Posted on July 30th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
The heart says no.
Don’t give up on the Nationals’ core. Resist the urge to be sellers as the MLB trade deadline approaches. If you must go down, do so fighting in possibly your last season with Bryce Harper.
The head says … I don’t know.
General manager Mike Rizzo has good reasons to listen as playoff-bound teams call him. He’s usually the person reaching out to also-rans, sniffing for their players who could make an immediate impact in Washington. Being on the receiving end of such inquiries must be difficult, especially when the Nats were considered World Series contenders entering the season.
This team was built to win, not surrender. It was supposed to capture its fifth NL East title in seven years and advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time. Rookie manager Dave Martinez was supposed to be an upgrade over Dusty Baker as the Nats de-emphasized gut decisions.
But what does the gut say about this?
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Posted on July 25th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Imagine if your wife asked a younger, sexier, better-looking version of you to move into the basement.
That’s how starting quarterback Joe Flacco probably felt when the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson, wondering how long before the rookie replaces him in the master bedroom.
The question is when, not if. But early reports suggest Flacco’s performance will improve, allowing him to retain his position one more season.
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Posted on July 23rd, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in the Washington Times)
Did you hear the one about the Florida man playing music in his garage? Police responded to a noise complaint and killed him – shooting through his closed garage door. A federal jury last month awarded the family $4 for its pain and suffering.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said the shooter “was placed in a very difficult situation, and like so many fellow law enforcement officers must do every day, he made the best decision he could for the safety of his partner, himself and the public given the circumstances he faced.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans heard about the case over the weekend and contributed $11,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for Gregory Hill’s family, including the three now-fatherless children.
Sadly, gross injustices such as Hill’s death don’t rile up folks nearly as much as NFL players’ symbolic gestures during the national anthem.
I understand if you’re tired of the ongoing debate on proper posture and policies during pregame proceedings. But the cause should be more tiresome and troubling than the effect. The same energy used to protest players who protest, should be directed at our nation’s systematic inequality.
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Posted on July 19th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Terrell Owens is one of the greatest NFL receivers ever, period.
He’s also one of the strangest NFL players ever, period.
The latter has no bearing on the former, or at least it shouldn’t. But Owens continually proves he’s in a class by himself, which will be the case during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Aug. 4.
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Posted on July 12th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
At least Damon Evans knew what he was getting into when he became Maryland’s new athletic director. He was elevated to the permanent position a couple of weeks ago, having spent the previous eight months in the role on an interim basis.
He wasn’t naïve about the challenges ahead and wasn’t blindsided by repercussions from the past. But events that transpired shortly before and after his promotion probably gave him more gray hair than existed when former AD Kevin Anderson stepped away in October.
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jordan McNair experienced a health challenge during conditioning drills in late May and died on June 13. Evans had to address the tragedy then and he addressed it again during his introductory new conference.
“It has been a trying time,” he said. “When you deal with something as significant as a student-athlete passing away, it’s something that you just never imagine or expect to happen at your institution.”
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Posted on July 4th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” – Things I Don’t Understand:
*HOW OTHER NBA TEAMS CAN EMULATE GOLDEN STATE.
The Warriors embrace Gordon Gekko’s philosophy: “Greed is good.” The record for victories in a season and a championship the next year wasn’t enough. Adding a league MVP (Kevin Durant) didn’t suffice, either. Now, after back-to-back titles, the Warriors have bolstered their portfolio with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. Here’s a message to envious opponents, amid complaints that Golden State is ruining the league:
Develop three home-grown All-NBA players and then we’ll listen.
*WHY THE NATIONALS CAN’T CATCH A BREAK.
Considered a virtual lock to win a third consecutive NL East title, the Nationals could miss the second wild card at this rate. Injuries and slumps keep arising at the most inopportune moments. The former caused starter Erick Fedde to exit Wednesday’s game in the second inning; the latter has led to a 6-18 record since the Capitals won the Stanley Cup.
Maybe DC’s sports curse hasn’t given up the ghost yet.
*HOW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CAN IGNORE ITS DOLDRUMS.
