Nationals vs. Giants: Washington pitchers are pounded in 8-0 loss

SAN FRANCISCO — The goal for the Washington Nationals remains unchanged, and if they overcome the bewildering first portion of their season to reach it, they may look back on Monday night and wonder: how did they ever get so lost on the way to the World Series? Read full article >>

USGA bans practice of anchoring long putters

There is no more nerve-wracking task in golf than the four- or five-foot putt. Nerves jangle. Palms sweat. Could be the Masters, for history. Could be the club championship, for posterity. Could be a Friday foursome, for beers. That simple stroke is hard. Read full article >>

RGIII in Xbox Reveal

Another day, another RGIII story having nothing to do with OTAs. And this one involves video games rather than gift registries!Tuesday was the big Xbox Reveal, which The Post's Hayley Tsukayama covered from a technology standpoint: Read full article >>

Maddie Doan paces Sherwood girls' lacrosse on unprecedented run to Maryland 4A/3A final

Five minutes into Saturday's Maryland 4A/3A state semifinal against Howard, Sherwood senior Maddie Doan took a pass from junior teammate Emily Kenul in stride and charged toward the cage. The well-rehearsed play soon ended in the team's first goal in its inaugural state tournament appearance. Read full article >>

Washington’s baseball club in desperate need of a Natitude adjustment

What we have here is too much Natitude and not enough latitude.The Washington Nationals have pushed their chosen team identity of swagger, vast expectations, physical toughness and intensity bordering on mania to the danger point. What was beneficial last season is not always benign. They need to back off, before a season gets too damaged or somebody really gets hurt. Read full article >>

Vinny Del Negro out as Los Angeles Clippers coach

Vinny Del Negro will not be returning for another season as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.The team chose to let Del Negro's contract expire after the Clippers were ushered out in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies. He was hired in the summer of 2010 and took the Clippers to their first division title with a 56-26 record. Overall, the Clippers were 210-184 under D

The Nationals are still trying to get Danny Espinosa right

The process of putting Danny Espinosa back together again continued Monday at AT&T Park. Manager Davey Johnson sat the struggling second baseman, who is 1 for his last 28 and batting .163/.191/.260 on the season, in favor of Steve Lombardozzi. In the afternoon, Espinosa went through a lengthy, pregame film and swinging session with hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Read full article >>

Oklahoma tornado: West Virginia baseball team narrowly avoid tornado

Former St. John's baseball player Bobby Boyd, the starting center fielder at West Virginia University, is in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 baseball championships and along with his Mountaineer teammates has pitched in with the relief effort after deadly tornadoes ripped through the state. Read full article >>

Super Bowl L awarded to San Francisco

Super Bowl L -- or Super Bowl 50, if you prefer -- has a home. It'll be played in Santa Clara, in Levi's Stadium, the future home of the San Francisco 49ers.In voting by NFL owners at the spring meeting today in Boston, the Bay Area edged South Florida for the right to host the golden anniversary game in 2016. Owners were expected to give the 2017 Super Bowl to Houston. Read full article >>

Redskins' training camp facility: Better photos and early impressions if you're thinking about going

It may be yesterday's news -- and even then, we're stretching the definition of 'news' -- but John McDonnell's a professional photographer, and I am not. His photos of the training camp facility in Richmond offer a much better look at what the Redskins are building than what we posted yesterday: Read full article >>

Oklahoma high school coach tells of close brush with tornado

On Monday afternoon, high school football players in the Moore, Okla., area were about to do what athletes do in the football-mad state: take to the field for a spring practice.But the skies and forecast turned threatening, so at Southmoore High School, Coach Jeff Brickman's players were indoors, watching film of a previous practice, when the deadly tornado struck. Read full article >>

D.C. United news and notes

Another Cruyff in Washington?Some 30 years since Dutch legend Johan Cruyff played for the NASL's Diplomats, his grandson Jesjua has begun a tryout with D.C. United.Jesjua, 20, arrived from Wigan Athletic's under-21 squad in England after spending his youth in FC Barcelona's academy. He plays wide in midfield and on the backline. Read full article >>

Bruce Bochy reportedly asked Davey Johnson to be on his All-Star staff

The news wasn't all bad for Davey Johnson Monday night in California. He'll apparently spend his last All-Star break as Nats skipper in New York, at Citi Field, as part of Bruce Bochy's coaching staff. That almost has to lead to about 15 great anecdotes. Read full article >>

Kevin Durant donates $1 million to Red Cross for Oklahoma tornado relief

Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder star, has donated $1 million to the Red Cross fund for tornado and disaster relief in the aftermath of the deadly storm that devastated Oklahoma on Monday.@kdtrey5 steps forward and gives $1mil matching gift to the ARC for disaster relief, text "REDCROSS" to 90999 for a $10 donation.— Red Cross Oklahoma (@redcrossokc) May 21, 2013 Read full articl

