RealGM

I have been lucky enough to crisscross this nation countless times over in my lifetime. I've been to 49 states about 49 times. So, this post is inspired by people on RealGM calling DC a "small market." It is inspired by countless bartenders, waitresses and hotel cleaning ladies across this grand country who give perplexed looks when you explain that DC is probably the fifth largest city (when you factor in the suburbs). It is inspired by our NBA treating our metropolis like it's Detroit. "I guess nobody told ya, I don't shine shoes no more."

The DC area is major city, God bless it. The population of "DC," which runs from Baltimore to Fredericksburg, is home to eight to ten million people (depending on where you stop counting) and growing. We have not only the richest suburb, we have more rich suburbs than any city in the country -- all with spare change to buy jerseys. You can expand it even further. From Philly to Charlotte to Ohio, within those borders there is no other basketball team (unlike say the Nets/Knicks or Lakers/Golden State). And about a tenth of the country live between those lines.

We are a cultural hub. We have a top five art scene. A top four museum scene. A top five theater district. A top ten music scene. The 9:30 has been repeatedly voted the single, best club in the country. A top five foodie scene. You want a steak? F' Oklahoma, DC has better. We have a top four shopping scene. We have a top five comedy scene. We are a media hub, with Aol, BET, the Post and Times, USA Today, etc etc all calling DC their home. The Library of blessed Congress is here for God's sake. And we have some of the best schools in the country. Period. And study just done by a top British mag (don't ask me which I lost the link) just named DC the best city to live in on the entire Earth (when factoring in culture, pollution, lifestyle etc).

Ok, our strip clubs suck. But, they are better than New York. And we have a top five escort scene as well. You want Miami bubbleheads? No, we don't have those. But, we ship in the brightest/cutest, cornfed interns and co-eds in the country. 

So, stop treating this city like the Cap Center days, where you had to truck by cow country and factories to get to the stadium. DC is a major, flippin' city -- to which people all 'round this blue globe are flocking to in droves, packs, clans, colonies, skulks and gaggles. Exclamation point. Thank you.

Sent from my iPhone in Reno, on my way back to Vegas...

I haven't really heard anybody call DC a "small market", just not on the level of LA or NY. I do think our market is underrated though. I don't think we'll have a problem attracting superstars if we start winning.

D.C. is fine. It's the organization that people don't want to be associated with(can't blame them).

DC is not connected to Baltimore man... you'll get beat up by folks from Baltimore when you try to associate it with DC in any way.

The Maryland part of the "DC Area" is PG and Montgomery... maybe northern Charles County but thats it.

I think the biggest issue is that the Wizards never, ever, even get their name in the discussion for a big superstar player.

Would that first wave of players want to come here?? NO!! of course not. But it opens up eyes around the rest of the league that we are serious and shouldn't be regarded as a joke. Ted and EG have never met with a top tier player to give them a sales pitch.

Why the hell did Dwight Howard want to go to the frigggin nets? Was it becase of their talent? Nope. He wanted to go there well before they traded for Wallace and Johnson. It was Deron Williams and nada. I have a hard time seeing Ted and EG putting together a sales pitch around Wall as an up-and-coming player, which can easily be done no matter what your attitude of Wall is.

The nets tried to be players in LeBron/Wade/Carmelo and failed, but it opened the eyes of the rest of the league. Now, their execution sucked but that's not the part we should follow.

I met David Aldridge in person last year at University of Maryland right when the lockout ended. I asked him straight up: "Dave, you talk to players all the time, what do they think of DC"

David pretty much said what we all know. Players LOVE DC. The problem is they are not convinced of the front office's loyalty or will to win. Its just that simple and past history shows it.

Its going to take a while for players to see that.

[quote="FAH1223"]DC is not connected to Baltimore man... you'll get beat up by folks from Baltimore when you try to associate it with DC in any way.[quote]
Years of drinking and brawling make them worthy opponents, but gonorrhea is sure to slow them down.

PS: Angelos considers DC a Baltimore suburb.

barelyawake wrote:
So, stop treating this city like the Cap Center days, where you had to truck by cow country and factories to get to the stadium.

The Capital Centre and the parking lot surrounding it RULED.

The Verizon Center and the new neighborhood surrounding it SUCKS.

go'stags wrote:I think the biggest issue is that the Wizards never, ever, even get their name in the discussion for a big superstar player.

Would that first wave of players want to come here?? NO!! of course not. But it opens up eyes around the rest of the league that we are serious and shouldn't be regarded as a joke. Ted and EG have never met with a top tier player to give them a sales pitch.

Why the hell did Dwight Howard want to go to the frigggin nets? Was it becase of their talent? Nope. He wanted to go there well before they traded for Wallace and Johnson. It was Deron Williams and nada. I have a hard time seeing Ted and EG putting together a sales pitch around Wall as an up-and-coming player, which can easily be done no matter what your attitude of Wall is.

