NEWS
September 29, 2009
Maryland's law banning the practice of sending text messages while driving goes into effect Thursday, and not a moment too soon. It comes amid a steady stream of evidence that electronic distractions in the driver's seat pose a serious and growing threat to highway safety. Researchers have found that texting behind the wheel is about as dangerous as driving drunk. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study of truckers found they were 23 times more likely to get in an accident if they texted behind the wheel, a risk about four times greater than dialing a cell phone.
NEWS
By Jessica Anderson | June 12, 2008
Sirens rang out at the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company as engines turned into a parking lot, where firefighters pried off the driver-side door of a wrecked blue Toyota Camry. The firefighters performed the mock rescue at the staged wreck yesterday to help kick off the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's summer Regional Highway Safety Campaign against distracted driving. Capt. Glenn Resnick of the Pikesville Precinct said that all too often at accident scenes, "we can see fast food on the floor, we see the cell phone laying down on the floorboard after the event."
NEWS
By Jeff Zrebiec | June 20, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- Brian Roberts endured it with the firing of Mike Hargrove, then Lee Mazzilli and now Sam Perlozzo, three managers he liked and respected. So when he was approached by a small group of reporters in the visiting clubhouse at Petco Park and asked about Perlozzo, he quickly grew agitated. "I've seen managers come and go here," said Roberts, who has been with the Orioles for parts of the past seven seasons. "To tell you the truth, I just want to come here and play baseball. That's all. I am tired of dealing with the manager situation.
NEWS
By Gary Lambrecht | December 29, 2006
Charlotte, N.C. -- First, they swallowed a familiar pill, as their strong credentials failed to elevate them to a more prestigious postseason game. Then, their head coach took over at a rival school within their own conference. Yet, even as he conceded the month of December has been full of challenging distractions to the Boston College football team, Eagles junior linebacker Jolonn Dunbar said he and his teammates are too determined to make another winning statement on the field to allow any outside influence to sway them.
NEWS
By JOHN EISENBERG | September 30, 2006
In the middle of Wednesday's Terrell Owens melodrama, the Ravens opened their locker room for interviews. Reporters rushed in and asked players about Owens instead of the Ravens' upcoming game against the San Diego Chargers. It was a familiar scene. Over the years, the Ravens have endured more than their share of off-field controversies that dominated conversations and distracted players. The difference this time, of course, was it was another team's player, not a Raven, who was making the wrong kind of news.
NEWS
By RASHOD D. OLLISON | April 2, 2006
IN HIS NEARLY 20 YEARS AS A "Young Lion," Roy Hargrove has grown and flown in jazz, tinting the genre with bright, interesting musical shadings. No matter what the trumpeter dives into it -- pop, hard bop, hip-hop, blues, R&B, Cuban jazz, jazz standards -- the native Texan charges the material with soul. It's that essential, transcendental feeling that invigorates and electrifies music, giving it life. This spring, Hargrove releases two albums simultaneously on the venerable Verve label: Distractions is credited to the RH Factor, the artist's loose, funk-oriented outfit, and Nothing Serious is by the Roy Hargrove Quintet, the musician's straight-ahead jazz group.
NEWS
By Bill Ordine and Roch Kubatko | September 1, 2005
Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro can wear earplugs, stuff wads of cotton in his ears, even put on headphones and listen to Green Day full blast - and it won't necessarily block the distractions that might be responsible for his feeble hitting since returning from a 10-day suspension three weeks ago after testing positive for steroids, according to some sports psychologists. Palmeiro wore earplugs Tuesday night in Toronto to muffle the jeers from Blue Jays fans; he went 0-for-4, and is 2-for-26 with one RBI after the suspension.
NEWS
By MIKE PRESTON | October 2, 2004
EVERYTHING SEEMED to be going so well. Quarterback Kyle Boller was no longer tripping over his feet and the strong running game had resurfaced. The defense was dominating and the special teams improving. The Ravens were tied for first place in the AFC North, and ready to make a huge statement on national television. It was supposed to be a coming-out party Monday night against Kansas City. Ray Lewis was going to dance, Prime Time was going to strut, Ed Reed was going to take off his helmet for mug time, and Chris McAlister was going to do who knows what?
NEWS
By Charles Bricker | September 13, 2004
NEW YORK - The daylight was fading, the lights high above the four-tiered Arthur Ashe Stadium court had taken a firmer hold on the court below, and Roger Federer, as if there was a spotlight on him now, was midway through the final set of this U.S. Open destruction, the full measure of his immense repertoire on display. The tournament's top seed was zinging forehands, clubbing topspin backhands heavy enough to shake fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt's grip on his racket, cleverly placing serves and delivering deft little touches around the net balls that seemed to be caressed, not stroked.
NEWS
By Jody K. Vilschick | July 6, 2004
IF YOU'RE part of the chattering class, you should pay attention to this: Yammering into a hand-held cell phone while driving became illegal last week in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. Why? Because cell phone chatterers are apparently more likely to be involved in car accidents. But outlawing driver use of cell phones really won't address the problem, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the organization that represents state highway safety agencies. Hands-free devices, while reducing some distractions and adding convenience for the driver, do not mitigate the mental distraction of the conversation itself.