Off Season

It bothers me that we live in a society that thrives on making rulesto protect the not so ambitious, while attempting to hold back goal-setters.Take the recommendation made by the Executive Council of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. It's a proposal I think violates the rights of parents and coaches who are blessed with enthusiasm and good intentions.The Executive Council is considering asking the Board of Control to recommend to the State Department of Education to interpret the "out-of-season practice" bylaw exactly as written.

How are reporters and editors view Ed Reed signing with the Houston Texans: Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens reporter: It is obviously a sad day for Ravens' fans and for good reason. Reed is one of the best players in franchise history and a sure bet Hall of Famer. For more than a decade, he has not only been one of the best Ravens but he's been one of the most entertaining to watch. But the Ravens' offseason blueprint has been clear and quite  frankly, Reed, who turns 35 in September and who struggled last season, doesn't fit into that going forward.

TORONTO -- Believe it or not, it won't be long until Cal Ripken's contract runs out.Ripken is eligible to become a free agent after next season. He signed a five-year, $32 million deal toward the end of the 1992 season, one of Ripken's worst statistically, one year after Ripken won his second MVP award."

It's no secret the Blast will need its offense cranked up on high to win games in the Major Indoor Soccer League this season, at least early on as the team breaks in two rookie goalkeepers who are brand new to the indoor game. If Saturday night's home opener against the Chicago Soul is any indication, the Blast will be just fine. Overcoming a jittery start, the Blast showed off a surplus of offensive firepower to easily shake the Soul, earning an entertaining 23-13 win in front of an announced crowd of 6,311 at 1st Mariner Arena . "It wasn't rocket science.

I just returned from an off-season trip to Rehoboth Beach, Del. I also headed over to Cape May, N.J., for a day trip, taking the ferry from Lewes, Del. Both places were wonderfully uncrowded. That's the beauty of the off-season at the beach. The pace is relaxed and, one hopes, the price is reduced. CheapTickets.com has off-season deals for beach vacations, with a savings of $100 on a four-night package. The Web site has identified the top 10 fall beach destinations where travelers can expect to save money on hotels.

Unless you've done a Tom Hanks and lived as a castaway on a desert island for the last few years, you've got to know that summer is deal time in the Caribbean. Hotel rooms that cost hundreds of dollars per night during the winter high season become much more affordable in summer. Not only that, but many resorts throw in goodies that they charge for in winter, such as daily breakfasts, spa treatments, local day cruises, golf and tennis fees and the like. Some packages let children stay free in your room, maybe even feed them gratis, while others may include a car rental to let you tool around the island on your own. Summer vacationers save about 35 percent to 40 percent over winter rates, said Richard Kahn of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, "and the temperatures are just about the same as in winter."

If all goes according to plan - and there is no reason to think otherwise considering he has put on around 35 pounds since the Super Bowl - Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary should look as imposing as he plays throughout all of next season. McCrary estimates his weight dropped into the mid-230s at the end of last season; he said he's around 270 now. He said the low weight made people think he was a finesse player, an image he shuns. His current physique, more like that of the prototypical end, leaves little doubt as to his type of game.

If you've been holding out for a bargain trip to Europe, now is the time to jump on the wagon: The deals are rolling in. Tour operators, travel agents and Web travel sites looking to keep travel on the minds of economically beleaguered Americans are dangling enticing packages and prices under their noses. Why now? Off-season - Nov. 1 to March 31 in Europe - is fast approaching. In most of Europe, fall and winter temperatures cool off inflated prices. So if you can stand a little chill in the air, you could end up with more trip for less cash.

Alan MillsProjected role for the Orioles: Mills is coming off shoulder surgery and, whenever he's healthy, he'll compete for one of three spots open in the bullpen. Mills has been throwing off a mound and appears to be making progress, although he hasn't attempted to throw any breaking pitches.Number crunching: Mills walked 18 in 23 innings last year, and was hit hard -- six doubles and four homers, for 25 RBIs.Where he has been this off-season: He spent a couple of months in Baltimore, rehabilitating his shoulder, and the rest of the time in Florida.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Orlando Magic Coach: Doc Rivers (84-80 in two seasons) 2000-01 season: 43-39, fourth, lost to Milwaukee in first round of playoffs Best off-season acquisitions: Patrick Ewing, Horace Grant Key off-season loss: John Amaechi What has to go right: The return to health of former All-Star Grant Hill and continued rise of Tracy McGrady and Mike Miller, last year's top rookie, could put the Magic atop the division....

