James Brooks

"If I wasn't gay, I'd be just one more Jewish comic with glasses," Jaffe Cohen has said. Formerly with Funny Gay Males, the three-man group that set a box office record at the Theatre Project in 1992, Cohen returns to the Preston Street theater tonight for a two-week engagement of his autobiographical solo show, "The King of Kings and I."Born in Brooklyn, Cohen moved with his family to a largely Catholic neighborhood on Long Island. His show relates his temporary infatuation with Christianity and his early anxieties over his homosexuality.

Howard County police officers looked for a wounded pit bull yesterday that remained loose after a skirmish with a Laurel police dog.Laurel K-9 Officer James R. Brooks was going home from work early Friday morning when two stray pit bulls attacked his dog on Livery Lane, according to Howard County police, who are investigating the case.Brooks tried to intervene, but the pit bulls were too aggressive.The officer fired at the dogs, wounding one. The dogs scurried off before they could be caught, police said.

A man recently paroled after serving about eight years in prison for a 1983 murder is now being sought for the stabbing death Tuesday of his former girlfriend in Baltimore, homicide detectives said.Joseph James Brooks, also known as Bobby Arthur Murray, of the 1800 block of N. Dallas St., is charged with first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the slaying of Ruth Roberts, 41.Ms. Roberts, a mother of two who had recently split up with Brooks after dating him for about a year, was killed about 11:40 a.m., police said.

Baseball Chicago White Sox -- Signed IF Joey Cora to a two-year contract and OF Sammy Sosa and IF Craig Grebeck to one-year contracts.Milwaukee Brewers -- Sent P Mark Lee, P Darren Holmes, P Otis Green, P Michael Ignasiak, P Eric Nolte, P Efrain Valdez, C Dave Nilsson and OF Matias Carrillo to minor-league camp for reassignment. Gave OF Kenny Williams his outright release.San Francisco Giants -- Placed P Scott Garrelts on the 60-day disabled list.Seattle Mariners -- Optioned P Brent Knackert, P Clint Zavaras, C Chris Howard and C Jim Campanis to Class AAA Calgary.

A former Baltimore police officer was killed in the line of duty Friday in Norfolk, Va., after being shot by an assailant who was still at large, the Norfolk Police Department said yesterday. Stanley Cornell Reaves, 33, was a Baltimore police officer from 1993 until 2004, when he was hired by the Norfolk department. According to Norfolk police, Reaves was flagged down by a person who told him a man nearby was acting suspiciously. He approached the man, who was standing by a parked van, about 4 p.m. Friday.

BaseballAL -- Suspended Seattle Mariners P Eric Gunderson for four games and California Angels OF Luis Polonia for three games for fighting during a game Sept. 15.NL -- Announced that Chicago Cubs P Bob Scanlan withdrew his appeal of a four-game suspension.Cleveland Indians -- Named Jay Robertson scouting director for West Coast operations and Shawn Pender scouting director for East Coast operations.San Diego Padres -- Extended their working agreement with Spokane of the Single-A Northwest League for two years.

Virginia B. Brooks, a retired Social Security Administration worker who was active in church and community affairs, died in her sleep Saturday at Brinton Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sykesville. She was 89. She was born Virginia Bertha Lewis on East 28th Street, and in 1917 moved to the Carroll Street rowhouse in Pigtown, where she would live for the remainder of her life. Mrs. Brooks studied dressmaking and barbering at Carver Vocational Technical High School, from which she graduated in 1933.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with C Mike Heath (.270, 7 HR, 38 RBI in 122 games with Tigers) on a $2 million, two-year contract. Assigned OF Geronimo Berroa to Class AAA Richmond.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Announced that C Gary Carter has accepted an invitation to go to spring training.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Announced they have severed ties with Harrisburg of the Eastern League. Announced a working agreement with Columbus of the Southern League.Seattle Mariners -- Acquired P Dave Richards from the Detroit Tigers for IF Todd Haney.

BaseballPhiladelphia Phillies -- Extended their working agreement with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons of the Triple-A International League for the next two years.San Diego Padres -- Named Steve Lubratich assistant GM.Houston Astros -- Placed Triple-A Tucson P Craig McMurtry on the seven-day DL. Activated OF Joe Mikulik to Tucson roster.BasketballRF Boston Celtics -- Signed C Eric Montross to a multi-year contract.CollegesCollege Football Association -- Announced that Navy AD Jack Lengyel will chair the athletic directors committee.

BASEBALL American League * CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- Agreed to terms with Joey Cora, infielder, on a two-year contract, and Sammy Sosa, outfielder, and Craig Grebeck, infielder, on one-year contracts.MILWAUKEE BREWERS -- Sent Mark Lee, Darren Holmes, Otis Green, Michael Ignasiak, Eric Nolte and Efrain Valdez, pitchers; Dave Nilsson, catcher; and Matias Carrillo, outfielder, to their minor league camp for reassignment. Gave Kenny Williams, outfielder, his outright release.SEATTLE MARINERS -- Optioned Brent Knackert and Clint Zavaras, pitchers, and Chris Howard and Jim Campanis, catchers, to Calgary of the Pacific Coast League.