Sports Beat column - July 4, 2007

Sports Beat
July 4, 2007

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

It seems like forever since I last did the column but here we are attempting a comeback. I want to thank all of you for your calls, cards, prayers and well wishes during my recovery. I did have a small setback this week when it was discovered by an MRI that I have a slight muscle tear in the knee that has slowed down my physical therapy. A special thanks to my wife and family for their care and concern. My son Chuck has been a constant companion and Dale Poole Sawyer, my daughter Sharon and my assistant Cynthia Marbury have kept people informed of my condition. If I tried to list everyone it would take the entire column to express my thanks. I have watched a lot of TV, tennis and it reminded me of Phil Sullivan who was playing that game way back when and still continues to play, golf and I remember Don Saccardi was on Rock Creek and Haines Point courses and still plays a mean game but hasnâ¤t caught up with Fred Plummer and his seven hole in ones. My new favorite shows are â¤¦Top Chefâ¤? and â¤¦Burn Noticeâ¤? and I think I have seen every â¤¦Law and Orderâ¤? show there is. Moving to baseball with DirecTV I see a lot of games and realize how bad the announcers really are. The Orioles have been on a tear under new manager Dave Trembley but even with Andy McPhail on board they better straighten out the front office by dropping Mike Flanagan and their public relations staff. I was amazed that the Orioles hadnâ¤t been taking infield/outfield practice before games. The Orioles do have some quality pitchers but nothing else much to offer. I think the Baltimore Orioles did the right thing giving Sam Perlozzo the hook, he had lost control of the team and the team had lost their handle of fundamentals. I think Andy McPhail will do a good job but Mike Flanagan is still there and he is a minus except when he was pitching heâ¤s failed as a pitching coach, GM and announcer. Somebody asked me why Amber Theoharis is getting time on the Orioles broadcasters well I understand her family is close to Angelos and sheâ¤s in line to take over for Anita â¤—Harpoâ¤? Marx. I saw Tom Davis on one Orioles TV game and he looked bigger than a blimp, someone should tell him to wear darker suits. Why did the Orioles think their pitchers should make the American League All-Star team? Even though I think Leo Mazzone has done a good job with them. I like the American League in the All-Star game. The Nats are what they are! When the stroke hit I was working on a story about local businesses and I am going to lead off with Lou Glickfield and Marlo Furniture success. Some of the other will be on the Briggs Brothers and Briggs meats and ice cream, Thompsonâ¤s Dairy, Malcolm Scales, Curtis Brothers, and Mike Kapneck and Reliable Discounts. I miss the Rogers Hornsby Society. Detroit drafted a young pitcher in the latter part of the draft and he is suppose to be SUPER.

Terps Help U21 USA Women's Basketball to Sweep of France
U.S. prepares for FIBA U21 Women's World Championship

Terrapins Crystal Langhorne and Laura Harper have helped the 2007 USA U21 World Championship Team to a three-game sweep of the French U21 National Team, as the Americans prepare for the FIBA Women's U21 World Championship coming up in Moscow, Russia. Looking forward to her senior campaign in 2007-08, Crystal Langhorne started two of the three exhibition games, averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes of play. She went 6-for-7 off the bench in the second game against the French in Antibes , also grabbing eight boards. Known for her accuracy from the floor, Langhorne shot 70.6 percent in the three matches. Laura Harper who is also going to be a senior in the upcoming season, has also seen playing time in each game, averaging 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 15.7 minutes per game, while also shooting just over 41 percent from the field. Her best outing was a six-point, five-rebound effort in the first victory over France in Monaco . The Americans posted three decisive victories over the French Junior National Team, who will also be participating in the World Championship. The U.S. won the first game by an 82-59 margin in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on June 18, followed by an 81-61 win in Antibes, France, and a 71-57 victory in La Garde, France, on June 19 and 20, respectively. The teams took part in the games in preparation for the 2007 FIBA U21 Women's World Championship, which begins June 29 with pool play. The U.S. was placed in Group B, along with Australia , Brazil , Hungary , Japan and Spain . France is in Group A with Belgium , Canada , China , Mali and host Russia . The quarterfinals are scheduled for July 6, the semifinals are July 7 and the finals are July 8. The United States is looking to defend its gold medal it won in 2004. For more information on the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championships, including live stats for games, visit http://www.russia2007.fiba.com. For more information on USA Basketball, including photos and Q&A's, visit www.usabasketball.com. For more information on the Terps, including information on purchasing season tickets, log onto www.umterps.com.

