Sure, you’re inundated with free-agency speculation right now. From those throwing noodles against the wall trying to see what sticks to those outraged by the hype … it’s all in good fun, I suppose. Now take a break from all that and check out the must-read links and quotes below (with some commentary) — okay, a couple do pertain to the free-agency bonanza, but not most of them.

{flickr/Pete Lambert}

Local Baltimore kid Rudy Gay was Thursday’s winner, signing a 5-year, $82 million contract and returning to the Memphis Grizzlies, while crushing the hopes of those wanting him to make it back to the DMV area. Tom Haberstroh Tweets:

“Only one active player has scored more points through their 4th season while having a career ORtg as poor as Gay (104) … And that inefficient scorer was Juwan Howard”

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In Sunday’s edition of the Washington Post, Eric Prisbell wrote what likely is the most comprehensive profile on John Wall to date.

One part of the piece, where Prisbell revealed to an unaware Wall that his father served time in prison for murder before he was born, has struck a chord with many.

Mike Prada covers this aspect in an interview with Prisbell on Bullets Forever. I also touch on the subject in my weekly media column for SB Nation DC, “Media Sensitivities in a Sports Celebrity World: The Handling of John Wall’s Story.” Check it out.

John Wall can cut as fast as a cheetah’s single top-speed stride.

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Yes, I’m blogging a Tweet from Twitter that I already re-Tweeted. It’s a new media world.

Remember when a helicopter from a local television station followed Donovan McNabb’s limo en route from the airport to his grand arrival in Washington as a Redskin? Yea, that was fun/silly.

Wonder if the same thing is going to happen tomorrow when Wall will finally, in fact, workout for the Washington Wizards, along with Darington Hobson (G/F, New Mexico), Chas McFarland (C, Wake Forest), Kevin Palmer (G/F, Texas A&M-CC), Dexter Pittman (C, Texas), Andy Rautins (G, Syracuse), and Terrico White (G, Mississippi).

Actually, strike that. Wall will actually get his own individual workout, and then those other six guys will battle for their NBA careers while likely hoping that any remaining John Wall sweat in the air of the Wizards’ practice court will infiltrate their pores. Gross.

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A rundown of the best recent web links.

Ted’s Email for the Wiz

Ted Leonsis has personally responded to Washington Capitals fans writing to him at WashingtonCaps@aol.com for years. Now his job has at least doubled, his new email address for Wizards fans is TheWashWiz@aol.com. Leonsis writes on his blog:

If you want to offer up advice; share ideas; critique; ask questions; or offer up good wishes regarding the NBA and the Washington Wizards, simply email me at Thewashwiz@aol.com. I will do my best to read and respond within 24 hours.

Thanks again. Be nice. Be interactive.

John Wall & His $25 Million Reebok Deal

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Or maybe you can just ask John Wall if he wants to go to Ben’s Chili Bowl. There’s a sign in the famed D.C. haunt that says the only people who eat free are Bill Cosby and the Obama family. Surely an exception can be made should Wall ever bring an NBA title to Washington.

Oh, the Wizards haven’t even drafted the kid yet? Okay, I’ll hold my horses.

The quintessential Ben’s dish:
a chili half-smoke with mustard and onions, and chili-cheese fries.

By the time John Wall actually wears a Wizards uniform we will have heard just about everyone give their opinion about him being in D.C. — we’re talking some Ouija board channeling Abe Lincoln type stuff. Or at least getting DeShawn Stevenson’s neck tattoo to speak on it.

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Feeding into the frenzy, here’s a run-down of John Wall-related web content and a wonderment about Wall’s agent, Dan Fegan.

What Does Wall Want?

Amongst the Gilbert Arenas poison pill accusations from within the organization (via John Mitchell’s article), I’d feel remiss if I didn’t point out that some angles have been developing over several months. Things change, feelings change. Keep that in mind.

For instance, the ‘word on the street’ that Arenas told confidants he felt the franchise turned its back on him came out in a Mike Wise/Michael Lee Washington Post piece in mid-January. In early March while handing out fur coats to the homeless, Arenas said he’d have no problem playing in Washington. So, it’s important to have a perspective of the time-line (at least this part of it) and how certain hurt feelings expressed early on might have died down in the considerable amount of time since.

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Another time … when Tracy Morgan rubbed on Shaq.

You probably missed Tracy Morgan throw out the first pitch at recent Orioles-Yankees game. When it happened, you probably still had hope the Washington Capitals would win game seven against the Montreal Canadians.

