I want to borrow a device used by one of the best sportswriters alive, Joe Posnanski:

Since the start of the 1990-1991 NBA season through last night:

Team A: 637-1,006 (.388), 5 playoff appearances, 1 playoff series win

Team B: 599-1045 (.364), 4 playoff appearances, 1 playoff series win

OK, just by looking at the title of this post and the pic of a suffering Flip, you can probably figure out one of these teams is the Washington Bullets/Wizards (Team A).  The other one? The much-maligned, and perennially-mocked, Los Angeles Clippers. Let that sink in a for minute… Since 1990, the Wizards have averaged just under two wins (1.8) more per season than these guys:

The similarities don’t end there.  Busted former #1 overall draft picks?  Check (Michael Olowokandi and Kwame Brown). NBA legends who stayed way too long in an effort to rebuild their adopted hometown teams? Check (Elgin Baylor and Wes Unseld). Obnoxious season ticket holders? Check (Bill Simmons [before you blind loyalists filet me in the comments, relax: he doesn't care and this is a joke] and Robin Ficker).

What’s worse is that for the last 20+ years, the Wizards actually tried to win. Long-time owner/community devotee Abe Pollin was just about the exact opposite of Clippers owner/community pariah Donald Sterling: Pollin personally funded TWO arenas for his teams to play in (tell me the last time an owner did that) and gave big dollars to players like Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, Jerry Stackhouse, Antawn Jamison, Mitch Richmond and some dude named “Gilbert” all in an effort to remain competitive (which mostly failed). He hired the greatest player of all time (albeit not to play, mostly); handing over a piece of the team in the process.

All Sterling has ever done is force the trade or release of marquee players who grew too pricey for the franchise.  Oh, and for the players the Clippers do manage to keep, Sterling doles out verbal abuse to them that’d make Mel Gibson blush. It’s safe to say any success this franchise has enjoyed has come despite terrible ownership.  Does that make Washington’s ineptitude worse?  Hundreds of millions of dollars is an awful lot to pay for 38 wins over 20 seasons.

So, what do we make of all this?  Well, with new owner Ted Leonsis’ commitment to the franchise, as well as his success with the Washington Capitals, one might surmise the big man knows what he’s doing.  But for a large-market like DC that loves its basketball, Ted’s going to have to do a lot more than just change the name.

I looked up this morning and realized we’re almost done with June.  It feels just like yesterday I was making fun of Joe West and lamenting having to work on a holiday weekend.  Now, we’re a few days away from July 4^th, the summer’s mid-point.  I’ve been told this is what happens when you get older and have a real job.

I guess I’m ok with no longer having summers off, but part of me would like one more college summer.  College summers are basically the same as regular college, but instead of class, you get a “Joe Job” where you work just enough hours to financially support yourself.  Then, you get to hang out with your buddies the rest of the time going to baseball games, playing entire seasons of Madden in two days, taking road trips to places like Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, and going out during the week.  The other cool thing about college summers is that because so few people actually stay at school, those who chose to stay behind form this weird social bond where everyone bands together and hangs out.  By summer’s end, you’ve meet all these cool people you had no idea existed.  Of course, the social order is restored when school resumes, and the gorgeous girl that lived across the street forgets you existed, but whatever.  College summers were great.   

Nevertheless, the summer of 2010 is running full throttle from soccer games to Armando Benitez comebacks.   I guess you can’t really fight it: just let go and enjoy the ride.  Regardless, take some time to read between the headlines:

• Jay-Z and Eminem added a second Yankee Stadium concert to their upcoming tour.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that the Limp Bizkit Reunion Tour will be making a stop at PNC Park.

• Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchett was fired hours before last night’s NBA Draft.

Hey Paul Allen, Pat Riley called, he wants his move back.  What I don’t understand is that Pritchett asked to stay and work the draft after he was let go.  That’s so sad.  “Hey, look, I know you think I suck, but can I just stay here for a few more minutes and work for you?  Please?”  And if I’m the Blazers, can I trust him not to draft the next Ruben Patterson?  I hope this means the Jail Blazers are coming back because their wanton disregard for coach and community was truly something to behold.  What’s Latrell Sprewell up to these days?

• Former Pro Bowl Quarterback Mark Brunell is filing for bankruptcy.

The story says Brunell made an estimated $52M in his career.  That’s a lot of dough to blow through.  How do we think he did it?  Messy divorce?  Drug or alcohol addiction?  Fancy cars?

The[bankruptcy was the] apparent result of a string of failed real-estate investments.

This is the worst pro-athlete bankruptcy filing ever!  Gimme a gaggle of mistresses, a five gram-a-day coke habit… something!  At least Mike Tyson enjoyed wasting his money.

• The Wizards selected John Wall with the first pick in the NBA draft.

I don’t think John Wall is anything like Kwame Brown, so the Wizards are probably pretty safe there.  However, they couldn’t help themselves and had to do their best to draft undersized power forwards and make a stupid and expensive trade.  So make of it what you will.  Some franchises are unlucky, and others are just stupid.  Despite new ownership, the Wizards still fall under the latter.

• After firing their manager earlier in the week, the Florida Marlins are targeting Bobby Valentine as a replacement.

I have a lot to say here, but instead of ranting about it, I’m going to use a haiku.  They’re more graceful, poignant, and most importantly, easier to read:

Marlins owner sucks

More of a douche than Big Stein

Sucks to be O’s fan

Fin.

• Chicago Fire defender Krzysztof Krol is marrying a Playboy model he stalked on Facebook.

I hope all the ladies out there reading the Deuce take this gal’s lead: if you want us to stalk you, please put your phone number up so we can call you.  Makes the stalking a lot easier…  And this has been your “Being a Pro Athlete Totally Rules” update. 

• League malcontent Rasheed Wallace is reportedly retiring. 

Speaking of the Jail Blazers, Rasheed was one of the original ones.  Let’s see him out with a quote from one of my favorite ‘Sheed stories:

In one of their final touching moments together as Jail Blazers, [Rasheed] Wallace and [Bonzi] Wells were at practice when Wallace suddenly reared back and chucked a basketball at teammate Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, who was shooting jump shots with his back to them. According to The Oregonian the ball struck Boumtje Boumtje so hard he fell to the floor and lay writhing before eventually walking off. By then Wallace and Wells had run away, giggling like schoolgirls.

That’s such a dick move, but damn, it’s funny.  Good night, sweet prince!

Ok, that’s it for me.  Everybody have a great weekend, if you need me, Lindsay and I will be planning our birthday parties.