District of Sports

After a 5-0 September, Maryland has dropped three-straight games. Now, here comes November, which starts with the Terps hosting No. 9 Penn State. The Washington Times' George Gerbo is joined by Joe Smeltzer of Nittany Sports Now to gauge the view of the matchup from Penn State's side, talk about the relationship between head coaches Mike Locksley and James Franklin, and keys for each team ahead of the game.

On this edition of District of Sports, The Washington Times' George Gerbo is joined by Jared Serre of Washington Hockey Now to discuss the expectations for the Capitals this season, the impact new coach Spencer Carbury will have, and whether Washington can balance an aging top line and inexperience on the bottom six while still contending for a playoff spot.

Maryland and Virginia — UVa. and UMd., the Terps and the Hoos —  meet Friday night for the 79th time and first in a decade. The schools met annually as members of the ACC from 1957 to 2013. before the Terps moved to the Big Ten. To discuss the rivalry being renewed and to get the perspective from the other side of the Potomac, George Gerbo talks to Greg Media, Virginia beat writer at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. They discuss the importance of the game for both schools, a season unlike any other for the Cavaliers after the tragic shooting deaths of three players on a bus trip last year, and playmakers on both sides who are expected to shine under the primetime lights.

D.C.'s summer tennis tradition is back and bigger than ever, and we tackle it from multiple angles on this edition of District of Sports. Mubadala Citi DC Open Chairman Mark Ein joins me first to talk about how he's grown the event after taking it over in 2019 and what new for fans at the Fitzgerald Tennis Center. And for a look at what the players might experience, tournament physician Dr. George Branche, now in his 32nd year providing medical support to the open, provides insight on the training and conditioning that goes into preparing for playing tennis in D.C.'s notorious summer heat.

After missing the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, drastic change was needed for the Washington Wizards, and the dust is still settling from a flurry of moves, with potentially more on the horizon. The Washington Times' George Gerbo talks with DC News Now sports anchor and reporter Alex Flum to evaluate the Wizards as they stand now, project what else could happen before the season starts, and whether or not head coach Wes Unseld Jr. will be given the latitude to lead the team out of the doldrums.

In the first episode of the relaunched District of Sports podcast, we take a look at the recent spate of deaths surrounding the Kentucky Derby as horse racing's Triple Crown stage moves to Baltimore and the Preakness Stakes. The Washington Times' George Gerbo talks with Animal Wellness Action president Wayne Pacelle about what changes are needed in the industry, what power the incoming Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will have to police it and more.

Commanders fans got their first taste of 'The Carson Wentz Experience,' and it paid off with a come from behind win. Matt Paras and Jacob Calvin Meyer join George Gerbo to break down what Washington did right and look ahead to Week 2, as well as comparing the divergent trajectories of the Orioles and Nationals and what's in store for the worst-in-MLB Nats this offseason.

The Washington Commanders made a splash with a recently-unveiled proposal to build a new stadium and headquarters in Woodbridge, Virginia. George Gerbo, Matt Paras, and Jacob Calvin Meyer discuss how viable the project actually is and how it would affect the Commanders' fan bases in Maryland and D.C. The guys also discuss Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's comments on not trading outfielder Juan Soto and how it may impact the value of the franchise as the Lerner family explores selling the team.

It's not the best time to be playing 'lousy,' as Capitals coach Peter Laviolette put it this week. George Gerbo, Matt Paras, and Jacob Calvin Meyer break down what Washington needs to right headed into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and if captain Alex Ovechkin will be ready for them, who the Commanders are targeting in this weekend's NFL Draft, and what's behind some of the Nationals struggles to start the MLB season.

There's so many transactions and new faces in and around D.C. sports over the last few weeks that it'll make your head spin. George Gerbo, Matt Paras, and Jacob Meyer break down the moves across multiple teams: Is Carson Wentz Washington's quarterback for the long term? Will Kevin Willard lead Maryland basketball back to prominence? And does Marcus Johansson's return to the Caps portend a deep playoff run?

