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<channel><title><![CDATA[washingtonpost.com - Michael Wilbon (washingtonpost.com)]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/03/24/LI2005032400073.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><description><![CDATA[]]></description><language>en-us</language><ttl>15</ttl><image><title>washingtonpost.com</title><width>140</width><height>20</height><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com?nav=rss</link><url>http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/image/wp_web.gif </url></image>
<item><title><![CDATA[ No Mere Exhibition, but a Show ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/16/AR2008071602649.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/16/AR2008071602649.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ I was both foolish enough and fortunate enough to stay with Tuesday night's All-Star Game until the last drop. Foolish because it lasted 4 hours 50 minutes, took 453 pitches and ended at nearly 1:40 Wednesday morning. Fortunate because it was a game of both great consequence and theater, something the NFL and NBA all-star contests simply don't produce. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mere]]></category><category><![CDATA[Exhibition,]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Show]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alex Rodriguez]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bud Selig]]></category><category><![CDATA[Terry Francona]]></category><category><![CDATA[AL East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American League (Baseball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Red Sox]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[AL Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Jeter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Minnesota Twins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scott Kazmir]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago White Sox]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Yankees]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yankee Stadium]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carlos Quentin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jonathan Papelbon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Justin Morneau]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tampa Bay Rays]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dioner Navarro]]></category><category><![CDATA[J.D. Drew]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lou Piniella]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mariano Rivera]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Young]]></category><category><![CDATA[Milwaukee]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Cubs]]></category><category><![CDATA[National League (Baseball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[NL Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hawaii]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Packer, A Pro in the College Game ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071402318.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071402318.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Billy Packer has never been beloved the way John Madden is. Packer's never been as smooth as Doug Collins or Joe Morgan. Packer is the polar opposite of college basketball's other iconic analyst, Dick Vitale. There were times earlier in his career when Packer was criticized for being racially insensitive. As recently as 2000 he made a crude and arrogant remark to a couple of Duke co-eds who were simply doing their jobs. As recently as March Packer took his usual position, lobbying for the interests of college basketball's Goliaths at the expense of the game's Davids. And his opinions on most issues relating to professional basketball were, at best, unenlightened. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Packer,]]></category><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pro]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[College]]></category><category><![CDATA[Game]]></category><category><![CDATA[Billy Packer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Clark Kellogg]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Raftery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dick Vitale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jesse Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Pitino]]></category><category><![CDATA[CBS Corporation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen Iverson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dan Shanoff]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doug Collins]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Mason]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Howard Cosell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hubie Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jay Bilas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jim Nantz]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Morgan]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Madden]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Thompson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lawrence Moten]]></category><category><![CDATA[Len Elmore]]></category><category><![CDATA[Syracuse]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hyde Park]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sporting News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wake Forest University]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Advantage: Tennis ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070702661.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070702661.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ The folks who've stood by tennis as its stature diminished over the years are over the moon today. Not in the last 20 years have they had so much to celebrate, certainly nothing as riveting as Rafael Nadal's absurdly dramatic victory over Roger Federer in Sunday's Wimbledon men's final. And 24 hours earlier there was the uniquely American success story of the Williams sisters, citizens of the world now but from and of Compton, Calif., playing out a reality that 25 years ago only their father dared dream. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Advantage:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tennis]]></category><category><![CDATA[John McEnroe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rafael Nadal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Federer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Serena Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Venus Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wimbledon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Compton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Simon Barnes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger Woods]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andy Roddick]]></category><category><![CDATA[Anna Kournikova]]></category><category><![CDATA[Billie Jean King]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bobby Riggs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bud Collins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Evert]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Blake]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jennifer Aniston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jennifer Capriati]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jimmy Connorses]]></category><category><![CDATA[Justin Gimelstob]]></category><category><![CDATA[Justine Henin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kim Clijsters]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lindsay Davenport]]></category><category><![CDATA[Manu Ginobili]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marv Marinoviches]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nick Bollettieri]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pete Sampras]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rod Lavers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Toni Kukoc]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tony Parker]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Lobsters]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Astrodome]]></category><category><![CDATA[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBC Universal Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Times of London]]></category><category><![CDATA[World TeamTennis]]></category><category><![CDATA[California]]></category><category><![CDATA[Florida]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ For $111 Million, We Need More ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/04/AR2008070402693.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/04/AR2008070402693.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Isn't it just fabulous, Gilbert Arenas putting aside his own basic needs to sacrifice for the greater good of Washington and the Wizards by accepting $111 million instead of $127 million? How unbelievably heroic can one man be? It's not like the $16 million surplus will allow the Wizards to go get Elton Brand, too. It will allow the Wizards to keep a couple of their own guys and not pay a big luxury tax. Whoop-de-doo!<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123613572" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123613572" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[For]]></category><category><![CDATA[$111]]></category><category><![CDATA[Million,]]></category><category><![CDATA[We]]></category><category><![CDATA[Need]]></category><category><![CDATA[More]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ernie Grunfeld]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Webber]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rashard Lewis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alex Rodriguez]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andray Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charlotte]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dominic McGuire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwight Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwyane Wade]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elton Brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[JaVale McGee]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jermaine O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Juwan Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Brown (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Beasley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Redd]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nick Young]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oleksiy Pecherov]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shawn Marion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Just What the Wizards Needed: A Big Man ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062700071.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062700071.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Anybody who spent any time watching the Washington Wizards the past four years could see the Wizards weren't big enough, strong enough or physically tough enough to be a serious playoff contender. So the Wizards' primary need was no secret going into last night's NBA draft. