Category Archives: Sports Fix

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Doing Burnouts on Vermont Avenue with Landon Cassill

NASCAR driver Landon Cassill does a burnout in front of the VA Department

It’s not every day you catch a NASCAR driver burning rubber on Vermont Avenue just a block from the White House. Today, as part of an event to promote the Post-9/11 GI Bill, 71-car driver Landon Cassill got to do a burnout in front of the Veterans’ Administration building on Vermont Ave. The 71-car will feature ads for the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s My Story campaign, focused on demonstrating the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Personally, I love that they added this to the road-tattoo block of Vermont, almost as a “signature” to the previous “art” that was put there.

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being Nyjer Morgan

Photo courtesy of
‘Nyjer Morgan diving to first’
courtesy of ‘MudflapDC’

If you decided to turn off last night’s Nationals game when they went down 10-3 after just three innings, I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest.  However, it turned out to be one of the craziest games the Nationals have ever played, featuring multiple plunkings by the Marlins’ pitching staff, a bench-clearing brawl, and six ejections drawn out over 9 innings.  By the end of the seventh inning last night, both managers were sent to the showers, along with four of their players.  It was the sort of game that had a performance art feel to it, as if you were just waiting to see what might happen next.

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Sports Fix
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Sports Fix

Photo courtesy of
‘Zim be nimble, Zim be quick’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Nationals
Record: 56-75 (Last in the NL East)
Last Two Weeks: 5-8

The impossible-to-miss, off-field story involves none other than his Royal Strasburg. Late last week, the team announced that a tear in Strasburg’s pitching elbow will require reconstructive surgery of the Tommy John type. The Nats enter the last month of the season looking towards next year, but it is also safe to say that many already think even next season could be a lost cause. Still, in the “looking forward” department, there is still at least one bright spot: Bryce Harper was on the scene at Nationals Park, putting on a Nats jersey and launching bombs during batting practice.

On the field, things have been up and down. Last week, the Nationals got swept at home by the lowly Cubs, but managed to take three out of four from a Cardinals squad that is very much in contention in the Central to conclude the homestand. For a team that’s been fairly lifeless in the past month, maybe the Strasburg news is a reminder that no one man makes a club. In the next two weeks, the Nats will play the majority of their games against NL East rivals, save one trip to Pittsburgh next weekend.

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Sports Fix, The Features
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These Are The Times That Try Fans’ Souls

Photo courtesy of
‘good work, kid’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

There’s not a lot to say today, after Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo said the words, “UCL Tear.”

It’s the sort of injury that defines a pitching prospect, as the UCL is a critical part the infrastructure of the pitcher’s elbow, and allows Strasburg to throw with such brutal velocity and artful motion. To see Strasburg go down with a UCL tear just part of the way into his first season, and a season that the Nationals have taken such care with, it’s definitely disheartening for a fan to see.

I’ve seen a lot of garment rending and self-flaggelation on Twitter this morning over the injury. I’ve seen a lot of mentions of curses and whatnot. It’s natural to display such frustration in the face of setbacks. We need to, as a fanbase, work through our frustrations in a positive way, and remember that Strasburg was just one starting pitcher. There are 24 other guys on the primary roster, and 15 more on the 40-man roster that become eligible for use on September 1st.

In December 23, 1776, when the Revolution was in its early days, Thomas Paine started the “In Crisis” pamphlets. They began with a phrase we know so well, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

Let the fair weather fan go by, Nationals fans. Let them go. This is our franchise to watch, with or without Strasburg, with or without any one player.

Mourn the loss of Stephen until 2012, but do not let it keep you from the ballpark. Do not let it keep you from your Red. Do not let it drive from you your love of this game in this city. These are the times that try fans’ souls, that tempers them in the fires of losses, injuries, and baubles; that forges in them the loyalty that comes from sticking by the team in the darkest hour.

