Clippers

BOBCATS -- Traded C Primoz Brezec and F Walter Herrmann to Pistons for C Nazr Mohammed. CLIPPERS -- Signed G Richie Frahm.

When Lamar Odom was drafted last June by the Los Angeles Clippers, it seemed a perfect fit. The player who took more baggage with him to the NBA than any college star in recent memory was picked by a team that has had as many bad actors in its 15-year history as the cast of an Aaron Spelling production.Odom and the Clippers are trying to change their respective images: his as a obscenely talented 6-foot-10 head case who slipped to fourth in the draft after failing to show at a pre-draft camp in Chicago; theirs as one of the NBA's losingest, and most laughable, franchises.

COLLEGE PARK -- After taking a 51-49 lead on JoJo Whitaker's basket to start the fourth quarter, Meade simply collapsed, and Oxon Hill took advantage last night.Meade (24-3) made seven turnovers and hit only 4-of-13 shots the rest of the way, but the Clippers used a 15-0 run to build a 68-56 victory in the teams' Class 4A state semifinal at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House.Michael Sweetney, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior who has committed to Georgetown, had game-high totals of 31 points (13-for-16 from the floor)

Second-half goals by Victor Anyangwe and Eddie Bassey helped Poly to overcome a two-goal halftime deficit for an eventual 2-2, double-overtime tie yesterday at Patterson, as the Engineers remained on course to dethrone the four-time Baltimore City league champs.If Poly (5-2-1, 4-0-1) wins one of its last two regular-season games against Forest Park and City -- teams the Engineers already have beaten once -- the Engineers will take the regular-season title from Patterson (4-3-2, 4-1-1).Then it's on to the rematch of last season's title game, won by the Clippers.

WASHINGTON -- There was a little more interest in yesterday's game between the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets than two 9-18 teams usually generate. Call it the ex-Terp factor.Some of Maryland's most celebrated recent basketball stars turned MCI Center into a reunion arena. An announced crowd of 14,191 showed up to watch the home team win, 103-92, and Steve Francis continue to dazzle.Francis didn't disappoint more than 200 family members and friends for whom he bought tickets, as well as his fans and even former coach Gary Williams, but the rookie point guard was left a bit dismayed by another loss.

Baltimore CityPublic schoolsCity Knights1998 record: 10-3Coach: P. J. KesmodelTop players: Erika Brown, Jr., A; Jessica Shipley, Jr., A; Rosie Hicks, Jr., M; Krystin Weaver, Jr., G; Diamonte Brown, Jr., D; Monique Harris, Jr., D.Outlook: The Knights won their first city title, going 6-0 in the league, and they are the favorites this season. Kesmodel returns the most experienced group in the city with all 12 starters back. The Knights averaged 15 goals per game last year, led by Brown (54 goals, 12 assists)

An interception by defensive tackle Andre Colvin opened the door for a 40-yard touchdown drive by Dunbar with four minutes remaining, capping an upset of No. 7 Patterson, 36-32, at Utz Twardowicz Field in Patterson Park last night.The win gave unranked Dunbar (6-1, 4-0 city) the upper hand in the City East Division race and ended Patterson's 16-game, regular-season winning streak.Patterson (6-1, 3-1) had stormed back from an 18-8 halftime deficit to take a 32-24 lead, but Darnell Baylor, who ran for 114 yards on 19 carries, scored twice in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner.

Patterson coach Roger Wrenn knows from experience how difficult it is to defeat a good team twice, not to mention in consecutive games.The ninth-ranked Clippers accomplished the feat, however, defeating No. 15 Lake Clifton, 18-8, in a Class 4A state football quarterfinal yesterday at Poly's Lumsden-Scott Stadium.Patterson, which had beaten the Lakers on Nov. 5, 28-12, will meet Eleanor Roosevelt of Prince George's County in a semifinal at 11 a.m. Saturday at Poly."When two good teams have played each other, the team that's won sometimes forgets how hard it was to win and the team that's lost always has great incentive to win the second time," Wrenn said.

"There's not a whole lot of science to what we do, and it ain't pretty," said Patterson coach Roger Wrenn. "We just line up and run it behind our big guys."Wrenn was explaining last night's 28-12 victory over 14th-ranked City West Division rival Lake Clifton at Utz Twardowicz Park. Tenth-ranked Patterson gained 244 yards on the ground behind those "big guys," senior All-Metro lineman Matt Belcastro and juniors Matt Williams and Domonique Williams, whose average size is 6 feet 4, 310 pounds.

Patterson coach Roger Wrenn figured his team's best chance of defeating Eleanor Roosevelt was to deviate from its run-oriented offense and mix in a passing game.The Clippers' air attack, however, didn't fly.Roosevelt, meanwhile, rose to the occasion on both sides of the ball, as the Raiders of Prince George's County cruised to a 52-6 victory yesterday in a Class 4A state semifinal at Poly's Lumsden-Scott Stadium.The Raiders (11-1), seeking their first state title, will meet Gaithersburg of Montgomery County for the championship 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Maryland's Byrd Stadium.