The nets tried to be players in LeBron/Wade/Carmelo and failed, but it opened the eyes of the rest of the league. Now, their execution sucked but that's not the part we should follow.

Dwight Howard would rather play with Deron Williams than John Wall, even with an effective sales pitch. It seems to me that players would rather play with seasoned veterans as opposed to guys with potential. It kind of reminds me of T-Mac who forced his way out of Orlando even though the Magic had the #1 pick with Dwight Howard.

ba, that's a HOF-worthy post. Thanks.

So many thoughts …

--Thanks for mentioning the Library of Congress, ba. My mom passed away 10 years ago. She worked 15 years at the Library of Congress as a copyright technician. I remember her showing me parts of it back in the day. Remarkable place.

--Strip clubs were not bad at all back in the 80s.

--I agree with FAH and monte, regarding the difference between Baltimore and DC. They are radically different. That 50 miles separating DC and B'More may as well be 500 miles apart. Even when I was a kid I knew Baltimore police were much more likely to beat you down than DC cops. They like to fight. (Baltimore IMO is a lot more like Philly than DC). The DC area in general has so many vastly different subcultures. PG County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County are each so different that it's as if they're in different state with different time zones. There is no common thread to tie them together.

--I have a theory: All of DC likes the Redskins. I think having uniforms on and most prominent QBs white makes the NFL not a predominantly black sport, like the NBA is. Otherwise, perhaps the Bullets now Wizards would be more popular. Might be politically incorrect, but if Satoransky and Vesely both turn out to be decent players in 2-3 years, Ted/EG will look smart for drafting them.

--Last, what the Wizards lack is one charismatic baller who can be a Pied Piper. John Wall's game is at the precipice of being an attraction. He's not an eloquent speaker, but his peers do respect his talent. Beal seems like he could indeed be the real deal in a 2-3 years. That kid has natural leader written all over him. He has a great deal of poise and he is clearly a confident kid. He's intelligent and seems to e a high character guy.

ba, I think the Wizards just need to win this season. Getting guys who have good reputations was a start. Win some games and this time next year perhaps one trade and one draft pick can put this team on the map, because I expect if Wall breaks out so will the Wizards.

euros don't draw in the the fairweather suburban fans. you need a homegrown white boy like kevin love to picque interest from the "oh, i prefer the college game and their fundamentals" crowd. that, or a bona-fide dunkalicious talent like how Lebron charmed the mistake by the lake.

Kanyewest wrote:

go'stags wrote:I think the biggest issue is that the Wizards never, ever, even get their name in the discussion for a big superstar player.

Would that first wave of players want to come here?? NO!! of course not. But it opens up eyes around the rest of the league that we are serious and shouldn't be regarded as a joke. Ted and EG have never met with a top tier player to give them a sales pitch.

Why the hell did Dwight Howard want to go to the frigggin nets? Was it becase of their talent? Nope. He wanted to go there well before they traded for Wallace and Johnson. It was Deron Williams and nada. I have a hard time seeing Ted and EG putting together a sales pitch around Wall as an up-and-coming player, which can easily be done no matter what your attitude of Wall is.

The nets tried to be players in LeBron/Wade/Carmelo and failed, but it opened the eyes of the rest of the league. Now, their execution sucked but that's not the part we should follow.

Dwight Howard would rather play with Deron Williams than John Wall, even with an effective sales pitch. It seems to me that players would rather play with seasoned veterans as opposed to guys with potential. It kind of reminds me of T-Mac who forced his way out of Orlando even though the Magic had the #1 pick with Dwight Howard.

The guys the Wizards needed to be thinking about acquiring were Ilyasova and Anderson this season. They are younger and will be stars in years to come. Having missed out on them, guys like Cousins, Favors, Tobias Harris, Ed Davis, Rod Beaubois, and the like are young players who haven't blown up yet but who should be very good players in 2-3 years. Getting one of them is what the Wizards should think about in the future.

Even a player who is apparently underachieving, like Evan Turner or Jimmer Fredette could be an upgrade in talent from Jordan Crawford. I think Washington needs to make even slight improvements in talent while winning games, and EVENTUALLY, a big name like a Greg Monroe in the future will want to play in DC.

pancakes3 wrote:euros don't draw in the the fairweather suburban fans. you need a homegrown white boy like kevin love to picque interest from the "oh, i prefer the college game and their fundamentals" crowd. that, or a bona-fide dunkalicious talent like how Lebron charmed the mistake by the lake.

