• John Wall and Bradley Beal expected to participate in Team USA minicamp (Sat, 25 May 2013 05:38:48 GMT)
  

  John Wall and Bradley Beal are both expected to be among the 24 players to participate in USA Basketball's minicamp in July. Team USA officials have already begun the process of tracking potential talent for the 2014 World Cup in Madrid and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the Wizards' back-court duo will soon have a chance to leave an impression.

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• Nationals-Phillies lineups (Fri, 24 May 2013 19:42:30 GMT)
  

  
  
  Before the game, third base coach Tony Tarasco, who coaches the outfield, watched as Tyler Moore and Bryce Harper caught flyballs at the warning track and wall in right. Denard Span joined in as well.

  Danny Espinosa seemed to move in the right direction in the Nationals' West Coast finale, walking and smacking an opposite-field single. But the second baseman is out of the lineup today in favor of Steve Lombardozzi. Manager Davey Johnson also moved Kurt Suzuki up from the eight spot with Tyler Moore in left field.

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• Send in your Washington Redskins mailbag questions (Fri, 24 May 2013 18:57:18 GMT)
  

  Don't forget to send in your Redskins-related questions for this week's installment of The Mailbag.

  With this being a holiday weekend, we'll run the mailbag on Tuesday rather than Monday.

  There should be a variety of topics to cover now that a week of offseason practices are in the books. This week we saw Robert Griffin III running and throwing, heard from the quarterback, his coach and teammates, and saw the healthy returns of Brian Orakpo and Chris Neild and improvements from the rehabbing London Fletcher, Brandon Meriweather and Fred Davis, to name a few.

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• UNLV's Anthony Bennett doesn't expect shoulder injury to affect draft stock (Fri, 24 May 2013 18:34:12 GMT)
  

  UNLV freshman power forward Anthony Bennett frowned as he glanced down at his left arm while attending the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday. Nearly a week removed having surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff, Bennett is wearing a sling that is connected to a pad near his midsection to protect his arm and limit its mobility.

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• Maryland football game times set for Florida International, Old Dominion (Fri, 24 May 2013 18:26:12 GMT)
  

  
  
  The ACC has announced game times for the Maryland football team's first two games of the upcoming season. The Terrapins will host Florida International at 12:30 p.m. in the opener on Aug. 31 and Football Bowl Subdivision foe Old Dominion at 4 p.m. on Sept. 7 the following week.

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• Capitals season review: Defensemen (Fri, 24 May 2013 18:08:12 GMT)
  

  From the earliest days of training camp, Coach Adam Oates made it clear that his system was designed for the protection and involvement of the defensemen.

  Ideally, blueliners will have the extra time to make the proper play to get the puck out of their own end and avoid the hits that come with a punishing forecheck. It was also critical for each defenseman to join the play in the offensive end, pinching to help maintain possession and adding more shots from the point. The defensemen accounted for 27 goals and 91 points in the regular season and gave the Capitals' offense an extra element that makes it all the more difficult for an opponent to try and shut the team down.

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• Even before Griffin's injury, Cousins expected to be back for second year with Redskins (Fri, 24 May 2013 18:02:11 GMT)
  

  Even before Robert Griffin III had knee surgery and made Kirk Cousins so clearly indispensable to the Washington Redskins as their possible fill-in starter at quarterback, Cousins was convinced he wouldn't be traded and would be back with the team for his second NFL season.

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• Updates on J.C. Romero, Bill Bray, as opt-out dates loom; Christian Garcia's progress (Fri, 24 May 2013 17:49:24 GMT)
  

  Two left-handed relievers the Nationals hoped would provide depth have both landed on the disabled list in the minors with shoulder injuries. J.C. Romero, the veteran left-hander, experienced shoulder stiffness earlier this month that the Nationals consider a minor issue. Bill Bray, the left-handed reliever the Nationals believed could compete for a bullpen spot entering spring training, also recently landed on the disabled list with a shoulder issue.

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• RGIII, cake pans, wedding registries and fandom (Fri, 24 May 2013 17:32:22 GMT)
  

  "People invest in stocks because they want to become of a part of the rise of a company," Redskins fan Shawn Basak told me earlier this week, explaining why he bought an 8-inch cake pan for Robert Griffin III. "This is a little bit of the same thing. He's someone I think everyone feels a bond with. He's someone I'm probably never going to meet, but now I have this very odd relationship with, because I bought him a cake pan. And the way he pays everyone back is by bringing us hope and happiness with the Redskins, which is a big part of everyone's life."