Gather close your friends in red this week. Go see an extra game against the Cards, especially if they’re all like last night: close fought battles with a division-leader against their ace that go into extras. There are still many reasons to love, and struggle with, Nationals baseball. But they’re what we’ve got, and you don’t walk away from a franchise because of the injury of one player.

These are the times when character is forged, when allegiance is built. If you’ll forgive the mangling of Paine’s closing words, “This is our situation, and who will may know it. By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils…” What choice have we, but to remain true to our team? Would we become Phillies fans? Mets fans? Braves fans? Surely, we all have more class than to turn tail and run to safety amid the danger.

Do not tarry long in distress, Nats fan. Your team still needs your voice, your heart, and your faith.

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Bryce Harper coming to Washington

Photo courtesy of
‘The Nats drafted Bryce Harper’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

The deal came down to within the last minute, but it got done, and Bryce Harper has signed a $9.9M major league contract with the Washington Nationals.  The high-school and junior-college phenom is likely the most touted signing of an offensive player since Mark Teixeira in 2001.  Harper will likely play right field in the Nationals organization.  His first stop will be the Gulf Coast League, as soon as possible, followed by the Arizona Fall League.  Before that, though, Harper will come and spend a few days with the big club next week, including a possible BP session, and get acquainted with the concept of playing professional baseball day in, day out.

The Nationals spent just under $14M yesterday signing four of their top picks.  Sammy Solis, and A.J. Cole, both starting pitchers, went for $1M and $2M respectively, and also signed pitcher Robbie Ray for $799,900.  All told, the Nationals signed 25 of their top 26 picks, with just one deferring entry to finish college.

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Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Fix

Photo courtesy of
‘213/365’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

Redskins
Record: 1-0
Last Two Weeks: 1-0

Sure it’s still pre-season, but there’s reason to be excited. Friday night’s dismantling of the Buffalo Bills was an awful lot of fun to watch. Both Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman had solid efforts on Friday, and there’s a lot to like in undrafted rookie Brandon Banks, who had a 77-yard punt return TD in the third quarter.

The battle of the running backs is going to be fascinating to watch. Clinton Portis put in some strong work, but Williams and Torain got the majority of carries against the Bills with 11 and 17 respectively. Williams picked up a pair of TDs, as well.

Albert Haynesworth was the 2nd team nose tackle Friday, but played some great football, meaning we might see him on the first team before Saturday’s game against the Ravens. Continue reading →

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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On the bats of Zimmerman and Willingham, Nats pick up series win

Ryan Zimmerman crushes HR #23
Photo by Ian Koski / Nats Daily News

Not everything was at it seemed to be at the Nationals game this afternoon.  What was expected to be a fairly full house to watch Stephen Strasburg, was a half-full park of enthusiastic fans.  What was expected to be a show of dominance by Strasburg, was an effective, but not errorless, five inning outing by Strasburg.  Four protestors ran onto the field in the bottom of the fifth to protest the decision to hold the All Star Game in Arizona next year, and were eventually lead off the field.

But, in the end, it was a win.  Not a pretty win, by any stretch of the imagination, but home runs from Josh Willingham and Ryan Zimmerman lead the Nationals to a 5-3 win and a 2-1 series win over the Diamondbacks this afternoon at Nationals Park.  Stephen Strasburg would put in five innings of work, with 85 pitches thrown, and seven strikeouts, all swinging.  He was having some command issues, though, and after getting ahead in the count, he would sometimes struggle to finish the job.  That’s part of his learning process, and something he’ll need to master. Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Concerning Rob Dibble

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_0598’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

On Wednesday night, Rob Dibble opened his mouth during a MASN broadcast of the Nationals and swallowed his whole foot. He said, of two women sitting behind home plate, that they must be talking about shopping. It went on like this for a bit. His broadcasting partner, Bob Carpenter, tried to help Dibble out of the jam, and threw him a rope. Instead of taking it, Dibble hung himself with it.