U.S. Field Hockey Pan Am Team Includes Three Terps
Five total Terrapins on U.S. National Team

USA Field Hockey announced its 16-member women's Pan American Games team which will compete the games, July 15-29, in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . Among the 16 players are former Terrapins Lauren Powley ('06), Dina Rizzo ('02) and Keli Smith ('01). The USFHA also announced its 25-member full national squad, which also includes two more Terrapins Sara Silvetti ('05) and incoming freshman Katie O'Donnell. Dina Rizzo and Keli Smith are both making their second appearance at the Pan Am games, competing in the international event in 2003. Lauren Powley has been on the national team since 2005 and participated in the 2006 World Cup. The Americans have medaled at the quadrennial event every year since it was added in 1987, winning silver four times and a bronze in 1991. Argentina has won all five previous women's Pan Am Games. The winner of the Pan American Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing , China . In addition, teams placing 2-6 earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of those qualifying tournaments clinch the final three berths in the 2008 Olympics. In addition, Sara Silvetti and Katie O'Donnell who begins her collegiate career at Maryland in the fall, were named to the U.S. National Team roster. Members of the team since 2005, Silvetti competed in the last World Cup, while O'Donnell was the youngest athlete to earn an international cap for the United States when she was 16. The selections cap a week of play at the USA Field Hockey National Championships, which features six High Performance Training Centers (HPTC). The tournament serves as a selection event for the 2007-08 national team and the USA Pan American Games team. The Pennsylvania/New Jersey HPTC won the tournament over the Midwest , 6-1. O'Donnell was the tournament's leading scorer with nine goals, leading the PA/NJ squad to the title. Conducted under the format of an international tournament, the National Championships features squads of current U.S. national team members and top collegiate players. Team members train during the spring at regionally-based training sites with the top players selected to represent their regions at the National Championships in Virginia Beach , Va. Powley, Rizzo, Silvetti and Smith were all All-Americans during the tenure at Maryland . O'Donnell is a two-time high school All-American. For more information on U.S. Field Hockey, visit www.usfieldhockey.com.

BOXING NEWS

Darnell â¤¦Ding-a-Lingâ¤? man Wilson scored a big 11th round KO last week on ESPN. I have found no truth in the rumor that after Evander Holyfieldâ¤s boring win on PFV last week (I understand it was a red ink event) that he was aiming to take on â¤¦Hasbeenâ¤? Rahman in Baltimore. Results of Baltimore Pro boxingâ¤s event at â¤¦Duâ¤? Burns Arena: Mike Dietrich TKO 3rd over Darryl Holly Jamie Morales TKO 1st over Matt Hill Jessie Nicklow unanimous decision over Martinas Clay Tim Coleman unanimous decision over Carlos Pena Martin Wright unanimous decision over Jorge Delgado Henry Mayes majority decision over Jacob Rodriquez

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, Didnâ¤t Ed McMahon refer to Johnny Carson as â¤¦The Great Poohbahâ¤?? Dale Dale, I think so but Iâ¤m thinking about Simon Taylor who calls himself â¤¦The Great Poohbahâ¤?. Bill Bill, Paul Willett lives in Upper Marlboro, MD. Anyone can contact me and I will forward the information who is looking for him. 1930 Hymie Perlo, 1940 Pantos, 1950 Billy Smith. I enjoy your column. Carole Bill, Are you still on schedule to add some politics to your column? Sam T. Sam, Yes, plenty of inside stuff. Bill Bill, Of course all of us â¤¦girlsâ¤? remember hopscotch all you needed was a sidewalk and a piece of chalk and we also did â¤¦jacksâ¤? and â¤¦pick-up stixâ¤? possibly on our porches or steps. Games the naughty little boys wanted to play were something else, tsk, tsk. Dale Dale, Those were the days! Bill Bill, You may be interested to know that The Memories were enshrined in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Museum in 1998. This group has also performed all over the United States and in many foreign countries before hundreds of thousands of people during their fifty years in the music business. If interested in ordering their newest CD, see mail/ordering information below. Please visit our web site at www.thememories.org. Mail order to:
MAE, Inc. C/O Lou Martin
Shaking It Up $10.00 + 1.25 P&H 5727 Blaine Road

