Word games

Look it up: I found this sentence in a Washington Post story on Jeff Ruland, a former NBA star turned University of the District of Columbia coach. And just as he tries to teach his daughters the lessons he has learned throughout his pertinacious life, he hopes to impart those same teachings to the players on his team.

Naturally, I had to look up pertinacious. It means adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design; perversely persistent; stubbornly tenacious.

Synonyms: see obstinate.

So Ruland is persistent and tenacious. Actually, that's a perfect definition of Ruland.

Another one: In another Post story, I found this paragraph. Trust dies. The worst people, the natural-born sycophants, attach themselves to the owner.

Yes, we'll look up sycophants. It means slanderer, swindler; or a servile self-seeking flatterer.

Synonyms: see parasite.

The story's about the Redskins (now Commanders), so the term sycophants probably fits.

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