By Katie
Hailing from Winchester, Virginia, Devon McTavish grew up watching DC United play soccer, and has early memories of his Dad getting lost in the twisted DC streets near the White House. So if any DC United player loves DC, it would be Devon, our quasi-hometown boy. He and I grabbed drinks at Whitlows, and I grilled him on his favorite places around DC, his toughest game this season, and what he does in the community. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘jumping in vain’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Gene Wojchiechowski of ESPN thinks we could all do without the Nats, putting them atop the list of 50 Things We Can Do Without in Sports. Now, the Nationals are bad, and I’ll admit that they’re on their way to eclipsing the 1962 Mets for the worst single season record of all time, but really? We have a beautiful stadium here now, and we’re supposed to ditch the team? For what?
Well, that got me thinking:
What do you think we should do?
By Max
Murphy Jensen by Max
The inaugural season of the Washington Kastles, DC’s very own World TeamTennis team, was wildly successful, selling 94% of their seats and all of their boxes, an amazing feat by any standards. In response to this great demand, their second season proves to be even bigger and better. The Kastles Stadium (currently under construction) will again be located in the heart of downtown on the corner of 11th & H Streets NW, will be expanded to nearly 3,000 seats, and will also host an additional “marquee player game” as well as the WTT Championship Finals. The icing on the cake however is the addition of their new head coach, ex pro and TV personality, Murphy Jensen.
I had a chance to sit down with Jensen to discuss what he hopes to bring to the team this season. If you know anything about Murphy and his exuberant, gung ho personality, it may come as no surprise that interviewing him was like herding cats. Cats on a Red Bull diet. What I’d imagined to be a well executed, fifteen minute set of questions and answers, turned into an hour long chat with one of the most high energy individuals I’ve ever met. During our conversation we covered topics ranging from his excitement to be a part of the Kastles, his comedy travel show Murphy’s Guide, his advice on shaving your head, the first time he drove a Porsche, playing tennis with “41”, and of course what he loves about DC. Many of his responses were as if they came from a politician in that they were long-winded and never really answered my question, but in the end I left the Kastles office thinking to myself, “That is one awesome dude.”
By Tom Bridge
‘jumping in vain’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Capitals
If you missed Ben’s season wrap-up last week, be sure to check it out. Though the Caps lost a lopsided Game 7 to the Penguins, who’ve gone on to mostly obliterate the Hurricanes (meaning very possibly we could’ve had the Caps in the Stanley Cup finals if they’d shown up for Game 7…) it was a fantastic season where there is much to cheer for.
Nationals
Record: 13-30
Last Two Weeks: 3-11
Place: Last in the NL East, 11.5 games out of first, 6 games back of fourth.
They’re still bad. But it’s getting better. The Nats moved the wildest pitcher in the modern era, Daniel Cabrera, to the bullpen where he won’t do as much harm, or where his harm can be properly directed, and replaced him with Craig Stammen in the starting rotation. If you went, “Wait, who?” you’re not alone. The Nats now have four rookies and a second year in their starting five. Pretty crazy. What they need now is some defense. And some relief pitching. The Nats lead the league in errors with well over 40. That’s the kind of total good ballclubs have in September, or for all season, not in May.
By AcaciaO
More likely than not, for girls who grew up with a glove on one hand, sliding to makeshift bases and picking at knee-scabs, at some point there was a shift. It went something like this: around the time you started liking boys, you stopped playing ball side-by-side with them. They put the awkwardly hefty softball in your hand where a whiffle or hard ball used to be, and you became a softball player. The women of the Eastern Women’s Baseball Conference (EWBC) however, along with women across the country, are finding their niche playing the great American pasttime.
This weekend, the EWBC hosts the Baltimore-Washington Diamond Classic Women’s Baseball Tournament. The tournament will showcase the best in women’s amateur baseball on the eastern seaboard and beyond, in what EWBC hopes will be a springboard for future growth and success.
