National Anthem

When it comes to towering cultural icons, the difference between Baltimore's lineup and Nashville's is like the difference between the varsity and JV. NASHVILLE Dolly Parton Overly chesty country artist whose warbling "mountain soprano" irritates again on her latest CD, Backwoods Barbie. Elvis Presley Bloated, pelvis-thrusting King of Rock 'n' Roll toppled by addiction to barbiturates and Sara Lee products. Jack Daniel Possibly unstable founder of Jack Daniel's whiskey distillery who died of massive toe infection after kicking a safe in anger when it wouldn't open.

At the end of a long winter, the words "road trip" have a particular appeal, especially if you're headed somewhere that's warm and has listless alligators in fetid pens as a tourist attraction, which we'll get to in a moment. So with gas cheap and hotels practically giving away rooms, my buddy Ed and I loaded the suitcases and golf clubs in the car and hurtled down Interstate 95 for a week of R&R in the great state of Florida. One of the dangers of driving south on 95 is that you'll go insane from the mind-numbing parade of Shoney's and Stuckey's billboards that line the highway, not to mention the 4,000 signs for the ever-tacky Pedro's empire at South of the Border.

MIAMI-- --I'm guessing that Billy Joel is going to squeeze every minute of multimillion-dollar airtime out of "The Star-Spangled Banner" when he sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl, and I'm going to make him pay. The over-under on the anthem is 1 minute and 44 seconds, and I think we all know that at this point in his career, Billy will need two minutes just to get to the high note at "land of the free." This is the biggest lock since WBAL's Chip Franklin and I went head-to-head on the SAT for pink slips.

Seven years after the Toronto Star dubbed her "Anthem Annie," Donna Greenwald is finally on the home stretch, three games away from having sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" in every major-league ballpark.The Columbia homemaker left this past Tuesday for Texas Stadium in a new Dodge Caravan. Her travels had put 151,000 miles on her old van; this time, she left with power windows.Baseball has been very, very good to Anthem Annie.Traveling from sea to shining sea, Greenwald has gathered a collection of autographed balls, bats and photographs from some of the sport's most famous players, including the late Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.

IT WAS SURE NICE of Cher to get all dressed up to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.Let's see if we can follow her thinking as she peeked into her closet before the big game for something to wear:It's the most celebrated sporting event of the year.A national TV audience of 127 million is tuning in.She's singing "The Star Spangled Banner," this country's most revered song.So what does she do?She shows up looking like it's fifth-period algebra.She takes the microphone at Pro Player Stadium wearing blue denim boots, faded jeans and a pink mesh top that looked like something from the Gap.Oh, that was a nice touch.

NAGANO, Japan -- You should have seen her walk down the runway, the runway that cuts through Nagano Town Square to the medal stand, the elevated runway with the neon lights, dividing the screaming crowd.Picabo Street swiveled her hips in time with the music preparing to make her grand entrance. Then she walked toward the stage, a truly heroic Miss America, pumping her fists, raising the roof, waving to the cheering Japanese.They do this every night in Nagano, honoring that day's Olympic champions.

OF THE 20 Summer Olympiads that have been held outside the United States, three-quarters took place in national capitals.It makes sense that a country would showcase its seat of government -- the most tangible symbol of its values.That hasn't been the case in the United States, however, where St. Louis, Los Angeles and Atlanta have hosted the four summer games held in this country. That should be a consideration of the U.S. Olympic Committee as it weighs the joint bid of Baltimore and Washington to host the 2012 Olympiad.

At first, it sounded irresistible: a 10-year old girl determined to sing the national anthem at every major league ballpark and set a world record.How precocious. And ingenious. See the country, catch 30 baseball games and make a little history along the way. Why wait for puberty when you've got a shot at immortality, huh?Needless to say, we were impressed.But that was before we found out that this particular singing feat isn't singular after all. Turns out Jamie Lynn Bence, a fourth-grader from Hartland, Wis., who is in town to sing the anthem before tonight's game at Camden Yards, isn't the only one trying to belt out "The Star-Spangled Banner" in every ballpark.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 5-3 victory over the Montreal Expos yesterday in Jupiter, Fla.Ups and downsUps: Roberto Alomar. Singled in his first two at-bats, then rapped a two-run double off former Oriole Shawn Boskie in the fourth inning. He's batting .457(16-for-35) during his past 12 games.Even: Chris Hoiles. Failed to lay down a bunt and advance runners in second inning -- a cardinal sin in this camp -- but atoned with a two-run double in same at-bat, as manager Ray Miller put on the hit-and-run.

