November 12, 2012
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
With the fate of this year’s hockey season still undecided, fans turn to basketball for their winter sports fix. Unfortunately for Washingtonians, the Wizards haven’t been much fun to watch.
Only five games into the season, the Wizards are struggling and have yet to achieve a single win. Despite coming surprisingly close to a victory over the Boston Celtics during their first home game (the final score was 86-89), Washington lost two subsequent games by ten-point margins.
The latest loss came on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers, who had been in the midst of a three-game skid. The teams were tied 49-49 at halftime, with the Wizards taking a lead in the third period, outscoring Indiana by 23-21.
By the fourth quarter, however, their pace had cooled, putting up only thirteen points and forfeiting crucial shots.
Forward Trevor Booker missed a left-handed hook that would have tied the game with 17.9 seconds remaining. After the miss, Indiana’s Paul George made two free throws and brought the Pacers out on top. It was a deafening blow for the Wizards who, moments earlier, had only needed three points to win the game.
While a 0-5 start is not unfamiliar in Washington, the Wizards’ dismal beginning can be partially attributed to player injuries: John Wall is out with a stress injury in his left knee, while forward-center Nene Hilario’s foot problems keep him sidelined. Neither has a timetable for his return, a fact that adds to the Wizards’ woes.
Owner Ted Leonsis took to his blog on Sunday to discuss the tough loss, outlining what he thinks needs improvement. He ended the post with optimism: “I am happy to report that the team believes in itself and isn’t down. The team knows they are close. And many players are getting minutes and gaining trust in each other and in the system. We see progress – but we aren’t satisfied with the results.” At this point, neither are the fans.
Bryce Harper Named National League Rookie of the Year
While the Nationals season ended too soon for many fans, the players had much to be excited about. Their team, largely irrelevant this time last year, won their division. A Washington baseball team made the playoffs for the first time in seventy-nine years, and an emerging star, Bryce Harper, burst onto the scene through their outfield.
Harper was the top overall pick in the 2010 draft, but played in the minors last year. He was immediately hailed as a breakout star after his first Major League game on April 28, which earned him a spot on the All-Star Game roster in July. He finished the season with twenty-two homeruns, fifty-nine RBIs, eighteen stolen bases, and a staggering .817 on-base percentage.
Harper won the award over Arizona Diamondback Wade Miley with 112 points and sixteen of thirty-two first-place votes. Miley, a southpaw who won sixteen games and finished the season with a 3.53 ERA and 169 strikeouts, received 105 points and twelve votes for first place. Todd Frazier, the Cincinnati Reds’ slugger, finished a distant third, with forty-five points and only three first-place votes.
After his win was announced, Harper was humble in his response to the MLB network, saying, “I just want to help my team win, game in and game out, and nothing much else matters to me.”
