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Late in the afternoon of Oct. 2, 1979, this columnist went to Baltimore-Washington International Airport for the arrival of presidential candidate Ronald Reagan; he was coming to town for a Republican fund-raiser. Reagan arrived in a yellow Lear jet, spoke to a cluster of photographers and reporters from newspapers and TV and radio stations, then slipped into a limousine.Reporters started to walk away, across a nearby parking lot, when suddenly into our ears came the most famous sports voice in America.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming day for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues. ] About last night Orioles beat Rays, 1-0, to stay alive in division race Schmuck: It all comes down to the final day of season Notes: Hammel gets green light to pitch in playoffs Tillman will take the ball in today's finale vs. Tampa Chris Davis homers in 6ths straight game to tie record Tuesday's full scoreboard AL East Standings *NYY       94-67     -- *BAL       93-68     1 AL Wild-Card Standings *BAL          93-68      -- *OAK/TEX   93-68        -- * Clinched postseason berth NOTE: For the Orioles' remaining postseason scenarios, click here.

DALLAS - Given its lack of success on Saturdays, the Blast might want to rethink its schedule in the future. The Blast, undefeated on all other days of the week this season, fell to 1-5 on Saturdays with a 7-6 overtime loss to the Dallas Sidekicks at Reunion Arena last night. Ricardinho scored the game-winning goal, his second of the season, at 11:52 of overtime on a power play. It was the Sidekicks' second power play in overtime. Dallas had killed off a Blast power play earlier in the extra period.

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. -- Byron Dafoe tried, but he couldn't do it all in the Baltimore Skipjacks' 5-3 loss last night to the Adirondack Red Wings at the Glens Falls Civic Center.Dafoe made 39 saves, including 29 during the final two periods, in trying to protect a 3-0 lead. But the Red Wings' offense couldn't be stopped.Lonnie Loach and Bill McDougall scored 47 seconds apart midway through the third period to bring the Red Wings from a 3-2 deficit to a 4-3 lead. McDougall and Gord Kruppke had scored late in the second period, at the end of a 21-shot attack against the Skipjacks' rookie goaltender.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming day for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues. ] About last night Orioles beat Rays, 1-0, to stay alive in division race Schmuck: It all comes down to the final day of season Notes: Hammel gets green light to pitch in playoffs Tillman will take the ball in today's finale vs. Tampa Chris Davis homers in 6ths straight game to tie record Tuesday's full scoreboard AL East Standings *NYY       94-67     -- *BAL       93-68     1 AL Wild-Card Standings *BAL          93-68      -- *OAK/TEX   93-68        -- * Clinched postseason berth NOTE: For the Orioles' remaining postseason scenarios, click here.

Michel Picard's disputed goal with 1 minute, 31 seconds remaining broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the Springfield Indians a 5-2 American Hockey League victory over the Baltimore Skipjacks last night at the Baltimore Arena.Picard's 49th goal of the season climaxed a three-on-one break. Picard got in close and slid a wrist shot under Jim Hrivnak's pads."We showed some real good things tonight," said Skipjacks coach Rob Laird. "And then we lost on a play like that. Picard hooked Joel Quenneville down when it was two-on-two, and that opened Picard on the right for a three-on-one.

Cincinnati (2-3)Sunday skinny: O'Donnell beats ex-mates with a lot of help from his friends: Pickens and Scott.Weeks ... 10/18 ..... 10/25 ... 11/14( ahead: .. at Ten. .. at Oak. .. Den.Jacksonville (4-0)Sunday skinny: Jaguars were idle. They play tonight against Miami.Weeks ... 10/18 .... 10/25 ..... 11/18, ahead: .. at Buf. .. at Den. ... at Bal.Pittsburgh (3-2)Sunday skinny: Like the Jets in 1994, the Steelers fall victim to a fake spike in the final minute.Weeks ... 10/18 ..... 10/26 .....

Discussion Film in Baltimore A panel that includes a produc er, a writer and actors on The Wire will dicuss the future of the film industry in Baltimore. Using clips from The Wire and several films shot in the area, the mem bers of the panel will discuss ways to make film production one of Maryland's major eco nomic sectors. The free event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Bal timore Museum of Industry.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Craig Duncanson scored two goals and Jim Hrivnak made 35 saves last night to lead the Baltimore Skipjacks to a 5-3 American Hockey League victory over the Springfield Indians before 7,291 fans at the Springfield Civic Center.The Skipjacks foiled all but one of seven Springfield power plays, including three during the third period, as the Indians pressed for the equalizer."We've been working on our penalty-killing all week, and it paid off," said Skipjacks coach Rob Laird.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- There were smiles outside the Skipjacks locker room last night -- a rare sight of late.The Skipjacks, 1-12-0 in their previous 13 games, earned a 2-2 tie against the Binghamton Rangers when Steve Seftel scored his second goal of the season to tie the game with 5:31 remaining in regulation. Seftel returned earlier in the month from a knee injury and was playing in just his 10th game.Although it wasn't a win, gaining a tie with the AHL Southern Division-leading Rangers might just help the fifth-place Skipjacks get back on track.