Or, you’re here because this is supposed to be a Wizards blog and you don’t care about other DMV sports … and that’s fine. But it’s Tracy Morgan.

When I first moved to D.C. in 1990, I was just as much of a Baltimore Orioles fan as a Washington Bullets fan. For about 20 times a year for several seasons, my dad and I would make the trip up to old Memorial Stadium and later Camden Yards.

I went to games in both of Baltimore’s unsuccessful trips to the playoffs in the last 26 seasons, losing to the Yankees in the ’96 ACLS and to the Indians the next year. I went to the ’93 Home Run derby won by Juan Gonzalez over Ken Griffey, Jr. in a playoff and to that year’s All-Star game where Kirby Puckett was named MVP. I was in attendance on September 6, 1995 when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak.

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Sorry for the long title, but there’s a decent bit to cover here.

The Edict Under Which Ernie Grunfeld Works

We already know Mark Cuban is a pretty smart dude. To get that rich, you gotta be. But we never figured he was smart enough to pull one over on Ernie Grunfeld, the man who spent years honing his trade in the Big Apple. Not only did Cuban (and Mavs GM Donnie Nelson I suppose) get everything they ever dreamed of in a trade with Washington, but they also got the Wizards to pay them “cash considerations,” and they didn’t have to send the Wizards their trade exception in exchange for Fabricio Oberto, as was supposedly discussed.

If you’re the Wizards ownership in limbo, guess you gotta spend money and give away value to save money, perhaps for the sale of the team. With part of potential majority owner Ted Leonsis’ ’10-Point Rebuilding Plan’ being to always seek a “pick and a prospect,” we now have some insight that, perhaps, Grunfeld was working under edict of the Abe Pollin estate to cut costs no matter how much it might set the franchise back in the future. Abe’s dream of his team winning another championship has been put to rest, now the Washington basketball patriarch’s squad could be being dismantled just to appease the financial gain of those he left behind.

Sorry Wizards fans, the legacy of Abe Pollin still haunts the franchise. Not until Leonsis takes over can you rest assured that the team you love will be firmly headed in a positive direction, or at least open with fans on that direction, which would likely sooth baffled impatience in these current trying times.

Mark Cuban, a brilliant cat he sure seems like right now. But he’s also a goober. You know, the type who hams it up beyond necessity while being unfunny and cutesy enough to make you roll your eyes and think, “this” guy. Some of this is evidenced in a video interview Cuban did with Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Sure, Cuban is probably a nice man, but he’s also annoying with a kitschy style of charm. Good for him, I suppose. He’s rich and most of us aren’t. He wins. Read more »

Actually, Fabricio Oberto wants to get you between some “SHEEX,” which are really sheets … and you already have no clue what I’m talking about.

I usually don’t pay much attention to Oberto’s Twitter account, @obricio7. Most all of his Tweets are in Spanish. He often shares links to songs on YouTube, or links to professional photography, or throws out a “hehehe” (which is probably the Argentine version of “LOL”), or occasionally links to his U-Stream account where he’s doing God knows what — Don’t worry, he’s not on some Stephon Marbury-type stuff. Fab mostly just listens to music, as he is a huge music nut. At least that’s what he appears to be doing.

Like I said, I don’t pay much attention to Oberto’s Twitter. My efforts to learn Spanish got tossed out the door almost two years ago when I broke up with a girl I was dating from Argentina. But I do follow and I am aware. And that brings us back to the sheets Oberto wants to get you in between.

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Ok, so Washington, D.C. isn’t “hell”. I love this city. It is nice … but it’s also been really, really cold lately. Sports hell? Well, now you’re talking. The only saving grace these days comes in the form of some Russian dude leading a ‘Rock the Red’ revolution.

The Washington Bullets used to wear red. But now some are saying that that damn Gilbert Arenas fellow has ruined any chances of the franchise ever returning to the team name (and colors) of yore that so many true, dedicated fans are fond of. Bullets Forever y’all.

Back to this hell concept. Fabricio Oberto isn’t in the depths of Hades, but he can’t be in a good place. You gotta feel for Fab. He’s such a nice guy. Plus, he must deal with the current situation while his family is back home in Argentina. Then again, getting paid just under two million dollars for six months of basketball can’t be all that bad.

The 2009-10 Washington Wizards just might be the worst team Oberto has ever been on. I can’t confirm this 100%, but I did peruse his resume and the history of the teams he’s played for on usbasket.com, and it looks to be a valid claim.

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