Hopeful Season Ends In the Rain

Thank the Gods I do not have to go to Detroit for the Super Bowl! Do you know how cold it is up there in February? Its cold. Real cold. Religiously cold! I knew the Skins wouldn't make it. Really, I did...

Okay, that is not true. I was holding out hope that Gibbs would duplicate the magic from his other second year (1982) when the Skins won the first of three titles under Gibbs. I had this crazy notion that history would repeat itself. I, however, was wrong. The Skins faltered badly in the rain, in the Emerald City and they came home three victories short of a title. This was not what I envisioned a few weeks ago.

Even though it only took me a few hours to get over the defeat, I had trouble finding the right words for this article. I tried all week to come up with something to say about the loss, but found myself unsuccessful in typing the right thing. We seemed so close! I was hoping that the loss of Randy Thomas, Renaldo Wynn, and Ray Brown wouldn't matter. I prayed Clinton Portis would hold up physically and our offense would find its stride. I hoped someone else besides Chris Cooley and Santana Moss would catch a pass!

Alas, the Redskins lost to Seattle and now my uncle and my cousins, the Seahawk fans, get to hang out in Detroit and watch their 'Hawks play in their first Super Bowl. Congrads, West Coast Hoesch's! I, on the other hand, can't wait until next year! Hopefully... well, you can imagine what I hope happens in 2006.


Just Some Things to Consider:

• As of Monday, January 23rd, Alex Ovechkin had 4 more goals (33) than former Cap Jaromir Jagr (29). Ovechkin ranks 7th in the league scoring race with 62 points, 10 points behind Jagr's league-leading 72. Ovechkin leads all Rookies in scoring and is 9 points ahead of the "Diving Whiner", Sidney Crosby.

• From this day forward, I will no longer refer to Jaromir Jagr as a former Capital, I will refer to him as a former Penguin. That's where he should have stayed, as far as I'm concerned. After the Rangers hot start this year, Jagr and his fellow Blue-shirts have lost 7 out of 10. Yeah, like we didn't see that coming. He'll be begging out of New York by November, 2006.

• Shout out to my boy Archie Kao! Dude, I've gotten a lot of material out of you being a Power Ranger. Thanks! I owe you. Next time I'm in L.A. to pitch a movie script, we'll do lunch.

• I had someone ask me the other week if there was any way to figure out if I'm related to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I've given it a lot of thought. I'm sure someone in my family or one of my friends got coked up with Corey Feldman at one time or another. But then again, who hasn't?

• Sidney Crosby, aka the Diving Whiner, continues to whine and complain his way through his first season. What a brat! Hey, maybe Sutter Home will hire him as their new pitch man.

• Here's a trivia question for you: Ben Roethlisberger has a career record of 27-3 in his first 30 starts, first in NFL history. Dave Krieg is second, Dan Marino third... can you name the QB who is fourth on that list? The answer is: Jay Schroeder, former Redskins quarterback, with a 23-7 record. Just goes to show you, even shitty quarterbacks can get out of the chute quickly.

• I wonder if Kevin Millar's "Cowboy Up" phrase,--made famous during the Red Sox World Series Championship run in 2004--will have the same meaning for his new team, the Baltimore Orioles, now that "Broke Back Mountain" is in theaters.

• "That was pretty sweet." That's what head coach Wayne Gretzky said about Alexander Ovechkin's goal against Gretzky's Phoenix Coyotes last Monday. Ovechkin scored while sliding on his back, the puck just behind his head, before flicking it in somehow. Click on the link from yesterday's blog to watch it if you haven't seen it yet. A must see!

• After I saw that Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in the Lakers 122-104 victory Sunday against the Raptors, I couldn't help but wonder how many of the other 41 points scored by the Lakers belonged to Kwame Brown? The answer is three. Here's Kwame's line for Sunday night: 32 minutes, 3 points, 1 assist, 10 boards (4 offensive), 2 blocks and 2 turnovers. Number #1 overall pick stats, right? (I wonder how his acne is doing?)

• Wizards' forward Caron Butler seems to be fitting in rather well the past few weeks. The Wizards had won 5 straight until losing to Memphis the other night, and Butler was averaging around 22 points and playing well with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. The trade that shipped out Kwame Brown and brought in Butler seems to have negated the departure of Larry Hughes. The Wizards are in 8th place in the Eastern Conference and playing better defense since Coach Eddie Jordan benched Jamison and Brendan Haywood a few weeks back to jolt his lethargic team into action. Hughes is out with a broken wrist, and Kwame? See above.

