D.C. Sports Bog - By The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg - January 28, 2007

Hurricanes at the White House

Rod Brind'Amour has a general rule; if someone makes fun of you, you make fun of him back. But there are exceptions. Like, if the President of the United States makes a crack about how you can judge hockey players by looking at their noses, and then he thanks them...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 7:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: NHL
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Gil vs. DeShawn, the Video

As always, much love to wizardsdotcom for getting this done. In a lot of situations like this, I might be worried that my words sort of oversold the event, but not in this case. I'm guessing many people will wind up seeing this, one way or the other. Thank heavens...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 5:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Wizards
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Tommy Soehn, Indoor Superstar

Well, Kim asked for it, so here it is. This is new D.C. United coach Tommy Soehn's 1991 Pacific Trading Cards card, when he played for the Wichita Wings of the MISL. He's listed as a 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender. In his 110 career games to that point, he had recorded...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 3:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: D.C. United
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Gil vs. DeShawn

[Actual news: Songaila may play against the Lakers but only in a limited capacity; Caron wanted to cry when he heard he made the all-star team but held it in and didn't cry until he got home and hid in a closet (at least that's what he said); and Eddie...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 1:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: Wizards
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DCU's Rookies Choose Numbers

Did you notice the part of the AP's Austin Kearns story where he said he was switching numbers, from 28 to 25. "Kind of a new start," he said. Well, he's not the only one. D.C. United midfielder Devon McTavish is switching from 22 to 18, the former number of...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: D.C. United
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Non Friends of the Bog: Justin Timberlake and Pink

For the record, the Justin Timberlake/Pink show at the Verizon Center for some reason required that the media's wireless access be cut off this morning. Also, that all the chairs be removed from the media room, which is serving as the staging area for Pink's band tonight. (The G'town locker...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 11:01 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Media
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What You Need to Know

Tuff Juice in '07 wins big. Caron will return to the scene of his marriage as an all-star (and Eddie Jordan goes, too). The bad news, obviously, is Jamison's three-to-six-week absence; Caron says he and Gil will...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 9:39 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: What You Need to Know
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Meet Your New D.C. United Supplemental Draft Picks: Shawn Crowe

The most viscerally notable newcomer at DCU training this morning was goalie Shawn Crowe, who is one of two GKs currently in camp, along with Ryan McIntosh. (Starter Troy Perkins, of course, is in national team camp.) For one thing, Crowe yells very, very loudly. Frequently, he yells "Good stuff!!!!!"...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 6:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: D.C. United
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Devon McTavish Philosophizes

So Sharon Ryan, the philosophy chair at West Virginia, started this blog called "The Question," which asks ordinary non-philosophers to get a tad philosophical. And it seems The Question has been getting all sporty. West Virginia sports celebs like Jerry West, Rich Rodriguez, John Beilein and Mike Gansey have participated,...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 5:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: D.C. United , Media
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Gil Charges Teammates to Come to Super Bowl Party

Wow, Gil's blog, out of control. As previously noted, this blog is really just a phone interview conducted by, I believe, an NBA.com staffer. So really it's like an exclusive online only once-a-week interview. But no matter. Today's is an all-time great. Just go read it yourself. But if you'd...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 4:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Wizards
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Where to Watch Cricket in D.C.

Apologies for the slow day. In the meantime, can someone please help this reader? I admit, my Cricket connections are not what they once were. You may or may not be aware that the Cricket World Cup starts in March in the West Indies. [Answer: not aware - ed.] I'm...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 3:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Weirdness
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Caps Recruiting Lady Fans

Caps press release. Noted without comment: WASHINGTON , D.C. - The Washington Capitals have teamed up with Comcast SportsNet and MIX 107.3 to host a special evening for female fans at Verizon Center. Hockey 'n Heels, slated to take place on Monday, Feb. 26 from 6-10 p.m., will give women...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 1:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Caps
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Ball-Wonk Returns

As a space filler while I drive to D.C. United training, let me note that Ball-Wonk has returned. And in the best possible manner; refusing even to acknowledge its disappearance of five months, and immediately jumping into the fray by noting the following: Speaking before a joint session of Congress...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 12:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Nats
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Chris Young: Caps Fan, Hoyas Fan