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Just]]></category><category><![CDATA[What]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Needed:]]></category><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big]]></category><category><![CDATA[Man]]></category><category><![CDATA[JaVale McGee]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Jersey Nets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brook Lopez]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derrick Rose]]></category><category><![CDATA[J.J. Hickson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roy Hibbert]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indiana Pacers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland Trail Blazers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Anthony Randolph]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwight Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Alexander]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Beasley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Jefferson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ryan Anderson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Serge Ibaka]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Milwaukee Bucks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alexis Ajinca]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andray Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andrew Bogut]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brad Daugherty]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charlotte]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Paul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danilo Gallinari]]></category><category><![CDATA[Darrell Arthur]]></category><category><![CDATA[Deron Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greg Oden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ike Diogu]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Kidd]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Thompson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jerryd Bayless]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kosta Koufos]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marreese Speights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Redd]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mo Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Moses Malone]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pat Riley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[North Carolina State University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Philadelphia 76ers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Spain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stanford University]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Ohio State University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Florida]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kansas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kansas State]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nevada]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></category><category><![CDATA[West Virginia]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Most Favored Nation Status ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062302454.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062302454.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ A stellar group of NBA all-stars was named to the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team yesterday and most hoops junkies in America, not surprisingly, claimed immediate victory in Beijing. Never mind that the U.S. team of NBA stars that played in the world championships two years ago in Japan finished third, or that the 2004 Olympic team in Athens lost three games and finished third, or that the 2002 world championship team lost three games and didn't even medal, or that the 1998 world championship team finished third. If Kobe and LeBron and D. Wade are playing then the United States ought to win, right? ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Most]]></category><category><![CDATA[Favored]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Status]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carlos Boozer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwyane Wade]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Kidd]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tayshaun Prince]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Bosh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Deron Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwight Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Beijing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Barcelona]]></category><category><![CDATA[Baron Davis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Paul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen Iverson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alonzo Mourning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Amare Stoudemire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio McDyess]]></category><category><![CDATA[Athens]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carmelo Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Aldridge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elton Brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gary Payton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jermaine O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Brown (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Finley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Redd]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reggie Miller]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seoul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shawn Marion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sydney (Australia)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tony Kornheiser]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tyson Chandler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Vince Carter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Krzyzewski]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brazil]]></category><category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category><category><![CDATA[U.S.S.R.]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States Olympic Committee]]></category><category><![CDATA[Africa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><category><![CDATA[South America]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ A Franchise Pantheon Opens Long-Closed Doors ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061800069.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061800069.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Franchise]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pantheon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Opens]]></category><category><![CDATA[Long-Closed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[AFC East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American Football Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England Patriots]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Posey]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Havlicek]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[AL East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American League (Baseball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Red Sox]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tony Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta Hawks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Belichick]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bob Cousy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dave Cowens]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwyane Wade]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elgin Baylor]]></category><category><![CDATA[Johnny Most]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tom Heinsohn]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tracy McGrady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Yankees]]></category><category><![CDATA[California]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Never Give Bryant A Second Chance ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061600078.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061600078.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES Only a complete fool would keep giving Kobe Bryant chances. It's like pitching to Babe Ruth with the bases loaded, like sticking your naked chin in the face of Joe Louis . . . or giving Tiger Woods one last chance to make a 12-foot putt on No. 18. You keep giving Kobe Bryant chances and he's going to, if not beat you, make you sweat profusely. The longer he's on the court, the longer he has a chance to beat you, even if you're the Celtics and you've got the better team and a 3-2 lead headed back to Boston for Games 6.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123614737" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123614737" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Never]]></category><category><![CDATA[Give]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Second]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Babe Ruth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Louis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger Woods]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ An Offensive Prediction's Demise ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/14/AR2008061402007.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/14/AR2008061402007.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES Most of us were seduced by the glamour, by Phil Jackson's championship rings, by Kobe Bryant's celestial talent, by the Lakers' ability to run and shoot so beautifully. That's certainly why I picked the Lakers to beat the Celtics when the NBA Finals began, because of Jackson, the best coach in the game, and Bryant, the best and most valuable player. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[An]]></category><category><![CDATA[Offensive]]></category><category><![CDATA[Prediction's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Demise]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta Hawks]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah Jazz]]></category><category><![CDATA[AFC East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American Football Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andrew Bynum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Denver Nuggets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Posey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England Patriots]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pat Riley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sasha Vujacic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tom Brady]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Paying Arenas Hardly Guarantees Playing in June ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/12/AR2008061204214.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/12/AR2008061204214.