Norfolk

Maybe Morgan State's men should be snowed out more often. In the rare circumstance of playing on a weekday afternoon, the Bears remained unbeaten in postponed games yesterday, holding on for a 63-60 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Norfolk State at Hill Field House. "When we get games rescheduled, we're 2-0," said Morgan guard Stan Grandy, who was forced into extensive duty at the point after a slew of injuries and foul trouble decimated the team's depth. "We should try it again."

The Navy is considering moving the hospital ship USNS Comfort from its home in the port of Baltimore to Norfolk, Va., when its current berthing agreement expires in 2013, officials said Tuesday. Maryland's representatives in Washington are trying to block such a move. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is seeking federal funding to study the impact that moving the ship would have on its wartime and humanitarian missions. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger introduced legislation Tuesday that would require the Navy to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before making a decision.

After four years in Ottawa, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate is moving closer to home. And to a warmer spring climate. Team officials confirmed yesterday that the Orioles have reached agreement on a player development contract with the Norfolk Tides that begins next season. The Tides have arranged a news conference for Monday at Harbor Park, which Orioles vice chairman Joe Foss and executives Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette are expected to attend. The length of the agreement is the final detail that must be worked out. The Orioles would like a maximum four-year deal, rather than the standard two. The Tides were affiliated with the New York Mets for 38 years before their association ended this summer.

MIAMI - -The feeling Chris Ray has been waiting for finally came June 15 while the reliever was pitching for Triple-A Norfolk against Louisville. "All of a sudden I was throwing and my arm slot was natural," Ray said. "I didn't have to think about it anymore. It was an unbelievable feeling, especially after that first game. I thought to myself: 'It's about time. It took 20 months to finally get it back.' The next time out there, I felt the exact same and was able to put the ball where I wanted to. I was able to actually feel like I put something on it without risking or not knowing where my arm slot was."

WASHINGTON - On Star Trek, Mr. Spock sometimes subdued adversaries with a quick grip at the base of the neck. Even the fiercest warrior would crumple at the "Vulcan nerve pinch," and the technique saved Federation forces from many a firefight. Now a Norfolk, Va.-based military command, encouraged at the Pentagon's highest levels, is testing a way to help 21st century U.S. forces quickly locate and use other kinds of pressure points to paralyze foes and stop battles before they start. If it works, the experiment could lead to the placement of elite teams of military planners and analysts across the globe.

It was Happy Hour at the Poncabird Pub on Wednesday, and the South Baltimore tavern was as busy and bustling as usual, but as late-afternoon sunlight streaked through a side window, the expressions it caught on the faces at one table were decidedly grim. "This [stinks]," said Dane Sobus, a regular customer who has spent many evenings drinking with crew members and workers from the USNS Comfort, the hospital ship the Navy announced this week will be moving to Norfolk, Va., after a quarter-century in the port of Baltimore.

In a game that matched two of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's premier guards, a pair of lesser-known players emerged to spark Norfolk State to a 63-59 win over Coppin State at the Coppin Center yesterday. Freshman guard Chakowby Hicks scored on an offensive rebound with 55 seconds left to give the Spartans the lead for good, and Norfolk held on for the win as reserve forward Jamal Mills blocked a potential game-tying shot by Coppin's Larry Tucker (Dunbar) with seven seconds left.

It was home, sweet home for the Coppin State men last night. And, after 315 days without a game at the Coppin Center, they responded with a near-flawless first half en route to a 75-65 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Norfolk State, their third in a row. The Eagles committed only two turnovers and shot 55.6 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, established a 14-point advantage and were never seriously challenged thereafter by...

RICHMOND, Va. -- The glue is back and everything is well again with the Coppin State men's basketball team. With senior point guard Rasheem Sims orchestrating, the Eagles exorcised a nemesis from their midst and completed a first-round siege of upsets in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Arthur Ashe Center yesterday. Tenth seed Coppin pulled away in the final 4 1/2 minutes to rout No. 7 Norfolk State, 61-46, and advance to tomorrow's quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Delaware State.

The Orioles have attempted to bolster their lack of catching depth by sending minor league right-hander Rob Delaney to the Los Angeles Angels organization for veteran catcher Chris Snyder. Snyder, 32, will meet the team in Seattle on Tuesday and presumably will take over the back-up catching void created when Taylor Teagarden dislocated his left thumb Saturday. The Orioles recalled Luis Exposito for Sunday's game - he did not play -- but now it is likely he will lose his place on the big league roster Tuesday with the pending arrival of Snyder, a veteran of parts of nine major league seasons.