Howie

There's nothing else on television that allows you to go home with a lot of money with absolutely no skill. You can be a rock and move into another tax bracket."

Con artist Rodney Getlan did not just take people's money - his actions caused them to lose their homes. That he stole the sanctuary of a roof and four walls may have led to Getlan's getting a much longer prison term. Baltimore County Circuit Judge Vicki Ballou-Watts sentenced Getlan to 35 years in prison this week, a sentence on par with punishment for some violent crimes. "Rodney got what he deserved," said Lauri Hartz, who attended the court proceeding as one of nearly 50 known victims of Getlan's scheme to divert mortgage payments to his own accounts.

Winning over Howie Mandel, Nick Cannon and thousands of other American TV viewers has its perks. Just ask Lulu, the "pleasantly plump" 27-year-old pole dancer from Hanover who auditioned on"America's Got Talent"earlier this month. She'll be a guest-judge for the first-ever Pole Dance Competition at Scores Baltimore Gentlemen's Club tonight. Lulu will be available for photos and autographs after the competition. The contest starts at 9 p.m., and will feature dancers from "all over," according to a press release from Scores.

Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott / MCI Center Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott heat up the MCI Center, 601 F. Street N.W. in D.C. Wednesday night and April 11. Show time is 7, and tickets are $67.50-$77.50 and are available through Ticketmaster at 410-481-SEAT or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. The Crystal Method / 9:30 Club Electronica and club group The Crystal Method plays the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. N.W. in D.C. tonight at 8. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.930.

Villanova@Pennsylvania 3:30 p.m. [CN8] Is this the best college football game of the day? Probably not, but it's a Philadelphia Big Five matchup. Will it fit in the Palestra? Quick, name each school's most famous football product. Don't peek. ... Got it yet? Respectively, Howie Long and Chuck Bednarik. By the way, former Maryland quarterback Scott Zolak (right) is the analyst for this game.

BasketballI=Atlanta Hawks -- Cut G Stephen Bardo and G Scott Haffner.FootballAtlanta Falcons -- Released S Eric Bergeson. Activated S Tim Gordon.Los Angeles Raiders -- Added RB Bo Jackson, DT Howie Long and LB Alex Gordon. Placed RB Greg Bell (ankle) and LB Art Jimerson (neck) on injured reserve.Philadelphia Eagles -- Placed WR Mike Quick (knee, 9 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD) on injured reserve.

Fires are bad. Fires are even worse when they're started by people who smoke cigarettes.Firefighters are good. Firefighters are especially good when they're called "smokejumpers," which means they parachute into the scariest fires of all and put them out. Sometimes they even save little girls and their dogs. They say things like, "It's something I gotta do" before they jump. -Smokejumpers are macho!"Firestorm" is a movie that stars Howie Long as the bravest of all smokejumpers. Howie Long was a defensive lineman for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders for 13 years.

NORWICH, Conn. -- Howie Clark went 3-for-4 and scored three runs yesterday as the visiting Bowie Baysox nipped Norwich, 8-7, in a Double-A Eastern League game.Baysox starter Chris Fussell gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings, but Bowie (34-31) rallied with two runs in the seventh. Ryan Kohlmeier, just promoted from Single-A Delmarva, got his first save.Pub Date: 6/17/97

Toby Lightman is a study in contradiction. Both hip-hop and rock influence her acoustic guitar sound. Her latest album, Bird on a Wire, was produced by Bill Bottrell, most famous for producing Sheryl Crow's early work, and Patrick Leonard, known for his work with Madonna. After opening for Howie Day, Gavin DeGraw, Rob Thomas, Jewel and even Prince, Lightman fronts her own show at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Annapolis. The concert is at Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St. Tickets are $15. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramsheadtavern.