D.C. Sports Bog - By The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg - March 21, 2010

Gilbert signs autographs entering courthouse

The horde of photographers pauses, the lawyer reaches inside his suit for a pen, and then Gilbert Arenas autographs a young girl's neon pink backpack as he's entering the D.C. courthouse to be sentenced for his gun charge. Seems about right. UPDATES Gilbert gets two years supervised probation, 30...

By Dan Steinberg | March 26, 2010; 3:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Media , Wizards
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Caps-Penguins images from the crowd

Caps fans didn't herald Sidney Crosby's arrival this week with any special stunts. There were no new Crosby anthems, no pacifier giveaways or t-shirt tables. That's not to say, though, that you couldn't wander through the concourse and see some curious sights, some related to Pittsburgh and some not....

By Dan Steinberg | March 26, 2010; 2:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Caps
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Frank Herzog's NBA championship call

When I posted the Frank Herzog Redskins stories the other day, several commenters dinged me for ignoring Herzog's role with the Bullets, which included the call of their world title. In typical Steinberg style, he's all Skins all the time, so unless readers wade through the comments section, they'll...

By Dan Steinberg | March 26, 2010; 10:56 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Media , Redskins , Wizards
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Brooks Laich's mashed face

"He's a young buck, he isn't cut up too much yet," Mike Knuble said,in discussing the newly mashed face of Caps winger Brooks Laich. " You don't have a career in the NHL until you break your face once, until you get a plate in it." Laich, of course, took...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 3:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Caps
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RFK Stadium was almost LBJ Stadium

(AP Photo) Stewart L. Udall, secretary of the interior in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and famed protector of the environment, died last week. That led a reader to point out something I never knew: that without Udall, RFK Stadium very likely would have become LBJ Stadium. Which just...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 2:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Nats , Redskins
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The last time the Wizards lost 13 straight

(AP file photos from the '95 season.) A few weeks ago, the Caps tied and then smashed the franchise record for consecutive wins, prompting me to dig through the archives for the last time the franchise had won 10 straight. Now, here's the reverse. The Wizards have lost 13...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 1:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Wizards
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Kyle Busch supports the Redskins

(Via Extreme Skins) I knew that Denny Hamlin and Junior were huge Redskins fans. And I knew that Kyle Busch drove for Joe Gibbs. But I don't think I knew about this....

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 11:59 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: NASCAR , Redskins
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Andray Blatche, waiting to hear his name

(By Adam Douglas - Truth About It) Neither Andray Blatche nor Flip Saunders is looking particularly noble in their back-and-forth, but Blatche at least got some vindication when he earned the start Wednesday night. As it became clear he was going to come out all right, he continued to...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 11:37 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Wizards
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These Caps and D.C. sports history

There aren't too many sportswriters with a greater obsession with the history of D.C. sports than Tom Boswell, and he regularly produces the nuggets to match that obsession. You had to travel deep down into his Penguins-Caps column to find this one, so in case you missed it.... How good...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 11:14 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Caps , Nats , Redskins
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New York Times says Redskins need a QB first

"Jason Campbell has been the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback since 2006. But his role appears to be in jeopardy," ESPN.com wrote on Wednesday morning. Of course, this bit of drama was based on the Mike Shanahan quotes used in Rick Maese's story from Orlando, which to my ears, were slightly...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 10:46 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Brooks Orpik says Penguins should have won

(By Molly Riley - Reuters) Brooks Orpik again schooled me on the subjective nature of sports viewing Wednesday night. From the Washington perspective, the Caps suffered yet another letdown almost immediately after scoring in the second period, allowing the Penguins to tie things up. And then, nursing a lead...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2010; 12:11 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Caps
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Wale in the black and red

I fully expect before the year is up, Wale will have been photographed with every current, former and future professional athlete in D.C. sports history. Having already performed at a Redskins game, visited Redskins Park, been photographed with DeAngelo Hall and Rocky McIntosh, visited a Caps game, been photographed...

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 5:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: D.C. United
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Andray Blatche disputes Flip Saunders's account

(By Jonathan Newton - TWP) Andray Blatche discussed Flip Saunders's account of his benching during a Wednesday afternoon, and he did so without backing down an inch. I mean, dude, came out firing, to use the word of the year. Traded barbs. Refused to be bought out. Wouldn't plead...

