Hey everyone, hope you take some time today to show your moms that you appreciate them for all that they've done for you.  It's hard to fathom where we'd be without those special people who do so much for us as kids, like y'know, saving your promising basketball career.  Just ask Caron Butler:

Richard Geller, 47, has been a member of the Racine Police Department for 24 years and last year he was honored with the department's award of excellence. The son of a Marine, Geller has spent practically all of his life in Racine. He considered attending law school at Western State University in California but instead chose a career in local law enforcement so that he "could give back to my community." Geller worked in the department's drug investigations unit during the mid-1990s, the most dangerous era in Racine's history, when it often had the highest per capita homicide rate in the state. "It was a time in the city's history that we're not sad to see in our rearview mirror," Racine deputy chief of police Art Howell said.

About 5 feet 10, slightly built, balding and with a salt-and-pepper mustache, Geller is far from a physically imposing man. But on that afternoon in January 1998, he had the power to play God with Butler's life.

Geller, by then the head of the department's investigations unit, had received a tip that there was drug activity in the garage of the home Butler shared with his mother and younger brother, Melvin Claybrook. He secured the search warrant and organized the raid. "To be honest, I had no idea who we'd find in the house," Geller said recently.

The identity of the person who put the crack cocaine in the garage is unclear, but Butler is adamant that it wasn't him. Geller knew of Butler's criminal past but was unaware that he was a promising athlete. He confronted Butler after finding the drugs, and Butler denied knowing anything about them. With his burgeoning basketball career possibly in jeopardy, he told Geller, "I don't need this now."

Since Butler was the only person at home during the raid, Geller could have arrested him by citing "constructive possession," which makes the person in a home liable for what is inside. If convicted, Butler could have received at least 10 years in prison, maybe more given his prior record, Geller said. "It would've been bad for me, period," Butler said.

Butler's mother arrived while the officers were deliberating what to do with him, shocked to find police in her home after a trip to get flu medicine and soup for her son. Geller recalls her pulling him aside and begging him: "I promise you, if you give Caron a chance on this, you will never look back. You will never have to worry about him."

If you've read the entire story (which is an absolute must if you haven't) you know that Geller gave Caron that chance and if you've watched any Wizards basketball for the last 3 years, you know that Caron has delivered on his mother's promise and rewarded the faith she had in him.

But as Caron's mom would probably tell you, what she did wasn't anything special.  Any mother would do the same thing for their child.  It might seem ordinary to her and other moms, but it's things just like that which make them special. That's why we're celebrating them today.

Clearly, a big win tonight.  Sadly, a lot of the focus for the next few games will be over Darius Songaila's punch/slap/whatever you want to call it.  There's a few people who think he will end up getting suspended for Game 6, but before Stu Jackson puts down his ruling, hopefully he considers the following evidence...

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An error is one thing, making the error because you've become preconditioned to expect that you'll hear something different from what you actually hear is something completely different.  Hot off the AP:

CLEVELAND -- In an April 28 story about the first-round playoff series between the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers, The Associated Press erroneously reported a comment by Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas. Discussing the chances of the Wizards overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win the series, Arenas said: "They said there are eight teams that have done it. We can be the ninth." He did not say, "We are going to be the ninth."

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's gotten to the point where they're expecting the Wizards to talk smack!

Pavlov's dogs, meet the Wizards-Cavaliers reporters.  Wizards-Cavaliers reporters, meet Pavlov's dogs...

On April 27, 2003 the Orlando Magic took a commanding 3-1 series lead thanks to Tracy McGrady's dominant play, overcoming a superior team with his outstanding individual performances.  With the clincher in reach, McGrady boldly proclaimed that the series was over.  As we all now know, that prediction kind of blew up in his face.

On April 27, 2008 the Cleveland Cavaliers took a commanding 3-1 series lead thanks to LeBron James' dominant play, overcoming a superior team with his outstanding individual performances.  With the clincher in reach, this athletic swingman consciously made the decision not to make another bold prediction that could possibly backfire on him.  After all, those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.  Right?  Right?

