Dec. 30, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland's run to the 2002 NCAA National Championship was picked by Washington Post blogger Dan Steinberg as the top D.C. sports story of the decade in a recent article.

In addition, Steinberg selected Maryland alumnus Juan Dixon in the second spot among D.C. athletes of the decade.

In wrapping up the 2000's, Steinberg solicited fan input and also made his own picks in a number of categories. In tabbing Maryland's national title in 2002, he selected it over George Mason's Final Four, the arrival of the Washington Nationals, the return of Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs and the Capitals' recent last-to-first run.

Steinberg wrote on Dixon: "He was the most outstanding player of the Final Four, became Maryland's all-time leading scorer, was player of the year in what was then the nation's best conference, was a first team All-American and won more games than anyone in Terps history."

Dixon was selected behind only Capitals MVP Alex Ovechkin and was picked ahead of Gilbert Arenas, Clinton Portis, Jaime Moreno, Olie Kolzig, Antawn Jamison, Jeff Green, Ryan Zimmerman and Sean Taylor.