Sports Beat column - March 31, 2006

Sports Beat
March 31, 2006

McCaffrey's World by Bill McCaffrey

The NCAA basketball men and women â¤¦Final Fourâ¤? and my picks are Florida in Menâ¤s and Maryland in the womenâ¤s. The playoffs have been exciting with plenty of upsets. Iâ¤d love to see George Mason win the menâ¤s but I think their â¤¦Cinderellaâ¤? season will end early.

Brenda Frese has done a â¤¦Super Jobâ¤? with the Lady Terps and I think she is creating a dynasty at College Park.

Also I have to recognize the â¤¦Superâ¤? seasons that in the menâ¤s JUCO Cecil College, PGCC, Allegany, Frederick, and Rockville had and PGCC, Anne Arundel and Garrett had in the womenâ¤s division. Coaches Bill Lewitt and Barvemia Wooten-Collier did especially good jobs.

John Mappas will return this coming season to coach the menâ¤s basketball team at Chesapeake College.

Baseball season opens next week and hereâ¤s what I think â¤³ both Baltimore and Washington will have better seasons than most people are predicting but unfortunately the Nationals and Orioles are in tough divisions in fact Tampa Bay could pass the Orioles in their division.

Hereâ¤s how I look at both the National and American Leagues:

NATIONAL             EAST                             CENTRAL                                    WEST
1. NY Mets                                         1. St. L. Cardinals                                1. S.D. Padres
2. Philadelphia Phillies                           2. Chicago Cubs                                   2. L.A. Dodgers
3. Atlanta Braves                                 3. Milwaukee Brewers                         3. S.F. Giants 4. Washington Nationals
4. Pittsburgh Pirates                             4. Arz. Diamondbacks 5. Florida Marlins
5. Houston Astros                                5. Colorado Rockies
6. Cinn. Reds

AMERICAN             EAST                         CENTRAL                                    WEST
1. NY Yankees                                                1. Cleveland Indians                             1. Oakland Aâ¤s
2. Toronto Blue Jays                             2. Chicago White Sox                           2. LA Angels 3. Boston Red Sox                                3. Detroit Tigers                                   3. Texas Rangers
4. TB Devil Rays                                 4. Minnesota Twins                              4. Seattle Mariners
5. ORIOLES                                        5. KC Royals

BOXING NEWS

Jake Smithâ¤s Baltimore Pro Boxing put on another top show at the Pikesville Armory but several local favorites lost before a packed house. Jed Phipps was TKOâ¤ed in the first round by Andrew Greeley dropping his record to 17-4.

Jesse Nicklow ran his record to 3-0 winning a unanimous decision over Larry Brothers.

In other bouts on the card Adam Bloom TKOâ¤ed Ryan Shay in the second round. Henry Mayes KOâ¤ed Nick Collins in the second round. Matt Hill took a four round decision over Marquis McConnell.

Jack Smith has a â¤¦pro-amâ¤? show at the Pikesville Armory on April 21st.

Ballroom Boxing returns to Michaelâ¤s 8th Avenue on May 4th.

Lamont â¤¦Beyâ¤? Pearson will headline Gene Molovinskyâ¤s Keystone Boxing show at Marlow Heights Crystal Roller Skating Rink on May 13th.

Coming up on April 14th the Regional Golden Glove Championship will be held at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. Veteran boxing coach, director Jim Evans will be honored that night. Evans has been involved in boxing for many years and is a retired Verizon supervisor.

From Bruce Adams,

HELP SEND A FIELDS OF DREAMS KID TO A NATS GAME

[Note: please email this appeal to others you think will want to help. Thanks!]
Last Spring, I sent out an appeal via the Big Train email asking people to send money to let me put kids from Washington's poorest neighborhoods in some great seats behind the Nationals' dugout. It was a genuine success. Big Train fans and others donated $10,000. Now, I'm asking you to do it again. Opening day is April 11, and I have only raised $3,400 of the $10,000 I need to fund this program. Each ticket in Section 218 costs $45. Because the kids and their coaches don't have much extra cash, I send $10 in cash with each child to help with transportation, food, and drink.

Your contribution of $55 will send a young Dreamer to RFK for a game. $110 sends a kid with his or her coach. For $440, you will send 6 Dreamers, their coach, and their teacher to a game. For $1,320, you will send an entire Fields of Dreams elementary school team to RFK (note: each of the seven schools gets 8 tickets to each of three games over the course of the Nationals 2006 season).

