When I Grow Up

I’m going to be a blogger for the Redskins

Check it out — The Redskins Blog
Congrats to Matt Terl

Jason Taylor Now Spinning for the Skins

Former Dancing with the Stars contestant and six-time Pro Bowl defensive end, Jason Taylor, is now a Washington Redskin. Don’t let the dance twirls fool you, Taylor was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The D.C. Sports Page: The Tuna Sends Taylor Dancing to the Redskins

Jason Taylor now plays for the Washington Redskins. Taylor was traded for the 2009 second round pick and the 2010 sixth round pick. This appears to be a great deal especially since he told the Redskins that he did not need to renegotiate his contract and would play it out with the two years remaining on it.

Agent Zero Around the World

Agent Zero: Everybody Should Visit Manila

I came out of a quick retirement for this blog. I wanted to announce that I’m happy to remain a Washington Wizard.
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Wizards fans, go ahead and renew your tickets. We got the team back, we’re going to be healthy and I don’t know what the slogan is for next year, so I can’t say it. Before I could say like “Ready to Rule” or “Go All In,” but they haven’t told me the new one yet, so I can’t say it.

Gilbert Arenas then tells us of his travels to Beiging, Hong Kong, Manila, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.

Agent Zero also has advice for Pauly Shore:

Just remember people, if you want to feel like a king and feel like a star, you know where to go: Manila. So, Pauly Shore, after you finish reading this, you head to Manila to jumpstart your career, baby. You’ll be back in the business, baby. You’ll be doing Jury Duty 2 in no time.

While Your Gas Prices Went Up Last Night, Lawmakers Played Baseball

The 307th annual Congressional Geriatric baseball game took place last night at Nats stadium.  And for what seems like the 25th year in a row, the Democrats lost.

And how do we know they lost?  The House GOP covered the victory via Twitter and 10 exclamation points.

From GOP Conference Twitterberry: Celebrating the GOP’s win!!!!!!!!!!

We have no idea what this victory means - but it’s always good to see old people getting excited about meaningless victories - like passing legislation on renaming the latest post office.

UPDATE: A tipster tells us at last night’s game Rep. Tom Price helped treat a guy who got hit by a bat while in his seat in the stands. It’s unclear as to which athletically prone lawmaker let a bat fly into the stands.  Email us a tips@famousdc.com if you know the answer.

UPDATE: Rep. Chip Pickering was the one who let the bat fly.

2008 Chris Cooley Beard Growing Contest

What else would an All-Pro NFL TE announce on his blog after a summer of marrying a cheerleader and hanging with Dale Earnhardt, Jr?

The Cooley Zone: 2008 Beard Growing Contest:

Well, only five days before training camp and I’ve been trying to get in the right mindset, but it’s tough! It seems like if I can do something stupid or silly it makes it easier to get through some of the days. I pulled off the long hair, I wore the shorts, there is always a couple sharpie tatoo days but now I’m ready for a new adventure…Greatest facial hair of training camp is going to be this years motif. After leaving Wyoming for my summer vacation I came home with quite a start on my new project. It’s been a little over two weeks since I’ve shaved and I’m as proud as I can be! One thing about my little endeavors is that it is much more fun if I can have a partner in crime, or as many participants as possible. So I’ve decided to start the Chris Cooley Beard Growing Contest.

Need a Role Model?

Every now and then something happens in sports that reminds us all that sometimes those Nike and Gatorade commercials can be real.

If you didn’t see what Josh Hamilton did last night at the MLB home run derby, you missed out.

A former first round draft pick in 1999, Josh left baseball to concentrate on drugs and alcohol, came back to baseball to play with the Texas Rangers, made the All-Star game this year, and had a 71 year old volunteer from his childhood in Cary, NC throw to him during the home run derby. Oh, and then he set the record with 28 home runs in the first round.

Yankee stadium was chanting his name and only booed when Big Papi came out to talk with him (You gotta love NYC fans).

Congratulations to Josh on his road back and WOW, thank you for the show.

Dear Football

Please come back….soon. These days a Brett Favre text message will lead off SportsCenter for three days and we’re tired of reading about A-rod. We need end zone dances, QB sacks, fantasy football drafts and Monday Night Football.

