ABCDE SPORTS tuesday, october 5, 2010 PROBASKETBALL


Reunion time Andray Blatche and the Wizards open the preseason in Dallas vs. Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson D3


Happy to be there Juwan Howard, a 17-year veteran, was brought to the Heat to add some experience to the mix. D3


BLOGS,MULTIMEDIAANDCHATS washingtonpost.com/sports First Things First Today, 9:30 a.m. Join Tracee Hamilton as she gets your day started with a Q&A. Redskins Insider Live Today, 10:30 a.m. RickMaese,Dan Steinberg and LaVar Arrington talk Redskins. Football Insider 2010 Download a free iPhone app for Redskins news in the iTunes store.


COLLEGEFOOTBALL


Al who? Virginia plays down its game against Georgia Tech, which has former coach Al Groh on its staff. D2


It’s a hard feeling and it takes a little time to realize that I made a mistake, and a lot of mistakes, and big mistakes.” Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, in an interview with ESPN. D2


A STAR IS BORN [Stephen Strasburg’s journey]


MIKE WISE


Go long with McNabb


O


ne take-away froman already incongruent season: If there is one indispensable player on


theWashington Redskins roster, one guy whose absence would end any realistic hope of returning to the playoffs, it’s DonovanMcNabb. Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen


now have to answer an important question: If this is really about winning now, about the Redskins embarking on a one- to three-year run toward a championship— rather than admitting they’re refurbishing a structurally flawed home—what’s the hold-up? Less than sixmonths after


McNabb was traded for and has emerged as the team’s on-field leader and off-field ambassador, why hasn’t his contract been extended? Where’s the news conference


JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POST


Acareer that seemed so bright took a dark turn when Stephen Strasburg blewout his elbow against the Phillies. Above, he walks off during a game at ClassAAHarrisburg. SEASON REVIEW


After small improvement, Nationals aiming for even more


BY ADAM KILGORE The 2010 Washington Nationals


season was shaped not only by the rotating cast of 25 men in their club- house, but also by the horrors of the past two years. They finished tied for the sixth-worst record in the major leagues, and that counted, at once, as improvement and discouragement. “If you look at the team we had two


years ago, it’s definitely progress,” starter John Lannan said. “It’s not where we want to be. We don’t want to lose 90-plus games. But there are some areas where we improved. We know what we need to do. We have guys in here who want to win. At the same time, you know, it’s a little discouraging. But we’re going in the right direction.” So, then, this Nationals’ season


may be judged by the seasons to follow. By their record, they are no longer the very worst baseball has to offer. They are still one of the worst. Was this season an initial and neces- sary step on the way from wallowing


nationals continued onD4


STRASBURG’S SUDDEN END


S BY DAVE SHEININ


hortly after 4 p.m. on Aug. 21, Stephen Strasburg walked into the visitors’ clubhouse at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park wearing sunglasses. The future seemed that bright. About three hours later, theWashingtonNationals’ phenom would make his 12th big league start, as his memorable rookie season wound down. It was a Saturday night in Philadelphia. The two-time defendingNational League champs


were in the other dugout. The stands were packed. Strasburg’s teammates could feel the energy coursing through their clubhouse.Watching


the phenom from his own locker, Ian Desmond, theNationals’ rookie shortstop, wore a knowing smile. “I don’t usually go making predictions,” Desmond said. “But you watch. The sellout crowd, the Phillies—he’s going to be locked in. This could be really special.” It was possible, at that point, to dream big: Just 22 years old, Strasburg already was one of


the top handful of pitchers in the game—and without question its biggest individual draw— and theNationals could see their timetable for becoming a playoff contender grow a little shorter each time he took the mound.


strasburg continued onD5 Innings pitched 68 56 Hits 17 Walks 92 Strikeouts 5-3 Record 2.91 ERA


Down to the wire Europe captures the Ryder Cup, edging U.S., 141/2


announcing a four- or five-year extension with an annual salary commensurate with any current quarterback not named TomBrady, who ismaking $18million per? Contract talks are “ongoing and


hopeful,” said Fletcher Smith, McNabb’s agent.When reached by telephone Sunday afternoon, he refused to fan any flames of a possible impasse. “Donovan definitely wants to be there.” The teammaintains the same


position, intimating something will eventually get done. And on the surface, there appears to be no reason for real concern. Between the lines, though, the


two sides have had since the first week of June to work out a deal. For myriad reasons, it hasn’t happened.


wise continued onD7


Redskins off to early lead in NFC East


Beating Cowboys, Eagles were part of Shanahan’s focus when he arrived


BY BARRY SVRLUGA When Mike Shanahan took over


theWashington Redskins last winter, he had volumes of tape to review so he could assess the players he would inherit and figure out the needs he would have to fill. But when that task was over, Shanahan and his staff turned to another stack of film: The games of the Dallas Cowboys, Phila- delphia Eagles and New York Giants, the entire 2009 schedule for the Redskins’ three division opponents. “You study schemes, you study personnel,” Shanahan said Monday. “You want tomake sure that you’re on top of everything they do.” The Redskins—if only precarious-


ly, and with three-quarters of the season to go—are on top of the NFC East at least in part because Shanah- an and his staff have placed enor- mous emphasis on divisional games. They are just 2-2 overall, but their two wins are over Dallas, in the season opener, and Philadelphia on Sunday, a 17-12 decision that put life back into Washington’s season because they’re unbeaten in the division. “To make the playoffs and to be


-131/2 Page D3 ASSOCIATED PRESS


good in this league, you have to win division games,” tight end Chris Cool- ey said Sunday. “We’re going to have to continue to play well, but winning at home against Dallas and then here


redskins continued onD7 Redskins: D EZ SU


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62