New Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was in the house for the team’s practice on Monday at Verizon Center. As usual, he made his presence felt, joking with every player and staff member he encountered.
One task on his list was to make sure that Yi Jianlian knew where the owner’s box was in the arena, since the Chinese big man is set to attend his first-ever Capitals game tonight.
But Leonsis’s funniest exchange came with Gilbert Arenas, who he asked about his scraggily beard, which to me, frankly, is more Ricky Williams than anybody else. Arenas told him in fact that the beard is a preseason look.
Leonsis then asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to leave the goatee, like me? Solidarity,” he said as he lowered his head and raised his fist in mock protest a la Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
The day’s other highlight was John Wall going one-on-one with Wizards assistant coach Sam Cassell in the low post. Any action involving Cassell, of course, is always entertaining, but amidst the constant trash talk and old-school bodying up between the two, Wall, 20 got the best of Cassell, who at 40 is literally twice his age.
“It’s fun. Sam was one of the great point guards that played in the league, a master of the post game and the midrange game,” said Wall. “ That’s something that I’m working with him every day to get better. We was having a contest to be the first one to five. I won two out of three so I’m the king for right now.”
As for team news, Wizards head coach Flip Saunders ruled Al Thornton (left ankle sprain) out of action against Atlanta on Tuesday night. He was also asked about any decisions on team captains.
“Right now, we’ve gone with [Kirk] Hinrich and with Wall,” said Saunders. “Those are the guys that to this point have shown the leadership through camp. That’s where we’re at right now.”
Asked directly if Arenas was under considerations, Saunders essentially said no. “I just thought those two guys have been our most vocal guys, two guys that have shown leadership,” he said.
Hilton Armstrong (sore shoulder) should be able to go after missing the last two games.
The Hawks have left behind a half-dozen players in Atlanta due to illness and injury.
