Robert Griffin III Please Don't Gilbert Arenas

The Washington Redskins were flying high.  They had just won 7 straight games to make a miraculous playoff run, ending the season as NFC East Division Champions...Redskins star Robert Griffin III was the talk of the town, and the entire hopes of a city rested on his shoulders...Enter a knee...

On Sunday afternoon fans watched as an injured Robert Griffin III limped around the field on a hobbled knee, possibly doing extra damage as he tried to lead the Washington Redskins to a playoff victory.  It was an inspiring effort, but it has drawn a lot of criticism, especially in hindsight after it was revealed today that the rookie QB will have to undergo a full knee reconstruction.

It almost sounds familiar to DC sports fans...

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The Washington Wizards were flying high once too (believe it or not).  They had just locked up the best record in the Eastern Conference for the 2006-07 regular season and headed into the All-Star break as an assumed NBA Finals contender.  Wizards star Gilbert Arenas was the talk of the town, and the entire hopes of a basketball-rich city rested on his shoulders...Enter another knee...

Arenas injured his knee later that season and the team collapsed with his Meniscus   Later, during a playoff series with the Cleveland Cavaliers just one season later, an injured Gilbert Arenas limped around the court on a hobbled knee trying to lead the Washington Wizards to a playoff victory.  The effort was commendable, but the Wizards could not win.

There were several crazy factors involved in Gilbert's situation.  He attempted several comebacks when not 100%.  And in the end, Arenas was never the same again.

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So why are DC athletes inclined to risk their careers for seemingly small moments of hopefully long careers?  Is it because the fans are so starved for something to make them happy?  The hope created by both of these athletes in DC was enormous, and each player seemed to love the fans who gave their everything to root on their heroes.  It must be hard when thousands are counting on you.

Or does it have to do with the personality of the individual player?  Is it selfishness? Is it a soldier-mentality?  Is it heart?

No matter what the reason, it was clear that RG3 risked excess injury by coming back from injury too soon.  An action that Gilbert Arenas repeated several times, transforming an NBA rising star into a guy who can't even finish a full season playing a million miles away in China.

Please Robert Griffin, do NOT become the next Gilbert...listen to your doctors.  Come back when you are 100%.  The fans will understand.

A Fan Response To Etan Thomas' Letter To RG3

This is a fan letter in response to "An Open Letter To RG3" by former Wizards player Etan Thomas

Dear Etan,

A very proud adult man could hardly sleep last night.  I am a huge fan of RG3 and I was extremely proud of the heart shown by my favorite player fighting for all of Washington DC as Fox Sports displayed his heroics during the Redskins’ playoff loss to Seattle Sunday.

As a huge Redskins fan I’m not happy now, but I can’t blame RG3 or tell him that he was wrong.

When I have a son of my own I will teach him to never give up.  I will teach him to fight for those that depend on him.  I was moved by the heart of Robert Griffin III and I hope that one day my son will have similar character.  I just can't agree with the lesson you found in the story.

As a professional athlete yourself, who had open heart surgery, and then returned to the NBA, you should understand…at least a little.  Did you give up when Brendan Haywood ripped out your hair?

And just so you know Mr. Thomas, Robert did not go back into that football game because he was afraid of being called a quitter like Jay Cutler.  He went back into the game because he is not a paid gladiator, but a soldier, who would die on that football field for his teammates.

The fact that Mike Shanahan did not take RG3 out of the game may have not been the best decision.  The player who gave it all on the field was begging to continue the fight, and in the heat of the moment how can the coach really say no?

You can call Mike Shanahan all the evil names you want, but in the end Robert Griffin is an adult, and Robert Griffin could have taken himself out of the game.  Not only did nobody force him to keep playing, but the player himself was never truthful about how injured he really was.  And this is coming from a guy who is upset mostly at Shanahan and only a little at RG3.  (Upset, understanding, and not viciously angry)

Once again, nobody was going to question the toughness of RG3.  NOBODY.  Not one single person in the entire universe, if he took himself out of  the game.  The media was the last thing on his mind.