• The Orioles finally traded for a big-name star... Anna Benson! She was part of the package deal when the Orioles traded for her husband, Mets pitcher Kris Benson. Just what the Orioles need, a low key husband and wife who don't stir up trouble everywhere they go. I hope Miguel Tejada is satisfied. He was looking for the club to improve. Anna could offer a unique incentive to the Birds. She said while Kris played for the Mets that she'd sleep with her husbands teammates if he cheated on her. Hmmmm... Maybe she can motivate the Orioles. What a classy chick, eh?

• In another coaching coup, the Redskins hired offensive guru Al Saunders to take over the offense for Joe Gibbs. Gibbs says it was his idea because he wants to win and will do whatever is necessary. Nice to see that Coach Joe is doing all he can to prove that, including demoting himself.

• So, Marion Barry's house was broken into a few weeks ago, then he got caught doing coke again? Barry claimed to have had a meeting with Mayor Williams, a prospective baseball owner and some city council members that was supposed to end the haggling over the new stadium, yet none of the said parties recall such a meeting, except Barry. Hmmm. The baseball stadium deal is still in limbo, MLB is filing for arbitration and the Nats still don't have an owner. I see its business as usual for the DC government! Hasn't anyone told the DC Council that fuel and material costs will only get more expensive? So many residents in the District are complaining that the money should be used for schools, not a new stadium. Don't they realize that without the stadium project, there is no money? Schools are not profitable. A baseball stadium and the resulting economic impact it brings is, creating money for schools. No lending or interest payments involved. Duh!

• And finally: By the end of this whole battle over the Anacostia Stadium site, the Nats might end up playing their home games on the Mall, with some collaspable bleachers, a dozen hot-dog carts and a few hundred johnny-on-the-spots. Believe it or not, I'd still go see them.

Go Nats!

You Have To See It To Believe It

If you have yet to see it, I strongly encourage everyone to watch the goal Alexander Ovechkin scored last week. I know I write about the guy all the time, but for real... watch this goal! You may have to replay it a few times, believe me.

http://www.nhl.com/features/iceage/main.html


If you watched that replay, then now you all realize why I haven't posted in a week. Holy Crap! How do you describe that? Ovechkin was laying on his back, the puck was behind his head, out of his line of site! He wasn't even looking at the goal, for pete's sake! Yet, he still scored?!

Let me tell all of you loyal reader's a great story. Once Upon A Time: A 30-something dude, myself, actually--with too much time on my hands-- decided that Washington Capitals rookie Alexander Ovechkin wasn't getting the publicity he deserved at the start of the NHL season. I felt the league and the press were not doing enough to acknowledge the talent young Alex had begun to display in the early part of the year. The league was touting highly praised rookie Sidney Crosby as the next great NHL player. Crosby was supposed to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One". Sidney was dubbed "The Next One". How original. ( By the way, can I use "footsteps" in a hockey article?) Ovechkin, drafted 1st overall in 2004, right before the lock-out, was hardly an after thought.

I took it upon myself to raise awareness of this gifted hockey player in a non-hockey-town, Washington D.C. Redskins, basketball and now the Nationals are more importantthan hockey, especially after the sport took a year off. I began peppering friends and relatives with e-mails just for the hell of it, trying to get Ovechkin's name to stick in their heads, hoping more people would take notice. I wanted them to know that there was a very unique player in town, one that played on skates. (I had a good friend tell me he doesn't read my pieces on Ovechkin because I write about The Big "O" all the time. Mission accomplished... my friend knows Oveckin by name.) Those e-mails turned into this blog, and this dude (me, again!) continues to write about Ovechkin on a weekly basis.




Although the happy ending may be years away, or perhaps may never happen at all, Ovechkin has stated his case; he has grabbed the spotlight away from Sidney Crosby (from here on out known as "The Diving Whiner".) Ovechkin has carried his team almost single handedly, not just with that indescribable goal against the Phoenix Coyotes, but with many other jaw-dropping moments at this season's midway point. Click on the link above and click on "all" to watch the other 6 or so highlights. Awesome!

If you follow hockey as long as I have, you see spectacular goals once in awhile. They do happen on occasion. Whether it is in the NHL or the minor leagues --the college ranks or overseas-- fluky, unbelievable goals dot the highlight shows on late-night cable from time to time. But the Big "O"'s tally last Monday against Phoenix was unique. It was extraordinary. It was spectacular. It was... indescribable. And it was all over the news!... It led the 11pm Sportscenter the night it happened. When was the last time that happened? Yeah, I don't know either. Ovechkin's goal was one that grabs the attention of people outside the sport of hockey and gives them pause...makes their jaws drop as they turn to ask the person next to them at the bar if they really just saw what their eyes told them.