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 2:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (58)
Categories: Wizards
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What Andray Blatche's benching looked like

This was Andray Blatche during one of the Wizards' in-game huddles Tuesday night. See what the rest of his teammates were doing at the time below. It all reminds me of a quote Blatche gave me when he was switching his number from 32 to 7 over the summer....

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 1:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Wizards
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Dexter Manley's German Shepherd coat

Since this is turning into a nostalgia sort of day, I've got to work in this story Frank Herzog told during his WTOP tribute on Monday. John Riggins asked him for his best memory from Redskins Park. Not surprisingly, it involved Dexter Manley, but I don't think I would have...

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 12:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Home Team Sports promo, 1990

D.C. sports are such a wreck that I'm going to just keep writing about the '80s and '90s. This was the only promo for Home Team Sports I could find. But the bugle will get you fired up to watch some bad Bullets basketball. Plus Rod Langway....

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Caps , Redskins
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Dale Hunter and Diet Coke

In the matter of "what was Dale Hunter drinking before his interview following his game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 1988 Patrick semifinals," a reader submits this answer: Diet Coke. And so we go back to the archives, around the time of Hunter's retirement, for the answer....

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 11:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Caps , Wizards
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Boudreau: "There was nothing to be found"

Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames. Bruce Boudreau addressed the Polk County (Fla.) investigation into a local doctor during Wednesday morning's skate. It was a little noisy, so Boudreau's answers are transcribed below. On his reaction to the investigation "I don't know. Interesting. There was nothing to be found there. We...

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 10:41 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Caps
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The Caps' greatest games

A 10-disc collector's edition of the Caps' 10 greatest games went on sale this week, and I was lucky enough to procure a review copy. Now, naturally enough, I was hoping for plenty of early- and mid-'80s selections, complete with old-school Home Team Sports intros, Larry King sideline shots,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 24, 2010; 8:41 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Caps
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Flip Saunders and Andray Blatche: the video

Flip Saunders benched Andray Blatche on Tuesday night, and then lit into him during his post-game press conference. Which was a pretty neat way for a day featuring steroid investigations in Ballston and government sentencing memos about Gilbert Arenas to end. I'd like to hand this text to LaVar...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 11:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Wizards
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Gilbertology in sentencing memos

The sentencing memos about the Gilbert Arenas case are no joke. This is the man's life, and a lot of people will be affected no matter what happens in court on Friday. Still, if you read the zillions of lawyerly words spilled by the government and Gilbert's attorneys this week,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 11:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Wizards
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The letters in Gilbert's defense

A staffer and two students react after their school is chosen by Gilbert's charity. (By Susan Biddle - TWP) There was a time not too long ago when every other week brought news of another quirky story demonstrating Gilbert Arenas's goodwill toward man. Befriending young area residents on MySpace...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 8:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Wizards
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Boudreau discusses Sidney Crosby's scuffle

Bruce Boudreau was on Pittsburgh sports talker 93.7 The Fan Tuesday morning, and as he's wont to do, he charmed the socks off the hosts. "You know, it's kind of hard not to like the bad guy," one of the hosts said after the segment. "He's the bad guy,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 2:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Caps , Media
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Blackhawks owner: Ovechkin had "an angry outburst"

Alex Ovechkin's hit on Brian Campbell remains polarizing more than a week later, and the reactions to the hit from hockey bigwigs continue to surprise. Don Cherry, for example, had only mildly harsh words for the Caps star. "Listen kids, never when a guy's kind of stumbling into the...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 1:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Media
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Bidwell makes 20 Redskins specialists in 10 years

If you know the difference between a Pakulak and a Paulescu, you need to take a step back. The Redskins signed punter Josh Bidwell on Tuesday. Best as I can figure, if he makes the roster, Bidwell would be the 20th kicker to wear burgundy and gold over the...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 11:14 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Redskins
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LaVar Arrington slams Albert Haynesworth

LaVar: "It's timeout for getting carted off a field." (By Ricky Carioti - TWP) Albert Haynesworth's public explanation of his decision to train on his own during voluntary workouts, and of his reluctance to play nose tackle in the 3-4, elicited a few reasonable responses. Matt Terl, for example,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 9:24 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (84)
Categories: Media
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Gary Williams gets choked up over Greivis

Gary Williams fans will love this. Gary Williams haters will say that the coach is wasting valuable time weeping over his departed players, time that could be better spent looking at recruiting video tapes of third graders. Anyhow, watch Lindsay Czarniak's interview with the coach, above. Fast forward to...

