Tyler Byrum

Sports Play-by-play, Sports Personality, Television Show Host, Writer

THE SUMMER OF THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS HAS COME TO AN END

BY TYLER BYRUM

October, 8, 2018

In a majestic ode to the “greatest sports summer [Washington D.C.] has ever known,” the Washington Capitals cemented their Stanley Cup championship by raising their first banner in Capital One Arena.

Fittingly, there was nothing else in D.C. Sports to mask the celebration.

For the front runners of the city, the Washington Redskins were on a bye week. The most consistent team, the Washington Nationals were at home in October for the first time since 2015. And the Washington Wizards had just started their preseason.

But the banner raising ceremony was more than just the final chapter of the Capitals bringing D.C. Sports some much needed championship glory.

For one fan it meant the Capitals are finally a piece of the fabric in the Washington area, as they told the Washington City Paper.

“Fans don’t get Stanley Cup rings. They don’t get their names engraved on the Stanley Cup,” J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington wrote. “What we do get is a banner.”

Not only did they get a banner, they got to see their captain and Conn Smythe winner Alex Ovechkin hoist the Cup once more. After months of partying, and he and his teammates doing a victory lap essentially around the world, Ovechkin gave the Cup one memorable trip around Capital One Arena. No keg stands, no partying, no playoff demons. No relief etched on Ovechkin’s face. No dry eye in the arena.

Their mission was accomplished and every time a fan enters Capital One Arena they will see that the Capitals were 2018 Stanley Cup Champs. 

AFTER A WEEK 2 LOSS, THE REDSKINS HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

BY TYLER BYRUM

September 17, 2018

To kick off the NFL season, the Washington Redskins walloped the Arizona Cardinals for their first 1-0 start since 2012. Looking to make it 2-0 against the lowly Indianapolis Colts, expectations were high for a team that had not made the playoffs in half a decade. 

Leaving the game on Sunday though, it left more questions on how this Redskins team will perform in 2018 than it gave answers. 
In Week 1, the Redskins rushed for 182 yards.

In Week 2, Washington was able to only squeak out 65 (29 of which were by a wide receiver).

Clearly Adrian Peterson is not the saving grace the Redskins faithful were anticipating. When the 33-year-old running back couldn't get it going, what did Washington head coach Jay Gruden do? Hand it off to him more. Peterson finished with 11 carries, resulting in 20 yards. The third-down back and the back-up had five carries. To be fair though, they only had two yards combined. 

Which Peterson will we see going forward?

Will Gruden give other RBs opportunities? And when?

Is this offense as good as it's running game?

In Week 1, the Redskins held the Arizona Cardinals, who had two of the best offensive players in the league, to only 213 yards.

In Week 2, Andrew Luck coming off a tough shoulder injury did what was necessary, nearly surpassing that mark with 179 yards through the air. 

Generating turnovers is not the issue. D.J. Swearinger had two interceptions of the three-time Pro Bowler. As a unit, they could not stop Luck from getting the Colts first downs. 

Is the defense susceptible to stellar QBs?

Can the offense take advantage of takeaways?

How good is the new-look defensive line? 

The good new, that is not a question for Washington? They are still in a tie for first place in the NFC East. Sitting at 1-1 they are fortunate the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the high-flying Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Dallas Cowboys also join the two by beating the New York Giants.

Just next week, there needs to be some answers.

BRYCE HARPER TAKES PAUSE

BY TYLER BYRUM

October 1, 2018

In a sport full of traditions and superstitions, Bryce Harper took exception in the top of the ninth of a 12-0 ballgame.

Walking out for perhaps the final at-bat of his Washington Nationals career, he took a pause on his way out from the on deck circle to the batter’s box. Surveying the field and briefly looking at the fans in Coors Field, the outfielder then tipped his helmet down and settled in.

No one but Harper himself truly knows his thoughts in those moments. Perhaps he was looking back at his incredible seven years with the team, filled with mainly ups and very little downs. A career that started when he was 19-years-old, but grew to an MVP award and six All-Star recognitions. He could have debated if the Nationals organization is going to try and bring him back (after the game Mike Rizzo assured the media Harper was in their plans). In those split seconds his mind might have been made up on whether he is going to try and make this marriage work.

No matter the reason for his pause, Harper dug in his cleats, waved his bat at a 2-2 count and ripped a double down the right line. Quick out of the box, he hustled around the bags and went into second with his second double of the game.

After the game, Harper got emotional in potentially his last interview in a Nationals uniform. He thanked his fans but also reaffirmed the language he used earlier in the week of his future in Washington.

​

As Barry Svrluga points out, we don’t have any clue on what the Nationals or Harper want as we enter the offseason. But bottom line, neither wanted the last moments of 2018 being a celebrated double, losing in a 12-0 ball game. 

A WEEK SEEN BEFORE, AND NEVER AGAIN, AT THE U.S. OPEN

BY TYLER BYRUM

September 3, 2018

A week ago the U.S. Open began competition as one of the most highly anticipated majors of the year. With all four of the major men’s stars (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray) in action, and Serena Williams coming off her Finals performance at Wimbledon all eyes are on New York.

Even without much drama surrounding the aforementioned players on the court, there has been plenty happening across the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.

Before the tournament even opened their doors, Williams got caught in a rough situation. French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli took a stance on an outfit the 23-time Grand Slam major champion wore this past year. The famous ‘catsuit’ she wore to help her in her comeback dealing with bloodclots, "will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place."

