Moss and Portis Already Two of a Special Kind

· "I enjoyed the way fans have received us here; we could do no wrong."

· "The situation here was limited, but I managed to the best of my ability to get the most out of the ballclub."

· "I made adjustments, but my approach to managing never changed. I've always respected the fans and the game."

· "Alfonso Soriano belongs right up there with Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken among the best players I've ever managed."

· "Fifty-one years in the big leagues doing something I loved? Mind-boggling."

In Robinson's final days as Nats manager he was warm, outgoing, gracious and even funny. It was a side he seldom showed to fans or reporters in his two years here, and that was a pity. Robinson would have helped sell the game here, but he was too old-school, too defensive over how he was judged as a manager. He felt he was paid to win baseball games and there weren't enough wins or talent on the team to make him happy. His warmest day in Washington might have been his last.

Alex the Ace

Is Caps phenom Alex Ovechkin really Bo Jackson -- the retired superathlete who seemed to be better than everyone at everything? On Monday at the team's annual golf tournament at the Springfield Golf and Country Club, Ovechkin, playing golf for the first time in his life, had a hole-in-one after hitting a bunch of 4-irons on the 160-yard fourth hole. "First time I ever swung a club," Ovechkin said, then asked, "Where's Tiger?"

Ted Leonsis, the team's majority owner, said he was playing with Olie Kolzig when informed of Ovechkin's shot. "We looked at each other and asked, 'Why aren't we surprised?' "

Leonsis is optimistic about improving the team's attendance at the Verizon Center ("we've sold 8,000, 9,000 season tickets -- 85 percent renewals from last season") and expressed optimism Tuesday that the Caps will return to the NHL playoffs. "We have two lines that can score," he said. "Our defense has improved and we have two good goalies. Our team is young, but they're growing up together."

In the Rough

Will someone explain to me how the PGA Tour can recognize a golf tournament -- the American Express Championship played last week at the Grove outside of London -- when it killed the well-supported annual golf tournament (most recently the Booz Allen Classic) in the Washington area? The PGA recognizes an event in England after deserting the capital of the United States? Is all this part of the terms of surrender following another Ryder Cup defeat? Are we destined for a life on the Nationwide Tour?

Have a question or comment? Reach me attalkback@washpost.com.