Have the Washington Redskins Become a Legitimate Franchise?
April 30, 2008
The implosion of the Washington Redskins seemed too perfect to believe. After a season of highs and lows, the Redskins said goodbye to coach-for-life Joe Gibbs and hello to maroon and black uniforms courtesy of Jim Zorn. The hire was the most shocking turn of events in Washington since D.C. native Maury Povich decided to give paternity tests on his show, and the door to league obscurity appeared to have flown off of its hinges.
But Redskins fans, the patient lot they are, decided not explode on Daniel Snyder and the Washington Redskins organization completely. No, their team had experienced the heartbreaking loss of Sean Taylor, ill-fated timeouts, the season-ending injury of Jason Campbell, and still managed to fight their way to a post-season appearance. They would not abandon team paraphernalia purchases, and would not succumb to what many others viewed as shoddy management and disarray at the executive levels of their squad. They would wait for the draft before giving up.
And wouldn’t you know it, their patience was rewarded.
The team made a significant play for a player they desperately needed in Chad Johnson. Although rebuffed, the Redskins were resilient. They did not go the sub-prime route on their draft picks, and instead turned their slots into what appears to be solid players for the future. Sure, they are a defensive lineman short of winning the NFC East, but they are more than what they were. And based on past personnel decisions, they are more than what they should be.
No reports have surfaced of a discontent Daniel Snyder, sending his henchmen out to secure star players at any cost. There are no players demanding trades or publicly expressing concern with the direction of the franchise. Everyone seems happy, everyone seems confident.
So are the Redskins legitimate again?
That remains to be seen, as history predicts that injuries and under achievement will reign supreme over Washington when its all said and done. The Washington Redskins are young and deep at key skill positions. They have a loyal fan base. Most of all, no one outside of Washington is checking for their success.
Even Maury couldn’t ask for a better set up.
Behind-The-Back Passing Instantly Becomes Overrated
April 29, 2008
Behind-the-back passes in basketball are overrated. Tell Steve Nash to put this in his pipe and smoke it.
You were saying something about a Gyroball, were you?
Greivis Vazquez is Too Cool to Leave School
April 29, 2008
In one of the more mature decisions made this side of the Verizon Center, Maryland Terrapins guard Greivis Vazquez has announced that he will return to College Park for his junior year. Tyler Hansbrough laughs heartily, and Terp fans fidget nervously.
The Telemundo version of Gilbert Arenas has provided College Park with more chest thumping, errant shooting and questionable defense than Terp Nation cares to remember from last season. Some may be happy that Vazquez’ Red Bull approach to the game will be in Comcast for one more season, but others were hoping that Vazquez would have taken his wings and flown the way of John Gilchrist.
So here’s to more trysts with cheerleaders and softball players, and more tours of the College Park campus on the back of a scooter. In Greivis We Trust.
Gigolos on F Street?
April 28, 2008
Something from last week over at TruthAboutIt.Net, which is quickly becoming a household name on the Washington Wizards live blog tip. Apparently, there are male gigolos prowling the streets around the Verizon Center.
Details on wayward ministers and photos of Ashy Larry are included. Nothing more should you need from a Wizards post.
Washington Wizards Can’t Go Home Again
April 28, 2008
Chinatown can’t be Neverland forever, and soon, the haircuts, 80’s
parties and vlogs have to give way to professionalism and sacrifice.
Pretty soon, the Washington Wizards are going to have to look like a
team that cares about its craft and being the absolute best at it, and
fans are going to have to stop excusing the Wizards under-achievement
because they make for great lunch time blog material.
NBA pundits think they’re the dumbest team in civilization for riling one of the leagues most talented players. Their second best guard is involved in a rap beef that has resulted in a Wizards’ boycott of the city’s most well-known night club, and the possibility of Wizards fans seeing the second round of the playoffs anytime soon is about as realistic as feeling being restored to DeShawn Stevenson’s face.
It’s sad that the team’s clownish act won’t extend beyond this season, because it’s been fun while it lasted. Gilbert Arenas and his candor are great in the first half of the regular season, because no one is thinking about defense until after the all-star break. He can talk about why he’s one of the best guards in the league, respond to Mya rumors, and discuss Halo etiquette because fans and players are generally disinterested November-February.