There have been a lot of column inches and pixels devoted to Dibble’s terrible miscue, and his ill-advised rambling, and we’re not about to join them except to say: In the short history of the Nationals, no one figure, on the field or off, has been so widely discussed and largely disliked as the MASN broadcaster. There’s good reason for that, and his comments Wednesday were pretty much atrocious. They represent the worst sort of bias: the kind that’s laughed off.

In his response today on the MASN website, Dibble once again dodged this issue. In a piece titled, “The Greatness of Baseball”, Rob Dibble does everything but apologize. He concludes the non-apology by blaming those who interpreted his remarks: “The other night I made an off-handed comment, the meaning of which may have been misconstrued beyond what was said. If any fan of this great game took offense, then he or she should know that this was neither my intention nor my history in the game.” Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nats drop embarrassing game to Diamondbacks, 8-2

Manager Jim Riggleman takes the ball from Jason Marquis
Photo by Anthony Amobi / Nats Daily News

The Nats have a hard choice right now.  Jason Marquis’ last two starts are little better than his April ones.  Tonight he pitched just 4 innings, but gave up 5 runs on 7 hits, walking 2 more.  Asked after the game tonight, manager Jim Riggleman said, “his sinker just wasn’t down.”  It showed.  Miguel Montero blasted him for a 2-run homer in the 2nd, and Gerardo Parra added a solo shot later in the inning.  That would be all the Diamondbacks would need, but they kept up the offense just to stay engaged.  Kelly Johnson added a homer in the third, and Montero slapped a second bomb in the fifth.  Riggleman wasn’t comfortable talking about Marquis’ fate tonight, but one has to think the Nats have to be thinking about what possible utility he has at this point.  There aren’t a lot of options for them down in Syracuse, and Jordan Zimmermann isn’t quite ready yet, nor are Yunesky Maya or Chien Ming Wang.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Chances wasted as Nationals get swept by Marlins

Photo courtesy of
‘monsoon!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

The Nationals had a couple chances tonight, in the fifth and in the seventh, when they could’ve mounted a rally to beat the Marlins and snap a four game losing streak.  In the fifth, they loaded the bases, but couldn’t capitalize as Adam Dunn continued his awful performance with runners in scoring position and two outs.  Dunn can muscle the ball, no doubt, but in clutch situations he’s not delivering the way that other sluggers have. In the seventh, they’d get back-to-back singles from Pudge and Willy Harris, but pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez would ground into a double play and Roger Bernadina would fly out to end the effort. That would be all they could look at as they slumped off the field after dropping a 5-0 loss to Florida.

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Sports Fix
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117th Ranked Nalbandian Wins Title


David Nalbandian by Max Cook

AUGUST 8, by Paula Schumann

Even before the two finalists walked onto the court, chants of “Ole Ole David” could be heard from the highest seats in the Stadium Court, and the Argentine flags were waving.  It appeared that we had a crowd favorite. 28 year old David Nalbandian (ARG), who is ranked 117th and came into the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on a wild card, was about to face Marcos Baghdatis (CYP), age 25 with a ranking of 25, in the singles final.  Nalbandian’s ranking had dropped after not playing for nine months due to hip surgery, and being out again for two month
this summer with a hamstring injury.

After the obligatory photo ops and hand shaking, the coin was tossed and Baghdatis was the first to serve.  It was broken and Nalbandian went on to serve and held for an early lead at 2-0.  Both players continued to dazzle the crowd, Nalbandian with his whip-like forehands and Baghdatis with his adeptness at the net.  Despite some double faults at key points, Nalbandian began to dictate play and finished off the set at 6-2 in 53 min.  As people got up from their seats you could tell what everyone was thinking….this won’t last long.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Bagdatis/Nalbandian to Meet in Legg Mason Final


Marcos Bagdatis by Max Cook

AUGUST 7, by Paula Schumann

The weather was perfect for tennis on Saturday afternoon at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic as the first semifinal singles match got underway inside the Stadium
Court. Marco Baghdatis (CYP) faced Xavier Malisse (BEL) in a match whose
outcome seemed anyone’s guess. There was no favorite and no underdog.

