Loverro: There's nothing but talk as the Redskins founder

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By Thom Loverro

The spotlight shone on Sugar Ray Leonard as he stood in the ring in the Hilton Washington ballroom Thursday night for the 20th edition of the Fight Night charity event.

With Michael Buffer doing the introduction, Leonard turned and waved to a crowd of rich and powerful men. Not wanting the moment to end, they stood and gave the local boxing icon a lengthy ovation.

It was 1987 again, and all was right with the world. Ray Leonard was beating Marvin Hagler in his storied comeback fight, and the Washington Redskins were on their way to another Super Bowl championship.

Leonard's presence reminded everyone of how good it was to be a D.C. sports fan in those days.

As those fans at Fight Night woke up with hangovers Friday, they were reminded that things are not so good these days. Boxing is on the ropes, and every day brings a new hangover for Redskins fans who wish they could party like it was 1987 again.

Friday's hangover came in the form of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. On Friday, reports surfaced about a Haynesworth appearance on satellite radio the previous night in which he talked about the frequent gab sessions he holds with Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

You can be sure that, in 1987, owner Jack Kent Cooke wasn't carrying on lengthy football discussions with defensive tackle Dave Butz.

But that was then.

"I talk to him at least once a week, if not [more often]," Haynesworth said. "They're usually 15-, 20-, even 30-minute conversations sometimes. Depends on what the day is looking like. You know, he's just a big fan. He's a guy who will do anything to get the right players and to win. That's what he wants to do: He wants to win. ...

"Most of all our conversations start out like, 'How can we win? Can we win this week? What do you think?' - and things like that. I see nothing wrong with that."