Lenny Moore

The photograph hangs in Lenny Moore 's club basement, amid the hundreds of trophies, plaques and keepsakes that chronicle the life of the Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame running back. But few treasures mean as much to Moore as the black-and-white snapshot of him and his mentor, former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, with their arms draped around one another. Were the two to meet today, Moore said, they would again embrace. Never mind Paterno's recent dismissal in the wake of child sex abuse charges brought against onetime Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky.

What's more embarrassing than to have to take down a commemorative statue? Accomplished individuals may encounter situations over a lifetime that overshadow the acts that brought them recognition. William Donald Schaefer's statue was dedicated at a point in time when he was unlikely to tarnish his legacy. With Joe Paterno, the timing was not so fortuitous. Johnny Unitas ' statue was a safe bet. The Oriole players' statues are probably going to stand the test of time. At 80, we can confidently reflect on the life achievements of Lenny Moore and declare him worthy of a commemorative statue.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says the team will make plans for a statue of Ray Lewis to honor The Great Mufasa for his stellar football career in Baltimore. And that's a good idea, but what about Lenny Moore ? First things first, please. "Without a doubt Ray Lewis is one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history, if not the greatest," says Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, coordinator of a Lenny Moore statue committee that formed a couple of years ago. "However, there must be a statue made this year, when the great Lenny Moore turns 80 years young, to finally recognize him for his great athletic accomplishments, but also for his outstanding and long-standing contributions to just about every public service and philanthropic cause Maryland has had. "We can talk about many athletes, but none in the history of Maryland has given to the community for as long, in as many areas, to just about every cause imaginable and without due recognition and thanks.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says the team will make plans for a statue of Ray Lewis to honor The Great Mufasa for his stellar football career in Baltimore. And that's a good idea, but what about Lenny Moore ? First things first, please. "Without a doubt Ray Lewis is one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history, if not the greatest," says Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, coordinator of a Lenny Moore statue committee that formed a couple of years ago. "However, there must be a statue made this year, when the great Lenny Moore turns 80 years young, to finally recognize him for his great athletic accomplishments, but also for his outstanding and long-standing contributions to just about every public service and philanthropic cause Maryland has had. "We can talk about many athletes, but none in the history of Maryland has given to the community for as long, in as many areas, to just about every cause imaginable and without due recognition and thanks.

Is it time for a statue to Lenny Moore , too? The great man, who played beautiful football for the Colts when they were Baltimore's team, turns 78 this Friday, and his admirers think that's an appropriate time to discuss commissioning a statue and getting on with a permanent public tribute. The idea would be a bronzed likeness of Mr. Moore, his big right hand cupped around a football held close to his side as he makes one of those great runs - usually after snaring a pass from Johnny Unitas - that live in the memory of so many Baltimoreans who cheered for the Colts in the stadium now gone from 33rd Street.

It might have been Ravens training camp, but this was a Baltimore Colt doing the coaching yesterday. His team: 16 youths caught up in the state Department of Juvenile Services. Better known for his star turn as a halfback in the 1950s and 1960s, Lenny Moore has spent the past two dozen years helping troubled teenagers. Moore, 74, works for the community and family partnerships division of Juvenile Services, where his NFL connections help him arrange trips to training camp, exhibition games and other Ravens events.

They watched the Ravens' football playoffs together, muffling their whoops in the hush of a hospital. Les Moore lay propped in bed in the critical care wing, more mindful of the TV than the IV in his arm. Beside him sat his father, Lenny, the Colts' Hall of Famer. Finally, things appeared to be looking up. Baltimore led Oakland by seven ... 10 ... 13 points. As the Ravens neared victory, Les looked more alert. Forgotten, for a moment, was his nine-year struggle with a chronic illness. Les sipped juice, ate mashed potatoes, urged the team on. Then, the Ravens won. "Man, we're going to the Super Bowl!"

ONE YEAR ago, Lenny Moore turned on a television set and watched the Baltimore Ravens battle the Oakland Raiders for a place in the Super Bowl. Moore, once the glorious Sputnik of Baltimore Colts football championships, had a front row seat in a little intensive care room at Northwest Hospital Center, on Old Court Road in Baltimore County. "Dad, I think it's gonna be all right," his son Leslie said, looking up from his hospital bed. The message carried two meanings: The Ravens were going to win, and Leslie Moore, 43, for nine years battling the hideous disease called progressive systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, was staging a rally of his own. "Oh, we were so excited," Lenny Moore was remembering yesterday.

ESPN will air The Greatest Game Ever Played on Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. However, Baltimore Colts fans should be forewarned. ESPN has assembled several of the Colts and Giants who played in the 1958 NFL championship game to discuss it - including Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore and Art Donovan. However, ESPN brought those former Baltimore greats and some '58 Giants together with modern counterparts from the past two Super Bowl champs - and that means members of the Indianapolis Colts.

