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THE SIDELINE I
have done a lot of things for TheWashington Post. I’ve covered sporting events on
three continents, been to the Indianapolis 500 and the Super Bowl, interviewed spelling bee contestants and photographed columnistMike Wise. But I can’t say I’ve had many experiences more odd than sitting on a Nerf- orange couch, surrounded by lava lamps and stuffed animals, as DexterManley choked me. See, this week I was invited to
be a guest on Episode 2 of “Dexter’s RushHour,” the variety show hosted byMr.Manley from a truly amazing set in Clarendon. Duringmy first appearance, Dexter insisted that I get down in a center’s stance and snap him
D.C. SPORTS BOG Dan Steinberg
a football, shookmy hand several hands while imploding at least nine ofmy knuckles, and— when I asked him about the violence in his sport—lunged at my neck and said something about killing me.He was joking. “I just wanted to be a monster
and a killer,” he said, as he demonstrated onmy neck. “But
Quick Fix 6Excerpt from
voices.washingtonpost.com/hard-hits
HARDHITS
Situationsheds light onanunfair system
ReggieBushannounced
Tuesday thathewouldforfeit the HeismanTrophyhewonin2005 inthewake of anNCAAreport thathe receivedimproper benefitswhileplaying for SouthernCalifornia. There’s little questionthat
BushviolatedNCAArules, but the whole episode raisesmany questions.First among themis there appears to beno governance ofuniversity athletic programs interms of conference expansionandmoving game times for the benefit of television networks, yet the rules prohibitingplayers from receiving anything “improper” are seemingly endless.
Rulesneedto be followed.But
whenthe rules are leaving one groupofpeople exploitedfor the financial benefit of others,we needto askwhomthose rules are serving. Athletes inmajor-college
programsdedicate their lives to their sports; as a result, thousandspaymoney to attend their games, thousandsmore buy merchandise to showpride in theirprograms, andtelevision networkspaymillions for the broadcast rights to their games. Considering all the revenue they generate, is apaideducation really sufficient compensation? As forBush, andcountless
other college kidswhohave fallen victimto a systemthat fails them, hopefully this episode forces a closer look at the financial inequities of the current system. —LaVarArrington
KLMNO 6
3
here’s the thing: When you have a lot of tumultuous experiences in your life, you need to draw the line in the sand. You’ve got to have a power greater than you to sort of guide you and sort of put you down the right path, and that has taken place inmy life.” Which maybe helps explain
why this has been theMonth of Dexter.He was named honorary captain for the Redskins’ home opener, leading a parade of team alumni and cheerleaders through the FedEx Field parking lot early Sunday afternoon.He was honored with a two-hour luncheon by ESPN 980 last week. And he launched his TV show— catchphrase: “I’mnever late, I’mright on time”—which
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
WASHINGTONPOST.COM/SPORTS First Things First: Join columnist Tracee Hamil- ton weekday mornings at 9:30 to talk about the hottest topics from the world of sports.
WASHINGTONPOST LIVEWITH IVAN CARTER 5 P.M. ON COMCAST SPORTSNET The Post’s Rick Maese joins CSN Redskins analyst DocWalker and NFL handicapper Brandon Lang in studio.
A surreal experience on the set of ‘Dexter’s Rush Hour’
he said would one day rival the “Ellen” and “Oprah” shows, or at least “Washington Post Live.” In the first episode—which
for now, isWeb-only—Dexter offered some tasty tips on beating Dallas. “You must be willing to run
over your grandmother, your mother, your sister, and your little sister, and all your other sisters out there,” he noted. “If you got a lot of illegitimate kids, run over them. Run over dogs, cats, whatever it is, you run over them to beat the Dallas Cowboys.” So I sort of knew what to
expect when I showed up on his set, which he described as like the junkyard from “Sanford and
Son.” As his 1980s-era action figures and lamps decorated with horses stared at me, I pointed out that he had the firmest handshake I’d ever experienced. “Some guys sued me a couple
times from Texas and one up here said I broke his hand, but the judge threw it out,” he told me. I said I figured he could breakmy hand if he wanted. Then he offered to break another part ofmy body, one that we don’t typically mention by name on familyWeb sites. He also asked me if I have any illegitimate children, claimed never to have heard of Alex Ovechkin, and requested I define the term “bonkers,” but it’s kind
of hard to tell what’s real and what’s part of the show. Because when I told Dexter I heard he had cried during Sunday’s alumni parade, suddenly he wasn’t talking about private parts any more. “It was so emotional,” he said.
