Turns out, as a sports town we’re somewhere in the middle — not real good, certainly not awful. Steinberg offers a bit of a comparative continuum which posits cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo as distinctly passionate about their teams — the very civic identity of those towns is directly related to the teams, Steinberg suggests — versus a set of sports apathetic outposts found in Atlanta, Tampa, and Miami. We’re somewhere in between on that continuum. Sounds about right to me.

Of course, I’ve been one who’s long suggested that big media in these parts have played a lead role in limiting — undermining, actually — the perception of Washington as a sport town. Tourists and business visitors to our city are fairly forced into the perception that D.C. only cares about one team each morning they pick up the big paper or tune in to the local television sportscasts. To some extent — especially with respect to NHL hockey — this self-fulfilling myopia bred a countering, insurgent new media alternative.

If there’s a shortcoming to Steinz’s piece I’d point to its deference to a longstanding (cliched, really) scapegoat for our perceived inadequacy: that the cultural foundation of D.C. is the federal bureaucracy, bringing with it, among other traits, unavoidable transiency. For one thing, D.C. has become a high-tech haven over the past 20 years, delivering high-income, durable, roots-planting occupations, which in turn has helped drive dramatic development across the region. Concurrently, there has been exponential growth in federal contracting, and contracting careers, and the only thing that outlives death is a federal contract. But I’m not sure it matters any more whether you’re in D.C. four years with an administration or 40 with a lobby shop. The ubiquity of digital media, the voracious information consumption via hand-helds — and Washington is as wired as any city in the world — renders occupational consideration in this discussion, I think, moot. And doesn’t it say something that we now have two around-the-clock sportstalk radio stations operating here?

I think there are very specific features unique to D.C. that damn us as a sports town, separate and distinct from a one-trick-pony media. Up at the very top — and Steinberg certainly captures this, if in somewhat muted tones — is the conspicuous absence of winning. And not just winning, but winning as a well-managed sports entity. The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t win the Super Bowl every year, but isn’t it commonly accepted that they’re an especially well-run outfit, competitive every year? And further, that the Redskins are not much run like the Steelers are? Interestingly, Steinz amplified this sentiment in Tuesday’s Post, in responding to readers on line. “[A]t some point, I think ownership needs to accept some responsibility for repeated failings over years and years,” he wrote. “And I mean more about the Abe Pollin-led Wizards than the Daniel Snyder-led Redskins, although both would qualify.”

Snyder. To me — and I speak as one who in his Washington youth slept in Redskins pajamas, and toted a Redskins lunchpail to school — Snyder is a plague. We are rightly mocked by the fans of other NFL teams for giving him safe harbor here. I wish I had a dime for every instance I heard a Washington sports fan email me or address me at the rink with ‘If only Ted [Leonsis] owned the Redskins.’  There are two constants to Snyder’s reign of error-terror: His team will lose, and somewhere along the way he’ll freshly speak or act in a manner that gravely offends the sensibilities of our civilized community. Like suing a financially strapped grandmother or creative, civic-minded journalists.

The hope — the expectation — is that now that the pro basketball team is owned by Leonsis better days are ahead. (Of course, they actually have to play for that to happen.) But Ted inherited a spectacularly dysfunctional, decades-long-in-decay entity with the Wiz. That was Abe Pollin’s doing, and Steinz is right to remind Washingtonians of it.

Washington, too, has a physical infrastructure problem with its sports teams, in my opinion. Verizon Center is fine (spectacularly located, turns out). But FedEx Field might be the most reviled big stadium in the entire country. It is a monument mostly to the ineptness of D.C. government, in forcing the Redskins to flee the District to find a much-needed new home. It takes forever to get out to, forever to return from, and while you’re there you’re fairly pilfered out of your retirement savings in attempting to feed your family or wet your whistle.

I’ll raise some eyebrows and provoke some rebuke with my thoughts on Nationals Park, but I maintain that the Nats, in going cheap and with a cookie cutter design, have cultivated, durably, below average attendance on nights when the ace isn’t pitching. It’s not so much that Nationals Park is bad — it isn’t; it’s that to me it suffers comparatively by virtue of its proximity to one of the finest baseball stadiums in all the world, Camden Yards. Put it this way: If I’ve a chum in from out of town who’s a real seamhead, and both the Nats and O’s are home and I’m seeking to deliver to my buddy the more memorable stadium experience, I’m taking him up to Charm City. Note that Camden Yards opened in 1992 and took all of one year to secure Major League Baseball’s All Star game. I’m sure the Nats will get that game one day; it’s just that there’s little clamor from seamheads around the country to fly in and take in a game in our new baseball stadium. For good reason. Again, it’s not a dump. It just suffers as alternative to a classic design up the Beltway. I’m really surprised the Nats didn’t give that greater consideration on the drawing board.

Anyway, we have a bunch of pro teams, but only two of them compete in a stylish home. And we really only have one owner in town who stands as exemplary with respect to earning fans respect and placing proper management in place. In sports, as with so many other things in life, you reap what you sew.

Take note that you can visit the Post here and leave comment related to how D.C. could become a better hockey town. I think a little more springtime winning would take care of that just fine.

