I Cried

It was unprecedented television: 90 minutes of prime time during a sweeps ratings period for a sit-down interview with a talking head.But then, the head belongs to Michael Jackson, who granted the interview to the almost-as-famous Oprah Winfrey last night on ABC.With Jackson on a publicity blitz trying to improve his image, the live show had a tremendous potential for Jackson's hustling ABC for 90 minutes of free promotion for his new music video, which,...

As hard as it is to believe, I occasionally get mail from the one or two readers who glance at this column on their way to the TV listings.Given the sociopathic nature of these people, most of their letters quickly end up in the waste basket, although not before I show them around the office so everyone can have a good laugh.These are trying times in the newspaper industry, and we take our entertainment where we can find it.Yet a letter from a Mrs. A.N. Royce of Michigan stopped me in my tracks.

TORONTO -- Ever since people started arriving in Minneapolis for the start of the American League Championship Series, one of the favorite topics of conversation has been the Orioles' farewell to Memorial Stadium.Officials from the league and commissioner's offices, other team executives, former AL president and Orioles general manager Lee MacPhail, and scores of writers and broadcasters asked to be filled in on the ceremonies. There were already a lot of sketchy advance reports, but it seemed as though everyone wanted a first-hand briefing.

Against all odds, Sharon Gross, inmate No. 906-697, found joy in the birth of her son Hakeem.Gross, a 30-year-old Baltimore woman serving four years for cocaine possession, struggled through 19 hours of labor in shackles and handcuffs. The restraints came off only when she was ready to deliver.No friend or relative was allowed in the hospital to hold her hand and there were no little gifts for Gross after her ordeal -- prison rules prevented her from bringing anything back to jail.Finally, only 36 hours after giving birth, Gross went home -- to the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup.

I WOULD never have believed just four months ago that I would find myself taken by ambulance from intensive care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center to a nursing home.I was placed in a pleasant sunny room with an adjoining bath. The first 10 days I was weak and had nursing care around the clock. After a week of not doing much beside feeding myself, I was growing stronger and hoped to return to my apartment. But my children and doctor said no, that I needed at least a daytime nurse and someone to make sure that I got my meals.