D.C. Sports Bog: August 16, 2009 - August 22, 2009
How to Dress For a Rainy Preseason Game
I arrived at FedEx Field just in time for the rain to start. I sprinted through Steelers tailgates to get to the entry ramp, and then used my keen journalistic training to stand there for about 30 minutes, hoping the rain would stop. It didn't, but this allowed me...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 22, 2009; 5:53 PM ET |
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On Getting to Know the New Guys
(By Toni L. Sandys - TWP) Earlier this week, I asked Clinton Portis whether he could name all the guys currently wearing a Redskins uniform at practice. He didn't hesitate. "Nope," he said. "I don't learn the roster until it get to 53 players. Them are the people I'm...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 21, 2009; 7:47 AM ET |
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Today in Redskins Hazing
With training camp completed and plenty of rookies unhazed, apparently the veterans decided to just wrap things up with a rush. I'm not sure who exactly is in these planning meetings, but publicly, Albert Haynesworth very clearly seems to be the ringleader. He and Cornelius Griffin tied five rookies...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 4:57 PM ET |
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Phil Daniels and His Knee Liquid
(By John McDonnell - TWP) I saw where Phillip Daniels missed a practice this week after having his knee drained, and like all of you, I was wondering two things: How much liquid, and what did it look like? How much: Well, back in the day, when he played...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 3:37 PM ET |
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Jason Campbell's Conversation With Favre
(2007 photo by Preston Keres - TWP) Since their families live in the same Mississippi neighborhood, during his one or two yearly visits home, Jason Campbell will occasionally stop by Brett Favre's place to do a little fishing. "I always ask when I'm down there, just because it's private,...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 1:57 PM ET |
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When Strasburg = Slothburg
By Cheryl Nichols Yesterday I wrote something about how some fans would feel if Mike Rizzo didn't get the Nats' GM job. So, uh, whoops! Good job, everyone! Keep that Strasburg Bounce bouncing! Sorry for doubting you! (As an example of how not to apologize, see here. Despite speculation?...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 12:16 PM ET |
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Clinton Portis Loves Marko Mitchell
(By Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP) It was Marko Mitchell Appreciation Day at Skins camp, starting with teammate applause after he made a catch in traffic against Carlos Rogers and peaking with Clinton Portis's post-practice comments. "I think we got a couple key surprises," Portis said, in his final...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 11:37 AM ET |
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Famous Author Compares Steelers and Skins Fans
(2008 photo by John McDonnell - TWP) I've often been accused of writing excessively about the Steelers fans who invaded FedEx Field last winter. Guilty as charged, but it was one of '08's defining moments, especially for what followed: offensive linemen saying they had to use a silent count...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 20, 2009; 9:34 AM ET |
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DeAngelo Hall Has Tumbling Skills
(By Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP) Observers of Redskins practice this week saw DeAngelo Hall do at least two noteworthy things. First off, he spent some time with the wide receivers, catching passes. "That was just something where I had a little bit of time, so they let me...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 19, 2009; 4:28 PM ET |
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Yet More Nicknames From T Plush
By Cheryl Nichols. Tony Plush spoke at the ESPN Zone this afternoon, where he basked in the adoring "play-the-game-the-right-way" crowd. I'm not sure who decides what the right way is to play, but since every question this afternoon was prefaced by "thank you for playing the game the right...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 19, 2009; 3:08 PM ET |
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Kasten on Strasburg-Ovechkin
We've all been using the comparison for month, despite the fact that Stephen Strasburg has way more teeth than Alex Ovechkin, but now that Strasburg's been signed, it sort of becomes more obvious that this comparison won't work. For one thing, it's still unclear whether Strasburg likes tight tees...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 19, 2009; 11:21 AM ET |
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Why the Rizzo Thing Rankles
The smart opinion on the news that Mike Rizzo seems to be out as Interim GM in favor of Arizona Diamondbacks director of player personnel Jerry Dipoto is that all's fair in love and UZR. Rizzo's done some things well, and other things less well (there are complaints about the...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 19, 2009; 10:35 AM ET |
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Youppi Visits Nats Park
"We lost," Pier-Olivier Michaud said about an hour after the Nats failed to rally in the bottom of the ninth against the Rockies. Yes, "we." "I'm still saying 'We,' " Pier-Olivier agreed. "Being from Montreal, I can't cheer for a high-budget team. How can I say Go Yankees when...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 19, 2009; 7:44 AM ET |
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Orakpo's Rookie Hazing
I missed the rookie hazing of Kevin Barnes and Robert Henson, who were tied up to the goalposts following Monday evening's practice. I was sad. But then Brian Orakpo and J.D. Skolnitsky got tied up today, where they received ice water baths, Gatorade showers, and wet towel treatments. That...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 5:03 PM ET |
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Boras Says Strasburg Wasn't Close to Walking
So after the weeks and months of "coming up after the break" drama and media posturing and fan freak-outs, it comes down to this: Scott Boras, on WFAN this morning, telling Adam The Bull and Jon Heyman that this deal was never close to unraveling. Lame, lame and lame. Here's...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 4:37 PM ET |
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Jim Bowden: 'The Ownership Stepped Up'
Video: Bowden: Strasburg's big deal Fox Sports analyst Jim Bowden was on the Web today discussing the Stephen Strasburg signing, and I thought he offered a pleasantly objective lens from which to view this morning's events. "This is the best college pitcher that I've ever seen," Bowden said. "I mean,...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 2:57 PM ET |
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Haywood's Apology, Strasburg's Worth, Etc.