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• Biggest disappointments of 2013 MLB season so far (Fri, 24 May 2013 17:17:13 GMT)
  

  In the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays 20 years removed from their last playoff appearance, with just one finish higher than third since made perhaps the loudest pronouncements in baseball. They all but imported a new team, adding all-stars to the rotation (Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and reigning National League Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey) and the lineup (shortstop Jose Reyes). They quickly became a trendy pick not only to return to the postseason, but to appear in the World Series (including here).

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• D.C. United news and notes (Fri, 24 May 2013 17:13:10 GMT)
  

  
  
  *D.C. United defender Dejan Jakovic has a strained groin and will be a game-time decision Saturday night against the Portland Timbers at RFK Stadium, Coach Ben Olsen said on Friday.

  Jakovic did some work during closed training, Olsen said.

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• 'Doin' It In The Park' hoops documentary evokes memories of D.C. playground scene (Fri, 24 May 2013 17:01:40 GMT)
  

  While many basketball fans spent Wednesday speculating on who the Wizards might pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, a different night of hoops was happening in Columbia Heights.

  At the Gala Theatre, hip-hop ambassador and basketball lifer Bobbito Garcia screened his film, "Doin It In The Park," to a somewhat star-studded crowd. The film, which Garcia made with Kevin Couliau, explores the world of New York City's outdoor courts and the culture surrounding them.

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• Third-round tight end Jordan Reed signs his contract (Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:21 GMT)
  

  The Washington Redskins have signed tight end Jordan Reed to his rookie contract, the team announced Friday.

  Drafted in the third round (85th overall) out of Florida, the 6-foot-2, 236-pound Reed began his college career as a quarterback before switching positions and lining up at tight end, H-back and receiver. In his final college season, Reed led Florida with 45 catches for 559 yards and three touchdowns.

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• Best Week in Washington Sports: Ernie Grunfeld (Fri, 24 May 2013 16:28:11 GMT)
  

  My colleague Chris Cillizza has a great weekly feature called "Worst Week in Washington," where he spotlights a political figure who has landed on the wrong side of the press. I'm stealing a page out of his playbook, and it was my original intention to award a "Worst Week" to a D.C. sports figure every Friday. But I'm generally not a cranky person, so I decided that the Bog version should be all puppies and chocolate-chip cookies. So here's "Best Week in Washington Sports."

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• What if the Nationals had kept Michael Morse? (Fri, 24 May 2013 16:13:31 GMT)
  

  In the winter, the logic of the Nationals signing Adam LaRoche, trading for Denard Span and dealing Michael Morse made perfect sense. They were keeping respected a left-handed bat for the middle of the order, adding an elite center fielder who provided top-of-the-order on-base and using an apparent roster redundancy to restock their minor league pitching depth.

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• Maryland women's lacrosse team is intense, possessed (Fri, 24 May 2013 16:06:10 GMT)
  

  Alex Prewitt did a fine job explaining how intensely focused the top-ranked Maryland women's lacrosse team is on the national championship entering Friday's semifinals.

  "They have a goal," Coach Cathy Reese said, explaining why there was a muted celebration after the Terps' quarterfinal win. "They're on a mission, and that's a piece of it. I'm like, 'We need to celebrate our successes. This is huge that we're going to the Final Four.' But they're on a mission."

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• Brandon Meriweather should be fine for training camp, Mike Shanahan says (Fri, 24 May 2013 16:02:09 GMT)
  

  Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said he expects safety Brandon Meriweather, who's working his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, to be "fine" for training camp.

  "I think Brandon will be fine once we get to camp. He did a good job in his drill work," Shanahan said following Thursday's offseason practice at Redskins Park. "The one thing you don't want to do when somebody hurts his knee is get him going too quickly — just let it heal and strengthen the muscles around the knee. Right now he looks pretty good."

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• FOX Sports 1 s RGIII promo (Fri, 24 May 2013 15:08:11 GMT)
  

  
  
  

  The first mention I can find of Robert Griffin III in Nexis came in the summer of 2004, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It was beneath a story about then-7-year old tennis star Domonique Garley, who was competing on the u-10 and u-12 circuits because she was so dominant.

