The New Year and Beyond

On the cusp of a New Year, with all that has transpired over the past 12 months, I offer up my gifts to those woe-begone souls who long for something more.


To all of you who gave me material of some sort to use on my site: Thank you. I never quote anyone directly, so technically I am doing no wrong. Some of you may be upset because I tend to twist words to fit my needs. Sorry, it just makes things more entertaining...at least for me, anyway.


Sam Harbaugh: I have to credit Sam for the "Broke-Back Mountain" quote from the "Dallas Sucks" article. I wouldn't have thought of that. But the gay-cowboy reference was too good to pass up. Thanks, Samwell.

To all you Cowboy and Giant fans: Some band-aids and neosporin for your boo-boos and a nice comfy seat on the couch to watch the Super-Bowl. I think I'll be in Detroit...pray for me.


You Penguin Fans (and anyone else who can't stop worshipping Sidney Crosby) : Alex Ovechkin is better. Sorry. Caps fans got the best gift this year in hockey. Not to say Crosby isn't destined for greatness. He may very well be. But, he is no Big "O". In all honesty, I hope that the city of Pittsburgh gets that new arena for your Pens. It would be a crime to not have them playing in Pittsburgh for years to come. And that's coming from a Caps' fan.



Eagle Fans: A same-day cure for a sports-hernia; a wide-out who plays more than he runs his mouth; a running back who can last a whole season; a fan base that doesn't turn on you at a moments notice with tales of impending doom; and Santa Claus--expert in the art of jujitzu-- with a battery-resistant helmet.


To you great fans in Miami: An NBA title that proves Shaq can do it without Kobe, and to prove Kobe isn't Michael Jordan. I don't care how many points Kobe scores in a game...Jordan, Duncan, Magic and Bird all played within the parameters of a team...and the team won. Phil Jackson, what are you thinking?

Washington Nationals Fans: A ratified lease-agreement with Major League Baseball; an owner who is willing to spend some cash to add vital pieces to a solid club; and a shiny new stadium by 2008, complete with a rotunda like the old Ebbets Field.

Washington DC Residents: A city council that realizes the financial windfall of reversing urban blight and building a new economic district to increase the tax base, creating more money to upgrade schools and the infrastructure. (See MCI Center and surrounding neighborhoods.)



Rafael Palmeiro: the ability to tell the truth to the fans who supported you for two decades and the desire to come clean. If you had done these simple things, like Jason Giambi did, then we would all be celebrating your Hall-of Fame induction. Obviously, not anymore.


Yankee Fans: A payroll under $200 million that actually yields a World Series winner. Come on, you have to admit that all those prospects you traded away had to help someone else more than spending too much for players were in a contract year. Money doesn't buy you a world title... just ask the New York Rangers or Dan Snyder.



Playoffs?!

I have to admit, I was extremely nervous last Saturday when Patrick Ramsey entered the game at quarterback for the Redskins. All I could think about was the game last year when Mark Brunell went down and Ramsey threw a boat-load of interceptions and the Skins got crushed. Ramsey did little to quell the anxiety when he called two quick timeouts last Saturday in about 4 downs. I couldn't watch. I happened to be in the bathroom when he hit Santana Moss for an acrobatic 72 yard touchdown that kept the Redskins rolling on their way to a 35-20 victory over the Giants. Isn't Patrick the shit?!

This is it, Redskin Fans! If the Skins beat the Eagles, they will make the playoffs. Come on, Joe Gibbs hasn't lost it! Before his return last season, Gibbs' teams missed the post season only 4 out of 12 seasons. That was before the expanded wildcard. And his second year in the league, the Redskins won it all, with a team very similiar to this one: Veteran QB, solid running game, great O-line and a disciplined defense.

This years team has risen to the occassion the past 4 weeks and shown it can beat the crap out of anyone. And with Ramsey's solid play last weekend against the Giants, there obviously is some depth on this team. I don't want to get into why I think this year is a repeat of the '82 season... not yet, anyway. I have my doubts and will keep them to myself. But, should things go right for the Burgundy and Gold in the next 3-4 weeks... I may reveal the details of my prophecy. I have a lot to say about destiny and how history repeats itself, but I can not do this now. Either I watch my Skins make a run or sit with those Cowboy and Giant Fans on the couch and watch some one else win it all in the Super Bowl... I'd rather root for the Flyers.

The Big "O" Update (Legal Version)

In case you haven't been following the legal minefield the Caps have been navigating this fall and early winter, here it is in a nutshell:

1.) After owning the rights to Czech Star Peter Sykora for the past 3 years--not the Peter Sykora who plays for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, but the one in the Czech League--the Caps finally got him here for training camp and the start of the regular season. After two weeks and a few goals, the Caps sent Sykora back to Europe because his heart wasn't in it and he reportedly was on his cell-phone with his mom when he wasn't skating a shift. The Caps threatened to go to court to get this guy to honor his contract. He relented and came west. His heart wasn't in it and the Caps sent him back to the Czech Republic. Looks like it worked out well for both parties.

2.) Alexander Semin, former first round pick and Russian Phenom, told the Caps for the past two years he could not play for them because he had a military obligation to fulfill in his home country of Russia. Semin has loads of talent, but hasn't signed up to serve for the Russian military since the Caps started the season. He is playing for some Russian League team and the Caps are pursuing the matter in court to try and get Semin to honor his contract. The case is pending...the Caps should remember what happened with their Peter and leave their Semin in Russia.

3.) To top all this off, Moscow Dynamo--a member of the Russian Super League--has claimed ownership of Caps star and Calder Trophy candidate Alexander Ovechkin. Dynamo claims it matched the offer Ovechkin signed with Avangard Omsk after Ovechkin helped Dynamo win the championship last April. However, Dynamo admits to not matching the clause in the contract that allowed the Big O to leave Russia if the NHL lockout ended and the NHL resumed operation. It has been said that Moscow Dynamo doesn't want Ovechkin back, they just want cash, although Moscow Dynamo insist they do not. The ruling is still pending. I'm no lawyer--paging Mike Chase--but if Moscow Dynamo didn't match a clause in the contract Ovechkin signed with Avangard Omsk, than how could they say they matched the offer? Please, tell me how that works out legally! A.O.'s day in court is coming, and I have a feeling that he will be staying here in Washington. Since the Caps' seem to be the only team with this trouble 3 times over, is there any hope on the horizon? Since they seem destined to lose the first two cases, the third time's the charm, right?

By the way, Ovechkin has 22 goals to lead all rookies, has 10 powerplay goals to lead all rookies and has 42 points to lead all rookies--even more than Sidney Crosby! At his current pace, the Big "O" could score 52 goals and finish with 92 points this season. He plays defense, he hits people, and has won more games for his team than any other rookie this season. Not bad, huh?

You know who the Caps remind me of? The 2003-04 Atlanta Thrashers. When Ilya Kolachuk first played with Atlanta, he scored a lot but the team sucked. The next year, Atlanta was better and added some depth around their super-star. Sounds familiar, don't you think? Its about time the Caps got a great player after 31 years of futility... someone that might be the first building block to Lord Stanley's Cup. Although, Hockey and Boobie Night will live on no matter what, it would be nice to see a great team light the lamp. Can I get a Yeah-yeah!? I'm white, I can't help it. I'm writing about hockey, for christsake!

Quote of the week:

"Try getting drunk four nights a week and going to pitch nine innings. That's an athlete to me."

--David Cone talking to Dan Patrick for ESPN the Magazine