Wizards fire Wittman after four seasons as head coach
Less than an hour after winning the final game of the regular season, Wizards’ coach Randy Wittman was notified that he would not be returning next season. The Wizards took care of business beating the Atlanta Hawks at home and finishing the 2015-2016 season 41-41, falling short of making the playoffs. They made the playoffs each time in the last three years, however, an up-and-down season lead to the removal of Wittman. “I love this job. I’m going to come to work until they tell me I can’t. I’m proud of what we’ve done here. I took over 4 1/2 years ago, and this was a sideshow,” Wittman said. “And we slowly changed the culture of this team. And we had a slip-up this year.”
MARYLAND
Boy dies after getting hit by car while riding bike
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of 10-year-old James Elek Maples on Tuesday. A car hit Maples on Sunday while riding his bike. He was in the company of his mother and friends. The 10-year-old was crossing a designated crosswalk with his helmet on when the vehicle struck him. He was taken to Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he died two days later. The crash is still under investigation.
NATIONAL
In his last game after 20 seasons, Kobe drops 60 points
A sold out crowd at the Staple Center in Los Angeles and fans worldwide witnessed a Kobe Bryant like performance. On Wednesday night, Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Utah Jazz 101-96. Kobe started off the game missing his first four shots and ended with a show as the game progressed into the first quarter and particularly in the fourth. “It’s hard to believe it happened this way,” Bryant said. “I’m still shocked about it.” The Staples Center erupted when Kobe hit a two-point field goal, giving the Lakers a 97-96 lead with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. “The perfect ending would have been a championship,” Bryant said with a smile. “But tonight was (me) trying to go out, play hard and try to put on a show as much as I possibly could. It felt good to be able to do that one last time.”
ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrity TV star and producer David Gest dead at 62
David Gest died on Tuesday in London, CNN confirms through his sister Barbara Gerber. Gest was the subject of many headlines in the early 2000s, due to his marriage and then divorce from actress Liza Minnelli. London police told CNN they were called to the Four Seasons Hotel in the city’s Canary Wharf district on Tuesday night. The police were investigating the “unexplained death of a man in his 60s.”
POLITICS
Cruz on Trump campaign: ‘They’re acting like union boss thugs’
Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoke out on Wednesday, saying that Trump supporters are “acting like union boss thugs.” “Donald and his team, it’s almost like they’re subjects in a course in clinical psychology,” Cruz told Anderson Cooper. Cruz has claimed that police have cited threats reported to delegates. “What Donald doesn’t like is losing elections,” the Texas senator said.
Siena USA Polls Courtesy of: Realclearpolitics.com
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION:
Clinton: 52%
Sanders: 42%
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION:
Trump: 50%
Cruz: 17%
Kasich: 27%
Washington Wizards: Atlanta Hawks 98 vs. Washington Wizards 109
Washington Capitals: No Game
Washington Redskins: End of Season
Washington Nationals: Atlanta Braves 0 vs. 3 Washington Nationals