Mike Harris

HARRIS: How to fill out your NCAA bracket? Head over heart (for the most part)

In what is becoming an annual public service, The Times offers plenty of advice for winning those pools. We know they are for entertainment purposes only and no actual money changes hands. That would be illegal. Published March 17, 2014

HARRIS: Time for season of Cinderellas, shockers — and Shockers? — to begin

At its best, the NCAA men's basketball championship is a thrill ride that lasts three weeks. Even at its worst, it is an excuse to watch a lot of basketball at work. That alone makes it pretty special. Published March 12, 2014

HARRIS: Shopping season opens for Redskins, who need plenty of help

Free agency shouldn't be the primary means of building a team. "From within" is the term teams across all sports use. You draft and develop your own players and that should be the priority. But the right free agent or two added to that core group, along with a trade or two, can make the difference. Published March 10, 2014

HARRIS: Blown game leaves Caps missing the point

You simply cannot let a game like Sunday's get away when you are fighting for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, particularly when it is against one of the teams so close to you in the standings. You just can't. No way, no how, under any circumstances. Published March 3, 2014

HARRIS: Dust off the snow as Nats spring training heats up

Grapefruit League games begin Friday, and though it's best to ignore spring results, there are some things to be sorted out at Nationals camp in Viera over the next month. Published February 26, 2014

HARRIS: Caps have work to do to keep playoff streak alive

The Caps, with 63 points in their first 59 games, would not be playing for the Stanley Cup if the playoffs were starting now. What will things look like come April 13, when the regular season ends? Published February 24, 2014

Caps’ Canadian contingent cheers for country over Carlson

Some of John Carlson's teammates on the Washington Capitals have a message for him as he prepares with his U.S. Olympic teammates for Friday's semifinal matchup with Canada. Play well, pal. Have a good game. But lose. Published February 20, 2014

HARRIS: Will Alex Ovechkin sulk or soar after Olympic failure?

The agony of an entire country doesn't matter here. The only thing that matters in Washington is how Ovi reacts when the Caps resume their season Feb. 27 against the Panthers in Florida. Published February 19, 2014

HARRIS: NHL keeping players out of future Olympics would win gold for stupidity

Take this to the bank: The NHL needs the Olympics a lot more than the Olympics need the NHL. To deny its players the opportunity to play would be remarkably stupid and possibly damaging to the league. Published February 17, 2014

HARRIS: Decades later, ‘Miracle on Ice’ maintains transcendence

Every day is a good day to remember the Miracle on Ice, but particularly Thursday as Team USA begins its bid to win a medal in Sochi. Published February 12, 2014

HARRIS: USA’s Carpenter looks like another can’t-miss kid

Capitals followers of a certain age no doubt remember Bobby Carpenter, the Sports Illustrated cover boy who came to the Caps with the third overall pick in the 1981 entry draft. His daughter Alex scored twice for Team USA on Monday. Published February 10, 2014

HARRIS: As players get pricier, time for Nationals to cash in

One of the best things about the Super Bowl being over, besides the long lead time and hype involved with football's Big Game, is it means baseball season isn't far behind. Published February 5, 2014

HARRIS: NFL dynasties not what they used to be, but Seahawks built to last

Dynasty is a tough word to throw out in sports because they are a lot more rare than they used to be in the days of the old Green Bay Packers or the old Boston Celtics in basketball or New York Yankees in baseball or Edmonton Oilers in hockey. Published February 3, 2014

HARRIS: Hockey is cool, Olympic hockey is even better

Is it next Friday yet? If not, why not? After four years of waiting for the Winter Olympics, the last few days seem to be dragging along. Let's get this party started. Published January 29, 2014

U.S. Olympic athletes in Sochi trust in Putin for their security

When it comes to security at the Olympics, freestyle skier Ashley Caldwell figures it's best to let someone else do the worrying. Published January 27, 2014

HARRIS: Intensity will be Matt Williams’ calling card as Nats manager

There was a ton to like about Davey Johnson. But Williams throws off a much different vibe. There's a passion and intensity there that Williams couldn't mask on a dare. Published January 27, 2014

Nationals’ Danny Espinosa confident he can again be starting second baseman

The 2013 season is over, and that's a good thing for Danny Espinosa. Once seen as the long-term answer for the Nationals at second base, he'll report to spring training next month back in a prove-it mode. That's fine with him. Published January 26, 2014

HARRIS: As playoff hopes dim, time for Caps to get teed off

An old joke that used to make its way around these parts is not all that funny. Sadly, it's generally been pretty true. What's red, white and blue and plays golf in May? The Capitals, of course. Published January 22, 2014

HARRIS: Russell Wilson had special presence long before reaching Super Bowl

If you'd said Wilson would get to a Super Bowl before some of his young quarterbacking colleagues, you might have drawn a sneer. Yet those who knew Wilson as he wandered the halls at Collegiate School in Richmond aren't the least bit surprised. Published January 20, 2014

HARRIS: Time for NHL to cut ties with shootout gimmick

Imagine if the NBA or college basketball decided one overtime was enough. Let's just go to a free-throw shooting contest. Or if baseball said hey, after two extra innings we're going to turn this into Home Run Derby! Bogus. Gimmick. Any other synonym that comes to mind. Published January 15, 2014