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Posted on July 2nd, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
You can’t say the NBA was hurting with LeBron James in Cleveland.
Nearly every measure was up last season, including attendance, TV ratings, merchandise, and streaming. The league dominates social media like none other. And the average franchise value is at an all-time high.
James apparently could’ve played in Memphis or Salt Lake City without losing any personal wattage or reducing his marketing value to the NBA. Lesser stars can do quite well on both counts in markets smaller than Cleveland, like Anthony Davis in New Orleans and Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
We’re long past the time when high profiles and national appeal were constricted outside of major metropolitan areas, particularly New York and Los Angeles. Oakland and Oklahoma City are home to some of basketball’s biggest personalities. San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard could be on that list, too, if he ever opened his mouth.
But despite the league’s ability to market players in any city, and players’ ability to promote themselves via the Internet, nothing really compares to luminaries joining the Lakers.
Hollywood has a knack for drawing the brightest stars and James is just the latest.
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Posted on June 28th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Imagine you’re Doc Rivers arriving home Tuesday night.
“Hi honey, how was work?” asks your wife, Kristen.
“Fine,” you say. “Nothing out of the ordinary … except we traded Austin.”
The Rivers’ next family reunion might be a little awkward when dad bumps into the son he coached with the Los Angeles Clippers. But the business of pro sports respects no bonds, blood or otherwise.
“We experienced a lot of success with Austin and are grateful for his contributions during his four seasons with the club,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. “The Clippers wish Brittany and Austin all the best in Washington.
The first father-son, coach-player relationship in NBA history has ended, highlighting the fact that Doc Rivers no longer calls the shots for the Clippers. He was relieved of those duties last summer.
Meanwhile, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld continues at the helm in D.C., and the Austin Rivers trade joins a long list of moves that follow the same pattern: Misstep. Misstep. Recover. Repeat.
Acquiring Rivers falls between the gaps. The combo guard undeniably creates greater flexibility for a constipated roster that included Marcin Gortat, Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith. Sending Gortat to the Clippers was a much-needed movement, but the other two blockages remain.
Unfortunately, neither Mahinmi nor Smith can adequately fill the hole at starting center; they’re borderline as effective backups.
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Posted on June 26th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
The Capitals just treated us to a season like none they ever produced, creating a sense of expanded possibilities for Washington sports.
We don’t know where the Nationals will end up. But watching them proceed is tantalizing because, so far, they haven’t given us a season quite like this one either.
The Nats were terrible when they arrived 13 years ago, recording five fifth-place division finishes in their first seven seasons here. They were 16 games behind when they finished fourth (2007) and a whopping 21-1/2 games out when they took third (2011).
They haven’t been bad since then, with four NL East titles in the last six years. They entered this season as prohibitive favorites to win a third consecutive division crown, but it won’t mean much if another first-round exit follows.
That scenario has become way too common and the prospect still looms.
But nothing about the current route looks familiar yet.
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Posted on June 21st, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
A couple of months ago, the NFL unleashed an unprecedented amount of broadcast coverage for its annual draft, flooding the airwaves of ESPN, NFL Network, Fox and ABC, while airing every round on network TV for the first time.
Thirty-two players were selected in the first round, a process that lasted nearly four hours and got its own night. Sheesh!
Thank goodness the NBA doesn’t take the same approach. The league’s draft begins – and ends – on Thursday.
Granted, the NFL can’t wrap up matters in four hours like the NBA. Seven rounds take a lot longer than two rounds, so it’s understandable that the football draft is a multi-day event. But Roger Goodell & Co. drag out their affair in a blatant money grab.
If the NBA operated in similar fashion, its first round would consume the entire broadcast on Thursday and the show would end with a reminder: “Tune in for the second round tomorrow night!”
Instead, Commissioner Adam Silver will welcome 30 first-rounders onstage at Barclays Center, beaming along with the newly-minted millionaires who receive fully guaranteed contracts. Then, if tradition holds, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will get his moment in the spotlight, welcoming the 30 second-rounders whose NBA fortunes are, literally, less certain.
But a copious amount of intrigue and speculation is something the two leagues have in common regarding their respective choose-em ups.
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