When my good friend Pete Wilk, the head coach of Georgetown's baseball team, asked me to publicize his team's upcoming fundraising dinner (Saturday night, 7 pm, headlined by Johnny Bench, $150 per person, all proceeds benefit G'town baseball), I was initially leery. Free publicity, and all that. But then he...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 11:43 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Caps , College Basketball , MLB
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What You Need to Know

Local Poll Carnage, again. Local No. 1 Virginia Tech goes from expected blowout to disappointing loss, as N.C. State gets a much-needed win and Seth Greenberg gets embarrassed and disgusted and apologizes to Tech fans. Local No. 3 VCU finally loses a CAA game to a bizarre Hofstra side that...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 9:59 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: What You Need to Know
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Gheorghe Dancing

In honor of today's Sun Ming Ming stuff, I think it's again time to watch this, even if you've already seen it 4,000 times before. I considered a Sun Ming Ming highlight compilation instead, but it really couldn't compete. Few things can....

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 5:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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The World Hates Us and Our Athletic Superstars

Jeez, Detroit Bad Boys flailing away at Gilbert, and now we have some L.A. Kings bloggers taking aim at Ovie? What gives? Tickles McGinty claims Alex Ovechkin looks like Pan from Pan's Labyrinth. Which, if nothing else, is sorta funny. (Which reminds me, longtime Bog reader Becker insists that Onix...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 4:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Caps , Wizards
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Chauncey and Noni Juice

Yeah, I probably wrote enough about Tahitian Noni Juice yesterday, but since I'm an idiot and never posted the video player, I'm going to do so now. Seriously, I thought Gilbert's whole guerilla Internet marketing thing was odd, but this is way weirder. Btw, I figured out that I should...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NBA
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New UVA Cheer Sheet Features Gilbert!

Well, with Duke on tap for Local No. 5 Virginia in what Jerry Ratcliffe calls "the biggest basketball game at Virginia since 2000," it would figure that the cheer sheet generators would be on high-alert. (You'll recall that Nathan Fowler previously published a UVA cheer sheet, and that I then...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 4:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: College Basketball , Wizards
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White Chocolate, James Thrash and Sun Ming Ming

Having already interviewed 7-foot-9 Maryland Nighthawks signee Sun Ming Ming, his point guard Randy "White Chocolate" Gill and their just-hired-this-week head coach Will Rankin at Tuesday night's Wizards game, I wasn't sure if I'd be disappointed by today's introductory press conference. Well, I wasn't. For one thing, it turned into...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 3:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Minor League Basketball
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Last Night's Best Dressed Wizard

This time I didn't even have to manufacture a reason to ask about wardrobe choices; the Wizards' game day ops people gave me a perfect excuse. As Reader Nancy has previously noted, last night's game featured a "Best Dressed Wizard" video contest. The three choices we were given were Donell...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 2:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Nats Enter Hot Stove League

Ok, so the video didn't work yesterday. It was my fault. I'm trying again, to satisfy both of you who complained. To repeat: Let's be honest, not my finest interviewing work. In fact, it was a pretty rotten performance. I think the ESPN Zone cheese fries had scrambled my brain....

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 1:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Nats
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This Guy's Taller Than Big Gheorghe!

So I had this e-mail announcing the Maryland Nighthawks' signing of 7-foot-9 Chinese superstar Sun Ming Ming e-mailed to me by literally my entire readership (at least six different people). If you're trying to get sports writers to a press conference, you have to admit that offering a 7-foot-9 basketball...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 10:41 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Minor League Basketball
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Gil: Not Chewing Straws

I just got an e-mail from Reader Rafael, who wondered whether he saw Gil chewing straws during last night's game. No, Rafael, they were not straws. Remember, Gil got one of his front teeth all knocked out against the Celtics and missed practice on Monday to deal with it. "We...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 10:13 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Tuff Juice Campaign Gets New Lobbyists

Anyhow, as previously noted, the Tough Juice in '07 campaign will henceforth be known as the Tuff Juice in '07 campaign. And last night, the campaign got a major new booster. From my seat behind the west basket, I could see what appeared to be a young girl sitting behind...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 9:17 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Listen: It's TUFF Juice

First things first. As events transpired, I happened to be chatting with Caron Butler's wife Andrea last night, and I started showing her the multitude of Caron-inspired t-shirts available on the internets, including both the Wizznutzz's offerings and Galit Gilor's shirt. "Who's doing this?" she asked when she saw the...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 8:19 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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What You Need to Know

Hi!...

