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<title><![CDATA[washingtonpost.com - Michael Wilbon (washingtonpost.com)]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Washington Wizards need direction before season ends up lost]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112602234.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112602234.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ All the ingredients for a lost season are in place. New coach, new systems of offense and defense, four new players, two players returning after long layoffs, hideous early-season losses, dissension before Thanksgiving and most unsettling, a deceased owner who has been the face of the franchise for more than 40 years. The Washington Wizards, from the top of the pyramid to the 12th man, had every reason to spend Thanksgiving worrying. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[need]]></category><category><![CDATA[direction]]></category><category><![CDATA[before]]></category><category><![CDATA[season]]></category><category><![CDATA[ends]]></category><category><![CDATA[up]]></category><category><![CDATA[lost]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Abe Pollin built Verizon Center, mentored Magic Johnson]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112404085.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112404085.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In the mid-1990s, nearly 30 years after the riots tore through Washington, D.C., parts of downtown looked as if the violence had happened only recently. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Abe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pollin]]></category><category><![CDATA[built]]></category><category><![CDATA[Verizon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Center,]]></category><category><![CDATA[mentored]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Johnson]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Encouraging signs for a night]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111804516.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Nothing good can come of drawing definitive conclusions before Christmas when it comes to the NBA. The game-to-game pronouncements that characterize the way we assess the NFL's 16-game sprint simply don't work in professional basketball, with the necessary ups and downs of its interminable marathon season. When the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first two games of the new season, NFL-style wisdom was that Shaquille O'Neal was a bad fit and Mike Brown might need to be the first coaching casualty. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Encouraging]]></category><category><![CDATA[signs]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[night]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/18/PH2009111804521.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Belichick's arrogant decision]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111603440.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Blog excerpt from views.washingtonpost.com/world-wide-wilbon<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122835245" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122835245" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/sports/index.html">Sports</category>
<category><![CDATA[Belichick's]]></category><category><![CDATA[arrogant]]></category><category><![CDATA[decision]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/16/PH2009111603445.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[The Cavaliers may be the answer to Allen Iverson's prayers]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111016558.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I don't believe for a second we've seen the last of Allen Iverson. He may contemplate retirement. He might remain on this mysterious personal leave for a while. But Iverson, even though he has more mileage on him than a soccer mom's 1990 Volvo wagon and all the dents as well, has plenty of basketball left in him. Surely, the last line on his hoops rÃ©sumÃ© isn't going to be three games played for the Memphis Grizzlies. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[may]]></category><category><![CDATA[be]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[answer]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iverson's]]></category><category><![CDATA[prayers]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wade can teach Wizards how to pull out a must-win game]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/04/AR2009110405069.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's easy to think there aren't any games of consequence in early November of a season that lasts until the middle of April. But when you're the Washington Wizards, trying to piece a team together playing for a new coach, attempting to reincorporate the franchise star, hoping to completely reverse a dreadful season, there are no games to waste. Not even in the interminable season that is the NBA's. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wade]]></category><category><![CDATA[can]]></category><category><![CDATA[teach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[how]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[pull]]></category><category><![CDATA[out]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[must-win]]></category><category><![CDATA[game]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Until things change significantly, Redskins and mediocrity remain one and the same]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102703815.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102703815.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ So what now? A consultant to call signals to prevent Antwaan Randle El from letting a punt hit him in the face mask? How about a special play-caller to keep DeSean Jackson from running 20 yards past Chris Horton? Surely, Buddy Ryan would rather call some defensive signals than play shuffleboard or pinochle. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Until]]></category><category><![CDATA[things]]></category><category><![CDATA[change]]></category><category><![CDATA[significantly,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[mediocrity]]></category><category><![CDATA[remain]]></category><category><![CDATA[one]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[same]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/27/PH2009102703820.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: This season, elite teams will dominate the NBA]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/25/AR2009102502046.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/25/AR2009102502046.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Don't waste a minute of your time looking for an upstart, a dark horse, a team that will come out of nowhere to sneak up on the favorites. There aren't going to be any, not in the NBA this season. You want Cinderella, find another league. More than in any professional sport, the favorites win big in the NBA. So, for the favorites to begin the season with greater separation than usual from the others is saying something.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122841879" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122841879" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[season,]]></category><category><![CDATA[elite]]></category><category><![CDATA[teams]]></category><category><![CDATA[will]]></category><category><![CDATA[dominate]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/25/PH2009102502606.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[The Redskins are a circus, but Sherman Lewis is no clown]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102101695.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102101695.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ While we universally stare in disbelief at the Washington Redskins and wonder what they're doing, let's not make the mistake of thinking Sherman Lewis is some kind of clown. He isn't. This certainly isn't the way Lewis envisioned one day calling the shots, leaving retirement to take over somebody else's team. But because the phone never rang when it should have, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, even 20 years ago when Lewis was head coaching material, Lewis answered when he heard it, when the Redskins inexplicably called. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[are]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[circus,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sherman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lewis]]></category><category><![CDATA[is]]></category><category><![CDATA[no]]></category><category><![CDATA[clown]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/21/PH2009102103920.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Limbaugh's Message Cost Him Shot at Becoming NFL Owner]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101503799.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101503799.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The free market, rather loudly, told Rush Limbaugh it wasn't interested in what he sells. Undoubtedly there are NFL owners who share Limbaugh's brand of conservatism. A few, I'm told, are so far to the right politically they think Limbaugh is liberal. But the voices that spoke up in the private club Limbaugh wanted to join shouted him down. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Limbaugh's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Message]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cost]]></category><category><![CDATA[Him]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shot]]></category><category><![CDATA[at]]></category><category><![CDATA[Becoming]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category><category><![CDATA[Owner]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Snyder Must Lead Redskins by Getting Out of the Way]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101303177.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101303177.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Of course Carlos Rogers is right when he says "it starts with ownership." It always does. The Steelers' success in Pittsburgh starts with Dan Rooney. The Red Sox' success in Boston starts with John Henry. The Clippers' incompetence in Los Angeles starts with Donald Sterling. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Snyder]]></category><category><![CDATA[Must]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[by]]></category><category><![CDATA[Getting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Out]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Way]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/13/PH2009101303257.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="78" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Replacement Referees May Be a Worse Answer in This Labor Dispute]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100104840.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100104840.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Anything in sports preceded by the word "replacement" is a bad thing. Replacement players, replacement teams and even replacement refs. They're not as good, not ever, as the people they're replacing and worse yet, the product always suffers. That brings me to the NBA, which has locked out its officials in a contract dispute and is going with 62 replacement referees as the preseason begins this week.