Make checks payable to: MAE, Inc. Churchton, MD 20733 Thanks, Lou Martin/The Memories Lou, Thank you and congratulations. Bill Bill, Summer is finally here and we are ready for playing some outdoor gigs. Let's hit the decks. Are you up for it? There are quite a few opportunities in June and July and we hope to see you there. Here is where you can find us: Friday, July 6, 6-10PM on the Deck at Fager's Island , O.C., 60th Street on the Bay, (888) 371-5400 www.fagers.com/restaurant Saturday, July 7, 5ish Maple Lawn Farm fireworks show in Columbia , MD Friday, July 13, 9-1:15 AM, The Stil in Timonium â¤³- 410-560-7900 www.thestill.net/html Saturday, July 14, Private Crabfeast in Severna Park Friday, July 20, 4:00-8:30, MR Ducks, O.C., Talbot St. on the Bay http://www.talbotstreetpier.com/mrducks// 800-659-7703 Saturday, July 21, Private Party, Berlin , MD See you at the Bar!!! Steve Ports, David Bell, Don Wimbrough and Bill Fritz Bill, Sorry we didnâ¤t have a chance to hook up, but the whole trip after the reunion was hectic. Flew out Mon and had to drive back on Wed. My wifeâ¤s step mom passed at North Beach so we came back for the funeral. The Memories played many nights in our club, didnâ¤t know Lou was an Eastern grad. Also ran into Roger McDuffie who played with the Naturals and he is still playing music at a place next to the Riverboat. John L. John, Weâ¤ll catch up next time. Bill

SPORTS NOTES

Blessings today for you and yours. Hereâ¤s some possible look-a-likes: Robert DeNiro and Chick Payne (EHS) Gregory Peck and Bob Ahern (EHS) Nicolas Cage and Larry Richter (RHS) Sean Connery and Bob Simi, Len Knott (RHS, CHS) Neil Diamond and Len Kanthal (RHS) Patrick Dempsey and John Pavlides (RHS) Harrison Ford and Don Saccardi Burt Lancaster and Colonel Chuck Suraci (RHS) Harpo Marx and Colonel Phil Sullivan (Planet Mars) Nicolette Sheridan and MaryLee Roach Zimmerman (RHS) Penelope Cruz and Barbara Simi Neider (RHS) Ann Blyth and Joan Lyon Harris (RHS) Irene Dunne and Elsie Robinson Dick (RHS) Rita Hayworth and Pat Disney (EHS) Jim Hoover and Dr. Bob Sheff John Smoltz and Justin Verlander (anonymous contributor) Bill, one more for look-a-likes Anna Nicole Smith and Sandi Land Casper (RHS) DPS I ask for prayers for the following people: Dianne Dennison, Ray Huff, Buddy Rollman, Don Saccardi and Buddy Suraci. Prayer has been a big help to me so please add these names to your prayer lists, thanks! Coming up is CTVâ¤s 12th Annual CAM Awards at the Newton White Mansion on July 31st. The Washington Caps are going to have new uniforms in the upcoming season â¤³ New players I doubt it. I have no confirmation that â¤¦Downtownâ¤? Brown was awarded the â¤¦Media Meal Masterâ¤? trophy. Our deepest sympathy goes to Joan and Ray Cadden on the death of their son Rusty. He was a great person and will be missed by many. Also deepest sympathy goes to the family of Judy Lau who passed away recently.

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