The stadium was still filling up as the match began with Malisse serving. He
held his serve easily and seemed calm and confident. Baghdatis got off to a shaky start when his service game went to deuce twice before holding. But as
things progressed you could see the two styles of play establish a certain rhythm
that would prevail throughout the match. Mallise played deep from the back of
the court, confident with his seemingly effortless ground strokes, and Baghdatis
worked from inside the baseline, coming in to take points at the net.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Upsets Continue at Legg Mason


Xavier Malisse by Max Cook

AUGUST 6, by Paula Schumann

There were more upsets at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Friday in the quarter final round played during the day session.  After Thursday night’s ousting of Andy Roddick, it seemed like anything could happen, and so it went. First up was Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Xavier Malisse (BEL), winner of Thursday night’s match against John Isner.  They split sets, Malisse taking the first 6-4, and Berdych taking the second 3-6.

In the third set, Berdych showed some signs of coming unglued when he
challenged an in call on a shot by Malisse, which was confirmed in by shot spot.
He continued to argue that the shot spot was clearly wrong.  I heard others from
the crowd voicing the same opinion.  But shot spot rules, so play continued.  He
then regained his composure to serve a 129 mph ace.  Malisse seemed the
calmer of the two despite the occasional double fault and unforced error.  He
wasn’t letting it get under his skin or at least he wasn’t showing it.  He went on
to get an early break and then held his serve.  At 4-1, Berdych held his serve
when the game ended by Malisse mishitting a ball that flew into the upper stands.
Malisse still remained stoic, head down and onto the next game.  Berdych lost
another challenge on his serve, which just seemed to further unravel him.  On
match point he came to the net but his volley went long and Malisse took the set,
6-2, and the match.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Storm Takes Out US Players


Xavier Malisse by Max Cook

AUGUST 5, by Paula Schumann

The skies broke open and the rain came lashing down just as the third round
matches were about to get under way on Thursday afternoon at the Legg Mason
Tennis Classic.  Despite the severe storm, play was able to proceed with the use of
large blowers to dry off the courts.  By around 8 pm, the action got started on
the Stadium Court with John Isner (USA) facing Xavier Mallise (BEL).  Shortly
after, the side courts were dry and it was a night that made choosing where to
be quite difficult.  I took the opportunity to spend some time on the side courts.
Because the rain had thinned out the crowds a bit, it was easy to get up close
and personal.  If you’ve always thought that the only way to see a match is on a
center stadium court, I highly recommend the smaller side courts for witnessing
the intensity and level of exertion of the pros.  I ran into a fellow tennis enthusiast
at one point who said she only likes to sit in the aptly named “sweaty seats”.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Legg Mason Tennis Action


Andy Roddick by Max Cook

AUGUST 3, by Paula Schumann

Second round matches were under way on Tuesday evening at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.  The skies were cloudy but temperature tolerable, a slight reprieve from the otherwise hot and sticky weather of late. The grounds were buzzing with the crowd’s anticipation of seeing local favorite Andy Roddick.

First up on the Stadium Court were two lefties, Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Michael Berrer (GER).  After taking the first set 6-4, Berrer continued to hold on to his lead in the second set, and at 5-3 it looked like it might be all over for Verdasco.  On what seemed like the final game, Berrer served and suddenly Verdasco came alive, taking the game to deuce.  Berrer got the next point by making a shot that clipped the net and fell onto the other side for ad in.  Verdasco won the next two points, seizing the opportunity to break Berrer’s serve.  The crowd, which was solidly behind Verdasco, went wild.  The turn around continued and Verdasco took the second set 7-5. Continue reading →

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: Weekend Hangover Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘213/365’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

