My Little Red Book

Daniel M. Snyder: Owner of the Redskins who, for the past 10 years, had built the franchise into one of the most valuable in sports. Has spent huge money in genuine efforts to improve the team but has just three playoff appearances to show for it. Rarely gives on-the-record interviews.

Solomon grandchildren: Bennett (6), Bryan (5), Jake (3) Cassie (2) and Harry (1 week). All talented and gifted, despite questionable parenting.

Mark Taff: Brilliant dentist and Wizards season ticket holder now willing to sell off some tickets to selected games.

John Thompson: A Washingtonian who played at Providence and for the Celtics was Georgetown's basketball coach from 1972 to 1999. His teams went to 20 NCAA tournaments, winning the national championship in 1984. But more important than his records were his stances on social issues that always seemed more important than the trophies and plaques he won. Now a radio and television commentator, what stands out in my mind about him during his time at Georgetown was his keeping a deflated basketball on a table in his office. He simply wanted to show his players that some day the games end.

Talkbackers: Regular contributors Bob Moss, Tom Carr, Bob Credle, Tom Graves, Trish Boswell, Glenn Goldstein, Temple Grassi, Eugene Morgan, Barry Flax, Charlie Jurgonis, Helen Druva, Peter Hamner, Bill Irvin, Ben Mirman, Eric Leiter, Nelson Marans, Marty Chase and Roger Hand.

Binh M. Tran: Physical therapist able to move old bones.

Wes Unseld: Agent 0 (remember him?) notwithstanding, Unseld, to me, remains the player who epitomized the best in professional basketball in this city.

Gary Williams: Maryland's basketball coach whose 2002 team won the school's only men's basketball NCAA title. Seventh-winningest (604-343) men's coach still active. Sweats a lot during games.

Morgan Wootten: Retired DeMatha basketball coach. In the Basketball Hall of Fame with a record of 1,274-192.

Jack Zane: Retired Maryland sports information director who years ago threw Feinstein out of his press room but now denies it.

Ben Zelenko: Lawyer who for more than 30 years kept me out of courtrooms.

Duke Zeibert: The late restaurateur who ran the best eatery ever in Washington, which once housed a case with three Super Bowl trophies. The joint was so comfortable that the late sportswriter Morrie Siegel, when asked why he ate there so often, once said, "Because I don't like going out to eat."

And what a neat way to close this column -- writing about Zeibert and Siegel, who would have correctly complained that this piece was too long.

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