As a lifelong Washingtonian, I grew up following all the local high school, collegiate and professional sports teams in the DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia). What began as a childhood interest has transformed into a dedicated and passionate pursuit of all things sports in the Washington area. As any area fan can attest, it has not always been easy to cheer for, say, the Washington Redskins, but darn it, a few losing seasons will not deter my fandom. That's being a true fan - sticking it out through the lean years (4-12 with Richie Petitbon) and making space on the bandwagon for newcomers during the good years (1991 seems so long ago). I have mentioned the Redskins quite a bit in these first few introductory sentences - they are my favorite team - but I enjoy following other teams. I can't say I will be devoting a lot of writing space to D.C. United or the Washington Bayhawks ( I am a lacrosse fan) but you may see a random rugby piece every now and then. I hope you enjoy what follows. And, as always, feel free to comment.