The Sports Note

I think pretty much every Redskins fan should take a deep breath, read this Mike Wise column, and chill out.

Yesterday I was scrolling through my news aggregator and I stumble upon a post by the guys at DC Sports Report entitled “Kobe to DC?“. Naturally this piqued my interest so I clicked through and the post was centered around a blurb in Sam Smith’s column in the Chicago Tribune.

Here’s what Smith wrote:

Agent Zero going Hollywood?
One general manager on the periphery of the Bryant talks says he believes the “dark horse” to make a deal with the Lakers is the Washington Wizards. The consensus is the Wizards have hit a plateau, but have the star power in Gilbert Arenas to make a deal.

Arenas is talking about opting out of his contract after this season. He’s from Los Angeles and has become a star, one of the league’s highest-scoring players and an engaging personality who would embrace the Hollywood scene. He would meet the Lakers’ demands for an All-Star player if they trade Bryant.

“Watch out for them,” the general manager said, meaning the Wizards.

The Lakers probably would want a power forward, which the Wizards don’t have. The biggest obstacle, though, may be Bryant’s no-trade clause, along with the fact he hasn’t indicated any interest in Washington. Still, with Bryant, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, the Wizards would have a three-star set that could match up in the East.

Now Sam Smith is fairly well known for tossing out all sorts of trade rumors, thats basically his whole shtick, so I took that with a grain of salt. But then DC Sports Report updated their post to include a Marc Stein quote from an ESPN.com chat he did:

Real enough that I wouldn’t call it a rumor. Washington’s interest, I’m told, is super genuine. What we don’t know yet is whether Kobe would be amenable to Washington. But the Lakers would be hard-pressed to do better than a package that apparently features Gilbert Arenas and Andray Blatche . . . as long as Gil were willing to agree to extension with his hometown Lakers as opposed to opting out at season’s end.

getting involved in the Kobe Sweepstakes and I’ve since heard that there’s legit smoke here. We’ll have to see what Kobe thinks of sharing a city with the president, since he wields more power than anyone in the NBA with the only active no-trade clause.

Hmmm. Could this be real? I guess they are at least talking about talking about it or something like that right? Now I’m getting a little excited, thinking about possibilities, etc. I love Gilbert as much as the next guy and would hate to see him go…but Kobe in DC? Best player in the league, here? Makes you pause, I’ll tell you that.

Then of course I read in today’s paper that Ernie Grunfield denies it all. Here’s Ernie:

“I don’t normally comment on rumors but there is no truth to this rumor,” Grunfeld said when reached by phone last evening. “We’ve never had any conversations with the Lakers or with anyone else about Gilbert.”

Oh. I guess I didn’t really expect Ernie to say anything differently but still, that kind of kills the fun of considering trade offers, doesnt it? Ivan Carter, WaPo Wizards beat writer extraordinaire, had more on his blog:

(cites Grunfield quote mentioned above) I heard the same from other folks with knowledge of the situation so I really don’t know what to make of Sam’s speculation or similar speculation via Marc Stein at www.espn.com. Now, in terms of Sam, I’ll say this: my man Sam had Kevin Garnett traded to the Bulls around 1,500 times over the last few years. I think he had Iverson moved nearly half as often. That’s Sam’s job: talk to folks around the league and throw out possible trade situations when he hears them. As any reporter will tell you, there are 5,000 “source” rumors for every trade that actually goes down. In the NBA, where many voices are whispering sweet nothings in many an ear, rumor is a way of life.

Here’s why I don’t see a Kobe/Wiz deal going down:

1. Kobe has a no-trade clause, a hefty trade kicker and it appears that his heart is set on Chicago. Now, if something floats out in the next few days that Kobe secretly loves the Redskins, has always wanted to visit Mount Vernon and really digs trips the Smithsonian when visiting the DC, you’ll know that there something is to this rumor. Believe this: Kobe is driving all of this and we’ll all know soon enough if he wants out of LA bad enough to step off the windy city and flirt with chocolate city. Until then, it’s all talk. Now, if Kobe shows up to practice tomorrow wearing a Caron Butler jersey……..