Please make your check payable to "Fields of Dreams/A Greater Washington" and mail it to me: Bruce Adams, 7211 Exeter Road, Bethesda, MD 20814. A Greater Washington, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit tax exempt organization, provides program support for Fields of Dreams and serves as the programâ¤s fiscal agent. The organizationâ¤s federal tax identification number is 52-2108599.

Fields of Dreams is a Spring & Fall after-school program and Summer Camp serving 150 children in six DCPS elementary schools and one middle school. This effort grew out of the Bethesda Big Train's program to improve fields for kids. Fields of Dreams is designed on the belief that there is great value in combining academic, athletic, nutrition, and citizenship values in a way that connects and reinforces the four while building the self-esteem of children. In addition to baseball, our Dreamers study the values that guided the life of Jackie Robinson. As George Solomon described it in The Washington Post: â¤¦It all looked right: Kids competing in a league that incorporates academics and baseball, playing on once-abandoned dust patches converted into neat little ballfields.â¤? The children in our program come from the least affluent neighborhoods in the City. They need so much, and in their lives they have been given so little.

My friend Rob Rubin of Ledo Pizza recently nominated me for a Volvo for Life Hero Award. Here's what Volvo had to say about Fields of Dreams: Neglected neighborhoods and failing schools mar our nationâ¤s capital. To address this tragedy, Bruce Adams has created a number of initiatives, including a baseball and literacy program in seven of the districtâ¤s poorest schools. By reviving urban playing fields and providing programs for young children of the blighted inner city, Bruce Adams has transformed young lives for the better. Bruce calls this outreach program, Fields of Dreams Fields of Dreams has brought new life to neglected neighborhoods, reviving fields once reduced to weeds and trash-filled eyesores. Bruce works directly with the Washington DC Parks & Recreation Department to maintain the fields. But the real power of the program concerns its greatest resources: inner city youth. To date, Fields of Dreams has provided 1,000 disadvantaged student members (â¤¦Dreamersâ¤?) with the support of caring adults in safe and inspiring environments. Designed to combine academic, athletic, nutritional, as well as citizenship values, Fields of Dreams connects and reinforces these four elements while building the self-esteem of the children. At each of the designated elementary schools, the program serves twenty boys and girls with a DCPS teacher and a baseball coach working as a team, both in the classroom and on the field. The academic enrichment component focuses on the nine values that guided the life of baseball legend and pioneer, Jackie Robinson, about which his daughter, Sharon, discusses in her book: Jackieâ¤s Nine. Fields of Dreams also provides each young Dreamer with first-rate equipment and a pro-style uniform.

Every summer, the program hosts a seven-week day camp. Combining three hours of baseball with two free meals and three hours of academic enrichment (to address the issue of summer learning loss), the camp helps instill positive attitudes by addressing a childâ¤s nutritional as well as educational needs. With the support of the Districtâ¤s Department of Parks & Recreation, teams of Dreamers from five schools currently attend the camp at Kimball ES/Jackie Robinson Field/RBI Field.

As a college student, Bruce Adams studied under the noted historian Eric Goldman, who specialized in the history of the turn-of-the-century Reform Movement. Goldmanâ¤s book, Rendezvous With Destiny, and course changed the course of Bruceâ¤s life. He has since served in public office, devoted time to causes, and strived to bring to life his professorâ¤s teachings. For the past thirty-five years, Bruce Adams has worked round-the-clock for positive change and the good of his community. He operates four non-profits: Fields of Dreams; The Bethesda Big Train; Lazarus Leadership Fellows; and A Greater Washington, promoting youth leadership, community building, and helping the disadvantaged help themselves. In all that he does, Bruce Adams keeps the flame of social conscience alive -- while passing the torch to a new generation.

AND THE WINNER IS....

Last week, we announced a contest to rename the World Series. We received 36 entries. The finalists were: Diamond Series (Jeff Stuart), USA Series (Giana Jowers), Baseball Championship of North America (Clifford Bayuk), Grand Slam (Aleta Sindelar), Landis Cup (after Commissioner Landis, get it?) (Alan Freeman), Fall Classic (Chris Clark), and North American Baseball Series (Stewart Sutton). AND THE GRAND WINNER IS LINDA GATES WHO SUGGESTED THE BASE BOWL! All entries will be sent to Commissioner Bud Selig. Thanks to all of the contestants, and congratulations to Linda who will receive a 2006 Big Train Family Season Pass. By the way, it is time for your family to buy a season pass for just $100. Please click here and support Big Train baseball: http://www.bigtrain.org/published/seasonpassform.html

BIG TRAIN SELECT PLAYER CAMPS AT CJ #2 & POVICH

Select player games on Cabin John Regional Park Field # 2 and Povich Field with instruction and individual written evaluations from the Bethesda Big Train coaches. June 19-23 for ages 9-11. June 26-30 for ages 11-12. July 5-7 at Povich Field for ages 12-14. Team discount if a group of 5 or more sign-up together. Each session is limited to the first 30 to sign-up. Call 301/983-1006 to request a brochure or register at www.bigtrain.org.