Think America: She has three kids, a husband and a dog, a house in the suburbs, apple pie in the oven and a tour of major league ballparks singing the national anthem.And now, Donna "Anthem Annie" Greenwald of Columbia -- in the down time of her quest to sing the national anthem at every major league ballpark -- soon will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a ceremony honoring the fabled flag.On March 31, the Smithsonian Institution will hold a ceremony honoring Francis Scott Key and the flag that inspired the national anthem, one of a series of events commemorating the estimated three-year, $18.2 million-dollar restoration of the national artifact, set to begin at the end of this summer.

At the end of a long winter, the words "road trip" have a particular appeal, especially if you're headed somewhere that's warm and has listless alligators in fetid pens as a tourist attraction, which we'll get to in a moment. So with gas cheap and hotels practically giving away rooms, my buddy Ed and I loaded the suitcases and golf clubs in the car and hurtled down Interstate 95 for a week of R&R in the great state of Florida. One of the dangers of driving south on 95 is that you'll go insane from the mind-numbing parade of Shoney's and Stuckey's billboards that line the highway, not to mention the 4,000 signs for the ever-tacky Pedro's empire at South of the Border.

When it comes to towering cultural icons, the difference between Baltimore's lineup and Nashville's is like the difference between the varsity and JV. NASHVILLE Dolly Parton Overly chesty country artist whose warbling "mountain soprano" irritates again on her latest CD, Backwoods Barbie. Elvis Presley Bloated, pelvis-thrusting King of Rock 'n' Roll toppled by addiction to barbiturates and Sara Lee products. Jack Daniel Possibly unstable founder of Jack Daniel's whiskey distillery who died of massive toe infection after kicking a safe in anger when it wouldn't open.

WASHINGTON - The Star-Spangled Banner has a snazzy new home - and it's already the talk of the town. When the National Museum of American History reopens tomorrow after a two-year, $85 million renovation, visitors will finally get a glimpse at what museum officials are calling a "dramatic transformation" of the 44-year-old building. The most stunning evidence of this is a five-story-high, skylit atrium that greets museumgoers as they enter from the National Mall. The airy lobby is dominated by a large steel structure in the shape of a waving flag, consisting of 960 reflective tiles, and a wide, futuristic-looking glass staircase that updates the museum's core.

Arenas has knee surgery again, plans Dec. return nba Gilbert Arenas underwent a third operation on his bothersome left knee yesterday morning, once again throwing into doubt his status for the coming Washington Wizards season. The star guard had a "moderate amount of debris" removed from the knee after experiencing swelling and discomfort during his rehabilitation. The Wizards offered no timetable for his return, but Arenas told The Washington Post he plans to be back on the court in early December, which would rule him out for the season's first month.

You wouldn't know by watching Zoe Katz rattle off a speech detailing the history behind the national anthem that she was given the task about three minutes before. But the 10-year-old handled the presentation with grace and ease during the school's annual Star-Spangled Banner celebration. Zoe, a fifth-grader at Running Brook Elementary, acknowledged that she was a bundle of nerves. "It was my first time saying something in front of such a big group," she said. "I think I did OK." Students at the school have been learning the words and the history behind the national anthem for weeks in preparation for the celebration.

A coin commemorating Maryland's role in the War of 1812 and Baltimore as the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner" could soon be minted, officials announced yesterday. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, sponsor of the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentenntial Commemorative Coin Act, said the coin would be minted in 2012 to mark the 200th anniversary of the war with the British. "This coin is for all of our veterans. It is a wonderful way to honor the dedication of our military personnel of today and yesterday," Ruppersberger said during a news conference at the Maryland Historical Society.

I like banging my head against the wall and advocating for lost causes, so here is another appeal to those artistes who sing the national anthem at sporting events: Can we please get on with it? Can we please keep the anthem up-tempo and not turn it into an American Idol audition with a long, overwrought version that has everyone rolling their eyes and looking at their watches? Is this too much to ask? My new hero in the cause of speeding up the anthem is Michael Ian Borts, who has sung it more than 600 times in front of major league baseball, pro basketball, pro hockey and college sports crowds.

A STRANGE-LOOKING COLLECTION OF folks descended on Dave & Buster's at Arundel Mills. But this was intentional strangeness, for the Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake's "Gridiron Halloween" celebration earlier this month. A quick scan of the place showed Robin Hood, Maid Marian, a pair of penguins, "Britney Spears," "Lindsay Lohan," and a handful of cowboys, witches and hippies. And then there were the flapper perusing the poolroom, the clown in the bowling alley, and the skeleton in the buffet line.

Long before she captured the attention of millions of viewers this summer as a finalist on the hit NBC show America's Got Talent, 14-year-old Julienne Irwin had her eyes set on singing the national anthem at Camden Yards. And while many would rank a gushing message of support by Martina McBride and a duet with teen country star Taylor Swift well ahead of an appearance at a baseball game, this Orioles fan considers her performance yesterday as her most memorable. Talk about a hometown girl.

Good morning -- NFL -- Next year, bring back Prince - and let him sing the national anthem.