John Mcdonald

Who's hot Reggie Sanders of the Pirates hit two homers in an inning last night, giving him seven in his past eight games. Who's not John McDonald of the Indians is in a 2-for-36 batting slump. Line of the day Rob Mackowiak, Pirates OF AB R H RB HR 5 3 4 3 2 On deck Jason Schmidt of the Giants tries for his 13th win against the visiting Braves in a matchup of division leaders. He said it "I've got nine grandkids. I love watching them play, but ... it's a little bit below the caliber I'm used to."

W ithout fear of argument, I think we can say there are better ways to start the season than how the Orioles have. Let's look at what's happened so far: •They lost 5-2 Sunday and were swept by the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays in the first home series of the season. •Their All-Star second baseman - the guy with the tricky herniated disk in his back - has an abdominal strain that's expected to land him on the disabled list today. •Their new $12 million closer is getting hit like a piñata and blowing saves, and is now being kept out of pressure situations so he can work on his mechanics - and, presumably, his psyche, too. (Keeping a closer out of pressure situations - that's like keeping a member of the bomb squad out of pressure situations, isn't it?

WASHINGTON -- Darryl Franklin scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to give American University a 65-58 victory over Loyola last night.Loyola (1-1) took a 50-48 lead on a layup by Roderick Platt with 4:35 remaining in regulation, but American (1-0) went on a 14-2 run to clinch the victory. Franklin scored 12 of the 14 points during the decisive run.Franklin hit a three-pointer with 4:12 remaining to send American ahead 51-50 and then tallied another three-pointer 40 seconds later to extend the lead to four.

Without fear of argument, I think we can say there are better ways to start the season than how the Orioles have. Let's look at what's happened so far: They lost 5-2 today and were swept by the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays in the first home series of the season. Their All-Star second baseman – the guy with the tricky herniated disk in his back – has an abdominal strain that's expected to land him on the disabled list Monday. Their new $12-million closer is getting hit like a piñata and blowing saves and is now being kept out of pressure situations so he can work on his mechanics -- and, presumably, his psyche, too. (Keeping a closer out of pressure situations – that's like keeping a member of the bomb squad out of pressure situations, isn't it?

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Sophomore guard Mike Powell scored a game-high 27 points last night to lead Loyola over William and Mary, 76-72, in the season opener for both teams at William and Mary Hall.Powell scored seven of Loyola's first nine points to stake the Greyhounds to a 9-2 lead, and they never trailed.Loyola held a 32-31 halftime lead and expanded that to 41-32 in the first 3:10 of the second half. William and Mary drew into a tie with 9:52 remaining on Bobby Fitzgibbons' three-pointer.

Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a broken right hand. Lo Duca broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his hand while batting in the seventh inning of a loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. He came off the DL last Friday after he was hit by a pitch and bruised the same hand April 13. Nationals manager Manny Acta said Lo Duca could be out four to six weeks. Lo Duca said he might have come back from the earlier injury too quickly.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - Their work here began nearly four years ago. When the 103rd U.S. Open begins this morning at Olympia Fields Country Club, the performance of a Baltimore-based golf course renovation company will be judged by some of the world's best players. John McDonald arrived yesterday with his son, John II, joining another son, Erik, who has been working as a volunteer member of course superintendent Dave Ward's bunker crew. If defending champion Tiger Woods is considered by most to be the best at what he does, the McDonalds are building a similar reputation.

It was a grand slam get-together at Morgan State University's Murphy Fine Arts Center, as the Babe Ruth Museum presented "A Legendary Evening -- Reunion of the 1966 World Champion Baltimore Orioles." Several hundred fans noshed on gourmet sandwiches, pizza, pasta and fancy chips and dips. But food wasn't the big attraction. It was the chance to meet and mingle with almost 20 former Orioles.

Going to San Antonio: Duke and Kentucky appear locked on a collision course for the regional final. The pick here is No. 2 Kentucky to beat No. 1 Duke and reach its third straight Final Four. The Wildcats are peaking with six straight wins and 10 in their past 11 games. The Blue Devils' offense disappeared at crucial times in the ACC tourney.Team on the rise: Michigan snatched its first Big Ten title since 1986 when the 17th-ranked Wolverines dusted Purdue, 76-67, in the tournament final yesterday.

UMBC (1-8) at Florida State (6-2)Site: Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, Fla.Time: 7Outlook: The Retrievers have lost six in a row. They were beaten by Central Connecticut on Saturday, 63-62, when Derrick Dunlap made a free throw with 16 seconds left and Tony Thompson's layup at the buzzer was blocked. Thompson (15.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) scored 22 and has reached double figures in 12 straight games. The Seminoles, winners of three straight, are led by junior G James Collins (20.9 ppg). Five Seminoles are averaging in double figures.

Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a broken right hand. Lo Duca broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his hand while batting in the seventh inning of a loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. He came off the DL last Friday after he was hit by a pitch and bruised the same hand April 13. Nationals manager Manny Acta said Lo Duca could be out four to six weeks. Lo Duca said he might have come back from the earlier injury too quickly.

It was a grand slam get-together at Morgan State University's Murphy Fine Arts Center, as the Babe Ruth Museum presented "A Legendary Evening -- Reunion of the 1966 World Champion Baltimore Orioles." Several hundred fans noshed on gourmet sandwiches, pizza, pasta and fancy chips and dips. But food wasn't the big attraction. It was the chance to meet and mingle with almost 20 former Orioles.

Who's hot Reggie Sanders of the Pirates hit two homers in an inning last night, giving him seven in his past eight games. Who's not John McDonald of the Indians is in a 2-for-36 batting slump. Line of the day Rob Mackowiak, Pirates OF AB R H RB HR 5 3 4 3 2 On deck Jason Schmidt of the Giants tries for his 13th win against the visiting Braves in a matchup of division leaders. He said it "I've got nine grandkids. I love watching them play, but ... it's a little bit below the caliber I'm used to."

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - Their work here began nearly four years ago. When the 103rd U.S. Open begins this morning at Olympia Fields Country Club, the performance of a Baltimore-based golf course renovation company will be judged by some of the world's best players. John McDonald arrived yesterday with his son, John II, joining another son, Erik, who has been working as a volunteer member of course superintendent Dave Ward's bunker crew. If defending champion Tiger Woods is considered by most to be the best at what he does, the McDonalds are building a similar reputation.

Going to San Antonio: Duke and Kentucky appear locked on a collision course for the regional final. The pick here is No. 2 Kentucky to beat No. 1 Duke and reach its third straight Final Four. The Wildcats are peaking with six straight wins and 10 in their past 11 games. The Blue Devils' offense disappeared at crucial times in the ACC tourney.Team on the rise: Michigan snatched its first Big Ten title since 1986 when the 17th-ranked Wolverines dusted Purdue, 76-67, in the tournament final yesterday.

UMBC (1-8) at Florida State (6-2)Site: Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, Fla.Time: 7Outlook: The Retrievers have lost six in a row. They were beaten by Central Connecticut on Saturday, 63-62, when Derrick Dunlap made a free throw with 16 seconds left and Tony Thompson's layup at the buzzer was blocked. Thompson (15.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) scored 22 and has reached double figures in 12 straight games. The Seminoles, winners of three straight, are led by junior G James Collins (20.9 ppg). Five Seminoles are averaging in double figures.

No. 7 MARYLAND (19-5) vs. CINCINNATI (17-8)Site: Alamodome, San AntonioTime: 1:30p.m.TV/Radio: Channels 2, 7/WBAL (1090 AM)Outlook: This is Maryland's first venture outside the Atlantic Coast Conference since December, and it could be a troublesome one. The Bearcats, though inconsistent this season, are just the kind of team that can give the seventh-ranked Terps problems. It is a team that could be just as athletic and a little more physically mature than Maryland. The Bearcats have beaten one ACC team this season -- Georgia Tech in the Rainbow Classic.

W ithout fear of argument, I think we can say there are better ways to start the season than how the Orioles have. Let's look at what's happened so far: •They lost 5-2 Sunday and were swept by the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays in the first home series of the season. •Their All-Star second baseman - the guy with the tricky herniated disk in his back - has an abdominal strain that's expected to land him on the disabled list today. •Their new $12 million closer is getting hit like a piñata and blowing saves, and is now being kept out of pressure situations so he can work on his mechanics - and, presumably, his psyche, too. (Keeping a closer out of pressure situations - that's like keeping a member of the bomb squad out of pressure situations, isn't it?

He was a starter for much of his first two years at UMBC, but junior forward Marc Lay has been designated as the Retrievers' sixth man this season. His job is to provide some offensive punch off the bench -- and the occasional miracle.Lay banked in a running three-pointer at the buzzer yesterday, averting overtime and giving UMBC a 56-53 victory over Loyola at Reitz Arena.It was Lay's fourth basket in four tries from beyond the arc, and it broke the sixth tie of the second half. The lead changed hands 11 times before UMBC had secured its first victory, and its 11th in 33 games against Loyola.

WASHINGTON -- Darryl Franklin scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to give American University a 65-58 victory over Loyola last night.Loyola (1-1) took a 50-48 lead on a layup by Roderick Platt with 4:35 remaining in regulation, but American (1-0) went on a 14-2 run to clinch the victory. Franklin scored 12 of the 14 points during the decisive run.Franklin hit a three-pointer with 4:12 remaining to send American ahead 51-50 and then tallied another three-pointer 40 seconds later to extend the lead to four.