There were Washington hockey bloggers, traditional Washington hockey media, even members of the Capitals’ organization on hand. Hofbrauhaus’ Bier Garden flowered in Red this New Years Eve, with an at-times hundreds-long line of additional Red Army reinforcements ever waiting outside to get in.

No comment on whether or not I New Years Eve kissed Dan Steinberg’s beautifully bald head near midnight, but this morning he offers a vivid description of the scene down by the river:

“Various reports have suggested that 20,000 or 30,000 people came from D.C. to Pittsburgh on this weekend. They filled hotel rooms and bars. You saw them everywhere you went in the city’s downtown. At one of the semi-official gathering spots — a bar called Hofbrauhaus — the security guards were saying they’d never seen visiting fans take over the place like that, in any spot. They stood on tables, singing goofy songs and chanting about the hockey team. They wore winter hats and jackets and jerseys. They hugged each other. They bought car bombs for bloggers who occasionally write about the team. It was quite a scene . . .

“People used to say that the only thing that could unite Washingtonians was the Redskins. I don’t want to say a bad word about that team, but whatever you think of their recent history, there’s something decidedly musty about the whole operation. These Caps, though, feel vital. They feel fresh. They still feel new and shiny and pretty, something to brag to your friends about, something to reverse the neverending stream of fan invasions into D.C.”

Dave Nichols of the Capitals News Network, an Originist Capitals’ supporter like me, asked me at one point, “Could you ever have imagined the day when Capitals’ fans would travel to Pittsburgh and overtake one of it largest beer halls?”

No indeed. And that’s precisely what is coming to define this amazing outdoor party spectacle this weekend.

I did not Photoshop in the ‘Enlarge’ button.

I think this ought to serve as uniform for Caps’ fans making the trip up to Pittsburgh for the Winter Classic on New Years’ weekend. Wear red of course at the game, but on New Years Eve, in Pittsburgh bars, burgundy of this variety!

It goes like this: Mother and daughter are driving home out of the District distraught by the game 7 outcome. They hit a pothole. Tire goes flat. Mom calls AAA. Mom receives the typical AAA response — “We’ll be right there . . . not.”

Immobilized on the Roosevelt Bridge, outfitted in their red Caps’ sweaters, mother and daughter await aid in the vulnerable darkness of city night. Suddenly, a Saskatchewan knight in shining armor pulls over.

Brooks Laich, tire-changer.

Mother and daughter rescued.

Losing sucks, and losing in game 7 Super Sucks, but giving our hearts to hockey players — and most especially having hockey players in our community — is ever a blessing.

Dan Steinberg recorded an impressive testimonial from Alexander Ovechkin’s parents as part of his front-page portrait of the Gr8 from this past Sunday. As endorsements of hockey towns go, it doesn’t get much better than having the parents of the planet’s greatest player express appreciation for their son being selected and developed right here:

“Tatiania and I are very happy that Alex was drafted by the Washington Capitals,” Mikhail said, gesturing to his wife. “We’re very happy with the organization and the ownership, and with where he is right now, and with where the organization is right now. We’re very happy who he’s surrounded by.”

The elder Ovechkins went on the detail the ongoing and frankly loving assistance they’re offered by Capitals’ owner Ted Leonsis. It’s an extraordinary family, and Washington hockey fans are beyond lucky to have had them arrive in our city and transform the fate of this franchise as they have. Speaking of fans, Mikhail Ovechkin had a parting warm word for them as well:

“We would also like for you to mention, we have a special group of fans that is constantly present during Alex’s practices,” he said, referring to the team’s fan club. “They support him, and they have some sort of small trophy that they’re giving to Alex at the beginning of the season for the prior season, for his performance. They are very loyal to him and are there during his morning skates.”

Steinberg offers a queer qualifier for his blog file — “OK, this might not be great journalism.” Actually, we think it is. Is it news that the parents of the world’s greatest hockey player believe that their son is uniquely positioned to succeed by being in Washington, and that a half decade after he was drafted by the Caps they articulate, effusively, gratitude for that selection? Damned right it is. But more importantly, this blog file represents the best of what new media can bring to contemporary coverage of our game: a very fresh angle, blissfully free of old school conventions and formulas. Steinberg the pro journalist wasn’t the story or even the storyteller here, his subjects were, and he got out of the way and allowed the hearts of  some hockey hearts to heap praise on our town and the people running our team.

When did you last hear the parents of a pro sports prodigy speak as the Ovechkins recently did with Dan?

More terrific blogging: up North a bit, the Patriot News’ Tim Leone this week, as is his annual ritual this time of year, gives his blog readers a crystal ball portrait of the looming AHL postseason. No surprise this year; he says the Bears will repeat as Calder Cup champions.

“The talent and resolve the Bears showcased during the greatest regular season in the club’s 72-year AHL history isn’t going to disappear in the postseason. A club that hasn’t lost consecutive regulation games since October makes for a supremely formidable foe in a best-of-seven series.”