As you've probably heard by now, the Wizards are doing a white out for Games 3 and 4 at the Verizon Center.  In order to get you fully prepared for it, I've completed an unofficial FAQ for the proper etiquette of a white out:

Q: Do I really have to wear this T-Shirt?

A: Yeah, you do.  You see, getting everyone to wear the same color shirt is the new big thing in sports promotion, but there's always a few jerks that ruin it by not wearing the shirts.  DON'T BE THAT JERK.  If we can get every person in the VC to wear white (besides the Cavs) there's no way we can lose.

Q: What if there's a Cavs fan in attendance?

A: Spray him with shaving cream!  [Ed. note - Don't actually do that, please.  The last thing this series needs is a riot.]

Q: Is there's a specific reason they chose white?

A: Because white = awesome.  Not to mention that it sure beats using a color like yellow that's nowhere in the color scheme:

Q: But I'm wearing my authentic Caron Butler away jersey!

A: That's not a question.

Q: Um, what should I do if I'm wearing my authentic Caron Butler jersey?  Can I just wear the T-Shirt under the jersey?

A: No! Keep Caron closer to your heart by wearing it inside the T-Shirt, and let white shine on like a fluorescent light...or something like that.

Q: Should I wear white before the game too?

A: Yes!  If possible, try to coordinate as many things as possible to be white on the days of the next two games.  White shirt, white pants, white shoes, white toothbrush, and ride the white line on Metro to get to the game.

Q: Metro has a white line?

A: Nope.  It looks like you'll be taking the bus!

Q: If I wear white, will Eddie Jordan wear a white tux like Rick Pitino did?

A: One can only hope.

(Scroll down for the game thread.  It's not a long journey. -Jake)

Regardless of what happens tonight, stay tuned for the postgame.  There could be some notable quotables:

DC Sports Bog is hosting a contest to give nicknames to Dominic McGuire and Roger Mason.  The winner gets 2 tickets to the Pacers game, a Wizards wig, and the (in)famous black Dr. Phil bobblehead.  I've nothing for Roger, you'd think there'd be something you could do with a last name like Mason, but I'm coming up empty.  As for Dom, I'm not sure that anything can top Taser, but I've been shocked before.  If there is a better nickname for him, it better allude to this photo in some way, shape, or form:

• Brandon Rush, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Darrell Arthur are all projected to be mid to late first round picks, which means that they could be players that Grunfeld might be looking at with that first round pick.  I think it's unlikely that he'd go for a swingman in back-to-back years and I doubt he'd want to add another PF into an already log-jammed position, but crazier things have happened.  DCPSR has a great roundup of mock drafts and which player each mock says the Wizards should take.  Probably the player I'd be happiest with right now is Darren Collison, even though Derrick Rose more or less dominated him on Saturday.
  
• If Kansas wins tonight, Aldo's Bracket wins the Bullets Forever Pool.  If Memphis wins, I Got Nothin Here takes it.
  
• Number of NCAA Championships won by current Wizards: 0
  
• I don't know if it will affect your rooting preferences, but I think it's worth noting that Drew Gooden played at Kansas.  A win for the Jayhawks is a loss for beards everywhere.
  

As you all know, from time to time I'll post some Wizards footage on YouTube so whenever someone comments on the video I get an e-mail informing me.  Normally, I'll check out the comment just to make sure it's not a spam comment or one of those stupid chain comment things that annoy the living daylights out of me.  Most of the time it's a mundane process, but it's worth it for the times when I get rewarding comments like the one I got a couple of days ago on the Calvin Booth video:

(Yes, I'm aware it still says John Travolta at the top, it fits in with Calvin's overall persona better.)

It's not to late to make your voice heard in the eternal debate over who has the better beard.  Considering that Drew Gooden's beard has the surprisingly decided advantage, it's definitely worth your time to vote.

Only your votes (and maybe DeShawn taking up WRG's suggestion to bolster his vote by wearing some rec specs) can save DeShawn now.