Jordan

WASHINGTON -- A military judge dismissed yesterday allegations that a top general improperly steered the investigation against the highest-ranking American soldier - and only officer - charged with a crime in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The ruling clears the way for the Army to try Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan, a 51-year-old reservist from Virginia who ran the interrogation center at the Iraqi prison, for failing to exert his authority as soldiers abused detainees. Seven lower-ranking military police officers, including some from Maryland-based units, have been convicted in trials that exposed how U.S. soldiers in Iraq stripped prisoners naked, photographed them in outrageous poses and threatened them with police dogs.

Jodie Foster was attracted to The Brave One partly because it resembled Taxi Driver, the Martin Scorsese masterpiece in which, at age 13, she played a prostitute. She told Newsweek, "When I first read the script, honestly, it didn't remind me enough of Taxi Driver. That was one of my issues with it." Right there, Foster indicates what's gone wrong with her new movie. It's an attempt to re-create artificially the power of a movie that was intensely organic. Critics have interpreted Taxi Driver as a response to the violence of the Vietnam War era and a reaction to a New York City that seemed on the eve of self-destruction.

After a 25-hour manhunt, sheriff's deputies in Florence, S.C., captured a convicted armed robber yesterday who had slipped out of his leg shackles at a downtown Baltimore courthouse and escaped last month. Police in Florence said they received a tip several days ago that Marvin Ray Jordan, 24, was in their area. Officers tracked him to a motel off Interstate 95 about 6 p.m. Thursday. A Florence police spokesman said Jordan managed to elude officers and was driven away by a friend in a rental vehicle.

Overall No. 1 picks in the NBA draft can't hide. Some are more visible than others. Then there is LeBron James. James, who made the jump from high school to the NBA, pulled on a No. 23 jersey - fully knowing its significance - and lifted an entire city, not just a franchise, onto his back. Tonight, Ohio's favorite son will play on basketball's grandest stage, when he leads the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first NBA Finals appearance, against the San Antonio Spurs. At 22, James is not the youngest player to reach the Finals, but perhaps he is the youngest to do so with so much pressure and so many expectations on him. Since James entered the NBA in 2003, he has lived with comparisons daily.

ATLANTA -- Before there was Albert Belle there almost was Brian Jordan. The Orioles last night came face-to-face with the Atlanta Braves' right fielder for the first time since he spurned their four-year, $30 million offer as a free agent last November.Jordan, a longtime Atlanta resident, insisted he gave the Orioles serious consideration before signing with the Braves. So what did the decision come down to? Climate? Remaining in the National League? Keeping a Country Club of the South golf membership?

The New York Times said in an editorial yesterday:FOR selfish reasons, we wish that Michael Jordan had stayed on. His absence denies us the pleasure of watching one of the world's great athletes and surely the most accomplished basketball player ever. His presence might have redeemed this sadly truncated season and restored some of the affection we had for the game. It will not be easy to replace a global icon.But it is hard to fault his decision to retire or its timing. He is 35 years old. He does not, by his own admission, have the physical and mental edge that he has always required of himself.

PHILADELPHIA -- It was a volatile situation that threatened to destroy the Philadelphia 76ers' season, the clash of egos between the high-salaried superstar and the well-paid coach.That's when millionaire team president Pat Croce decided to get involved, in hopes his young, promising team would stay the course. He sought an audience last month with the two principals, guard Allen Iverson and coach Larry Brown, to smooth over the situation."It was a major concern, because I want a harmonious family -- I want a family that loves each other," Croce said.

CHICAGO -- From a man who provided numerous memorable moments in his 13 years in the NBA, there isn't one that defines Michael Jordan's greatness as a player.Not his last NBA shot in Game 6 of last years Finals, when he deftly used his left hand to shove Utah's Bryon Russell aside before hitting an 18-foot, game-winning jumper for Chicago's sixth title of the 1990s.Not his Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, when Jordan -- obviously ill -- got out of his sick bed to score 38 in a pivotal game against the Jazz.

Throughout the more than six months of the NBA lockout, a time when Kenny Anderson contemplated selling his eighth car and Shawn Kemp got lumpy, the Indiana Pacers were diligently working out.For the most part, 10 players participated -- including most of the team's key components."

