The busiest week of the season for the Washington Wizards was also the most frustrating, as the team suffered a five-game losing streak. Thanks to the lockout-shortened season, teams around the league have been forced to play three games in three nights, and this time, it was the Wizards’ turn. With newly acquired center Nene […]
Author Archives: Stephen D. Riley
Special to the AFRO
Posted inHigh School
High School Hoops Stars to Gather for 39th Annual Capital Classic
The 39th annual Capital Classic is set to invade the Washington, D.C. metro area April 21 at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. The event will collect some of the finest high school senior talent from around the area to star in a series of all-star games, which in the past have included players […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-14: Road Woes and Crawford’s Emergence
A five-game losing streak haunted the Washington Wizards for most of the week. Until a dominating performance against a Philadelphia team that has beaten the Wizards three times—often in embarrassing fashion—refueled the team as they headed into the last month of the National Basketball Association regular season. There will be no NBA playoffs for the […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly–12: Nene Arrives, Leads Evaporate in Close Losses
The week of March 18 was a groundbreaking of sorts for the heartbreaking Washington Wizards. The club introduced its latest addition, center Nene, to the lineup, and the rugged power player generated some good results. The addition of a 29-year-old center with legitimate post moves appeared to rejuvenate the club as they played with renewed […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-12: Trades, Road Trip and Losses Highlight Wizards’ Week
In only a few short months, Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee and guard Nick Young have compiled a full season’s worth of highlight-reel bloopers. From blown layups to boneheaded plays, the mishaps of Young and McGee emphatically epitomized the Wizards’ season. In an effort to rid themselves of the foolishness, the Wizards struck a few […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-11: Dramatic Comeback Win over Lakers Highlights Three-Game Home Stand
The mystery continues for the enigma that is the Washington Wizards puzzling season. With impressive wins over some of the NBA’s top teams, Washington has shown the ability to hang with any opponent. But their focus, execution and maturity has fluctuated with each game at a maddening rate. A blowout home loss to the lowly […]
Posted inHigh School
Largo Routs Easton to Advance to Maryland State Final
Largo High School coach Lewis Howard has been to the University of Maryland Comcast Center for the state finals before—he was Largo’s head coach in 2008 when the school claimed the Maryland 2A State championship, so Howard was quite familiar with semifinals play entering the Lions’ March 7 clash with Easton High School. Although his […]
Posted inSports
Washington D.C.’s Convention Center Set to Open its Doors to Keystone Boxing Company
Boxing in the Washington, D.C. area is on the rise. Fresh off the heels of last December’s mega bout between native Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan, which took place at the Washington Convention Center and aired live on HBO, the District is still buzzing. However, anticipation is in the air again since the Convention Center […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-10: Wiz Return from All-Star Break, Wall Arriving at Super Stardom
The Washington Wizards returned to action this week, fresh off a mini hiatus courtesy of All Star Weekend. Despite a 1-2 finish on the week, Washington played up to its young potential, dropping two games by a combined eight points. As the calendar winds down on another spoiled season in D.C., the continued evolution of […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-9: Washington Drops Two More Heading into All Star Break
The Washington Wizards had a chance to snap a two-game losing streak and head into the revamped NBA All Star Weekend on a high note. But with only two games scheduled for the week, the Wizards dropped both, and headed into the midseason honeymoon with a four-game losing streak and the NBA trade deadline fast […]
Posted inHigh School
Coolidge Runs Past Roosevelt, 64-53, to Claim DCIAA Title
With about a minute left until their team hoisted the 2012 District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association trophy, the home crowd at Coolidge Senior High School began chanting “COOLIDGE! COOLIDGE!” The chant officially marked the start of the celebration of the Colts’ first city league championship since 1988. When the buzzer sounded on their 64-53 […]
Posted inSports
Wizards Weekly-8: Wizards Split Two as Vesely Shows Life
The insertion of interim coach Randy Wittman has helped light a match under the slow-starting Washington Wizards. Once listless under former coach Flip Saunders, Washington has played with both energy and passion since Wittman took over for the fired Saunders in late January. At 7-24, the Wizards still reside around the bottom of the NBA […]