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Column: Fans starting to believe in the Wizards magic

By Rob Woodfork

WASHINGTON – I’m about to share with you a sentence I never thought I’d type: The Wizards are far and away the best team in Washington.

I’m assuming you just spit coffee all over your monitor, so I’ll give you a minute to clean that up.

You read it right, my friend. Yes, this is a Redskins town. Yes, the Capitals have had more recent success (if you want to call underachieving in the playoffs “success”). Even DC United has more championship hardware than Les Boulez.

But right now, the Wizards are in the midst of a playoff run that has the potential to be a long one. Already up two-games-to-none in their best-of-seven, first round series with the Chicago Bulls, I dare say the Wiz are actually living up to the hype.

And yes, there is hype surrounding this Wizards squad. Leading up to Game 1 Sunday, Bill Simmons of ESPN predicted the Wiz to make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. That same day, TNT’s Charles Barkley said the backcourt tandem of John Wall and Bradley Beal will be the league’s best within three to five years. Just Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Tim Legler called his former team fun to watch with “no weaknesses.”

Wait…did you just spit coffee on your computer screen again?

The love for D.C.’s long-suffering basketball team is understandable. The Wizards would probably have been at least the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference had it not been for injuries. Nene, the MVP of the first two games of this series, is back healthy. And the Wiz have a deep veteran bench that figures to serve them well if they move on to Indiana for Round 2.

Speaking of whom, the top-seeded Pacers have been in free-fall mode for much of the second half of the season and are far from a lock to beat Atlanta. So who’s to say Simmons isn’t right about his prediction of a Wizards-Heat faceoff to decide who represents the East in the NBA Finals?

Still room on the bandwagon

The first two games of the Bulls series are certainly filling up the bandwagon. Beal carried the scoring load in Game 2 with 26 points, Wall has had a high level of impact despite still trying to find his shot in the postseason, and Nene has gotten the better of his matchup with Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah. Marcin Gortat has been a double-double machine all season long. And heaven only knows where this team would be without Trevor Ariza’s defense and timely three-point shooting.

I’ve watched this team for more than 20 years, and it just feels like something’s different about this team — and not just because they’re up 2-0 in a series for the first time since 1982. As you look at this roster, it doesn’t resemble the Chris Webber/Juwan Howard Bullets. There’s no Agent Zero here. What we have is a gritty team that wins by any means necessary. They’ve hung more than 100 points on that Bulls defense in Chicago not once, but twice. To me, that’s proof they’re resourceful enough to make a run.

Games like the ones in Chicago instill confidence in a Wizards fanbase far too punch drunk to believe what they’re seeing just yet. That’s why I expect a raucous crowd at Verizon Center this weekend for Games 3 and 4. Just imagine how lively Fun Street will get if the Wiz complete the sweep on Sunday.

I don’t remember when the Bullets won the NBA title in 1978 (most likely because I wasn’t born yet). But I do know this: They went 44-38 in the regular season and knocked off the top-seeded Sixers, who won the East the year before.

This year, the Wiz are also 44-38 and split the regular season series with the two-time defending champion the Miami Heat.

Do you believe in magic? I know I’m starting to.

And the Wizards might finally know a few spells.

Follow @WTOPSports and @WTOP on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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