Divine Intervention

Matt Stover was willing to walk away last spring without regret. He was willing to pack up his memories and trophy footballs and move on with life. After 19 years of kicking in the NFL - 13 with the Ravens - he could have closed the book on a distinguished career. That he didn't walk - and now finds himself kicking for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl in South Florida - is one of this week's most compelling stories. It might also be a story of divine intervention, Stover says.

Someone actually does do something on Survivor that's never been done before. We jump right into the Redemption Island duel with Christine and Mikayla. I'm rooting for Mikayla. But no, Christine wins again. So do you think Upolu is maybe realizing that it was a mistake to vote someone out so early who turned out to be such a good competitor? Of course, her attitude still kind of sucks. Oohh, Ozzy is thinking waayy out of the box, in assuming that since the merge is happening soon, it might be worth it to purposefully send someone to Redemption Island just for the purpose of defeating Christine.

Matt Stover was willing to walk away last spring without regret. He was willing to pack up his memories and trophy footballs and move on with life. After 19 years of kicking in the NFL - 13 with the Ravens - he could have closed the book on a distinguished career. That he didn't walk - and now finds himself kicking for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl in South Florida - is one of this week's most compelling stories. It might also be a story of divine intervention, Stover says.

Baltimore principals' union president Jimmy Gittings recognizes that school prayer is unconstitutional but defends it anyway ("Prayers at city school before tests criticized," March 14). He blames the constitutional ban for a loss of respect for teachers and administrators over a 50 year period. There are many documented reasons for the problems of city schools, but Mr. Gittings adds a disregard for the rights of all students in order to advance a sectarian agenda. Prayer before tests may be common, but preparation and study should make it unnecessary.

Baltimore principals' union president Jimmy Gittings recognizes that school prayer is unconstitutional but defends it anyway ("Prayers at city school before tests criticized," March 14). He blames the constitutional ban for a loss of respect for teachers and administrators over a 50 year period. There are many documented reasons for the problems of city schools, but Mr. Gittings adds a disregard for the rights of all students in order to advance a sectarian agenda. Prayer before tests may be common, but preparation and study should make it unnecessary.

— These are the reasons for Maryland kicker Nick Ferrara's success: a strong leg, a sharp focus and an angel on his shoulder. The first two are his doing. The third is the spirit of his best friend. Ferrara, a freshman, surprised coaches with his kicking last season. The Terps' foot of the future, he hit 18 of 25 field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime against James Madison, and a 50-yarder at Wake Forest. Extra points? Perfect. He even filled in at punter for a spell.

COLLEGE PARK -- Divine intervention.That's what Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden called the heavy thunderstorm that hit here yesterday and wiped out the last half of afternoon practice and halted the growing injury list at six after just three days of two-a-day workouts.Sophomore No. 1 quarterback Randall Jones has a sore arm and will not throw for a third straight day today. Two other injured starters: senior right guard Jamie Wu (three bulging discs in his back) and sophomore cornerback Tony Okanlawon (pulled hamstring)

More than 400 Baltimore County employees -- nearly half those eligible -- have taken advantage of an early retirement program designed to save money by paring as many long-term, highly paid workers as possible.The retirement program that ended Jan. 31 was accepted by 5 percent of the county's work force of 8,000 -- or 403 of the 875 people eligible -- leaving some gaping holes in the bureaucracy, said James R. Gibson Jr., the finance director.Among those leaving were the engineer in charge of inspecting buildings and bridges, half the majors on the police force, 94 police officers, 87 firefighters, one-third of the fire chiefs, a host of highway workers and 24 public health nurses, including 12 school nurses.

More than 400 Baltimore County employees -- nearly half those eligible -- took advantage of an early retirement program designed to save money by paring as many long-term, highly paid workers as possible.The retirement program that ended Jan. 31 was accepted by 5 percent of the county's work force of 8,000 -- or 403 of the 875 people eligible -- leaving some gaping holes in the bureaucracy, said James R. Gibson Jr., the finance director.Among those leaving were the engineer in charge of inspecting buildings and bridges, half the majors on the police force, 94 police officers, 87 firefighters, one-third the fire chiefs, a host of highway workers and 24 public health nurses, including 12 school nurses.