The Atlanta Hawks had something to prove after an embarrassing home loss. They had no trouble making their point at home against the hapless Washington Wizards last night. Joe Johnson scored 22 points and the Hawks (30-21) led from start to finish, erasing the memory of a dismal blowout by the Los Angeles Clippers with a 111-90 rout of the undermanned Wizards (11-41). Atlanta raced to a 9-1 lead before most of the sparse crowd had even settled into its seats. The Hawks pushed the margin as high as 22 points in the second quarter against an injury-marred team that has managed the modest feat of back-to-back wins only once this season.

Bonds says he's enjoying life away from baseball baseball Barry Bonds made a rare public appearance yesterday and said he is enjoying life away from baseball. "I'm happy now that I have more time," Bonds told the crowd at the kickoff event of the Macy's Christmas tree lighting in San Francisco. "I've actually enjoyed myself immensely." Bonds, honorary chair of this year's lighting, did not talk to reporters and left quickly after giving a brief speech during the 30-minute ceremony. Lights adorning the large tree in Union Square are sold to benefit the University of California-San Francisco Children's Hospital palliative care program.

Two days after soaking in the love of the fans in his basketball home, Sam Cassell bathed in the admiration of the fans in his real hometown. And after spending most of Saturday evening as the center of attention at a celebrity charity game at the Towson Center, Cassell proclaimed that neither Boston, Baltimore nor the NBA had seen the last of him in uniform. "I'm playing next year, playing my 16th year," Cassell said without hesitation, minutes after the conclusion of the game put on by his friend and fellow Dunbar alumnus Kurk Lee, benefiting Lee's foundation.

Before last night's boys basketball game at Northwestern, Patterson coach Harry Martin told his Clippers that they needed a "signature win." No problem. Senior captain Trevor Howze remained in his zone and the Clippers' 3-2 zone defense helped force 26 turnovers, as Patterson upset the No. 6 Wildcats, 62-47. Howze, who made a school-record 10 three-pointers in a 63-47 rout of Western Tech in the Gilman tournament last week, hit nine threes last night for his game-high 27 points. "I feel like I'm in a zone," said Howze, who is leaning toward attending Allegany Community College.

BOBCATS -- Traded C Primoz Brezec and F Walter Herrmann to Pistons for C Nazr Mohammed. CLIPPERS -- Signed G Richie Frahm.

2 -- Baltimore County championships in three years for Towson's field hockey team, which defeated Catonsville, 1-0, Thursday night for the title. The Generals tied Hereford in 2005. 3 -- Defensive touchdowns by Lake Clifton in its 25-14 victory last week. Jamal Harper had an 80-yard fumble recovery, Tavon Chew had a 87-yard fumble recovery and Dwayne Washington had a 63-yard interception return. 13 -- Goals scored by the Patterson boys soccer team last week. The Clippers beat Mervo, 5-0, on Oct. 15, and followed with an 8-0 victory over Banks.

Baseball DEVIL RAYS -- Announced that bench coach Bill Evers' contract will not be renewed. TIGERS -- Agreed to terms with Jim Leyland, manager, on one-year contract extension through 2009. Basketball BULLS -- Signed G Andre Barrett, F Joseph Blair, F Justin Cage, G Thomas Gardner and C Jared Homan. CLIPPERS -- Signed F Yaroslav Korolev. KNICKS -- Waived G Dan Dickau. MYSTICS (WNBA) -- Named interim coach Tree Rollins coach. PACERS -- Signed centers Courtney Sims and Lukasz Obrzut.

Moves Baseball ORIOLES -- Fired bench coach Tom Trebelhorn. Announced that first base coach Sam Mejias will not return next season. ASTROS -- Named Jackie Moore bench coach and Dewey Robinson pitching coach for 2008 season. Announced that third base coach Doug Mansolino will leave team and senior director of player personnel Paul Ricciarini will assume different responsibilities. BLUE JAYS -- Named third base coach Brian Butterfield bench coach, first base coach Marty Pevey third base coach, and bench coach Ernie Whitt first base coach.

For more than 25 years, Barbara Bellamy has spent her weekends coaching and running swim meets in Howard County. At the Columbia Neighborhood Swim League All-City Championship on Saturday at the Phelps Luck pool, the 53-year-old Columbia resident coached for the last time. Now, Saturdays belong to her. "It was a little hard at the end of the meet [when] all the kids lined up to give me a hug with tears in their eyes," Bellamy said. "I feel emotional but OK. I'm ready to move on." Several current CNSL coaches, all of them coached by Bellamy at some point, honored her with a plaque at the championship.

I have had some unfortunate home haircuts in my day, captured in school photos for the amusement of future generations. There's one in particular that stands out. I am about 8 years old, in a maroon polyester dress with a drooping collar that manages to create a "beagle-ears" effect. But it is my hair that commands attention; I am sporting startlingly asymmetrical bangs that slope sharply down my forehead. I remember sitting for home haircuts on a stool in my basement; hair dripping wet, a towel pinned around my shoulders.