2. Would the Lakers really give up Kobe for a guy who is coming off of knee surgery and can opt out of his deal next summer? Where would that put them in a Western Conference that is top heavy with the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Nuggets, Jazz and Rockets?

3. I would assume that if the Lakers are doing their jobs, they would demand Andray Blatche in any deal involving Kobe and that isn’t going to happen, not based on the things Blatche showed in preseason. You don’t trade 6-11, 260-pound 21-year olds with that skill set and a five-year contract that is only running you $15 million.
Not in a conference that has LeBron, Luol Deng, Rasheed, KG, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Rashard Lewis, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith and assorted other matchup nightmares lurking in every corner. If Blatche reaches his potential, he gives you a five-tool almost 7-footer who is just scratching the surface. Hard to trade that, even for Kobe.

Now, as we all know, things can change and that’s why the first three months of this season are going to be so interesting. By February, the Wizards should have a feel for where Gilbert is on that knee and have a feel for how the rotation is coming together. If Gilbert does his thing and the big three stay healthy and Blatche continues to come along, the Wiz should be one of the top two or three teams in the East and there would be no reason to blow it all up by trying to land Kobe. Also, we’ll know just how hungry Kobe is to go somewhere.

My educated guess is that the Lakers will sit back, see how Kobe reacts early in the season and evaluate their options come February. I do have a feeling that it’s going to kill him watching KG play with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Thing is, KG was put into prison by Kevin McHale while Kobe pretty much did it to himself.

Carter mentions a big sticking point I had in any proposed Arenas for Kobe deal: I love Andray Blatche and consider him close to untouchable. Blatche is going to breakout this year, is signed for the next 5 years at a very reasonable price, and is going to be a 7 foot stud. You can’t involve him in any deal, you just cant. I guess its all moot anyway, which I think is a good thing. But its fun to think about.

After the jump, for no real reason other then I think its interesting, Michael Wilbon’s answers to some questions on this subject in a WaPo Chat House session yesterday.

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The Big Lead has sleuthed that the new Redskins beat reporter (joining our man Jason La Confora) is Jason Reid. Reid formerly worked at the Los Angeles Times covering the Clippers.

One of my favorite blogs is MLBTradeRumors.com, its a daily must-read for me. Today though there is a guest post up which includes the suggestion that the Orioles trade Eric Bedard to the Phillies (with the Pat Gillick connection being the main reason here). How to put this politely? Um, thats not going to happen. The Orioles arent about to trade Eric Bedard. The author of the post makes this point:

If the Orioles don’t feel they can retain Bedard long-term, they might be wise to listen to offers and begin another rebuilding.

Here’s the problem with that statement: The Orioles haven’t tried rebuilding in the first place. We’ve been losing for a lot of years now but we’ve never torn the whole thing down and tried to start over with youngsters. Thats why we signed Jay Payton and Aubrey Huff this off season, thats what the O’s front office thinks of as rebuilding. We didnt trade Tejada last year, when his value was high, why would we trade our ace pitcher now? Especially when he’s coming off a performance like his last start (first career shutout, career high 15 strikeouts). Not only do we not want prospects for our 28 year old ace but thats never been the team’s philosophy.

Look, I appreciate the fact that being 11 games under .500 at the halfway point means there’s going to be a rash of speculation about who the Orioles are going to be dumping, if anyone, but Bedard isn’t on that list. Kevin Millar, Jay Payton, Steve Trachsel, they are all on that list but Bedard isn’t. Sorry to disappoint Phillies fans.

We are all witnesses to the Nick Young era. Hope its a good one. Last night, with the 16th overall pick in the draft, the Wizards selected Nick Young, junior shooting guard out of USC. I was some what surprised Mr. Young was there for the taking as the Hornets were rumored to be keen on him but hey, who am I to complain?

