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Dick Heller

Dick Heller

Articles by Dick Heller

Boxing writer and historian Bert Sugar, known for his fedora and cigar, died March 25, 2012, from cardiac arrest and lung cancer. He was 75. (Associated Press)

HELLER: Easy to see Bert Sugar’s love of the Sweet Science

Some years ago, Kids in Trouble, the District-based charitable organization founded by sportscaster Harold Bell, presented Lifetime Achievement trophies to boxing writer Bert Randolph Sugar and yours truly. I don't remember what I said at the awards dinner and neither does anyone else, because Sugar stole the show. As usual.

March 27, 2012

HELLER: Death to the DH would be a dream come true

The designated hitter is an abomination foisted on us by a desperate American League in 1973. Nearly four decades later, its tentacles choke traditional baseball at nearly every level from Little League to the minors.

February 13, 2012

HELLER: TV viewing if you punt Super Bowl

So you've had it right up to there with Super Bowl XLVI, and you need something else to do Sunday evening. It'll likely be too cold and dark to venture outside, but here comes cable TV rushing to the rescue with a plethora of choices that almost justify the expense — especially if you like football but don't care to watch Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin scowling for three-plus hours.

February 1, 2012
Navy midshipmen and Army cadets had different reactions to a touchdown Navy scored Saturday during the first quarter. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

HELLER: A great rivalry that lacks competitive balance

Army finally showed up in body as well as in spirit for Saturday's annual extravaganza against Navy, and the Black Knights' 27-21 defeat at FedEx Field could have been considered a moral victory after nine consecutive double-digit losses in the series. But we all know what moral victories are worth, so football remains a nasty word on the Plain of West Point. Or should be anyway.

December 11, 2011
Navy Midshipmen fullback Alexander Teich had 883 yards rushing and four touchdowns last season. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

HELLER: Army-Navy clash would be even better if teams kept up with the times

There's nothing in sports quite like an Army-Navy football game. The color and pageantry, emotion and ebullience, are marvelous to behold. And when the nation's two highest elected officials are in attendance, as President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were Saturday at FedEx Field, we are reminded anew just how important and unique is this 111-year-old sporting spectacle. The problem, you see, is that they insist on playing a 1925 football game as part of it.

December 10, 2011

HELLER: Terps’ once-great track program on last legs

The University of Maryland's decision to eliminate eight of 27 varsity sports hurts the athletes involved more than anybody else. But because three of the teams affected are indoor and outdoor track and cross country, I keep expecting to hear Jim Kehoe roar from somewhere in the great beyond.

November 29, 2011
Cal Ripken Jr. speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Ripken Jr. took a message of hope and perseverance to Japanese children effected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Hall of Fame infielder, who earned the nickname "Iron Man" for playing in 2,632 consecutive games during his 21-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, put on a baseball clinic in Ofunato, Japan, as part of nine-day mission as a sports diplomat on behalf of the U.S. State Department. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

HELLER: Sporting News strikes out by omitting Ripken streak

During much of the 20th century, The Sporting News called itself the "Bible of Baseball" with good reason. Based in St. Louis and issued weekly, the venerable publication was the only place where fans could get stories and stats on all major and minor league teams ad infinitum.

November 27, 2011