TIME TO SIGN-UP FOR POVICH PICNIC

The Orioles Bird agreed this week to visit Povich Field Saturday July 8 and Louie from the Baysox will be coming Friday June 30. Opening night of the Cal Senior League is Friday June 9. Our exhibition game with the Maryland Patriots is Saturday June 3. These will all be very popular nights at our Davis Family Picnic Pavilion. Sign-up now for your end of season team party or birthday party: http://www.bigtrain.org/published/kids/picnic.html And here's the schedule: http://www.bigtrain.org/published/2006/schedule_2006.html

JIMERSON & LIVINGSTON HEADED BACK TO TRIPLE

A Reassigned of Charlton Jimerson to the Minor Leagues March 25.

Bobby Livingston was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma on March 21.

BASEBALL AMERICA'S MONDAY COLLEGE BASEBALL CHAT
If you are really into college baseball at the highest level, you will want to see Will Kimmey's Baseball America Monday Chat wrap: http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/060327kimmey.html
Langhorne Selected to AP All-American Women's Basketball Team
Willingboro, N.J. earns a spot on the second team.
Maryland's Crystal Langhorne was named Associated Press second team All-American, which was recently announced. Langhorne has helped the Maryland women's basketball team reach the Final Four for the first time since 1989.

A sophomore, Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) is recording another record season, recently earning Albuquerque Region Most Outstanding Player honors after the Terps won their Elite Eight matchup against #18/19 Utah, 76-65, in overtime on Monday. The only player in school history to start over 30 games in a season, she is only the second player in school history to have back-to-back 500-point seasons. She became the fastest player in school history to reach 1,000 points and is only the 14th Terrapin to score 1,000 points and collect 500 rebounds.

Langhorne was named to the All-ACC team for the second-straight year, garnering a spot on the first team. She is a two-time first team All-ACC Tournament honoree and was named ACC Player of the Week twice this season. The nation's top shooter with a 66.5 shooting percentage, she averaging 17.2 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game, both ranked in the top three in the ACC.

Langhorne is just the fifth player in school history to garner All-American honors and is the first selected by the AP. Vicky Bullett (1989), Jasmina Perazic (1983) and Deanna Tate (1989) were Kodak All-Americans, while Debbie Lytle (1982) was an AWSI All-American honoree.

The third-ranked Terps are headed to the Final Four in Boston and take on top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Maryland, who is 32-4, is the only team this season to defeat the Tar Heels. The game airs live on ESPN.
Women's Basketball Final Four Special to Air on Comcast SportsNet
Under the Shell: Back to Boston will run Friday through Sunday. Maryland Women's Basketball will be the subject of a 30-minute special on Comcast SportsNet that chronicles the Terps' journey through the 2006 NCAA Tournament to the Final Four in Boston. The special is hosted by Comcast anchor Kelli Johnson and will air Friday through Sunday leading up to the Terps' national semifinal matchup with North Carolina on Sunday evening.

Air Times for Under the Shell: Back to Boston
Friday, March, 31 at 6:00 pm and 12:00 am
Saturday, April 1 at 11:30 am and 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 2 at 12:00 pm and 4:30 pm

The special includes: highlights of Maryland's victory over defending national champion Baylor in the Sweet 16; the Terps' overtime win over fifth-seeded Utah in the regional final; and Maryland's early season visit to the TD Northbank Garden during a road trip to play Boston College. Kelli Johnson also sits down with Head Coach Brenda Frese to look back at the Terps' thrilling regular-season, overtime defeat of the Tar Heels and to look ahead to Sunday's semifinal showdown.

Under the Shell is the Maryland Women's Basketball program's curring-edge, reality-based television series. Now in its second season, the show is available to viewers nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV), regionally on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) and world-wide on umterps.com via the Under the Shell webpage.

Fans are invited to view all 13-episodes from Season 2 (the 2005-06 basketball season) on the Under the Shell webpage webpage, as well as numerous, additional video features.

