The Washington Wizards found out last Friday that they’d be without Caron Butler for the next 10 or so days, not exactly the type of thing you want to hear with the Miami Heat breathing down their necks for the division lead. As we’re sure you all remember, the team was 0-3 without Butler earlier in the season. Lucky for the Wizards then that the struggling New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets (aka the…

Three days ago George Mason was hoping to get their first ever NCAA Tournament victory. Now, after beating the UNC Tarheels 65-60 on Sunday, they are preparing for the Sweet 16 and a matchup with Wichita State. Down by 14 in the first half, Mason used an aggressive defense that forced a young UNC team into repeated turnovers and bad shots while taking advantage on the offensive end. The Patriots rode big men Will…

(Editor’s Note: DCist would like to welcome another new member to our Sports staff. Hayden Alfano will be covering the local college hoops beat as well as assisting in our upcoming coverage of the 2005 NBA Draft.) After a grueling season, college basketball coaches have little time to relax. The recruiting trail beckons, and they lay awake at night worrying if any of their players will declare early for the NBA Draft. Local hoops coaches…

We know Maryland fans may not agree with us right now, but is there a better time of year for sports fans than March? That’s a rhetorical question because the answer is a resounding no. Football is in it’s free agent signing period, baseball is down South preparing for opening day, teams in the NBA start jockeying for playoff position and college basketball starts preening for the camera as the spotlight shines upon it….

>> DC United scored three goals in a seven minute span to vanquish Kansas City and bring the MLS Cup back to D.C. for the first time since 1999. Former University of Virginia star Alecko Eskandarian scored two of United’s goals, while Earnie Stewart added another. United has been in the MLS Championship game five times in 9 years with their only loss coming to Chicago in 1998, a team which included current United head…