Look at the Giants celebrating the Nats' Game 5 collapse

Most Nats fans probably don't have a reason to feel one way or the other about the San Francisco Giants. Maybe this photo could help.Yes, that's right, here are the Giants celebrating the Nats' collapse in Game 5 of the NL Division Series last fall. Amy Gutierrez, the sideline reporter for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, gave some more context for this image before Monday night's broadcast. Read

Brooks Laich throws out Orioles first pitch

Brooks Laich, who was named after famed Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson, threw out the first pitch in Baltimore on Monday night. The Caps forward promised on Twitter last week that his throw would have some juice to it, and he delivered. Read full article >>

Locals picked for Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic

The Washington area will be well-represented at this summer's Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic. Three local players landed on the roster for the boys' South team for the eighth annual game, announced Tuesday. The girls' South team will feature 12 seniors who played on area teams this spring. Read full article >>

Patrick Roy to be named Colorado Avalanche coach, report says

Patrick Roy, the goalie from the Colorado Avalanche's golden seasons, is expected to be named the team's new head coach, according to his brother."They're discussing the final details of an arrangement," Roy's brother, Stephane, told the Denver Post. "Colorado is going to be very happy. Patrick is looking for a new challenge." Read full article >>

Phillies fan seeks like-minded date to take to Nats Park

Since we're all-in on wedding coverage, might as well get into the matchmaking business, too. In that spirit, Reader Ryan passed along a Craigslist ad that might be of interest to some of our readers, assuming our readers are Phillies fans from Philly who have negative levels of Natitude. Read full article >>

Redskins getting draft picks signed quickly

The Redskins, like other NFL teams, are finding it easier to sign their rookies to contracts under the rookie pay system put in place by the 2011 collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union. Read full article >>

Breaking down the Capitals' unrestricted free agents

Last week when asked how much change the roster needed heading into next season, General Manager George McPhee replied "not a whole lot" and reiterated his confidence in the Capitals' style of play. There will always be some tinkering in any offseason, though, as teams negotiate with their own free agents. Read full article >>

Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty in 1984 Playgirl (Updated)

When someone unearths a photo like this, there isn't much to say except, hey, look: Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty in the July 1984 issue of Playgirl. How long before the bullpen turns this into a T-shirt? Read full article >>

Stone Bridge's Ashley Herndon nets 100th career goal

Friday's girls' soccer contest against McLean already held enough significance for Ashley Herndon. The Stone Bridge senior had hopes of celebrating what would be the fourth Virginia AAA Liberty District title of her career with her teammates. But in reaching this achievement, Herndon's older brother reminded her that another feat remained ripe for the taking. Read full article >>

Matt Kemp to donate $1,000 for every home run to Oklahoma tornado victims

In a perfect world, Matt Kemp would go off on a home-run hitting tear starting today.Kemp, a native of Midwest City, Okla., promised Monday night to make a donation for every home run he hits until the July 16 All-Star game to victims of the tornado devastation in Oklahoma. He hit No. 1 Monday in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 3-1 victory over Milwaukee. Read full article >>

The new Griffining: posing in front of wedding gifts

The old Griffining: sitting on the ground, hands raised in triumph. The new Griffining: posing in front of wedding gifts?Probably not, but this photo definitely made me chuckle, paying homage as it does to the ridiculous furor surrounding RGIII's Bed Bath & Beyond haul. Read full article >>

Alfred Morris's Eastern Motors commercial

In March, Alfred Morris filmed some scenes for his Eastern Motors commercial. The finished spot was released today, and it includes the promised cameo from Morris's beloved car, Bentley.The commercial doesn't include the patented jingle, so here is a behind-the-scenes video of Morris learning it if you're missing the catchy tune. Read full article >>

Michael Jordan to change Bobcats to Hornets, report says

Maybe this will change their luck.Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, is expected to announce today that the Bobcats will become the Hornets, according to the Associated Press. The Bobcats name became available when the team, which had moved to New Orleans in 2002, changed its name to Pelicans, effective next season. Read full article >>

Nats to wear camo jerseys on Memorial Day

If you're among the 16 percent of those who voted that you loved the Nats camo caps yesterday, then this might just make your day. A Uniwatch reader noticed that the official MLB shop is offering jerseys with camouflage logos and numbers for each team. The description for the jerseys states: "As worn on-field Memorial Day may 27th, 2013." It appears that the Nats will be hitting the field in a c

Offseason news wrap: Football recruiting, NBA draft and links

_This is the offseason news wrap, an occasional feature with Maryland-centric items you might have missed. _ >> Rivals recently released its updated top 100 rankings for the class of 2014, and three Maryland targets made substantial leaps. Offensive lineman Damian Prince (Bishop McNamara) rose to No. 10 and ranks third nationally at his position. Read full article >>

Should the Capitals re-sign Mike Ribeiro?

For three seasons from 2009-10 through 2011-12, the Washington Capitals auditioned all types for the role of second-line center, with mixed and largely insufficient results. It wasn't until this lockout-shortened year that they finally found a solution to the persistent need for another elite playmaker in the form of Mike Ribeiro. Read full article >>