ABCDE SPORTS tuesday, july 27, 2010 BASEBALL
Bending laws of physics An analysis of how Stephen Strasburg, right, throws 100-mph pitches with a delivery that looks effortless. Health, E1
Another no-hitter After being held hitless twice this year, the Rays get a no-hitter from Matt Garza, the fifth time it’s happened since April. D5
BLOGS, MULTIMEDIA AND CHATS
washingtonpost.com/sports
First Things First Today, 9:30 a.m. The Nats, Wizards and Redskins are all fair game in this early Q&A. Terrapins Insider Analysis from ACC media day of what undoubtedly is a crucial football season. Cavaliers Journal New Coach Mike London is hard at work trying to spread goodwill on behalf of U-Va.
17 TRACEE HAMILTON
Hinrich brings consistent play to the Wizards
I
t was Kirk Hinrich Day in Washington Monday, in case you missed it. No mayoral proclamation,
a la John Wall. Just my own proclamation, which isn’t the same, but still.
(And before we go on, to be clear, it’s
Kirk, not Kurt, as at least one media mate referred to him. It’s KIRK, as in Douglas, Captain, or the Church of Scotland. Kirk.) The happiest people in stuffy Verizon Center Monday were probably the campers who got to meet Hinrich. He was asked to shoot a “pressure” free throw – if he made it, the youngsters didn’t have to run a lap. They eagerly surrounded him and he made it, and his fan club had its newest recruits. Some of us have had our membership cards a little longer. I’ve followed Hinrich through his very successful four years at the University of Kansas, plus seven years in Chicago, during which a lot of Kansans – bereft of an NBA team of their own – became Bulls fans. Hinrich said Monday that it would
take fans in Washington some time to get to know him. I don’t think so. Wizards fans – who’ve been a bit bereft themselves – will see quickly that Hinrich has been a winner at every level,
hamilton continued on D3
PRO BASKETBALL Mystics
face Sun Beginning a grueling stretch of four games in six days in Connecticut. D2
The price, in millions of dollars, the Wizards will pay to have Kirk Hinrich, a guard who mentored a No. 1 pick in Chicago, do the same for John Wall. D3
DEFENSIBLE POSITION
Former nose tackles say Redskins’ Haynesworth may learn the role isn’t that bad after all
by Amy Shipley
A short list of the greatest nose tackles in NFL history is sure to include four men who have several things in common with disgruntled Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. Not one came out of col- lege as a nose tackle. All heard horror stories about the position. None wanted the job. Curley Culp, Fred Smerlas, Bob Baumhower and Ted Washington, who
played in a combined 19 Pro Bowls as nose tackles over four decades, were shifted, moved or plugged into the position early in their careers against their will, better judgment and even sense of justice. But unlike Haynesworth, who skipped minicamp in defiance after he learned of his pending switch from defensive tackle to nose tackle, they didn’t believe they had any say in the matter. “I was stuck over the nose, and that was it,” said Culp, who made four Pro Bowls after shifting to the position in his seventh season in 1974. “It was a struggle.” Their advice to Haynesworth? First, stop whining. Said Smerlas: “Should
Redskins camp
First practice: Thursday, 4 p.m. Where: Redskins Park, Ashburn
I get a napkin to wipe his fat tears? . . . The public does not sympathize with someone making $100 million.” Second and most important, give the position a chance. All agreed that, despite its high pain quotient and low glamour potential, the nose tackle spot became increasingly enjoyable as they learned its nu-
nose tackle continued on D6 GETTY IMAGES, ASSOCIATED PRESS (CULP) PHOTOS
Newcomers face unique situations coaching in ACC
Florida State’s Fisher expected to win now while U-Va.’s London is given time
by Steve Yanda
greensboro, n.c. — There was standing-room only around the circular tables where the ACC’s newest head coaching attractions sat Monday during the second of the conference’s two media days. Virginia’s Mike London and Flori- da State’s Jimbo Fisher — both entering their first seasons at the helm of their re- spective programs — fielded similar questions, about necessary adjustments made and circumstantial differences no- ticed.
But their experiences as first-year
ACC coaches were not identically shared, for Fisher was asked to speak to the Seminoles’ challenge of meeting ex- pectations, while London was charged with articulating how he plans to raise them for the Cavaliers. Florida State was selected in the con-
ference’s preseason media poll to win the Atlantic Division and play Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. Virginia, on the other hand, was picked to finish last in the Coastal Division and
acc continued on D6
“I was none too happy about it . . . but I grew to love the position.” “When you get good at it, you can make it fun.”
Bob Baumhower, above, a five-time Pro Bowler for the Dolphins
Ted Washington, center, who made four Pro Bowls in a 16-year career
D K S
“I was stuck over the nose, and that was it. It was a struggle.” “No tackles and no assists and I’d be player of the game.”
Curley Culp, left, who made four Pro Bowls after switching to nose tackle Fred Smerlas, right, who made five Pro Bowls with the Bills
Some momentS canchange anentire franchiSe.
–VS–
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Tonight@ 6:30pm WHERE’S THE GAME? PRESS CHANNEL GUIDE ON YOUR TV REMOTE
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