In Washington, the relationship between Brendan Haywood and Eddie Jordan appeared to be shattered beyond repair following the Wizards' season-ending loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season.

After failing to get off the bench, Haywood stalked to the locker room, ripped off the nameplate above his locker and left Verizon Center without comment.

Later, according to multiple league sources, Haywood considered demanding a trade. However, such a deal never materialized as team president Ernie Grunfeld concentrated on re-signing free agents DeShawn Stevenson and Andray Blatche rather than making a drastic change to his team's roster.

Gilbert Arenas, who is one of Haywood's best friends on the team, said Haywood recently joined teammates in Washington for informal workouts following a clear-the-air meeting with Jordan and new assistant coach Randy Ayers. The meeting took place near Haywood's offseason home in North Carolina earlier this month.

"Eddie went down there to talk to Brendan because at first, Brendan was like, 'I'm not coming to' " Washington for pre-camp workouts, Arenas said. "But they talked and Brendan's been here for the last two weeks. Whatever they talked about, it brought Brendan back."

If Gilbert Arenas has his way, the baseball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th career homer will never be branded with an asterisk.

Arenas' solution? He wants to buy the ball.

Fashion designer Marc Ecko bought the ball in an online auction, then set up a Web site so people could vote to determine its fate. Ecko announced the winning choice this week: branding the ball with an asterisk before it's sent to the Hall of Fame.

"I don't think he should mess up history like that," Arenas said Friday.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has re-signed guard Roger Mason.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

?Roger is a versatile player who has worked hard on his overall game this past summer,? said Grunfeld.  ?He played with us last season and is familiar with our system.  We are glad to have him back as a member of our team.?

Last season, Mason (6-5, 212) averaged 2.7 points per game in 62 games.  He tied his career-high with 18 points and connected on a career-best four three-point field goals at New Jersey on February 27, 2007.  Mason appeared in four playoff games with the Wizards last season and averaged 6.0 points in 14 minutes per game, including a career postseason-high 10 points at Cleveland on April 25, 2007.

Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas is not among those anointing the rebuilt Boston Celtics as the team to beat in the East.

"That made them better," Arenas said. "But at the end of the day, they still have to play basketball."

Arenas' pick to win the East? The Wizards, of course.

"When we were healthy, we were the best team (last season)," he said, pointing out that the Wizards were never completely healthy most of last season.

Lithuania limited Tony Parker to 11 points and defeated three-time champion France 88-73 on Monday to remain one of two unbeaten teams at the European Basketball Championship.

Sarunas Jasikevicius had 14 points and seven assists and set up Ramunas Siskauskas and Darius Songaila for key baskets.

"They were stronger than us, that's it," said Parker, who was held 14 points below his tournament average.

Washington Wizards forward Andray Blatche, who was arrested Aug. 2 in an undercover sting, agreed today to attend a day-long seminar offered by prosecutors for men who solicit prostitutes.

Blatche appeared this morning before Judge Rafael Diaz in D.C. Superior Court. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss a sexual solicitation charge if Blatche successfully completes the Nov. 3 class. The team has a home game that night against Orlando.

Blatche was arrested early Aug. 2 in front of 10 Thomas Circle in Northwest Washington after he allegedly tried to solicit sex from a female police officer in the prostitution enforcement unit. The class he is to attend -- informally known as "John School" -- is a regular seminar offered by prosecutors, usually for first-time offenders arrested for solicitation.