“You stand up, you fall, you get up, and people still embrace you. I’ve had a lot of tumultuous experiences inmy life, and I think that’s what makes America so great. It’s not what government does for people, it’s what we do for each other that makes us strong.” Later, he told me about how
he sometimes eats breakfast naked.
steinbergd@washpost.com
Hot Topic Wizards Insider Excerpt from
voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider
POLLQUESTION JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POST
Which is harder to win, the Champions League or
the World Cup? CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
39%
RealMadrid Coach Jose Mourinho would vote for Champions League.
WORLD CUP 60%
Based on 635 responses online as of 11:08 p.m. Wednesday.
www.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider
Andray Blatche, just 24, played his best stretch of basketball for the Wizards last season, averaging 22.1 points over the last 32 games. For Blatche, the time is now
After years of immaturity and unfulfilled potential, veteran is ready to make the leap
BY MICHAEL LEE It tookAndrayBlatche five years to
become anovernight sensation.Despite being 6 feet 11withconsiderable athleticismandaunique skill set,Blatche was littlemore thana tease inhis first few seasons inWashington.But the final 32 games of last seasonwere anaffirmationof thepotential thatBlatche’s teammates and coachesprivately saidhe alwayspossessed. Blatchemade anumber of changes
TELEVISIONANDRADIO
WNBA FINALS 8 p.m.
Seattle at Atlanta » ESPN2
COLLEGE FOOTBALL 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at North Carolina State » ESPN
before last season, but remained inconsistent throughthe first fewmonths. But after theWizards guttedthe roster and shippedoutCaronButler,AntawnJamison andBrendanHaywoodbefore the trade deadline,Blatchewent onto average 22.1 points on48.5percent shootingwith8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and1.5 steals andleft opposingplayers andcoachespraisinghis abilities along theway. The 24-year-oldBlatchehad12double-
only from Comcast. COLLEGEFOOTBALL
Heisman Trophy from 2005 will be vacated There will be no 2005Heisman
winnernowthatReggieBush has returned the award from that year. The head of the Heisman Tro-
phy Trust said Wednesday the award will be vacated. “We’ve determined that there
will be no winner,”William Dock- ery said in an interview with ESPN. Bush announced Tuesday he
would forfeit the trophy he won with Southern California. In June, theNCAAruled him ineligi- ble for that season for receiving improper benefits. The Heisman Trophy Trust re-
quires players tobeingoodstand- ing with the NCAA to be eligible for college football’s highest hon- or.
Former Texas quarterback
Vince Young finished a distant second to Bush in the voting that yearandtherewasspeculation he might be awarded theHeisman if it were taken from Bush.
SOCCER D.C. United signed Brazilian
midfielder Junior Carriero, 19, according to a statement released by the team.
