'Skins, Ravens and Baseball's End

[Eagle091]

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=582944&nid=308

one thing nobody can take from u skins fans, u love your team.

Now that's the Joe Gibbs I remember covering in the glory days.

Ball control. Balance. Close games you win in the end, but not before getting down on one knee and praying while not looking to see if your rookie place-kicker can come through in the clutch.

3-0 baby!

You know what happened the last time they started the season 3-0? Yeah, I know you do.

Now, let's be honest. Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. When Mark Brunell was picked off with just under a minute to play and Josh Brown hit the left upright from 47 yards out as time ran out, the Redskins got lucky.

Given new life, they got good in overtime.

Brunell was clutch on a third down and nine when he took off and ran for 18 yards and a first down to keep the drive alive. He was clutch again when he hooked up with Santana Moss for 30 yards on a third-and-10.

That set the stage for Nick Novak, who drilled a 39-yard field goal to give the Redskins the win in a game that in previous years, they probably would have lost.

Speaking of former Maryland players, how about Dominique Foxworth coming up with six tackles and a big interception in the Broncos' 20-7 win over the Jaguars?

Or, Lamont Jordan who rushed for 126 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown as the Raiders did the 'Skins a huge favor by beating Dallas.

Yes, indeed. It was a good weekend for the University of Maryland.

(FOR SALE: One Virginia Cavaliers jersey and one pair of athletic footwear -- contact Byron Kerr.)

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, the Ravens won a game the only way the Ravens can.

Ugly.

Someone needs to tell Brian Billick his team is really 1-2 and not 1-0. You see, Brian, even in this "new season" which you have just started, even if you go 8-6 the rest of the way, the folks in the NFL office in New York are still going to see it as 8-8.

In other words, no playoffs.

On the diamond, the Nationals finished up their first season in Washington by being swept by the Phillies and finishing at 500 for the year.

Disappointing? Yes, considering the first half this team had. At one point they were 19 games over 500 and in first place in the National League East.

They had more injuries than any team in baseball and yet remained in the playoff hunt until a week ago.

But, since it's been 34 years since Washington had a baseball team, and they were expected to be awful from the start, this team gave the fans a lot to cheer about and more, so we can let a bad second half slide this time.

It was fitting the season ended with a Cristian Guzman strikeout on a swing that was so reminiscent of his season. Nowhere close.

Now we need to find out who the new owner(s) will be.

Whoever it is, I think it would be a good idea to bring Frank Robinson back to manage the club. He has earned that right.

The Orioles finished up their soap opera of a season with a three-game sweep of the Devil Rays. They went 22-32 under Sam Perlozzo down the stretch.

There is no truth to the rumor Lou Piniella returned with the team on its charter.

Okay, Pete. The ball is in your court.

How long will we have to wait to hear about Perlozzo's fate? And the fates of Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan?

Perlozzo deserves the chance to manage this team. He should have had the job the last time. There is no way he can be judged after the hand he was dealt when he took over when Lee Mazzilli was fired.

By the way, did you hear about Mazzilli? He has a gig on "Cold Pizza" in the morning as a baseball analyst for the playoffs.

Here's hoping his answers on TV are better than his answers in post-game interviews. In other words, Maz, say something. Anything.

Why is it I feel like Spongebob Squarepants is a better alternative?

[China]

Someone needs to tell Brian Billick his team is really 1-2 and not 1-0. You see, Brian, even in this "new season" which you have just started, even if you go 8-6 the rest of the way, the folks in the NFL office in New York are still going to see it as 8-8.

I see math is not this guy's strong suit. If the Ravens go 8-6 the rest of the way after having gone 1-2, they'll end up 9-8. Then the folks in the NFL office will wonder what the hell is going on.