HE ALWAYS had the sweetest moves.Like in the 1986 playoffs when he faced down Larry Bird. Juking, jerking, stutter-stepping, he toyed with Mr. Bird, then stepped out and popped a jump shot that fell through the net just as pretty as you please.Basketball aficionados -- and suddenly there were a lot more of them -- were thunderstruck. "Did you see that move? Did you see it?"New movesWe spent more than a decade watching his moves. But the move Michael Jordan is making now is unlike any he's ever made before.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - -Humble and reflective earlier in the day, Michael Jordan showed once again Friday night why his competitive fire never will be extinguished as he officially entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan basically trash-talked his way through his acceptance speech, thanking all those slights - real and perceived - for adding "wood to the fire" and motivating him during his unparalleled career. He then closed with a tantalizing thought. "One time you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said, drawing chuckles.

The Orioles went down to the last few hours but have reached terms on an $800,000 deal with their second-round pick, high school shortstop Mychal Givens. Givens, reached by phone 90 minutes before the midnight deadline, said he was eschewing a scholarship to Oklahoma State to sign a contract with the Orioles. Thirty minutes before the midnight deadline, Orioles amateur scouting director Joe Jordan confirmed that the deal is done. "This is kind of the icing on the cake for me," Jordan said.

Saying it's time to move on, Orioles amateur scouting director Joe Jordan withdrew his offer for second-round draft pick Mychal Givens and turned his attention to signing several of the team's other draft picks. Givens, a shortstop out of H.B. Plant High in Tampa, Fla., was the 54th overall pick. Barring a sudden change before Monday's deadline to sign draft picks, Givens will accept a full scholarship to Oklahoma State and the Orioles will receive the sixth pick in 2010's second round as compensation for not signing him. "We just have too much ground to cover," Jordan said.

Joe Jordan's draft philosophy hasn't wavered since he took over the Orioles' amateur scouting department in November 2004. He takes the highest-rated player on his scouting board, regardless of position, need, representation or educational status. In analyzing Jordan's first four Orioles drafts, however, a clear pattern emerges. Of his top-10 picks in each of the past four years, 30 were college players and 10 from high school. Of those 40, only three were high school pitchers; the highest selected were third-rounders Brandon Erbe (2005)

On January 20, 2009, WILLIAM E. JORDAN, SR., devoted father of Natalie Roberts and William E. Jordan Jr. Friends may visit the: family-owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Sunday after 10:00 A.M. The family will receive friends on Monday at the Silas First Baptist Church, 91 West Earleigh Heights Road, at 6:30 P.M. followed by funeral service at 7:00 P.M.

Joe Jordan, the Orioles' director of scouting, went to bed Wednesday night knowing which three players would be gone before his turn came up in yesterday's amateur draft. He was on the clock as soon as his head hit the pillow. The decision was made around 10 a.m., four hours before the draft began. Though intrigued by their other candidate, University of South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak, the Orioles couldn't pass on University of San Diego left-hander Brian Matusz with the fourth overall pick.

Columbus, Ohio -- B.J. Surhoff has not changed that much since his days as an Orioles outfielder and first baseman. He is still stoic and quiet, careful with his words and wary of attention. He still has the thick and tanned forearms of a furniture mover and the strong and confident chin of a leading man, even though he always seemed more comfortable in a supporting role during his baseball career. But instead of spending his afternoons honing his smooth left-handed stroke at Camden Yards, Surhoff, now 43, can often be found poolside in places like this, the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State, sitting alone up in the bleachers.

Pia Jordan knows all about dedication to her job. The veteran of nearly two decades as a reporter for Gtv, Howard County's soon-to-be extinct government cable television station, gave birth to her daughter Christina, now 17, on camera. The Pregnancy Watch was one of Jordan's early shows - a weekly 30-minute segment packed with helpful information for pregnant women and their families based on her experience. "It was done tastefully," Jordan said recently. "We were talking about pregnancy one day and somebody said, `That would be a great show.

On November 23, 2007, JOANN P. JORDAN of Abingdon,

Paradigm 179 Main St., Annapolis 410-626-6030 Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Annapolis isn't just for tourists anymore. Realizing that the Historic District was ready to move beyond its T-shirt shop roots, Jessica Jordan opened Paradigm. "Annapolis needed a fun boutique with clothing at approachable prices," said Jordan, who worked previously for the state legislature and for the state Board of Elections as its chief financial officer. "We have quite a range of men's and women's clothing, but the items we carry are ones we think are smart.