Stephen Strasburg to have Tommy John Surgery

Washington Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg is likely to undergo Tommy John Surgery to replace an elbow ligament.  After an MRI session on Thursday, a rumor that Strasburg had torn a ligament in his elbow was confirmed, probably the worst news possible for the re energized Nats who were depending on Strasburg to lead them along their rebuilding path.  Strasburg's development, and most likely that path, are going to be delayed another year, pretty much wasting the 2012 for if nothing else, to develop Bryce Harper in the minors and get other pitching prospects ready for a true run. 


Strasburg's injury also greatly hurts the chance that the Nationals will resign slugging first baseman Adam Dunn, who while still powerful, whiffs a lot and is getting up there in years.  The Nats figure, "why should they give an aging slugger a multi- year multimillion dollar contract when they wont even be in contention for a few years?"  And to be honest, I agree with them.  Why would you use money you could use to build your future on a "NOW" type off player, don't get me wrong, I love Adam Dunn and think he is a great player, I just do not see him playing a role in the future of this ball club.


One bright spot for the Nationals on the Day of Strasburg's MRI was that pitcher Jordan Zimmerman made his first start of the season after being out a year for undergoing the same surgery.  It gives the Nats a glimpse of hope and shows them its not a fatal blow to them, its just a minor setback.

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Nationals Morgan Suspended 7 Games

Washington Nationals Center fielder Nyjer Moran was fined an undisclosed amount and he was suspended for seven games by Major League Baseball for intentionally pelting a fan in the stands with a baseball. The incident occurred during the ninth inning of a Nationals win on Saturday in Philadelphia, a city widely known for having annoying and profane fans.

When asked about it Nyjer said he could not disclose details but he did say that he was not expecting a suspension for the incident. He has appealed the suspension so while Major League Baseball reviews it Morgan will be allowed to play.

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Redskins Fans Show New Life

The Washington Redskins have a long and victorious past that is overshadowed by several bad seasons in a row. Have Redskins fans lost hope? The answer is no. While spending the day at Redskins training camp this past weekend, I learned what it meant to be a true football fan. Although the Skins ended 4-12 last season, there was upwards of 200 people at training camp to watch their beloved Redskins.

As the players took the field at 8:30 in the morning, fans lined the walkway and did nothing but cheer. I heard “welcome to Washington” from fans as Donovan McNabb took the field and “Cooooooooooley” echoed throughout Ashburn as Chris Cooley strapped up for practice, but no other player was welcomed as much as Albert Hanseworth. Fans started yelling congratulatory remarks to him since he had recently passed his conditioning test.

As head coach Mike Shanahan took the field, a long and loud round of applause arose from spectators because we all knew that he was the one man that was going to take our beloved Redskins back to the top where they belong.

- Michael Sensenig (Guest Writer)

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NFC East Preseason Predictions

The Dallas Cowboys are the obvious favorites in the NFC East and should win the division with ease. The ‘Boys offense promises to one of the most explosive in the league with stars such as Quarterback Tony Romo, Half Back Marion Barber, and Tight End Jason Witten, and Wide Receiver Miles Austin, who broke out last year with 1,320 receiving yards. The Cowboys also have a very strong Defense led by sack master DeMarcus Ware and shutdown corners Mike Jenkins and Terrance Newman.

The Washington Redskins have improved a lot this offseason through trades and the draft. After firing Jim Zorn, now the Baltimore Ravens Quarterbacks Coach, they inked the proven Mike Shanahan as their new Head Coach and Jim Haslett, who coached the UFL’s Florida Tuskers to a 6-0 season and a championship game appearance, is their new defensive coordinator. The ‘Skins also drastically improved their offensive line drafting Tackle Trent Williams out of Oklahoma with the 4th overall pick in the draft and trading for All- Pro Tackle Jammal Brown. Now that former All- Pro Defensive Tackle Albert Haynseworth has passed his conditioning and is trying to learn the new 3-4 D the Redskins can focus on winning. Although they probably won’t compete for the Division Title this season, they could contend for a wild card spot.

The biggest splash that the Philadelphia Eagles made this season was trading star quarterback Donovan McNabb in the Division to the Washington Redskins. They also released running back Brian Westbrook cutting ties with what were their two best known players. They have a good, young receiving corps lead by DeSean Jackson. Quarterback Kevin Kolb, who takes over for McNabb has shown lots of potential but if he slips up Michael Vick is waiting for his chance to snap up that job. The Eagles are a good team in a good division with a shot at a playoff spot.

Someone has to be predicted last in this very tough division and I’m going to go with the New York Giants. As always, Quarterback Eli Manning will be good and he has very good receivers in Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manning throw for over 4,000 yards again and even improve on his 27 Touchdown Passes. The Giants also have a strong ground game led by running back Brandon Jacobs who hits as hard as any linebacker in the league. As any team in this division, the Giants have a shot at the playoffs and look for their motors to be running all season long.

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The Great Debate

For the past five years one of the biggest debates in all of sports is who is a better hockey player, Alexander Ovechkin the flashy Left Winger for a revived Capital's Team or Sidney Crosby the golden boy of Team Canada and star center of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I believe it is pretty obvious to us all that Ovechkin is the more talented of the two but being more talented does not automatically mean he is better because being a complete player means that you have to have leadership skills, the talent, the work ethic, and the desire to go out and win your team hockey games.