At 68, Roy Hilton still enjoys fooling people. "They come up to me and think I'm an old basketball player. I like that," said Hilton, who, at 6-foot-6, was one of the tallest Baltimore Colts of his day. He fooled people in other ways, back then. The Colts' 15th round draft pick in 1965, Hilton surprised everyone by making the team at defensive end and lasting 11 years in the NFL. And in Baltimore's 16-13 victory in Super Bowl V, he surprised Dallas by roaring past its All-Pro tackle, Ralph Neely, and sacking Cowboys' quarterback Craig Morton twice before halftime.

Dennis H.L. Sherman, a retired tailor who was also known as "The Tie Man," died Dec. 14 of pneumonia at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was 87. "I first met him when I was in middle school. Back then I used to wear ascots, and he thought that was so cool," said Matthew "Bay Bay" Williams, a Baltimore portrait artist. "He was a most interesting fellow. " Dennis Howard Lee Sherman was born in Norfolk, Va., and raised in Petersburg, Va., where he graduated from high school. During World War II, he served in the Army as a private.

Nov. 26, 2000: In a 44-7 victory over the visiting Cleveland Browns, the Ravens (9-4) score more points than they did in all of five games during October. Jamal Lewis rushes for 170 yards, Trent Dilfer passes for two touchdowns and Matt Stover kicks three field goals for the Super Bowl-bound winners. Nov. 27, 1978: "I've always liked him," Orioles manager Earl Weaver says of outfielder John Lowenstein, 31, whom the team purchases off waivers from the Texas Rangers for $20,000.

Oct. 31, 1995: The Orioles name former player Davey Johnson as manager a year after passing him over for Phil Regan, who led the Birds to a 71-73 finish. "I felt like there were a lot of stupid people out there," Johnson says of the snub, conceding that he thought of passing up this opportunity because of it. "Then I said, 'Who am I kidding? If they offer me that job, I'll crawl to Baltimore to take it.'" He'll run the club for two years and make the playoffs both times. Oct. 29, 1983: Boomer Esiason's two touchdown passes lift Maryland (7-1)

How could The Sun produce a historical list of the most outstanding athletes in Maryland's history and not include Tom Matte? I don't even want to guess. One of the criteria was that the player had to have lived in Maryland for three years. Tom Matte has maintained his home in Maryland ever since he first joined the Colts in 1961 - a total of 51 years - when he first was a running back behind Lenny Moore . A professional football team in those days had only 38 players, which meant that each player had to be versatile and able to fill in at any spot.

Lenny Moore can hardly attend an NFL function without some gnarly old linebacker wagging his finger at the 78-year-old Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame running back and telling Moore something he already knows. "Lenny," the old-timer will say, "I had a bead on you so many times out there, I was going to knock the living hell out of you. But then I'd look up and, all of a sudden, here comes Jim Parker - and he'd get me first. " Moore will listen, smile and nod. Then he'll look skyward and thank the man upstairs - No. 77, the big lug with the horseshoe on his helmet - for running interference.

At 68, Roy Hilton still enjoys fooling people. "They come up to me and think I'm an old basketball player. I like that," said Hilton, who, at 6-foot-6, was one of the tallest Baltimore Colts of his day. He fooled people in other ways, back then. The Colts' 15th round draft pick in 1965, Hilton surprised everyone by making the team at defensive end and lasting 11 years in the NFL. And in Baltimore's 16-13 victory in Super Bowl V, he surprised Dallas by roaring past its All-Pro tackle, Ralph Neely, and sacking Cowboys' quarterback Craig Morton twice before halftime.

Staff picks John Eisenberg Last week: 11-5 Overall record: 143-81 Tonight: Packers Jamison Hensley Last week: 10-6 Overall record: 137-87 Tonight: Packers Edward Lee Last week: 10-6 Overall record: 136-88 Tonight: Packers Rick Maese Last week: 10-6 Overall record: 139-85 Tonight: Packers Mike Preston Last week: 11-5 Overall record: 138-86 Tonight: Vikings Peter Schmuck Last week: 11-5 Overall record: 138-86 Tonight: Packers David Steele ...

Sports Legends Museum L. Mitchell to attend tribute to former Colts The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation announced Wednesday that former Baltimore Colts running back Lydell Mitchell and NFL senior adviser Joe Browne will be part of "A Legendary Evening: Celebrating our Baltimore Colts Hall of Famers" on Dec.6 at Martin's West. The evening will pay tribute to former Colts Art Donovan , Lenny Moore , Gino Marchetti , Raymond Berry , Weeb Ewbank , John Mackey and Jim Parker as they are inducted into the Hall of Legends, an area at Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards reserved for the elite of Maryland's sports culture.