My Little Red Book

Barry Lorge: Best tennis writer The Post ever had. He subsequently moved to San Diego, where he became a sports editor and later opened a public relations firm. Passed away this year.

George McPhee: Capitals general manager who put together a team that reached the Stanley Cup finals (1998) in his first year and saw it slip for several years until rebounding into a Cup contender. Drafting Alex Ovechkin No. 1 in 2004 helped.

Jeanne McManus: Former deputy sports editor known as "Nancy" in Tony Kornheiser's Style columns.

Kojo Nnamdi: WAMU radio host who talks to me once a month about weighty subjects of which I know little.

Susan O'Malley: As president of the Wizards, she was the first female president of an NBA team (1991) and for years the highest-ranking female executive in professional sports. She retired in 2007 as president of the Washington Wizards. In the team's "down" years, O'Malley created ads to lure fans to the arena to see visiting all-stars -- a campaign that could resume shortly. Like next week.

Andy Ockershausen: Comcast executive who, as GM of WMAL-AM, set a record for firing the same two people in one decade when he canned Andrew Beyer and me seven times from our radio show ("It's Just a Game") in the 1970s.

Kevin Payne: President of D.C. United and a force in Major League Soccer. Wants a new soccer stadium.

Abe Pollin: The most important sports figure in the Washington area. Owner of the Washington Wizards and Verizon Center; also brought the National Hockey League to town by obtaining an expansion (Capitals) franchise in 1974 and a WNBA expansion team (Mystics) in 1997. Built, with his own resources, Capital Centre in Landover and 11 years ago Verizon Center that helped revitalized its downtown neighborhood. Sold the Caps, Mystics and a minority share of the Wizards and arena several years ago to Leonsis's Lincoln Holdings.

Pepper Rodgers: Former Redskins executive and head coach at Kansas, UCLA, Georgia Tech and with the Memphis Showboats (USFL). One of few people in town who will still play golf with me.

Matthew Simon: Rabbi Emeritus, B'nai Israel Congregation (Rockville) and lifelong Chicago White Sox fan who, in sermons, often quoted New York Times sportswriter Ira Berkow (never Post writers) -- driving me crazy.

Ray Schoenke: One of the 75 greatest Redskins, in my book.

Leonard Shapiro: Former deputy sports editor who has skillfully covered golf, pro football and the media for five decades.