The D.C. ESPNZone is closing, along with all but the Southern California outposts of the sportscentric food chain. They'll be shuttered by the end of next week.

I figured up to now that our local ESPNZone was doing fab, only because I had to stand near the entrance for a couple innings or quarters whenever I went to watch something there.

'Course, I don't remember anything I ever ate. The menu items were irrelevant, because you couldn't hear yourself eat over the clings and clangs from the game rooms or even see what you're shoving in your pie-hole through all the TV glare.

On a self-serving note: The ESPNZone failure gives the owner of Washington City Paper, which also became the parent company of Bennigan's during another bankruptcy proceeding — no, really! — a chance to do the civic-minded thing by filling the hole and installing one of its spots here.

No dish would help local folks get through these tough times quite like our own Death By Chocolate®.

One look, and I'm sure you'll agree:

Washingtonians have any number of reasons to despise him. This is the player, remember, who Wes Unseld gave up Rasheed Wallace to get here. He's also the guy who mourned our nation on the night of September 11, 2001, by partying at the TGIFriday's in Bowie with Chico DeBarge and whupping ass on a waitress from the nearby Applebee's outlet in the parking lot. No, really. (Full disclosure: Washington City Paper is currently owned by the same folks who own another rival fern bar chain, Bennigan's. No, really.)

A while back in this space I expressed awe that Strickland, what with his reputation and police record, would even be allowed anywhere on a college campus, much less on the bench of a major program, where he was hailed as a mentor to impressionable youth. But that's what John Calipari had done at both Memphis and Kentucky.

And as I pointed out in a Slate.com podcast recorded during the NCAA tournament and during my just-ended paternity leave, Rod went on to get three more DUI arrests than playoff wins as a Washington Bullet. Days after that 'cast, Rod made me look like I knew from what I spoke by getting popped again for the same ol', same 'ol. Career stats, as of 1 p.m. today: DUI Arrests 4, Playoff Wins in DC 0. (Full disclosure: The Slate.com podcast was hosted by my friend and the future of sports journalism, Josh Levin.)

At the time, Strickland was being talked up as the potential next head coach of his alma mater, DePaul University. Instead, Strickland just got booted off Calipari's bench as payback for his latest drink n' drive.

But for all his shenanigans along the way from DePaul to DeBarge, Strickland still has his supporters: John Wall, for instance. The future top Wizards pick came out during the post-draft blitz and constantly credited Strickland with making him a player worthy of a lottery pick. Strickland had likewise mentored the last two NBA rookies of the year, Derek Rose and Tyreke Evans, both from Memphis during the Calipari/Strickland era.

So, if Wall lives up to his Can't Miss Kid status after he gets here, perhaps we'll have to take away some of the demerits Strickland earned in his years as a Bullets bad boy.

But MADD and the Applebee's wait staff can't be the only ones hoping Strick ain't the one charged with counseling Wall how to act off the court. Or what music to listen to.

Seriously: Chico DeBarge?

Apparently a judge in the bankruptcy court will announce tomorrow if Creative Loafing's current owners can continue owning us and the rest of the chain, or if Atalaya, a creditor owed oodles (and a firm that also owns Bennigans), will be granted permission to take over.

Here's the money graph from Creative Loafing-Tampa Bay, the home newspaper of the group that bought us in 2007:

Atalaya wants to foreclose on its $31 million in loans given to finance CL’s 2007 expansion and purchase of Washington City Times and the Chicago Reader. That action was blocked when CL filed for bankruptcy court protection under Chapter 11 of the federal code in September 2008.

"Washington City Times"?

Again, this is from the flagship of the Creative Loafing chain.

"Washington City Times"?