D.C. Sports Dish: 1/14/13

This is a new weekly segment I'm trying out. Hope you enjoy!

DC Diggs: Caps Gear Up, Fletcher Talks Future

-It wouldn't really feel like the Washington Redskins if London Fletcher wasn't there, but the linebacker will take some time to consider his football future. [Redskins]

-And because you can't get enough #RGKnee, the NFLPA is close to deciding whether or not to open an investigation into the injury. WHY IS THE WHITE HOUSE SO SILENT ON THIS MATTER?! DODGING THE IMPORTANT ISSUES?! ...can you tell I'm over it? [The Insider]

-Brooks Laich is one of the few in the NHL actually addressing how the lockout hurt the growth of the game. [Caps Insider]

-And the fun has officially started, since Alex Ovechkin has a new Gillette commercial out. [Alex Ovetjkin]

-Don't look now, but the Wizards are getting healthy. [Wizards Insider]

-That health (and play style) could be what the team needs to turn the corner the fan base has been waiting for since John Wall came aboard. [Truth About It]

-We look at Bryce Harper's INTENSE campaign to get on the cover of MLB The Show. [KG's District]

-The Nats are also spending more than they ever have before. Will it pay off? [Hardball Talk]

Bryce Harper Really REALLY Wants the Cover

A preview of what the cover will
look like with Harper.

In case you haven't heard, Bryce Harper is up for the cover of the video game MLB Th Show 2013.  There is an open vote to see who gets the cover, and one way you can vote is through Twitter.

Remember, there was a time when Bryce Harper went off Twitter for fear of saying something actually interesting and therefore detrimental to his brand and career.  But he is back on social media and making a strong push for his candidacy for the cover.

Harper has been campaigning hard.  Nearly every tweet he has sent since it was announced January 6 contains the hashtag "mlb13harper," which is what fans can use to vote for Harper to make the cover.  How bad does he want it, exactly? He's tweeted the hashtag 145 times in three days. Yeah, 145 times.

Here are some of examples:

 @Bharper3407: Are we trending yet!? Let's get it all day! #mlb13harper

@Bharper3407: I'm probably really annoying right now, but that's okay! I won't tweet for a while after this is over!hah #mlb13harper

DC Diggs: RGKnee, Caps Trickling In

-In case you were curious, everything bad that's ever happened has to do with the Redskins' name. [Wash Post]

-There has been lots of discussion about RGIII's recovery time from the surgery he is having this morning to repair his ACL and LCL. Really, that's only because random people with no knowledge of the case keep weighing in. [Pro Football Talk]

-Nicklas Backstrom may have come back from Russia with a souvenir injury that could affect his season. [CSN Washington]

-Alex Ovechkin showed up in a pretty fantastic shirt. [DC Sports Bog]

-Looking at how free agents for the Wizards have delivered. [Bullets Forever]

-Bradley Beal has been gaining confidence in his rookie season. That's usually what a game-winning shot with 0.3 secs left against the best team in the league will do for you. [Wizards Insider]

-From us yesterday, the Nats have signed Adam LaRoche on for two more years. [KG's District]

-With the signing of LaRoche and Michael Morse's probably move, he does NOT was to be a DH. Because, you know, he's an actual baseball player. [Hardball Talk]

Nats Ink LaRoche for 2 More Years; Trade for Morse?

LaRoche will be in D.C. 2 more years. (NESN)

The Nationals made another big move of the offseason, locking up first baseman Adam LaRoche for two more years.  The Golden Glove and Sliver Slugger winner hit 33 home runs and had a .271 batting average last season.

Last year, LaRoche was responding to a 2011 season that saw him produce very little before being shut down for the year with a shoulder injury.  In 2012, he bounced back to show Nats fans why the team signed him to such a hefty contract in the first place.  LaRoche was a major part of the Nats playoff run this past fall.

Talks had been slow, but LaRoche is happy to be staying in the District.

LaRoche told the Washington Times' Amanda Comak:

"You know me, I wasn't stressing a lot. But I'm glad it's with Washington and not somewhere else."

DC Digs: Wiz Beat OKC, RGIII Knee Talk

-Bradley Beal knocked Kevin Durant and the Thunder with this buzzer-beater. The Wizards are now 5-28 [Wash Post]

-All those rumors about RGIII's knee? ALL FRED SMOOT'S FAULT. [Deadspin]

-The official non-Fred Smoot diagnosis right now is partial ACL and LCL tears, but a second opinion is scheduled. [Pro Football Talk]

-Ovi's back (and more photos of the players returning) [Caps Overtime]

-Giving Jordan Zimmermann some much-deserved credit. [Federal Baseball]

-Bryce Harper is up for being on the cover of MLB Showdown. [Nats Enquirer]

-From the way-back file, everyone remember Caps defenseman Tom Poti? He is hoping to be healthy and ready to go for training camp. [Wash Times]

From us...