By Ben H. Rome
‘090127 Alex Ovechkin’ courtesy of ‘Dan4th’
So Wednesday night saw the end of what could arguably be the best Caps season in recent history. Despite the letdown of Game 7, Caps fans – diehards and bandwagoners alike – can walk away with heads held high.
Should I remind you why?
1. Alexander Ovechkin. Every year, he gets better. From his exuberant celebrations (Don Cherry be damned) to his wide, gap-toothed smile, to his on- and off-ice passion, he is Mr. Caps Hockey. Does he still have more to learn? Honestly, yes. But he’s young, he’s talented, and he’s willing. It’s only going to get better from here, so settle in and enjoy the ride.
By Tom Bridge
‘Rock the Red’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Capitals
2nd Round: 2-3, facing Game 6 on Monday night in Pittsburgh.
It’s down to the raggedy edge again for the Caps. After starting 2-0 against the Penguins, the Pens have picked up 3 running, two of them in Overtime. The Caps are short on momentum right now, and that may well be their undoing. Ovechkin has been en fuego, and leads the NHL in post-season goals, but a pair of costly mistakes have cost the Caps their lead on the series.
Tonight, they’ll face elimination in Pittsburgh, much as they faced it two weeks ago in New York. Varlamov will need to be superlative, and the Caps will have to play aggressive & razor-sharp hockey. The good news is, Brashear’s coming off the bench after the end of his suspension, so that’ll return some hard-hitting power to the Caps’ side. The puck drops at 7pm, and can be seen on Versus. C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS! Endanger the Penguins!
Nationals
Record: 10-19
Last Two Weeks: 6-6
Place: Last in the NL East
Well, we’re still the worst team in major league baseball. But, in the last two weeks, the Nats have played a lot better than their opening two weeks. Shairon Martis has been pretty much amazing, his last outing with a 5-hit complete game over the Cardinals last week. Jordan Zimmermann’s still 2-1, and though his ERA is over 5, he’s still got a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio. And, of course, mid-season number-one-draft-pick-to-be Stephen Strasburg threw a no-hitter last week against Air Force. If the Nats can get together with a decent deal with Scott Boras, he’ll be up and pitching in DC by the end of the summer. Ryan Zimmerman’s got a 28-game hitting streak as it stands right now, as well. Get that up to 30 games and maybe he’ll get the credit he’s due. The Nats have three more games on the road against the Giants before coming home for a long homestand. Just think, 9 more wins and they’re at .500.
Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘Ovechkin and Malkin, Friends at Last, Friends at Last’ courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
I’m in hockey nirvana.
When the NHL playoffs were finally set, one of the first things many fans here and in Pennsylvania did was figure out when and if the Capitals would actually face the Pittsburgh Penguins during hockey’s “second season.” It was a bit convoluted to work around, since both teams were highly seeded, and it looked – for about a week – that this year wouldn’t see the match-up we all secretly wanted (and dreaded). But then the Caps figured out they were actually in the playoffs and executed a very stressful and tense comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to stuff the Rangers.
And when Carolina shocked New Jersey with two quick goals in the last two minutes of their own Game 7, it was as if the hockey planets aligned. The match-up the NHL slobbered for had arrived.
Penguins. Capitals. Eastern Conference Semifinals.
And it promises to be one extremely wild, crazy, emotional ride for both cities. Find out why after the jump. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘090127 Fedorov’
courtesy of ‘Dan4th’
Big night for Sergei Fedorov, who put in a beautiful goal with just 5 minutes remaining in the 3rd to sink to the Rangers and send the Caps onward to the 2nd round of the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 1998. I’m not sure what exactly Coach said to the Caps in the 2nd intermission, but I suspect it was the kind of pep talk that involved biting the head off a bat or something.
Looks like we’ll be facing the Pens in the second round. Sorry Ben Rome, your boys are going DOWN!
By Tom Bridge
How’s that for some sweet victory?
The Nats beat the Mets, 8-1 on the stellar pitching performance by rookie Jordan Zimmerman (now 2-0), and off the bats of Jesus Flores and Austin Kearns. The usually virile bats of the Mets were struck dumb by Zimmerman for almost 6 innings, and then kept quiet by Hinckley, Mock and Wells for the rest of the game. The Nats are still not that great at 4-13, but we’ll talk more about that tomorrow on Sports Fix.
