Bad Blood

By the time the old man was finished talking at the White House that day -- about the government's notorious Tuskegee ** syphilis study, about the poor black farmers who suffered because doctors betrayed them, about love and forgiveness -- a roomful of dignitaries was standing, applauding, and the president of the United States was wiping his eyes.And Herman Shaw, an Alabama farmer who believed in his government when he enrolled in the Tuskegee study in 1932 and who believes in his government still, was on his feet, his arms spread wide, as if to enfold the room.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, flourishing in its 40th anniversary year under the stewardship of Judith Jamison, plays its annual engagement at the Kennedy Center next week. This has been going on since the Ailey dancers opened the Kennedy Center as part of the ensemble for Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" in 1975. As always, the company has brought a full slate of new works and great vintage pieces. You can see the immortal "Revelations," Ailey's tribute to black spirituals, on five of the seven programs; or George Faison's homage to Otis Redding, "Suite Otis," on three.

I guess I need to start taking the Detroit Tigers seriously. I was slow to jump on their bandwagon, but this team is for real. The Tigers beat the White Sox, 2-1, Thursday, perhaps leaving behind some bad blood in the process. Joel Zumaya struck out Joe Crede to end the eighth inning and preserve the one-run lead. Zumaya hopped in the air, spun around, pumped his fist and hollered. The display didn't sit well with Crede, who glared at the right-hander while walking slowly to the dugout.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay ......... Time ..... TV ... StartersTonight ........ 7:35 .... HTS ... Steve Ontiveros (8-5, 3.99) vs. Rick....... ........ .... .... ... ... Krivda (2-2, 3.64)Tomorrow night.. 7:35 .... HTS ... Doug Johns (2-0, 4.43) vs. Jamie....... ........ .... .... ... ... Moyer (8-4, 4.74)Thursday ....... 7:35 .. 13, 50 .. Todd Stottlemyre (12-5, 4.19) vs......... ....... .... .. ...... .. Scott Erickson (9-10, 5.54)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)

"The Good Brother," by Chris Offutt. Simon &Schuster. 317 pages. $23.This remarkable first novel reflects the author's Appalachian origins and Western sojourns in a quintessential American story.Virgil Caudill is a 32-year-old Kentucky mountain man who works with a garbage crew at Rocksalt Community College, where he was once a student. He lives alone in a remote trailer near his widowed mother and his married sister. His older brother Boyd, in whose shadow he has lived his entire life, has been murdered for some unknown reason.

Preston's commentary on Ravens subversive I wish to express my deep disgust with Mike Preston and his so-called Ravens coverage in the June 17 sports section ["McAlister takes issue with double standard"]. I am a dedicated Ravens fan and ticket holder and view his article on cornerback Chris McAlister's contract situation as subversive to McAlister and the Ravens. I guess he called McAlister and got him to say the things that he allegedly said so he could pen one of the nastiest articles I have ever read.

BALTIMORE County police are concerned about a simmering neighborhood feud in Middle River involving residents who fought a NASCAR speedway, a project that has moved to Anne Arundel County. They should be.Though vicious acts of vandalism, which police say seem to be targeted at speedway opponents, have abated since late March, palpable tension in the community remains.No suspects have been apprehended. Some residents say they have armed themselves and are seeking the alleged tormentors. The potential for disaster is obvious.

We on the editorial page have been strongly critical of Penn National since its entree into Maryland horse racing last year on the grounds that we believed they were interested solely in finding a way to bring slots to the tracks -- or block competition for their existing casinos nearby -- rather than actually making a go of horse racing. Fairness dictates, then, that we make note of the company's application this week for a license to resume harness racing at Rosecroft Raceway, which Penn National bought at auction in January for $11 million.

A man who had a run-in with an Anne Arundel County police officer last December has filed a $2.4 million negligence lawsuit in Anne Arundel Circuit Court against the county, the police department and the officer.Russell Wayne Varner of the 200 block of Grisdale Hill in the Riva area alleges that Officer Sonny M. Pentz of the Southern District grabbed him without provocation on Dec. 20, 1995, while he was standing outside his home, hit him on the back and then shoved him into a police car, causing him to injure his back.