Posting Up

Heat Wins Series, 4-0

An Irreverent Look at the Series:

During Late Run, Cheer the Turtles

At the end, two kids Gary Williams once recruited to Maryland were trying to scale Mount Zo and Dangerous Dwyane in a pulsating thriller. Juan Dixon shot the Wizards back into it, Steve Blake zigzagged around the court at warp speed, finding his teammates for open shots in a rare postseason appearance.

Gilbert Arenas had long ago thrown his jersey into the stands, having fouled out midway through the fourth quarter. The Miami Heat was on its way to a blowout victory late in Game 4 when the two former Maryland stars ignited one of the most theatrical comebacks of the season.

Antawn Jamison knocked down a monstrous three-pointer, sending the MCI Center crowd into a tizzy. But the season died about the moment Eddie Jones lined up a three-pointer in the final 15 seconds.

Oh well. Dixon and Blake may not be here next year, their impending free agency about to send them on their way to another city that could never appreciate and applaud them like the people they once won a national championship for at Maryland.

Still, something about two Terrapins trying to pull it out embodied the grit and resolve of Abe Pollin's suddenly persevering franchise.

Trivia Quiz

Who is the last member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team -- the original Dream Team -- still competing? a) Shaquille O'Neal b) Reggie Miller c) Christian Laettner. The answer is c) Christian Laettner, who controversially beat out O'Neal to become the lone college player selected to a team featuring Magic, Larry and Michael. Laettner later went on to become an antisocial malcontent for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Atlanta Hawks and the Wizards, among others, before settling in nicely on the Miami bench, where he occasionally comes off the bench to launch a brick in the final minutes.

Toucan Sam Portis?

Clinton Portis is known for pulling on his natty attire after each Redskins loss. Portis pulls off the fedora-wearing, Cab Calloway look as well as any modern-day athlete. But what was up with last night's ensemble? Portis showed up at courtside in a tutti-frutti colored blazer over a key-lime polo shirt. This would not go over in Guam, let alone the District. Hence, the boos when he and his party were featured on the video scoreboard.

We want to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he bought a charity quilt in Haiti or Antigua. Maybe someone hit him upside the head with a box of Fruit Loops and he didn't have time to change. But you show up with former Redskins defensive backs Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot in that get-up? You don't get back to your seat until midway through the third quarter and then you bolt before the fourth?

We expect a quick getaway for Bailey and Smoot. But come on, Clinton, you're better than that.

Gheorghe's Challenge

In season or out, Gheorghe Muresan will play one-on-one against Peter John Ramos anytime, anywhere, said the 7-foot-7, Romanian giant last night.

Gheorghe Boy does not believe Ramos, the 7-foot-3 beacon of a Puerto Rican, wants any part of his 34-year-old bones.

"He doesn't want to get injured in a charity game," Muresan said. "The organization will tell him not to play. I know how this goes. If I hurt him, then it becomes big problem. But I have another idea."

What?

"How about I play you one-on-one for charity?"

My Giant vs. Posting Up, for everything left in the kitty. The season is over, but it is still on.

It is so on.