How cool is this?

I get to play in the Globetrotters game on Saturday at the Verizon Center. The only thing is I am playing against the Globetrotters, meaning that I will get clowned on, dunked on, and crossed-over on, for the Washington Generals.

If you Google the Globetrotters, you will find their Web site, which tells you all about their players with names like "Big Easy," "Buckets," "Handles," and "Flight Time."

If you Google the Washington Generals, you will find a site about a non-profit business organization.

There is actually a Wikipedia page that has some info on the Generals, who have lost more than 13,000 games to the Globetrotters.

Perfect. No pressure to perform, and anything I can add to the Generals -- which isn't likely to be much -- is a bonus.

Hopefully we can pull off the upset. If you don't have anything to do on Saturday, game time is 1 p.m. at Verizon Center.

I was standing outside the clubhouse at spring training when I ran into one of the friendliest players I've met this season.

Keep an eye out for Garrett Mock. He's a pitcher who was acquired by the Nationals along with fellow pitcher Matt Chico for Livan Hernandez in the trade two years back. He's been in the Nats' system, but nursed some injuries and finally feels like this is his season to make a good impression.

What caught my attention was the camouflage hat and hunting shirt he was wearing and the belt buckle that read "Texas." But he struck up a conversation about how unbelievable it is just to be at spring training -- that the food they have is amazing and that the way the Nats organization treats them is like gold.

It was refreshing to hear him talk that way in a clubhouse with a lot of guys who are definitely appreciative, but don't quite have the wonderment attitude any longer. I read that he was the first person to go up to Elijah Dukes, the Nats new outfielder, in person and introduce himself, welcoming him to the club -- classy.

Another pitcher who left an impact was John Lannan. Last season, he got the unexpected chance to come up here with the Nats from the minors with a handful of games, and he made the most of it. Because of that, he is looking at a chance to earn one of the five starting spots.



I had my camera in hand when I saw John, and he knew it was the same one he has so he showed me how to do a cool effect on the camera with color. He told me that at the end of last season, he went to Spain and traveled across Europe a bit to clear his mind. I think that's awesome.

He also let me take a picture of the shirt he bought when he was over there that he happened to be wearing ... in English, it means, "Where is .... my beer, my tapas, my ham?"



I'm also attaching a picture of my photographer, Jimmy Mathis. Jimmy's wife, Christy, knows that he is possibly the most patient man in the world, and on this trip he was great ... even when we were accidentally locked out of our edit room with minutes to spare, Jimmy remained cool, calm and collected and really worked his butt off to make sure things were right.

He is my NASCAR buddy and, now, a spring training guru ...

-- Lindsay

I'm sitting in the airport waiting to board my flight home, and I have a bunch of pictures to post from spring training, so if I don't get to it on this flight, I'll do it this afternoon.

First, a recap of yesterday's business...

It was the first day position players were required to report. They didn't actually have to show up, but just check in. However, a bunch of players like Ronnie Belliard and Willy Mo Pena did make an appearance on the practice field and took some swings yesterday.

It was hilarious because the day before, I was in the clubhouse waiting for interviews and I saw Belliard walk in -- he had his shades on and was wearing a white tank top with his big duffel bag slung over his shoulder. As soon as he saw a couple teammates sitting at a table, he bursted into loud conversation, slapping hands with them and giving hugs. It was really like the movie "Major League." That's how it was on the field yesterday, too -- players obviously were so excited to see one another after months away.

Some other interesting things about the clubhouse: The back of it is stocked with a bigger variety of food than a Safeway. They have a spread of individual cereals, breakfast bars, bagels, peanut butter, yogurt, fruit, Pop Tarts, chocolate milk, regular milk and, of course, whatever catered main lunch course arrives that day like Boston Market.

The first time in the morning that we are allowed in the clubhouse is right around the time the players are fixing themselves breakfast and we, the media, of course keep our paws off. However, I did accept a sample from pitching coach Randy St. Claire, who was carrying around a bag of homemade deer jerky. It was fabulous ... Seriously, I love that stuff, and I've had beef jerky and turkey jerky, but never deer jerky, and certainly not homemade. He uses a special concoction that includes liquid smoke and, let me tell you, he should sell that stuff.

Anyway, the Major League clubhouse is a bit different than an NFL locker room in that they have a lot more downtime in there, and so it's common to see the players snacking on a bagel while reading the USA Today sports section or doing a crossword puzzle or something before they take the field.

The big story yesterday was the Nationals announced a surprise press conference at 3p.m. to introduce us to new outfielder Elijah Dukes, who was traded to the Nats from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this off-season.

Dukes has a history of off-the-field problems -- serious issues that the Nationals know they will have to help him overcome if he has a chance to succeed in DC. He brought along his 3-year-old son to the presser, and I felt Dukes was genuine. He said the biggest change he had made to help himself was learning to rely on others for support. It seems the Nationals are doing everything possible, including having him under constant supervision, to make sure he doesn't stray.

I'm looking forward to talking with him again and following his progress... Oh man, I'm boarding and I have to go so, I'll send pictures later...

Thank goodness for a window seat!
L

Day three at spring training -- I'm about to run out to the practice field so I just have a minute, but Manny Acta, again, held court this morning at his daily press conference.

A lot of talk was about outfielder Lastings Milledge, who will arrive today along with the position players. Milledge has had issues off the field but worked with Manny in the Mets organization. It was interesting to hear Manny talk about how people shouldn't judge and how he feels he will be able to have success here in the Nationals system. I know players plan to make sure that he has the support he needs to stay on track.

Also, just walked outside to see the space shuttle Atlantis land. It landed at 9:07 a.m., so as the players were walking to the fields, Nick Johnson and some other guys stopped by photographer Jimmy Mathis, who was desperately trying to find the shuttle in the sky :) ... We definitely heard the loud boom when the shuttle broke the sound barrier coming into the atmosphere (apparently, it shook the glass up here in the press box so loud that one of the writers ended up under a table), but we didn't actually see it.

Anyway, I have to go outside now to grab some interviews ... will write more later.

-- Lindsay

So it's Day 2 here at Space Coast Stadium –- as expected, clear skies, but a touch cooler out. Even the players were wearing long-sleeved warm-ups.

I actually had to make a Wal-Mart purchase and buy a fleece because I definitely did not show up prepared for my liveshots. However, great selection if you're in the market.

Again, it was pitchers and catchers reporting today with some of the position players, like Ryan Zimmerman and Dmitri Young, who have come in to get a head start on things.

The biggest competition will be at first base, between Young and Nick Johnson, who is returning after missing all of last season because he suffered a broken leg in 2006 and saw setbacks in his rehab.

Johnson looks strong and ready to fight for his position. He has been watched like a hawk, and today he shared a funny story with me. When he was rehabbing and basically learning how to walk again, it was the same time that his 2-year-old daughter, Brianna, was learning to walk, and she began mimicking her dad and dragging her left leg with a limp.

Also, today, I caught up with Young, who told me that he went to a salon to have his nails painted black -- manicure and pedicure. He did it just to mix things up. He is one player that has reported looking ready to compete to hold his starting spot. When asked today if he would take a backseat to Nick if Nick wins out and is completely healthy, he said “We’ll have to see about that.”

It's gonna be interesting.

I have to run and do my liveshots ... will write more later.

-- Lindsay