Redskins

It’s training camp season again here in Washington, and that means the Redskins are working out in Loudoun County. The big story so far is Albert Haynesworth, who has yet to pass his conditioning test. Thursday last week, the big defensive tackle, would fail the test for the first time. The test is fairly standard for the NFL and consists of two 300-yard shuttle runs where the runner is sprinting 25 yards, making a switchback, and repeating the 25 yard sprint. The standard is: 70 seconds the first time, 3 1/2 minutes of rest, then 73 seconds the second time. What’s controversial here is that Haynesworth did not participate in this summer’s team-run conditioning program. Since Thursday, Haynesworth has taken, and failed, the test twice, and not taken it since Friday, sitting out with a sore knee. Coach Shanahan said Sunday, “There’s no change from yesterday. He’s still sore, [his knee is] irritated. He’s getting treatment, working out. We’ll see if he’s ready to go tomorrow.” Continue reading →

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Nationals, Olsen top Braves 5-3

Scott Olsen on the Mound Thursday
Photo by Cheryl Nichols Nats News Network

Scott Olsen returned to the mound for the Nationals on Thursday afternoon and pitched six solid innings of 2-run ball to notch his first win since May. Olsen had been struggling to the starting rotation after tightness in his shoulder would not abate after a start in late May. Today, none of that was evident, as the hurler would go six full, with velocity reaching the low 90s, which is impressive when you think that he came into Spring Training throwing in the low 80s. After the game, Manager Jim Riggleman would say of Olsen, “He looked good…he kept the ball down, confident with his pitches,” and that’s just what the Nationals needed when they continue to face problems in their starting five. Continue reading →

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Hudson mystifies Nationals, Braves win 3-1

IMG_7508 Peralta.jpg
Photo by Cheryl Nichols, Nationals News Network

The running gag in the postgame press conferences at Nationals Park from Manager Jim Riggleman is that he tends to say something about running into aces, and playing hard ball. Tonight the Nationals did both. They faced the Braves’ ace in Tim Hudson, who went 7 2/3 IP throwing just 96 pitches, and retired seven on strikeouts. Hudson was dominant most of the evening, brushing off the Nats offense with near impunity. The Nats did play hard tonight, but couldn’t generate any offensive action, and made some key defensive mistakes. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Happy Birthday Stephen Strasburg, I Ate A Burger For Ya!

We Love DC would like to wish Stephen Strasburg a happy birthday today. The Nationals phenom pitcher and San Diego native turns 22. Today he’s probably spending the day preparing for his start against the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow but I think he should relax, have some fun, and perhaps celebrate the way I did- by eating one of the many burgers in his namesake.

After a whole adventure on Twitter my fellow co-worker Laura Murphy and I got BGR: The Burger Joint to bring back their Strasburger: a cheeseburger topped with a hot-dog, cheese, and 14 pickles. Today we achieved the lifelong dream of eating the Strasburger and as Laura tweeted: it’s was exactly what a 2.03 ERA tastes like.

So Happy Birthday Stephen, may your future starts be victorious, strikeouts come a-plenty, and Strasbugers taste delicious.

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What will McEnroe do this time?

Photo courtesy of
‘The Serve’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Tonight, the Kastles play host to the New York Sportimes in World Team Tennis at the Kastles tennis court over at 11th and H Street. Last time John McEnroe came down to DC, there was a huge kerfuffle between McEnroe and Kastles’ star Leander Paes, focused around an errant tennis ball’s final resting place. The ensuing bench-clearing incident included McEnroe’s teammate Robert Kendrick calling Kastles’ player Olga Puchkova a bitch. Yeah, it’s an intense time at World Team Tennis.

Anyhow, tonight brings the controversial McEnroe back to DC to face the Kastles. The Kastles need every point they can get at this crucial moment in the season. The team is second in the East, just half a match ahead of the third place Boston Lobsters in a fight for the second playoff spot in the division. A victory tonight would put them within a half match of the Sportimes with just two matches to go, nearly assuring them of post-season action. Tickets are available at the door for tonight’s match, which starts at 7pm. Your guess is as good as ours as to what will happen when McEnroe takes the court tonight. What’s the craziest that could happen?