As a huge Redskins fan it crushes me that he played in that game.  It crushes me that he didn’t take himself out.  It crushes me that the coach didn’t step in and force him to sit out.  But I still love RG3, and I’m proud of the heart he showed.

If RG3 proved anything in that game, it was that he has the heart of a champion.  He has strong character.  He will never give up.  And if lessons like that upset your 7 year old son then I don't know what you are doing.

HTTR!

The Wizards Coach Randy Wittman Fires A Shot At Mike Shanahan

The Washington Wizards are far from a successful team.  In fact, they currently have the worst record in the entire NBA.  But after a big win over the top team in the NBA the Oklahoma City Thunder on a buzzer beater Monday Night, Wiz coach Randy Wittman took a moment to dis Mike Shanahan in his post-game press conference, to the delight of the media.

The Wiz were shorthanded due to injury, and two players that had previously missed several games came back to contribute because of the shortened roster.  But did the injured players get the doctor's approval before coming back?  Let's hear what coach Wittman (record 5-28) has to say:

"Being down 7 guys and having to talk AJ and Trevor ...with the doctor's approval...Ok...WITH THE DOCTOR'S APPROVAL ...alright...I just want to make that clear, I don't want anything started here...that they could give me some minutes"

Take that Shanny!  The worst coach in the NBA firing shots!!!

It made me smile for a minute, then I remembered that what happened to RG3 was in fact real life...

Wizards Fans Sort Of Sing Hail To The Redskins, Chant RG3

Here is video from the top of Verizon Mountain from Friday nights Wizards game against the Brooklyn Nets.  (The Wizards lost by the way...).  The team played Hail To The Redskins on the PA system and showed fans on the scoreboard wearing Redskins gear.

While lots of the sound comes from the recording, many of the fans sang along.  But nobody was really that into it.  Keep in mind it was a Wizards game so the excitement level before they show Redskins logos is pretty much that of a library's.  It was about as loud as an arena half filled with Nets fans could get.

Later in the game there were several weak attempts at RG3 chants that never went too far.  Check out the video:

Darrel Young Calls Out Mike Wilbon & Stephen A Smith

During Tuesday's Washington Wizards game against the Dallas Mavericks, Comcast's Chris Miller pulled Washington Redskins Fullback Darrel Young out of the crowd to talk a little Redskins.

Young kind of revealed some of his thoughts about the media, which most likely has been locker room foder down at Redskins Park all year.

"A lot of people counted us out. Whether it be Michael Wilbon, whether it be Stephen A. Smith, he said we aren't making the playoffs, but now "oh this team can do something"...You know...Whatever man..."

And some other notable quotes from the interview:

"I've been here when the team was terrible, can't say terrible, but we weren't what we are today" 

"Just walkin' in the mall, everyone knows who you are" 

Really?  They flashed his name under his picture and it took me a minute to realize who it was.

Nexus Now: Some Skip Bayless "Facts"

The 2nd episode of Nexus Now is complete and we added a little bit of Redskins fun for the 2nd time around.  In this week's episode we throw out a few "Skip Bayless Facts" which as you can imagine are so horrible and untrue that they have to be fact...i guess.

Check it out here to see some of the one-liners!

Check Out Episode 1: Rally Kid!

Related Stories:

• Skip Bayless Talks About White People & Black People Being Different

Nexus Now Episode 1

At the DC Sports Nexus, we created a show to add to our coverage of the DC Sports teams.  The show is called Nexus Now and will be a weekly or monthly show with lots of fun stuff.  Each time we do it we will try to add new stuff and actually turn on the HD switch on our cameras.

In the first (and possibly only) ever episode, we interview the famous Nationals Rally Kid, a huge 10 year old Nats fan who is traveling around the country trying to hit every Major League Stadium.  We talk about how he helped the Nats win, and we talk to his father about the famous Bob Carpenter Scorebook and the secret Carp doesn't want you to know.

I also talk about each of the 4 DC Sports teams, watch some dancing by umpires and Davey Johnson, and my favorite part, "Oh, Hello"!  Check it out!