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Paying]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hardly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Guarantees]]></category><category><![CDATA[Playing]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[June]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ernie Grunfeld]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Clippers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen Iverson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andris Biedrins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Baron Davis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carmelo Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[Denver Nuggets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elton Brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Baltimore]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Webber]]></category><category><![CDATA[Corey Maggette]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kelenna Azubuike]]></category><category><![CDATA[Monta Ellis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oakland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shawn Marion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ 'Refgate' Puts NBA in a Fix ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061104008.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061104008.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA['Refgate']]></category><category><![CDATA[Puts]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fix]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Donaghy]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jeff Van Gundy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento Kings]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arlen Specter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bob Delaney]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dick Bavetta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Cuban]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pat Riley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ted Bernhardt]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Mavericks]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[California]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Official Misconduct? ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061100102.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061100102.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 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=2917123618487" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123618487" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Official]]></category><category><![CDATA[Misconduct?]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Donaghy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento Kings]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bob Delaney]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dick Bavetta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pat Riley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ted Bernhardt]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[Staples Center]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Shaping Up The Offense ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060902897.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060902897.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Shaping]]></category><category><![CDATA[Up]]></category><category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Offense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tex Winter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jack Ramsay]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scottie Pippen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Walton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cotton Fitzsimmons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jim Cleamons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland Trail Blazers]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Bringing the Pain ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060900047.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060900047.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON There was one story in Boston more important Sunday than the heat wave that threatened to suffocate all of New England: the health of Celtics star Paul Pierce's right knee. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Bringing]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Willis Reed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Havlicek]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilt Chamberlain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cornbread Maxwell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Curt Schilling]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dave Cowens]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dennis Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oral Roberts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Silas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiny Archibald]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indiana Pacers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Madison Square Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ International Diplomacy, Domestic Unrest ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/07/AR2008060702255.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/07/AR2008060702255.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON -- The NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics won't be the last basketball battle of the summer. Sixteen years after the U.S. Dream Team initiated an Olympic and global basketball renaissance, and four years after the worst Olympic showing in U.S. history caused unprecedented self-examination, there is widespread domestic disagreement on what Olympic role, if any, NBA players should have. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[International]]></category><category><![CDATA[Diplomacy,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Domestic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Unrest]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Beijing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Barkley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Argentina]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Amare Stoudemire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Barcelona]]></category><category><![CDATA[China]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Mavericks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dirk Nowitzki]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dwight Howard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Germany]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greece]]></category><category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Cuban]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando (Florida)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scandinavia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Spirited Rivalry ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/05/AR2008060504559.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/05/AR2008060504559.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619008" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619008" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Spirited]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rivalry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah Jazz]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Mavericks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Denver Nuggets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Jersey Nets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Janet Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Minnesota Timberwolves]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ A Perceptible Change ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060404369.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060404369.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON The Boston Celtics have no white players. Yes, it's a news flash, at the very least an obvious talking point. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Perceptible]]></category><category><![CDATA[Change]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brian Scalabrine]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jalen Rose]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jon Barry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greg Kite]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Barry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indiana Pacers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Walton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jerry Sichting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Carlisle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scott Wedman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Dudley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Clifford Ray]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fred Roberts]]></category><category><![CDATA[French Lick]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jeff Hornacek]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oakland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Robey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scot Pollard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Philadelphia 76ers]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Broken Records ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/03/AR2008060303319.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/03/AR2008060303319.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Used to be the two greatest titles in sports were "Fastest Man in the World" and "Heavyweight Champion of the World." Each meant the holder was invincible the world over. This wasn't small potatoes, like winning a league or a national championship. These were planetary designations. All comers welcome. The titles were unassailable, unimpeachable. There were no questions to be asked. No doubt conveyed. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Broken]]></category><category><![CDATA[Records]]></category><category><![CDATA[Muhammad Ali]]></category><category><![CDATA[Samuel Peter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carl Lewis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jesse Owens]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Spinks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ralph Metcalfe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Montgomery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wladimir Klitschko]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative]]></category><category><![CDATA[France]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Pettigrew]]></category><category><![CDATA[Asafa Powell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Beijing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bob Hayes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Don Lippincott]]></category><category><![CDATA[Herbie Hide]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jack Dempsey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jack Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Louis]]></category><category><![CDATA[John L. Sullivan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Justin Gatlin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kimbo Slice]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamon Brewster]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Holmes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leroy Burrell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marion Jones]]></category><category><![CDATA[Maurice Greene]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Bentt]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Tyson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paris]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rocky Marciano]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ruslan Chagaev]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seoul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sonny Liston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sydney (Australia)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Willie Williams]]></category><category><![CDATA[CBS Corporation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uzbekistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ The NBA's Showcase Showdown ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053102331.