The rejuvenation of the Washington sports scene has been sudden, if long-awaited.
The Redskins acquired quarterback Donovan McNabb and named two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan as coach.
Just up the Parkway, Stephen Strasburg has pumped several pints of enthusiasm into Nationals baseball with his blazing fastball and knee-buckling curve.
Downtown, fans have been waiting for the Wizards to clean up their persistent issues and unleash a product that would spark pride and excitement. The ascent began when they landed the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, making Irene Pollin, the widow of late owner Abe Pollin, grin brightly as she stood in shock just after the announcement.
The Wizards soon made it clear they would choose Kentucky guard John Wall at No. 1, and they completed an impressive draft by adding Clemson strongman Trevor Booker and Frenchman Kevin Seraphin. They also acquired skilled guard Kirk Hinrich.
General manager Ernie Grunfeld spent the first 20 games of last season with hopes of making the postseason, the next 20 figuring out how to make Gilbert Arenas and his $80 million contract disappear, and the next 20 moving every key player besides Arenas to punctuate his desire for a fresh start. Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, Antawn Jamison, and DeShawn Stevenson were all moved by the All-Star break.
Grunfeld could do little with Arenas’s contract, but he could improve the environment around him and hope the gifted guard returned from his suspension for brandishing a gun with a refreshed outlook. The addition of Wall could help that process.
Wall is a future superstar at point guard, a sparkling ball-handler who uses his speed to get into the paint and athleticism to finish at the rim or set up teammates. Grunfeld immediately handed Wall the keys to the franchise, and Arenas has no choice but to cooperate.
“We felt like the team got stale and we needed to make changes,’’
Grunfeld said. “We traded away four-fifths of our starting lineup. And what better way to rebuild than with the No. 1 pick? It’s a new era for us. We have John, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, and we’ve added some other players to the mix. It’s a new beginning, a new era for us, and it’s exciting for us.’’
Grunfeld would much rather build a roster than tear one down, and he realizes the Wizards’ climb back to respectability and playoff contention will be a difficult process. The Eastern Conference has improved immensely during the offseason, and teams such as Miami, Boston, Chicago, and Orlando are looking to feed off rebuilding teams. And that may begin Oct. 28 when the Wizards open Orlando’s new arena