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• Walter Barrera’s 12-million step recovery program (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:49:00 GMT)
  

  Walter Barrera fills a bottle with tap water and electrolyte powder, shaking the solution as he walks down the stairs of his porch. Cold raindrops are falling, and he looks at the gray sky.

  “Not good,” the 32-year-old Northeast Washington resident says, shaking his head because rain threatening a long run is more than just bad luck. It could disrupt the rhythm of his day and his week, and if that happens, what comes next?

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• Ryan Zimmerman's 'A Night at the Park' raises more than $300k (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:46:12 GMT)
  

  "A Night at the Park" is Ryan Zimmerman's annual event to benefit his foundation, the ziMS Foundation. The organization was created to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, a disability his mother was diagnosed with in 1995.

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• Trent Williams: Redskins' offense doesn't put RGIII in harm's way (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:32:09 GMT)
  

  The debate over whether the Washington Redskins need to modify their offense to protect quarterback Robert Griffin III has lingered all offseason, and continued this week. Griffin and Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan both said on Thursday that the quarterback and his coaches are on the same page as far as how he should be handled going forward. But Shanahan remained noncommittal on whether or not the Redskins would eliminate the zone-read and pistol formation plays from the playbook in an attempt to keep Griffin safe.

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• RGIII at OTAs leads WaPo's A1 (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:19 GMT)
  

  
  
  

  When last I tallied Robert Griffin III's A1 appearances, the then-rookie had appeared on at least 18 front pages, including three in 10 days.

  That was way back in December, before RGKnee was even a thing. A cursory glance suggests that Griffin has been pictured on at least eight more covers since then: when he was named to the Pro Bowl, on the day of the regular season finale against the Cowboys, the day after the Seahawks loss, the day after his surgery, twice more that week, earlier this week as OTAs approached, and then on Friday, when his image led the front page for the first time since his injury.

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• Stone Bridge's Dylan Maltz hopes for another Syracuse men's lacrosse title (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:12:15 GMT)
  

  The last time the Syracuse men's lacrosse team played in the NCAA men's lacrosse Final Four, Dylan Maltz sat with his older brother Derek at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and breathlessly watched an historic comeback.

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• Redskins' London Fletcher didn't seriously consider retirement (Fri, 24 May 2013 13:41:11 GMT)
  

  When the Washington Redskins' 2012 season ended with their 24-14 playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, inside linebacker London Fletcher stood up in the locker room and addressed his teammates with what many said felt like a farewell speech.

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• RGIII on his father's comments: 'I don't have a leash on my parents' (Fri, 24 May 2013 13:23:10 GMT)
  

  
  
  On Wednesday, Robert Griffin III's father spoke out about how his son was used on the field last season.

  "I just know that based on what I know Robert can do, he doesn't have to be a runner as much as I saw last year," Robert Griffin Jr. said. "To me, you're paying these [receivers] a lot of money to catch the football. I'm his dad — I want him throwing that football, a lot. A lot."

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_{Copyright 2012 Washington Post Company}

• Heat looking to play up to great potential in Game 2 and beyond (Fri, 24 May 2013 09:42:50 EDT)
  Paul George admits he made a 'bonehead mistake' at the end of the Game 1. The bigger concern for the Pacers? Miami hasn't come close to hitting its stride, writes Ian Thomsen.
  
• Two erratic guards could play huge role (Thu, 23 May 2013 10:54:35 EDT)
  What was Indiana doing? Where was Roy Hibbert? LeBron James' far-too-easy Game 1-winning layup at the buzzer raised many questions. Rob Mahoney breaks down the final play.
  
• Nonstop Howard rumors make Paul look magical by comparison (Fri, 24 May 2013 11:44:15 EDT)
  Dwight Howard has become one of the most vilified NBA players. So why hasn't Chris Paul, who has done many of the same things, received the same scrutiny? asks Ben Golliver.
  
• Urlacher, Lewis broke the mold for prototype inside linebackers (Fri, 24 May 2013 13:54:55 EDT)
  Tough. Fast. Athletic. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are leaving the NFL not just as greats, writes Don Banks, but as two players who changed the way teams now look for linebackers.
  
• Joey Votto at center of scouts vs. stats debate (Fri, 24 May 2013 13:12:30 EDT)
  The old-school stats point to a No. 3 hitter who isn't doing his job. The new-school view sees one of the game's best hitters. Welcome to baseball's culture war, writes Paul Daugherty.
  
