Deron Snyder

SNYDER: Adam Silver not sweating early challenges as NBA commissioner

Four months into his new job, commissioner Adam Silver has kept his cool a lot better than AT&T Center in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Neither Donald Sterling nor a faulty circuit breaker has cramped Silver's style.

June 9, 2014

SNYDER: Hate the Heat if you will, but LeBron James and Co. are worth watching

Adore them or abhor them, they're fun to watch. And we should enjoy it while we can because this could be the final act.

June 4, 2014

SNYDER: From match fixing to point shaving, outside influences remain a concern in sports

Most of us couldn't care less about undetected point shaving as long as it doesn't affect the overall outcome. Only gamblers stand to win or lose based on the point spread, over/unders, etc. However, we all lose if we can't trust the legitimacy of victory and defeat.

June 2, 2014

SNYDER: Randy Wittman has earned right to see if he can take Wizards even higher

Wittman isn't the most exciting or alluring coach. He isn't flashy or snazzy. But he eliminated the nonsense and instilled a gritty toughness, forging a team mindset that actually takes pride in defense.

May 28, 2014

SNYDER: Ray Rice could use some advice on both actions, reactions

With more of the judgment and restraint demonstrated by the rapper earlier this month, Rice could've avoided arrest in February for allegedly assaulting his then-fiancee. With more sage counsel and advice from a seasoned image manager, the Ravens could've avoided Friday's lame-brained "press conference."

May 26, 2014

SNYDER: As Jim Irsay walks free, NFL’s discipline double standard on display

An NFL owner's subjects toil long and hard to support your empire, under the threat of harsh discipline if they break the rules. But what happens when you're the king and you're arrested for intoxicated driving and four felony counts of narcotics possession? Not much.

May 21, 2014

SNYDER: Michael Sam’s dueling obligations could tear him apart

On one side is the NFL and his teammates on the St. Louis Rams, who hope the seventh-round draft pick isn't a distraction as he attempts to earn a roster spot. On the other side is an army of advocates and activists, who hope the league's first openly gay player capitalizes on his role and blazes a trail.

May 19, 2014

SNYDER: Lights come on for Wall, Gortat in Wizards’ Game 5 triumph

Losing a pair at home was disheartening and representative of the inevitable adversity a would-be contender must overcome, sooner or later. The Wizards can continue that process Thursday if they again find pleasure amid pressure.

May 14, 2014

SNYDER: Wizards’ success shouldn’t give Ernie Grunfeld free pass

Despite the excitement of making the playoffs and beating the Chicago Bulls, Washington has yet to reach championship-caliber status. Likewise, the team's architec, has yet to prove he's the right person to get the team there.

May 12, 2014

SNYDER: As NFL draft takes center stage, a TV reality check is in order

The three-day event is getting 16 hours of live coverage on ESPN; NFL Network is devoting a whopping 51 hours of live coverage. I'll figure out how the pyramids were built before I understand the draft's TV appeal.

May 7, 2014

SNYDER: No one-stipend-fits-all solution for NCAA

The disparities within college sports are numerous and enormous in Division I alone, which has 65 power-conference schools and another 218 schools in lower income brackets. The differences grow exponentially when you include Divisions II and III, the majority of 1,100 schools under the NCAA's umbrella. There's no fair way to lump them all together or treat them all the same.

May 5, 2014

SNYDER: With John Wall’s return, Wizards’ blueprint beginning to unfold

Technically, the Wizards opened their current campaign Oct. 31. with a road game at Cleveland. But for all intents and purposes, they really didn't begin until Saturday, when Atlanta visited Verizon Center.

January 13, 2013

SNYDER: RG3, Junior Seau evidence of NFL’s negligent culture

Football is a violent and dangerous game. I get that. But there has been too much misdirection in the aftermath of Robert Griffin III going down against Seattle.

January 10, 2013

SNYDER: Alabama’s excellence built to last under Saban

Nick Saban's three national titles at Alabama arguably are more impressive than Paul Bryant's six. The Bear never had to contend with scholarship limits, early entries to the NFL draft, or a conference in which football and breathing are equal in importance.

January 8, 2013

SNYDER: Russell Wilson beats RG3 at his own game

He was given short shrift entering the season, primarily due to his diminutive stature. He went on to win Seattle's starting job, but nationally played second fiddle to Robert Griffin III and third banana to Andrew Luck in this season of high-profile rookie quarterbacks. But Russell Wilson is the one who has advanced to the playoffs' next round while the other two have begun their offseason vacations.

January 6, 2013

SNYDER: Terp tested: Turgeon has team ready to take on ACC

The stream of early season cupcakes didn't leave Maryland soft and weak Saturday when the Terrapins faced Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Although opponents hadn't offered much resistance as Mark Turgeon's squad reeled off 12 consecutive wins, regular practice sessions made his team hard, strong and hungry to devour a real foe.

January 6, 2013

SNYDER: NFL teams are willing to give it that old college try

The sneers and snickers are decreasing. The contempt and ridicule are fading. Skeptics are becoming believers, and pessimists are becoming fewer.

January 3, 2013

SNYDER: You’re welcome: Free advice for Shanahan and a host of others

Examining and evaluating one's self is routine when calendars flip from one year to the next. Folks think about some desired behaviors and make a determination to achieve them during the next 12 months.

January 1, 2013

SNYDER: Alfred Morris carries Redskins into playoffs

Robert Griffin III is Washington's MVP and easily could be the NFL's Rookie of the Year. But Alfred Morris earned both distinctions for the regular season finale. On national TV with Dallas in town and a playoff berth at stake, Morris delivered a statement Sunday and made history in the process.

December 31, 2012

SNYDER: Phil Jackson hire would bring Zen to Nets

Here's where Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov can show much better instincts than the Lakers' ownership duo of Jerry and Jimmy Buss when it comes to making Phil Jackson their team's next coach.

December 30, 2012