Sunday Smorgasbord 11-12

• Word on the street is that Manny Acta will named Manger of the Nationals as early as Tuesday. It is good that Acta is familiar with the organization but I am a bit troubled that this is his first job as a manager. I know that guys need to a get a start somewhere but the Nats need in my opinion is a manager like the Caps have in Head Coach Glen Hanlon. The Nats need a manager who is good with bringing young players along into the major leagues. I see that Acta was the skipper of the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, but I would have preferred a guy with some experience as a manager in the minor leagues. But, I'm not in charge of these executive decisions.
• The Maryland football team continued their high-wire act yesterday beating Miami 14-13 at home. I would say that the Terps "big played" Miami to death by scoring on 65 and 96 yard touchdown catches by Darrius Heyward-Bey but you need just a little more than just those two plays and a one point win for me to say that. The 96 yard touchdown was the longest scoring play in Maryland's history and the longest scoring play given up in Miami's history. The win keeps Maryland in the driver's seat for the Atlantic Division title and moves them to 21 in both the AP and the Coaches poll at 8-2 (5-1 in the ACC) and 19 in the BCS rankings.
• The Redskins, however, were big played to death today as they lost in Philadelphia 27-3. But as bad as the loss is for the Redskins already dim playoff hopes (PLAYOFFS? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS?), the Skins lost Clinton Portis for at least a month to a broken hand.
• Five bowl scouts were at the Maryland-Miami game yesterday. Peach, Tangerine, Blue Field, Meineke, and Emerald bowls were in attendance. With 8 wins, the Terps are likely ending up in the Peach Bowl again, but Meineke already has Navy and wants Maryland to play them.
• The #1 ranked Terps women's basketball team dropped their 2006 National Champions banner earlier today and then thumped George Mason 99-43. And from the rich keep on getting richer file, the Terps inked the #1 recruiting class in nation earlier this week.
• And this week, the Caps are very busy and start of by paying a visit to Florida on Monday night. They then kick off a three games in four nights stretch on Wednesday at home versus Boston. The Caps then host Carolina on Friday night before heading to Boston for a return bout with the Bruins on Saturday night with all four games this week facing off at 7:05 pm. The Terps football team will be in Boston on Saturday playing Boston College at noon on ESPN. So if you're in Beantown, you'll have plenty of time to see both games. The Terps Men's basketball team heads to New York on Thursday to play St. John's in the 2k Sports College Hoops Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer in Madison Square Garden. The Terps will play again on Friday in the Garden in either the consolation game or the championship. The Redskins return to Tampa next Sunday to face the Buccaneers at 1 pm.
• As always folks, please send all comments, criticisms, questions, corrections, suggestions, and Christmas present ideas to "capsnut" over at gmail dot com.