We hope to see you soon.
- FamousDC

Change You Can Take to the Race Track

Obama to Sponsor a NASCAR car?

Nah, not so much according to the L.A. Times:

The Barack Obama campaign has reportedly declined the proposal of BAM Racing to be hood sponsor of the No. 49 Toyota driven by Ken Schrader at the Aug. 3 Pocono race.

Did You Do Anything Embarrassing Over the Weekend?

Sunday’s Playbook:

SPOTTED - Doug Heye, doing the Macarena on the Jumbotron at Nationals Park.

Money Bags Agent Zero

Gilbert Arenas makes it official, signs six-year, $11 million deal with Wizards on Sunday.

Congratulations to Agent Zero and the Wizards. We’re glad to see local teams spend big money to keep our superstars in D.C.

Pollin-Grunfeld 08

Ivan Carter: Agent Zero $111 Million Staying in D.C.

“I looked at like this: There is nothing I can do for my family with $127 million that I can’t do with $111 million,” said Gilbert Arenas, who was offered the maximum salary allowed to stay with the Wizards. “I mean, college is expensive but it ain’t that dang expensive. Now, we have room to add a piece. There is a window of opportunity for us. Adding key pieces leads to championships and that’s what we all want.”

Washington sports teams locked up long term deals with Chris Cooley, Ovechkin, Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison — all in the same year. Championships are right around the corner.

However, Mike Wilbon thinks the jury is still out.

Isn’t it just fabulous, Gilbert Arenas putting aside his own basic needs to sacrifice for the greater good of Washington and the Wizards by accepting $111 million instead of $127 million? How unbelievably heroic can one man be? It’s not like the $16 million surplus will allow the Wizards to go get Elton Brand, too. It will allow the Wizards to keep a couple of their own guys and not pay a big luxury tax. Whoop-de-doo!

Hat tip - Extreme Mortman: Gil-llionaire

How Are You Spending Recess?

Chris Cooley marries a cheerleader and hangs out with Dale Jr. during the offseason. Suddenly that margarita at Tortilla Coast doesn’t look as cool.

Shutdown Corner: The Cooley Zone: A Day at the Track with Dale Junior

I spent the morning getting into the track, trying to convince Sandra in the TNT trailer that I really did play for the Redskins and that my name was supposed to be on the credential list. She said I wasn’t big enough to be a football player, and then laughed at me when I said I was supposed to head over to Earnhardt’s trailer. To her I was just another fan, but I noticed that of the other male fans that morning, keeping my shirt on was definitely a distinction. After a few calls and a couple different trailer visits I made it through the gates.
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Lindsay Czarniak gave me a quick tour of the track and the garages. It’s amazing to me how much is going on the Friday before a race. What really surprised me was that if you made it to the pit you’re privy to everything going on. Crews were working like crazy, guys were pushing cars around everywhere, and even the drivers were walking around. It would be comparable to a huge NFL locker room, but two days before a game. The thing is, no one gets into our locker rooms before a game, so it was great to be in theirs.

Congratulations to Lindsey Czarniak on her new gig covering NASCAR.

You can watch the Lindsey, Dale Jr, Chris Cooley interview here.

Antawn Jamison Staying in DC

Now the Wiz-kids need to lock down Agent Zero.

Ivan Carter: Jamison Re-Signs for 4 Years, $50M

Cooley Trades Autographs for Trash Pick-Up

Yes folks, even million dollar NFL players have to take out the trash.  [with pics]

I’m also working on the trading autographs for the dumping costs. Our agreement hasn’t worked out yet, but I feel good about it in the near future. My negotiating skills are too good and I feel like my auto’s are in high demand at the dump. All in all I manage to make a dump trip in less than half an hour. I defiantly don’t love it, but it’s a mandatory chore.

Harry-Chested Men Need Not Apply

As if the Washington Nationals baseball team needed any more distractions - now they have one…

The Nation’s Capital has a new baseball stadium - and a terrible baseball team - which surprises no one. And even though the park is a great place to watch a last place team, attendance sucks. Again, not a surprise.

So, what do you do if you’re a major league franchise and you need to spike attendance numbers?

Well, you begin by reprimanding your best fans.  How?  Right when they take off their shirt and kick back to drink their $12 beer they just bought- you swoop in and threaten to dismiss them if they don’t put their shirt back on.

