Friday, July 11, 2008

Is the new home the same as the old one?

Few area college basketball players were more productive than George Mason’s Will Thomas and Georgetown’s Jonathan Wallace.
Both started four years. And both keyed their team’s respective runs to the NCAA Final Four — Thomas was Chevrolet Player of the Game against Michigan State and Connecticut during GMU’s Cinderella run in 2006. Wallace hit the key 3-pointer in the Hoyas’ Elite Eight win over North Carolina in 2007.
But the NBA Draft came and went and neither heard his name.
Now both have renewed hope as they try to catch on with the hometown Wizards. They have been working out this week at Verizon Center, trying to make the Wizards’ summer league roster. Washington will play five games in Las Vegas, July 14-20.
“It’s a shot,” said Thomas, a 6-7 forward, who starred at Mount St. Joe’s in Baltimore. “They know I can play defense and rebound. I have to show them I can shoot from the perimeter.”
Thomas, considered by scouts too small to play the four and not skilled enough to play the three, wasn’t surprised to be passed over. He had already signed a “tentative contract” to play with Liege, Belgium. He said the Wizards were the only NBA team that contacted his agent, Anthony Hilliard, after the draft.
“I want to keep playing basketball, no question,” Thomas told The Examiner’s Kevin Dunleavy. “If it’s here, or in Europe, I want to be a professional basketball player.”
Wallace, a 6-1 guard who worked out with 12 NBA teams before the draft, has more options. He has been accepted to Georgetown Law School, but will request a deferral, according to agent David Bauman, who said Wallace could wind up in the NBA Development League or Europe.
“Jonathan wants to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA,” said Bauman. “The NBDL is an option, but there’s also a chance to go to Europe, and the money is good there.”


The local fans flock together

Dec. 7th is a long time away before Ravens and Redskins fans see Battle of the Beltways superiority played out at M&T Bank Stadium.
Until then, it appears that Baltimore again has the upper-leg on the District. In an online fan-voting contest conducted by CBS Sportsline, the Ravens’ mascot Poe was tabbed as the top mascot in the NFL on Monday.
And who did the American Football Conference champion face off against in the mascot Super Bowl? None other than Chief Z, the Redskins’ costume-wearing, rubber tomahawk wielding super fan.
The voting was close, but the 16th-seeded Poe edged-out eighth-seeded Chief Z, 52 percent to 48 percent.
Poe even resorted to a little smack-talking before the final, writing an e-mail to CBS Sportsline: “I am not worried at all. I mean, I’m going up against a man that wears a dress. It may be a head dress, but nonetheless, it is still a dress.
“I’m just an old, what you call a No. 1 fan for the people,” Chief Z said. “If he wants a battle let’s do it. It’s all in good fun. It ain’t no problem, I’m ready for it.”


GOOD IDEA, BAD IDEA

GOOD IDEA » More talking from Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner and not his loudmouth brother Hank. Hal admitted disappointment in his team’s play this season, but remains reluctant to trade away his team’s young talent. How refreshing.

BAD IDEA » Any MLB team out of contention that hesitates to move an impending big-name free agent. The Orioles knew pitcher Erik Bedard would be a tough sign and received a haul for him last offseason that sped up their rebuilding program.

GOOD IDEA » For new Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia to put their feud aside and settle on his $4 million buyout. Rodriguez will reportedly pay $1.5M and the school $2.5M.

BAD IDEA » Comparing anybody to Tiger Woods. As impressive as Anthony Kim’s performance has been this year let’s hold the over-the-top plaudits until he beats a healthy Woods head-to-head.

GOOD IDEA » For the Nationals to make a bold move — either at the trade deadline or in the offseason. Horrendous television ratings don’t lie. This isn’t a team area fans care to watch. The front office needs to give them a reason to tune in.

BAD IDEA » The addition of Boston catcher Jason Varitek to the American League All-Star team. He’s had a fine career and been a tremendous leader. But he doesn’t belong anywhere near an All-Star team with a .215 batting average.


COLUMN INCHES

Opinions from around the nation on the hottest topics in sports:

» Brett Favre seems like he wants to parachute back into the NFL. They ought to be drawing a big “X” in the middle of the Dolphins’ huddle and coaxing him to a soft landing right here in Miami. (Dear Brett: You may have heard. Our weather is somewhat kinder to old bones than Green Bay’s. We average about one inch of light snow every 35 or 40 years down here. And don’t worry about that pay cut you’d probably have to take. We lead the nation in retiree-pleasing Early Bird specials.)

— Greg Cote pondering a Dolphins’ pitch to Brett Favre, should the retired star decide to return to the NFL. (Miami Herald)


» Dear Philly: You just stabbed me in the back, but I couldn’t be happier. Let me explain. I’ve been an L.A. Clippers season-ticket holder for the past decade, but I’m a lifelong Sixers fan, born across the Walt Whitman in Woodbury and raised on shopping-cart pretzels, Chocolate Thunder freestyles, and the chill-inducing pipes of Dave Zinkoff.

— Michael Ferraro, Philadelphia native — but Los Angeles resident — on the loss of forward Elton Brand to the 76ers.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)


» Cubdom will be watching, all right, focusing cautiously on [Rich] Harden’s cranky right shoulder. But make no mistake, the newcomer is merely the yin to the yang of Carlos Zambrano, who always will be considered the pitching savior in any ongoing World Series scenario.

— Jay Mariotti on the health of Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, who is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA since returning from the DL last Friday. (Chicago Sun-Times)


BY THE NUMBERS

50 » Million-dollar contract for four years that IF Richie Sexson signed with the Seattle Mariners before the 2005 season. Sexson was released yesterday after batting .218 with 11 home runs.

1912 » The year Tiger Stadium opened in Detroit. Nine years after closing for good, the city has finally razed the physical structure. Officials say the playing field, however, will be preserved.

ON THE RECORD

“I just couldn’t get my arm up. … I wouldn’t throw right. It’s like a tease because you think everything’s OK.”

— St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder, who left his first start of the season Wednesday with shoulder pain and was placed on the 15-day DL. Mulder has had two shoulder surgeries since September.


“At some point, maybe I would sell the team, but not now. Whatever happens in the future, I can assure you one thing: The Jaguars are going to be the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

— Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver, denying reports his team was for sale and could move to Los Angeles.