Gibbs Leaves With His Reputation and Humanity Intact

"The family situation had changed," Joe Gibbs said about leaving with a year left on his contract. "It was time to be with them." (By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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Boudreau, who has 32 years in the minors as a player (17) and coach (15), isn't about to blow this opportunity. "The NHL has been my goal my whole life," he said in a telephone interview. "I'm grabbing this. It's my opportunity and I don't want to let it go."

Why the turnaround?

"Maybe the players feel guilty over what happened [with Hanlon]. So they're playing better and harder."

¿ Helping Boudreau along the way is Alex Ovechkin, who on Thursday, acting as his own agent, signed the largest contract in Washington sports history: a 13-year, $124 million extension through 2021.

A smart move to lock up the 22-year-old Russian by Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who knew the Canadian press had been poking at the team's negotiations and fan support. Now Ovechkin is paid more than Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and even makes more than Jurgy and Riggo did. It's a huge commitment to the sport, team and town by Leonsis.

¿ Good news from Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld, who tells me that Etan Thomas is "running, taking shots and believes he will play again."

Thomas had open heart surgery on Oct. 11 and, according to Grunfeld, "feels very good."

Meanwhile, Gilbert Arenas continues his rehab from knee surgery, blogs away and may be considering hiring a new agent by the name of Ovechkin.

¿ No Roger Clemens or former trainer and accuser Brian ("Roger, just tell me what you want me to do" ) McNamee on Capitol Hill this week. But on Tuesday we'll have George J. Mitchell of the Mitchell report, Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig and Players Association boss Donald Fehr. How great is that?

"All these hearings on baseball and steroids, what about health care, the war, the economy, housing foreclosures and unemployment?" asked my lawyer friend. I had no answer for him, other than to tell him that on Feb. 15, pitchers and catchers report to spring training at Nationals camp in Viera, Fla.

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