15 Years Ago, There Was Duke's -- and a Dynasty

Winning is how Jordan, a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Carroll High School (1973) and Rutgers University (1977), became the first Bullets/Wizards coach to direct an all-star team since Dick Motta did it 28 years ago. "Furthest thing from my mind," is how Jordan described his vision of one day coaching an NBA all-star game.

Of Motta, who coached in the NBA for 25 seasons, Jordan said, "I hope I last as long as he did." Washington's other all-star coaches were Gene Shue (1969) and K.C. Jones (1975).

Wizards assistant Tom Young, who coached Jordan at Rutgers, is not surprised at Jordan's success. "He always understood the game," Young said. "You never know how far someone will go, but he's always had the ability to relate to players."

Fallen Star

The euthanizing of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro on Monday -- eight months after breaking his right hind leg in the first few yards of the Preakness last May -- upset millions of people this week. Some might ask why so many felt compassion for this horse, especially since the sport has been in decline for years.

"He appealed to people beyond the sport," said Laura Hillenbrand, Washington author of the best-selling "Seabiscuit: An American Legend.''

"Many of the people who felt compassion for this horse did not tune into the Breeders' Cup last year," she said. "But the sport isn't in as bad a shape as some think, except for wrapping itself too much in the Triple Crown series."

Lone Star

Life moves fast, but where was I last year when Kevin Durant was playing basketball for Stu Vetter at Rockville's Montrose Christian School? The 6-foot-9 Durant, 18, averaged nearly 24 points a game last year before signing with Texas. Through Friday, the freshman Durant is averaging 25 points and 11.6 rebounds a game for the 16-5 Longhorns. "He's the most talented basketball player out there," said Maryland Coach Gary Williams, who signed Durant's teammate, point guard Greivis Vasquez. "Durant has put Texas on his back."

Texas Tech's Bob Knight, not given to casual praise, told reporters after Durant single-handedly destroyed Knight's team last week: "He's really good." Added Texas Coach Rick Barnes to ESPN, "When he gets going, the other players just let him have the ball."

Under the NBA's rule of players having to be one year out of high school before making themselves eligible for the draft, look for Durant to go pro after the current season. Durant and Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden likely would be the top two picks in the June draft.

Finally

· Congratulations to Dave Kindred, who was named this week to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in Salisbury, N.C. Kindred, a former sports columnist at The Post, writes columns for the Sporting News and Golf Digest and is the author of "Sound and Fury: Two Powerful Lives, One Fateful Friendship." The book details the relationship between Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell.

· "Friday Night Lights" update: Even with Smash Williams back in the starting lineup, the Dillon (Tex.) Panthers will be underdogs for Wednesday's Texas high school playoff game (Channel 4, 8 p.m.). There is too much dissension surrounding the team. It centers on beleaguered Coach Eric Taylor, Taylor's wife, Terri, their daughter Julie and a lot of wacko fathers. Last week, quarterback Matt Saracen did a photo shoot for the high school calendar in a hot tub. Who wouldn't want to be the student sportswriter at this school?

· Ad review: How about WTEM-980 running spots for the CIA recruiting "clandestine" agents? Only in Washington. Feinstein would make a good spy. But for whom?

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