Haynesworth Speaks!

Passes Conditioning Test. Speaks To Media.

Redskin, Albert Haynesworth briefly addresses the media at Fan Appreciation Day. Photo/CD Brown.

After not being allowed to practice with the team for not having passed a mandated fitness test set by coach Shanahan this Redskins' training camp, Albert Haynesworth gave a gift to the fans on Saturday during Fan Appreciation Day at Redskins Park.

He surprised everyone by passing the fitness test. He was also allowed to practice with the team.

Haynesworth also surprised the media.

In a rare interview (Haynesworth hasn't openly spoken to the media since his return to Redskins Park at the onset of this year's training camp) #92 said, "The test is over and now it’s back to playing football."

Despite the drama Haynesworth provided for much of the off season, fans at Redskins Park still cheered for #92. Haynesworth even signed autographs and thanked fans for their continued support.

Fans cheer at Fan Appreciation Day. Photo/CD Brown.

Remarks unexpected, Albert said today, "I want to thank all the fans for coming out, still supporting me, still wearing #92 jerseys, and still believing in me."

And with a sound bite that took less time than LeBron James to announce he's playing for Miami, Haynesworth left the podium and proceeded into the Redskins facility. He returned a few moments later, signed more autographs, and posed for a family picture. His mother nearby.

We caught up Albert's mother, Linda, to get her reaction on how things have changed since we last spoke with her after her son signed with the Skins in February, 2009.

She told us she wanted to remain quiet on the latest events surrounding her son, but was kind enough to speak with us.

On if Albert wanted to play in Washington and wants to be here Ms. Haynesworth said, "He'll be here as long as he's playing here".

Haynesworth expressed his displeasure with playing in 4-3 defense and was incognito during much of the offseason leaving many to believe he was not interested in playing for Washington.

Since his return this August he has worked out one-on-one with conditioning coaches. During those sessions Albert has been hampered with a knee injury, the same one that gave him trouble during last season.

We asked Ms. Haynesworth how the knee was doing. "It's still bothering him', she said.

She told us his knee was a "hereditary" issue.

"My knee bothers me, too", said Haynesworth's mother.

"If I stand on it, or do too much on it, it starts to swell."

An MRI taken last week by Haynesworth showed no structural damage.

And so training camp 2010 moves on, this time with its star defensive man, Albert Haynesworth. He is expected to rejoin his teammates for practice again on Monday.

The players have tomorrow (Sunday) off - giving Haynesworth (and his knee) time to rest, and the players time to welcome their teammate back to the fold.

Extraordinary Women of the Ring

New Book Chronicles Female Boxers

Check out the first book dedicated to the world of female boxing, by photographer Mary Ann LURIE OWEN.

Click the video below to see images from the 272 page book, with over 250 photographs, out now.



Jackie Kallen, former boxing commissioner, and current promoter said this of the book.

"At last, a book on FEMALE BOXING that glorifies a sport that is long over due for this kind of attention.

MARY ANN LURIE OWEN has captured the beauty, courage and physicality that makes this world so breathtaking.

Through her [Owen] dramatic PHOTOS and POIGNANT PROSE, she shows the world what makes this sport so alluring.
Female boxing has always faced an uphill battle for recognition and respect.

Although these bouts are always the most exciting on any fight card - the women still fight for exposure and activity."

Jackie Kallen,
Former Commissioner: International Female Boxers Association

Redskins Release QB Colt Brennan. Acquire Baltimore's Beck.

The Washington Redskins announced today that they released quarterback Colt Brennan.

Brennan spent the entire 2009 season on Injured Reserve. In 2008, he served as the Redskins’ third quarterback for all 16 games.

The Redskins selected Brennan in the sixth round (No. 186 overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

A Gift From Jim Zorn?

The Washington Redskins acquired Raven's quarterback John Beck in exchange for cornerback Doug Dutch.

Beck (6-2, 215) served as a backup in Baltimore last season following two years in Miami. The Dolphins drafted the former BYU standout in the second round (No. 40 overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. Beck appeared in five games as a rookie, with four starts, accounting for all of his regular season NFL action to date. In those contests, Beck completed 60-of-107 passes for 559 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Beck was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter at BYU, where he finished his collegiate career with 885 completions on 1,418 attempts (62.4 percent) for 11,021 yards, 79 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.

Dutch, a 5-11, 205-pounder, spent the final seven games of the 2009 season on Washington’s practice squad. He originally signed last year with the Redskins as a rookie free agent out of Michigan.

A Hyattsville, Md., native, he attended Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C.

Related
Haynesworth Sits Out Sunday's Test. Tries Again Monday, But Didn't Finish

Conditioning Test Is Really Hard: Players Know It

Mystics Successful Over Shock. Win With Presidential Pride.

Reggie Love, Ted Leonsis, President Obama and Malia sit courtside cheering on the Mystics as they defeat the Tulsa Shock 87-62 Sunday afternoon. Photos W. Barron for DC UrbanSports.

