This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Thanks so much for taking the time to read The Morning Win today. We appreciate you. I hope you’re having an excellent week so far. I’m almost certain it’s going better than mine.
So it seems that I cannot escape talking about the Wizards this week, huh? Fine. Whatever. I’ll bite.
So news broke on Tuesday evening that Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was joining Virginia Governer Glenn Younkinn for a mysterious event on Wednesday. The details unraveled pretty quickly. As it turns out, Leonsis plans on moving the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals across the Potomac River into Alexandria, Va. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has the details here.
The very next day, we find out it’s all but official: The Wizards and Capitals are moving to Virginia. The move is officially planned for 2028.
It's done, folks. pic.twitter.com/fuQwOAoDFU
— Michael Sykes, II (@MikeDSykes) December 13, 2023
There still needs to be approval from the state’s General Assembly to make it happen, but this is essentially a Godfather offer here on the table from Virginia that Leonsis is accepting.
This is devastating.
I know this may seem ridiculous to folks outside of the area. Potomac Yard isn’t too far away from Gallery Place where Capital One Arena is located now. It’s a simple car ride a little further down the highway. It’s another handful of stops on the train.
But distance was never the problem here. It’s always been about the community.
Ted Leonsis is packing up his two largest franchises and taking them across the river at a time when D.C. needs them badly — specifically in the downtown location they’re at.
You’ve probably heard about the crime in Washington lately. It’s become a national story. Yes, it’s bad. According to the Metro Police Department’s crime data, violent crimes are up by 40 percent year over year. Homicides are up by 34 percent. Robberys are up by 69 percent. It’s very easy to feel unsafe these days. It’s specifically bad in the Chinatown area where Capital One arena is located.
D.C. hasn’t been able to escape its post-pandemic funk. Businesses shuddered and never came back. People have grown desperate. The police department’s staffing has reached a historic low. Things just don’t look great right now. You can understand why anyone would pack up and run away in the face of all that.
But don’t get it twisted — crime would just be a convenient excuse. Cash is the reason Leonsis is leaving the city.
For years, he’s complained about his $36 million mortgage payment that he pays for Capital One Arena. He’s also asked the city to foot the majority of the bill on an $800 million renovation project for the arena — a proposal D.C. has always firmly rejected. That’s where this is all rooted.
Time is truly a flat circle. This is the same place we were in 30 years ago in 1993 when the arena was first built. Crime was a problem. D.C. desperately needed a win. Abe Pollin — the previous owner of the Wizards — brought it. He privately funded the entire arena himself, betting on the city and the community around it. The people loved him for that. It was seen as a huge win for Washington.
Here we are again. D.C. desperately needs wins today. It needs someone to stick by it. As Washington navigates through these choppy waters it’s sailing through, it needs its anchors. Ted Leonsis is sailing across the Potomac River for public tax dollars.
Washington, D.C. has held the Wizards and the Caps down for decades. It’s seen the team’s best and the team’s worst. Through all the years of ineptitude, the real fans still showed up. The community around the building had remained vibrant. It’s turned Leonsis into one of the premier owners in sports. Instead of pouring some of that money back into the community to help get it back on its feet, he’s turning tail and running away. It’s quite shameful.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
In other news, Draymond Green is doing…well, Draymond things. He completely clocked Jusuf Nurkic in the face in Tuesday night’s Suns-Warriors game.
He says it wasn’t on purpose, but, man. Come on, now. Look at this.
ICYMI: Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected during the third quarter of Tuesday’s 119-116 loss to the Suns after hitting Phoenix big man Jusuf Nurkić in the face.
@BleacherReportpic.twitter.com/eLrsbg55j6
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 13, 2023
Our Charles Curtis thinks this is worth a pretty lengthy suspension. I’m inclined to agree.
“This is an easy call. He needs at least 10 games off. Enough is enough.
Enough was enough before the Gobert choke and now it’s beyond enough. Green has proven that he’s willing to push the boundaries of safety on the court even if it costs him a few games off, and Adam Silver’s last suspension felt like a warning that there could be more for behavior like this. It should be.”
READ MORE: Draymond Green’s history should earn him a 10-game suspension
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates a three point basket during the third quarter of the Gulf Coast Showcase championship game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Hertz Arena in Estero on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.
And, of course, Caitlin Clark is the No. 1 overall pick going to the Indiana Fever, who might be the luckiest franchise in sports.
Grabbing Aliyah Boston and potentially Clark in back-to-back years doesn’t seem fair. The Basketball Gods have blessed Indy. Here’s Meghan Hall and Mitchell Northam with the pick.
“Clark has one year of eligibility remaining. If she declares, she’s without a doubt the best guard in the draft. Clark has a high basketball IQ, is ultra-competitive, a lights-out shooter, a dynamic passer, and has been called a generational talent by nearly every coach worth their salt. The Fever shouldn’t overthink this.”
READ MORE: A full look at our first WNBA mock draft
— The Giants were willing to pull the same deal the Dodgers did for Shohei Ohtani. He just didn’t choose them. Tough. Here’s Cory Woodruff with more.
— Christian D’Andrea’s Week 15 quarterback rankings are here and Zach Wilson is no longer the worst! Huzzah!
— Patrick Mahomes is keeping receipts. That’s terrifying. Robert Zeglinski has more.
— Here’s Robert again on the Dolphins Monday Night Football debacle. That was…terrible.
— Jusuf Nurkic had a pretty funny joke about Draymond Green after all was said and done. Though…I’m not sure he was actually joking? Bryan Kalbrosky has more.
— Nikola Jokic deserves more respect, man. Cory Woodruff has more.
That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you giving us a bit of your time every day. Until next time! Peace.
-Sykes
