First Down

TODAY’S BEST BET ON TELEVISION

Since LSU’s game was moved to 11 a.m., more fans get to watch Maryland on TV as Jordan Steffy leads the Terrapins against Delaware. 3:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPNU

ON WASHINGTONTIMES.COM » AN EXCERPT FROM LOVEY LAND

If you had tickets to the three Nationals-Dodgers home games this week, you might consider yourselves the luckiest Nationals fans on the face of this earth. You got to watch more than 10 percent of the victories in person that the Nationals have had in their new ballpark.

Before the series began Tuesday night, the Nationals were 23-39 at home — by far the worst home record in baseball, which makes sense, since they also had the worst record in baseball, period. The three wins over Los Angeles though is a huge spike in home victories — though they still have the worst home record in baseball. The Dodgers, meanwhile, likely will look upon these three games as the ones that blew their chance to win the NL West.

— Thom Loverro

TWT FIVE » SPORTS SPEECHES

Barack Obama delivered a historic speech on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. But this is a sports section, so here’s a look at the best sports speeches:

1. Lou Gehrig — “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth” is one of the most repeated and unforgettable lines ever uttered by an athlete.

2. Jim Valvano — Given at the 1993 ESPY Awards, it’s arguably the most inspirational speech in modern times. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up,” induces goosebumps every time.

3. Knute Rockne — His “Win One for the Gipper” speech to Notre Dame players at halftime helped rally them to a win over Army at Yankee Stadium.

4. Herb Brooks — The Miracle on Ice was the ideal sports setting for the line, “Great moments are born from great opportunity.” His U.S. players seized that opportunity and beat the Soviet Union.

5. Bob Knight — Doing it in a way only he could, Knight told a crowd in Bloomington, Ind., that he wanted to be buried upside down … as a final jab at his critics.