As if this team of misery could afford any less fans…

From the Sports Bog:

I chatted with Nats VP of Communications Chartese Burnett today; she first referred me to the team’s Guest Code of Conduct, which speaks of creating “a family entertainment environment” and includes the following bullet point: “Obscene or indecent clothing will not detract from the guest experience.” (”Displays of affection not appropriate in a public, family setting” are also against the rules, which may or may not limit post-home run bum patting among the players.)

The PR nightmare gets worse, especially when asked if hairy-chested men are considered obscene or indecent?

“I mean, yeah, I guess,” Burnett said. “People are offended if you have pink hair….

Dear Nats Front office,

We think, I’m mean, we guess, uh, you should consider the rule of holes in this particular instance - which is, when you’re in one, stop digging.

-FDC

Tiger, Tiger Woods Y’all

Tiger and My GM Candidacy

Even when he’s not trying to, Tiger dominates the headlines. His Monday playoff against Rocco Mediate slowed traffic on Wall Street faster than Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren would while walking down Fifth Avenue. Trading volume on Wall Street was off 9.2% versus the past 30 days while the U.S. Open’s Monday playoff was going on.

But, why did everyone’s TV go black during his putt?

UPDATE:  Tiger reportedly to miss rest of season.

DC United Haters Converted

Sports Illustrated’s soccer hater, Chris Mannix, spent five days with hard core soccer fans to address the usual complaints against soccer. He walked away a believer.

His first outing was with DC United’s La Barra Brava.

Chris Mannix: Are You Like Me? (I bet you are) I Bet You Hate SOCCER:

COMPLAINT NO. 1
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American Fans Lack Passion
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Two weeks ago, if you’d asked me about La Barra Brava, I would have guessed it was a Latin boy band. Turns out, with over 1,000 members representing more than 30 countries, the Barra is considered MLS’s largest, most diverse and most rabid fan group. Great, I thought when I learned I’d be hanging out with them in Washington, D.C., for United’s game against the Houston Dynamo on June 4. The David Hasselhoff fan club.
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My first indication to the contrary came well before kickoff. A driving rain had turned a four-hour trip from Manhattan into six, and I was beginning to wonder if I’d get to see my first soccer game at all. I texted Rob Gillespie, one of Barra’s elders, to confirm that the pregame tailgate had been washed out. His answer was succinct: rain or shine.
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It’s amazing what Barra members can do during a tornado watch. They can eat, even when their rolls have turned to mush and the charcoal flames are reduced to a flicker. They can drink, even if their keg cups contain less beer than monsoon. And they can sing. Oh, can they sing. First Vamos United. Then the Barra Brava song. Soon I’m frantically scrolling through my BlackBerry for the lyrics and singing along — it’s addictive.
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The Barra takes advantage of a break in the rain to head into RFK Stadium. Rather than seek refuge beneath the overhanging stands members march directly to their section at midfield. They cluster together behind a massive black banner, even though the stadium isn’t lacking for seating. As the players emerge, the chants begin again. Everyone on Houston sucks. The refs suck. Cobi Jones sucks. (Never mind that Jones, I learn, played in L.A., retired last year and is not in attendance.)
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After 16 minutes the referees deem the field unplayable and wave the teams out of the muck. The Barra doesn’t move. When lightning strikes in the distance, the P.A. announcer tells fans to take cover in the concourse. The Barra chants louder. Only after a personal request from a United official does the Barra relent. An hour later the game is suspended. A few angry Barra members storm the flooded field and are escorted out. The rest leave on their own, hurling profanities.
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As I wade back to the van, water spills from my sneakers at every step. I should be miserable, but I’m not. I’m smiling. American soccer fans are great. If only there were a few more of them.

For the US football fans — US crushes Barbados

Sunday Sports

The amount of sports today is kind of scary. I am going to break it down for you. (All times are Eastern)

2:00 Final Round of the US Open at Torrey Pines. NBC

2:00 College World Series on ESPN. Honestly, I am not going to watch this. I just figured I should add it. Fresno St. vs. Rice.

2:30 Czech Republic vs. Turkey on ESPN 2. Final group game of Euro 2008

2:30 Portugal vs. Switzerland on ESPN Classic. Same as above. Best soccer player in the world, Christiano Ronaldo, plays for Portugal.