Both young men have great claims to the title of being the top player in the game but there can only be a single player that is the BEST in the sport.  Here I will go 1 by 1 on certain aspects of their game to see who the edge goes to for the NHL's top player.

EXCITEMENT

Sidney Crosby is a great player who excels at all aspects on the offensive side of the game and can make all fans jump to their feet with his open ice skills or while he is on the break away BUT

Alexander Ovechkin has been a one man show setting of fireworks ever since he arrived in the District from scoring goals while sliding on his back, to setting of the crowd with his creative celebrations, all the way through the sound of the bone crushing hits he lays on players Ovechkin keeps the crowd riled up throughout the whole night.

Edge to Ovechkin

LEADERSHIP

This one has to go to Crosby, He has hoisted the cup as a captian, Ovie hasn't hoisted it at all.  Plain and simple.

Edge to Crosby 

GOAL SCORING

Although Crosby led the league in scoring last season and has improved his shooting to an outsanding level Ovechkin has what is argueably the best shot in all of the NHL so in this case Ovie is first Crosby is a close second.

Slight Edge to Ovechkin

PLAYMAKING

Ovechkin is a better playmaker than many give him credit for and doesn't show his abilities a lot because he has assumed the role of Sniper on a revamped Caps team but Sid the Kid is the overall best playmaker in the game.  He has the quickness and the pinpoint passing to make things happen on the break or in open ice.

Edge to Crosby

DEFENSIVE ABILITY

Crosby has improved on the defensive end and his quickness helps him make up if he gets beaten.  He also has fast hands on the pokecheck but Ovechkin wins this batgtle because of his all around defensive play.  He can poke check, he isn't afraid to drop in front of a shot, and he will deliver bone crushing hits, which have gotten him in trouble, but usually his checks are clean.

Edge to Ovechkin

TOUGHNESS

This is a weak spot for Crosby who falls just a little bit too easily after less than shattering hits and one of Ovechkin's stronger suits because he seems to like recieving hits as much as he likes to dish them out.

Edge to Ovechkin

On this scale Ovechkin seems to be a slightly better player winning 4-2 in my ratings but its just what I think.  Please share your opinions with me by commenting and voting in our poll on the left side of the page.

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Bryce Harper... The Future of Baseball

Bryce Harper
Drafted: #1 overall 2010 MLB Draft, Washington
Pos: Catcher (will probably be converted to OF)
DOB: October 16, 1992
Height: 6'3
Weight: 205 lbs
Mission: With the help of flamethrowing pitcher Stephen Strasburg turn a Nationals franchise with a history of losing into a World Series Contender.

Ever since he was 12 years old in 2005 and Baseball America Listed him as the best hitter in the country in his age group, Major League Baseball Scouts have been drooling over him. Well what does everyone want to ask when they hear this? "Who is this kid?" of course. Well this kid is Bryce Harper, whose legend just kept growing after he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated last June, an accomplishment made even greater by the fact that he was only 16 years old at the time. He can fire the ball at 96 miles an hour, faster than most Big Leaguers can throw, he has amazing baserunning skills and anticipation, but his biggest asset of all is his raw power.

When he was just 15 years old and a freshman in high school he smashed a 570 foot tater in a game. Then during his sophmore year he became the first sophmore to be named Baseball America's Player of the year and at a home run derby at the Ray's Tropicana Field he blasted a ball that was still alive and well when it crashed into the dome wall as the longest homer hit at the park a good 502 feet later. He also has the work ethic to make things happen for his career. Instead of staying in high school for his junior and senior years where he would have ended up playing and dominating the same competion he had for years he earned his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college so he could enter the draft this summer.

In the draft, as everyone expected, the Washington Nationals chose the 17 year old Bryce with the #1 overall pick and for the second straight year they have to deal with the relentless Scott Boras, arguably the best agent in baseball. Both Bryce and the Nationals want to get him signed quickly so they could get him on the field to show his talents, bring in money for the Minor League Clubs, and to continue his rise because as everyone knows in baseball, no one is a sure thing.

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Doing the Wall Dance

The whole Washington DC metro area was up on their feet doing the John Wall dance the day after the Washington Wizards selected the University of Kentucky point guard with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Pretty much the whole town, even those who thought that Ohio State swingman and NCAA Player of the year Evan Turner deserved to be the #1 pick, were excited to welcome the unanimous First Team All-American and SEC player of the year to the Verizon Center. Even Adrian Fenty, DC's Mayor, was excited enough to officially name the day John Wall Day in the District. Wall, the first of 5 UK players taken in the first round said that even as a rookie he is ready to take over the team and be a leader. Wall could potentially pair up with former allstar guard Gilbert Arenas to form what could be one of the highest scoring backcourts in the whole National Basketball Association.

The second UK player taken in the draft was 6'11 Foward DeMarcus Cousins at #5 by the Sacramento Kings. Cousins, who is arguably the most talented player in the draft slipped a little bit due to his lapses of judgement and some additude issues. He was a second team All American and if he improves his awareness and discipline he could become a very good NBA player.

First team All American and POY SG Evan Turner of Ohio State went #2 overall to the Philidelphia 76ers and ACC Freshman of the year Foward Derrick Favors went #3 overall to the New Jersey Jets.

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