There are moments in hockey--if you pay attention--that stick with you like any other sport. However, it is rare to see something so... sick!!! So... unbelievable that you have to watch it again, and again, and again... just to make sure you saw what you think you saw. Even now, a week later, sitting here writing this, I can't stop laughing when I watch the replay. I watch hockey all the time, and I've never seen anyting like that! Don't wait until the 2007 Espy's, when Ovechkin's goal is elliglible for the award. Click on the link above and watch it. It's worth it. I keep trying to tell everyone that!

Run, Stop the Run, or Go Home

In case you haven't noticed, I've been avoiding writing about this subject like it has contracted the Ebola virus. I would like to tell you I tried to write this piece once or twice already this week, but I haven't. I could claim that I tried to copy other writers out there who may know more than I do and have a bead on the game, but that wouldn't be true, either. I can not even claim to have started this article a half-a-dozen times and scrapped it out of frustration, that would be completely untrue. This is my first attempt to address this subject since the Redskins won last Saturday. Why, you ask? Well, because I do not have a read on the game this coming Saturday between the Seattle Seahawks and your Washington Redskins. None. Zip. Nada. Nothing.

This is such a tough game to call for so many reasons, my head won't stop spinning (and it has nothing to do with beer, liquor or any other mind altering drug, I assure you). It's because I really have no idea what Redskin team will show up in the Emerald City this weekend. I don't! As much as I want it to be the right team, there's no guarantee. Sure, even if we lose, this whole area will have lots to be proud of:

• A Redskins' team that went 10-6 and earned its first berth in the playoffs since '99
• A Skins' team that beat Dallas twice for the first time since '95!... Woo-Hoo!
• Our first playoff win on the road since Joe Gibbs was here the first time
• A Washington defense that raped the Bucs on Tampa's home turf last week

But, this is the big-time, folks. Lose, and your team goes home to watch the rest of the postseason on that comfy couch with the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants. I've mentioned once or twice that I had a prediction about this Skins' team; one that was based on prophecy... on fate. I'm still reticent to unveil it. Call it intuition, call it fear, call it whatever you want. The fact remains... the Redskins are flying out west to play the Seattle Seahawks, the best team in the NFC, on their home turf, and our offense looked terrible last week in Tampa! Do you really think we're gonna win? Actually, even with me being so non-committal, with my hemming and hawing and reluctance to ensure a victory, I think we will win. Here's why:

1. We beat the Seahawks already this year! I know the game was in Washington; I know it was in overtime; and I know we beat them because we won the coin toss and Seattle's offense never got the chance to take the field before the Skins drove down to set up former Maryland kicker Nick Novack's winning field goal, but we beat them!
2. Our defense has gotten better every week during our now 6-game winning streak and last week, the "D" handed the offense a 14 point lead in the first quarter. The lose of Renaldo Wynn won't help the defense, but D-coordinator Gregg Williams prides his defense on the fact that "everyone is a starter", so I'm not counting them out.
3. Mark Brunell and the Skins offense can't be any worse than last week, right? Seattle's defense isn't a juggernaut. They are respectable and are number 5 in the league against the run, but do you think Clinton Portis is going to gain less than 60 yards two weeks in a row? Plus, the 'Hawks suck against the pass. Do you think Santana Moss won't be open at least three or four times come Saturday?
4. It's Joe Gibbs, man! This guy knows how to win. He knows how to focus his teams like Lombardi and Shula did. His teams may not be more athletic, but they always play with more heart.

I wish I could reveal to all of you (or as they say down the county... ya'll...) what my intuition tells me. But, I'll save that for later. I know that there might not be a later, but as many of you know, I'm extremely superstitious so I'll keep my sooth-sayering to myself. But, just so we are on the same page, know this...

Sean Taylor won't be suspended for the game... he's going to play. A punk or not, he's our best defensive player and our defense is great with him, not just good. Have you ever tried to pick up a football lying on the ground while you are running full speed? Its almost impossible! You almost always end up kicking it out of bounds! (Brian Fox... I still love you , man.) Taylor has done that twice in the last two weeks and scored touchdowns both times! He's the man! Sean, you can spit on me whenever you want.

(By the way, how the hell can the NFL fine Clinton Portis more money for wearing non-matching socks than they fined Taylor for spitting on a dude?! That sounds ridiculous to me and many others like Michael Wilbon and Ryan Harbaugh. Did I miss something? Spitting on someone is never acceptable, but unmatching socks cost you more money in fines? Bullshit!)

