Redskins Hall of Famers Know It's Canton or Bust

Darrell Green, front, and Art Monk, background, will soon join Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen and other Redskins greats in their own bronze age. (By John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)
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"A lot of sports leagues have come and gone in the past 33 years," King said. "But we've stayed. I make my living doing this."

Tennis purists visiting the colorful "stadium" at 11th and H streets NW -- an oversize parking lot until a couple of weeks ago -- will be jolted when they hear rock music, team-inspired cheerleading and fans yelling at opposing players during points. "This is taking tennis to the people," King said. "It's what I care most about."

WTT's scoring formula makes no sense whatsoever to me, but non-Gator-educated fans might find two explanations in last Wednesday's Post useful when the Kastles return home Tuesday night to face the New York Sportimes without the Wimbledon finalist (note to Gilbert: Serena plays only once at home per season, thrice on the road).

"We had to create 150 extra seats to accommodate everyone," Ein said. "I had people fighting to get the last of the [expensive] box seats." These fans included Mayor Adrian Fenty, getting King's signature on two shirts for his children; former mayor Tony Williams; other pols and Wizards star Caron Butler.

Afterward, Ein was beaming as players signed autographs (Serena's two security guards were the size of NFL linemen) and gave away free rackets to kids under 15. Young fans even craved Kastles bad boy Justin Gimelstob's autograph. This is the same Gimelstob whose recent nasty comments in a radio interview about Anna Kournikova got him in big trouble. As punishment, Gimelstob was sentenced to listen to Feinstein's latest book-on-tape -- in one sitting.

Nevertheless, Ein was so excited despite his team's loss on Tuesday he even predicted similar sellouts for the rest of the month despite Serena's absence. "Serena overshadows the rest of our team," he said. "The fans will love our other players."

Spoken like an owner in the sports business for less than a month.

Mason's Jarring Departure

Sorry to see Roger Mason, a Good Counsel and University of Virginia product and favorite of mine, leave the Wizards for San Antonio. Mason, who averaged 9.1 points on 44.3 percent shooting in his second season with the Wizards, cut a deal worth $7.3 million over two years.

But pleased that the Capitals, who discarded Olie Kolzig like a old pair of shoes, kept veteran center Sergei Fedorov at $4 million for the upcoming season and re-signed forward Brooks Laich to a three-year contract worth about $6.2 million.

Fedorov, 38, helped the Caps immensely in their playoff push last season. He has charisma; a real presence. That's four Russians on the ice for Washington: Sergei, Alex (the Great) Ovechkin, Alex (Almost the Great) Semin and Viktor Kozlov. But a note to Kastles owner Ein: Do not invite Fedorov to mingle with Gimelstob at one of your matches. Trust me.

Also, how 'bout that ungrateful Tony Stewart leaving Coach Joe's racing team to become part-owner and driver for Haas CNC Racing? Fortunately, Coach Joe has 18-year-old potential superstar Joey Logano, owner of a driver's license for two years, ready to take Stewart's spot in the No. 20 Camry.

In a New York State of Mind

A July 4 weekend split between Philly and northern New Jersey visiting children and grandchildren provided an opportunity to read the New York tabloids and imagine what their coverage of the last-place Nationals might be.