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122846788" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122846788" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Replacement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Referees]]></category><category><![CDATA[May]]></category><category><![CDATA[Be]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Worse]]></category><category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dispute]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/01/PH2009100104845.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Washington Redskins Face Detroit Lions With Title of NFL's Most Dysfunctional Team on Line]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/26/AR2009092602136.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/26/AR2009092602136.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you're the Detroit Lions, the only team to lose all 16 games in an NFL season, losers of 19 straight games and the laughingstock of the league for a couple of seasons, wouldn't you be pretty darn encouraged at the sight of the Washington Redskins coming to town? ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Face]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lions]]></category><category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[Title]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFL's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Most]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dysfunctional]]></category><category><![CDATA[Team]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Line]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[A Call and a Response That Can't Be Defended]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/13/AR2009091302533.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/13/AR2009091302533.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Call]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Response]]></category><category><![CDATA[That]]></category><category><![CDATA[Can't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Be]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defended]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: No Chance of Taking the Air Out of Michael Jordan on His Induction Night]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/12/AR2009091202344.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/12/AR2009091202344.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chance]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Taking]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Air]]></category><category><![CDATA[Out]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Induction]]></category><category><![CDATA[Night]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/09/12/PH2009091202856.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Jordan, David Robinson and John Stockton Help Make This a Basketball Hall of Fame Class Like No Other]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091003856.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091003856.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It would be a fabulous team, these four men in their primes playing together. John Stockton, the all-time NBA assists and steals leader, would be the point man. Jerry Sloan, a tough guard and nasty defender before he ever became a coach, would play alongside Stockton in the back court. David Robinson, a two-time NBA champion who once averaged 29.8 points a game, would be the center. And Michael Jordan, the greatest artist in the history of team sports, would play small forward.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122854102" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122854102" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan,]]></category><category><![CDATA[David]]></category><category><![CDATA[Robinson]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[John]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stockton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Help]]></category><category><![CDATA[Make]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Basketball]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hall]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fame]]></category><category><![CDATA[Class]]></category><category><![CDATA[Like]]></category><category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA[Other]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[For Most Quarterbacks, It's Under Center and Under the Gun]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/07/AR2009090702321.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/07/AR2009090702321.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ We don't have to look very far to find the pivotal characters, the people around whom the 2009 professional football season will revolve. The most important, most glamorous and most pressurized position in American sports -- quarterback -- seems to be at the center of most team's uncertainties as the NFL season begins this week. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[For]]></category><category><![CDATA[Most]]></category><category><![CDATA[Quarterbacks,]]></category><category><![CDATA[It's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Under]]></category><category><![CDATA[Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Under]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gun]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/09/07/PH2009090702330.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Small, but Powerful, College Teams Can Make a Big Impression This Weekend]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203969.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203969.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I'm rooting with every ounce of energy in my body for a team that has a 187-pound quarterback, whose biggest game of the year is Thursday night in its season opener, that has won more games since 2000 than any team except Oklahoma and that the Bowl Championship Series would happily pay millions of dollars not to have play for the national championship. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Small,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[Powerful,]]></category><category><![CDATA[College]]></category><category><![CDATA[Teams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Can]]></category><category><![CDATA[Make]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Impression]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[Weekend]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/09/02/PH2009090204071.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Usain Bolt Can Outrun Everything But a Cynical Public]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081903816.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081903816.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ He doesn't even run through the tape at full speed. Usain Bolt is mugging for the camera, looking for friends. He's coasting or gliding or posing. Here's how the Associated Press reporter in Berlin described his performance in the 200 meters at the track and field world championships: "Usain Bolt cruised during the 200-meter semifinals on Wednesday." ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Usain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bolt]]></category><category><![CDATA[Can]]></category><category><![CDATA[Outrun]]></category><category><![CDATA[Everything]]></category><category><![CDATA[But]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cynical]]></category><category><![CDATA[Public]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Vick Owes His Second Chance to Those Willing to Give Him One]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/14/AR2009081402130.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/14/AR2009081402130.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In this attempt to make something decent of his life, Michael Vick has no shortage of people willing to demonstrate two old-fashioned virtues that at times seem to have all but disappeared in big-time sports: leadership and compassion.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122901504" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122901504" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Vick]]></category><category><![CDATA[Owes]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Second]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chance]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Those]]></category><category><![CDATA[Willing]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Give]]></category><category><![CDATA[Him]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Tough Landing Spot for Vick]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081304050.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081304050.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ BALTIMORE ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Tough]]></category><category><![CDATA[Landing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Spot]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Vick]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Rick Pitino, Josh Hamilton Are Under Fire Only Until the Next Scandal]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203115.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203115.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The plan was to write about Josh Hamilton in this space today, about the recovering alcoholic outfielder falling back into scandalous ways in a bar. That was going to be the discussion here, about the photos of Hamilton on various Web sites and the standards for what is or isn't worthy of being reported. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Rick]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pitino,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Josh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hamilton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[Under]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Only]]></category><category><![CDATA[Until]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Next]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scandal]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Latest Steroid News Met With a Shrug Instead of Shock]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101181.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101181.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The stories, the great majority of them anyway, say that Big Papi has disgraced himself and ruined his legacy, that the Red Sox' storybook championship in 2004 is now tainted to some degree or another. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times called the latest steroid news, the outing of David Ortiz as a performance enhancer, a "shameful revelation." ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Latest]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steroid]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Met]]></category><category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shrug]]></category><category><![CDATA[Instead]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shock]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Tiger Woods and His Brand of Activism]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063003754.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063003754.