Fame Game

Washington Redskins rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly had arthroscopic surgery yesterday on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for two more weeks. Kelly injured his right hamstring during training camp practice July 25 and has since been complaining of soreness in both knees. He returned last week to take part in some drills but was obviously laboring while on the field. He sat out Sunday's Hall of Fame Game against the Indianapolis Colts. "It has been kind of stiff. ... We just thought we'd do things as soon as we can if there is a problem," coach Jim Zorn said.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Betting on sports is stupid. I realize this occasionally. Like, say, every time I bet. Fortunately, that is not often."Honey," I tell my wife, "while we're here in Las Vegas, how about if I bet on my college's basketball team? They can't possibly lose by 30 points again. Plus, their new uniforms are cool.""Thanks, idiot," the casino cash drawer says to me, figuratively, a few hours later."We could've had a nice dinner instead," my wife then says, non-figuratively, minutes after that.

It's a day for confrontations. Baltimore's Democratic mayoral candidates meet on WBAL-TV this morning, Monica Seles returns to tennis against Martina Navratilova in the afternoon, and the world's greatest magicians offer dueling illusions in the evening.* "The Bottom Line" (11 a.m.-noon, WBAL, Channel 11) -- They faced off politely on radio earlier this week, and now Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and City Council President Mary Pat Clarke, his primary election rival, appear together in a forum moderated by Rep. Kweisi Mfume.

Dennis Miller wants a doubting nation to know he has plenty of experience as a sportscaster - namely, three decades of sitting on the couch in his underwear, watching games and barking commentary at his TV. But seriously, folks ... Tonight, the hipster comic will make his debut on "Monday Night Football" in what qualifies as either a) another bold experiment from the network that gave the world Howard Cosell or b) an awful mistake. ABC is gambling that a comedic presence in the booth will rejuvenate its seminal game of the week, adding a twist to the coverage by veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels and former quarterback Dan Fouts.

The Gambrills-Odenton Recreation Council 95-pound football team often draws crowds to its games. But every week this fall, millions are seeing the Wildcats in action. Some members of the Wildcats wound up being last-minute replacements in a public service announcement filmed for USA Football, an independent, nonprofit organization that advocates the development of youth and amateur football. The kids, ages 9 and 10, some parents and coach Rick Peacock spent a long day at North County High School in July filming the public service announcement supporting USA Football's Play Football Month, which runs from mid-August to mid-September.

Brushing the Ocean City sand off the notebook for some sports media scribblings: *Just in case it's too hard to remember which of the Ravens' preseason games are on WBAL and which are on WMAR - the first and last are on Channel 11, and the middle two are on Channel 2, by the way - you can simply remember all four are also being carried by MASN as part of its schedule of Ravens programming. During the regular season, MASN airs a post-game Ravens Xtra and coach John Harbaugh's Monday news conferences.

Because of a potential conflict with the Ravens' home playoff game next week, the Orioles yesterday postponed their annual FanFest, which was scheduled for Jan. 14 at the Baltimore Convention Center. An announcement about the rescheduling of FanFest is expected in the coming days. "The Orioles congratulate the Ravens on a great regular season and eagerly anticipate what we hope is a long and successful playoff run," Orioles director of communications Greg Bader said in a statement. "Given the importance of the Ravens' postseason to Baltimore sports fans, the Orioles will naturally reschedule FanFest to alleviate any logistical difficulties for Baltimore sports fans traveling downtown to enjoy the game.

ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD Scarlett Johansson Sun Grade: C+ Film actress and critical darling Scarlett Johansson started nurturing a career in music two years ago. She appeared on Unexpected Dreams: Songs From the Stars, a 2006 charity album, crooning the George Gershwin standard "Summertime." Soon afterward, Rhino, the label that released the CD, approached Johansson with a recording contract. For her debut release, the blond beauty decided to do a concept album. Well, sort of. Anywhere I Lay My Head is a suite of Tom Waits songs that loosely centers on traveling.

CANTON, Ohio -- Perry Klein may have tried his last back flip on a football field.The rookie from C. W. Post stumbled on the landing when he tried a back flip after scrambling for five yards and the winning touchdown with 37 seconds to play to give the Atlanta Falcons a 21-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers in the annual Hall of Fame game that kicks off the NFL exhibition season.Klein, a fourth-round draft pick who is fighting veteran Bob Gagliano for the team's No. 3 quarterback job behind Jeff George and Bobby Hebert, said, "I just was excited.

NFL owners unlocked the doors Thursday, but the players aren't ready to enter just yet. Hours after owners overwhelmingly approved a conditional end to the 4-month-old lockout, the players refused to vote on the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement. Describing the move as a "power play," New Orleans Saints fullback Heath Evans accused the owners of trying to "slip many things" into the CBA that hadn't been agreed upon. Ravens wide receiver Donte' Stallworth confirmed that the players haven't received all of the documents from the NFL to review, which has caused the delay.