ANACOSTIA HIGH SCHOOL
2006 POW WOW NEWS
6TH ANNUAL
40th & 50th LUNCHEON
THURSDAY, MAY 18TH, 2006
11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Colony South Hotel
(Rte. 5 Branch Ave. & Surratts Rd. )
7401 Surratts Road Clinton, MD. 301-856-4500
Direction: Via the Beltway exit at Branch Avenue and go South Approximately 5 miles

Buffet Served at 12:00 Noon Cash Bar.
Menu: Salad w/choice of dressing, fruit, baked chicken, roast beef, dessert, coffee and tea.
Your Special Price: $27.00 Per Person
First 300 people will be attending only! Payment must be made by May 7th. Pre-pay only!! Payment at the door is not acceptable. Cancellations with monies returned no later than May 12th, 2006.

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: BETTY JANE BREWER
INCLUDE YOUR YEAR!
Mail to: Mrs. Betty Jane Brewer
POB 246, Edgewater, MD. 21037-0246
410-956-3246
Questions to: Fred Plummer
2pepelepew@comcast.net, or 410-956-6963

PASS THIS AROUND OR CALL: ALL YOUR (AHS) CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS, TODAY!!!!!
DO YOU REMEMBER: THE ANACOSTIA HIGH SCHOOL SONG.

So sing with exultation And when the band is Loudly and clear playing Classmates and comrades Join everyone Come from far and near, For Anacostia still leads us on rah! rah!

Come to this Luncheon and learn about the Multi Class reunion in planning to take place in 2007

FOOTBALL INCLUDES SUPRISING TRANSFORMATIONS: DC DIVAS PHOTO SHOOT

Wearing shoulder pads, a helmet, and lipstick is not a strange occurrence for one football team. This afternoon the DC Divas gathered at the Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Complex to be photographed.

All of the players arrived dressed in professional or business causal attire. Each player took several head shoots to capture their off the field style. The first-year players took a second set of photos in a Divas jersey. Many of the players marveled at their teammates transitions from gridiron maidens to polished and sophisticated women. "We really have an attractive team," said Allyson Hamlin, the Divas Quarterback. "There isn't a better looking team in the league." Hamlin was also one of several players photographed with a family member. She was pictured with her father Paul Hamlin, the Divas Owner.

In the spring of 2001, the D.C. Divas began its women's tackle football debut as a team in the National Women's Football Association (NWFA). The D.C. Divas players are women from all types of professions (doctors, lawyers, police officers, teachers, engineers, mechanics, etc.) with various athletic backgrounds (rugby players, flag football players, divers, swimmers, runners, volleyball players, etc.).

DAVE COLLINS & DON CLARKE PRESENTS
TUCKER'S COMEDY/KAROKE CAFE
9205 Marlboro Pike Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 301-599-6060
LIVE IN PERSON
CHRIS THOMAS            TONY WOODS
â¤¦The Tom Joyner Sky Showâ¤?         â¤¦Comedy Centralâ¤?
Music by DJ MELLO-T March 31 â¤³ April 2, 2006 SHOW TIMES:
FRIDAY â¤³ 9:00 PM
SATURDAY - 8:00/10:30 PM
SUNDAY-   8:00 PM
(RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED)
TuckersComedy@aol.com or call 301-599-6060
Doors open 1/2 hour before show Casual Attire
Directions: From I:495 Take Exit 11A â¤
PENNSYLVANIA AVE, RT 4 SOUTH
Go thru 2 traffic lights, then get in the right lane
and bear right onto OLD MARLBORO PIKE.
Follow Old Marlboro Pike thru the next traffic light (Dowerhouse Road)
and Tuckers is just ahead on the right.

WE GET LETTERS.