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Tiger Woods may not want to be defended on this issue; he certainly didn't ask to be defended. But he's going to be, in this space anyway, because Jim Brown's recent comments to HBO that Tiger's social contributions are inadequate are way off base, even inaccurate. Just because Brown perhaps isn't aware of the depth and range of Tiger's contributions, or that they differ from his own social agenda doesn't mean Tiger is lacking a social conscience -- because he isn't.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122906714" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122906714" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Tiger]]></category><category><![CDATA[Woods]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Activism]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wizards Will Regret Missing Out on Rubio]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504743.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504743.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ NEW YORK Ricky Rubio lasted 'til fifth? You mean the Wizards could have kept their pick, No. 5 -- HELLO! -- and taken Rubio themselves? How do you say "Maravich" in Spanish? If the Wizards are going to start the season with 10 guards on their roster, then why couldn't one of 'em be this kid? In case Gilbert Arenas opens the season in physical therapy, why couldn't we have watched Rubio throw those delicious passes, the likes of which nobody even attempts anymore in the NBA? The Wizards could have moved Arenas, ultimately, to shooting guard, which of course is what he is. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Will]]></category><category><![CDATA[Regret]]></category><category><![CDATA[Missing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Out]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rubio]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/26/PH2009062600073.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="74" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[With One-and-Done Rule, NBA Takes Care of Itself]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062403396.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062403396.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Don't get me wrong, I'm in complete agreement with all the coaches, from Mike Krzyzewski to Jeff Capel, who think the NBA rule that forces young basketball phenoms to attend college for one year is a bad one. The rule, though unintentionally, sets up college as some sort of necessary evil, an almost punitive measure to temporarily keep the best players from what they think is rightfully theirs. And they in turn take it out on colleges by treating school as some sort of pit stop. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[One-and-Done]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rule,]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Takes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Care]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Itself]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[No Debate: With 10 Titles, Lakers' Phil Jackson Is the Greatest Coach]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/AR2009061501728.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/AR2009061501728.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ ORLANDO ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA[Debate:]]></category><category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[10]]></category><category><![CDATA[Titles,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lakers']]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greatest]]></category><category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[A Thin Line Between Championship and Choke]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203743.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203743.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ ORLANDO<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122911719" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122911719" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Thin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Line]]></category><category><![CDATA[Between]]></category><category><![CDATA[Championship]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Choke]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: The Washington Nationals Drafting Stephen Strasburg No. 1 Is a Risky Pick]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061003650.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061003650.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ ORLANDO ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nationals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Drafting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stephen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Strasburg]]></category><category><![CDATA[No.]]></category><category><![CDATA[1]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Risky]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pick]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/10/PH2009061003655.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Kobe. Tiger. Federer. Their Greatest Pursuit Is the Pursuit of Greatness]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/08/AR2009060803789.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/08/AR2009060803789.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Kobe.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Federer.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Their]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greatest]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pursuit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pursuit]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greatness]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/08/PH2009060803794.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Lakers Again Proving Why They're the Hottest Ticket in Hollywood]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060602060.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060602060.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES There's no place in America where pro basketball matters as much as the Lakers do to Southern California in June. The Lakers aren't secondary to the folks here, as the Celtics are to the Red Sox in Boston. There's no pro football team consuming the local passions here like there is in Washington or Dallas. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Again]]></category><category><![CDATA[Proving]]></category><category><![CDATA[Why]]></category><category><![CDATA[They're]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hottest]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ticket]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hollywood]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/06/PH2009060602071.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: This Is No Time for Dwight Howard to Take a Night Off]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/05/AR2009060502091.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/05/AR2009060502091.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122919390" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122919390" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/sports/index.html">Sports</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA[Time]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwight]]></category><category><![CDATA[Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Take]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Night]]></category><category><![CDATA[Off]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Orlando Magic Takes Unorthodox but Effective Offense Into NBA Finals]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303501.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303501.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES One hundred years of basketball convention goes out the door with the Orlando Magic. Players and coaches watch them play and are equal parts amazed and confounded. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Orlando]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Takes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Unorthodox]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[Effective]]></category><category><![CDATA[Offense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Into]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Finals]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/03/PH2009060303621.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Before LeBron James Is Truly a 'Winner,' He's Got to Be a Good Sport]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/01/AR2009060102949.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/01/AR2009060102949.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There's context to everything . . . even the decidedly unsportsmanlike act of walking off the court at the end of a crushing defeat without shaking your opponent's hand. That, in and of itself, is inexcusable. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Before]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Truly]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA['Winner,']]></category><category><![CDATA[He's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Got]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Be]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Good]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sport]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[In the NBA Playoffs, the Final Four is Far From Perfect, but the Orlando Magic Looks Best]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052703400.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052703400.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ ORLANDO All four playoff semifinalists are flawed in some obvious and fundamental way. The Lakers get pushed around. The Cavaliers desperately need one more skilled helper for LeBron James. The Nuggets come to play far too often without their thinking caps. And Orlando violates one of basketball's Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not live by the jump shot. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoffs,]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Final]]></category><category><![CDATA[Four]]></category><category><![CDATA[is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Far]]></category><category><![CDATA[From]]></category><category><![CDATA[Perfect,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Looks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Best]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/27/PH2009052703444.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Magic Spells Trouble for Cavaliers, 116-114]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052603697.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052603697.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ ORLANDO, May 26 -- When LeBron James launched the ball from just inside half court with no time remaining in overtime, so many people who love great basketball and the stars who've played it thought the miracle heave had a chance to win the game, and surely everybody rooting for Orlando feared it would. After all, James had sent the game into overtime with a pair of free throws with a half-second remaining here in Game 4, and it appeared he might add to his legend by helping Cleveland win and crushing Orlando for the second time in this Eastern Conference championship series.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122925606" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122925606" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/sports/index.html">Sports</category>