Too much Internet-related D.C. sports news to possibly keep up. Will throw it all together in one post. What did you make of Brendan Haywood's apology? Here's what he wrote, re: saying pro athletes wouldn't want to undress in front of Stephon Marbury: My last blog about some of Stephon...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 2:02 PM ET |
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Fred Smoot and Teammates Discuss Strasburg
Future pro sports personnel man Fred Smoot was sitting in the cold tub this morning with several teammates when I realized I should probably ask him about the Stephen Strasburg signing. "We didn't sign him, did we?" asked Smoot, who apparently goes to sleep early during training camp, and who...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 11:25 AM ET |
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Nationals Draft Pick UnFail
(By Donald Miralle - Getty) I think I owe them one or two of these, especially after the franchise decided to wildly succeed on my birthday, no less. And now, 15.1 observations about the signing. 1) Around 10:45 I became convinced that there was no way this wouldn't happen...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 18, 2009; 8:03 AM ET |
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Deron Washington Remembers Greg Paulus
(By Streeter Lecka - Getty) Deron Washington was in the news twice last week: once for signing a contract with the Detroit Pistons, and once for being permanently honored at Virginia Tech's new practice facility in an image of him hurdling Greg Paulus's head. Oddly, I had talked to...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 5:44 PM ET |
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College Basketball
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Haynesworth Discusses Orakpo, and NFL Hate
(By Mitchell Layton - Getty) When Albert Haynesworth is inactive, he doesn't like to talk to the players who are actually on the field battling. So last Thursday, he figured he'd just stand there and watch. But rookie Brian Orakpo kept coming up to him during the game to...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 4:27 PM ET |
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Former Employees Suing Redskins
For a few hours on Friday, I stopped writing about sports in any way and instead wrote about this ongoing dispute between six former Redskins ticket agents and the franchise about overtime pay. The matter is before a private arbitrator, and it hinges largely on whether or not Redskins ticket...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 1:46 PM ET |
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Brendan Haywood, Stephon Marbury and the G Word
Brendan Haywood's comments about Stephon Marbury have gotten a fair bit of attention this afternoon. There's one objectionable line. The rest of it seems fairly accurate. Here's Haywood, on Marbury's Internet conquests. "At first it was cool, but after a while it just became disturbing. True. He's on YouTube crying...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 1:31 PM ET |
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About That Tricked-Out Redskins Car
I know I've already published photos of this Redskins transportation device, but at the time I hadn't talked to the car's owner. And wouldn't you know it, this isn't his first Redskins car. Ronald Sasser also tricked out a Honda Accord in burgundy and gold, and talked extensively to...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 12:49 PM ET |
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The Best Post-Strasburg Sign
I continue to believe there is an 85 percent (in honor of Lastings) chance that Stephen Strasburg signs by midnight tonight. But if not, tomorrow immediately becomes the most interesting home Nats game of the season. What will be the reaction from fans? Wrath and indignation directed at ownership?...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 11:23 AM ET |
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Morning Bog: About That Skins Twitter Ban
It's often said that readers don't care about reporters' job complaints, so I'll keep this brief. The Redskins, like a bunch of NFL teams, announced over the weekend that Twittering from practice is no longer allowed. No, this isn't a big deal, but it affects my job, so here are...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 17, 2009; 9:04 AM ET |
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What You Need to Know
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MASN Announcing Crew Rips Scott Boras
Personally, I'm glad both the Boras and Kasten camps are now negotiating through the media. It makes everything a lot more entertaining. And I give much respect to Team Kasten for openly doing so, while Team Boras instead leaks information from "sources close to the people who lived near...
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Dan Steinberg
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August 16, 2009; 6:35 PM ET |
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