(AP Photo/Nick Wass)To satisfy your Wizards fix, DCist is teaming up with Kyle Weidie and Rashad Mobley of Truth About It, who will take turns penning a column on Washington’s professional basketball team every week throughout the season. You can read Kyle and Rashad on all things Wiz here.
No one said Ted Leonsis’ project to rebuild the Washington Wizards would be easy, but it sure got off to a good start. To the envy of other bad contract-strapped franchises, team president Ernie Grunfeld was able to clear considerable future salary last February before Leonsis officially took over as owner, and then No. 1 draft pick John Wall fell into their laps.”First Ovechkin, now Wall? Leonsis has the Midas Touch!,” went the general sentiment. Now things aren’t so golden. The Wizards haven’t won on the road in 12 tries, and their overall winning percentage has sulked in the bottom five of the NBA. (Leonsis’ Washington Capitals have lost seven in a row, but at least are still atop their division.)
It snowed more than expected in D.C. today. I’m not sure what’s more sad, Washingtonians trying to ineptly slog through their commute when the weather offers the least bit of resistance, or the standards of the average D.C. sports fan. Actually, it’s no contest: strap on the snow boots and give your local team loyalist a hug.
That said, it’s not easy being a fan of a Washington pro sports team, especially the Wizards. Just last Friday, they were treated to New York fans infiltrating the Verizon Center, suddenly unashamed to root for their Knicks team that’s currently experiencing a flash of revitalization. “M-V-P” chants were showered down upon Amar’e Stoudemire by the blue and orange “faithful” (a term used loosely, as most of the so-called Knicks fans probably haven’t truly rooted for the team in seven years). Stoudemire has barely eclipsed 25 games in a New York uniform, by the way.
The cap on that night’s scene featured famed director and Knicks fan, Spike Lee, draped in Knicks gear and hosted by Leonsis in his court-side seats right next to the Wizards’ bench. No biggie that Ted had Spike over to play mogul, but tough to swallow that Lee was given so many reasons to stand up and cheer.