Hello D.C. Divas Friends & Fans! The D.C. Divas want you to join our Superbowl season. Divas VIP and regular season tickets are now on sale! Don't miss out on a tremendous value and special promotions that are only available to our season ticket holders. If you have any questions regarding group or individual season tickets, contact Rich Daniel at 240-676-5090. Our season opener is just one month away against our arch rival the Baltimore Burn. Be part of a huge networking tailgate night that is designed to grow your business before you watch the Divas begin their undefeated season. More information about the tailgate night will be coming soon. All home games will be played at the Prince George's Sports and Learning complex. Kickoff is at 7:00pm and the gates will open at 5:30pm. Come early and enjoy tailgating and a multitude of game day activities for families and children. The Divas off-season workouts at Velocity Sports in Alexandria have been a huge success. For a 2 month period in January and February the Divas had a classroom period at Tesst College, followed by vigorous workouts at Velocity. The Divas are in the best shape they have ever been in and we want to thank Stuart Van Houten and his outstanding staff for their efforts. For more information on the newest Diva players and our returning veterans, visit http://www.dcdivas.com/. The Divas wish to welcome some tremendous sponsors to our growing family. Hook and Ladder Brewing Company is now our official beer and Trendz Rejuvenation Spa is now the official spa. The Divas continue to make appearances throughout the area. A sponsor night was hosted in the Verizon Center by General Manager Rich Daniel and new director of business initiatives, Nat Alston. The evening featured a Wizards game-business building and a special appearance by 7'7" Gheorghe Muresan. The Divas wish to thank Herbert Wilson and the folks at Capitol Television for their help with this great event. Linebacker Ivy Tillman led a group of Divas recently on a two day appearance and speaking engagement at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va. The students were extremely impressed with our representatives and have pledged a class trip to the home opener. The South Lakes ROTC and band will also be making appearances at the April 22nd home opener vs. Baltimore. The Maryland Nighthawks ABA basketball team honored the Divas at their last regular season home game. The event featured a free throw shooting contest that raised several hundred dollars for the Leukemia society. Divas linebacker Donna Wilkinson sank a couple of free throws along with Sports Illustrated writer Alex Wolff, while her Diva teammates cheered her on. The crowd of 1,000+ was very receptive to the ladies of the burgundy and gold. The Nighthawks are currently in the playoffs. The NWFA has signed a movie deal with Ithaka entertainment. The full length feature will begin filming this summer and is expected in theatres in 2007. "The last great movie about women's sports was a "League of their Own" and we feel we have an equally great story to tell" said NWFA CEO Catherine Masters. The NWFA is truly on the move and looks to have 40 or more teams playing in the 2007 season. Former D.C. Divas coach Earnest Thomas has been named General Manager and coach of the new Greensboro, N.C. franchise, which is slated to begin play in 2007. We wish Earnest great success as he builds a winner. For all the latest on the D.C.Divas, visit us at http://www.dcdivas.com. Next week we will update you on Divas Day at Andrews Air Force base, our growing family of great sponsors, and a new web feature titled "D.C. Divas out and about". A don't forget to circle Saturday, April 22nd for our home opener against Baltimore! Thanks for your support! D.C. Divas players, coaches & staff http://www.dcdivas.com/ Hey Bill, I have enjoyed your sports columns, but especially enjoyed the last e-mail about the "Fifties". I still remember the days we all played Forty More, Red Light, Stone Teacher, Spud, Jacks and etc. It is a shame that our Grandkids don't have as much fun as we did back in the forties on Fifteenth Street. I have to call Joan, she has been on my mind and she doesn't have e- mail. I'm having trouble bringing her into the 21st century. Thanks for all, Marlene Dear Marlene, Those days in the old neighborhood were great! I remember Joan Hazzard, Ken Jaffe, your brother Stanley, Ralph Grimsley, Donny Herman, Evelyn Peake, Elaine Goodman, Natalie Blackstone, Joan Grahe, among others from there. Bill Bill, Sure was great to see the Maryland women play on TV last night, really wish we could get more of their games here, Crystal Langhorne is truly a super star. First time I have seen her, hope they get to the Final Four, should, right? And those fabulous DC Divas gearing up for another successful season. Questions for the column if you so choose: What was the best feature at Colonial Beach in Virginia that you would drive all the way there for? How many could you stuff in a car in the 50s to get into the drive-in theater as cheaply as possible, and how much did they charge for each car? Who was the prettiest red head in the early 50s DC schools? Who was the first movie star "Tammie" and who played her mother in a movie about a single white mom raising her daughter and a black mom doing the same? What was the top song during the summer of 1953? Love ya buddy, Dale Dale, Those are great questions. Bill

BILL, I AM IN AWE. WE JUST DO NOT GET THE LADY TERPS GAMES DOWN HERE, NOR THE MEN EITHER, VERY SELDOM AT LEAST. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING GAMES, MEN OR WOMEN, I HAVE EVER SEEN. I MEAN I GOT DOWNRIGHT VULGAR AT THE END OF THE REGULATION TIME AND IT WAS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE WHEN THOSE MORMONS, HA, GOT UPPITY AND ACTUALLY THOUGHT THEY HAD A CHANCE. WHICH THEY DID, MORE THAN ONCE. BUT IT WAS NOT THEIR FATE, WAS IT? NOW EGADS THEY HAVE TO GET PAST UCONN, TENNESSEE. WOW. IF GEORGE MASON CAN SLAY THE GIANTS, SO CAN CRYSTAL, KRISTI AND SHAY, RIGHT? SURE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO A GAME TO SEE THE LADY TERPS. SHE PLAYED AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH IN SPRINGFIELD, VA. AND WHEN WE WENT TO PLACES LIKE WAKEFIELD REC CENTER THE MEN WHO WERE THERE COULD NOT KEEP THEIR EYES OFF HER WHEN SHE WAS PRACTICING ALL BY HERSELF AND EVENTUALLY, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, INVITED HER TO PLAY WITH THEM AND SHE JUST KEPT UP WITH THEM AND WAS NOT INTIMIDATED. SHE SO WANTED TO PLAY FOR GEORGE MASON, WE USED TO WATCH THEIR PRACTICES, BUT SHE GOT SICK AND THOSE PLANS PUT ON HOLD BUT WAS NOT HER FATE. SHE WOULD NOT BE HERE AT UCF IN ORLANDO NOW AND GRADUATING SUMMA CUM LAUDE THIS MAY AND PREPARING TO ENTER YALE'S MEDICAL PROGRAM AND POSSIBLY INTERN WITH DR. BEN CARSON, CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY AT JOHNS HOPKINS. AH SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE, YOUR TASTE IS FINE. YOUR #1 FAN IN DAYTONA, DALE PS HAVE NOT SEEN DONNIE RUN IN THE LAST FEW RACES, PERHAPS FINANCES BEING PUT INTO GETTING HIS CAR TO FUN FASTER, HOPE NOT ILLNESS SO TRAGIC AN ACCIDENT AT HOMESTEAD, FL. THIS WEEKEND, DANICA PATRICK'S TEAM MEMBER KILLED. Dale, George Mason surprised everyone! Bill

Bill, Interested in playing vintage baseball? Reply to: comm-145979751@craigslist.org If you enjoy playing baseball/softball and are interested in learning/experiencing how baseball used to be played (1860s to turn of the century), let me know. Ideally I would like to start a fun/competitive vintage baseball league in the Baltimore area with several clubs. To find out more about vintage baseball, check out these websites: http://www.vbbf.com/ Thanks, Jeff Jeff, Let me know what you finally come up with. Bill Hi, I have a new book about Joe Jackson unlike any other you may have read. In a broad tapestry of voicesâ¤²family, friends, rivals, players, officials, fans, criticsâ¤²the entire amazing trajectory of his life from illiterate mill hand to baseball legend to his fall from grace is told by Joe himself, those he knew, and those who knew him. If you're interested, take a look at www.joejackson.org Thanks, Howard Dear Howard, Shoeless belongs in the Hall of Fame! Bill

SPORTS NOTES

Ratner quits, will join UFC! Marc Ratner, long time executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission is resigning to accept a position with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Ratner will become a vice president with UFC handling regulatory issues. "He's very knowledge about mixed martial arts and he's one of the most knowledgeable guys anywhere about combat sports, and MMA is a combat sport," UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "Obviously, Marc's reputation is impeccable and his knowledge is first-rate, and people like that are the kinds of people we want working for us." Fertitta is a former member of the boxing commission. Ratner's last day with the commission will be May 13.

The Bob Daivds chapter of SABR will hold a planning meeting on Monday, April 10 at 7:00 P.M. to last no longer than 9:00 P.M. at 8830 Sandrope Court, Columbia, MD. Pizza and drinks will be served. All leaders, committee heads, and those interesting in furthering the cause of SABR in our area is invited to attend. Among the topics of discussion are: - The writing project - The two summer events, Aberdeen and Big Train - Chapter officers - The 2009 national convention and the possibility of its being held within the boundaries of our chapter - Other worthy topics Feel free to suggest additional topics even if you suspect you might not be able to attend. If you can only come for a portion of the time, that would be helpful as well. I wonder where they are todayâ¤†.. Grayce Willett, Shirley Briggs, John Bunn, Charlotte Friedman, Frances Starr, Elizabeth Econopoules, Joan Grahe, Frances Savage, Joan Savage, and Courtland Buell?

Check out: www.McCaffreysWorld.com

SUPPORT LOCAL SPORTS!