Young’s selection gives the Wizards a certain amount of flexibility. Both DeShawn and Jarvis (all three play the same position) are free agents and, speaking only for me, I hope to the sweet Jesus we let Arvis (get it? no “J”) find another home. DeShawn I’ll be honest, I’d like to have him back but not for a ridiculous amount of money. I’d like Young to come off the bench while Stevenson starts but if some teams comes in with a crazy offer to DeShawn and the Wizards (hopefully) don’t match then it will be nice to have Young there to plug in.

I was some what surprised that in the second round we took this Dominic McGuire kid who I’ve never heard of when Ivan was telling me yesterday we were going to take D.J. Strawberry but oh well. Strawberry actually landed in a nice little situation with the Suns where Raja Bell can tutor him on the fine arts of being a defensive stopper in the NBA.

Here’s what Steinz uncovered over at the Sports Bog:

* He’s dating Carol Rodriguez, Puerto Rico’s 2006 Women’s Athlete of the Year and one of the top collegiate sprinters in the country, who also happens to be a model.

* He’s been known to sport a mohawk now and then, and actually claimed credit tonight for making the mohawk fashionable. He’s also had his initials and the Jordan Brand logo shaved into his head at various times, and he said he might bring back the mohawk next fall “just to fit in with the Wizards,” which is the right way to approach this team.

* He also has been known to wear skateboard gear featuring images of skeletons, and in fact said he used to skateboard when growing up in the San Fernando Valley.

* He has a reputation for being quite the dunker, and told me that he has “immense hops” and “flying ability.” “I should be in the dunk contest, maybe this year,” he said, “doing some Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins.”

* He was the only player in the Green Room with a two-toned outfit; dark slacks and a white coat. “I come from L.A. this is how we do it in L.A.,” he told me. “I’m more of mainstream Hollywood.”

Interesting. Also, I did like this quote quite a lot, from Daniel Forer (the producer of the movie about Nick) via Steinberg:

“Oh, you have no idea,” Forer said. “Washington has no idea what they have now got in Nick Young. No one knows. He is one of the most wonderful, joyous people you will ever meet in your life. And he will make everyone forget about their problems and just enjoy watching him and the Wizards. It is a gift.

“It’s hard to believe,” he admitted as I stared at him. “I was there in Los Angeles when Magic started, the first year he arrived, and Los Angeles had no idea what they were getting. Washington has no idea what they’re getting in Nick Young. He is a blessing, a gift. Now I’m not saying on the court, I don’t know how he’ll perform, but off the court he’s just a special human being.”

Now Mr. Forer in the previous paragraph kind of compared young Nick to Muhammad Ali and Brett Favre, as well as Magic, so I guess lets take Mr. Forer’s thoughts with a grain of salt but even still, nice to hear. I must say I’m quite happy with the pick. I’m looking forward to the Nick Young era indeed.

Other reactions around the tubes:
Michael Wilbon seems to approve

SI.com’s Chris Mannix says we are winners.
DC Sports Report gives an A-

Finally, after days and days of anticipation, the NBA Draft is upon us. It kind of sucks that the Wizards aren’t really involved in any of the exciting rumors; we aren’t in the lottery and we aren’t trading for Kobe or KG or Amare (at least, not that I’ve heard). So really, for the most part, Wizards fans are just looking in from the outside at #16. Having said that, here’s who we are rumored to be considering, at least according to this Washington Post graphic:

PG Javaris Crittenton, G-Tech
SF Thaddeus Young, G-Tech
SG Derrick Byers, Vandy
SG Nick Young, USC
SF Julian Wright, Kansas

If you ask me, both Youngs and Wright will probably be gone by the time we draft but I’d be thrilled if one of them fell to us. I like Derrick Byers alot, the fact that he is regarded as a good defender is a plus, playing in the stacked SEC (and playing well) doesnt hurt either.