• Hibbert not happy with Battier's physical tactics (Thu, 23 May 2013 19:26:28 EDT)
  
  
• Ex-Bronco admits he intentionally tried to injure (Fri, 24 May 2013 14:43:40 EDT)
  
  
• Will Pirates finally break their long futility streak? (Fri, 24 May 2013 13:46:32 EDT)
  
  
• Nets' request to talk to Rivers reportedly denied (Fri, 24 May 2013 01:05:14 EDT)
  
  
• Nadal, Djokovic could meet in French Open semi (Fri, 24 May 2013 07:43:07 EDT)
  Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal could face top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals a year after they met to decide the title.
  

_{� 2013 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.}

• LeBron unanimous, Kobe on All-NBA first team (Thu, 23 May 2013 14:28:30 PDT)
  LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection.
  
• Rangers stay alive, drop B's on Kreider OT tally (Thu, 23 May 2013 23:08:36 PDT)
  Chris Kreider steered in a pass from Rick Nash 7:03 into overtime, and the New York Rangers stayed alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
  
• Sources: Nets contacted Celtics about Rivers (Thu, 23 May 2013 20:33:54 PDT)
  Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was contacted by the Brooklyn Nets, who wanted to speak to Doc Rivers about their vacant coaching position, team and league sources confirmed to ESPNBoston.com.
  
• Indians cruise in Francona's Fenway return (Thu, 23 May 2013 23:05:28 PDT)
  Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds drove in three runs each and Cleveland had 16 hits in the Indians' 12-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in manager Terry Francona's return to Fenway Park on Thursday night.
  
• Pacers' Hibbert accuses Battier of 'dirty' play (Thu, 23 May 2013 16:06:47 PDT)
  When the Miami Heat faced the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs last season, the series featured two suspensions, a host of flagrant fouls and plenty of blood. It appears the Eastern Conference finals between the teams is already heating up.
  
• Notre Dame paid Weis more than Kelly in 2011 (Thu, 23 May 2013 21:11:01 PDT)
  Former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis made more from the school in the 2011 season than Brian Kelly, the man who actually coached the Irish that season.
  
• Jays' Happ ready to start throwing outdoors (Thu, 23 May 2013 18:34:04 PDT)
  Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ said a package containing a knee brace didn't arrive Thursday as hoped, so Friday will be the earliest he'll try throwing outdoors since his injuries in a graphic May 7 episode.
  
• Sources: Mattingly wasn't critical of front office (Thu, 23 May 2013 19:43:13 PDT)
  When Dodgers manager Don Mattingly abruptly criticized the lack of fight and competitiveness on his team's "All-Star" roster Wednesday morning, he wasn't aiming that critique at the Dodgers' front office, sources say.
  
• Boys' Brent off to court for alcohol detection (Thu, 23 May 2013 17:25:26 PDT)
  Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent will attend a hearing on Friday morning to determine if he violated the conditions of his bail. According to the Dallas County District Attorney's office, Brent's alcohol monitoring device detected alcohol.
  
• Cards ink 3rd-round pick Mathieu to contract (Thu, 23 May 2013 18:25:55 PDT)
  Rookie defensive back Tyrann Mathieu has signed with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Thursday.
  
• Avs reach agreement with Roy as next coach (Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:38 PDT)
  Patrick Roy will become the next head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, the team announced Thursday.
  
• RG III: Goal Week 1 but career comes first (Thu, 23 May 2013 17:47:52 PDT)
  Robert Griffin III says he cried after his knee surgery and changed his cellphone passcode to the date of the Washington Redskins season opener as he began his rehabilitation process.
  
• LeBron unanimous, Kobe on All-NBA first team (Thu, 23 May 2013 14:28:30 PDT)
  LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection.
  
• LeBron says Jordan's scouting report wrong (Thu, 23 May 2013 13:25:14 PDT)
  LeBron James thinks Michael Jordan's scouting report on him is wrong. And James keeps proving it.
  
• Norris lauds Tebow, urges Jags to sign him (Thu, 23 May 2013 12:19:53 PDT)
  When Chuck Norris watches Tim Tebow he sees a version of himself on the football field and as such, the ultimate tough guy has come to the defense of the beleaguered quarterback in an online column.
  
• Crabtree has surgery for torn Achillies (Wed, 22 May 2013 17:16:43 PDT)
  San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree has undergone surgery for a torn Achillies, a league source confirmed to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.