By Dan Steinberg | March 23, 2010; 12:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: College Basketball , Terps
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Herzog says his ouster "was a money thing"

Monday's Frank Herzog tribute on WTOP was a marvelous hour of radio, featuring call-ins from Wes Unseld, Ron Weber, Johnny Holliday, Joe Gibbs and Darrell Green, Sonny and Sam, among others. As for the fan subtext -- that Herzog should have been allowed to retire from being the Voice of...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 11:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Boudreau and his goalies

(By Toni L. Sandys - TWP) Bruce Boudreau said several times last spring that he doesn't get into talking with his goalies, leaving that to his goaltending coach. "The fact that he doesn't understand a word we're saying probably really helps him," Boudreau quipped at one point, when asked...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 4:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Caps
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Albert Haynesworth: Redskins are back to normal

(By John McDonnell - TWP) Albert Haynesworth has been perceptive, thoughtful and honest throughout his 12 months in Washington, so his final thoughts on the Jim Zorn Era seem worth repeating. And yes, the statute of limitations for Zorn horror stories is about to run out, but until that...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 2:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Haynesworth: "I don't think I'm built to be a nose tackle"

(By Jonathan Newton - TWP) Albert Haynesworth's offseason workout regimen has been well-chronicled by Jason Reid, as has his leeriness of a move to the 3-4. He discussed both issues at great length during a Monday appearance on SIRIUS NFL Radio with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, saying he...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 1:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Ovechkin: "Don't stop playing how you play"

(By Mike Carlson - AP) Alex Ovechkin met the D.C. media for the first time since his second career suspension on Monday afternoon, and I figured it was worth asking him whether he's paid attention to the massive media buzz over his style of play. "No, I just, I...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 12:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Caps
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Frank, Sonny and Sam reunited

Sam Huff was asked on the radio what he misses most about Frank Herzog Monday morning. "Nothing," Huff said. "You had to ask a linebacker a serious question, didn't you?" Herzog cracked. "He was The Voice," Huff said, turning serious and articulate. "Sonny and Sam, we were there to...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 11:19 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Media , Redskins
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Bruce Boudreau's newest commercial

When we look back at the 1980s, we look back at, among other things, the goofy commercials our local sports stars created. There's a persistent fear, though, that this generation's athletes aren't doing their part. Other than the Eastern Motors crew, who has really created a memorably cheesy local...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 10:34 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Caps
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Portrait of Ovechkin as a young man

Why did Alex Ovechkin's mother, left, allow him to play hockey? "He's very athletic guy," she told Sovetsky Sport, in a translation provided at Russian Machine Never Breaks. "He'd be able to stick up for himself in any game. But he watched a lot of hockey in his childhood,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 22, 2010; 6:32 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Caps
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Brandon Roy's traveling winner

This game happened three days ago, and Michael Lee already posted the guts of this video, and no one cares if the Wizards lose a west-coast game during the NCAA tournament, and it's probably better if they lose anyhow so they can collect more futile ping-pong balls. That said,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 21, 2010; 10:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Wizards
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Local basketball slump continues

I think Kristi Tolliver pretty well captured the emotions of Terps fans after that ridiculous loss to Michigan State. "kjfsghksfjhgklsdjfhgkjlsdfhgljshfgkjhafgkjhdfkgjhsdfkjghsfdkjg michigan state. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," the former Terps women's star wrote on Twitter. Then she followed that up with this: "i think i'm gonna be sick." If you watched the replay,...

By Dan Steinberg | March 21, 2010; 5:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Atlantic 11 , College Basketball
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D.C. Sports Bog: March 21, 2010 - March 27, 2010