“There’s not a day” he doesn’t think about it, Theodore said. “I can remember sometimes, it could be a 2-2 game, and you start thinking about your son, or you start thinking about different stuff. Or you could be getting dressed [in pads] and trying to get focused and you get carried away thinking.”

“Christmas was much tougher,” he added, his quivering voice trailing off. “It’s as simple as seeing kids around. You could be in the game and you see a dad in the stands with his son and you think about it. It’s about being strong enough to get focused right away so you don’t . . .”

As he’s so often done during times of tumult in his life, Theodore has persevered on the ice, pushing aside the pain.

“You don’t accept it,” he said. “But you have to find a way to live with those thoughts.”

After reading Mike Wilbon’s ridiculous comments about Ovechkin yesterday (Dan Steinberg has a solid rebuttal here), it was comforting to read a positive, yet incredibly sad, article about a Capital.  If you do nothing else today, read the article.  Whether or not he stays in Washington, I hope for nothing but the best for Theodore and his family.

Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

On Tuesday, the Caps’ PR man Nate Ewell posted the following on Twitter:

Who’s a bigger cult hero: Laing or Bradley? @dcsportsbog may lure some back to Lainger’s camp http://bit.ly/aWvr0I

The link is an article that the Post’s Dan Steinberg wrote about Quintin Laing and his thoughts on the win streak. However, most of the article was filled with praise for Laing, from his coach and teammates. How could you not like a guy like this? As Brooks Laich shared with Dan:

“If I wasn’t playing, if I was in his position, I’d be hanging from a noose in the middle of Constitution right now. I have so much respect for that man, for what he does for us that you guys don’t see. I wish you could bring a camera behind the scenes and see what it is. But he means so much to this locker room.”

Laing has worked extremely hard to get to the NHL, but he doesn’t give up.  Even when he’s sidelined by a torn spleen, swine flu, and a broken jaw, he doesn’t quit.  It’s amazing to watch his willingness to block shots.  Taking the puck at full blast can’t be an easy thing to do.  Every team has good character guys, but it sounds like Laing is the cream of the crop.  It’s impossible not to respect someone with his drive and work ethic.

It’s interesting that Nate mentions Matt Bradley, though; the Bradley bandwagon is certainly a popular one. Who wouldn’t like a guy who stands up for his teammates against the disgusting Steve Downie, as seen in the Jan. 12 game against Tampa Bay?  I know I was cheering him on.  And who could forget Bradley’s bloody fight against Aaron Voros in November?  It’s heroics like these that spurred a “#needsmorebradley” hashtag on Twitter and a fake Twitter account, @needmorebradley.  Because, really, everyone needs more Bradley- and, as some would argue, Laing!

nateewell Who will be the first ice-level TV guy to jump out and help his home team? I got $ on Bob Errey.

dcsportschick What’s funnier, that the Caps are up 7-1 or that Crosby is resting his groin?

JohnMKeeley Department of Homeland Security needed in Philly: #Caps going Al Qaeda on Flyers

cmasisak22 Oh my god — a referee just got hit in the face with the puck and this place erupted in cheers. Pathetic.

brettleonhardt Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Not Dec. 5th 2009

kaaaali I bet my neighbors wonder what is going on in my apartment when I’m clapping and screaming “Yesssss!” or ”Noooo!” during a #Caps game. #NHL

JapersRink Semin’s biggest defenders like to martyr themselves and think everyone’s out to get their guy. It’s simply not true and not that simplistic.

jwaltonhockey Bears win 5-4, Chris Bourque number one star of the game with two goals and an assist. http://bit.ly/8y8uYN

VogsCaps Anyone remember a rash of “Gordie Howe must change” or “Mark Messier must change stories back in the day? Yeah, me neither. Grab a tissue.

dcsportsbog GMGM on Ovechkin: “I’m glad he’s not pulling back. He’ll learn to pick his spots a little bit…but I’m glad he’s defiant.”

brettleonhardt Shout out to @akeesee820 for being my 80th follower. If @akeesee820 can tell why 80 is so important you got two tickets to an upcoming game.

nateewell Don’t look now, but @GreenLife52 has 25% more points than any other Canadian d-man

timleone Caps just announced they reclaimed Chris Bourque and assigned him to Hershey.

DanaWalker_chat Will Joe B. & Locker FINALLY discuss food and/or their moms tonight? I think so… #caps

dchesnokov Bengt-Åke Gustafsson is considering coaching a KHL club if he doesn’t carry on coaching Team Sweden. A few KHL clubs show interest.

bmcnally14 Matt Bradley in 81 games last year: 5 goals. Matt Bradley in 28 games this year: 5 goals.

cmasisak22 Crosby: “You can’t judge guys on one hit. Some guys see suspensions as something they learn from. Other guys brush it off and do it again.”

dchesnokov A rare sighting. Too rare. RT @SlavaKM I just saw M.Nylander practice alone at Rockville rink wearing full NYR gear and Jagr jersey.

nateewell All lies. This interview is making him look even more deceitful, dishonest, biased and wrong.

nateewell I think I might have lost a Dick Dillman vote today.

HockeyWashington, alighted in vigil, needing good news about a Russian knee

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