Clinton Portis' shoulder is fine. Portis says he's ready to go. As much as Clinton has seemed like a major-league weird-o with his weekly press conferences and costumes, the guy is a fucking warrior. He knocked out a Bucs linebacker with a block last week... did you see that?! And he had numbness in his shoulder the whole game! Tough is tough, and Clinton Portis is tough.

Demitric Evans replaced Wynn in the Tampa game and had a sack. Not bad for a guy who filled in at D-tackle last year. Reminds me of some other unknowns who made names for themselves in the playoffs in '82. (Shit! I'm giving away my prophecy!)

And... Coach Joe doesn't coach the Seahawks!

So what happens Saturday? The Skins' have to show up on both sides of the ball. They have to establish the run and wear the Seahawks down. Mark Brunell (who played at University of Washington, and returns to the pacific Northwest for the first time since 1897) has to pass for more than 41 fracking yards! The defense has to stop Shawn Alexander, who just so happens to be the NFL MVP. The Skins are good against the run. Its doable. The Redskins have never given up all year. This game shouldn't be any different. They can win this game, Redskin fans.

This all may be wishful thinking, but I stand by what I say. I had a hard time thinking clearly this week with emotion getting the better of me, no matter how hard I tried to just look at the facts. Well, you see some of the facts before you... you can decide whatever you want. But, as a brief look into my prognostication on the Redskins season, consider this:

Joe Gibbs took the last Redskin team he coached in his second year... all the way. No one gave that team a second thought, even though they only lost one game in that strike-shortened season. Until he proves otherwise, I'll stand by that. It's not a given. Check the facts and decide for yourself. But, just in case... anyone need a roomie in Detroit?

The Power of the Constitution and the Power Rangers

I've been begging my readers for months now to comment on my blog. I've given them instructions; I've told them not to hold back; I've told them that speaking freely is a gift from the constitution... so use it! My blog is the place to practice free speech, all the time. How else do you think I'm able to get away with some of the nonesense I've posted? I've written over 10 posts since the beginning of November, but the most comments I've received for any one of those posts was 6. Until I wrote about my friend who is on "CSI", Archie Kao, former Power Ranger.

Suddenly, I have 11 comments for that post and counting! So, I guess my sports articles are just too intellectual for most of you, huh? (Probably too boring for non-hockey fans and too intellectual for the rest of you. I'll have to look into that.) Maybe I should stick with the celebrity posts and senseless ranting--wait, I thought I was doing that already? This whole blog is an experiment, as I have said before, and I've worked tediously to see how to get people too respond. Wow!

What a response, dear readers! Finally, you all like me! You really do like me! I feel like Julia Roberts, except she has a horse-mouth and thankfully... I don't. Oh, and she's full of herself, which I am not. I am much too cool, intelligent and articulate for that. It can be difficult being smarter and better looking than everyone else, but I do my best to fit in with the rest of you. I truly do. (Holy crap! I'm starting to sound just like my Dad! Someone shoot me!)

I was astounded by the quick responses and flabbergasted as they kept rolling in for days afterwards! I even got comments from people I haven't seen or talked to in years, like Chris Stone, the coolest friend I've ever had. (Your welcome, Boner.) Even my sister Claire got into the act, even though she follows direction like a man and couldn't figure out how to post her comments. (By the way Claire, the point of the Kevin Bacon game is to make the connection in exactly 6 names... not less, not more. Hence the name of the game.) As you can imagine, I got the most heat for taking advice from women from a "Power Ranger". Just for the record, Archie was not a Power Ranger when I knew him. He was Student Council President and Homecoming King at George Mason University. When he offered me advice, I listened.

Thanks to all of you. I'm already looking for less-sports related material to incite the wave of criticism I received earlier this week. Contrary to popular belief, I actually draw positives from criticism and I accept it freely (why are some of you laughing right now?) It inspires me to write more diverse things to get the hackles up on you hyenas. Not to mention, I get paid per hit on this site. So, here's a suggestion: Make this your Home Page! You don't even have to read my rantings to help me out. Thanks! You guys are the best.


Apology of the Week

Recently, I wrote four things about Washingon Sports that looked bad, but were not. My piece on Larry Hughes was crap, I admit that. In case you haven't noticed, basketball is not something I cover much in this space--much to my father's disappointment. I'll be honest, I don't know the game of basketball like I do hockey, baseball or football. It doesn't help that the Wizards are back to their losing ways (as Tony Kornheiser would say, its the "Curse of Les Boulez"). I'm always happy to see the Wizards do well, which hasn't happened very often in my 32 years, and I love to watch Terps basketball and the NCAA Tournament every March. However, I don't have the passion for hoops that would allow me to fake a piece and make it sound like I know what I'm talking about (as you've already seen). I gave it a shot with my take on Hughes leaving the Wizards, but even I admit I have no skill as a basketball analyst. I doubt I will delve into that forum much in the future. I'll stick to what I'm good at, like hockey and boobies.