<category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Spells]]></category><category><![CDATA[Trouble]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cavaliers,]]></category><category><![CDATA[116-114]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/27/PH2009052700030.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="73" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Finally, a Championship for the Alma Mater]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502161.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502161.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Twenty times I've seen the Super Bowl victors hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Nearly that many times I've been front-and-center when the NBA champion was awarded the Larry O'Brien Trophy. I've seen drivers drink milk after kissing that remaining strip of bricks in Indianapolis and tennis players climb into the family box after winning the final point of a Grand Slam tournament. I've been sprayed with champagne in championship locker rooms. I've sat with grown men crying in the moments after winning it all, and wept myself one night in Sydney when Cathy Freeman won Olympic gold to punctuate a personal struggle that had incomparable national and cultural impact. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Finally,]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Championship]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alma]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mater]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Suddenly, Kobe vs. LeBron Final Doesn't Seem Inevitable]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052103106.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052103106.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ CLEVELAND ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Suddenly,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe]]></category><category><![CDATA[vs.]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[Final]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doesn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seem]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inevitable]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[The Wizards' Bad Luck in the NBA Draft Lottery Shouldn't Necessarily Mean a Bad Pick]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903966.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903966.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ BRISTOL, Conn. Okay, it's not a night to celebrate when you lose to the Clippers and Grizzlies in anything, even a game of chance. A night that began with the promise of Blake Griffin ended the moment the Grizzlies moved from the sixth spot into the top three. You could have clicked over to "American Idol" right then and there. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards']]></category><category><![CDATA[Bad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Luck]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Draft]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lottery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shouldn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Necessarily]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mean]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pick]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Anthony and Nuggets Finally Break Through]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051801171.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051801171.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's rare that an NBA team catches fire late and threatens to run away with a conference, perhaps even the league. But the Denver Nuggets are making such a threat. Suddenly, as the conference championship series begin, the Nuggets look every bit the equal of the favored Lakers and Cavaliers. It's Denver that's got scorers, rebounders, defenders, depth, the requisite floor general and a coach with NBA Finals experience.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122930141" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122930141" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nuggets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Finally]]></category><category><![CDATA[Break]]></category><category><![CDATA[Through]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Lakers, Celtics a Study in Game 7 Contrast]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/16/AR2009051602358.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/16/AR2009051602358.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ They want no part of Sunday's Game 7 in Southern California. It doesn't matter that the Lakers will be playing at home, where they just beat Houston by 40 points. A full red-alert panic has taken over Lakerland, from San Diego to Santa Barbara. It wasn't supposed to come to this, not against a Rockets team without its two best players. The Lakers, it said in the script issued at the start of the season, were the team to beat, the favorite to win it all. They were supposed to tear through the preliminaries and wait for LeBron and the Cavaliers in the Finals. The very necessity of a Game 7 suggests a giant Lakers failure, even though a victory would send them to the Western Conference finals. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Lakers,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Study]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Game]]></category><category><![CDATA[7]]></category><category><![CDATA[Contrast]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: After 'Big Baby' Uproar, 'CryDaddy' Gets a Grip]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051402741.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051402741.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Perhaps by now you've heard of Ernie Provetti and his 12-year-old son, Nick, the young man who got jostled courtside in Orlando the other night when the Celtics' Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who goes about 275 pounds, hit a game-winning shot then bolted all that massiveness up the court to celebrate. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[After]]></category><category><![CDATA['Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Baby']]></category><category><![CDATA[Uproar,]]></category><category><![CDATA['CryDaddy']]></category><category><![CDATA[Gets]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Grip]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/14/PH2009051403980.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Daly's Ability to Coach the Greats Made Him One]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/09/AR2009050902196.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/09/AR2009050902196.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ He was never voted coach of the year in the NBA even though he led the Detroit Pistons to a pair of league championships and three consecutive Finals. But it turned out there was a more distinguished honor awaiting Chuck Daly. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Daly's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ability]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greats]]></category><category><![CDATA[Made]]></category><category><![CDATA[Him]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/09/PH2009050902201.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[The Unstoppable Alex Ovechkin Scores Goals for Capitals, but Also Gets the Point]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050502165.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050502165.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Ted Leonsis recalls the return trip from the NHL awards ceremony last June.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122940281" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122940281" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Unstoppable]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alex]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ovechkin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scores]]></category><category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Capitals,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[Also]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gets]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Point]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Celtics-Bulls Was Great, But Not the Best Series Ever]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/03/AR2009050302145.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/03/AR2009050302145.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ BOSTON ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Celtics-Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Was]]></category><category><![CDATA[Great,]]></category><category><![CDATA[But]]></category><category><![CDATA[Not]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Best]]></category><category><![CDATA[Series]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ever]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/03/PH2009050302150.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Celtics, Bulls Put On Show]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050100031.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050100031.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ CHICAGO The NBA would be well suited to dump Atlanta, Miami and Orlando, and just hold on to the Celtics and Bulls for another month, best-of-15 series, winner to play Cleveland for the Eastern Conference championship. How do you get rid of one or the other when together they keep producing classics, when the athletic theater is almost too much to bear? It's become must-see TV, each episode more ruthless and more compelling than the previous. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Celtics,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Put]]></category><category><![CDATA[On]]></category><category><![CDATA[Show]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/05/01/PH2009050100036.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon on the Capitals-Penguins Playoff Series]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/29/AR2009042904941.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/29/AR2009042904941.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Stanley Cup finals won't begin for more than a month, but the main event is now. Capitals vs. Penguins, Ovechkin vs. Crosby. It's the series -- the best thing to happen to the NHL since the bloody Detroit-Colorado skirmishes in the late '90s and early oughts. Nothing that happens afterward will sizzle as much, nothing will attract the attention or have such rich subplots. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Capitals-Penguins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoff]]></category><category><![CDATA[Series]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/04/29/PH2009042904946.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[The End Might Be Predictable, but NBA Playoffs Are Off to a Stirring Start]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042703841.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042703841.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You think Danny Ainge is watching this? He can't be, not 10 days after suffering a heart attack. Certainly, he couldn't be watching his Celtics play the Bulls. Three games out of four down to the wire. Two decided in overtime. Series 2-2 going back to Boston. No way the doctors signed off on that.