Respecting the game is how the younger Williams sister responded to the ultra conservative-minded criticism.

“I think that obviously, the Grand Slams have a right to do what they want to do,” Williams told the Washington Post. “I feel like if and when, or if they know that some things are for health reasons, then there’s no way that they wouldn’t be okay with it. So I think it’s fine. The president of the French Federation, he’s been really amazing. He’s been so easy to talk to.”

Receiving the No. 17 seed in the tournament, the former champ would have some serious work to do than her typical draws. However, the No. 1 player in the world Simona Halep got knocked out in the opening round leaving an all-Williams matchup in the Third Round as an early quarterfinal showcase.

As she has done so quite often in the past serval years, Serena was victorious over Venus.

On the men’s side, Murray was the other former champion making a comeback. Unfortunately for the Brit, he met Fernando Verdasco in the Second Round, forcing Murray to a quick exit. While it was the first time Murray set foot at a major tournament this year, it was just like old times. Almost, writes Peter Bodo.

The biggest note of the men’s draw was when an impartial umpire stepped down from his chair to give a motivating word to the eccentric Nick Kyrgios in the middle of the match. Personally I am a fan of governing body officials always having a better relationship with the top players in any sport. Their passion for the game and dedication rivals the players they ensure are abiding by the rules.

Yet, this is an admonishment. The opponent Pierre-Hughes Herbert has every right to be irate at the chair umpire and a laughable explanation by the USTA.

There are many cases here where everyone should be told to ‘be better.’

Kyrgios would go on to lose to Federer in the next round.

Back to the stars, Nadal has only dropped two sets in four matches as he sits comfortably in the Quarterfinals. Djokovic, as the No. 6 seed, is still alive and has dropped two as well, currently in the Round of 16. In the same half of the bracket as Djokovic, Federer has a clean line in three matches.

With Williams crushing the women’s side and no signs of weakness from a majority of the ‘Big Four’, for the first time in a couple years it is just like old times, well almost.

A POLARIZING U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S FINAL

BY TYLER BYRUM

September 10, 2018

Polarizing opinions have now found their way at the heart of tennis. At least, they have done so yet again. Not too hard to imagine when the most dominating player of the past two decades happens to be an outspoken black woman in a predominantly white, male focused sport.

Serena Williams has been placed at the forefront of controversy, again. No, this is not a repeat of the catsuit incident that awoke the social media a week ago. Nor is it about her claims for equal pay, or whether or not mothers can still play competitive tennis. For once in quite a while, there is criticism coming at Williams for her actions on the court.

On Saturday in the U.S. Open Final, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was looking to make history by taking home another title. The 20-year-old Naomi Osaka was her opponent, but the story is not about the final score, where Osaka swept past the legend.

It is about Williams, sexism, and double standards.

Starting with a motion from her coaching box and ending with Williams shouting at the official, to eventually being docked a game for her behavior, there is a lot that transpired that afternoon. The best summary of events is documented in the New York Times. But like many issues in reality, there are two sides of this controversy. No more, no less.

Either you are on the side of Williams; where sexism strongly exists in tennis, creating double standards that punishes females more than males, and was a detriment to Williams’ pursuit at another title.

Or you agree with the official; Williams broke the rules, was appropriately punished, and there was no sexism displayed.

Newspapers are taking sides. Reporters are taking sides. Twitter is gluttony of opinions and lack of understanding. There is no middle ground, and the person punished the most is Osaka, the girl who won her first championship over her idol. The girl, who was born after Serena went pro, apologized for winning the match.  

There is no right opinion or wrong opinion here. Williams should not have behaved liked she did, neither should have the umpire, Williams’ coach, or the media personalities that pushed personal agendas.

Osaka is the U.S. Open champion and instead of relishing in the moment, she probably cannot wait to get back out onto a court.   

FOR THOSE THAT HELD OUT HOPE, THE SEASON IS FINALLY OVER FOR THE NATIONALS
 

BY TYLER BYRUM

September 24, 2018

It took 155 games in a span of 177 days, but the Washington Nationals are finally eliminated from postseason contention.

A season that started with such hope, high expectations, and the promise of “we’re going to play the last game of the World Series and win,” has concluded. To many though, the season did not end on September 22. Throughout the entire season there have countless dropout points for the fan base and the organization.

Perhaps the first red flag was when Stephen Strasburg came back from the disabled list for a day, only to get injured again. That was on July 20 and the Nationals were 6.5 games out of the National League East, 6.0 of the Wild Card.

Ten days later at the trade deadline, there was little movement. Only a reliever that was the occasional set-up man was moved for prospects. That was July 31, the Nats were 5.5 out of the division, 5.0 out of the Wild Card.

Complicating matters, the Nationals actually considered trading Bryce Harper.

Then the team shipped the fan-favorite Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams out of town for prospects and some pocket change. August 21, 7.5 back in the East, 6.0 back in the Wild Card.

Then it was their No. 3 pitcher Gio Gonalez dumped on August 31 (7.5 NL East/ 8.5 Wild Card).

Today, September 23, they are a full 10.0 games out of the division and 9.0 back in the Wild Card with six games left. The run that everyone expected never came. Right now, the only salvage to their season would be to make it a winning one. But at 78-78, and as Dan Steinburg from the Washington Post continues to point out, Washington is destined for a .500 season.