Doug McDermott in the 2013 draft, pancakes. He and Aaron Craft would be picks I would seriously consider drafting. The Wizards should not have a bottom-3 record, but if they do end up in the lottery again Cody Zeller would be the pick for sure. Cody is going to be a stud in the NBA.

barelyawake wrote:DC is a major, flippin' city --

DC ain't flippin' anything anymore.
Flippers has been closed for years.
Where have you been at?

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

Kanyewest wrote:

go'stags wrote:I think the biggest issue is that the Wizards never, ever, even get their name in the discussion for a big superstar player.

Would that first wave of players want to come here?? NO!! of course not. But it opens up eyes around the rest of the league that we are serious and shouldn't be regarded as a joke. Ted and EG have never met with a top tier player to give them a sales pitch.

Why the hell did Dwight Howard want to go to the frigggin nets? Was it becase of their talent? Nope. He wanted to go there well before they traded for Wallace and Johnson. It was Deron Williams and nada. I have a hard time seeing Ted and EG putting together a sales pitch around Wall as an up-and-coming player, which can easily be done no matter what your attitude of Wall is.

The nets tried to be players in LeBron/Wade/Carmelo and failed, but it opened the eyes of the rest of the league. Now, their execution sucked but that's not the part we should follow.

Dwight Howard would rather play with Deron Williams than John Wall, even with an effective sales pitch. It seems to me that players would rather play with seasoned veterans as opposed to guys with potential. It kind of reminds me of T-Mac who forced his way out of Orlando even though the Magic had the #1 pick with Dwight Howard.

The guys the Wizards needed to be thinking about acquiring were Ilyasova and Anderson this season. They are younger and will be stars in years to come. Having missed out on them, guys like Cousins, Favors, Tobias Harris, Ed Davis, Rod Beaubois, and the like are young players who haven't blown up yet but who should be very good players in 2-3 years. Getting one of them is what the Wizards should think about in the future.

Even a player who is apparently underachieving, like Evan Turner or Jimmer Fredette could be an upgrade in talent from Jordan Crawford. I think Washington needs to make even slight improvements in talent while winning games, and EVENTUALLY, a big name like a Greg Monroe in the future will want to play in DC.

I can see good arguments for all the guys you list except Fredette. At this point I see Eddie House as his upside. The other guys(and maybe even Jordan Crawford) have some hope of being a decent option as an NBA starter.

When a city like Brooklyn can be the number one choice for Dwight Howard - with their history of greatness on and off the basketball court... .... .... there's no excuse for DC considering itself unable to attract top talent. Unfortunately, I can't vouch for all of the things Barely mentioned as DC being among the top in, but I don't doubt it.

BA, the market is big but the city is small. The metro area ranks 7th overall but the city itself is 25th. We don't have cool celebrities, uberswanky bars, an inviting climate, or rap video caliber booty.

Personally, I love the *free* culture of the smithsonian, the company of intellectually challenging women, and the deliciousness of strip-mall driven culinary diversity but I doubt that's on Dwight Howard's checklist.

He wants cities with sunrise-coincident last calls, pop bottles with models, play golf with Mark Wahlburg, live in an ocean-side villa, and to eat at fancy one-word uber-chef restaurants like Alinea, Moto, Coi, and Tru.

The 9:30 club is awesome but it's hipster as all get-out. The yuppies that WTA rails against love belting out Wagon Wheel to Old Crow Medicine Show, or to sway silently to indie superstar (oxymoron?) Sondre Lerche but Lebron isn't going to those shows. James Harden, maybe, but not Deron Williams.

However, I do think the next generation of superstars are skewing less from the bling culture and more towards the OKC type, lower key stars (like Arenas). Less Vince Young/Michael Vick and more RG3/Andrew Luck. If that's the case, the more subtle trappings of DC will become a bigger draw.

Born and raised here, I don't and have never followed the "DC area" thing. Sorry, but if you don't live in the city, you live somewhere else. It isn't the DC "Area". If you live in Hyattsville, you live in Maryland, don't attach yourself to DC. I've got friends who live in Arlington who say they live in the DC area, you may live outside DC proper, but you live in Virginia, your license plate is a Virginia tag, your driver's license is from the state of Virginia. You live in Virginia, there is no DC anywhere near there.

I'm a Maryland product through and through -- lived here my whole life, still live here today. But I absolutely love DC. I can't get up there enough.

Rafael122 wrote:Born and raised here, I don't and have never followed the "DC area" thing. Sorry, but if you don't live in the city, you live somewhere else. It isn't the DC "Area". If you live in Hyattsville, you live in Maryland, don't attach yourself to DC. I've got friends who live in Arlington who say they live in the DC area, you may live outside DC proper, but you live in Virginia, your license plate is a Virginia tag, your driver's license is from the state of Virginia. You live in Virginia, there is no DC anywhere near there.

It's not DC anymore bro it's the DMV.