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053102331.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Showcase]]></category><category><![CDATA[Showdown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Byron Scott]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dennis Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Fisher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dick Stockton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elgin Baylor]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greg Oden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hubie Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Worthy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jerry West]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Cooper]]></category><category><![CDATA[Minneapolis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Montreal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tayshaun Prince]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Red Wings]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Hockey League]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NHL Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NHL Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NHL Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NHL Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pittsburgh Penguins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stanley Cup]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[South Carolina]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Celtics Bring It Home ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/30/AR2008053003417.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/30/AR2008053003417.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 30 -- The Boston Celtics were 1-7 on the road in the playoffs when they took the court here Friday night for Game 6. But they were able to win not only their second road game of the playoffs, but come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Detroit Pistons and reach the NBA Finals in the process.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619549" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619549" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bring]]></category><category><![CDATA[It]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chauncey Billups]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rasheed Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Hamilton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rajon Rondo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lindsey Hunter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tayshaun Prince]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Associated Press]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Celtics Are One Win From Trip To Finals ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052801167.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052801167.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON, May 28 -- Rick Pitino rather infamously reminded New Englanders in 2000 that Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish never were "walking through that door" again. And while these Boston Celtics still have a long way to go before adding a 17th championship banner to the collection, the new "Big Three" was a reasonable facsimile of the original in an all-important Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Are]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category><category><![CDATA[Win]]></category><category><![CDATA[From]]></category><category><![CDATA[Trip]]></category><category><![CDATA[To]]></category><category><![CDATA[Finals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Pitino]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip Saunders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rasheed Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Associated Press]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Right Call, But the Wrong Ref ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052803351.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052803351.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON Calling fouls in the NBA has always been absurdly subjective. I once watched from 10 feet away as Robert Parish delivered a closed-fist combination to the face of Bill Laimbeer in a playoff game here in the old Garden, and no foul was called. Not only that, but referee Jess Kersey, looking directly at the contact as well, motioned to Laimbeer to get his butt off the floor and play on. The larger point here is that nobody has ever known what is and what isn't a foul in professional basketball. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Right]]></category><category><![CDATA[Call,]]></category><category><![CDATA[But]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wrong]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ref]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joey Crawford]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brent Barry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Fisher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Laimbeer]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hubie Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Avery Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bryon Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jeff Van Gundy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jess Kersey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jon Barry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Donaghy]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Still Seeing Red ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052703080.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052703080.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON This is the first playoff run the Boston Celtics have ever had without Red Auerbach. He's not in the building. Not coaching, not smoking, not ordering somebody to turn the heat up or the lights down in the visitors' locker room . . . well, not that we know of. During those epic battles the Celtics had with the Pistons and Lakers in the 1980s, no matter what was happening on the court, I'd always sneak a peek at Red. He was to the old Boston Garden what Ruth was to Yankee Stadium, what John Wooden still is to Pauley Pavilion. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Still]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seeing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[M.L. Carr]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Feinstein]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arnold Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Billy Cunningham]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bob Ryan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dennis Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Isiah Thomas]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Wooden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rasheed Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pauley Pavilion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Public Enemy]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Boston Globe]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Washington Post Company]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yankee Stadium]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Locked-In Pistons Flourish, Tie Series ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/26/AR2008052600915.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/26/AR2008052600915.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 26 -- The agony and the appeal of the Detroit Pistons is in their utter unpredictability. Count on the Pistons to bring their championship-caliber form and as often as not they'll disappoint. Count them out after one of their clunkers and they'll usually respond with a victory.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619893" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123619893" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Locked-In]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flourish,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tie]]></category><category><![CDATA[Series]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chauncey Billups]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio McDyess]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip Saunders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jarvis Hayes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Maxiell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lindsey Hunter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rodney Stuckey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Celtics Take It Away ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/24/AR2008052402240.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/24/AR2008052402240.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ AUBURN HILLS, Mich, May 24 -- The Detroit Pistons have become rather infamous for throwing in a clunker, usually at home and even in the playoffs. But Boston's Game 3 victory here Saturday night, the Celtics' first road victory after six straight defeats away from home, appeared to be more about what they did than what the Pistons did not. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Take]]></category><category><![CDATA[It]]></category><category><![CDATA[Away]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chauncey Billups]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip Saunders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lindsey Hunter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando (Florida)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rajon Rondo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Hamilton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rodney Stuckey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tom Brady]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Associated Press]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Pistons Create Tougher Road for the Celtics ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/22/AR2008052201975.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/22/AR2008052201975.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON, May 22 -- A degree of normalcy returned to playoff basketball on Thursday night: A team won on the road. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Create]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tougher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Road]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rasheed Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tony Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chauncey Billups]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rajon Rondo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Hamilton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio McDyess]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie House]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Posey]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rodney Stuckey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tayshaun Prince]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[TD Banknorth Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Associated Press]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah Jazz]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Allen's Jumper Is Missing in Action ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052103156.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052103156.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Allen's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jumper]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Missing]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Milwaukee Bucks]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle SuperSonics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dell Curry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jesus Shuttlesworth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jon Barry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Milwaukee]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rashard Lewis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England States]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Garnett, Celtics Take Game 1 ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052002320.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052002320.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ BOSTON, May 20 -- Despite being undefeated at home in the playoffs, the Boston Celtics suddenly found themselves in the role of underdog for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night. Their back-to-back seven-game struggles with Atlanta and Cleveland, many believed, left them ripe for the ornery Detroit Pistons in the series opener.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123621470" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123621470" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Garnett,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Take]]></category><category><![CDATA[Game]]></category><category><![CDATA[1]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kendrick Perkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chauncey Billups]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Edward M. Kennedy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jon Lester]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando (Florida)]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rasheed Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio]]></category><category><![CDATA[AL East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American League (Baseball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Red Sox]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip Saunders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England States]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ NBA Fans in Seventh Heaven ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702605.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702605.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Pro football unquestionably has become America's sporting obsession. There's no offseason anymore. There's no month when the NFL isn't front and center in the culture's consciousness. Even a complete non-story, such as this Matt Walsh nonsense out of New England that's little more than Geraldo standing before Al Capone's vault, can hold people's rapt attention for weeks. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fans]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seventh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Heaven]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta Hawks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Barkley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dominique Wilkins]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Stockton]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[Al Capone]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chet Walker]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Paul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hal Greer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Johnny Havlicek]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matt Walsh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[St. Louis]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Willis Reed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Clippers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Madison Square Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Hockey League]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stanley Cup]]></category><category><![CDATA[AFC East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American Football Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England Patriots]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Can a Road Team Win? ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202968.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202968.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ TK: Statistics work when they work and then they are modified when they don't work anymore. . . . People who say it has never happened before and therefore it won't happen again, no no no. It's never happened before. That's all you can say. The one series that is the most interesting is San Antonio and New Orleans because they are killing each other. There has not been a single close game. Nothing is remotely close and these two teams won the exact [same] amount of games in the regular season. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Talking Points By Tony Kornheiser And Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Can]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Road]]></category><category><![CDATA[Team]]></category><category><![CDATA[Win?]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jessica Biel]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Mayo Got the Money, But Others Cashed In ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/13/AR2008051303412.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/13/AR2008051303412.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Pardon me if O.J. Mayo isn't the first person I jump on in the latest sports scandal at Southern California, even if he's at the center of it. If I'm 14 years old and poor, I'm accepting money as long as I don't have to do anything illegal. If I'm 14 years old and poor and everybody around me is making money off my athletic talent, and somebody tells me that I, too, can share in the wealth, I'm taking the money. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Mayo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Got]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Money,]]></category><category><![CDATA[But]]></category><category><![CDATA[Others]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cashed]]></category><category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[O.J. Mayo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tito Maddox]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rodney Guillory]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Floyd]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pacific-10 Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[USC Trojans]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Duffy]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[California State University-Fresno]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Compton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Garrett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reggie Bush]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Times]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Violating NCAA]]></category><category><![CDATA[California]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ For Fisher, Cheers, Tears And Boos ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050803095.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050803095.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 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=2917123623652" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123623652" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[For]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fisher,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cheers,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tears]]></category><category><![CDATA[And]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boos]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Fisher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah Jazz]]></category><category><![CDATA[Salt Lake City]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Memphis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ There's No 'I' in MVP ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703650.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703650.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ LOS ANGELES ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[There's]]></category><category><![CDATA[No]]></category><category><![CDATA['I']]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[MVP]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mitch Kupchak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hollywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sasha Vujacic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Byron Scott]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Paul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Fisher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kwame Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lamar Odom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Luke Walton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ronny Turiaf]]></category><category><![CDATA[Vladimir Radmanovic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[ESPN Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Staples Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[Colorado]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ The Cavs Have a LeBron, And the Wizards Don't ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/03/AR2008050300082.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/03/AR2008050300082.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Great pitching is the most important ingredient in postseason baseball. Great coaching tilts the table in football. Great goaltending is the overriding factor in the Stanley Cup playoffs. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cavs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Have]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron,]]></category><category><![CDATA[And]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Don't]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wally Szczerbiak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andre Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Darius Songaila]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta Hawks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Daniels]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Daniel Gibson]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeShawn Stevenson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hakeem Olajuwon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Isiah Thomas]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Price]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike D'Antoni]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ron Harper]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Soulja Boy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stanley Cup]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Silence Is Golden ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003898.