Top Ten D.C. Area Sports Moments 2000-2009

10. Michael Jordan returns and plays for the Wizards.



Jordan generated a ton of interest and revenue for a struggling NBA franchise. Not much of a front office executive though.

9. Georgetown returns to the NCAA Final Four in 2007.



What's interesting about this story is the Hoyas were coached by John Thompson III, the son of the long time Hoya coach who went to three Final Four's and won the NCAA title in 1984.

8. Maryland Football wins the 2001 ACC Championship



Under new head coach Ralph Friedgen, the Terps came out of nowhere and surprised everyone by winning their first ACC title since 1985 and going to the Orange Bowl. Prior to the 2001 season, Maryland's last bowl game was the 1990 Independence Bowl.

7. Wizards beat the Bulls 4 games to 2 in the first round of the 2005 NBA playoffs.



Prior to this, the Wizards had made the playoffs once (1997) since 1988 and their last playoff series win was in 1982 when they beat New Jersey in the first round.

6. Joe Gibbs returns to coach the Redskins in 2004.



The results were mixed, two playoff appearances (2005, 2007) but the overall record was 31-36 including a 1-2 record in playoff games.

5. George Mason goes to the Final Four in 2006.



This team barely got in the NCAA tournament, then shocked former champs Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut on their way to an unlikely Final Four. They lost to eventual champion Florida. This run to the Final Four had a huge impact on the school today as enrollment is up and there are new buildings being constructed on campus.

4. Alex Ovechkin



Drafted by the Capitals in 2004, he's won two NHL Most Valuable Player awards and is easily the most exciting player in hockey today. Caps have gone from barely filling Verizon Center post NHL lockout, to selling out every game this season. The Caps are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender right now.

3. Baseball returns to Washington DC.



The Montreal Expos move here and play at RFK Stadium from 2005-2007 before moving to Nationals Park at the beginning of the 2008 season. We lost the Senators in 1971 and had nothing until the Expos came here (I became a Baltimore Orioles fan after that) There's a long way to go before this team is competitive but it's great to be able to go to the ball yard again.

2. Maryland Basketball: 2001 Final Four, 2002 National Championship



Terps finally get to the Final Four, then win it all the next year. I followed this team all my life and it was tough seeing them lose to Duke in 2001 but great to see them beat Indiana for the title the next season. Remember, Gary Williams brough this program came back from the dark days following the death of Len Bias and NCAA probation.

1. Redskins Darrell Green and Art Monk make the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.



Monk and Green going into the Hall of Fame in 2008 is my #1 because those two had great careers here and I was able to see them in person a lot at RFK Stadium. Two class acts in what is easily the greatest era in Redskins history.

Art Monk finished his career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns in 224 career games. He was the first NFL player to catch more than 900 career passes and he retired as the game’s all-time leader in receptions. He was the first NFL player to record more than 100 receptions in a season. He also caught at least one pass in 183 consecutive games. Monk was clutch when the Redskins needed a catch to keep a drive alive.

Darrell Green played 20 seasons for the Redskins, recording 1,321 tackles, 59 interceptions, nine forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He also scored 11 touchdowns (eight by interception return, two by fumble return and one on a punt return). Green earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl, was named NFL Man of the Year in 1996 for community service and won the NFL Humanitarian Award as well.

It was a thrill seeing both of them enter the Hall of Fame together.

Second Worst Play in Redskins History

The New York Giants just beat up on the hapless Redskins last night 45-12. The Redskins were never in this from the start and got crushed. This result was not as close as the final score indicates. There is already a new General Manager in place now and after upcoming defeats to Dallas and San Diego close out a 4-12 year, a new coach and staff will be in place. Another three or four year rebuilding period awaits.

I really don't know how much more patience I have with this team under current ownership. It's just sad what this franchise has become under one Daniel M. Snyder since he took over ownership in 1999. This franchise has given me and many Washingtonian's much happiness with three Super Bowl victories in five appearances. Now it's the laughing stock of football.



Ugh! The thing that made this play worse was that it did catch the Giants off guard and caused them to call a timeout. So after the timeout, with the element of surprise gone, the Redskins decided to run the play again. What did they think was going to happen when you run a play that relies completely on surprise once the surprise has been taken away?

For the record, the worst play in Redskins history is "Rocket Screen". This was called toward the end of the first half in Super Bowl XVIII vs the Los Angeles Raiders. The Redskins lost that one 38-9.

Benjamin's First Maryland Basketball Game

Got a pair of excellent tickets for the Maryland-Eastern Kentucky game so I took Benjamin to his first Terps experience. He slept on the drive to College Park but was wide awake when we got to Comcast Center.

He was a little intimidated by the number of people inside the building but he got used to the surroundings quick. We walked around and he thought both the Men's and Women's National Championship trophies from 2002 and 2006 respectively were cool.

We grabbed some food, ate and got to our seats to watch warm ups. Once the game started I tried taking pictures but Benjamin had a lot of questions about the game, players, rules, Testudo the mascot. So I put the camera away and he saw this as an invitation to sit on my lap during the game for the better view.

He got an understanding of basketball, loved watching three pointers and dunks and said he can't wait to play basement hoops when he got home.

We left in the second half, he was missing Mommy and wanted to see the Christmas tree that Weena decorated. We listened to the game on the ride home. For the record, the Terps won 83-72.

We got a couple souvenirs and Benjamin was very happy. He told everyone at the house all about the game and how much fun he had. Daddy had a great time too.

Rubbing the Terrapin for good luck outside Comcast Center


Checking out Terp hoop history


Grabbing a hot dog before the game.


