Archive for June, 2010

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Former Washington Bullet Mitch Kupchak: 8 NBA championship rings

June 19, 2010

Former Washington Bullet and current L.A. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, circa 1981. Photo by Mike Frandsen

Congratulations to former Washington Bullet Mitch Kupchak, L.A. Lakers general manager, for putting together back-to-back NBA champions.

Is anybody ever going to pronounce Kupchak’s name correctly? It’s Kup-CHAK, not Kup-CHEK.  First, it was Jim Rome, who has done his show from L.A. for many years, who mispronounced his name over and over.  Then it was Ernie Johnson of TNT.  Then after Game 7 of the NBA finals it was NBA Commissioner David Stern saying “Kup-check.”  There have probably been many others.

How bout some respect for Kupchak, who has 8 NBA championship rings?  Kupchak won three championships as a player (one with the Washington Bullets in 1978 when he averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds as a reserve, one with the Lakers in ’82, and one with the Lakers in ’85), and five as a general manager.  Ok, Jerry West built the Kobe-Shaq threepeat Lakers, but Kupchak built the team that has made the finals now three years in a row, winning each of the last two seasons.

Kupchak averaged double figures in points for five of his first six seasons in the NBA, and overall, averaged 19 points a game for his nine NBA seasons when his minutes are projected over 36 minutes.

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, one of the most respected sportswriters in the country, wrote two years ago, “Neither the 1978 Bullets nor the 1985 Lakers could have won championships” without Kupchak.

By the way, Kupchak also won a gold medal in the 1976 Olympics and was an All-American at North Carolina.

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Remembering Len Bias: Former Terrapin basketball superstar died of a cocaine overdose 24 years ago

June 19, 2010

The photo from this Washington Post article on Bias during his junior year is faded, but memories of Bias remain for Maryland fans.

Twenty-four years ago today something happened that was so shocking that it was hard to fathom that it really took place.

On June 19, 1986, University of Maryland basketball player Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose.

The scene that morning, as documented in news reports, was surreal and tragic as family members and teammates learned the news after gathering at Leland Memorial Hospital in Riverdale.

Kirk Fraser recounted the story of Bias’ death in an ESPN documentary, 30 for 30: Without Bias.

See the rest of my article at Examiner.com here.

See highlights of Bias here.

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Strasmas II: Stephen Strasburg strikes out 10 in 2nd home start but Nats lose 2-1 to White Sox in 11

June 18, 2010

Stephen Strasburg pitched another spectacular game for the Washington Nationals Friday night in his second home start but the Nats fell to the Chicago White Sox, 2-1 in 11 innings.

President Obama was in attendance to watch the White Sox take on the Nats and Strasburg in front of a sellout crowd of 40,325 at Nationals Park. Strasburg struck out 10 batters in seven innings and surrendered just one run in his third start.

Strasburg now has 32 strikeouts, which is a major league record for most strikeouts in the first three games of a career. Incredibly, the 21-year old rookie phenom had no walks for the second straight game at Nationals Park. In two starts at home Strasburg has an otherworldly 24 strikeouts and no walks. Strasburg left with a no-decision after pitching the seventh inning with the Nats (31-37) down 1-0.

To see the rest of my article on Examiner.com, click here.

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Lakers-Celtics

June 13, 2010

Lock of the year — the Lakers win Game 6 Tuesday night.  The league wants it to go 7 games.

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Oral arguments made in Cedillo Omnibus Autism Proceeding mercury and MMR vaccine test case appeal

June 13, 2010

Oral arguments were made in the autism vaccine appeal case of Michelle Cedillo vs. Health and Human Services Thursday at theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C.

The case of Cedillo, a 15-year old girl with autism, was the first test case of more than 5,000 cases in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding. This proceeding was created by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) because of the large number of cases in which parents claim vaccines caused autism in their children. The federal government established the VICP to prevent the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture vaccines from being sued.

The vaccine court ruled against the Cedillos in February 2009 and affirmed the ruling six months later.

Sylvia Chin-Caplan, an attorney for the Cedillos, told Examiner.com after Thursday’s court session the case should go back to court: “I’m hopeful that because the substantive due process so tainted the entire procedure and so tainted the outcome of the case entire case that the appellate court will recognize that and will give us an opportunity by remanding the case.”

To see the rest of my article on Examiner.com, click here.

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Leonsis won’t change name of Wizards to Bullets but may change colors back to red, white and blue

June 11, 2010

Check out this awesome Bullets jersey.

New Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said Thursday he will not change the name of the Wizards, but said a change in colors back to the traditional red, white, and blue is likely at some point. Leonsis also asked the fans to welcome back former all-star guard Gilbert Arenas.

Leonsis formally took over ownership of the Wizards Wednesday. Recent speculation has centered on whether the Wizards will change their team colors and even their name after the upcoming season, with many fans clamoring to a return to the Bullets, the team’s name from 1963 to 1997.

Interest in the Wizards is high again after they won the rights to the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery last month. What was the good luck charm? Irene Pollin wore her late husband Abe’s 1978 Washington Bullets NBA championship ring.

For the rest of my article on examiner.com, click here.

Excerpt:

The Washington Monuments?

Could the Wizards change their name to the “Washington Monuments” in the future? Though Leonsis denied the possibility of any name change, the name of the new company could be a clue to a future franchise name. “Monumental Sports” is an awkward name, but “Washington Monuments” does have a ring to it. If Leonsis had mentioned a name change as a possibility, speculation by the media and fans could have taken away from the product on the court, so it was smart for Leonsis to deny the possibility of a potential future name change. Leonsis has said he doesn’t want to disrespect the wishes of Pollin, who stated that he changed the name from Bullets to Wizards because of the city’s gun violence, so a name change back to the Bullets would be a long shot

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Strasburg strikes out 14, walks none in major league debut as Washington Nationals beat Pirates, 5-2

June 9, 2010

Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in his major league debut for the Washington Nationals. (Photo by Mike Frandsen)

Stephen Strasburg lived up to the amazing hype surrounding his major league debut Tuesday night, as he struck out 14 batters in seven innings to lead the Nationals over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-2.

Strasburg thrilled the standing room only crowd of 40,315 at Nationals Park with a fastball that clocked in at 100 miles per hour, a wicked curve, and a changeup that baffled Pirates hitters. Strasburg gave up only two earned runs and, incredibly, did not walk any batters, striking out the side in the second, sixth, and seventh innings before departing.

Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals biggest star until Strasburg’s debut, hit a solo home run in the first inning, his 12th, and went 3-4 on the night.

Strasburg, the number one pick in the 2009 draft, surrendered a 2-run homer to Delwyn Young in the fourth inning, but other than that was almost flawless, showing confidence and no apparent jitters.

Nats fans celebrate Strasburg's big night. (Photo by Mike Frandsen)

Most of the excitement, after Strasburg got through the first inning, came in the sixth and seventh innings.

Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham hit back-to-back home runs for Washington in the sixth inning off Jeff Karstens (1-2), giving the Nats a 4-2 lead. Dunn’s 2-run homer was his 11th, and Willingham’s solo shot was his 11th too.

For the rest of my article on examiner.com, please click here.

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32 years ago: Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, and Washington Bullets win NBA championship

June 8, 2010

It happened 32 years ago today.  Before the Redskins won their first Super Bowl, and before Maryland and Georgetown won national championships in college basketball, the Washington Bullets gave D.C. its first championship in 36 years when they won the NBA title in 1978.

Before the blue and bronze of the Washington Wizards, there was the red, white, and blue of the Washington Bullets. Local musician Nils Lofgren wrote a hit song, “Bullets Fever,” that was played day and night during the spring of 1978 on Washington radio stations. The name Bullets was synonymous with winning, as they made the playoffs 18 times in 20 seasons.

The Bullets were a successful team in the 1970s, with winning records in nine of 10 seasons. They won more than 50 games four times, including 60 wins in 1974-75. They made it to the NBA finals four times.

For the rest of my article on examiner.com, click here.

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Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) holds annual sports festival for D.C. area kids with disabilities

June 8, 2010

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now held its 9th annual sports festival Sunday at Hadley Park in Potomac, Maryland. The sports festival is an annual celebration in which KEEN families participate in sports and games with their children and siblings, along with volunteer coaches.

KEEN is a national, non-profit volunteer organization that gives children and young adults with disabilities a chance play sports and recreational activities in a non-competitive, welcoming atmosphere. KEEN athletes include children with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism.

For the rest of my article on examiner.com, click here.

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Posted in Autism, Bethesda, Disabilities, Examiner.com | Leave a Comment »

Family Coat of Arms

June 4, 2010

I decided to make a family coat of arms for me and my future family.  The words mean virtue, diligence, honor, and faithfulness.  I was inspired to do it after I was stabbed in the back last fall.  I’ll never forget that and will always use the events to motivate me.  It reminds me how I should live my life, even though I was already living it that way.  Consider it like a rededication.

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