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122947326" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122947326" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[End]]></category><category><![CDATA[Might]]></category><category><![CDATA[Be]]></category><category><![CDATA[Predictable,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoffs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[Off]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stirring]]></category><category><![CDATA[Start]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Redskins Turn Draft Into a Real Show]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/23/AR2009042303065.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/23/AR2009042303065.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I hate the NFL draft. Okay, it's not the draft I hate, actually. It's the numbingly excessive hype, the mock drafts, the same-day declaration of winners and losers, the five hours it takes to get through the first round, the pontification, the overstatement. In the last five years I've probably watched a total of five minutes of the draft. For me, it's become must-not-see TV. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Turn]]></category><category><![CDATA[Draft]]></category><category><![CDATA[Into]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Real]]></category><category><![CDATA[Show]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Lakers and Cavaliers Tower Over NBA Playoffs]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041602420.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041602420.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It would be great if the NBA didn't follow March Madness into complete predictability over the next eight weeks, if the NBA stuffed its postseason, which begins this weekend, with one surprise outcome after another. It would cause quite a stir if appealing young teams like the Portland Trail Blazers or Chicago Bulls disrupted the playoffs, but they're still too unripe. It would make for a nice story if Yao Ming or Dwight Howard was the last man standing but it's pure fiction. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tower]]></category><category><![CDATA[Over]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoffs]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wizards Need a Coach Who Will Flip on Arenas]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/13/AR2009041301563.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/13/AR2009041301563.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Flip Saunders is a perfectly reasonable choice for a team to hire as its head coach. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Need]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Who]]></category><category><![CDATA[Will]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arenas]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wizards See Cavaliers, and Realize How Close They Once Were]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702496.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702496.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Three years ago this week they were dead even, the Cavaliers and Wizards. If anything, Washington seemed a step ahead, having won a playoff series the previous year against the Chicago Bulls while Cleveland failed to make the playoffs. Yes, LeBron James's greatness was beginning to reveal itself by April 2006; but Gilbert Arenas, healthy and an all-star averaging nearly 30 points himself, had every bit as good a regular season as LeBron did.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122952305" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122952305" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[See]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cavaliers,]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Realize]]></category><category><![CDATA[How]]></category><category><![CDATA[Close]]></category><category><![CDATA[They]]></category><category><![CDATA[Once]]></category><category><![CDATA[Were]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Washington Redskins Are Lucky to Have Jason Campbell, Despite Their Efforts for Jay Cutler]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/02/AR2009040202218.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/02/AR2009040202218.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The critical question the morning after the debacle is whether the Washington Redskins have alienated Jason Campbell the way the Denver Broncos did Jay Cutler a month ago. Do we think Campbell is going to publicly snub his owner and coach, perhaps blow off a couple of weeks of team workouts, maybe pout and demand a trade? ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lucky]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Have]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason]]></category><category><![CDATA[Campbell,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Despite]]></category><category><![CDATA[Their]]></category><category><![CDATA[Efforts]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jay]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cutler]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Cleveland's LeBron James Might Eventually Average a Triple-Double in a Season]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/01/AR2009040102941.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/01/AR2009040102941.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ We see all-court brilliance like this every 25 years or so, when a player is extraordinary in basketball's primary skills: scoring, rebounding and passing. Only Oscar Robertson, in 1962, has averaged double digits in those three categories over an entire season. Only Magic Johnson, in 1982, has come truly close since. It has been such an unreachable mark, like hitting .400 for an entire season or scoring 100 points in a single game, that it's now presumed to be unthinkable that a player would average a triple-double over a full NBA season. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland's]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Might]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eventually]]></category><category><![CDATA[Average]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Triple-Double]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Season]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Without Memorable Upsets, NCAA Tournament Lacks Something]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR2009032802071.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ GLENDALE, Ariz. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Without]]></category><category><![CDATA[Memorable]]></category><category><![CDATA[Upsets,]]></category><category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tournament]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lacks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Something]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Despite Distractions, Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut Are Dominating in the NCAA Tournament]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/27/AR2009032704555.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/27/AR2009032704555.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ GLENDALE, Ariz. Hasheem Thabeet has reached the point in his college career when marveling over what he can do has given way to skepticism over what he cannot.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122958610" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827122958610" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Despite]]></category><category><![CDATA[Distractions,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hasheem]]></category><category><![CDATA[Thabeet]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Connecticut]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dominating]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tournament]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/27/PH2009032704560.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Bird vs. Magic 1979 NCAA Championship Game Launched March Madness]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2009032502310.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2009032502310.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ GLENDALE, Ariz. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[vs.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[1979]]></category><category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Championship]]></category><category><![CDATA[Game]]></category><category><![CDATA[Launched]]></category><category><![CDATA[March]]></category><category><![CDATA[Madness]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[MICHAEL WILBON: Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade Make MVP Voting Hard Work]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/24/AR2009032401694.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/24/AR2009032401694.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHOENIX ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[MICHAEL]]></category><category><![CDATA[WILBON:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe,]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[D-Wade]]></category><category><![CDATA[Make]]></category><category><![CDATA[MVP]]></category><category><![CDATA[Voting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[A Healthy Outlook for U-Conn. and Its Coach]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/21/AR2009032101701.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/21/AR2009032101701.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHILADELPHIA ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Healthy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Outlook]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[U-Conn.]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Its]]></category><category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: VCU Coach Anthony Grant Is One to Watch]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003689.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003689.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHILADELPHIA<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123003601" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123003601" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[VCU]]></category><category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[Grant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Watch]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Cinderella Is Missing in This Year's NCAA Tournament]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031904205.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031904205.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHILADELPHIA There was a moment, a three-point attempt in the air, when it looked like American University was going to be 17 points up on Villanova in the second half. In Philly. In the NCAA tournament. Goliath couldn't get little David off of him. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Cinderella]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Missing]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[Year's]]></category><category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tournament]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/20/PH2009032004448.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Doesn't Want Cinderella at the Ball]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/17/AR2009031703221.