Fame

Many character issues Juan C. Rodriguez Sun Sentinel It won't happen soon. Clemens' acquittal probably sways some voters on the fence about his candidacy. It won't put a big enough dent into the broader cross-section of writers who aren't prepared to induct anyone with strong links, circumstantial or otherwise, to the steroid era. The government did not fail to prove Clemens took steroids or human growth hormone. It failed to prove he perjured himself in front of Congress.

An Ellicott City seventh-grader has a shot at having her artwork grace Google's homepage. Lauren Shen, who attends Burleigh Manor Middle School, found out this week that her drawing will represent Maryland in the sixth annual Doodle 4 Google contest . More than 130,000 students from across the country in kindergarten through 12th grade entered. The theme was “My Best Day Ever...” “My doodle expresses the theme because the day I arrived in Taiwan was my best day ever,” Lauren told Google.

The voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America pitched a shutout in this year's Hall of Fame election and delivered a not-so-surprising repudiation of baseball's tawdry steroid era. Maybe that was the right message to send to a sport that was awash in illegal performance-enhancing drugs during the 1990s and early 2000s, but it also came with a few ounces of injustice for those borderline candidates who were not implicated in...

Former second baseman Roberto Alomar isn't positive that 1996 was his greatest season as a big leaguer, but he knows that first year as an Oriole had to be among the highlights of his Hall of Fame career. “Numbers-wise, I can maybe say yes, but I had some great numbers, too, with the Cleveland Indians. But I think I had a great year,” said Alomar, who in 1996 hit .328 with 22 homers, 17 steals and a franchise record 132 runs scored. “I was doing everything that I could to bring a championship to the city of Baltimore.

I was overjoyed to learn that no one was nominated for entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year ("Voters shut out players," Jan. 10). A few nominees, including Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, were shunned in their first year of eligibility. I have been patiently awaiting this: We are witnessing the backlash of negativism toward former ball players who allegedly abused steroids. The really lamentable thing is that these men would have likely traipsed into the Hall without the assistance, if you will, of steroid use. Those players who used or abused steroids put themselves above the sport, and that is why I am happy to see these men suffer the consequences and futility of not gaining entry at Cooperstown.

ESPN's PR staff sent out snippets of their various reporters and commentators discussing Wednesday's Hall of Fame vote. More than anything, I believe it shows just how varied the thought processes are of voters and Hall of Fame (and potential) Hall of Fame members. Curt Schilling (Hall of Fame eligible, Baseball Tonight) on receiving 38.8 percent of the vote “I'm elated. I haven't gotten anybody out in six years. It's incredibly humbling and flattering and I'm excited just to be in the conversation.” Barry Larkin (Hall of Famer, Baseball Tonight)

I recently submitted a proposal to the Baltimore Development Corp. in reference to The Sun's front page article, "Reinvigorating Baltimore's waterfront," published in early May. No response, not even a thank you for the suggestion, was received. Jean Marbella , in the Sunday Sun, was somewhat critical of many of the grandiose and expensive recommendations proposed by the BDC. My idea would come with minimal start-up costs and would instill pride in our city and state and enrich the minds of Marylanders and visitors alike.

Time will tell if Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will make into to the Pro Football Hall of Fame whenever his playing career ends. But if Suggs does get inducted, his gear will be waiting for him when he arrives. The uniform worn by Suggs in his standout 2011 season arrived Thursday at the Hall of Fame , so if you make the trip up to Canton, Ohio you can check out the helmet, purple jersey, pants, socks and cleats he wore while chasing after enemy quarterbacks in 2011.

The African American Golfers Hall of Fame inducted UMES. "The university has been accorded this honor because it is the only historically black college [or] university — among a total of only 20 other institutions worldwide — certified by the Professional Golfers Association of America to offer the PGA Golf Management Degree Program," said Malachi Knowles, founder of the African American Golfers Hall of Fame. The university launched its PGA program in 2008. UMES president Thelma B. Thompson accepted the honors during a ceremony in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. "We are honored to be associated with the PGA and to be forever linked with legendary golfers from this country and abroad," she said.