NOTHING GOOD COMES EASYRoger Clinton (Pyramid 71826)If nothing else, Roger Clinton certainly has courage. After all, how many other semi-talented singers would dare put the words Nothing Good" in the title of their first album? To be honest, though, "Nothing Good Comes Easy" isn't all that bad an effort. Not only does he stay on pitch throughout, but he actually manages to navigate the album's super-slick arrangements with some semblance of style. Granted, his voice doesn't have much character to it, and there's little that's memorable about his material -- which ranges from the Eddie Money-ish "Brother Brother" to the pallid soul of "Different Man" -- but that just makes him bland, not bad. As for whether anyone will actually buy the album for its musical value, ask yourself: Did anyone drink Billy Beer for the taste?

— These are the reasons for Maryland kicker Nick Ferrara's success: a strong leg, a sharp focus and an angel on his shoulder. The first two are his doing. The third is the spirit of his best friend. Ferrara, a freshman, surprised coaches with his kicking last season. The Terps' foot of the future, he hit 18 of 25 field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime against James Madison, and a 50-yarder at Wake Forest. Extra points? Perfect. He even filled in at punter for a spell.

Matt Stover was willing to walk away last spring without regret. He was willing to pack up his memories and trophy footballs and move on with life. After 19 years of kicking in the NFL - 13 with the Ravens - he could have closed the book on a distinguished career. That he didn't walk - and now finds himself kicking for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl in South Florida - is one of this week's most compelling stories. It might also be a story of divine intervention, Stover says.

Matt Stover was willing to walk away last spring without regret. He was willing to pack up his memories and trophy footballs and move on with life. After 19 years of kicking in the NFL - 13 with the Ravens - he could have closed the book on a distinguished career. That he didn't walk - and now finds himself kicking for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl in South Florida - is one of this week's most compelling stories. It might also be a story of divine intervention, Stover says.

A FRIEND told me this story. It involves his wife, a mugger, grand irony and maybe divine intervention - we don't know yet. You won't see any full names because the story was told with the condition that the victim, my friend's wife, not be identified. There's a definite fear factor here - police told my friend that the man arrested for robbing the love of his life once had served time for attempted murder. So, for the purposes of this story, we'll just refer to the victim as Diana. She went shopping on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19, for snacks to take the next day - the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday - to a job fair at a Catholic school.

WASHINGTON - The Texans are coming. And as they would say, that news is good enough to make a rabbit spit in a bulldog's face. George W. Bush invited his fellow Texans to feel at home in the nation's capital for his inaugural, and yesterday they wasted no time making his casa their casa. Y'alling each other across town yesterday, they made it clear the next four years will resemble a Lone Star occupation. Ground zero: The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, where the Texas State Society staged its "Texas Fair."

If Baltimore really wants to be regarded as a desirable place to live, it needs more than new restaurants and cafes, important as they are.It needs places that nourish the spirit as well as the body.That's why it's so heartening to see the recent transformation of St. Ignatius Church, whose future was very much in doubt less than 10 years ago.After a $1.7 million renovation, which was unveiled to church- goers last Sunday after nearly six months of construction, St. Ignatius is ready for another cen-tury of service.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- There was every reason for the Washington Bullets to be excited going into yesterday's NBA draft lottery. Their positioning gave them excellent odds of nabbing the second pick, and their two best players, Chris Webber and Juwan Howard, were on hand to provide a bit of good luck.But an opportunity to plug maybe Jerry Stackhouse or Joe Smith into the team's future slipped away, as the Bullets went into the fourth position in yesterday's lottery.The Golden State Warriors, hurt by trades and dissent and finishing fifth from the bottom this past season, came through with a bit of divine intervention -- a priest -- to get the top pick.

A FRIEND told me this story. It involves his wife, a mugger, grand irony and maybe divine intervention - we don't know yet. You won't see any full names because the story was told with the condition that the victim, my friend's wife, not be identified. There's a definite fear factor here - police told my friend that the man arrested for robbing the love of his life once had served time for attempted murder. So, for the purposes of this story, we'll just refer to the victim as Diana. She went shopping on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19, for snacks to take the next day - the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday - to a job fair at a Catholic school.