Pregame stretch and warm ups




Scouting from Section 101, Row 4


Terps before the game


Game action


Greivis Vasquez


Adrian Bowie


Eric Hayes


Game Summary from The Washington Post

Benjamin's Winter Show

"When the overhead lights flipped on during the opening bars of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" a mass of parents, family and friends was suddenly thrown into sharp relief and the audience appeared as real and human as the band sweating it out on stage. The illusion didn't evaporate. It exploded into something profound."

Ok, I took that sentence from the Washington Post review of the 11/2 Springsteen concert and with a little editing you get the idea of Benjamin's Winter Show ;)

For the record, his group sang Deck the Halls and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. His group would practice daily with their music teacher and at night I would play the songs on my iPod while Benjamin sang. He liked Twisted Sister's version of Deck the Halls and the classic Bruce Springsteen version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

At the end of the show the entire four year old class (three groups) appeared on stage for the medley of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Itsy, Bitsy, Spider and the Chicken Dance.

Then they all shouted Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! to the audience and took their bows.

Benjamin and Cousin Ariel

Yesterday was a beautiful day and with Benjamin's cousin Ariel in town, we took advantage of it after a little indoor soccer.

Basement soccer with Real Madrid vs Barcelona on in the background


We moved outdoors as it was a beautiful day


Benjamin working on his free kick


Park time!

An Early Thanksgiving

Today we celebrate!



Last month my Mother in Law Aida was diagnosed with meningioma.
Meningioma is a form of a brain tumor that is on the surface of the brain and lodged between the layer of the skull and the brain.

Aida had successful surgery on October 21st, the tumor was benign and post surgery she spent a month at a rehabilitation hospital recovering and re-learning how to walk and use her left arm and hand again.

It is with great happiness that I report today that she was released from the rehabilitation hospital and is home safe and sound. Once we got to our house I was going to use her wheel chair to wheel her to the front steps and assist her into the house but she insisted on walking up to the front door with her walker. She said she wanted to walk into the house and she did.

I have much respect for Physical Therapists and Nurses now. The dedication I saw from the hospital staff during the time Aida was there was simply incredible. Today there were a lot of tears shed as Aida was hugging the folks she got to know there over the past month. She called this her graduation day. We dropped off a lot of baked goods with the staff and Benjamin made a card.

I felt sadness for the people there in recovery who not as fortunate, the one's who can't talk or do much with out assistance, the one's with cages to keep their head steady and neck in place. The one's with a longer recovery road ahead of them. These are someone’s grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers and husbands too. Today I was near tears watching them for the last time today. We are extremely blessed.

This was a difficult time in all of our lives and Aida has been through a lot. I am very happy she has progressed and is not in pain anymore. She still has some work to do in regaining her strength to walk properly again. We are hopeful she will do so. She had a lot of love, support and prayer to guide her along the way. All of us thank you very much.

This was our Thanksgiving. I hope your holiday is as wonderful as ours.

Benjamin's Holiday Show

Benjamin told me tonight his class is working on their music for their annual Holiday Show on December 10th. Every day he has a half hour of Music and he said one of the songs they are working on is Santa Claus is Coming To Town.

Of course we broke out the iPod and listened to Bruce Springsteen's version, then thanks to Google I found this from the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank NJ on December 22,2008. Enjoy!



One more from London, December 19, 2007 with the Big Man

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

I had a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band last night. It has been a rough month for me personally and yesterday was a very difficult day. So I definitely needed this show. Bruce is always clutch when one is down and inside I knew he would come through with a fantastic show. And what a show it was.

I had a great seat in the lower deck to the side and stood with the audience the entire show. He played the entire Born to Run album which was incredible and of course I lost it when Clarence did his sax solo during Jungleland. Couple other tunes where I was thinking about things and I lost it too. Overall I laughed, cried, sang, chanted, bounced up and down and had a fantastic time. Every emotion I had was on display last night.

It is always a thrill to see Nils and Bruce dueling with their guitars and last night they put on a hell of a show during Prove It All Night. The energy Bruce and the band have just continues to amaze me. This show was just what I needed last night. I am still in awe of what I saw and have no voice now. Thank you Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

The setlist:
Outlaw Pete
Prove It All Night
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Night
Backstreets
Born to Run
She's the One
Meeting Across the River
Jungleland
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Stand on It
Seven Nights to Rock
Growin' Up
Pink Cadillac
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands
* * *
Hard Times
No Surrender
American Land
Dancing in the Dark
Rosalita
Higher and Higher

The Washington Post review here

Ted Leonsis, the Caps Owner was at the show too. Here is his blog post

PS-I didn't take these pictures, cameras were not allowed and these were on The Washington Post web site. I *wish* I could have taken them though.

Happy 4th Birthday Benjamin!

Today Benjamin turned four year's old. Hard to believe how fast time has flown. He was born at 9:51 AM on October 25, 2005. Now he's "not a little boy anymore Daddy, I'm a big boy now!"

My son, my life, my best pal. I'm proud to be your Dad!

Here is our little celebration after we came back from our birthday dinner out. Benjamin's choice: He loves Olive Garden so we all had a nice meal there.

Benjamin learned to help his Lolo shortly after he learned to walk.
Every meal he makes sure Lolo gets to the table ok.


Cupcake anticipation!


Singing Happy Birthday!


Contemplating a birthday wish


Yeah!


Here we go!


Oh yeah!


Cool book Grandpa, thanks!


More presents


Acting like he's been there before


Iron Man!


He loved his lunch earlier today with Grandma and he likes all the presents he got. Big thanks to Grandma, Aunt Kim & Uncle Bill and Uncle David & Sharon. We enjoyed the afternoon celebrating.

Now a walk down birthday memory lane...

10/26/05: One day old


2006: Benjamin's first birthday




2007: Benjamin's second birthday


2008: Benjamin's third birthday