Diary of a misEducated Black Man

I’m from the Nations Capital.  The epicenter of our nations government.  One of the most powerful cities in the world.  Capital of the free world.  Home to one of the most legendary and most profitable sports franchises in the history of team sports, the Washington Redskins.  To say I’m just a Redskins fan is like saying Amy Winehouse is just experimenting with drugs.  I bleed the burgundy and gold.

I’m also a part-time Wizard’s fan.  The reason I say part-time is because I’m like a part-time worker at a power plant.  No benefits, no holidays, no salary, no perks, no 401K, no stock options.  Basically, I just get 82 games a year of mediocrity.  I go to a few games a season, sit in the nosebleeds, and throw popcorn at strangers.  I’m part-time.

However, as a lifelong fan of DC Sports as a whole, I’ve got to say, I am dying for something to read.  Every story I read, whether it be from the worldwide leader, dimemag, sbnation, huffingtonpost, washingtonpost, whatever it is, its all recycled garbage.  For the last three months every story has been this; the Redskins get Donovan McNabb, they have three old running backs, they want one more, and Albert Haynesworths a dirtbag or; the Wizards get John Wall, he’s really good.  Thats about the extent of the sports world in regards to my city.  No love for the Caps.  No love for DC United.  Oh yeah, Stephen Strasburg is really really good.  Can’t forget about Lebrasburg.

So I’m here to put my city on my back.  We’re going to start off with the Wizards because I feel as though the Wizards are seriously getting overlooked for some reason.  Yes the East is gonna be rough.  The Fun Bunch in SoBe, the Three Wisemen and Baby Jesus in Bean Town, Dwight and the Dwarfs in Orlando, not to mention the Hawks, Bulls, and dare I say the Knicks…nah won’t go that far….yet.  Its going to be a difficult season for the Wiz, but I don’t think there will be many teams as exciting as the Wizards will be to watch.

Also, consider what Chris Paul did for the Hornets.  They’re saying based off summer league (I know, I know) that Wall looks like a mix of Rondo and CP, with better handle  than Rondo and more size than Paul.  The guys a dog.  He made Javale McGee look like a 23 year old Shaq playing against toddlers.  If Wall gives us a fraction of CP’s rookie production we’ll be set.

Lets take a more indepth look at this.  Lets say Gil sticks around, as it look as though he will. Gil slides into his more natural two guard role.  So now we have JDub at one and Gil playin combo at the two.  Thats an undersized backcourt for sure, but an explosive one.  Two ballhandlers and two offensive creators.  And both can score their own shots at will.

At the three you start Nick Young.  He’s good, not great.  Solid perimeter defender, can hit the open look and a solid athlete.  However, its the depth here thats amazing.  You want to go small ball, you start Josh Howard at the three and go with the three guard look.  You want to go big you start Al Thornton or even put Yi Jianlian at the three.

At the four you’ve got the emerging superstar Andray Blatche.  Dray showed all the haters last year that he can do more than drink and party at Love the Club every night.  I can honestly say, I’ve never been to Love and not seen him there.  Never.

But thats besides the point, dude averaged 20 plus after taking over the offense last year.  But, Dray’s comming off surgery.  He’ll be rusty, probably out of shape knowing him, but by game 20 or so he’ll be good to go.  Plus the Wiz got one of the biggest steals of the offseason in Yi, as insurance for Blatche.  Yi’s not a dominant player, but the dude can friggin play the game of basketball.  He’s averaged right about 10 and 6 his whole career in just 26 minutes of play.  Plus he’s another legit seven footer on the roster.  He’s going to surprise people.

The five is to me the most intriguing position on the court for the Wizards.  We finally shed Brendon Haywood, who was softer than baby food.

Varejo is smiling at this putrid attempt at a punch from a seven foot man.  Ugh!

We got rid of my man Etan Thomas, which I was a little torn about.  Now we’ve got a bunch of young guys.  Javale McGee can straight up hoop.  I saw this dude in IKEA back in 08 after he was drafted and the guy is just huge.  Plus, he put on some weight this offseason.  The guys a better version of Tyson Chandler.  Tall, lanky, can development into an outstanding defender, and he’s got loads of athleticism.  The guy can jump out the roof.  And he has surprisingly decent hands, which is often overlooked by scouts when judging a big man.  He truly looked like a man amongst newborns during summer league.  I was thoroughly impressed.

However, after him things get a little shaky.  You’ve got Hilton Armstrong, who is a poor mans Brendan Haywood, which is not the poor man you want on your team.  Hilton doesn’t rebound, block shots, score, or do just about anything well.  But, he is seven foot.  So, theres always a place for him on somebody’s team.  The Wiz also have a very intriguing prospect out of Rutgers, Hamady Ndiaye.  Ndiaye is another seven footer with athletic ability.  Very raw at this point but could prove to be vital off the bench during the season.

John Wall aside, what excites me most about this years squad is the surprising depth of such a young team.  They have talent, youth, and depth at every position on the court.

A few predictions for the season:

Kirk Hinrich will be the sixth man of the year.

Wiz win 45 games and make the playoffs.  I would go even higher, but John Wall will hit a rookie wall, no pun intended.

Hilton Armstrong is out of the league by the end of the season.

Earl Boykins will win us three games.

Gil will be an All-Star again.

JDub wins ROY.

Oh yea, I’m still collectin money for the broke soldier foundation, lol.

…im out, like Elton John, no homo…