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It would be difficult to diminish the men's NCAA basketball tournament, but the selection committee certainly tried last weekend. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tournament]]></category><category><![CDATA[Selection]]></category><category><![CDATA[Committee]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doesn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Want]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cinderella]]></category><category><![CDATA[at]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ball]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/17/PH2009031703813.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Syracuse-U-Conn. Epic Breathes New Life Into Big Conference Tournaments]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031303452.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031303452.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ NEW YORK ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Syracuse-U-Conn.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Epic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Breathes]]></category><category><![CDATA[New]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Into]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tournaments]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Haynesworth Signing Is Boom or Bust for Redskins]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701756.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701756.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ We've come to expect these big splashes from the Washington Redskins as the calendar creeps toward springtime. Nobody can be surprised to see the Champs of the Offseason strike first -- and loudest -- during the free agent period. Nobody can be surprised that the Redskins spent the most money to land the biggest fish to elicit the biggest wow.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123012171" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123012171" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Haynesworth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Signing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boom]]></category><category><![CDATA[or]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bust]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: A 1-in-65 Chance Would Suit Maryland Just Fine]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022603862.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022603862.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You can hear the breathing getting heavier, see the effort becoming more desperate, because in two more days it'll be March. The gun is about to sound to signal the bell lap, the frantic sprint to the finish to see who can qualify for the real race. Maryland experienced it Wednesday night, the exhilaration of getting in position to knock off No. 7 Duke, the devastation of not only losing, but losing ground with so little time left in the regular season. Don't believe the college football people who try to convince us that a playoff at the end renders the regular season useless. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[1-in-65]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Would]]></category><category><![CDATA[Suit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Maryland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Just]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fine]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wilbon: Roger Mason Jr.'s Big Shots Are on Everyone's Radar]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/21/AR2009022101820.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Roger Mason Jr. wasn't thinking about being part of All-Star Weekend when he was working on his game for hours a day at Run 'N Shoot in District Heights. He wasn't thinking NBA players would start to call him "Big-Shot Rog" when he was diligently working on his conditioning at The Sports Club/LA on 22nd Street NW. He wasn't thinking, when he was trying to impress Washington Wizards coaches during pickup games on the practice court at Verizon Center, that one day a team loaded with NBA champions and Olympians would look to him to take the final shots to beat the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mason]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jr.'s]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shots]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Everyone's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Radar]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: NBA's Final Eight Weeks a Showcase for Four Teams]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601513.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601513.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHOENIX ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Final]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eight]]></category><category><![CDATA[Weeks]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Showcase]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Four]]></category><category><![CDATA[Teams]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/02/16/PH2009021601518.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Shaquille O'Neal Begins to Reflect on His Life and Times]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/14/AR2009021401792.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/14/AR2009021401792.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHOENIX<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123017632" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123017632" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille]]></category><category><![CDATA[O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Begins]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reflect]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Times]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/02/14/PH2009021402121.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[With Kobe and LeBron Leading the Way, NBA Stands on Solid Ground]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303508.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PHOENIX Finally, nobody is fretting over a lack of heirs to Michael Jordan. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leading]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Way,]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stands]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solid]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ground]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/02/13/PH2009021303991.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: After Failure of Judgment, Phelps Shouldn't Get a Pass]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/03/AR2009020303468.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/03/AR2009020303468.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you want to read that it's okay to take bong hits because you're 23 and the best swimmer in history, cast your eyes elsewhere, because that's not going to be the position taken here. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[After]]></category><category><![CDATA[Failure]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Judgment,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phelps]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shouldn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Get]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pass]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[In Defense Of a Tough Super Bowl Pick]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101610.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101610.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ TAMPA In the days immediately after the conference championship games, I had the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl XLIII. My rule of thumb, particularly in football, is that whenever there's a superior defensive team, pick it. For proof, you need to look no further back than the start of this decade. In 2001 the Baltimore Ravens, the team with the superior defense, beat the New York Giants. Two years later Tampa Bay, the team with superior defense, beat the potent Oakland Raiders. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Of]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tough]]></category><category><![CDATA[Super]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bowl]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pick]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Lean Times for Even the Fat Cats]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003596.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003596.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ TAMPA Ticket prices are down a reported 20 percent from recent years and in some cases attracting a price below face value. Only 48 hours before kickoff, some of the usually coveted commercial time during the Super Bowl broadcast had not been sold. General Motors, one of the NFL's most important sponsors historically, had canceled the annual Super Bowl junket given to the top dealers. Some of the year's glitziest parties, including the one thrown annually by Playboy, were canceled or simply never planned.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123023593" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123023593" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lean]]></category><category><![CDATA[Times]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Even]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cats]]></category>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon:]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012904282.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012904282.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ TAMPA ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Dan Rooney, the Steelers' Core]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803393.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803393.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ TAMPA The hardest thing to do in football is catch Dan Rooney in a misstep. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Dan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rooney,]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steelers']]></category><category><![CDATA[Core]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Football? Who's Talking About Football?]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703498.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703498.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ TAMPA The NFL still calls the Tuesday of Super Bowl week media day. But in the interest of full disclosure, it's a little bit reality show, a little bit freak show. Yes, the players from the Cardinals and Steelers were there, dressed in their uniforms, no less. But they, like the rest of us, always seem to have one eye peeled for the bizarre, or at least the corny. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Football?]]></category><category><![CDATA[Who's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Talking]]></category><category><![CDATA[About]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football?]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/01/27/PH2009012703595.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Fitzgerald's Dad Has Him Covered]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012302663.