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003898.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ CLEVELAND ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Silence]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Daniels]]></category><category><![CDATA[Daniel Gibson]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeShawn Stevenson]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mark Price]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ For One Night, Three Times Better ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042500083.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042500083.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ This is the night the Washington Wizards have been waiting two years for, ever since LeBron James talked Gilbert Arenas out of a critical free throw and into summer vacation back in that Game 6, series-ending loss 24 months ago. This is the performance folks have been waiting to see the Wizards produce, one in which all-stars play like it and decide they're not going to be humiliated by one great player, even if that great player is LeBron James.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123623916" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123623916" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[For]]></category><category><![CDATA[One]]></category><category><![CDATA[Night,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Three]]></category><category><![CDATA[Times]]></category><category><![CDATA[Better]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeShawn Stevenson]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Soulja Boy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Verizon Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andre Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Colin Powell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Durant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Hughes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Brown (Basketball Coach)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Mason Jr.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roy Hibbert]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Advantage, LeBron ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/21/AR2008042103444.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/21/AR2008042103444.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ CLEVELAND ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Advantage,]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Anderson Varejao]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Brown (Basketball Coach)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wally Szczerbiak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andray Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Daniels]]></category><category><![CDATA[Daniel Gibson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reggie Miller]]></category><category><![CDATA[Miami Heat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Verizon Center]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ An NBA Buffet ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041803636.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041803636.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ If you want to see great basketball without the pretense, without the self-righteousness that has become an inescapable part of March Madness worship, then settle in for the next eight weeks and watch the NBA playoffs. It's a postseason with greater promise, potentially better basketball and more melodrama than any season since 1998, the year Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[An]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Buffet]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah Jazz]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Denver Nuggets]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen Iverson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Mavericks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carmelo Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tim Duncan]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta Hawks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Philadelphia 76ers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Amare Stoudemire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Grant Hill]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Rockets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Minneapolis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando Magic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Robert Horry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tracy McGrady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Round 3 To Wizards ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041704179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041704179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ The Boston Celtics may have the best record in the NBA and may prove over the next two months to be the league's best team. The Detroit Pistons might have the talent and the depth to add a championship ring to the one they won four years ago. But there's only one story line with sizzle in the first round of the Eastern Conference and it involves neither the Celtics nor Pistons. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Round]]></category><category><![CDATA[3]]></category><category><![CDATA[To]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeShawn Stevenson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Barkley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Daniels]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andray Blatche]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Daniel Gibson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Darius Songaila]]></category><category><![CDATA[Delonte West]]></category><category><![CDATA[Drew Gooden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Smith]]></category><category><![CDATA[Larry Hughes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Mason Jr.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sasha Pavlovic]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tracy McGrady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wally Szczerbiak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ NBA Awards Go to . . . ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603989.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603989.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ You don't need any kind of statistical formula to determine the NBA's most valuable player this season. You don't need plus-minus rating or an MVP index. You don't need to deal with scoring and rebounding leaders or triple-doubles or even victory differential.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123624215" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123624215" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category><category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Go]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[.]]></category><category><![CDATA[.]]></category><category><![CDATA[.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chris Paul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Byron Scott]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[David West]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mitch Kupchak]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Jersey Nets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando (Florida)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Al Horford]]></category><category><![CDATA[Allen Iverson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Amare Stoudemire]]></category><category><![CDATA[Andrew Bynum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carmelo Anthony]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[Denver]]></category><category><![CDATA[Derek Fisher]]></category><category><![CDATA[Don Nelson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hedo Turkoglu]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston]]></category><category><![CDATA[James Posey]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Kidd]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Barry Carroll]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin McHale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kwame Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Memphis Grizzlies]]></category><category><![CDATA[P.J. Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rajon Rondo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Red Auerbach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reggie Theus]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Adelman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tom Thibodeau]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tracy McGrady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tyson Chandler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category><category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul, KG]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ With Less, Wizards Achieve More ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032403157.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032403157.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ I've got a spring crush on the Wizards. They've earned a little adoration. No, they haven't won 22 straight, they didn't swing a big deal for an all-star or pick up anybody after the trade deadline. But what the Wizards have been able to do better than anybody in the NBA this season, especially over the last three weeks, is often the most underrated but important thing in team sports: hang in there. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[With]]></category><category><![CDATA[Less,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Achieve]]></category><category><![CDATA[More]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilbert Arenas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Caron Butler]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Orlando (Florida)]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeShawn Stevenson]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antawn Jamison]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category><category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category><category><![CDATA[Antonio Daniels]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlanta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brendan Haywood]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charlotte]]></category><category><![CDATA[Darius Songaila]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Devin Harris]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dirk Nowitzki]]></category><category><![CDATA[Eddie Jordan (Basketball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jason Kidd]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Mason Jr.