4:30 Tiger tees off at the US Open. This is a must watch round. Don’t miss it. If he can bring over anything from his round yesterday then it should be one for the ages.

5:00 USA vs Barbados on ESPN2 Opening of World Cup Qualifying. 19 year old Freddie Adu should get some pt and may be a factor in the game. (I want you to count how many times Landon Donovan “almost” does something. I think he is a little overrated)

7:00 More college baseball on ESPN 2. LSU vs. North Carolina. Still not going to watch.

8:00 Braves vs. Angels on ESPN Chipper Jones is chasing .400 It could be fun to say you watched him play on the same day as all these other events.

9:00 Celtics vs. Lakers on ABC Boston leads series 3-1. I expect Kobe to dominate to cap off a great day.

MACHINE: Sasha Vujacic-”THE MACHINE” Gm.3 vs. Celtics- Lakers-Fan.com

Ain’t No Party Like a Santana Moss Party

WaPo: Moss, Gathering Guests for His 29th

The latest must-have for pro athletes: A big, blowout birthday party. Gilbert Arenas shared his 25th with 7,500 friends at Love nightclub, Caron Butler brought in Carmen Electra for his 28th at the Park, and now Santana Moss marks his 29th with a weekend of high-profile bashes.
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“The parties are all going to be off the chain,” Moss told us. “The theme for the weekend is, ‘Party till you drop.’ “

Another Reason to Love Some Chris Coooooooley

Chris Cooley had his groomsmen play Guitar Hero before he exchanged his wedding vows. He should write a book.

WaPo: An Extra Hitch in a Wedding Day Game Plan

Chris Cooley and Christy Oglevee’s wedding Friday started off with one of those awkward delays — you know, where people start wondering if it’s one of those left-at-the-altar situations. The groom finally appeared to explain to the 200 guests at Lansdowne Resort that the minister was running late: “Everything’s still on,” Cooley reassured them. “Everything’s okay.” Soon afterward, the Redskins tight end, 25, and former Redskins cheerleader, 23, exchanged vows.
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Captain Chaos spent most of the day pacing, reports best man Tanner Cooley, while the groomsmen played Guitar Hero and backyard football — but once Cooley slipped on his white suit and pink tie (matching the bouquet and bridesmaids’ dresses) everything went almost as planned: first dance to Bryan Adams’s“Heaven,” sung by the bride’s father, Scott Oglevee, the wedding cake a four-tier pink confection, tons of dancing and late-late-night karaoke.

Cooley Will Hear About This in the Locker Room

WaPo: Chris Cooley, Tackled by True Love

Captain Chaos is settling down! Redskins tight end Chris Cooley will marry former Redskins cheerleader Christy Oglevee tonight in Loudoun County.
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“I’m crazy about her,” Cooley, 25, told us yesterday. “She’s the most influential person in my life. We’re extremely good friends as well as in love.”

Chris, we’ll always love you, but why did you let her dress you for this photo? You better start standing up now, or you’ll be wearing this crap for the rest of your life.

 

Dan Snyder and Clinton Portis Doing the Soldier Boy

Ok, that didn’t actually happen (yet!), but FamousDC is bringing you Sunday’s WaPo headline early.

Yes, it seems our favorite NFL All-Pro Redskins Tight End, Chris Cooley, is blogging about his upcoming wedding this weekend to fired Redskins cheerleader, Christy Oglevee.

The Cooley Zone: My Redskins cheerleader-turned-Redskins wife

From the moment Christy said “yes” the plans began. I have to admit I haven’t been the most avid planning participant, but one thing I was put in charge of was the seating. I’ll say this: It should at least be an interesting night. I’ve had calls from numerous wedding guests, most recently Dan Snyder’s assistant asking what table they could find their seats. Obviously my easiest seating solution, anywhere you can find a chair. I’m not trying to stick Dan with my drunken uncle, but drawing up all those name tags was way over my head.
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I’m hoping for a huge night on Friday. We’ve paid for two open bars, and invited nothing short of an Animal House cast of characters. Although I hope Clinton’s friends — Southeast Jerome and co. — don’t crash the party. After our vows the only promise I will make is to not stuff the cake all over Christy’s face. The rest of the reception is free game. It will certainly be a night to remember.

