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Amid Headaches, Nationals Offer a Bit of Relief
· While the frustrating conflict between the Peter Angelos-owned Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and Comcast SportsNet may not be resolved until, say, 2010, I believe we'll see more Nats games on TV. If not, I'm going to get angry.
  While Marion Barry, wearing cap, and fellow D.C. Council members wrangle over a stadium lease, spring training approaches for the Nats, whose roster might include Sammy Sosa. (By Michael Robinson-chavez -- The Washington Post) |
· Even with the increase in ticket prices, the Nationals are one of the best bargains in sports, playing in a hopelessly out-of-date stadium I like that's easily accessible by Metro or car.
· The team's main broadcast voice, Charlie Slowes, is very good. I want to hear him from Day One of spring training games. And I can still listen to the departed Ron Darling doing Mets games. Why? I liked him.
· Finally, a memo to the Fenty-Catania Gang: The Yankees and Orioles play in Washington this season. Be menschen for once and I'll take you to a game. We'll bond.
Monk's Candidacy
Making my annual plea in hopes the committee of 39 selectors (mostly writers) elect former Redskin Art Monk on Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Monk is one of 15 finalists, along with former teammate Russ Grimm (now on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers). Monk played 14 seasons for the Redskins from 1980 to 1993, finishing his career playing one year with the Jets and one with Philadelphia. His 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns don't even measure his true value to those four Redskins Super Bowl teams.
"He has the numbers and the body of work in his career to get in," said retired Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, a Hall of Famer.
One prominent voter who isn't likely to support Monk -- Peter King of Sports Illustrated -- said last week that when he covered the New York Giants, that team feared Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders and Washington's running game more than Monk. "I see him as a good NFL player" -- maybe "not a Hall of Famer," King said.
Retorted Jurgensen: "Did he [Monk] make those people around him better? I think he did."
