Aaron Smith

Gregory "Pops" Smith drew pictures of the men who gathered on Baltimore street corners and sipped from small brown bags. He sketched women who clutched their children's hands as they walked in Lexington Market. And he depicted the people who played percussion instruments at Druid Hill Park on warm days.Mr. Smith drew pictures of the life he saw every day. His artwork was funny, sad and often dealt with life's dark side. But his work had a common thread: amazing realism.Mr. Smith, a Baltimore native who friends said "just seemed to blend into any group" while he sketched, died Wednesday of heart failure at his home in Montclair, N.J., where he had lived since November.

Baltimore junior middleweight title contender Vincent Pettway is fighting for charity these days.On Thursday, Pettway (35-4), ranked No. 2 by the International Boxing Federation, will battle Aaron Smith (10-10-1), of Gaithersburg, at the Pikesville Armory, with profits from the six-bout card going to the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease.Pettway, 26, gives more than lip service in trying to raise money for the incurable disease that affects mostly African Americans.

Top-ranked C. Milton Wright, Glenelg and Oakland Mills claimed three of the four team championships at the state boys cross country meet at Hereford High School in Parkton yesterday. Only Northwest of Montgomery County broke up the possible Baltimore area sweep by winning the Class 3A title. In claiming the 4A crown, the No. 1 Mustangs earned top-eight performances from Pat Bailey (first place in 16:38.04), Aaron Smith (second, 16:49.34), Will Murdoch (fourth, 16:54.64), Jesse Slowikowski (fifth, 16:56.

Damon Royster has elementary instructions for his wrestlers: On takedowns, take simple shots. On pinning combinations, go for the half nelson first. On escaping from the bottom, just stand up. "The basics are the most important thing for us, because when our guys try to use all those fabulous moves, we get [pinned]," said Royster, whose most experienced wrestler is in his third season. "We have four first-year wrestlers in the lineup, and just about everyone else is a second-year wrestler.

No doubt. If there were any whispers regarding the legitimacy of the C. Milton Wright boys' and the Dulaney girls' claim to the No. 1 rankings in cross country, they were silenced yesterday as those teams captured the elite races in their respective divisions at the sixth annual Bull Run Invitational at Hereford. Senior Tenke Zoltani's first-place finish in the 3-mile elite race powered the Lions to a team total of 110 points -- 29 points better than runner-up and second-ranked North Carroll.

Sunday's games RAVENS@BRONCOS RAVENS -- Out: RB Justin Green (wrist); LB Ray Lewis (hamstring); LB Mike Smith (thigh). Doubtful: DE Tony Weaver (back). Questionable: T Orlando Brown (back); CB Chris McAlister (thigh); G Edwin Mulitalo (knee); G Keydrick Vincent (thigh). Probable: CB Dale Carter (back); C Mike Flynn (hip); LB Adalius Thomas (back). BRONCOS -- Questionable: DE Courtney Brown (knee); LB Keith Burns (knee); T Cornell Green (shoulder). Probable: S Sam Brandon (thigh). TEXANS@TITANS TEXANS -- Doubtful: DE Junior Ioane (calf)

On July 18, 2005, IDA, beloved wife of the late James C. Butts; devoted mother of James and John Butts; grandmother of James and Michael Butts and Melissa Briggs; great grandmother of Ethan and Victoria Briggs; sister of Laura Coley. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, family friend of Darlene Smith and Aaron Smith. Friends may call at the Gonce Funeral Service P.A, 4001 Ritchie Highway, on Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rose of Lima Church on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The card for tomorrow night's boxing show at the Pikesville Armory topped by the 12-round battle for the USBA junior-middleweight title between Vincent Pettway (34-4) and Gilbert Baptist (23-12).* Eight-rounders: Les Johnson (14-1) vs. Willie Gallawango (15-1), middleweights; Eddie Van Kirk (23-6) vs. Jose Torres (11-5), welterweights.* Six-rounders: Aaron Smith (8-8) vs. Gerry Walker (6-4), middleweights; Curtis Sheppard (4-0) vs. Maxwell Keyes (8-4), heavyweights.* Four-rounders: Ed Griffin (0-0)

CollegeGonzaga: Named Leon Rice men's assistant basketball coach.Long Island: Named Ken Barer men's assistant basketball coach.Rhodes: Named Sara Chase women's basketball coach.Stonehill: Named Kim Trudel women's assistant basketball coach.FootballBroncos: Waived P Jeff Baker and QB Chuck Clements.Browns: Signed CB Ryan McNeil.Dolphins: Re-signed WR Oronde Gadsden to one-year contract. Waived DT Travis Darden.49ers: Signed WR Tai Streets to six-year contract and placed him on active/non-football injury list.