Mules

North Carolina's struggles appear to be over, and a return to basics with a big dose of Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson made it look easy again. Hansbrough scored 28 points, Lawson had 19 with nine assists, and the No. 5 Tar Heels (15-2, 1-2) beat host Virginia, 83-61, last night to end a surprising two-game losing streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "It feels real good," Hansbrough said. "It was kind of frustrating." Virginia (7-7, 1-2) was led by Jamil Tucker with 12 points and Calvin Baker and Mike Scott with 11. No. 4 Connecticut 67, St. John's 55: : Freshman guard Kemba Walker scored 21 points, and senior forward Jeff Adrien added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (15-1, 4-1 Big East)

THERE has been a fair amount of chin-pulling and other histrionic musings in recent years over the suspected "Southernization" of America. By that, it is generally meant that the whole nation is taking on the characteristics associated with the South -- and usually its worst ones: a hidebound moralism, anti-intellectualism and a social and political conservatism that stops, if it stops at all, just a hair short of the outright reactionary.Most of those supposed characteristics are more like stereotypes than archetypes and the anecdotal evidence often looks more assembled than weighed.

Joel Wertman converted two free throws with 1: 17 left as Johns Hopkins advanced to the Centennial Conference tournament final for the second consecutive season with a 57-56 win last night over Muhlenberg in Allentown, Pa.The Mules (17-8) led 56-53 after a three-pointer by Chris Kenny with 3: 01 left, but the Blue Jays (20-5) pulled within 56-55 on a putback by Jon Olson.Wertman scored 16 in the first half to help the Blue Jays (20-5) take a 36-26 lead.Washington College 77, Franklin and Marshall 71: Greg Adams scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the second half as the Shoremen (17-8)

ALBANY, N.Y. -- It was the limp that attracted John Burke's attention.Like a lot of middle-aged guys, Mr. Burke owns tender, delicate knees. He watched the woman limp awkwardly into the restroom at the bus station, and he felt sorry for her.When she came out, she wasn't limping any more. That's when John Burke's sympathy gave way to curiosity. Narcotics cops tend to be nosy people. And Inspector John Burke is the head narc in the Albany County sheriff's office.Leaky muleThe woman was a mule.

Wayne J. Mules, a popular pianist at Phillips Harborplace restaurant since it opened 17 years ago, died of a heart attack Friday at his East Baltimore home. He was 59.Mr. Mules was known for his barrelhouse and honky-tonk stylings that often got customers singing.At Phillips, he wore a white shirt, red vest and sometimes a red sleeve garter.Mr. Mules often kept a burning cigarette and a vodka and orange juice sitting on the edge of the piano. His signature song was "I'll Be Seeing You.""He was a mainstay there and it wasn't uncommon to find people standing four or five deep around his piano," said Jay Wachter, director of musical entertainment for Phillips and president of Entertainment Consultants, who hired him."

A ruinous drought that saw host Johns Hopkins score just seven points over a 10-minute stretch late in the game led to Muhlenberg taking the Centennial Conference tournament title for the second time in four years last night, 55-53.As tough a time as the Blue Jays (20-6) were having scoring, Muhlenberg wasn't pulling away so rugged and unyielding were the defenses of both teams.Hopkins evidenced its first dry period of the night midway in the first half and, after seeming in control with a 24-17 lead, the Mules had hit a couple of three-pointers and the Jays were down, 31-27.

A CHRISTMAS shopping trip, 1998:7 p.m. -- Arrive at mall. Parking lot looks like the Gaza Strip minutes after the Israelis have closed the border.I circle for 10 minutes, end up stalking a giggling couple heading back to their car who decide to stop every 10 feet and kiss.L Yo, save that for the back seat of a Buick where it belongs!I'm trying to shop here!7: 16 -- Here's an upset: the mall's packed. Tired moms push baby strollers, determined, energetic women are trailed by weary, hollow-eyed husbands laden like pack mules with shopping bags, oblivious toddlers bump their heads against marble columns and sob mightily.

CUMBERLAND -- In the foothills of the mountains rising alongside the mighty Potomac River, pioneering giants of American transportation once converged.Mule-drawn boats loaded with coal plied the waters of America's first canal. Steam engines chugged their way up the hills on the rails of America's first passenger lines. Stagecoaches, carriages and, eventually, cars made their way west on America's first national road.Now, this Western Maryland city of 25,000 is staking its future on re-creating the past, hoping to lure droves of tourists to relive its rich heritage as a hub of westward expansion.

The harder the rain fell on Homewood Field last night, the easier it was for Johns Hopkins to score. It made little sense, but it resulted in a 20-0 Centennial Conference victory over Muhlenberg.Two third-quarter interceptions, by seniors John Donovan and Jim Maro, led to the first 10 points for Hopkins (4-2, 3-1). Junior Todd Bencivenni kicked a season-long 42-yard field goal with 6: 18 left, and senior fullback Chuck Wotkowicz ran in from a yard with 2: 22 remaining.Bencivenni tacked on a 36-yard field goal nine seconds into the fourth quarter, after freshman Harrison Bernstein had recovered a fumble by Muhlenberg junior quarterback George Fosdick.