The Baltimore Blast will induct former standout defender Doug Neely into the team's Hall of Fame on Saturday, Dec. Nov. 11. The ceremony will take place during halftime of the Blast's game against the Missouri Comet at 1st Mariner Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. Neely was a member of the Blast team in the 1991-92 season; played for the Baltimore Spirit from 1992-94 and for 1996-97; and returned to Baltimore from 1998-2002. He finished with 183 regular-season points during his career in Baltimore and appeared in three All-Star Games during his playing days here.

Horse racing Retired Hall of Fame trainer Kelly dead at 93 Hall of Fame trainer Thomas J. Kelly died Friday morning at St. Catherine's West Rehabilitation Hospital in Hialeah, Fla., after a brief illness, according to his son, Timothy D. Kelly . He was 93. Kelly, who was born in Pikesville, conditioned 65 stakes winners, including Plugged Nickle, 1980's champion sprinter who won that year's Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack,...

"Gone Ridin' " reads the sign on Joe Aitcheson's door, beneath a wooden silhouette of a horse's head. "Be Back. Maybe. " It's an apt howdy-do from Aitcheson, 84, the winngingest steeplechase rider of all time. A member of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, he lives in a retirement community in Westminster, surrounded by keepsakes of a 21-year pro career in which he won a record 440 timber races and a record seven North American championships between 1961 and 1970. If they tallied the number of bones broken by jockeys, Aitcheson would likely hold that record, too. His knack of bouncing back from falls is legend.

Radio host Ron Smith will be honored later this month with a posthumous induction into the Maryland DC Delaware Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. The Maryland-District of Columbia-Delaware Broadcasters Association decided to present WBAL's longtime “Voice of Reason” with the tribute at their annual convention April 22 in Ellicott City. The organization called him “passionate,” “curious” and “a force on radio and television.” “Ron was thoughtful - never just accepting the word of a spokesperson or a headline,” the organization said in a release, adding that he “relentlessly pursued and sought to tell the truth.” Smith died in 2011 of pancreatic cancer, captivating listeners with his fight against the disease until just weeks before his death.

The inaugural class of the Towson High School Athletics Hall of Fame, featuring Michael Phelps (2003), Randy Dase (1972), Sue Beeler (1958), Billy Jones (1964), Jaimee Reynolds (1998) and Jack Thomas (1970), will be honored April 19 at halftime of the Hereford-Towson boys lacrosse game. At 5:15 p.m., five minutes before the opening faceoff of the varsity game, a flagpole and plaque will be dedicated to Mike Godzik (1965), who died in 2008 and in whose name an annual award is given to a boys lacrosse player.

Fans inside Madison Square Garden witnessed something many thought would never come. There he was, the last to be inducted. With years of bitter feelings brushed aside, the crown jewel of the WWE Hall of Fame was introduced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Living legend, the man who held the WWWF title for over 4,000 days, Bruno Sammartino. He delivered his speech in his trademark even-keel and steady speech, passionate about his words and the stories he told. The speech felt very much like an abridged documentary about his life -- or perhaps an upcoming WWE DVD documentary.

Former Terps center Tom McMillen will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame's class of 2013, the Maryland athletic department announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-11 McMillen averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds during his four-year Maryland career (1970-74). A two-time All-ACC first-team selection, McMillen was MVP of the Terps' 1972 NIT championship game win over Niagara. “We're thrilled for Tom to receive this much deserved honor,” Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson said in a news release.

Danny Wiseman is practicing at Country Club Lanes on Pulaski Highway, sounding like the 10-pin version of Rodney Dangerfield while expounding on a favorite topic: why bowling gets no respect. "I hate it when they say bowling's not a sport," he says now. "Tell me why it isn't? Because we don't make millions?" I shrug and tell him I have no idea. "Take your best in-shape athlete," he continues, voice rising, "and have him bowl three or four games, and he'll be sore the next day. " I shrug again.

The Rotary Club of Westminster has announced the newest inductees for the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame. The six members of the Class of 2013 will be honored during a special banquet ceremony May 10 at Carroll Community College. They include: two women who were each named Carroll County player of the year; a renowned Carroll County coach and athletic director; the second student in South County's history to be recruited to a Division 1A college; a baseball player later drafted by the Texas Rangers and one of the pioneers of lacrosse in Carroll County.