Whatever happens this weekend, we’re looking forward to hearing about. Anytime you have Clinton Portis, Elliot in the Morning, Dan Snyder, and two open bars - you’re bound to have a good time.

PREVIOUS

Go Get My Coffee Demetric!

Dan Steinberg: Even the Redskins Get Summer Internships

These Redskins defensive linemen have kept themselves busy in the offseason. Phillip Daniels, of course, entered power-lifting competitions. Kedric Golston has pursued NASCAR fandom; look for him at Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.
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And Demetric Evans? Why, he’s in Week Two of his summer internship at Infinity of Tysons Corner, naturally. His first few days have included tutorials on the dealership’s workflow, distribution of labor and management principles, mostly in one-on-one sessions with the general manager, which would be his first interaction with one of them in a while. Thursday, he’ll start spending a day in each department, beginning with the repair shop. Does this mean he knows how to fix cars?
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“No, I don’t,” Evans said. “But that’s the Ford Theory. Ford didn’t even know anything about cars, but he knew people who did.”

I wonder if he wears his intern ID to the bar after work…

Obama’s juiced, lands another huge endorsement

Barack Obama is landing endorsements from both sides of the plate. His latest comes in the form of an ex-steroid abusing homerun king.

Mark McGwire, who’s clearly got time on his hands, was kind enough to stop by an Obama rally earlier this week. And by the looks of the picture, he brought family.

It’s good to know Mark hasn’t shaved that classy looking facial hair - although this photo-op begs the question, did Camp Obama only let in supporters brave enough to wear the Chuck Todd goatee?

Captain Chaos Cooley…Blog Master

Have you ever wondered how your life would be different if you were a famous NFL player for the Washington Redskins?

Luckily for us, Chris Cooley takes us straight to the action on his personal blog, where he recently answered a few questions about the NFL draft:

If I was to build my own draft guru what would his or her characteristics be?
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I would take Mel Kiper’s arrogant, know it all personality and put it into some really hot chick. The girl from the movie Transformers would be great. I would watch the draft all day. Really though, I think it would be hard to imagine any other draft guru besides Kiper.
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A Punter?
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I know really. A punter? Hopefully he can kick the shit out of the ball. I mean he did win the Ray Guy award.

I wonder what Cooley does off the field…

I’ve spent countless hours making all kinds of sketches. I’ve sported a variety of sharpie tattoos to practice. 80’s rocker shorts were a big hit in the locker room. My all time favorite time consumer has to be completely coloring a piece of paper with a ball point pen. (A guaranteed 8 hours worth of work).

More Cooley:

I feel like a 17 year old kid living the biggest dream of my life. I know I act like a 17 year old kid most of the time, I get that from my dad. I am completely spontaneous. Not a day goes by when I complete half the plans that I began that day with and I love it. My mind races from idea to idea, but this allows me to be interested in so many things. I can very easily decide I’m going to spend the week relaxing at home and end up on a flight to Vegas the next day.

 

Chris also answers questions from fans — so get over there and ask #47 what’s on your mind! Here’s our favorite:

Who would win in a tag team match between Chris and Christy and Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson?
Cooley: The tag team match would start off with Christy and Jessica in the ring. Someone would come out of the stands with a cooler of beer and a couple of stools for Tony and I. We would proceed to sit ringside and high-five while clothes were furiously ripped off. In my world the match would end in Jes tapping out to a vicious choke hold, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Christy dropped an elbow on her before she poured beer all over herself to celebrate.

Coooooooooooley joins Gilbert Arenas as famous DC sports stars with their own blog. [Stay in DC Agent Zero!]

UPDATE: Chris also blogs every Wednesday in the Cooley Zone on Yahoo! Shutdown Corner

Look What You’ve Done, DeShawn Stevenson

After DeShawn Stevenson calls out LeBron James, the Wizards are down 3-1 the Cavs.

Gilbert Arenas tries to put lipstick on a pig, but this one is about over:

Game 5 Next
If we’re going to pull out this series, we’re going to need a miracle. We’re going to have to dig. We’re going to have to play big. Everyone is going to have to bring their A games. We can’t have no let downs now.