The Caps forced game 7 against the Rangers today, which will be played on Tuesday at the Phone Booth. The Caps have won two straight against the Rangers, both routs, and they looked as good as you’d hope going into a final winner-take-all matchup. Simeon Varlamov had 29 saves, and is at 90% plus for Save Pct. Not bad for a guy who didn’t start much at all this season.
DC United edged the Red Bulls 3-2, in a real nail-biter. DC United lead 1-0 at the Half, but the Red Bulls scored two goals in the middle of the second half, and the situation looked very dire for the boys in black. It wasn’t all lost, though, as Luciano Emilio scored in the final minute of the game to tie the match at 2. I was content to think we’d pull out a tie and save the point, but Chris Pontius had other ideas, and put a right-foot shot into the upper corner of the goal with just seconds on the clock to capture the win for United.
What’s that, New York? Is that the sound of crying I hear? Perhaps gnashing of teeth for ruining your weekend? Excellent. Just what were going for.
By Tom Bridge
‘Capitol – In Pre-Dawn Light – 3-9-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’
Tomorrow pits the best of DC sports against the best of New York sports:
So, who’s for taking down those feckless thugs in New York? Bring the spirit DC! See you at the sports bars!
By Ben H. Rome
‘Ovechkin Waits For Puck’ courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
After one of their most successful regular seasons ever, the Washington Capitals are now ready to begin what many call the “real” hockey season: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tonight kicks off Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, with the second seed Caps holding home ice advantage in facing the seventh seed New York Rangers. So how does it all break down, and what do we think will happen?
The Rangers are coming in with a simplified game plan: attack, attack, attack – and hope that goalie Henrik Lundqvist can stop all the pucks flung his way. It’s not the most sure-fire strategy, but it’s kept the Rangers hanging on the last half of the season and slipping them into the playoffs with a decent 11-6-1 record after March 4. Continue reading
By Don
‘Nate W.’
courtesy of ‘MikeWas’
Today’s Washington Post has a story on a now-annual jerk contest over box seats in National’s Stadium. In brief, the city gets tickets to all the games and, according to WaPo, one box goes to the mayor and the other to the council, via the Sports and Entertainment Commission. The Nationals have delivered the tickets to Mayor Fenty directly, however, and he’s handing them out to his liking.
However if you look at the lease agreement as I found it[pdf], however, neither scenario is how it’s supposed to unfold and there’s more going on here. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Toothpick’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Lastings Milledge was supposed to be the answer for the Nationals in the Outfield. Unless the question was, “So, who are we overpaying for their undisciplined services?” Milledge wasn’t it. So, he’s been optioned to Syracuse, on the heels of Tom Boswell’s suggestion that they do exactly that. Is Boz a candidate for the GM position? Maybe he should be.
By Tom Bridge
‘Slapshot Flies the Flag’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
Capitals
Record: 50-24-8
Last Two Weeks: 5-2
Place: Won the Southeast, Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference
The Playoffs have returned to the Verizon Center’s Ice, and the Caps will be hosting the NY Rangers for the first round of the Stanley Cup. Thanks to the Caps’ 2nd place finish, they’ll have home-ice advantage down to the Conference finals, and perhaps then, depending on if first-seed Boston is still playing. Tickets go on sale shortly after the schedule’s set, with games probably starting as early as Saturday this week.
The Caps finished the year against the Rangers at 3-1, losing the one game in a Shoot-out. The Rangers are 3-3 in their last two weeks of the season, with losses to Carolina and Boston.
Wizards
Record: 19-61
Last Two Weeks: 2-5
Place: Last. Still. Always.
Two games remain for the Wizards. Two chances to get a win and beat out the 2000-2001 season’s awful record of 19-63. But, they’re facing #2 Boston, followed by Toronto. It’s a bit tough to see the guys going 21-61, but perhaps 20-62? Either way, an atrocious season for the Wizards, largely due to the absence of Agent 0, or perhaps a coaching deficit. Any way you look at this season, it’s fractally bad. Here’s hoping with a decent draft pick, and some off-season practice, they might be a halfway decent team come the Fall. That’s about all you can hope for, I’m afraid.