-Finding blame for the Redskins loss to the Seahawks.

-A reminder of what the Caps did last offseason.

NHL Lockout is Over, In Case You Forgot What the Caps Did...

Alex Ovechkin will be in his 4th season as captain
of the Capitals. (Backhand Shelf/The Score)

Early yesterday morning, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a framework for their a new CBA after nearly 4 months of a lockout.  It's been about six months since hockey's offseason, and the sports world has kept on turning.  That's six months of little to no hockey news outside of the CBA negotiations.

In case you forgot what the Caps did, here's a refresher...

New Man at the Helm

Despite a two round-deep playoff run, Dale Hunter will not be back to coach the Capitals.  The organization is now in the hands of another Caps alum: Adam Oates.  Oates came as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils.  This will be his first season as a head coach.

The players who have spoken with him (including Alex Ovechkin) have said that he has a more offensive mentality, something the Caps have missed since Bruce Boudreau was fired.  No one knows quite what to expect, but Oates has been preparing for his debut by serving as co-head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears (the Caps affiliate).

The Morning After: Seahawks Eliminate Redskins

RGIII's 4th quarter injury took him out of the
game for good. (Sporting News/AP photo)

We all needed a night to let it sink in.  After the Washington Redskins jumped out to a quick 14-0 start, Robert Griffin III tweaked his injured knee in the second quarter.  He would try to play the rest of the game to no avail, unable to score as the Seattle Seahawks crept back before halftime.  The defense was able to hold on to a 14-13 lead until the fourth quarter, when the Seahawks finally pulled away, followed closely by RGIII being taken out of the game for good after re-injuring his knee again.  The final score was 24-14.

That's what you can get from the newspapers.  Reactions last night were a mix of disappointment from the game and RGIII's injury and gratitude for this unexpectedly successful season.  In true Day 2 fashion, today will be about one thing: blame.

Blame will be fairly equally distributed:

• RGIII's injury
• Mike Shanahan for not taking him out of the game sooner
• RGIII for not taking himself out of the game
• Blown calls against the Seahawks
• Kirk Cousins for not scoring 10 points in the final 6 minutes
• Redskins receivers for missed catches throughout the second half

Annnnnnd We're Back!

Hey there guys! So, it's been a little while.  I got caught up writing for other websites and responsibilities.  But lucky for you all, I am back in business!  News and commentary about the DC sports scene is on the way in full force, with more multimedia elements than ever before. Get ready to get back to work!  I look forward to hearing from all of you and moving forward with each and every reader.  Enjoy!

Playoff Predictions Round 1: Western Conference

Here are my picks for the West's first round.  Who do you guys have?
Be sure to check out my Eastern Conference Predictions too!

Playoff Predictions Round 1: Eastern Conference

Here are my picks for 1st round winners in the East, who do you guys have?

Win Your Kid a Day with the Cup!

Every hockey player’s dream is to hoist the Stanley Cup.  It’s what you play for in pickup as children, what you doodle in class, and what you make replicas of while you cheer on your favorite team.

For the first time ever, Discover is offering a chance for one player aged 13 or younger to spend a day with the Stanley Cup. Yes, the real Stanley Cup.  The NHL has never done anything like this before, allowed exclusive access to youth hockey players.

Here’s how to enter: send in a short video of your child’s most memorable hockey moment to facebook.com/doscover before April 13th.  Between April 15 and April 21, the videos will be online for viewing and rating by fans.  The three videos receiving the highest number of votes will be the finalists, and those videos will be submitted to a panel of judges who will decide the winner.  The judges will decide the winner based on enthusiasm, appropriateness of theme, originality, creativity, and sincerity.

Neuvirth Epitome of Problem with Head Injuries

Hits to the head have been a hot topic in both the NHL and NFL for some time now.  Everyone has seen the research and potential effects.  NFLer, for example, have an average life expectancy of just 55 years old (and 52 for linemen).  The problem isn’t that life-or-death for most NHLers yet, but new studies are coming out implying fighters have the same kind of brain damage as NFL linemen.

The problem in both sports isn’t a judicial one.  Rules don’t necessarily need to be changed or suspensions handed down.  It needs to begin and end with respect, and it has to begin and end with the players themselves.  Part of the problem was evidenced tonight with Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth.

Early in the first period in the Caps game against the Lightning, Neuvirth took a puck to the facemask.  The force of the puck sent his mask flying, and Neuvirth needed to go to his backup.  He continued playing like everything was fine.

However, when the second period began, we didn’t see Michal Neuvirth between the pipes.  Instead we saw AHL call-up Braden Holtby.  When VERSUS asked Bruce Boudreau during the second period whether or not Neuvirth’s absence had to do with the shot he took to the head, Boudreau had a one-word answer, “Yes.”

