Washington, D.C. is Having a 'Groundhog Day' Moment

In 1993, Bill Murray experienced the same day over and over and over in the film Groundhog Day. Washington D.C. fans aren't necessarily reliving the same day but, man, it is pretty damn close. From Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog, take a look at this symmetry in misery (and some mid-May baseball silver linings):

On May 13, 2015, nearly two years to the day, the Washington Capitals lost in Game 7 to the New York Rangers 2-1 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in the first period, but that was all the Caps could muster. The Caps were home for Game 7 this year, but ran into the Penguins buzzsaw and couldn't even light the lamp, losing 2-0.

Also on May 13, 2015, the Washington Wizards were tied 2-2 in their conference semifinals series with the Atlanta Hawks. They lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds as Al Horford hit the game-winning shot with 1.9 seconds left in the game, and went on to lose Game 6, and the series, two days later. The good news, such as it is, is that last night was not a heartbreaker. The Boston Celtics steamrolled the Wizards 123-101 to take a 3-2 series lead. Just for good measure, Wizards buddy Al Horford added 19, 6, and 7 in 28 minutes for the Celtics.

The good news—again if mid-May baseball games can get you off the ledge, then they get you off the ledge, you know?—is that the Nationals are here for you, D.C. On May 13, 2015, they trailed by one run going into the ninth against the vaunted Arizona Diamondbacks and won on a walk-off grand slam. Last night wasn't quite as thunderous—though the bases were loaded—but they walked it off again with a two-run single from Matt Wieters against the Orioles, his old club.

This trip down memory lane is probably pretty painful for the folks in D.C., especially the Caps fans, because this was really the year they had to make a run since the team is likely facing offseason changes. But alas, nine times to the playoffs, never even to the conference finals. As for the Wizards, come on, you guys aren't going anywhere, anyway. Pray that the Celtics run you off your home court in Game 6 and thank them for taking the LeBron James bullet while you get your vacation started.

In 1993, Bill Murray experienced the same day over and over and over in the film Groundhog Day. Washington D.C. fans aren't necessarily reliving the same day but, man, it is pretty damn close. From Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog, take a look at this symmetry in misery (and some mid-May baseball silver linings):

On May 13, 2015, nearly two years to the day, the Washington Capitals lost in Game 7 to the New York Rangers 2-1 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in the first period, but that was all the Caps could muster. The Caps were home for Game 7 this year, but ran into the Penguins buzzsaw and couldn't even light the lamp, losing 2-0.

Also on May 13, 2015, the Washington Wizards were tied 2-2 in their conference semifinals series with the Atlanta Hawks. They lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds as Al Horford hit the game-winning shot with 1.9 seconds left in the game, and went on to lose Game 6, and the series, two days later. The good news, such as it is, is that last night was not a heartbreaker. The Boston Celtics steamrolled the Wizards 123-101 to take a 3-2 series lead. Just for good measure, Wizards buddy Al Horford added 19, 6, and 7 in 28 minutes for the Celtics.

The good news—again if mid-May baseball games can get you off the ledge, then they get you off the ledge, you know?—is that the Nationals are here for you, D.C. On May 13, 2015, they trailed by one run going into the ninth against the vaunted Arizona Diamondbacks and won on a walk-off grand slam. Last night wasn't quite as thunderous—though the bases were loaded—but they walked it off again with a two-run single from Matt Wieters against the Orioles, his old club.

This trip down memory lane is probably pretty painful for the folks in D.C., especially the Caps fans, because this was really the year they had to make a run since the team is likely facing offseason changes. But alas, nine times to the playoffs, never even to the conference finals. As for the Wizards, come on, you guys aren't going anywhere, anyway. Pray that the Celtics run you off your home court in Game 6 and thank them for taking the LeBron James bullet while you get your vacation started.

And so on and so on and so on…