By Tom Bridge
I wait for this day, every year. Baseball sleeps deep in me each winter, and its return is one I celebrate like a friend who’s come home after a long sojourn. Today marks Opening Day, and I’ll spare you long speeches (but, if you want one, you can read mine) about the game, or its teams. The O’s and Nats both start their seasons today. The Nats play on the road at 4:10pm, today, against the Marlins in Florida, and The Orioles play their home opener (weather permitting…) against the Yankees at Camden at 4:05pm.
Welcome back, Baseball, glad you’re here.
By Tom Bridge
‘00001201’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’
Wizards
Record: 17-59
Last Two Weeks: 1-8
Place: Last. Still and Always.
It’s nice to see that Gilbert Arenas is back off the bench and in uniform again, but I’ve got to ask: shouldn’t we let him wait so we can guarantee a #1 draft pick? I mean, it was great to see him on the court on Saturday, putting up 15 points and 10 assists at the Phone Booth, but shouldn’t we be conserving at this point? I don’t mean throw in the towel and throw the games, but c’mon. Let Agent 0 play in the summer leagues, don’t risk our draft pick, okay?
Just six games left for the Wizards, and I think it’s safe to say we’ve seen just about the worst performance in years. If they take 3 of the last 6 games, they’ll tie for the worst record in the 36 years they’re been here in DC. I’d put good money that they don’t win more than 2. Sad.
Capitals
Record: 47-23-7
Last Two Weeks: 4-2-1
Place: 2nd in the East, 1st in the Southeast
The Caps have clinched their playoff spot, and with just 5 games left in the season, it’s all about jockeying for opponents in the first round. As it stands, the Caps would face the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs, a team they’re 3-1 against this season, outscoring them 14-11. In the unlikely event they finish in third, they’d be facing Carolina, who they’re more evenly matched with.
Can Ovi lead the Caps to the Stanley Cup? We’ll see.
By Tom Bridge
‘For Two’
courtesy of ‘brmurray’
The hopes were not high for American, seeded at #14, and up against NCAA
Powerhouse #3 Villanova, but here they are, exceeding expectations massively. Halfway through their first round game, they’re up on ‘Nova 41-31. I’m going to repeat that, because it’s not a typo: American is beating Villanova by ten at the half. Tell your friends. Cinderella’s bucking for a night on the town.
Update: Ten minutes remain and they’re still up by 8. Hang tight, Eagles!
Update 2: Three minutes to go, and now AU is down by 5. Time to get back in the game, Eagles! Gotta make it count!
Update 3: And it’s over. AU can’t hold on to a halftime lead, and goes down in the first round.
By Tom Bridge
The Terps are putting on a pretty decent show against Cal here in the first round of the Big Dance here. They’re up 74-59 with just over 4 minutes to go, and they’ve been nothing short of excellent in their first showing. Here’s to the 10-7 upset!!
Update: There it is, the Terps go on! 84-71 is the final. Congrats!
By AcaciaO
‘20080220_2740’
courtesy of ‘vcheeseman’
I love this time of year — there’s a buzz, an excitement, a renewed fervor, a sense of possibility and hope for overcoming impossible odds. That’s right folks, the 2009 NCAA basketball tournaments are back! Granted, I liked it a lot more when I had 2 weeks’ Spring Break that fell exactly during the first two rounds – glorious days of non-stop basketball – but, we deal. And if need-be, we use sick days.
Most of the games (men’s and women’s) are on CBS (listings here including who is announcing so you can avoid Clark Kellogg) or the ESPN channels (listings here). The games are viewable through ESPN360.com and CBSsportsline.com I believe.
District Pride! Who do we have? Let’s see about the contenders…
Ladies First. Round 1 at College Park, MD – the Comcast Center (whatwhat!) Continue reading