Gavin DeFreitas scored on a 10-yard screen pass on fourth-and-goal with 12 seconds left in the game to pull Western Maryland into a 13-13 tie with Muhlenberg in a Centennial Conference game yesterday.DeFreitas took a pass from Brian Van Deusen (Atholton) at the Mules' 12, avoided a tackle and scrambled into the end zone to make the score 13-12. Zippy Mackie made the extra-point kick.Western Maryland (3-1-1, 2-0-1 league) trailed 13-0 after touchdown runs of 53 and 3 yards by senior Steve Peters, the 3-yarder coming with 12:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

North Carolina's struggles appear to be over, and a return to basics with a big dose of Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson made it look easy again. Hansbrough scored 28 points, Lawson had 19 with nine assists, and the No. 5 Tar Heels (15-2, 1-2) beat host Virginia, 83-61, last night to end a surprising two-game losing streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "It feels real good," Hansbrough said. "It was kind of frustrating." Virginia (7-7, 1-2) was led by Jamil Tucker with 12 points and Calvin Baker and Mike Scott with 11. No. 4 Connecticut 67, St. John's 55: : Freshman guard Kemba Walker scored 21 points, and senior forward Jeff Adrien added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (15-1, 4-1 Big East)

This time, there would be no late-game heroics. After falling behind early, then pulling out consecutive one-point victories in its two previous games, Towson saw its luck finally run out in a 71-59 loss to Colonial Athletic Association foe George Mason before an announced 1,507 at the Towson Center. Leading scorer Junior Hairston, who came into the game averaging 14.5 points for the Tigers, was held to seven points on 3-for-10 shooting. Since joining the CAA eight years ago, the Tigers (7-9, 2-2)

In the early morning hours on Nov. 17, a band of cadets from the U.S. Military Academy sneaked onto an 875-acre organic dairy farm, located about 15 miles outside Annapolis, and stole three goats. They raced back to West Point, N.Y., slapped together some photos and created a YouTube video that detailed "Operation Good Shepherd" -- the theft of the Naval Academy's unguarded and defenseless mascots. Yawn. This still passes as a legitimate prank in this rivalry? C'mon, cadets. Log off the computers and crack open a dusty copy of the Army-Navy Prankster History Book.

WHAT YOU SAY My favorite Clint Eastwood movies are Two Mules for Sister Sara and The Outlaw Josey Wales. Both are packed with action, but are of a more refined style than the "spaghetti" westerns of his early career. The romantic and comedic interplay between Clint and co-star Shirley MacLaine in Two Mules is great. In Josey Wales, Clint plays a more conflicted character than in Two Mules. The viewer can empathetically understand Clint's transformation from simple farmer to aggrieved avenger after the wanton destruction of his home and family by border raiders.

Her son was getting married. The jeweler wasn't ready with her mother-of-the-bride jewelry. To top it all off, her car broke down and she had to walk -- in daintily decorated mules -- to get help. It was that kind of day, and still Ronnie Schroeder looked great walking from Radcliffe Jewelers in Pikesville. WONDERING IF YOU WERE GLIMPSED? / / Check out baltimoresun.com / glimpsed for additional photos of fashion-forward locals and a critique by fashion writer Tanika White of the styles she saw around town.

Lauren Troupe had a double double to lead visiting Loyola to a 55-47 victory over Manhattan last night in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women's game. Troupe scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds for the Greyhounds (15-9, 10-5). The win gave Loyola 10 conference victories. It's the first time since the 2000-01 season that the Greyhounds have posted more than nine MAAC wins. They hit five of six shots from the free-throw line over the final minutes to produce the victory over the Jaspers (9-15, 6-9)

Mules may be known for their stubbornness, but Brice Ridgely's two mules, Abe and Charlie, proved to be excellent sports this week at the Howard County Fair. The team, from Cooksville, dragged more than a ton more than 10 feet Tuesday in a steady drizzle. The rain put a damper on the Howard County Fair's first mule-pulling contest - Ridgley's team was the only one that made it to the fairgrounds out of six that were expected. But more than 60 spectators applauded a demonstration of the animals' strength.

After spotting host New Hampshire a two-goal lead early in the second half, the top-ranked Northwestern women's lacrosse team scored eight of the final nine goals to earn a 14-9 victory yesterday. Lindsey Munday led Northwestern (8-0) with five goals and two assists. New Hampshire fell to 3-3. No. 6 Duke 13, No. 19 Vanderbilt 4: The Blue Devils (7-2) scored four goals in the first eight minutes of the second half to take a 9-3 lead in a romp over the host Commodores (2-4). Muhlenberg 17, Washington College 7: The visiting Mules (4-2, 1-1 Centennial Conference)

On March 23, 2005, PAUL BOYD MULES, JR., beloved husband of Marie Schisler Mules; dear father of Marie "Maggie" Mules Herman and Jene "Missy" Mules Herbert; dear grandfather of Bridger G. Herman and Emilee M. and Samantha M. Herbert; devoted brother of Mary M. Nielsen, Jene M. Harner and William C. Mules. Friends may call a the family owned Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, Inc., 6500 York Road (at Overbrook) on Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, 10 A.M. at the funeral home.

Paul B. Mules, a retired paper salesman, died of complications of Parkinson's disease Wednesday at Edenwald in Towson, where he had resided for less than year. He was 78. Born, raised and a longtime resident of Stoneleigh, he was a 1945 McDonogh School graduate. He earned a business degree and attended law school at the University of Baltimore. Mr. Mules served three weeks in the Navy in 1945, and in 1948 was recalled for a three-year stint in the Army. He became a salesman for Borden's ice cream, and later joined Baltimore-Warner Paper Co. on South Street.