On this edition of the District of Sports podcast, George Gerbo, Matt Paras, and Jacob Calvin Meyer discuss what's next for the Washington Football Team at quarterback and elsewhere as the team readies for a new name, how Rui Hachimura looks in his return to the Wizards after missing the first three months of the season, and the outlook for the rest of Maryland's men's basketball season after a dismal start in Big Ten play. 

On this District of Sports podcast, Matt Paras and Jacob Calvin Meyer join George Gerbo to discuss what went wrong for Washington in a 27-20 loss to Dallas, whether Mark Turgeon's departure as Maryland men's basketball coach was the right move (and who may replace him), and why the surprising Washington Capitals have one of the best records in the NHL.

On this District of Sports podcast, George Gerbo and Matt Paras discuss what's happened to the Washington Football Team's defense - which has gone from top five in the NFL last season to bottom five in 2021. The guys also talk about the Washington Wizards' hot start and ponder just how many goals Alex Ovechkin can score as he continues to climb up the NHL's all-time list.

Where would the Washington Football Team be without Taylor Heinicke? Washington Times reporters George Gerbo and Matthew Paras discuss the quarterback's latest theatrics to pull out a win, how injuries to key players have racked both the WFT and Maryland football teams, and an early look at the Wizards as they begin preseason play.

Training camp is over, the final cuts have been made, and the Washington Football Team is ready for the 2021 season. Washington Times sports reporter Matt Paras joins George Gerbo to break down who made Washington's 53-man roster, the expectations this season for one of the NFL's best defenses in 2020, and how many games this team can win in 2021. The guys also discuss the Maryland Terrapins' season-opening win over West Virginia and if the Terps can get hot with their early-season schedule.

After two weeks of training camp, the Washington Football Team is set to head north and face the New England Patriots to kick-off the preseason. Washington Times sports reporter Matt Paras joins George Gerbo to discuss what he's seen at camp, a few stand-outs so far, and what to expect in Washington's first action since last year's Wild Card loss to Tampa Bay.

A shooting just outside of the Nationals' July 17 game against San Diego created some chaotic scenes inside of Nationals Park. Washington Times sports reporters Andy Kostka and Matt Paras join George Gerbo to recap the incident and how the Nats and Padres were able to act quickly to protect fans. The guys also discuss the Wizards' hiring of former assistant Wes Unseld Jr. as their new head coach and who they think will be selected from the Washington Capitals in the NHL's expansion draft.

On this District of Sports Podcast, Washington Times sports reporters Andy Kostka and Matt Paras join George Gerbo to debate the usefulness of MLB's targeting of pitchers like Washington's Max Scherzer for the use of foreign substances, where the Wizards' head coaching search stands, and how Las Vegas Raiders DE Carl Nassib's decision to come out was a watershed moment for professional sports.    

On this District of Sports Podcast, Washington Times sports reporters Andy Kostka and Matt Paras join George Gerbo to discuss what's next for the Washington Wizards after their first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the durability of Nationals' pitcher Stephen Strasburg as he heads to the injured list with a neck strain, and how athletes and the press can move forward after tennis star Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French Open.

On this District of Sports Podcast, Washington Times sports reporters Andy Kostka and Matt Paras join George Gerbo to sort out the Wizards' disappointing performance in the first game of the NBA's play-in tournament, the Capitals trying to get their normal lineup back as their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series shifts to Boston, and long-tenured Washington Football Team members Ryan Kerrigan and Morgan Mozes departing D.C.

The Washington Football Team added players ready to make an immediate impact to their linebacking corps and offense in the NFL Draft. Washington Times sports reporters Matt Paras and Andy Kostka join George Gerbo to break down Washington's selections, discuss Capitals forward Tom Wilson's latest infraction against the Rangers and whether it merits a suspension, and break down the reasons behind the Nationals' surge to the top of the NL East.

On the inaugural episode of the District of Sports Podcast, Washington Times sports reporters Matt Paras and Andy Kostka join George Gerbo to discuss former Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith's retirement and what the team's strategy is heading into the upcoming NFL Draft. Plus, Andy gives some reasons for the Washington Nationals' slow start and the guys discuss the return of fans to Capital One Arena as the Capitals and Wizards head into the final stretch of their seasons.