Bascom

The voice of the Rev. Marion Curtis Bascom, the Baltimore civil rights leader, confidante of Martin Luther King Jr. and anti-war foe, who stepped down in 1995 after leading Douglas Memorial Community Church for 45 years, has lost none of its powerful resonance or purposefulness. Bascom, who will turn 82 in March, shows no signs of slowing down as he continues embracing new projects while caring for his ailing wife of 28 years. "I'm on the board of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, where I like promoting the story of how black and white Americans are inextricably tied together," Bascom said in an interview the other day from his Park Avenue home.

Soccer has been the salvation for David Bascome. Beset by a troubled youth followed by a banner career in the sport he loves, the Blast's player-assistant coach has laid the groundwork for another new beginning in his native Bermuda, where he will launch the island's first professional league in May. In turn, he said he hopes his enterprise can provide to others the foundation for the life-changing experience that the sport presented to him. "I was...

On December 2, 2006, in Pensacola, FL , MARION C. BASCOM JR., beloved son of the Rev. Marion C. Bascom Sr. and Mrs. Lutherine M. Coehlo; also survived by siblings, Bernadette, Michelle, Peter John and Singleton, and other caring relatives and friends. The family will receive friends in the PARLOR of the DOUGLAS MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH, 1325 Madison Avenue, on Wednesday from 8:30 until 9:00 A.M. when a Memorial Service will begin. Inurnment at Arbutus Memorial Park. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Farthest Out or Morgan Christian Center.

CHICAGO - With injuries mounting and his team without a win in three weeks, Blast coach Tim Wittman considered reaching into his team's storied past in a bid to reverse its fortunes yesterday. But with the Blast ahead through most of its Major Indoor Soccer League game against the Chicago Storm, the fourth-year coach figured he didn't need to play his alter ego - team Hall of Famer Tim Wittman. "No, that's the last thing I wanted to do," said Wittman, 42, who activated himself as a player for yesterday's game at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kansas City's Chris Damico didn't play badly, but the Comets and their goalkeeper had no chance last night in a game in which the Blast simply overwhelmed the Comets' defense. David Bascome, who turned 34 on Thursday, led the Blast's attack with three goals and an assist. And Bascome had a lot of help from Denison Cabral (two goals), Giuliano Celenza, Neil Gilbert, Lee Tschantret, P.J. Wakefield (two goals) and Billy Nelson as they combined to beat Kansas City, 11-4. It was an attack that came from all directions and in many forms.

MONTERRY, Mexico - David Bascome scored two goals to help the Blast defeat the Monterrey Fury, 8-5, last night and extend its winning streak in the Major Indoor Soccer League to six games. Blast goalkeeper Scott Hileman was part of the highlights for the offense as he scored a late goal to help clinch the victory. Chile Farias and P.J. Wakefield got the first two goals of the game, but the Fury came back to get the next two to leave the game tied at the end of the first quarter. Denison Cabral and Bascome added goals in the second quarter to put the Blast ahead 4-3 at halftime.

How could you expect anything less than overtime in a rematch of last season's Major Indoor Soccer League finals between the Blast and the Milwaukee Wave? The teams played to a stalemate last night at 1st Mariner Arena until there was just half a second left in the first overtime period. That's when Blast forward David Bascome hauled off with his right foot and sent the ball blazing beneath the red crossbar for the 9-8 victory. The win increases Baltimore's winning streak to six and improves its record to 8-3. Milwaukee drops to 7-2. "When we were down 8-3, I thought we were getting embarrassed," Blast coach Tim Wittman said.

When Blast forward David Bascome was little more than a toddler, his father took him and his three siblings to a group home and left them there. Herbie Bascome's wife had left him and, as his son David would find out years later, the father could think of nothing else to do. "It was a different time," the Blast's Bascome said in his lilting Bermuda accent. "Today, when you hear kids are put in homes it is because their parents are bad or because the kids are bad or unwanted. But back then, it happened because some parents had no choice."

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Defending champions never take any team for granted, especially on the road and especially in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Blast waited patiently and finished when it counted to defeat the St. Louis Steamers, 4-3, last night at Family Arena. Baltimore (6-3) won for the fourth consecutive time and St. Louis (2-5) fell for the fourth straight game. "They really worked hard and made us work hard," said Blast coach Tim Wittman. "They had us running around and working, that's for sure.

The freedom fighters of Baltimore's civil rights generation rest now like old lions, all aging, many gone, some forgotten. But few have passed tamely into the twilight.They changed their city and state, the nation and even the world. They're older, but not many have lost their fire today, even in this time when younger leaders fight rear-guard battles to preserve gains made during the civil rights years.One of the leaders of that pride of lions, the Rev. Marion C. Bascom, who's now 73, looks downright dapper as he shows off his collection of clocks and brasses at his Reservoir Hill home.