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Mavericks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Rockets]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Rockets Roll, Until Celtics Put a Stop to It ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/18/AR2008031803627.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/18/AR2008031803627.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ HOUSTON ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Rockets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roll,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Until]]></category><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Put]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stop]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[It]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Rockets]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tracy McGrady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[New Orleans Hornets]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rafer Alston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Adelman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bobby Jackson]]></category><category><![CDATA[David West]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Stern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dikembe Mutombo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sacramento]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jerry West]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carl Landry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chuck Hayes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Chronicle Publishing Company]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jeff Van Gundy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Luis Scola]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mike Harris]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Justice]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Antonio]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shane Battier]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Novak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Toyota Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wilt Chamberlain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category><category><![CDATA[Argentina]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big East Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[China]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown Hoyas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Purdue University]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Tournament Offers So Much More, and This Year It's Needed ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/16/AR2008031602561.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/16/AR2008031602561.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Maybe the NCAA men's basketball tournament will save the season. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Tournament]]></category><category><![CDATA[Offers]]></category><category><![CDATA[So]]></category><category><![CDATA[Much]]></category><category><![CDATA[More,]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[This]]></category><category><![CDATA[Year]]></category><category><![CDATA[It's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Needed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Mason]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kansas State]]></category><category><![CDATA[North Carolina]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Beasley]]></category><category><![CDATA[O.J. Mayo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temple]]></category><category><![CDATA[Southeastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Houston Rockets]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arizona State University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arkansas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big Ten Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indiana]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kansas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kentucky Wildcats]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michigan State Spartans]]></category><category><![CDATA[West Virginia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Adam Emmenecker]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big East Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dick Vitale]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dionte Christmas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Folarin Campbell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hasheem Thabeet]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jonathan Cox]]></category><category><![CDATA[Josh Young]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leonard Houston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Memphis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Notre Dame Fighting Irish]]></category><category><![CDATA[Randy Wittman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ryan Wittman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stephen Curry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger Woods]]></category><category><![CDATA[Will Thomas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wink Adams]]></category><category><![CDATA[Yao Ming]]></category><category><![CDATA[American University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arizona State Sun Devils]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gonzaga University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pacific-10 Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stanford University]]></category><category><![CDATA[University of California-Los Angeles]]></category><category><![CDATA[University of Nevada-Las Vegas]]></category><category><![CDATA[USC Trojans]]></category><category><![CDATA[Villanova, Marquette]]></category><category><![CDATA[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown Hoyas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gonzaga Bulldogs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Villanova Wildcats]]></category><category><![CDATA[West Coast Conference]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Month-Long Stress Test ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030703568.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030703568.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Selection Sunday is eight days away, but the desperation and anxiety that can only be produced by March is already here. It can be felt this weekend in North Charleston, S.C., where the Southern Conference will determine its champion. It can be felt in Nashville, where the Atlantic Sun will determine its one automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It can be felt at the Summit League tournament in Tulsa, at the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis, at the Metro Atlantic tournament in Albany, N.Y.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123624662" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123624662" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Month-Long]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category><category><![CDATA[Test]]></category><category><![CDATA[Big East Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Georgetown Hoyas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Louisville Cardinals]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Mason]]></category><category><![CDATA[Maryland]]></category><category><![CDATA[Missouri Valley Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[West Coast Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Southern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[South Carolina]]></category><category><![CDATA[UConn Huskies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Virginia]]></category><category><![CDATA[West Virginia Mountaineers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gonzaga University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Atlantic Coast Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Associated Press]]></category><category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category><category><![CDATA[Belmont]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bender Arena]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Thompson III]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kenny George]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marquette Golden Eagles]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nashville]]></category><category><![CDATA[North Charleston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Patrick Ewing Jr.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richmond]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rick Pitino]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roy Hibbert]]></category><category><![CDATA[San Diego Toreros]]></category><category><![CDATA[St. Louis]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stephon Curry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Syracuse Orange]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tulsa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Upstate New York]]></category><category><![CDATA[Verizon Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[Western Athletic Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Horizon League]]></category><category><![CDATA[Summit League]]></category><category><![CDATA[University of North Carolina at Asheville]]></category><category><![CDATA[Villanova Wildcats]]></category><category><![CDATA[Virginia Commonwealth University]]></category><category><![CDATA[Virginia Tech Hokies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Butler Bulldogs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mountain West Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ohio Valley Conference]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Favre's Star Power ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503182.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503182.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ When it comes to recognition, the NFL prefers its players to fall somewhere between low profile and anonymous, the easier to stage replacement games if necessary and the better to let other leagues, like the NBA, deal with guaranteed contracts. But Brett Favre, for most of his 17 years in the league, was the grand exception, instantly and unmistakably identifiable. Part of it had to be the premature gray that puts you in mind of George Clooney, who simply must be the one to portray Favre on the screen, if it ever comes to that. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Favre's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Star]]></category><category><![CDATA[Power]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brett Favre]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Bay Packers]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFC North Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Montana]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Elway]]></category><category><![CDATA[Johnny Unitas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Otto Graham]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tom Brady]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mississippi]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cal Ripken Jr.