| Random Thoughts From Section 423 Authored by Jason Rosenthal - March 1, 2007 - 12:31 pm
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By Jason Rosenthal
I had the fortune, or misfortune, of attending last night’s Wiz game against the Heat. I won’t bother you with borrific details, but I did have some random thoughts:
—I’ve often wondered this in the past, but while sitting in the “cheap seats” at Verizon Center last night, it really started bother to me, and my compatriot “Uncle” Freddie, since it was so apparent. I have serious issues with the placement of the banners in the rafters at VC. Not only is the lone Bullets championship banner at one side of the stadium, where it often goes unnoticed, but lighting around it and the other Bullets banners is poor.
But that’s not what really bothers me. What dominates the prime rafter real-estate? You know – the place in the middle of the stadium hugging the jumbotron where everyone looks 100x a game for stupid Dunkin Donuts races and dance cams? Washington Mystics banners. And not just any Mystics banners. But Washington Mystics Attendance Champions banners. Not just a couple of them. Like six of them. I’ll say that again – six Washington Mystics Attendance Champion banners hanging in the most viewable spot in the VC ceiling.
Am I the only one extremely bothered by this? Who authorized this? Why aren’t the Bullets banners in the center and the completely irrelevant Mystics banners in a corner somewhere? Or under a rock. Hell – why are there Mystics attendance champion banners at all? Abe, I implore you, do something about this.
—During halftime of last night’s game the team honored longtime local sportscasting legend George Michael, who will sign off tonight after 27 years anchoring the sports desk at WRC/NBC. Michael chose to retire after NBC announced layoffs to WRC’s staff last year. His nationally syndicated “Sports Machine” show, which was way before its time and has been on since 1984, also will go off this month. Michael will continue doing “Redskins Reports" and "Full Court Press" on the weekends, the shows which helped elevate the Washington Post’s Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon to the national stage. Michael will be replaced by Dan Hellie, a three-sport standout at Magruder High School (the alma mater of yours truly).
Michael was honored in the owner’s box, flanked by Abe Pollin, Cal Ripken, Wes Unseld, and Joe Gibbs. Quite a lineup, right? Deservingly so. Michael has been a larger than life presence in the local sports game forever, exuding a refreshing sense of enthusiasm with his hokey on-air persona, which is in stark contrast from the cookie-cutter sarcastic one-liner types on ESPN these days.
But I wondered – are there any local sports broadcasting legends left in DC? I grew up with a1927 Yankees lineup of Ken Beatrice (“Youurrrr Next on SportsCall”), Glenn Brenner (RIP), and George Michael – three pioneers in the field. Not to mention guys like Mel Proctor and John Miller. There’s nobody left that can hold a candle to any of these guys.
—In terms of last night’s game, I’m not one of those that is going to get bothered by a February NBA game. The NBA season is way too long and it takes a truly special, read: championship, team to play at a high level throughout the season. The injuries for the Wizards obviously don’t help either. Of course, that doesn’t excuse how poorly they played. I kept being amazed that they the team was still in the game, yet they couldn’t throw the proverbial ball in the ocean when it mattered. Horrific isn’t a strong enough adjective to describe the Wizards’ play in the fourth quarter. Between Gil’s shooting woes and Jarvis Hayes’ airballs, the quality of play could only be described as Mysticsesque.
Obviously something is wrong with Gilbert Arenas. It’s probably part mental and part physical, but he’s in a bad place right now. But there’s still 20 or so games left in the season and six weeks from the start of the playoffs. Gilbert, and the team, has plenty of time to get their swag back.
Shaq still looks huge, even from section 423. And yea, obviously, he’s lost a couple steps. But he’s still better than all but 2-3 or centers in the league. It’s no wonder that Wade is leaning towards rehab rather than surgery for his bum shoulder. Wade knows his legacy will be measured by championships and it’s worth getting as many cracks as possible with the Big Fella NOW.
The only redeeming note from last night was when Ryan Ripken, that’s right – Cal’s son, nailed a three-pointer during a timeout promotion, giving everyone in the stadium a free Papa John’s pizza. Like his pops, Ryan’s got a sense for the dramatic.
—Luckily, I made it home in time to toggle between the second halves of the MD/Duke and Texas/Texas A&M games. Maryland, left for dead by many, including me, as little as 3 weeks ago, throttled Duke for the 2nd time this season and is one of the hottest teams in the country right now at the most optimal time. With a fearless frosh in Vasquez, a do-everything senior leader in Strawberry, Mike Jones knocking down jumpers, and an athletic triumvirate frontcourt of Gist, Ibekwe, & Osby, the Terps are going to be a tough out in the tourney.
The Texas/Texas A&M double-overtime thriller was probably the best college game I’ve seen this year. Kevin Durant is a great, great player, who might supplant everybody’s #1 Greg Oden in this June’s NBA draft. Suitland, MD’s own is not only an incredibly gifted player, but also comes with the intangibles. Wants the ball in crunch time. Plays both ends of the court. Not afraid to get in his teammates faces. Just a wonderful player and I can’t wait to see what he does in March. A Carmello Anthony run isn’t out of the question.
Texas A&M, even with the loss, is a team that will be going deep in my bracket. Acie Law IV (yup, the back of his jersey reads Law IV) is a Chauncey Billups type of player, who actually backs up the comparison. He’s been hitting humungous shots his whole career and last night hit game-tying 3’s to send the game to both OTs. A&M has some good pieces surrounding him, so just because this team isn’t exactly known for its March prowess, don’t sleep on the Aggies.
Man, I love this time of year.
Jason Rosenthal is the content supervisor at WizFans.com. Got a comment? Send him an email at jmrosenth@yahoo.com.
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