David DuPree noticed Wes Unseld even more relaxed than usual.
DuPree, who covered Unseld’s teams for the Washington Post in the 1970s and 1980s, had gotten to know the Hall of Famer well by this point. He and Unseld had an ongoing agreement about the blurry lines of what was or wasn’t on the record. The writer showed he was trustworthy, so what he could often report would be up to his discretion. And on this occasion inside the locker room at the Capital Centre more than 40 years ago, Unseld was truly getting comfortable — sitting shirtless while smoking a cigarette and sipping a beer.
His chest was beaten up, red and bruised around his ribs. This was how the burly center tended to appear after games. It wasn’t a patented Unseld performance if his elbows weren’t as on target as his put-backs.
DuPree noticed the scene, but before he could say anything, Unseld quipped his way.
“You can write that I smoked. And you…