Dan Steinberg: DeShawn Calls Out LeBron Again, and Again:

Here are some people you don’t repeatedly call out: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Kimbo Slice, LeBron James. But DeShawn never got that memo.

Not only did Deshawn miss the memo, but so did Brendan Haywood. He called LeBron a cry baby.

This is getting ridiculous. Game 5 is Wednesday.

UPDATE: The league fined Stevenson for throwing up the Jay-Z diamond before making a throat-slashing gesture.

Presidential candidates get RAW

Apparently going to the “mats” for votes these days is the new black. So much so, the Presidential candidates are all getting into the act. [RAW]

Score another mainstream victory for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Entertainment. All three Presidential candidates accepted invitations to appear on last night’s RAW WWE TV show, seen by 5 MILLION viewers. 
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Each candidate taped a prerecorded message shown separately throughout the broadcast and all included signature catch phrases by some of the more famous wrestlers like the Rock, Ric Flair, Triple H and others.

According to ‘The Commish’ A.J. Sparxx, the wrestlers backstage watching the show liked McCain the best and felt his spot was the most “believable.”

You be the judge:

Rock the Red!

Ovechkin isn’t polling very well in Pennsylvania.

Alexander Ovechkin scored two third period goals to keep the Washington Capitals’ playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

Game 7 is tonight in Washington!
…
Meanwhile, Washington’s other playoff team, the Wizards, are paying the price for pissing off LeBron James.

Wilbon: Advantage, LeBron

The Washington Wizards were reminded, rather rudely Monday night, of the enormous difference between an all-star and a superstar.
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The Wizards have three all-stars but put together they don’t come close to equaling the one transcendent iconic player Cleveland has in LeBron James. Yes, in NBA math three can be less than one.
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The Wizards left Cleveland with barely a whimper on Monday night, looking like chumps, like a lottery team instead of one with playoff aspirations. Nothing that transpired in Cleveland’s humiliating 30-point Game 2 victory suggests that a change in venue, to Verizon Center for Thursday’s Game 3, will make an enormous difference in the outcome of this series.

Hop On the Caps’ Bandwagon

Capitals vs. Flyers [TONIGHT!]

You’ve got to win one before you can win two, and you’ve got to win two before you can win three. With no room for error, the Washington Capitals forged a 3-2 Game 5 victory on Saturday, sending the series back to Philadelphia for Monday’s Game 6. That was one. Now, Washington needs a second straight win over the Flyers – this time in Philly – to force a deciding Game 7 back at Verizon Center on Tuesday night.

Let’s go Caps! Let’s go Caps! Let’s go Caps!

Just for fun: DC Sports Blog brings us yet another reason to hate Philly fans.

More Cavs-Wizards Hype

Wilbon:  Round 3 to the Wizards

The series to watch, and listen to, is Washington vs. Cleveland, which already has name-calling and trash-talking — and it hasn’t even begun. And if that weren’t enough, the most charismatic figure in the game today, NBA analyst Charles Barkley, has called the Wizards “the dumbest team in the history of civilization” for calling out LeBron James.

. . .

In short, the Wizards and Cavaliers have become two teams that plain don’t like each other . . . and seem on the verge of detesting each other. The Cavaliers are tired of Gilbert Arenas and now DeShawn Stevenson. The Wizards (at least one of ‘em) think James is overrated. The Cavaliers took the Wizards’ lunch money in an entertaining six-game series two years ago, making Agent Zero in particular look like he couldn’t take the heat when he missed free throws at the end of Game 6. Last year, the Cavaliers took advantage of a Wizards team depleted by injuries on the way to the NBA Finals.

Previous: Agent Zero in Playoff Mode

Agent Zero in Playoff Mode

Gilbert Arenas heads back to his blog to congratulate his team, Final Boss, on a Halo 3 tournament win before talking trash to Lebron and the Cavs.

Now that we’re playing those guys again, I think everybody is going to have their eyes on it. Especially since the media is hyping it up.
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“Did you see what Gilbert said in his blog????”
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I put that in my blog a week ago. I said we wanted to play Cleveland so we needed to win some games. Then the four and the five seeds were locked in yesterday and it was set for us to play the Cavs and everybody was like, “Oh, Washington is playing Cleveland, Gilbert must have just blogged!”
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NOW I’m blogging. This is the updated blog.