By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 8:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: What You Need to Know
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Why Is Pete Carroll Here?

I don't know why, but Pete Carroll is at tonight's Wizards game. He seems to have an entourage of some sort. They kept calling me "Mr. Media Man." I never got close enough to ask Pete Carroll any questions. But he's definitely here....

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 9:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Battle of the Juices: Wiz vs. Pistons

[Super Bowl Media Day memories to follow. Great timing.] Earlier today, we judged the Wizards and the Pistons based on their car commercials. The Wiz came out on top. I forgot to do this, but we were also supposed to judge the two franchises based on their juice preferences. The...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 4:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Nats Enter Hot Stove League

Let's be honest, not my finest interviewing work. In fact, it was a pretty rotten performance. I think the ESPN Zone cheese fries had scrambled my brain. var movieSrc = "http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/player2.swf?whichMode=normal&justify=center&playad=yes&mediatype=stream&postdir=sports&postvideo='013007-1v&cuesfile=none&autoplay=no&starttime=0&endtime=0&largerver=none&image='013007-1v_427&playlistxml=none";//URL OF WHERE .SWF MOVIE IS PUBLISHED var movieWidth="427";//FLASH MOVIE AND BACK-UP GRAPHIC WIDTH var movieHeight="300";//FLASH MOVIE AND BACK-UP GRAPHIC...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 4:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Nats
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Bug the Bog: Wizards Victory Music

Yesterday's item on the Wiz pre-game music naturally prompted questions on the team's post-game music. Intern Boris knew it was a Ruff Ryders production, but didn't know the name. Kwamebrownsucks.com suggested it was "Down Bottom" off of Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Volume 1, and helpfully submitted an audio link,...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 3:41 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Nigel Is My Co-Worker

I figured D.C. DCRTV would eventually post this news, but he keeps not doing it (and I don't count the Mailbag), so I gave up and called Nigel to ask him about the news. In fact, the only place on the Web I found the news definitively stated was This...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 3:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Media
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Didn't Greek Athletes Smear Themselves in Oil?

This has little to do with sport, unless you, like I, have always thought naked grapeseed-oil-smeared races against taser-bearing police officers really ought to be an Olympic sport, in which case this has everything to do with sport. The story comes via Bad Jocks, and it was sent to me...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 2:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Weirdness
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Giant Death Skullz of Doom with Creole Pasta

I swear, I saw Giant Death Skullz of Doom throughout last night's Nats Winter Caravan finale. The finale took place at the ESPN Zone. It was emceed by radio man Charlie Slowes. It featured Nook Logan, Mike O'Connor and Ryan Zimmerman in a baseball cook-off. It featured about 45 fans,...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 1:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Nats
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Bloggers! Readers! Mike Wise Needs Your Help

WaPo columnist Mike Wise, my super talented multimedia star co-worker and possible Las Vegas all-star game weekend roommate, has requested your help. This will require you to post a comment. Do not read this if you are unwilling to post a comment. "Can you ask your readers who they believe...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 12:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NBA
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Sports Writers in Hard Hats

I don't really have much to say about this, but my feeling about Sports Writers in Hard Hats is pretty similar to my feeling about Giant Headed Racing Presidents in Grocery Stores: If you have photos of them, you might as well publish 'em. Plus, maybe this way I can...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 11:07 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Media
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Battle of the Car Commercials: Wiz vs. Pistons

As mentioned above, somewhat improbably, tonight's Wiz game could help determine whether the Pistons or Wizards have home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs. For emphasis, let me repeat that. Somewhat improbably, tonight's Wiz game could help determine whether the Pistons or Wizards have home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 10:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Wizards
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Gil on TNT

Since I never linked to this last week.....Gil takes on the TNT guys, and the following things happen: 1) He blows kisses to his fans, which sound like "Hmmmuh hmmmuh hmmmuh." 2) He's wearing a "Vote for Gilbert" t-shirt. Of all the great Gilbert t-shirts out there, that one is...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 10:11 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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What You Need to Know

The Wizards are trying to get Eddie Jordan to the all-star game, but tonight something more important is at stake. When Antawn Jamison makes shots it can take the Wiz "to another level," Tayshaun Prince says the Pistons might switch up their defense, here's more on Caron's career year, get...

