Deron Snyder

SNYDER: Hiring Barry Bonds as a hitting coach would be good for baseball

Bonds is reportedly in talks with the Marlins and new manager Don Mattingly about joining their coaching staff. Despite the steroid controversy, few players know more about succeeding at hitting than Bonds.

December 2, 2015

SNYDER: Jahlil Okafor would be wise to seek advice from Kobe Bryant

Okafor, the 76ers' top rookie, has been involved in a series of troublesome incidents as of late. There may be nobody better to speak to him about handling stardom while young than Bryant, who is in town on Tuesday.

November 30, 2015

SNYDER: With victory over Giants, Washington able to make a statement

Players and teams always insist that no single game is more important than another, but in facing the Giants on Sunday after a loss to Carolina, Washington recognized a victory was crucial to remaining in the playoff chase.

November 29, 2015

SNYDER: On Thanksgiving, sports provide many reasons to count our blessings

Sports provide a distraction from the real-life issues that can consume our daily lives. As such, many coaches and players have given us a reason to be truly thankful this year.

November 25, 2015

SNYDER: With all the rule changes, has the NFL started to become too non-violent?

It's uncertain what it would take for people to begin tuning out the NFL, but the significant number of recent rule changes, made in the name of player safety, are changing the game into something we don't recognize.

November 23, 2015

SNYDER: Touchdown celebrations are supposed to be about having fun

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's celebrations against the Titans on Sunday weren't a display of "egotism, arrogance and poor sportsmanship." In fact, they were part of his role as a paid entertainer.

November 18, 2015

SNYDER: At 4-5, Washington stands a real chance at making the playoffs

It seemed unfathomable before the season, with Washington a combined 7-25 the previous two years. Yet, after a blowout victory over New Orleans on Sunday, a 4-5 record and a mediocre division, the postseason is possible.

November 16, 2015

SNYDER: Big gains, huge strides made against porous Saints defense

New Orleans has allowed teams to catch fire at the right time, and although Washington scored 47 points and gained a season-high 514 yards, several other teams have come back to earth the week after a rout.

November 15, 2015

SNYDER: After Missouri protest, NCAA should be afraid of the power of athletes

Players on the Missouri football team weren't standing up for athletic issues but instead for society during their protest earlier this week. If they were, who knows what they would be able to accomplish.

November 11, 2015

SNYDER: Missouri pledge shows important lessons can occur in different environments

We don't know how many Missouri football players would have actually continued their boycott through Saturday's game, but their stand shows how their high-profile platform can raise awareness for a cause.

November 9, 2015

SNYDER: Nationals again show dysfunction in process of hiring Dusty Baker

Baker may turn out to be the best choice for the job, but until roster decisions are made and matchups are played, how the Nationals found their new manager will overshadow his hiring.

November 4, 2015

SNYDER: Ricardo Lockette’s injury reminds us grave danger lurks on football fields

We waited for just some sign of movement after Lockette, a Seahawks wide receiver, took a hard hit on Sunday in a game against the Cowboys. No player has died of a violent collision, but it seems to be inevitable.

November 2, 2015

SNYDER: Lenny Dykstra’s claims again call into question impartiality of umpires

Dykstra said in a radio appearance on Tuesday he hired private investigators to dig up facts about umpires' lives to use as blackmail during games. His credibility may be dubious, but it's a reminder all officials are human.

October 28, 2015

SNYDER: In Greg Hardy, Cowboys getting just what they bargained for

Hardy's sideline blow-up on Sunday, in which he went after special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia before an exchange with wide receiver Dez Bryant, is what the Cowboys deserve for signing someone with anger issues.

October 26, 2015

SNYDER: Kirk Cousins remains poised late, but the problems always linger

Cousins' propensity for backbreaking interceptions had many wondering when he would make that mistake on Sunday. He didn't, and as Washington won, such late-game drives will help define the arc of his career.

October 25, 2015

SNYDER: Rick Pitino’s claims of ignorance crazier than Louisville’s sex parties

The allegations that a self-described escort hired strippers to engage in sexual acts with prospective and current Louisville players are nothing compared to Pitino's insistence that he didn't know what was going on.

October 21, 2015

SNYDER: At some point, the NFL needs to determine what exactly constitutes a catch

The latest example of the catch-but-not-a-catch saga came to light on Sunday, when a play in the game between the Bears and the Lions was first ruled a touchback before a review turned it into a touchdown.

October 19, 2015

SNYDER: By banning Internet video clips, the NFL shows it’s easy to hate

In recent years, fans have grown accustomed to witnessing and reacting to remarkable plays via social media. The NFL took away that enjoyment earlier this week with a multitude of digital copyright claims.

October 14, 2015

SNYDER: Maryland can be good to very good with next coaching hire

It's unlikely Maryland will be able to hire a big-name coach to replace Randy Edsall, who was fired on Sunday. A more likely target would be an up-and-comer who can use the Terrapins as a springboard.

October 12, 2015

SNYDER: Only a matter of time before daily fantasy sports came under scrutiny

A mid-level manager for DraftKings, one of the leaders in daily fantasy sports, won $350,000 in a contest run by FanDuel, its main competitor, last week. Questions of impropriety are naturally being raised on Capitol Hill.

October 7, 2015