Bottom Line

So ... the football stadium wasn't packed for the Georgia Tech game and Terps coach Ralph Friedgen wasn't happy about it. He's said it twice now (once on the radio after the game, and again yesterday). The announced attendance for that game was 47,527. Byrd Stadium seats 51,500. The biggest gaps seemed to be in the nosebleed sections. Friedgen was asked yesterday what his program needs to do to pack the stadium. "I don't know," he said, "especially after beating [Rutgers], the 10th-ranked team in the nation.

Help others and you'll help yourself is more than just a slogan at RWD Technologies Inc.It's the business model and the mantra.RWD develops technologies and training programs that help employees of its big-name customers do their jobs better -- which, in turn, helps performance and profitability.But employees and managers say that simple statement doesn't capture the energy and innovation that are fueling RWD's growth.The Columbia company has racked up average annual sales gains of 40 percent over the past five years.

WASHINGTON -- As far back as 1996, still something of the Dark Ages for Y2K awareness, Congress had a scold when it came to "the millennium bug": Maryland Rep. Constance A. Morella.An "impending crisis," the Montgomery County Republican said in 1996. "The deadline we face is unforgiving, and time is running out," Morella said in 1997. "The mother of all computer glitches," she proclaimed in a 1998 radio address.More than three years and $106 billion later, things are looking rosy enough that public fears of terrorist strikes appear to outweigh doomsday scenarios of crippling computer failures.

Quote: "The bottom line is that we're getting behind and we're having to play catch-up. We're just in one of those little streaks right now when a lot of good things aren't happening." -- Rangers manager Johnny Oates on his team's having lost five of six games and having hit .219.It's a fact: The Mariners went 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position Thursday night against the Blue Jays.Who's hot: The Indians' Omar Vizquel, who went 2-for-5 last night, is hitting .325.Who's not: The Rangers' Aaron Sele (5-2)

In a perfect world Oakland Mills would have played its finest game of the season last night in the Class 1A state championship against Williamsport.It didn't happen. Not by a long shot.But the Scorpions did something more important than look good. They won."It was an ugly game but a win is a win," said Oakland Mills senior point guard Jamie Beale after her team defeated the Wildcats of Washington County, 38-31, at UMBC."I wish yesterday's [Friday] game was today's, but you know we won, and that's the bottom line," said Oakland Mills coach Teresa Waters, whose team played splendidly in routing Rising Sun, 56-27, in the state semifinals.

In a perfect world Oakland Mills would have played its finest game of the season last night in the Class 1A state championship against Williamsport.It didn't happen. Not by a long shot. But the Scorpions did something more important than look good. They won."It was an ugly game but a win is a win," said Oakland Mills senior point guard Jamie Beale after her team defeated the Wildcats of Washington County, 38-31, at UMBC."I wish yesterday's [Friday] game was today's, but you know we won, and that's the bottom line," said Oakland Mills coach Teresa Waters, whose team played splendidly in routing Rising Sun, 56-27, in the semifinals.

Fifty thousand dollars is hardly a bottom-line number to stir investors into a frenzy.But Environmental Elements Corp. hopes that modest annual profit -- a penny a share -- marks the beginning of hard-won resurgence after five difficult years.The Baltimore company fell into the red in 1993 as the huge market expected for air pollution control equipment never materialized. The $50,000 profit marked the company's first operating profit since 1992.To pick itself up, EEC cut more than half of its 340 jobs, retooled its U.S. business and struck licensing deals to snare overseas business.

The winners"My line played exceptional and also Eric Green and Roosevelt Potts. I knew we would play a very good game because we were focused. We all came as one and were ready to play." Priest Holmes, Ravens running backthe losers"The bottom line is you have to win the football game. That's all that matters. We had to find a way to get the ball into the end zone." Paul Justin,Bengals quarterbackPub Date: 11/23/98

I HAVE rediscovered the joys of Crock-Pot cooking. Or should I say "discovered." My Crock-Pot has been sitting on a basement shelf since I received it as a gift sometime in the 1970s. Didn't we all get Crock-Pots back then? And Belgian waffle irons and crepe pans and woks?Anyway, a Crock-Pot wasn't much use in my carefree, childless, young professional days. What do you need a Crock-Pot for when you can dine out with friends or throw together a salad at home?But I have a couple of teen-agers now, and I order my life around their busy schedules.

WASHINGTON -- From Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard to downtown Monticello, N.Y., and from controversies about coffee shops in various American neighborhoods to stiffening resistance to a single European currency and other devices of European unification, many apparently dissimilar skirmishes are actually aspects of a single quickening argument about the proper jurisdiction of politics.These skirmishes are facets of a revolt against economics, and a reassertion of the sovereignty of politics.