By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 9:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: What You Need to Know
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Local Hoops Poll Week Nine: D.C (Generously Defined) Rules

It was a glorious week to be an Atlantic 11 Local Poll Voter and an Atlantic 11 Local Poll Administrator. By my count, ranked teams went 9-1 last weekend, and Towson very nearly made it a perfect 10-0 against a strong Hofstra side. None of the top six teams lost...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 6:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: College Basketball
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Nats Are Cold, Stadium Is Mostly Empty

Ha ha. Just joking, Nats persons. We all know you're undefeated this year. Anyhow, a media contingent 20-strong gathered outside the Nats' glittering new stadium this afternoon, and by "glittering" I mean "muddy." They were handing out hard-hats, so I took photos of hard-hatted Official Nats Beat Writer Barry Svrluga...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 3:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Nats
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Bog Adrift in SE

It seems our D.C. professional sports teams have decided to coordinate their bloggable activities today. A Caron Butler coat drive event at Moten Elementary was scheduled to end just a few minutes before and a few blocks away from a Nats Caravan stop at the new stadium site. (Note to...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 2:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Nats , Wizards
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Gunston Fights for Survival

In response to the fans who hate him, Gunston is coming out fighting, accusing Cookie Monster of being strung out, calling other mascots "Commies," talking about "his homies" and demonstrating the Cabbage Patch, etc. This apparently is meant to inspire high school seniors to apply to George Mason. I'm trying...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 1:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: College Basketball
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MDT's Haiku Blog

Although I'm well behind Off Wing Opinion and Deadspin on this, longtime Bog reader MDT continues to complain about the lack of a Bog link, so here goes. Longtime Bog reader MDT has started a daily sports haiku blog. There. Like you, I'd initially be skeptical of the enterprise, but...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 12:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Media
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Comcast Prepares Its Gil Challenge Entry

I can only assume that someone at Comcast, under the age of 25 naturally, is entering this clip into the GilsArena challenge. I mean, it's exactly 30 seconds and everything. Btw, check out assistant coach Phil Hubbard at the very end of the clip. Nice little glimpse of him jumping...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 12:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Bug the Bog: Wiz Pregame Music

Someone has apparently been encouraging local sports readers to send me their zany local sports questions. In recent days, I have received e-mails inquiring about producing commercials for Gilbert Arenas, taking bowling lessons from Gilbert Arenas, the chicken tenders at Verizon Center and whether they've been switched, the Wizards' pre-game...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 11:46 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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Caps Fans Hate Orioles, Love DCU

Balt Sun blogger Roch Kubatko was obviously miffed by the treatment a few O's received at the Caps-Canes game over the weekend. Roch writes: If it's boos you want, this is your guy. (File Photo) Yes, it's true: Nick Markakis and Adam Loewen were roundly booed at last night's Capitals...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 11:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Caps , Orioles
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Gilbert's Video Challenge

I can't tell you how many professional athlete Web sites I've given my e-mail address to in recent months, sure that they would repay my hard work by sending me hilarious e-mails about their training regimens, or their eating habits, or asking me to make a video about myself dancing...

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 10:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Wizards
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What You Need to Know

Comcast leads with Md. women, then Va. Tech, then UVA, then Wiz. WTEM leads with Wiz, then Va. Tech, then UVA, than Md. women. I choose Wiz. Antawn Jamison finishes his monster weekend with 34 against Boston in a game the Wiz took more seriously than Friday's game at Detroit....

By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 9:34 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: What You Need to Know
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Network News

D.C. Sports Bog: January 28, 2007 - February 3, 2007