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fran Tarkenton]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Clooney]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gulf of Mexico]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jim Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Namath]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lake Michigan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Madison Square Garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Strahan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mickey Mantle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reggie White]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Staubach]]></category><category><![CDATA[Terry Bradshaw]]></category><category><![CDATA[Troy Aikman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Warren Sapp]]></category><category><![CDATA[AFC East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[American Football Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[American Football League]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dallas Cowboys]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[New England Patriots]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York Knicks]]></category><category><![CDATA[NFC East Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Oden Gets a Vote for Standing Up for His Beliefs ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022804230.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022804230.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ It's not as if Greg Oden declared he was refusing induction into the U.S. Army or staging a sit-in or starting a boycott. But in these days of political and social inactivity among America's richest and most famous athletes, Oden's conversation with and subsequent public endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president qualifies as an eye-opener. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Oden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gets]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Vote]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Standing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Up]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[His]]></category><category><![CDATA[Beliefs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[Greg Oden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Carolinian Harvey Gantt]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jesse Helms]]></category><category><![CDATA[Laura Bush]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Nash]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[U.S. Army]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cable News Network LP LLLP]]></category><category><![CDATA[Star Tribune Company]]></category><category><![CDATA[Adonal Foyle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arthur Ashe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Bradley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Walton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Billie Jean King]]></category><category><![CDATA[Charles Barkley]]></category><category><![CDATA[Craig Hodges]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dave Meggyesy]]></category><category><![CDATA[David Robinson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Etan Thomas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Flip Saunders]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[George H.W. Bush]]></category><category><![CDATA[George McGovern]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hillary Clinton]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jim Brown]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Carlos]]></category><category><![CDATA[John McCain]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Thompson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mexico City]]></category><category><![CDATA[Muhammad Ali]]></category><category><![CDATA[Portland (Oregon)]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Schoenke]]></category><category><![CDATA[Richard Nixon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[The White House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger Woods]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tommie Smith]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chicago Bulls]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major League Baseball]]></category><category><![CDATA[National League (Baseball)]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[NL Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[St. Louis Cardinals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Southeast Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Washington Wizards]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Clearly, He Stands Alone ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502782.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502782.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ We're about at the point with Tiger Woods when it's pointless to limit the conversation about his competitive brilliance to the game of golf. With only Jack Nicklaus in that discussion we have to search for a larger context to put Woods's still ascending career into proper perspective. Winning the Match Play Championship over the weekend was another emphatic reminder that we're about at the point where Tiger's peers aren't Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els as much as they are Michael Jordan, Joe Louis and Babe Ruth. ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Clearly,]]></category><category><![CDATA[He]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stands]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alone]]></category><category><![CDATA[Michael Jordan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tiger Woods]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jack Nicklaus]]></category><category><![CDATA[Babe Ruth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Muhammad Ali]]></category><category><![CDATA[United States]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alexander Karelin]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phil Mickelson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Snead]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Louis]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dubai]]></category><category><![CDATA[Augusta National Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category><category><![CDATA[PGA TOUR Inc.]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arnold Palmer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben Hogan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill Russell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Edwin Moses]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ernie Els]]></category><category><![CDATA[George Foreman]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hank Aaron]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jackie Robinson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jake LaMotta]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe DiMaggio]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Frazier]]></category><category><![CDATA[John Paxson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lou Gehrig]]></category><category><![CDATA[Manila]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rocky Marciano]]></category><category><![CDATA[Roger Federer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Scottie Pippen]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sergio Garcia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sonny Liston]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Kerr]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stewart Cink]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sugar Ray Robinson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Willie Mays]]></category><category><![CDATA[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category><category><![CDATA[NASCAR]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[U.S. Army]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jimmie Johnson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magic Johnson]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Celtics Still Ahead Of the Curve in East ]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022402167.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022402167.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ PHOENIX -- The Boston Celtics started this basketball makeover craze. Back at the end of July, before the Lakers had any thought of trading for Pau Gasol or the Phoenix Suns had any inkling Shaq might become The Big Cactus, Danny Ainge remade and as a result reenergized the Celtics. Even as they've struggled now through their first three-game losing streak of the season out west, the overall numbers make it fairly easy to argue that the biggest trade in the season of swap took place not in February to beat the deadline, but back in the summer when Ainge pulled off huge deals for Ray Allen and then Kevin Garnett that enabled the Celtics to run off to the best record in the NBA.<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123625061" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=2917123625061" border="0" vspace="5"></a> ]]></description><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Wilbon]]></dc:creator><category><![CDATA[Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Still]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ahead]]></category><category><![CDATA[Of]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Curve]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[East]]></category><category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category><category><![CDATA[Danny Ainge]]></category><category><![CDATA[National Basketball Association]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Atlantic Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Eastern Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kevin Garnett]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doc Rivers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ray Allen]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Pacific Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Western Conference]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phoenix Suns]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Pierce]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Northwest Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Minnesota Timberwolves]]></category><category><![CDATA[Delonte West]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leon Powe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pau Gasol]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wally Szczerbiak]]></category><category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Lakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons]]></category><category><![CDATA[NBA Central Division]]></category><category><![CDATA[Al Jefferson]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ben Wallace]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Detroit]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jeff Green]]></category><category><![CDATA[Joe Smith]]></category><category><![CDATA[Latrell Sprewell]]></category><category><![CDATA[LeBron James]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sam Cassell]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seattle SuperSonics]]></category></item>
<item><title><![CDATA[ Br