The Big O Update

Last nite, your Nation's Capitals lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, who had virtually the same record as the Caps going into the game. The Caps fell behind 3-0 by the middle of the 2nd period, and I actually left the room in disgust. The Caps are having a terrible season. The Hawks are as well; they had lost 10 straight going into last night. The Caps gave up 2 fluky goals fell behind and my frustration finally overwhelmed my sense of optimism for the first time all year.

See, this is a rebuilding year for the Caps. We knew it in October, we know it now. The Caps have only a few veterans (Olie Kolzig, Jeff Halpern, Danius Zubrus) and the rest are young, talented players with little or no NHL experience. I do not expect them to win much this year. But 3-0 really pissed me off and I finally started to let the losing get to me. I left the room and started to think about the scathing piece I would write about the "Crapitals" for you all today.

When I checked the game about 10 minutes later, the score was 3-2. Brendan Witt, the least offensive minded defensemen in the league, scored on a wrister from the top of the right-hand face-off circle. That was Witt's first goal of the year and a highlight goal at that! Witt scores less than Carlton from "The Fresh Prince". He only averages about 1 goal a year. Last night he looked like Paul Coffey.

Alex Ovechkin scored the second goal for the Caps, in dramatic style. He shot the puck from right in front of the net, chased the rebound into the corner, stole the puck from a Chicago defensemen, got checked into the boards, held on to the puck, muscled his way past said defensemen, skated around another one and beat Hawks goalie Adam Monro five-hole (between the legs, for all of you unfamiliar with hockey terminology). That kid is awesome.

Alas, even though the Caps tied the game on a goal by Brian Sutherby (one of the emerging young players on the team, pictured above) they lost in overtime 4-3. But, after watching the rest of the game, I realized that this Caps team may be bad... but they are scrappy. They do not have loads of talent, but they never give up. Coach Glen Hanlon has done a great job coaching these guys and has been mentioned around the hockey world as a good coach who is patient enough to teach his players as they grow into professionals. Some nights, you can see that the Caps young players get it, and some nights you can see that they don't. Either way, they usually don't give up. Plus, with Ovechkin on the team, they sure are fun to watch. Win or lose. I just hope they start winning more often the second half of the season. You can only survive on potential for so long.


"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Then go find somone who's life has given them vodka, and have a party."

Ron White, Blue Collar Comedy Tour

Six Degrees of Ego-Separation

I'm sure some of you have heard about or even played that game, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon". It started with the belief that all actors can be linked by tracing their co-stars back to Kevin Bacon, you know from "Footloose". Confused? Here's an example...
Let's pick some obscure actor like... Curtis Armstrong from "Revenge of the Nerds", fondly remembered as "Booger".

Booger(1) was in "One Crazy Summer" with John Cusack(2),
who was in "Runaway Jury" with Dustin Hoffman(3),
who was in "Rain Man" with Tom Cruise(4),
who was in "Cocktail" with Elizabeth Shue(5),
who was in "Hollow Man" with... Kevin Bacon(6).

See? Simple. If you know your movie history or know people who do (my sisters and Mike Chase are excellent choices), you should give it a shot. I decided to go for the ultimate ego-boost and take it a step further and use my name. Is that possible, you ask? Since my acting chops have only taken me as high as the worst theatrical production in Prince Georges Community College history, how the hell could I possibly use my own name?

Well, if you watch CSI, than there's the connection. Archie Kao plays the computer expert "Archie" (creative, huh?) on "CSI", the most watched show on TV. I went to George Mason with Archie Kao in 1991-92. We were in the same fraternity. He was Student Council President and Homecoming King. We shared an acting class my second semester. I went down with him and some other friends to Daytona Beach for spring break. Played frisbee all day, that week in March and he tutored me on how to talk to women. Well, he left for L.A. that summer to become an actor and now he is on the 2nd best show on TV (Battlestar Gallactica being #1, of course). Pretty cool, don't you think? Archie got his big break when he played the Blue Ranger on the "Power Rangers" in the late 90's. Archie also was in some forgetful movie with Mark Harmon I happened to catch late one night on cable. I don't know what the name of that cinematic masterpiece was, but it was about surfers and luckily I only caught the last 10 minutes of it.

