Jayson

New York Times reporter Jayson Blair has resigned after the newspaper found it could not verify he had done any original reporting for an article he wrote about a Texas woman waiting for word on the fate of her son, a missing U.S. serviceman. Instead, the April 26 article closely followed the structure and wording of an April 18 piece by Macarena Hernandez, a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News who was on a Times fellowship with Blair in 1998. Several quotes in the Times story from the soldier's relatives also hewed to those found in the earlier article.

They are mostly old coots now, gone gray, gone bald, in some cases simply gone. They're a few steps slower than they were in the 1960s, when newspapers were more playful places to be; not as prone to imbibe; and far less likely to engage in the kind of mischief that saw them pull off, if not the literary hoax of the century, at least a darn good prank. But 38 years ago -- before they went on to far more distinguished journalistic achievements, before any had retired or, as six have, died -- they all had the same thing on their minds: Sex. Steamy, sordid, outrageous, page-turning sex. For one week in the summer of 1966, 24 members of the staff of the Long Island newspaper Newsday, accepted the challenge of a colleague to write, as poorly as possible, a chapter of prose so engorged, so oozing, so tantalizingly brimming with sex that any other concerns -- plot, character development, redeeming social value -- were essentially moot.

It's not a matter of "if" but "when. " Medifast Inc., the No. 3 manufacturer of weight-loss food products, is growing so quickly in that industry that there will soon come a time when it outgrows its sole production facility in Owings Mills and builds plants elsewhere. To keep up with that rapid growth, Medifast plans on making $5 million in improvements to its headquarters and plant in Owings Mills over the next two years. But it's also considering other sites for the future, including a possible West Coast manufacturing site and one in Mexico to serve the growing Latin American market.

EMMITSBURG -- The Washington Bullets, speculating that veteran forward John Williams will not be physically ready for the opening of training camp tomorrow morning, have expressed interest in rookie forward Jayson Williams of St.John's.Jayson Williams was the No. 1 draft pick of the Phoenix Suns, but after considerable contract haggling, he has been offered a minimum one-year contract of $170,000."Jayson has several options," Suns president Jerry Colangelo said. "He can report to our camp, but I don't think that's in the cards.

Cheaters never prosper, the old adage goes. But Winona Ryder, Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair might beg to differ. All three can tell you that sometimes crime pays. After appearing in court dressed in fashion label Marc Jacobs' clothes to face charges of shoplifting a Marc Jacobs top, among other items, Ryder has now modeled for the designer. Stephen Glass, a former writer for The New Republic, Rolling Stone, Harper's and George magazines, was discovered in 1998 to be fabricating his articles.

Thanks to Jayson Blair, Howell Raines and several of their colleagues at The New York Times, it would be relatively easy to compile a Times-only list for this year's report on the worst moments in American journalism. But as another famous, unindicted co-conspirator once said, "It would be wrong." Well, OK, maybe it wouldn't be wrong. I mean, just look at the year that was on West 43rd Street: Blair's serial fabrications. Raines' arrogant reign and forced resignation. Publisher Arthur Sulzberger's bullying The Washington Post into leaving their partnership at The International Herald Tribune.

When the cab hurtling through midtown Manhattan stops, a young man in a gray suit unfolds himself and steps to the curb. The camera pulls back to reveal a gleaming legend above an entrance: The New York Times. The front page of The Times' Metropolitan section materializes on screen. A byline is highlighted. It reads: "Jayson Blair." Then the young man -- Blair himself -- begins to speak. The footage is part of a recruiting tape once sent to high schools by the University of Maryland, depicting the College Park campus as a place where students develop personally and professionally before embarking upon successful careers.

Ryan Howard hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth and scored on Jayson Werth's single, as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Colorado Rockies, 5-4, to win Game 4 and to reach the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brad Lidge, left, earned his second straight save, retiring cleanup man Troy Tulowitzki with two on to end it. PG 4

Moves Baseball BREWERS: Acquired C Robert Machado from Cubs for OF Jackson Melian. Placed C Paul Bako and P Chad Fox on 15-day DL. Purchased contract of P Jayson Durocher from Triple-A Indianapolis RANGERS: Recalled P John Rocker from Triple-A Oklahoma. Optioned P Rob Bell to Oklahoma. TWINS: Placed P Jack Cressand on 15-day DL. Recalled C Matt LaCroy from Triple-A Edmonton. YANKEES: Placed OF Juan Rivera on 15-day DL.

Basketball Dallas Mavericks -- Waived F Bob McCann and G Kelvin Upshaw.New Jersey Nets -- Signed F Derrick Coleman, top pick in NBA draft, to five-year contract.Philadelphia 76ers -- Dropped G Derek Smith (9.0 ppg). Acquired rookie F Jayson Williams, 21st selection in the NBA draft, from Phoenix Suns for a 1993 first-round draft pick.FootballMiami Dolphins -- Activated NT Shawn Lee from injured reserve. Waived DE Jeff Faulkner.HockeySt. Louis Blues -- Recalled D Robert Dirk from IHL Peoria.