Tue, 04/10/2007 - 10:57am

With Hoyasteria ebbing into fond memories and projections for Georgetown’s next season, the District returns to… whatever it is they were doing before “JT-III’s” team willed their way to the Final Four, only to be outplayed by tourney runner-up Ohio State. The most logical transition for DC sports fans would be to pro hoops, where the upstart Wizards were primed to pry the Southeast Division Title away from the ailing Miami Heat. The defending champs were prone after their heart-and-soul player, Dwayne Wade, went down with a dislocated shoulder. And yet now, it seems that the wheel of fate has turned, rolling over Washington’s NBA expectations like a puppy crossing the beltway.

Gilbert Arenas’ best pro season was cut short during Wednesday’s game at the Verizon Center, when Charlotte Bobcats mainstay Gerald Wallace was fouled putting up a reverse layup. Wallace hit the deck awkwardly, barreling into Arenas’ knee in the inadvertent fashion in which felled defensive lineman are apt to injure NFL QBs. Arenas can no longer quarterback the once potent Wizards offense, only five days removed from Caron Butler being forced from the lineup with a fractured hand. The Wizards were tracking down a reinvented Miami team and had them set up for a game in South Beach this coming Wednesday that could decide the Southeast Division. Now, it is Washington that must regroup after losing a combined 47.6 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals over 79 minutes per game, on a team where depth had already been a concern. Over the weekend, the Verizon Center will play host to Lebron James and Vince Carter, the next two players in line to pass Arenas, who is currently 2nd in the league in scoring.

Unlike many of the marquee players, the importance of Wednesday’s game is not lost. Ironically, the Miami Heat provide the model for coping with the loss of a player of Wade or Arenas & Butler’s combined caliber, as the team has run a hard offense down the middle to set up open shots on the perimeter. Etan Thomas has played extremely well in recent games, but the differences between him and Shaq are akin to the disparities between the Potomac and the Pacific. Thomas’ newfound fervor near the basket will help the Wizards tread water, but they lack the tread to gain significant ground in the uphill climb through the playoffs. With these injuries, the Wizards managed to end their season just before the Capitals, who conclude a losing campaign against the Eastern Conference Champion Buffalo Sabres, at the Verizon Center on Saturday.

The Capitals season has not gone by without its bright spots, but they are getting tougher to notice of late. This was especially true Wednesday night, as one of their best efforts of the season was eschewed by Comcast in favor of the Bobcats’ deathblow to the Wizards. After tying a bow onto the Wizards’ compound, disappointing loss, Comcast returned from commercial break to show the Caps clinging to a one goal lead shorthanded, with under two minutes remaining. In the frenzy of the penalty kill, fatigued Caps defender Milan Jurcina was whistled for a slash, giving the Atlanta crowd a two-man advantage to cheer about. On top of the outstanding firepower of the Atlanta power play, Kari Lehtonen raced to the bench, giving the Thrashers a rarely seen 6 on 3 advantage. Caps backup backstop Brent Johnson kept his poise under siege, surviving to the buzzer despite what he described as what “felt like nine guys out there [for Atlanta].”

The final minutes of combat between Souteast Division rivals served as a microcosm for an enthralling contest (except for Thrashers fans). The Caps were outshot 10-3, giving up the only goal of the first period. They returned from the locker room, rallying on pride and an electric performance by Alexander Ovechkin. The Capitals owned the second period, scoring three goals in just over ten minutes and drawing the ire of the Atlanta crowd; an uninformed observer would be hard-pressed to recognize the Thrashers as the playoff bound team. By the end of the second, Ovechkin had netted two goals, including what would stand to be the game-winner. He spiked his game with his usual dosage of punishing hits and even made a diving effort on a backcheck, sliding across the ice with his stick occupying the passing lane in front. Caps diehards missed what Coach Greg Hanlon called a “sensational” performance by Ovechkin, who said “It wasn’t my best game, but it may have been the best one when we won.” We’ll be able to see if Ovechkin saves his best for last on Saturday afternoon, since Comcast will be free of programming conflicts with the Wizards game later in the evening.

The need for a fresh start is more apparent than ever for sports buffs in the District, but the impending baseball season brings more concern than promise. The Orioles have not made improvements on a team that fended off the Devil Rays last year for 4th place in baseball’s most unforgiving division. An ever-improving Devil Rays squad indicates that the O’s might finish last this season, as the Nationals are almost certainly destined to do in a brutal NL EAST where they may eclipse the 100 loss mark.

As early as this weekend, DC fans can get in on the ground floor of a championship run. After their fifth consecutive playoff season and coming off a year with the league’s best regular-season record, DC United looks to take home their League-Leading 5th MLS Cup in just over ten years. Their season opens Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Rapids, the team who DC United beat out for their 2nd League Championship in 1997. DC United maintains a very friendly schedule to 9-5ers and kids alike, limiting all but a few games to the weekends. DC fans can head to RFK on their days off while the Nationals look to disprove their skeptics on the road, to preview the frenzy scheduled for November 18th, when RFK and Washington DC play host to the MLS Cup Championship. On paper, it seems only complacence or misfortune will keep this November 18th from being a home game.

DC United brings one of the league’s more prolific offenses, set around a very discretely well-rounded side. Christian Gomez has been the focal point of the offense, but benefits from the importing of Luciano Emilio, who as wins and losses goes, may prove a more significant import than soccer-celeb David Beckham. Bobby Boswell’s quiet style in goal is more than compensated for by the oft-incensed defense of Ben Olsen. Another subtle asset for DC United is the tailwind propelling them through their home games. During the regular season, RFK boasts the only noticeable “12th man” or significant home field advantage, as DC United fans bring fervor that every franchise around the league looks to imitate. The experience is a hidden treasure for sports fans, in a city that- as sports go- is primed for new interests. The season opener is slated for Saturday, April 7th at 3:30pm on ABC (WJLA on RCN), while the home opener takes place the following at 7:30pm on Saturday, April 14th at RFK.

About the author
Paul Olsen is a freelance writer and an avid sports fan, with a wide range of interests. He can be reached at olsen.paul.j@gmail.com

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