I know a dude who is a supporting cast-member on a great TV show; he was a fracking Power Ranger, and has been in some other stuff we might have seen. So, when a friend one night suggested we try to do the Kevin Bacon game, I had an idea. She knew Archie from "CSI". I told her of my acting gigs from high school and college. We figured out a way to only use actors. Community College theater is acting, folks. My friend said so. I qualify to use my own name in the game.
With that in mind, here we go...

John Murray(1)--went to college with Archie Kao(2)
Who is on "CSI" with Marg Helgenberg(3)
Who was in "Species" with Forest Whittaker(4)
Who was in "Phenomenon" with Kyra Sedgwick(5)...
Who is married to Kevin Bacon!(6)
(Sedgwick and Bacon have been in a few movies together, but being married to the guy has to count for bonus points, right?)

So there it is! I'm practically famous! Thanks to my friend Archie, who seems to have done well out in Tinseltown. "CSI", the movie "Local Boys" with Mark Harmon... Small world, huh? I can say my friend was a Power Ranger! How cool is that?

This Weeks List

As we stumble though the third month of my ranting (or my renaissance as I like to call it), I try my best to find shit no one else talks about. (The Caps! No one else gives a crap about them!)Seriously, that's too easy. I'm looking for more. Actually, I think I found a good one this time; one that all of you may be able to comment on. To comment--for all of you on-line retards out there, no offense--just click on the comments at the end of each post and speak your mind. There is a word verification you have to punch in, but that just keeps spam off the site and keeps Drew from posting vulgar obscenities whenever he pleases. Anyway, here it is, people:


4 Things that Looked Bad for Washington Sports this Year but Were Not

1. The NHL lockout: I know I'm a hockey fan, but these new rules that came as a direct result from the lockout are awesome! So many so-called experts preached that the NHL would lose money and fans, that certain or-gan-eye-za-tions would be folded--including my Caps--but the reverse has been the case. The new rules promote scoring, continuous play and none of that clutching and grabbing that made it hard for the skill players to shine. Attendance across the league is up, scoring is up... new fans like it! Not to mention that the Caps finally have a franchise player to brag about after having exactly ZERO franchise players play for them before they drafted Alexander Ovechkin. He brings people to their feet, makes players around him better and is the Whip-it type high that this town needs until we get down to some serious hockey next year. A! O! Let's GO!

2. Larry Hughes leaving the Wizards for the Cleveland Cavaliers: He was our best defender last year... led the league in steals. He left for a few dollars more to be with Lebron after the Wizards playoff run last year. The Wizards are just under .500, but guess what? Larry just broke his finger and is out 6-8 weeks. No, this isn't deja vu, Larry Hughes breaks something on or around his hand every year. The Wizards definitely miss his leadership and veteran presence, but come on! I don't think Larry has ever played in a full season. It's always a break to the hand that sends him to the injured list. As much as the below-.500 Wizards could use him, I think they will be better off in the future with the cap space they saved on Hughes contract, which could be used on a power forward that could help them more than if Larry stayed. Don't get me wrong, I miss him, but that doesn't mean we are worse without him. I'd rather have a 10 point and 12 rebound guy than a guy who always breaks his wrist/hand/thumb/finger(s) every January.

3. Mark Brunell as the starting Quarterback of your Washington Redskins: Apparently Brunell was washed up when Gibbs signed him in the emergency room of a Jacksonville hospital before the 2004 season. After last year, Gibbs was the only one to say Brunell wasn't done playing good football. Analysts all over the world screamed that Brunell was done and that the game had passed Gibbs by. Well, as the leader of the offense this year, Brunell threw for more touchdowns in a season than he ever has, he had the best TD to interception ratio of his career, and when he wasn't at the top of his game--like the game against the Eagles this past Sunday--he still made huge plays that put the Redskins in the victory column (like the scramble that kept the drive alive when they were only up by 4 points in the 4th quarter). Not bad, eh? That doesn't sound like a guy on his way oot, does it? No, I'm not from Canada, you hoser. I'm just a hockey fan!

4. No Lease Agreement and No New Owner for the Nats: This one might be a toughie. How the hell could I possibly put a positive spin on this? Well, I have only one thing to say: MONEY!!!
There is no other city in the USA--or any other country for that matter--that can get someone to pay over $450 million dollars for this franchise other than Washington D.C. There is no other place that can put the fannies in the seats like we can here. There is no other screwed up City Council that would actually stand up to those baseball-owner-buffoons than the District. Yes, this has played out too long, but think about this...

