League

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford has been affiliated with the league since 1973, and he struggled this week to recall when there was as much balance in men's basketball as there was this season, lending to a truly wide-open ACC tournament. With the top five teams in the league separated by one game, and a shift in power from the state of North Carolina to Virginia, it seems as if anything can happen this week at the tournament, which begins tomorrow at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. Maryland vs. Miami ACC tournament first round, tomorrow, 2:30 p.m. (approximate)

Your friendly neighborhood columnist dived headlong into his fantasy season Sunday with a six-hour auction during the day and a mixed-league draft at night. As is often the case in this foolish pursuit, my best-laid plans became obsolete about an hour after I called out the first bid. So this recap shall serve as a bit of a cautionary tale. But before I explain, let me set up the day. You may remember about five weeks ago, I offered to set up a league for fantasy hard-cores. Well, it came together, and we all met and went through an 11-team, American League auction last weekend.

Fantasy sports can strain friendships. I was reminded of this last week while recording my podcast with Sheil Kapadia of Baltimoresun.com. Sheil plays in a football league with longtime pals, and one of them had become the subject of much scorn for leaving two inactive players in his lineup the previous weekend. If you've played for a long time, you've probably encountered a similar situation. An owner's season isn't going well and maybe he's a casual player in the first place, so after a few months, his attention wanes.

Ravens coach Brian Billick said yesterday that his two-hour meeting with troubled running back Lawrence Phillips in Atlanta went well, and Phillips will probably visit Baltimore by the middle of next week to begin the second stage of talks that could result in him signing for the 1999 season.Phillips, 24, is believed to have narrowed his list to four teams, and Billick said yesterday that the third-year player has already met or scheduled talks with head coaches from Green Bay, San Francisco and Buffalo.

BaseballAthletics: Agreed to minor-league contract with P Kevin Jarvis; invited him to major-league camp.Rockies: Named Tim Ireland coordinator of Pacific Rim scouting.Twins: Re-signed free-agent C Terry Steinbach to one-year contract. Agreed to terms with 3B Brian Richardson on minor-league contract; invited him to major-league camp.BasketballGlobetrotters: Signed G Jamar Curry.,CollegeAtlantic 10: Named George Washington G Mike King (Lake Clifton) men's basketball Player of the Week.CIAA: Named Bowie State F Beverly Winstead women's basketball Player of the Week.

BaseballAthletics: Agreed to minor-league contract with P Kevin Jarvis; invited him to major-league camp.Rockies: Named Tim Ireland coordinator of Pacific Rim scouting.Twins: Re-signed free-agent C Terry Steinbach to one-year contract. Agreed to terms with 3B Brian Richardson on minor-league contract; invited him to major-league camp.BasketballGlobetrotters: Signed G Jamar Curry.,CollegeAtlantic 10: Named George Washington G Mike King (Lake Clifton) men's basketball Player of the Week.CIAA: Named Bowie State F Beverly Winstead women's basketball Player of the Week.

Astros: Houston is a major-league-best 78-0 when leading after eight innings.Expos: This was Montreal's first doubleheader of the season.

BaseballOrioles: Named Mitch Bibb minor-league medical coordinator.Angels: Purschased the contracts of IF Larry Barnes and C Jason Dewey from Double-A Erie; OF Elpidio Guzman from Cedar Rapids of the Single-A Midwest League; P Matt Wise from Triple-A Edmonton; P Scot Shields from Lake Elsinore of the Single-A California League and P Elvin Nina from Double-A Midland. Sent P Mark Harriger to Edmonton.Devil Rays: Purchased the contracts of P Todd Belitz, P Cedrick Bowers, IF Jared Sandberg and OF Luke Wilcox from Triple-A Durham.

Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken will announce the purchase of a minority share in the BayRunners today.Ripken becomes one of a few big-name athletes involved with the new International Basketball League, including Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who is owner of the Cincinnati franchise.Ripken will have a "significant role" with the team, although his ownership stake will be less than that of the league, which remains majority owner of the franchise, said Ira Rainess, who coordinates Ripken's commercial enterprises.

Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken describes his acquisition of a minority share of the BayRunners as part fun, part love of basketball and partly a way of giving back to the city.Ripken talked about his involvement with the BayRunners and the new International Basketball League yesterday at the ESPN Zone.Ripken has an undisclosed minority share, with the league still owning the majority. The BayRunners and the Las Vegas Silver Bandits are the two teams in the eight-team IBL that the league owns the majority share.

