New Faces In the Capital City

Usually when new faces rise to power in Washington, with the promise and potential to make dreams come true for those who support them, it’s amid a hotly contested election battle. The new stars in our nation’s capital do not divide along political lines, instead uniting the Washington under common emblems, whether it’s a fitted hat or custom jersey. They may not be here to solve our country’s crises, but they can most certainly serve as a welcome distraction. In the past month, the Washington Nationals and Washington Wizards have welcomed two of the most high profile prospects in their respective sports. Stephen Strasburg, the first selection in last year’s MLB Entry Draft, made his debut on the mound only a few weeks ago, fanning 14 on his way towards one of the most sensational debuts in baseball history. Last week’s NBA Draft saw University of Kentucky‘s freshman point guard John Wall, a number 1 overall pick in his own right, join Strasburg on the north bank of the Potomac, marking an optimistic turn of events in the city’s traditionally plagued sports history. To make his celebrated arrival official, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty proclaimed June 25 “John Wall Day,” as legions of fans and a selection of local celebrities gathered to welcome the 19-year-old phenom. Among the star-studded welcome party was the National’s flamethrower himself, who already laid out an impressive game plan on how to not only handle but exceed the hype of a highly billed prospect.It’s not just the young guns tempting the tortured Washington faithful. The Redskins also made the move this offseason to add veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb. While the former Philadelphia superstar’s name is all too familiar in the area, the former foe is now a friendly face. D.C.’s newest signal caller was also on hand for the welcome festivities, joining NHL All-star Alex Ovechkin to promote a united front across Washington’s major sports teams, if not the houses of Congress.