In more than three full seasons as the Ravens' featured tailback, Ray Rice has carried the football 958 times and caught 246 passes. That averages out to 301 touches per season, which is a full workload for any running back in the NFL. But after rushing the ball a season-low nine times and compiling just 14 touches in the team's 43-13 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 21, Rice said he's open to the idea of getting at least 25 touches in Sunday's road...

You don't have to venture farther into the alphabet than the letter "B" to discover the bulk of the Columbia Orchestra's 35th season-opening concert on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Symphonic giants from the 19th and 20th centuries are paired in this program anchored by Leonard Bernstein's "Symphony No. 1, Jeremiah" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8. "Placing Bernstein and Beethoven on the same program relates to something that I'm doing in a lot of concerts this year.

When John Greeley aggravated the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the second quarter of Johns Hopkins' 8-2 loss to Navy on April 21, the junior midfielder joined sophomore defensive midfielder Phil Castronova (knee) as Johns Hopkins players whose status for 2013 was in question. Coach Dave Pietramala said the uncertainty regarding their return has been lifted somewhat as he has received positive reports from the school's medical staff on their recovery. “It's my understanding that both - and obviously, Phil is far ahead of John just because of the timing of the injuries - will be full go from the first day of practice in the spring,” Pietramala said.

A defining moment of South River's season came with just under three minutes left in the first half of Friday's regular-season finale against No. 12 Annapolis. Each time the No. 7 Seawhawks appeared to be pulling away in the winner-take-all matchup for the Anne Arundel County title, Annapolis found a way to force itself back into the game. That all changed when Jacky Spalding and Kacie Longo each scored two goals in a 45-second span to give host South River a commanding lead it never relinquished.

Baltimore Orioles' star center fielder Adam Jones loves to sleep out — which works out nicely for him, realization, since his team spends more than 80 days a year on the road. Obviously undaunted by frequent changes of scenery, Jones has been a consistent performer for the Orioles, winning a Gold Glove Award in 2009 and being named the team's most valuable player last fall by the local news media. All of this high-profile activity might lead one to assume that during the offseason Jones would prefer to unwind at home, sleeping in his own bed. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

Notre Dame fired the first volley of the 2012 season when the then-No. 7 Fighting Irish upended then-No. 1 Duke, 7-3, on Saturday. It was the third time Notre Dame opened the season by beating the Blue Devils, and the team is enjoying a 15-game winning streak in the month of February. But coach Kevin Corrigan said he hopes the victory doesn't satiate the players' hunger for a national championship. “Any win helps you with your confidence,” Corrigan said Tuesday. “I hope it lets our guys know what they should already know, which is we're going to be there competing with everybody.

For the first time since following his team here from Cleveland in 1996, Ravens strength and conditioning coach Jerry Simmons feels good about the off-season.The Ravens concluded their 10-week, off-season conditioning program on Tuesday, when players were tested for strength and endurance.The next step of preparation for the 1998 season begins June 1. Players report that day for physicals, before beginning a two-week minicamp, which precedes the four-week training camp that opens at Western Maryland College on July 12."

Ocean City isn't afraid of a little horsing around. In an effort to boost tourism, the Town Council will hold a final vote next week on a proposal to allow horseback riding on the beach Nov. 1 to March 30. The proposed amendments to the town's animal ordinance allow horseback riding "beginning at the northernmost extension of 27th Street and extending south to the south end jetty. " Riding in any dune area or nesting area would be prohibited. Visitors would need to secure a permit at a cost of $50 for each horse, limited to two riders.  Additional riders could be added for $25.

The Roland Park tennis team came into this week's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference tournament on a roll, and nobody was able to stop it. After going undefeated for a third consecutive regular season, the Reds finished off another perfect year Friday by edging host McDonogh and Bryn Mawr and winning their fourth straight A Conference team title. The Reds won one singles and one doubles title while earning spots in four of the five championship matches.