We hear you! Light up the Cavs (and stay in DC)!
More Gilbert…

I’m still not talking to the media. There’s nothing we need to talk about. I mean, I might podium talk after I hit a couple game winners … But locker room talk is off limits. I don’t want to bring out the hype machine right now. I’m laying low. I’ll let DeShawn hype everything up. I’ll leave that to DeShawn and LeBron.

One Shining Moment

“A Kansas comeback for the history books … Rock Chalk Championship - Kansas takes the title…”

Bandwagon Alert!

Caps snare final playoff berth

Long before the final horn sounded, the sea of red-clad fans turned the arena into an earsplitting din of cheers for their team, “M-V-P!” chants for Alex Ovechkin, a chorus of “Bruuuuuuce” for their coach. Even “Hip, hip, Hu-et!” for the goaltender.

…

The owner responded by blowing a kiss to the crowd. After three painful, rebuilding seasons of consecutive last-place finishes, the Washington Capitals had a lot of pent-up celebrating to do.

…

When the clock hit 0:00, Ovechkin jumped into the arms of Cristobel Huet, and the Capitals were finally on the way to the playoffs.

Elliot will be pumped Monday morning!

RELATED COVERAGE:
Reuters: Capitals complete march into NHL playoffs
Rich Lowry: Comeback city
Washington Post: Coming All the Way Back
DC Pro Sports Report: Division Champs!

Dan Synder says he gets it now

Redskins owner, Dan Synder, known for his outstanding patience and primo coach-picking ability, is telling the media he’s a matured adult. [no really, he is]

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder says, however, that despite the seemingly radical departures from past practices, he hasn’t really changed, only matured.

Matured men apparently admit mistakes:

“There are a bunch of things I wish I would have done differently,” Mr. Snyder told The Washington Times yesterday at the annual NFL meetings. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but I’ve learned from my mistakes as a good entrepreneur, a good CEO would do. I’ve matured. I wasn’t patient enough in certain areas early on. I didn’t understand the game the way I do now. I didn’t understand the agents, the contractual relationship with the salary cap, the importance of the age of players. Now it’s easy for me, second nature.”

Comforting to know the owner “didn’t understand the game.”  [Read the rest here]

A Nats blog worth checking out

Good insight from several perspectives. [another WaPost powered blog]

The metal detectors were cumbersome but we understood; the nerds who decided to make opening day a political scene were worse. If I had a nickel for each person who made the “Bush messes everything up” joke while waiting on line, those $7.50 beers would not have hurt so bad. It wasn’t funny, or necessary, we all knew to get there early.

Great advice for a campaign on the brink of striking out

Listen to Mortman: A Banks Shot For Hillary [free advice, that might work]

ZIMMERMAN! Nats Win!

Ryan Zimmerman delivers game ending home run in the bottom of the 9th!
Nationals 1-0 in new stadium

Michael Ruane: Cheers Not Just for the Home Team but for Timely Rails, Clear Roads

Dick Heller: A permanent palace for baseball in the District

Express: Opening Night at Nationals Park

Selig: Washington Must Wait for All-Star Game

ESPN’s Jayson Stark picks the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series [on opening day?!]

Was President Bush met with cheers or boos?
You be the judge - here’s the video

Additional coverage on Nats320, Professor Swag, The Baseball Writer, and here.
Great fan pics here

President Bush waits to deliver first pitch at Nationals opener against Braves
REUTERS/Jason Reed (pic)

Opening Day

Nationals Park opens today. WaPo has an interactive map for your own virtual tour.

Boswell: Upon Inspection, New Home Has Some Sweet Aspects to It

Sommer Mathis: Nationals Park Songs Selected

White House Race SACKS NFL

Calderone: Pigskins and Politics

The NFL and NBC reached a compromise today to run the game at 7 p.m. EST, instead of 8:30 p.m. So as long as there’s no overtime, the game should end before McCain hits the podium.

McCain and Obama going after the Edwards vote

Well it’s about time McCain finally released his bracket.

Noteworthy: His championship game is UNC vs. UConn, and — like Obama did — he has UNC winning the game.

Is this pure bracketology or are their picks politically motivated?

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