Ivan Carter posted some thoughts on the Wizards Insider and apparently Byers is well liked by the Wizards. Also if D.J. Strawberry is there in the second round we’re taking him. I like that idea alot, I think Strawberry, at the very least defensively, has a future in the NBA.

Anyway there you have it. I’d like to see Byers and Strawberry drafted. Who knows, maybe we’ll even trade away Haywood for a pick or something? Either way it should be an exciting night, even if the Wizards aren’t really involved. Sadly I wont be able to watch live as I will be attending a concert but I’m taping everything and hoping to avoid tv/radio/internet until I can watch it tomorrow morning. Thats most likely not going to work out but I’m giving it a shot.

Updating a previous post concerning LaVar Arrington’s motorcycle accident, he appears to be doing well and did not in fact break his leg.

Just got this gchatted to me from my buddy The Cooler. Not good news, hope he’s alright:

LaVar Arrington, a former member of the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, has been seriously hurt in a motorcycle crash Monday afternoon.

Prince George’s County Fire tells WTOP that Arrington is in serious condition after the crash near Route 50 and the Capital Beltway.

Channel 9 reports Arrington was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Arrington was drafted by the Redskins out of Penn State in 2000. He was cut by the New York Giants this year after suffering a season-ending foot injury.

Jason La Canfora has more at the WaPo’s Redskins Insider.

A hot NBA rumor out there (started by Sam Smith here) is that the Wizards and Trail Blazers were talking about trading Zach Randolph for Antwan Jamison. The WaPo Wizards beat man Ivan Carter says it ain’t happening in today’s chat:

McLean, Va.: Any truth to these Randolph for Jamison rumors? And can the personalities of Arenas, Stevenson, and Randolph work on this team? I see them getting bored on a long road trip and setting Etan’s dreads on fire.

Ivan Carter: Before we get to Kobe: I’ve asked around about the so-called Randolph rumor and from what I can gather, there is nothing to it. It came from Sam Smith of the Chi Tribune, who essentially writes a trade rumor column. The Portland people I spoke with yesterday said the Wiz and Blazers have not discussed a Randolph deal and that vibes with what I know about the Wiz. Abe Pollin isn’t going to trade his favorite player since Wes Unseld (Jamison) for a guy who has been arrested repeatedly, plays no defense and has a monster contract. Not going to happen. That said, you’d better believe that Portland is looking to move him. They’d love to.

Things aren’t going so hot for my beloved Orioles (we’re now five games under .500) and Manager Sam Perlozzo is taking a lot of heat. And, if the quotes from today’s WaPo write up of yesterday’s 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays is any indication, he’s beginning to feel the pressure. To wit:

“I think that if you feel like you haven’t put your people in the right places, then you should worry about your job,” Perlozzo said. “I don’t feel that is the case. I feel like if anybody knows anything about baseball, they’d know that any games that we lost, our setup guy and closer have been in at the end. You got to have some common sense or knowledge about the game to realize what’s going on out here.” (Italics mine)

Now this is of course pretty much true…but still. You don’t like to see your manager basically throwing two of his players under the bus. Chris Ray’s confidence is shaky enough as it is. Continuing:

“When you manage a team, you are going to have some people that might not like you,” Perlozzo said. “If they can’t perform because they don’t like me, then they can’t be very good people. Whether you like somebody or you don’t like someone or you support them or you don’t, a lot of people come in here to see people play. You have no right in this world not to give 100 percent out there, no matter who is in charge.” (italics again mine)

Again, this is all true…but not very well put. Its probably not going to endear Sam to people if he starts implying that people with complaints aren’t good people.

Now I don’t know what to think about all this. Its not like if someone else was the manager we’d be a game behind the Red Sox or anything. I mean, firing Sam doesnt change the fact that Patterson can’t hit, Mora looks washed up, Gibbons is now our LF and Huff is, well, Huff. Having said that, I think Sam is on his way out. And he knows it.