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012302663.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Usually it was on Saturdays when Larry Fitzgerald took his two boys to work with him. Fitz was (and still is) a sportswriter and radio talk show host in Minneapolis, so going to work meant to a North Stars skate, Twins game or Vikings practice. Little Larry, who was about 8 at the time, and younger brother Marcus were ridiculously well behaved because Big Larry and Carol didn't tolerate any foolishness. But still they were curious, active little boys.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123030272" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123030272" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fitzgerald's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Has]]></category><category><![CDATA[Him]]></category><category><![CDATA[Covered]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/01/24/PH2009012401966.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Big Ben Strikes Again]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/19/AR2009011900016.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/19/AR2009011900016.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PITTSBURGH ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben]]></category><category><![CDATA[Strikes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Again]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: AFC Title Game Is Going to Hurt]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/16/AR2009011604667.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/16/AR2009011604667.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ No amount of scrubbing can sanitize the AFC championship game. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[AFC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Title]]></category><category><![CDATA[Game]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Going]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hurt]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon on the NFC Playoffs]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011102234.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011102234.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The Road to the Super Bowl no longer goes through Giants Stadium in the NFC. It no longer leaves the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 16W. It no longer has Tom Coughlin's winter-red face or the Giants' 'D' or Brandon Jacobs, that big rhino of a runner. Difficult as this is to believe, the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC now officially runs through the desert, out through Phoenix and around Loop 101 to a place called Glendale, which sprang up overnight between the cacti. That is where the Arizona Cardinals, of all teams, will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoffs]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Wilbon: When It Comes to Safeties, Reed Is a Worthwhile Pick]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/09/AR2009010901707.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/09/AR2009010901707.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had been chased out of the pocket and was trying to simply throw the ball away to avoid taking a sack or throwing into heavy coverage by the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he just flicked the ball out of bounds, where his own teammates were gathered. Almost casually, Ed Reed, standing on the sideline, grabbed the errant throw. No doubt he just couldn't help himself.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123037308" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123037308" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[When]]></category><category><![CDATA[It]]></category><category><![CDATA[Comes]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Safeties,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Worthwhile]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pick]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/01/09/PH2009010903882.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[After Decades of Ineptitude, the Cardinals Franchise Has Its Day]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010302110.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010302110.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ GLENDALE, Ariz. A sorry, regrettable piece of NFL history was tucked away here yesterday afternoon. After 61 years, the NFL Cardinals of Chicago, St. Louis and Arizona not only played host to a playoff game, they won one. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[After]]></category><category><![CDATA[Decades]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ineptitude,]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cardinals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Franchise]]></category><category><![CDATA[Has]]></category><category><![CDATA[Its]]></category><category><![CDATA[Day]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Cardinals Defeat Falcons, 30-24, in First Round of NFC Playoffs]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010302126.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010302126.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ GLENDALE, Ariz., Jan. 3 -- It had been seven years since Kurt Warner started a playoff game, the Super Bowl after the 2001 season to be exact. Yet, he didn't look all that different from his glory days with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday in throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns to lead his Arizona Cardinals past the Atlanta Falcons, 30-24. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/sports/index.html">Sports</category>
<category><![CDATA[Cardinals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defeat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Falcons,]]></category><category><![CDATA[30-24,]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[First]]></category><category><![CDATA[Round]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playoffs]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/01/03/PH2009010302131.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: An Old Habit Was Sadly Kicked on New Year's Day]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/02/AR2009010200840.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/02/AR2009010200840.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[An]]></category><category><![CDATA[Old]]></category><category><![CDATA[Habit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Was]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sadly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kicked]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[New]]></category><category><![CDATA[Year's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Day]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/01/03/PH2009010300153.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[In Final Week, NFL Brought Out Its Sunday Best]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122900674.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122900674.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There was simply too much drama to digest in an eight-hour span Sunday, from a concussed Ben Roethlisberger being carted from the field in Pittsburgh to Tony Romo symbolically collapsing in the shower of the visiting dressing room in Philly to the Patriots winning their 11th game of the season and missing the playoffs to the Chargers playing like perhaps the best team in football just to reach 8-8 and sneak into the playoffs.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123045314" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123045314" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[Final]]></category><category><![CDATA[Week,]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brought]]></category><category><![CDATA[Out]]></category><category><![CDATA[Its]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category><category><![CDATA[Best]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon on the NFL]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501150.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501150.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A year ago today, the NFL was dominated by one story: the New England Patriots. They were the toast of pro football for those who didn't care about Spygate and the scourge of the league for those who thought they were cheats. Either way, the Patriots eclipsed everything else in football, to the point we never much examined all that had developed over the course of the season. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Baugh Belongs in Quarterback Conversation]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121803816.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121803816.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Too often the discussion of Greatest QB Ever begins with Joe Montana. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Baugh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Belongs]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Quarterback]]></category><category><![CDATA[Conversation]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/12/18/PH2008121804190.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="73" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Zorn, Redskins Shouldn't Panic Over a False Start]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503169.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503169.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ On the eve of the 2008 NFL season, if someone had said the Washington Redskins, with their rookie head coach and still unproven quarterback, would be 7-7 with two games remaining, with victories already in Dallas and Philly, the general reaction would have been fairly favorable, perhaps even hopeful. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Zorn,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shouldn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Panic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Over]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[False]]></category><category><![CDATA[Start]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Redskins Don't Put Enough on the Line]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803484.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803484.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's not Jason Campbell who should be the talk around office water coolers the rest of the week. It's not Jim Zorn's bizarre "benching" of Clinton Portis that should be the chatter that fills the airwaves and Internet sites. What ails the Washington Redskins more than anything else is simple, even if it's not a sexy topic. It's the line play, silly. The Redskins' line play, on both sides of the ball, is completely inadequate.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123052911" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123052911" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Don't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Put]]></category><category><![CDATA[Enough]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Line]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[WNBA's Comets Flame Out]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120503501.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120503501.