Baltimore Blast

Entering his sixth season as a member of the Baltimore Blast, which opened its 2007-2008 season Friday, P.J. Wakefield has already won three Major Indoor Soccer League Championships with his teammates. A graduate of Calvert Hall and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Wakefield joined the Blast for the 2002-03 season and was named MISL Rookie of the Year. Wakefield and his wife, Jessica, live in Middle River with their 1-year-old son, Mason. 1. A swing set in the backyard for my son "Playing together and watching him grow up has been the best part of my life."

Win or lose, Baltimore Blast fans -- more than 900 of them hold season tickets to the games at 1st Mariner Arena -- show pride in their hometown indoor soccer team by screaming, dancing and jumping. Others display spirit through clothing, masks and even tattoos. Such enthusiasm was on display at Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Wave. Despite scoring three quick goals in the first quarter, the Blast lost 7-6 in overtime.

In the lobby of the Anchorage Towers in Canton, someone's swept the coins at the bottom of a burbling fountain into the shape of an anchor. Clearly that's not where Ed Hale's been throwing his money. Fourteen flights up in the penthouse, Hale, chief executive officer of 1st Mariner Bank, developer and owner of the Baltimore Blast professional soccer team, has used more than a little of his spare change to create a swank bachelor pad with breathtaking views of the city he has literally worked his way to the top of. But Hale wants to cash out and trade up. To move just feet down Boston Street into the top of a 17-story office tower he's building there, Hale is selling the condo he spent a decade molding to fit his definition of man-about-town luxury.

Nathan "Reds" Scherr, a retired developer and former owner of the Baltimore Blast professional soccer team whose horse Aloma's Ruler won the 1982 Preakness Stakes, died of Parkinson's disease Friday at Cherrywood Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Reisterstown. He was 80. Mr. Scherr, whose nickname comes from his full head of red hair, was born in Baltimore, the son of immigrant parents from Russia. He was raised on Oswego Avenue and graduated in 1941 from Polytechnic Institute. He earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1946 from Cornell University.

Governor has himself to blame for budget cuts Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s comments regarding the $208 million in state budget cuts were totally astounding to anyone with a basic understanding of the state budget ("$208 million slashed from Md. budget," July 31). Mr. Ehrlich seems determined to pin these cuts on anyone he can find, yet it is his own reactionary tax policy that is truly to blame. His unwillingness to close blatant corporate tax loopholes is part of the cause of these cuts, and his pie-in-the-sky slots bill would have done nothing to salvage the situation.

Having amassed a 33-game winning streak in five tournaments since December, an amateur soccer team representing Baltimore's Du Burns Arena is in South Korea, competing for the United States in the Hyundai Cup world five-on-five outdoor championships. Team Du Burns earned the right to play in the outdoor tournament sponsored by the carmaker by winning a 16-team national tournament April 29 in San Jose, Calif. The seven-member team, which plays most of its games indoors at Baltimore's Du Burns Arena in Canton, is made up of former semipro and college players who have known each a long time and who play often.

Tara Markey, 13, and her Emmorton Recreation cheerleading teammates waited to perform yesterday at Baltimore Arena, their glittery pompoms clutched close as coach Erin Herbert slipped through the knot of girls, giving each a good-luck kiss on the cheek. The Harford County 12-and- under team was moments from performing at the 11th Atlantic Cheer and Dance Championships. Asked how she was feeling, Tara let her voice rise like a cheer: "Confident that we're going to get it!" They did - they took regional first place in their division.

Reading Family Fair at Carroll Library The Carroll County Public Library's second annual Summer Reading Family Fair runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the TownMall of Westminster (400 N. Center St.; 410-857-0300) near Sears in the Center Court. All ages invited. 11 a.m. - Fictional character Fuzzball performs a "Choose to Read" program, highlighting the benefits of reading. 11:30 a.m.--12:30 p.m. - Baltimore Blast soccer player J. J. Kremer will sign autographs. 12:30 p.m. - Val and Pam, KinderSingers of the WMAR-TV program "It's Kindertime," sing songs and tell stories.

Rahman's perseverance, dedication are impressive After reading Mike Preston's April 23 column entitled "Don't knock the `Rock': Champ won't drop guard," I'm even more impressed with Hasim Rahman's perseverance and dedication to his sport. While we don't know what tomorrow may bring for Mr. Rahman, what we do know is that after two devastating losses, he continued to press his way and now finds himself at the top of the "Rock." Louis S. Butler Jr. Baltimore Add Phelps to the list of Baltimore champions A lot has been written about the recent championships by the Ravens and Hasim Rahman.

FOR THE PAST four months, Elkridge Elementary School fourth-graders Sierra Cannady and Katlyn Holley have been collecting magazines to bring to the Central Maryland Oncology Center in Columbia. Every month, they get on the school's public address system and publicize their magazine drive. And they're so successful that the oncology center doesn't have room for all the magazines. Overflow magazines are donated to Howard County General Hospital. On March 7, the girls were recognized for their efforts with a private tour of the oncology center.