Deron Snyder

SNYDER: Nationals are building for years to come

With only three games remaining before the NFL season wraps up (no, the Pro Bowl doesn't count), baseball will take the stage shortly, when spring training begins just ahead of March Madness. We still don't know if Prince Fielder will be among the Washington Nationals reporting to Viera, Fla., but at least pitcher Gio Gonzalez will be settling in for a while.

January 19, 2012

SNYDER: Wizards show case of arrested development

The Wizards are stuck in reverse with the pedal floored, collectively unable to comprehend the words "measured" or "smart."

January 17, 2012

SNYDER: Coach, players growing into roles at Maryland

First-year Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon is a breath of fresh air, and not just because first-year football coach Randy Edsall is emitting so much funk. No matter who occupied the head office at the Gossett Team House, there's little doubt that athletic director Kevin Anderson at least got the hoops hire right.

January 12, 2012

SNYDER: Alabama’s title is still ‘mythical’

Somewhere along the way in major college football, we stopped. We quit being accurate in our description. We dropped the extra syllables and characters. We got lazy and gave in to convention.

January 10, 2012

SNYDER: Bill O’Brien gives Penn State clean break from the past

As word leaked that Bill O'Brien would be the next head football coach at Penn State, some prominent alumni illustrated the same narrow-minded, shortsighted thinking that contributed to the mess at their alma mater.

January 8, 2012

SNYDER: Georgetown wins with selfless approach

The Redskins are awful, and the Capitals are disappointing. The Nationals could be a year away; Mark Turgeon's Terrapins might be two. And the Wizards will be 0-7 unless they somehow manage to upset the New York Knicks on Friday at Verizon Center.

January 5, 2012

SNYDER: Colts need to rebuild without Manning

There comes a time when teams must move on without their beloved icon. Unless logic is thrown out the window in favor of emotion, the Colts have reached that point with Peyton Manning.

January 3, 2012

SNYDER: Some free advice, for what it’s worth

Folks customarily make resolutions once it's time for new calendars. I'm still determining mine for January and the next 11 months.

January 1, 2012

SNYDER: Let’s go crazy! Signing Prince Fielder would be a smash hit

Landing left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez was a big move for the Washington Nationals, addressing one of two major goals as outlined by general manager Mike Rizzo.

December 29, 2011

SNYDER: Wizards could use players fans hate

Kris Humphries went from NBA obscurity to mainstream celebrity faster than the paparazzi flash. Only four players averaged more rebounds per game than he did last season. He ravaged the Washington Wizards in their season opener and was booed lustily each time he touched the ball.

December 27, 2011

SNYDER: For Ted Leonsis, Wizards’ progress more important than results

Some fans look at the Washington Wizards and see a glass that's half full. Other fans look at the team and see a bare table, no glass at all.

December 25, 2011

SNYDER: Dale Hunter’s contract with Caps turns out to be a flex plan

Once again, it's time to check off some items on my "TIDU List" - Things I Don't Understand:

December 22, 2011

SNYDER: Steelers had no leg to stand on

Ben Roethlisberger's toughness is legendary, mythic even, embodying the industrial-strength spirit of blue-collar Pittsburgh. Gritty "Big Ben" doesn't go down easily in the pocket, and he doesn't come out of the lineup easily, either.

December 20, 2011

SNYDER: Poised Hoyas growing, winning

Saturday was tough for Georgetown's basketball program as news spread about Jeff Green, the former Hoya and current Boston Celtic who will undergo heart surgery next month and miss the NBA season. Georgetown coach John Thompson III spoke with Green over the weekend and was impressed with his response to the discovery of an aortic aneurysm.

December 18, 2011

SNYDER: Wizards have size to stand tall over opposition

Wes Unseld embodied toughness for the Washington Bullets throughout the '70s, providing an imposing presence in the paint. The same was true of the "Bruise Brothers," Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn, whose picks and elbows were a menace to opponents in the early '80s.

December 15, 2011

SNYDER: Gilbert crying foul is his latest joke

It was comical to watch Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert moan and cry last year after LeBron James bolted to South Beach. Gilbert added new material to his clown act last week as he lamented the deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers.

December 13, 2011

SNYDER: Don’t be swayed by Redskins’ scoring surge

That certainly was fun, way more entertaining (and competitive) than anyone imagined. Too bad the Washington Redskins can't play New England every week.

December 11, 2011

SNYDER: To know Army-Navy rivalry, look past game

To be completely honest, I never really understood the big deal about Army-Navy. I got the fact that it's an incredibly intense rivalry. I saw that they've knocked heads since 1890. And the sight of stadium sections packed with soldiers and sailors in dress grays and blues has impressed me as much as anyone. But it's not big-time college football. The teams aren't as good as the ones on TV every week. And virtually none of the players is well known or headed to the NFL.

December 8, 2011

SNYDER: Mitchell carries hope for heavyweights

Much has changed for boxing since Riddick Bowe successfully defended his WBA heavyweight title against Jesse Ferguson at RFK Stadium in 1993, the last time HBO televised a card in the District.

December 6, 2011

SNYDER: Fred Davis, Trent Williams have to take responsibility

If tight end Fred Davis and left tackle Trent Williams were suspended solely for marijuana use during the lockout - when, technically, they weren't NFL employees - outrage would be an appropriate reaction. How dare the league try to impose discipline on individuals it locked them out, telling them "thanks but no thanks" when they showed up for work?

December 4, 2011