in 11 games that would’ve had any other team removed from consideration, on-air broadcasters hopped back on the Hoyas bandwagon after they beat No. 10 Villanova last weekend, ignoring the fact that the Wildcats simply played their worst game of the season.
The NCAA selection committee looks at performances down the stretch, and the reality is that Georgetown’s winter was as dry as the Washington weather until this week — the Hoyas last well-played victory was against Syracuse on Jan. 14.
Even at ESPN, college hoops heads predicted less than two weeks ago that Georgetown would be the first team to win five...