• The city doesn't want to cut the gadgets and gizmos out of the designs for the stadium. That will make it ordinary, not special. If they do cut costs and build a cookie-cutter, we wind up with CellularOne Ballpark, like the home of the White Sox. The city hasn't handled this very well, but I think they are right to get baseball to pony up some cash.
• No one could have predicted the raise in construction costs due to all the hurricanes last year, which sent the cost of the stadium through the roof! As dysfunctional as the DC government is, I actually think they have a valid point and baseball should put up more money for the stadium.
• Baseball has to come here or they wouldn't be threatening to go to arbitration. They could just move the Nationals now! Why don't they? Because they can't! They know they don't have a more lucrative market to fall back on. Sorry to all of you in Las Vegas, but the Nationals won't be moving west. Bet on it. I say 10-1 odds.

To borrow a hockey term, there is a big face off going on right now with this whole stadium deal. Baseball owners are the worst business men in sports. The DC government is the worst bunch of quasi-politician-for the people representatives in the country. There is a major compromise on the horizon here, people. One that gives us a great stadium, a good team and fills the pockets of both baseball and the District for years to come. I didn't graduate college, and even I can see that! Posturing should have a time limit. Sit down and work it out! I'll buy season tickets as soon as the deal is reached. I promise.

Hey Dad? I need to borrow some cash. Its for a good cause, I swear!

The Big "O" Wins! No One Notices

In case you haven't heard, the Washington Capitals star winger, rookie Alexander Ovechkin, won the award for Offensive Player of the Week, the first time he won the award in his short career. That was yesterday. Today, Ovechkin won another honor for the first time... Rookie of the Month of December. The Big "O" has a personal best 6 game goal scoring streak entering Wednesday's bout with the Ottawa Senators and leads all rookies with 24 goals and 22 assists.

Washington is not a hockey town. My friends and I saw that Sunday afternoon when there were maybe 8 other people in the arena with us--ok, maybe 8000 besides us. I know it was a huge game the Skins played on Sunday; even we left the hockey game with about 6 minutes left to catch the 2nd half of the football game. The Caps were getting routed and we all were fidgeting in our seats to watch the football game.

But, at least the local media could have had the news about Ovechkin Tuesday right after the Redskin pieces that inevitably ran first in sports. I mean, the Wizards aren't as good as last year, but they still get second billing over hockey. News 4 at 6 had a piece on Antawn Jamieson's prolonged slump, complete with highlight--really, they were lowlights in my opinion--and mentioned Ovechkin at the end of the broadcast as a footnote. After they ran some highlights of some out of town college basketball games. Huh? And the Post had the Ovechkin awards buried at the bottom of an article (which appeared more than halfway down the page) about Jeff Halpern and his bruised or sprained knee. What?

This is a 5 sport town now, Washington! Since baseball arrived last spring, we have all the major sports right here in Washington D.C., and, well... Landover, too. (Raljon... remember that?) Seriously, when things happen around here that seldom or never do, or happen so infrequently that when they do its time to celebrate, you have to recognize the accomplishments. This is the best hockey news we have had in a number of years. Celebrate it for godsake!

The baseball team won our hearts, the basketball team erased years of futility, and the football team made us proud again. The hockey team? Well, they're bad, no question. But the super-star hockey player we fans have been dying for all these years has finally arrived, and he doesn't get the press he should get. Press that would put fannies in seats and maybe a few more wins in the standings. If ESPN and other media outlets are giving Ovechkin face-time, why can't the city do the same?

Does anyone know the last Capitals' rookie to win rookie of the month? That would be current captain Jeff Halpern in 2000. Last Capital's Offensive player of the week? That would be Jaromir Jagr in 2000-01. Ovechkin has won both in the past week, and was cheated out of the award-- in my opinion-- this past October because the whole world loves Sidney Crosby the Punk and the league does more to promote him than they do Ovechkin. Ovechkin became the first Capital rookie to win both honors. Did you read it here first? Doesn't that piss anyone of you off? Besides me and the other Cap fans I know, do you even care?

Well, you should. Its not often that a down-on-their-luck franchise finally has the good fortune to add a once-in-a-lifetime player; one on the verge of greatness, one who isn't past his prime (like Michael Jordan) or one who isn't such a headcase, that he is destined to fail here (that would be Jagr or Deion Sanders, take your pick). Washington has suffered for far too long in all sports to just give a half-hearted, ho-hum, "Oh, by the way" comment on such a major accomplishment as Ovechkin's.


