The Nationals arrived in D.C. last year with all of the hoopla befitting a conquering hero returning from war.  The city and its baseball-starved fans practically threw Major League Baseball a ticker-tape parade, promised to build a shiny new riverfront stadium and promptly bought the trailer serving as a temporary team store out of merchandise.

But before MLB officials could start counting their cash, the D.C. City Council had to get involved.  Soon after MLB announced the team's relocation deal, the Council was trying to backpedal on its promises.  Choruses of "Why put the stadium there?" and "What's wrong with the old RFK site?" were reaching a frenzy.  Demonstrating amazing patience and fortitude, Mayor Anthony Williams stuck to his guns, the Council agreed to the plan originally proposed - to requisition a large tract of land in an old industrial corner of Southwest - and all seemed right last Christmas.  D.C. fans celebrated the by buying more caps and t-shirts and flags and MLB set a timeline for naming a new owner.

Fast forward to this Christmas and I've got a wicked case of d