Housing foreclosures have hit record numbers. It can cost $100 to fill up an SUV. Even Fannie and Freddie might need an advance on their allowance from Uncle Sam. Can the economic news get any worse? Oh, yes. The faltering economy now is coming after something truly precious: the summer carnival. Across the country, carnivals have been canceled outright or their hours shortened as a result of the soaring cost of the fuel that powers the rides, heats the oil for the corn dogs and lights up all those midway attractions.

BOWIE BAYSOX League -- Double-A Eastern Affiliation -- Orioles since 1993 Stadium -- Prince George's Directions -- Take I-97 south to U.S. 3, cross U.S. 50 to second light; turn for stadium is on the left. Phone -- 301-805-6000 Web site -- baysox.com manager -- Brad Komminsk FREDERICK KEYS League -- Single-A Carolina Affiliation -- Orioles since 1989 Stadium -- Harry Grove Directions -- Take I-70 west to Exit 54, Market Street, turn left at the first traffic light, then right onto Sta dium Drive.

Arena football is coming back to Baltimore, this time armed with a new team, a slew of new owners and, if all goes according to plan, a renewed sense of business acumen. With the Baltimore Mariners joining 15 other franchises, the American Indoor Football Association is looking to put on a show full of fast-paced excitement on the field and void of financial difficulties off it. The league will begin its 2008 season Saturday, when the Mariners visit the Reading Express. "We have businessmen now that have the ability to own and run a business," AIFA co-owner John Morris said at a news conference yesterday to announce the 2008 season, alluding to the league's 13 new ownership groups.

Bethesda -- The Maryland Nighthawks of the newly formed Premier Basketball League are banking that former Towson University guard Tamir Goodman still has enough cachet to help the fledgling league get off the ground. At a news conference held at Georgetown Prep yesterday, Nighthawks owner and league chief executive officer Tom Doyle introduced the player dubbed the "Jewish Jordan" by talking about his skills on and off the court. "This is somebody who epitomizes everything not only this team but this league should be about," Doyle said.

Fantasy sports can strain friendships. I was reminded of this last week while recording my podcast with Sheil Kapadia of Baltimoresun.com. Sheil plays in a football league with longtime pals, and one of them had become the subject of much scorn for leaving two inactive players in his lineup the previous weekend. If you've played for a long time, you've probably encountered a similar situation. An owner's season isn't going well and maybe he's a casual player in the first place, so after a few months, his attention wanes.

DEAR CAL -- I am a coach for my son's instructional league baseball team (7- and 8-year-olds). It seems like I have been given all the new boys in the league, and our team has been outscored 110-32 in eight games. My kids are in the field for a half-hour at a time while other teams are batting through their order most innings. How can my players learn when they aren't really getting a chance? Do you have suggestions on how I can address this issue? Chris Harris, Westminster DEAR CHRIS -- There's no question that the 7-8 age group is very much developmental - even for the teams at that level that consider themselves "travel" programs.

April 15, 1947, dawned cold and gloomy in Brooklyn. And the day never got much brighter for the Dodger who stood at the center of so much attention. Rookie first baseman Jackie Robinson went hitless in four at-bats against Boston Braves offspeed specialist Johnny Sain. "I did a miserable job," his biographer, Arnold Rampersad, quoted Robinson as writing in a letter. "There was an overflow crowd at Ebbets Field. If they expected any miracles out of Robinson, they were sadly disappointed."

When Roger Goodell brought down the hammer on Adam "Pacman" Jones and Chris Henry yesterday, the NFL's rookie commissioner took a bold step toward eradicating the league's troublesome image as a home for renegade millionaires. Whether Goodell hit the mark with his get-tough missive and a new personal conduct policy, he at least served notice the country-club days are over in the NFL. No more wrist slaps for repeat offenders. Cross the line, pay with time. Jones and Henry, former teammates at West Virginia, got the message.

Your friendly neighborhood columnist dived headlong into his fantasy season Sunday with a six-hour auction during the day and a mixed-league draft at night. As is often the case in this foolish pursuit, my best-laid plans became obsolete about an hour after I called out the first bid. So this recap shall serve as a bit of a cautionary tale. But before I explain, let me set up the day. You may remember about five weeks ago, I offered to set up a league for fantasy hard-cores. Well, it came together, and we all met and went through an 11-team, American League auction last weekend.

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford has been affiliated with the league since 1973, and he struggled this week to recall when there was as much balance in men's basketball as there was this season, lending to a truly wide-open ACC tournament. With the top five teams in the league separated by one game, and a shift in power from the state of North Carolina to Virginia, it seems as if anything can happen this week at the tournament, which begins tomorrow at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. Maryland vs. Miami ACC tournament first round, tomorrow, 2:30 p.m. (approximate)