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ With not nearly enough fanfare, the best women's basketball franchise the game has ever seen has been put to bed. The Houston Comets, a four-time champion and one of the WNBA's original teams, essentially expired this week. You want to know how the crippled economy is affecting sports? The league shut down the team after it couldn't find a new owner for the Comets, who almost certainly were the most important franchise in the history of women's professional sports. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[WNBA's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Comets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flame]]></category><category><![CDATA[Out]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/12/05/PH2008120503878.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[BCS Beats Texas In Red River Sellout]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/01/AR2008120103179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/01/AR2008120103179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The pox that is the BCS is spreading. No longer does it ruin only the bowl season; its sinister influence is everywhere now. Take the Big 12. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[BCS]]></category><category><![CDATA[Beats]]></category><category><![CDATA[Texas]]></category><category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red]]></category><category><![CDATA[River]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sellout]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Sometimes a Win Isn't Just a Win]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/25/AR2008112502896.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/25/AR2008112502896.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Winning one measly NBA home game in November really can mean something when it doubles your victory total for the season, when you're at the bottom of the league in every defensive ranking, when the players are walking around with long faces and slumped shoulders, when everybody's confidence is shot. The Washington Wizards will have to do a lot of digging to get out of the hole they made for themselves to start this season, and last night's victory over Golden State is but the first shovel-full. But it is, at least, a start. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Sometimes]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Win]]></category><category><![CDATA[Isn't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Just]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Win]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Two Good Men, One Tough Spot]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/24/AR2008112402586.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/24/AR2008112402586.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Even with Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood on the shelf with injuries, Ernie Grunfeld felt the Washington Wizards should be playing better. Increasingly, he saw a group that still includes two all-stars playing selfishly and without confidence. He felt they had regressed defensively. Grunfeld, who manages largely by intuition, said more than once yesterday, "Things just weren't right."<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123058785" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123058785" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Two]]></category><category><![CDATA[Good]]></category><category><![CDATA[Men,]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tough]]></category><category><![CDATA[Spot]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Seminoles' Rolle Puts the Student Before the Athlete]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112004060.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112004060.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I'm dropping the pretense of having no rooting interest this week. I'm rooting for Myron Rolle as if he's a blood relative. I'm rooting for his flight from Birmingham, Ala., to Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport to be on time. I'm rooting for him to make it to Byrd Stadium by halftime at the very latest, for him to get into uniform and play as many snaps as possible for Florida State. Most of all, I'm rooting for him to wow the panelists in his Rhodes Scholarship interview earlier in the day. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seminoles']]></category><category><![CDATA[Rolle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Puts]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Student]]></category><category><![CDATA[Before]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Athlete]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/11/20/PH2008112004075.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: When Obama Talks, the BCS Should Listen]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111803615.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111803615.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ What appeared to be an throwaway line in a conversation with ESPN now has become something of a sporting obsession. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[When]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[Talks,]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[BCS]]></category><category><![CDATA[Should]]></category><category><![CDATA[Listen]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Desperate Cowboys Need to Make Their Move Against Redskins]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/15/AR2008111502087.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/15/AR2008111502087.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's as it should be, Jerry Jones was saying the other day: Prime time, national television, Redskins hopeful, Cowboys desperate, star players on both teams fighting injuries, playoff chase looming, reputations on the line. "It's probably appropriate," the owner of the Dallas Cowboys said, "that here we are at this juncture of the season, standing in each other's way. It's good for our game, don't you think?" ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Desperate]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cowboys]]></category><category><![CDATA[Need]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Make]]></category><category><![CDATA[Their]]></category><category><![CDATA[Move]]></category><category><![CDATA[Against]]></category><category><![CDATA[Redskins]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon on the Wizards]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111101972.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111101972.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The dumbest thing the Washington Wizards could do right now is fire Eddie Jordan. Abe Pollin's history of patience with employees he likes -- and he loves this Jordan -- and Ernie Grunfeld's track record of making smart basketball decisions both suggest the Wizards will be too smart to finger Jordan as the primary culprit for the team's wretched start. But being the only winless team in the NBA at 0-5 makes these conversations inevitable.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123105085" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123105085" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Fan Depreciation At FedEx]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110504343.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110504343.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ My friend Tony was certain when he saw an increasing number of gold towels in the minutes before Monday night's game that it was a Redskins promotion. The team's colors, after all, are burgundy and gold. So some bank or car dealership or the team itself had to be pushing something and was using gold towels to do it. Made perfect sense, since it seems every other night now fans are being asked to wear all red or all white or all black and wave matching pompoms or towels. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Fan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Depreciation]]></category><category><![CDATA[At]]></category><category><![CDATA[FedEx]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/11/05/PH2008110504420.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="73" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: Leftwich Resurfaces to Save the Day -- for the Away Team -- in His Home Town]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110400197.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110400197.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There's nothing quite as fulfilling as a happy homecoming, even if it's on the side of the enemy, even if it's coming off the bench instead of starting. And certainly, not much that happens during the course of a regular season could have exhilarated Byron Leftwich more than coming back to Washington on a Monday night and beating the team he cheered for as a child, the Redskins. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leftwich]]></category><category><![CDATA[Resurfaces]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Save]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Day]]></category><category><![CDATA[--]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Away]]></category><category><![CDATA[Team]]></category><category><![CDATA[--]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Town]]></category>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/11/04/PH2008110400367.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon: The Longhorns Aren't the Lone Star in Texas]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/31/AR2008103103620.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/31/AR2008103103620.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Lubbock, Tex., is not a venue we associate with a battle for No. 1 in college football. But that's where this week's Game of the Century will be played, tonight in prime time, No. 1 Texas vs. No. 6 Texas Tech in what one writer in the Lone Star State has called the biggest thing to hit West Texas since irrigation. ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilbon:]]></category><category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Longhorns]]></category><category><![CDATA[Aren't]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lone]]></category><category><![CDATA[Star]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Texas]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[MICHAEL WILBON: NBA Tips Off In Its Most Compelling State in Years]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102703199.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's been years since the NBA opened a season with such a high approval rating. For too long it was one embarrassing episode after another dominating the news approaching opening night. Just last year, the start of a new season was obscured by a referee scandal.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123111340" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=4827123111340" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator>
<category domain="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinion/index.html">Opinions</category>
<category><![CDATA[MICHAEL]]></category><category><![CDATA[WILBON:]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Off]]></category><category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[Its]]></category><category><![CDATA[Most]]></category><category><![CDATA[Compelling]]></category><category><![CDATA[State]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Years]]></category>
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