CHICAGO — Brad Lidge did not expect to find himself on the mound for many ninth innings this season, certainly not on opening day at Wrigley Field. He signed with the Washington Nationals in late January with the understanding, despite his 223 career saves, that he would set up and provide a mentoring voice. “Give the guy a million dollars and let him look after the kids,” the 35-year-old said. Read full article > >

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Nationals opening day exemplified best and worst expectations

This season hasn’t gone anywhere according to the plan the Washington Capitals had at the outset five months ago. But all the detours, peaks and valleys they traversed didn’t prevent the Capitals from clinching a playoff berth when their postseason hopes were on the line. Read full article > >

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Capitals vs. Panthers: Washington clinches a playoff berth with win over Florida

Is “Dancing With the Stars” taking a page from the “American Idol” playbook this season? On Tuesday’s results show, Tom Bergeron announced that starting next week, and for the next three weeks after that, the show will institute a “judge’s save” -esque twist. The bottom two couples, determined through the judge’s scores and viewer votes as always, will have a “dance duel”at the end of the show in which they dance simultaneously — and then Len, Bruno and Carrie Ann will decide who leaves. Read full article > >

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‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2012: One couple leaves, and the competition gets a new twist

VIERA, Fla. — This season, baseball and Washington will finally start to meet Stephen Strasburg — not just see him pitch but actually start to know him, both what he is now and what he likely will become. We will not meet the college phenom or the hyped Best Prospect Ever, nor will we encounter the thunderbolt rookie who struck out 14 in his debut then blew out his elbow 11 weeks later and missed a year. We will not see a silent, sequestered, pestered prodigy, both shy and chilly. All of those Strasburgs are gone. Read full article > >

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Stephen Strasburg, all grown up and ready to go for the Nationals

VIERA, Fla. — This season, baseball and Washington will finally start to meet Stephen Strasburg — not just see him pitch but actually start to know him, both what he is now and what he likely will become. We will not meet the college phenom or the hyped Best Prospect Ever, nor will we encounter the thunderbolt rookie who struck out 14 in his debut then blew out his elbow 11 weeks later and missed a year. We will not see a silent, sequestered, pestered prodigy, both shy and chilly. All of those Strasburgs are gone. Read full article > >

Excerpt from:
Stephen Strasburg, all grown up and ready to go for the Nationals

VIERA, Fla. — This season, baseball and Washington will finally start to meet Stephen Strasburg — not just see him pitch but actually start to know him, both what he is now and what he likely will become. We will not meet the college phenom or the hyped Best Prospect Ever, nor will we encounter the thunderbolt rookie who struck out 14 in his debut then blew out his elbow 11 weeks later and missed a year. We will not see a silent, sequestered, pestered prodigy, both shy and chilly. All of those Strasburgs are gone. Read full article > >

Excerpt from:
Stephen Strasburg, all grown up and ready to go for the Nationals

Celebrating spring – your best photos of the season’s wildlife

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In pictures: Your spring shots

Welcome to the least-controversial “Dancing With the Stars” season ever — no reality stars, no political figures. Still, producers are hoping that filling the cast with nice, easygoing people (seriously) will bring the ratings for the Season 14 premiere. Read full article > >

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‘Dancing With the Stars’: Was it really the best season premiere ever?

The Kennedy Center is placing its bets on four Tony Award-winning plays — including “ The Book of Mormon ” — in its 2012-13 season, the center announced Tuesday. Besides “Mormon,” the winner of nine Tonys, the center has booked “Anything Goes,” holder of three Tonys, and “ Million Dollar Quartet ,” awarded one Tony. The critically acclaimed “War Horse,” from the National Theatre of Great Britain with puppets from South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Co. and which nabbed five Tonys, is also in the lineup for the season. Read full article > >

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Kennedy Center plans 4 Tony Award-winning plays in 2012-13

Players on Georgetown’s men’s basketball team pointed to an unfortunate brawl on a good-will tour of China last summer for their strengthened bond and resurgence this season.

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Georgetown Says Team Unity Started With Fight in China

According to preliminary stats, Lindsay Lohan appears to have secured ”Saturday Night Live’s” second biggest audience this season, only behind…Charles Barkley. (Granted, Barkley’s hosting gig on Jan. 7 was boosted by the Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints NFL wild card playoff game, which ran long that night.) Read full article > >

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Lindsay Lohan scores second-highest ‘SNL’ ratings of the season, according to early stats

No controversial figures will populate the dance floor this season on “Dancing With the Stars, ” as Gladys Knight was easily the most surprising name announced out of the dozen new cast members on “Good Morning America” Tuesday. Read full article > >

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‘Dancing With the Stars’ cast 2012: Gladys Knight, Sherri Shepherd, Gavin DeGraw and more

Former Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra is to join Fulham until the end of the season.

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Mahamadou Diarra to join Fulham

Javier Hernandez’s 10th goal of the season helps book nervous Manchester United a last-16 Europa League tie with Athletic Bilbao.

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Man Utd 1-2 Ajax (agg: 3-2)

The eighth-ranked Maryland women’s basketball team recovered from a deflating start on Sunday against No. 5 Duke to complete a stirring comeback in the final minute for a 63-61 victory that was the Terrapins’ most satisfying this season. Read full article > >

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Maryland women vs. Duke: Hawkins leads No. 8 Terps to 63-61 win over No. 5 Blue Devils