But April through June usually means two things for professional basketball in Washington D.C. - our team ain’t in it, and we could care less what Gilbert thinks about it.
This is probably it for the Washington Wizards as we know them. They won’t leave Cleveland with a victory, and they damn sure can’t come back home. The team will be vastly different next year, and so will the fans. As the Wizards inch ever close to the Washington Redskins territory of perennial under achievement, you realize that somebody should’ve blown the whistle on all of us a long time ago. Somebody should’ve blown the whistle on Wizards fans for being more enamored with blog material than wins and losses, and on players for not taking their jobs seriously.
2008 Washington Redskins NFL Draft - Watch for Rapping Receivers
April 28, 2008
Don’t really have many bad things to say about the Washington Redskins and they moves they made in the 2008 NFL Draft. They got two great collegiate receivers, some defensive backfield help, and my favorite QB in the draft Colt Brennan.
In one of their receivers, they probably also have someone who can win WKYS’ One Nation hip-hop rap battle. Behold former Oklahoma Sooner Malcolm Kelly freestyling, Courtesy of the D.C. Sports Bog:
Join Me at EbonyBird.com for the Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Live Blog
April 26, 2008
Always beholden to the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens in particular, stop on by ebonybird.com and join me for the Ravens NFL Draft live blog. If you enjoy criticizing Under Armour commercials, its the place for you.
Where’d You Come From, Pat Burrell?
April 25, 2008
The Philadelphia Phillies aren’t too far behind the Chicago Cubs and
Arizona Diamondbacks, but those teams show no signs of slowing down.
The clubs are a combined 15-5 in their last 10 games, respectively.
Pat Burrell, aka ‘Pat the Bat’ is going to be an integral part of the
Phillies maintaining ground in the NL East, and his MLB-leading 25
RBIs, .355 average and eight home runs thus far are surely something to throw
your cheese steak at an opposing fan about.
This is what Pat Burrell was supposed to be. A home run machine with far less of an annoying nature than Mark McGwire. Pat Burrell is coming through with timely hits and a good eye at the plate, which means the Philadelphia Phillies have the makings of a monster lineup once Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino return, and when Ryan Howard fully recuperates from his practice pop-up tour and starts swinging well.
Did Soulja Boi Save the Washington Wizards’ Season?
April 25, 2008
No one is confusing the Washington Wizards with the 80’s Detroit
Pistons, but the Wiz kids appeared to get under the thick skin of
LeBron James last night. Washington is usually not an astute fan base
to delve into message boards and articles to find quirky facts to chant
about during games, so the Soulja Boi element was of the utmost
importance in getting the crowd amped for it’s Goliath over the last
three seasons.
Everyone is familiar with LeBron James assertion that he’s like Jay-Z and the Washington Wizards’ DeShawn Stevenson is like Soulja Boi when it comes to NBA swag. But much like the careers of the two rappers, its all about who’s hot right now. And last night, Soulja Boi was in the house to help the Wizards Superman Dat Game 3.
So it begs the questions, did a teeny bopper rapper effectively save the Washington Wizards season? Without a doubt, yes. The series was already one to watch for the stories lines of a mouthy yet gimpy Gilbert Arenas, and LeBron James’ first taste of playoff media animosity with his comically public beef with DeShawn Stevenson.
After two games off, Stevenson went back to not being able to feel his face, reserves played like solid starters, and they even played defense. The only team that beat the Boston Celtics three times in the regular season actually looked like a Diamond City version of the Beasts from the East.
And they owe it all to a kid that you can catch at a local party like everyday.
Joan Rivers Supports the Washington Wizards…Sort Of
April 25, 2008
The Washington Wizards pulled off a nice one last night, shellacking the Cleveland Cavaliers in Diamond City. I must say, they pulled one out for Eddie, despite my sense that a sweep was eminent along with his termination.
Now the Washington Wizards have life and a new band of supporters, and for everyone who mocked DeShawn Stevenson for not being able to feel his face, the troops are rallying from the most unlikely of sources. Like Hollywood.