Business growth and environmental concerns are always at odds, right? What is good for the environment is bad for business. What is good for business is bad for the environment. In public debate after debate we hear that taking the necessary steps to protect the environment devastates the bottom line. a_bubes@linensoftheweek.com.

The same forces that contended in the decades-long struggle over the Inter-County Connector have drawn new battle lines over a $4.6 billion proposal to widen Interstate 270 in Montgomery and Frederick counties - potentially the most expensive transportation project in Maryland history. The proposal to add four express toll lanes to the heavily congested highway - at a cost almost twice that of the $2.6 billion ICC - is drawing the support of Montgomery County business leaders and fierce opposition from environmental groups.

The Orioles decided to do the expected and pick up manager Dave Trembley's option for 2009. They also added an option for 2010. It was done with the Orioles limping badly to the finish. It could have been done earlier, but now is fine. Trembley deserves a chance to try again next year (and maybe 2010). And now maybe he can manage with both eyes on the future and not one on the standings. The bottom line is that the streak of 10 consecutive losing seasons has little to do with the manager.

North Ravens: B+ Pick to watch -- QB Joe Flacco has a better temperament to lead the team than Kyle Boller. It shouldn't take long before he takes over. Bottom line -- Their first three picks - Flacco, RB Ray Rice and LB Ta vares Gooden - are guys who figure to contribute early. Although he's suspect, CB Fabian Washington was worth a fourth-pick gamble. Offen sive tackle remains an issue. Steelers: C+ Pick to watch -- WR Limas Sweed (6-4, 217) is a big target for Ben Roethlisberger in the red zone, some thing the Steelers haven't had since Plaxico Burress left.

NORTH Packers: B Pick to watch -- It will be inter esting to see whether QB Brian Brohm can push Aaron Rodgers. Bottom line -- Ted Thompson filled lots of needs but didn't get the offensive tackle he needed. Bears: B Pick to watch -- LT Chris Wil liams will pass protect well, but his run-blocking needs work. Bottom line -- The Bears filled several holes, but the lack of a quar terback indicates they still think Rex Grossman can play. Vikings: C Pick to watch -- QB John David Booty was cheap in the fifth round, but he might get a shot if Tarvaris Jackson fails.

So ... the football stadium wasn't packed for the Georgia Tech game and Terps coach Ralph Friedgen wasn't happy about it. He's said it twice now (once on the radio after the game, and again yesterday). The announced attendance for that game was 47,527. Byrd Stadium seats 51,500. The biggest gaps seemed to be in the nosebleed sections. Friedgen was asked yesterday what his program needs to do to pack the stadium. "I don't know," he said, "especially after beating [Rutgers], the 10th-ranked team in the nation.

Now that Chrysler is no longer a part of the company, what is the situation for Daimler AG and its shares? - R.M., via the Internet The German automaker is giving the general impression that a house guest has finally left after an extended visit. Relieved to bid goodbye to all but 19.9 percent of money-losing Chrysler, Daimler has said it expects to return to double-digit operating margins by 2010 at the latest. Top boss Dieter Zetsche - known in the United States as the star of Chrysler's "Dr. Z" car commercials - said the new Daimler "starts on a very solid and healthy basis."

Major League Baseball, in a quest to trumpet its parity, sent out a news release last week declaring that 18 teams were in playoff contention through Labor Day, the third consecutive year that has happened. The message is somewhat blurred because this year's list includes the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, who are buried behind too many teams to be considered contenders. It also includes three clubs in the National League Comedy Central, where the main goal is to stay above .500.

Mayor Sheila Dixon launched the first television advertisement of her campaign yesterday - an ad that focuses on her last six months in office - and campaign officials said it will stay on the air until the Sept. 11 primary election. Though short on specifics, Dixon's 30-second spot began airing yesterday on all four local network affiliates. It portrays the mayor as "a tough-minded chief executive who gets things done" and "a problem solver." The ad starts about a week after her leading opponent in the race began his own series of ads. Both ads represent an early start to the campaign's television wars - at least when compared with the 1999 mayoral elections - and demonstrate just how much money has been raised.

A 32-year-old Reisterstown man who stabbed a customer he claimed pushed ahead of him in a crabcake takeout line was ordered yesterday to pay $25,000 restitution but will serve no jail time. Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch suspended a 10-year prison sentence for Keith Anthony Rantin Jr., of the 300 block of Norgulf Road and sentenced him to five years probation. She said she feared the victim would receive no compensation if Rantin served prison time. "I think that it is important for the victim to get his money rather than wait seven to 10 years when he gets out," Jaklitsch said.