Cornell Women take Second-Straight ECAC Title

Photo by: Robyn Wishna/the Ithaca Journal

The Cornell women captured the ECAC Championship on Saturday with a 3-0 shutout victory over Dartmouth.  Dartmouth had been the only team to beat the Big Red in ECAC play this season, but this time Cornell played a grinding game and gave up zero opportunities, ensuring their second straight title.

“They didn’t make many mistakes,” said senior Dartmouth defenseman Katie Horner. “We’ve been the kind of team that capitalizes on another team’s mistakes.  When you play a team like that, that doesn’t mess up often, there isn’t too much you can capitalize on.”

Dartmouth’s win over Cornell came with a lot of help from their power play, but Cornell had clearly been studying tape as they shut down all six extra-man advantages.  Cornell scored a goal in each period, with the first two coming from tournament MVP Chelsea Karpenko.  Hayley Hughes scored the lone goal in the third period.

Wall Steps up, Calls Out Wizards Teammates

Last night, the Wizards were beat bad.  This isn’t was really qualifies as “news,” but a couple of things made last night’s game notable.  One was that the loss came at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, not exactly what one would call a powerhouse.  They remain at one road win for the entire season. And it’s almost March.

The other thing that made this game special is John Wall.  Not necessarily on the court, during the game, but his comments in the locker room after.  He did something rookies rarely do: he called out his veteran teammates on their lack of heart.

I will admit it does seem hypocritical that after I was critical of P.K. Subban for not knowing his place, I am now praising John Wall for an essentially similar thing.  Here is the difference; the instances I was referencing with Subban and Dallas Cowboys rookie Dez Bryant were incases in which they were being cocky, undeservedly flashy, and entitled.  Wall was being honest.

Caps Dev Camp Invitee and Miami Forward Miele Frontrunner for Hobey Baker

It’s hard to argue that the Caps don’t have a good eye for prospects.  They have been able to find good players late in the draft and late in rounds, where their position has been the last few seasons.  Now their eye is being complemented by another player: Andy Miele.

Though Miele isn’t a Capitals prospect, he was invited to the Caps Development Camp last July.  He was certainly one of the stand-out players, which is saying something considering he was playing among kids like Evgeny Kuznetsov, Marcus Johansson, and Stanislav Galiev.

He is drawing a lot of attention this season in his senior year with Miami University (OH).  In just 32 games this season, he has set career bests in goals with 17, assists with 39, and points with 56.  Miele currently leads the nation in scoring, and is just the second RedHawk to have a 50-point season in 14 years.

He is fast with smooth hands, a combination that certainly never hurt anyone.  Miele told Rock the Red over the summer that that player he models himself after is Pavel Datsyuk.  Given his defensive role, particularly on the penalty kill, and his leadership (he is an alternate captain for the RedHawks this year), that’s not a completely absurd comparison.

Sharks @ Capitals Preview 2/8/11

Tonight the best in each conference get reacquainted at Verizon Center

The "Super" Bowl

Today was Super Bowl Sunday. In America, that's pretty much all you need to know. Here is my explanation for why it is the most important sports day in America, and why its also possibly the biggest national event in the country.







Why do you guys think the Super Bowl is important? Or do you think its important at all?

The Judgement of Women in Sport...by Women

Fair warning: if you don’t like controversy or strong opinions, check it at the door.  I have an opinion that is apparently a somewhat unpopular one among women, and it confuses me.

For all of the rights women have fought for in this country, there is still one that continues to be stifled to this day.  It is in fact hampered more so by women than it is by men.  That is freedom of expression.

It has been implied everywhere on the internet in various sports circles that people like Erin Andrews and Ines Sainz don’t deserve to be respected as sports journalists because of the way they dress.  Apparently, I’m the only one who sees a problem with that, and that scares me.

Cornell Women Sweep Weekend, Remain Undefeated in League Play

The Cornell women’s ice hockey team continued their dominance over the rest of the league this past weekend with shutout wins over both Union College and RPI, winning by a combined score of 14-0.  Freshman goaltender Lauren Slebodnick got a nine-save shutout Saturday night against RPI to equal Katie Wilson’s job the night before.

“I’ve definitely had more shots in a game, but it’s a hard game to stay focused in,” said Slebodnick, “You kind of find your mind drifting, so you have to make sure you’re still in the game.”

Saturday night was time for Hayley Hughes and Brianne Jenner to shine, each recording two goals in the team’s 6-0 victory.  It took a penalty kill to get the scoring going, when Jenner opened the game with a shorthanded goal off a 3-on-1 rush for the Big Red.  Cornell went on to score three more goals within two minutes of each other to bury RPI before the first intermission.

“It was kind of embarrassing, the whole arena was quiet,” a laughing Hughes said of her second goal, which seemed to slip in without anyone noticing, “It was good though.”