Let's face it, before Joe Gibbs came back to coaching, the best Washington sports team has been D.C. United. They have won 4 championships since 1996 and I bet some of you don't even know that. They have Freddie Adu, and he is supposed to be great sometime in the near future. United even won a championship without super-coach Bruce Arena! How many of you even know who Bruce Arena is? (I'll give you a hint: he won college championships at a university that isn't in Maryland, but real close. Say, across the river? )
The Caps were the second best team over that same period, advancing to the Stanley Cup in '98 and winning three Southeast Division titles, but I bet you didn't know that, either. Its not your fault; some sports are more important in this town. Hockey's low on the list. See, it's my job to change that. Even if it's just a little bit.

(By the way, weren't we supposed to get an Arena Football Team here, too? Did I not read that news a few years back? The Washington Warriors or the Commandos...Dan Snyder was going to own them? Am I dreaming this? I know that's not a major sport, but it just crossed my mind. Anyone who knows, drop me a line.)

So, here I am, on my soapbox once again, pleading to the masses to take notice of the magic that is happening down on Fun Street. Not only is Gilbert Arenas playing lights-out basketball, but he's the best player the Bullets/Wizards have had since Wes Unseld. Who do the Wizards share the building with? The Caps, and Alex Ovechkin is the best rookie hockey player to wear a Capitals sweater, ever. He is showing why he was the first overall pick in the 2004 draft. Ovechkin has won games during regulation and in shootouts. He is physical, smart and amazing to watch. To see him skate will bring you out of your seat. I've said all this before. I guess I'll keep saying it. Take my advice, everyone. Tickets are fairly affordable to watch a hockey game downtown. The neighborhood is booming, the restaurants are great, and before long, the Caps are going to start winning more games than they are now. Rebuilding is never fun, but sometimes you can't escape it. Get down to the MCI Center and learn the new rules of the NHL; get to know the new faces that play for your Nation's Capitals and watch #8, the Big "O" pour it on. You won't regret it. Our status as a complete sports town could actually come to pass.

Holy Assistant Coaches, Batman!

Let me get this straight...The Redskins just signed Assistant Head Coach-Defense Gregg Williams (yes, that is his official title) to a three year, $8 million contract extension. It successfully keeps Williams here for at least one more year, as the contract prevents him from seeking a head coaching job elsewhere this off-season, but allows him to interview after next season. Wow, that's a mouthful. Confused yet? This is just the kind of scenario that will probably flood the phone lines at sports-talk 980 all week long. ESPN is going to have a field day.

What does Williams new deal mean? Here's what I think:

Since Joe Gibbs returned to coaching in 2004, he has said he wanted to come back and restore the glory to a once-proud franchise. He said he wanted to try to win it all again and leave the organization in better shape on his next retirement than what happened the first time. Williams' deal shows that the team has a plan, and it seems a pretty good one to me. That is such a welcome change from what has happened the past decade.

Gibbs first act as Head coach 2 years ago? He took RedskinsOne to Buffalo and got Gregg Williams to sign on as the leader of the defense. Gibbs literally signed a deal with Dan Snyder, than jumped on the plane to Buffalo. Williams saw how important he was to the Hall of Fame coach. There has always been speculation that Gibbs won't stay on for the full 5 years he signed up for and that Williams would take over as head-coach when Gibbs left again. I don't know if Gibbs, deeply religious and a man of his word, gave Williams that promise, but it's plausible, given Williams new raise and the fact he agreed not to look for a head coaching job this off-season.

Joe Gibbs said he wanted to remind everyone in and around the organization and teach them what it means to be a Redskin; fan, player, team employee, coach, owner. He knows how to win; he did it three times before, almost four. He has this team on the right track and playing balls out. Coach Joe doesn't want to build a winner now, only to see it disintegrate to tatters like the team in 1993 did. That's not part of the plan.

Maybe Gibbs never thought about what would happen when he retired that first time. Maybe he sees that he can plan for the future this time around and set the franchise on a better course. With Williams as the head-coach in waiting, I would say it seems like a good plan. Williams had a bad tenure as the coach of the Buffalo Bills. After learning some things from Gibbs, he has to be better prepared, right?

As for the timing of this, it really couldn't come at a better time. Now, with the play-off game in Tampa this Saturday looming, the threat of Williams leaving suddenly disappears. The team can focus on the game and not worry about their defensive leader packing up and leaving town. Give props to Dan Snyder for finally understanding the importance of stability. With Gibbs relearning the game and the Redskins in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, things actually look good for the future of this team.

I know you non-Redskin fans are annoyed with how glowingly we talk about Coach Joe. But the man knows how to get it done. And hopefully, when he does retire again, the Skins will be in qualified hands. That could be Gregg Williams after next year, or in 3 years, or never. We don't know. Maybe it will be Russ Grimm! That would be appropriate.