Starting the month of August off on the right foot, the Washington Mystics get a fifteen point, 87-62, win over rival Tulsa Shock Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center, their second win this week after a dismal three-game losing streak that saw Mystics players and its coaching staff all too ready to say goodbye to the month that was.

With guard Katie Smith coming out strong in the first quarter, scoring the team’s first six points of the game with 2 three-pointers, the Mystics were off and running. A three point shot by Crystal Langhorne, and lay ups by Lindsay Harding and Nakia Sanford also helped propel the Mystics on to a worthy 25-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Shock went scoreless the first six minutes of the second quarter before Tiffany Jackson’s jumper at the 6:21 marker. Johnson was the high scorer with fourteen points for Tulsa.

“We couldn’t buy a basket”, said Tulsa’s head coach Nolan Richardson who continues to see his team struggling to build a WNBA program that ranks last in the Western Conference.

“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm of anything,” Richardson told us after the loss by his team that features former gold medalist Marion Jones whose work ethic he praised.

“I’m happy with the way she comes to work every day. She’s the first to come in, and the last to leave. She’s truly a professional.”

Richardson, who came out of retirement to coach for the Shock, has a storied coaching career that has seen him coach Olympic teams in both Mexico, and in Panama – but never a WNBA team.

He admits the results “haven’t turned out as good”, but his love of the game fuels his dedication.

“Just like anything else you got to start from the bottom and hopefully work your way up to the top.”

The Mystics felt like they were on top as their lead stretched to 44-25 at the half.

We asked coach Plank if there was any coincidence in the number 44, since the 44th president attended the game.

“We did that on purpose”, laughed Plank.

Mystics GM Angela Taylor, after we made mention of the score said, “I’m glad we’re on the winning side of that score.”

Mystics’ Chasity Melvin, who had a total of four rebounds and two assists in the contest, dons the official #44 on her team jersey and was also surprised. “No way!”, she said.

Both Monique Currie and Katie Smith scored 15 points in the win for the Mystics.

The Mystics were up by as many as 26 points at the end of the third quarter, and before the game’s end had cemented their 15th win of the season, and their #3 ranking in the Eastern conference.

“We just didn’t want to let up", said head coach Julie Plank.

"Tulsa makes you play ugly, and I was proud we handled the ball much better. We only had eleven turnovers. That was very impressive against a team like them.”

As the Mystics win in front of the Commander-in-Chief (who has attended previous sporting events at Verizon Center), Plank, who agreed it was nice that the president attended, is now focused on the team’s next opponent, the #1 ranked Atlanta Dream, whom the team will play on Tuesday.

“They’re playing extremely well”, said Plank of Atlanta's Dream. “They’re playing at home, they get great crowds, and they have three All Stars on their team. So we got to bring our A game down to Atlanta.”

Sunday’s game was also in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Week. The team wore pink uniforms and gave out pink gift bags. A silent auction was also held featuring various sports memorabilia. This is the third year the Mystics have participated in the awareness week, partnering with Sibley Memorial Hospital. This year's auction garnered $68,000, almost twice that of last year.

//**//

Noteable Mentions

Washington outscored the Shock in all quarters, allowing six of its players to score double figures. Melvin (10), Langhorne (11), Coleman (14), Harding (10) join Currie and Smith with 15.

Despite an appearance by President Obama, the game still had many vacant seats.(Thanks to the WH press pool, Mystics media had to sit waaaayyy up here. Made for a nice angle, though).


Photo/CD Brown.

President Obama played basketball earlier Sunday morning at Fort McNair. He will turn 49 on August 4th.

Councilman Jim Gray also attended the game.

Mystics owner comments on President Obama's visit.

What A Difference A New (Experienced) Coach Makes

I'm impressed with the responses Mike Shanahan gives to the media.

Not only are most of his responses insightful, they aren't words that ramble or appear unsure. They come from a coach with experience. They're direct, intelligent, and are almost answered in a way as not to appease. It's a noticeable difference over last year.

Check out the remarks Shanahan gave today on a bevy of questions about the team, workouts, and of course old #92.

On the current wide receivers:
"We have a lot of people out here competing for a position. I don't want to isolate anybody out at this time because we have a lot of people out there competing. Santana Moss is really the only guy that we've got that is a proven veteran that has played week in and week out. Everybody else right now is competing. We have some players who have played in the NFL and have a lot of experience, so it should be interesting this preseason to see the competition."

On his comfort level with the wide receiver position:
"Well, to give you a story, when I was in Denver and all of a sudden we had a guy, Mike Pritchard, who was the number one draft choice, with Anthony Miller. We released those guys and we went with younger guys like Rod Smith and obviously the rest is history. So you really don't know which guys, young guys, will step up. We have some talent out there. It will be interesting to see these guys fight, but I really don't know at this time. It’s a day-to-day evaluation process. We really don't care what guys have done in the past. It's what they do out here in practice everyday and how they compete. We'll get a chance to evaluate them not only in practice but these preseason games and hopefully come up with the best 53 [players].”

