Washington Wizards

Baseball Two autograph sessions with ex-Orioles next week Four players from the Orioles' 1989 "Why Not?" team - catcher Mickey Tettleton, outfielder Mike Devereaux and pitchers Dave Schmidt and Dave Johnson - will sign autographs next Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the MASN booth near Gate A on Eutaw Street at Camden Yards. Tettleton and Devereaux will throw out ceremonial first pitches. Former infielder-outfielder Dick Williams, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 2008, will be among the signers at the Orioles Alumni Autograph Series before the game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday.

WASHINGTON - It began when Washington Wizards fans wrote to an Internet fan forum questioning Juan Dixon's defense, calling him a "chucker," and suggesting the club keeps him around mostly because he's a local hero. The fan who started this now-noteworthy rant called it: "The Amazingly [starts with "S" and rhymes with plucky] Juan Dixon Thread." But it's one thing to criticize from the relative anonymity of Net postings and quite another to find out that the object of your ribbing is actually listening.

WASHINGTON -- Their constant scrapes with the law and general loutish behavior notwithstanding, the Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the NBA's biggest enigmas in recent seasons, with talent seemingly to burn, but nothing to show for it. There was nothing mysterious in the 98-79 whipping the Trail Blazers administered to the Washington Wizards last night, as Portland was dominant in nearly every facet of the game. t runM-W ning, they were able to get loose in the interior, rolling up an imM-W pressive 34-10 advantage on points scored in the paint for 3-point goals: 4-16, .250 (Stoudamire 2-6, Anderson 2-7, WalM-W lace 0-1, Wells 0-1, Patterson 0-1)

UP: Tim Duncan The mild-mannered two-time Most Valuable Player drew a one-game suspension for inadvertently knocking down an official. That's bound to do wonders for his street cred. DOWN: Jack Nies The referee in question, who should have known better than to get in the way of a pick. And giving Duncan a technical for such an obvious accident was a weasel move. UP: Denver Nuggets If the season ended right now, the Nuggets would be in the playoffs, Jeff Bzdelik would be Coach of the Year and Carmelo Anthony would be Rookie of the Year.

DENVER - Four days before what had been considered a likely comeback game, Michael Jordan returned to the Washington Wizards last night against the Denver Nuggets, coming off the bench in Washington's 107-75 rout. The Wizards activated Jordan, who had missed 12 games with a cartilage tear in his right knee, after he participated in the morning shoot-around. "He said this morning if he felt good at the shoot-around, he'd like to be activated and maybe play a few minutes." said Washington coach Doug Collins.

WASHINGTON - -Antawn Jamison's much anticipated return was put on hold, with an illness keeping him home sick while the Washington Wizards hosted the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. But the Wizards were able to welcome new arrival Earl Boykins and welcome back Mike Miller after he missed the past three games with a sprained left shoulder. But no matter what the Wizards added, they were unable to be reunited with a victory, as they lost their sixth consecutive game, 106-103, before the second sellout crowd of the season at Verizon Center.

It's always interesting when a team reaches a new, uncharted level of awfulness. And in the NBA this year, that team is the forlorn Charlotte Bobcats. Monday night, in a desultory 28-point loss to the Washington Wizards, the 7-57 Bobbies inched closer to an epic level of futility. If they lose their final two games -- at Orlando Wednesday, home the next night against the Knicks -- they'll end up with the worst winning percentage in league history. (In case you're wondering, the atrocious 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers finished 9-73 with a .110 winning percentage.)

At 19 years old and with a wealth of ability, John Wall represents the Washington Wizards' new commitment to youth and a fresh start. That made Wall and fellow Wizards draft picks Trevor Booker and Hamady Ndiaye ideal fits as speakers for the team's basketball camp for kids on Wednesday at Archbishop Spalding. Still a teenager himself, Wall was at ease passing along tidbits of advice to boys and girls ages 8-17, all of whom listened with rapt attention to the No. 1 overall pick in June's NBA draft.

WASHINGTON - The comeback road Michael Jordan traveled the past few months included back spasms, broken ribs and sore knees. In the end, nothing could deter the 38-year-old legend from his decision to return to the NBA after a three-year absence. Not even the prospect of a $35 million pay cut. In a statement he released yesterday, Jordan said he will sign a two-year contract with the Washington Wizards, the franchise he joined 20 months ago as president of basketball operations, and will donate all of this season's $1 million salary to relief efforts for victims of the Sept.

WASHINGTON - Washington Wizards forward Jerry Stackhouse has effectively ruled himself out of the final 25 games of the regular season to continue to rehabilitate his ailing right knee. Stackhouse, who missed the first 45 games of the season after having offseason surgery beneath his right kneecap, said complications from the operation have hampered his ability to play at peak efficiency. "When you jump back into a pro game and it's going full speed, it takes its toll on your whole body," said Stackhouse after yesterday's 122-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.