Athletic Trainers

New Orioles general manager Pat Gillick, owner Peter Angelos and team MVP Rafael Palmeiro will be among the celebrities at the 43rd annual Tops in Sports banquet, Jan. 12 at Towson State.Other guests include Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, Cleveland Indians pitcher Dennis Martinez, Orioles minor-league standouts Rocky Coppinger and Scott McClain, Indians GM John Hart, Orioles director of player development Syd Thrift and American League umpire Durwood Merrill.Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $50. To purchase tickets, call (410)

Certifications Tania Orenak, Tess Scutt and Sarah White of Maryland SportsCare & Rehab have been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. Contracts CompuDyne Corp. of Annapolis received a $500,000 contract from Volusia County, Fla., to integrate the records management system of the sheriff's department and the county's criminal justice information system. Expansions Clifton Gunderson LLP, a regional accounting firm, expanded its Timonium office space by 6,800 square feet.

Preseason has arrived as the first high school athletes hit the field today for the opening day of fall practice in the MIAA. Public schools start practice Saturday and the girls in the IAAM get back to work next Wednesday. With many athletes working harder than they have in a while, Archbishop Spalding's certified athletic trainer T.J. Morgan, president of the Maryland Athletic Trainers' Association, offers a few tips to help the young athletes keep themselves in the game as they rev up their training during the three-week stretch of preseason: HYDRATE!

Mike Gimbel travels around Baltimore with a cache of energy drinks, everything from Red Bull to Monster to 5-Hour Energy shots. When he talks to teenage athletes, the Towson-based substance abuse expert uses his display to help them understand what they consume when downing an energy drink before practice. Sure, they get the caffeine and the sugar that provide the boost they're looking for, but Gimbel said the athletes — and their parents — would be surprised to discover what else is on the label.

Basketball referee Wilbert T. Spivey collapsed and died yesterday at halftime of the Randallstown-Patterson boys game he was working at Coppin State College.Spivey, 43, had an apparent heart attack during the game, which was part of the third-annual Mayor's Basketball Academy tournament.Following courtside efforts by two athletic trainers and others to revive him, he was taken by ambulance to nearby Liberty Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.The game continued, and Randallstown, ranked No. 18 locally, won easily.

One player from each of the NFL's 31 teams was honored Thursday as a 2001 Ed Block Courage Award recipient. Each March for the past 17 years, the Ed Block Courage Awards Foundation has honored NFL players who, in the eyes of teammates, exemplify a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The 31 recipients will be honored on March 5 at Martin's West in Woodlawn. The event also will honor the NFL athletic training staff of the year, as voted by the members of the Pro Football Athletic Trainers Society, from the San Francisco 49ers.

Because you guys are swamping me with tidbits and "Q's" without answers, I've got to unload a second batch since Wednesday.Don't get me wrong, sports fans, I'm not complaining. What I am doing is showing my gratitude and at the same time giving you what you want -- a lotof interesting notes on our favorite subject, Anne Arundel County sports.Let me give you the 24-Hour Sportsline number, 647-2499 (most of you know it by heart anyway, as well as 911) and invite you to call any time with your answers, gripes, compliments or big "Q's" of your own.* Isn't it a compliment to his extraordinary basketball talents and to the fact that he is a quality person and student/athlete that Rob Wooster of Annapolis has generated interest from not only the U.S. Naval Academy but the Georgetown Hoyas as well?

From: Mary McNally RoseAnnapolisOn Jan. 30, I spoke before a joint session of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. I did so because I believe we still have fat in the bureaucracy that needs to be cut and we do not need additional taxes.The Republican proposal for a balanced budget without additional taxes is both realistic and viable. Maryland taxpayers cannot withstand additional taxes, particularly during these difficult times of recession.

Forward Whitney Bays told the Journal and Courier of Lafayette, Ind., that she has transferred from Maryland to Purdue. She will have two years of eligibility starting in the 2013-14 season. The 2009 West Virginia Player of the Year appeared in 26 games last season with the Terps , averaging 10.1 minutes, 2.3points and 2.7 rebounds. Bays missed her senior season at Huntington High and her freshman season at Maryland because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Moves Baseball CARDINALS: Activated P Bill Pulsipher from 15-day DL. Recalled P Brad Thompson from Triple-A Memphis. Optioned P Carmen Cali and P Jimmy Journell to Memphis. DIAMONDBACKS: Purchased contract of former Orioles P Kerry Ligtenberg from Triple-A Tucson. Designated P Randy Choate for assignment. MARINERS: Placed C Dan Wilson on 60-day DL. Recalled C Wiki Gonzalez from Triple-A Tacoma. PIRATES: Activated 2B Jose Castillo from 15-day DL. Basketball NBA: Named Bobcats C Emeka Okafor, Bulls G Ben Gordon, Magic F Dwight Howard, 76ers F Andre Iguodala and Bulls F Luol Deng to All-Rookie team.