On offensive tackle Trent Williams’ progress:
"The thing that I've really been pleased about with him, he's been going at two-a-days for what feels like the last year. With the injury to his knee and the way he has rehabbed, he is just doing everything he can and he has looked good with the first unit. We got a lot of competition at a lot of different positions. Nothing needs to be decided here for the next week or two, but it's going to take a number of weeks to find out who our best 53 is. We have some competition and that's what we've been aiming for when we first got started and I think we've got that at this time."

Talking the quarterback position.
On the competition for the third quarterback position between Colt Brennan and Richard Bartel:

“Everybody talks about number three, but there is competition. We have four guys right from the beginning who are battling. I like to see guys evaluate themselves each day against our number one guy, and obviously that is Donovan [McNabb]. But, they go out there to prove themselves and that is what you are looking for. You look for guys who look at that number one guy, evaluate the position and the quarterback position is no different than any other position. They have both been splitting reps and both have been doing a good job.”

On if he prefers carrying three quarterbacks during the regular season:
“Yes, I think it is good to have three quarterbacks if you feel that guy deserves to be on your football team. Number one, you never have enough quarterbacks and if you lose somebody, it’s hard to find a person that can come in and run your system because it takes too long. So that’s why you try to protect them and have four or sometimes five guys that know your system. Once you lose a guy or two, regardless of how good the quarterback is, it takes time to learn the new system.

On if there is any position player that can serve in an emergency if he carries only two quarterbacks:
“Most of my career I have been with two, since I have been in the NFL, and you have guys that are ready to take a snap.”

Talkin' #92
On the decision for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth not take a conditioning test Saturday morning:
"Albert came in this morning quite early. His knee was irritated. The recommendation from the doctors was to have him not run. He did the bike and got some treatment, so hopefully that subsides and he can get back in to football shape."

On if he was happy Albert Haynesworth has not given up:
"My job is to make sure that when he does finally practice, he is in football shape. What he is doing right now, which you saw this morning, is get about 10 minutes of walkthroughs, getting used to our terminology. This afternoon he will be out there for about an hour just watching our players go through their responsibilities. I call it a walkthrough. It's more of a jog through.

On if Albert Haynesworth's injury is new:
"New things pop up all the time."

On if Albert Haynesworth will take the conditioning test tomorrow:
"I don't know, it all depends on how his knee is and how he is feeling. I never said he had to the take test every day. We want him to get in to football shape and when he feels ready to pass the test, we will let him take it and if he passes it then we will let you practice."

On if Albert Haynesworth is behind schedule:
"I just covered that with the walkthroughs. He is getting mental reps."

On Albert Haynesworth observing practice and taking time to get mental reps:
"You’ve got meetings in the afternoon, you have meetings in the evenings, you have about three or four hours of meetings, going through all those mental reps and working at practice. He is getting a chance to see what we are doing in the classroom and on the football field. After he has been working out, he has been out there with [Defensive Coordinator] Jim [Haslett] and [Defensive Line Coach] Jacob [Burney] for about a half-hour after the morning practice and after the afternoon practice. Even though he isn't out there in pads, he's still getting a lot of work in."

The Redskins' website reports that Haynesworth did not run his conditioning drill on Sunday morning, making today the fourth consecutive practice he's missed, excluding the afternoon walk-throughs, and second consecutive day he has been unable to run the conditioning test.

As coach Shanahan stated, Haynesworth was bothered by a knee injury on Saturday and was advised by team doctors not to continue with the conditioning test at this time.

Apparently, there is no timetable for Haynesworth to take the test.

"He will get a chance to be out with his teammates once he passes the test", said Shanahan.

"It is in his best interest. He has to get in to football shape. There's a setback already, his knee is a little bit swollen. Hopefully it's not too bad where he can keep on conditioning and be out with the team in the near future."

Legg Mason Tennis Classic In Full Effect

The LMTC kicked off July 31st and the list of those scheduled to play just keeps getting better.

Twelve qualifiers compete for entry into the main draw, including former World Junior #1 Player Donald Young (USA) local favorite and former NCAA Men's Tennis Champion Somdev Devvarman (IND).

Former Legg Mason Tennis Classic champ James Blake, along with 2002 Wimbledon Finalist David Nalbandian, will headline Monday's play at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (16th & Kennedy Streets, NW).

Blake, the Legg Mason champ in 2002 and runner-up 2005, returns to the event for the first time since 2006.

The Top 16 seeds scheduled to play Tuesday/Wednesday include Andy Roddick, Tomas Berdych, Fernando Verdasco, Lleyton Hewitt, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mardy Fish.

The Tennis Classic, another annual tennis favorite event in the District, has gotten some major backing from Mayor Fenty who proclaimed July 31st through August 8th "Tennis Week" in the D.C.

Today (Sunday) is National Parks Recreation Family Day where families can participate in the qualifying action and join USTA QuickStart Tennis for kids wanting to learn the game of tennis.