doubles andscoredindouble figures inall but one game—whenhe got into a spat
withCoachFlipSaunders andwas benched for the final three quarters of a loss to Charlotte after refusing to talk tohis coach inorder to re-enter the game.That incident ledtomore questions aboutBlatche’s maturity,while this summer ledtomore questions abouthis reliability.Anoffseason inwhichhewas expectedto buildonhis incredible finishwas stalledwhenhe broke the fifthmetatarsal inhis right foot inJune. The injurywas a setback forBlatche,who
made improvinghisphysiquehisprimary focus andstillwas able tomaintainhis weightdespite limitedmobility.He just wasn’t able towork onimproving and expandinghis game. Afterhavinghisprotective boot removed
nearly threeweeks ago,Blatche started running lastweek andhopes to be ready in time for training camp—althoughthe Wizardsdon’twant to rushhim. Saunders will likely encourageBlatche to takehis time, so thatBlatche canbehealthywhenit really counts. Blatchehadsome stellarperformances,
but theWizardswent just 9-23withBlatche as the focalpoint of the offense, leading some todiscredithisproductionas the usual empty-calorie, stat-padding ona bad team. Blatchedisputedthatnotion, claiming it washarder forhimto scorewhenteams
game-plannedto shuthimdownwith double-teams andother schemes.But Blatche shouldalso feel encouragedby something else:Whensurroundedby better talent,hisproductionhelpedleadto wins.WithJoshHowardinthe lineup before tearinghisACL,Blatche averaged25 points and10.3 rebounds—andthe Wizardswent 3-1,withtwo of those victories againstplayoff teams (Denver and Chicago). Blatchewill be surroundedby better
talent inJohnWall,GilbertArenas,Kirk HinrichandHoward—ifHowardcancome backhealthy— sohewillhave a chance to dohisdamagewithless attentionfocused onhim.Of course,hisnumberswill likely godownwithmore scorers onthe floor, but hehas thepotential to bemore efficient. Blatchewill alsohave twophysical rookies inKevinSeraphinandTrevorBooker to scrimmage against inpractice,whichthe Wizardshopewill leadtomore aggression andtenacity. Inthepast,Blatchehas comeupshort
whentheWizardsplacedhighexpectations onhim.But for the first time,Blatchenot onlyhas the opportunity to succeedbuthe alsohas the confidence to get itdone.Now, it’s amatter ofwhetherhe cando it again.
leem@washpost.com
DIGEST
spate of injuries. Also, United traded defender
But before Dockery could say it
would stay vacant, the Tennessee Titans quarterback told reporters inNashville: “I would not want to have it,anddon’twantthe trophy. Like I said, 2005 Reggie Bush is theHeismanTrophy winner.Why would I want it?” . . . Alabama Coach Nick Saban
said Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is “ready to go” and will play against Duke on Satur- day. . . . South Carolina kicked tight
end Weslye Saunders off the team. Saunders, suspended since Aug. 23, had been at the center of the Gamecocks’ NCAA problems this summer. He was questioned by the governing body about po- tential agent contact regarding a party inMiami this spring.
DAMIAN DOVARGANES/ASSOCIATED PRESS
USC gave back its ’05Heisman, above, which will have no winner. “Junior is a young player who
has shown to us that he has the potential to become a good pro- fessional,” United General Man- ager Dave Kasper said. “He has very good attacking qualities and can play anumberof positions [in the midfield].We look forward to getting him integrated into our team.”
PROBASKETBALL The New Jersey Nets signed
The younger brother of former
United winger Fred has been training with United for much of this year, and was a guest player for D.C. in friendlies against El Salvador and Portsmouth earlier this year. United’s original plan was to add him to the roster next year, but that timetable was moved up because of the team’s
free agent forward Stephen Gra- ham to a two-year contract. GeneralManager BillyKing did
not release terms of the contract, but a person with knowledge of the deal said Graham received a partially guaranteed contract for this season with a team option for next year. King also announced the hir-
Carey Talley to theNewYork Red Bulls for a future MLS second- round draft pick. A formal an- nouncement will be made once the league finalizes the deal. . . . AC Milan and Real Madrid
began the Champions League with 2-0 victories on Wednesday night. Zlatan Ibrahamovic scored his
first two goals for AC Milan in a victory over visiting Auxerre, and new Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho presided as the nine- time champions beat Ajax. Arsenal beat Braga, 6-0, and Chelsea won, 4-1, at Zilina.
ing of formerWashington Bullets player Doug Overton as a player development coach. . . . The Utah Jazz signed free
agent center Francisco Elson. Utah is adding the 7-foot, 240- pound veteran as starter Mehmet Okur recovers from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Terms were not disclosed.
HOCKEY TheNHLapproved a change in
its bylaw that governs how the league breaks ties in the stand- ings at the end of the season. Under the revised bylaw ap-
proved by the NHL Board of Governors on Tuesday, shootout wins will not be included in the tiebreaker for two teams that finish with the same amount of points. That tiebreaker is limited to regulation and overtime victo- ries. . . . The New York Rangers agreed
to terms with Marc Staal on a multiyear contract, assuring that the defenseman will be at train- ing camp when it opens Friday. —From news services and staff reports
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