Outlook

Today should be a perfect fall day, with a high around 72 with lows in upper 50s. Good weather to enjoy the Baltimore Book Festival or the Orioles as they salute Brooks Robinson on this last weekend of the regular season. Sunday will be in the mid-70s with a slight chance of late rain. From Monday through Wednesday, the Orioles will play under the dome of Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla., where they will finish up the season with three games against the Tampa Bay Rays . The weather there will be partly cloudy, temperatures in the low 90s and thunderstorms forecast every day. The dome's roof is lit orange when the Rays win, but perhaps this time they will light it up for the Orioles.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Is Alex Len definitely leaving for the NBA and has his status gone up after he finished the season strong in the NIT? Don Markus: While the sophomore from the Ukraine has not given any indication of what he plans to do, Mark Turgeon and the Maryland coaching staff have assumed all season that this would be Len's last in College Park.

Even the arrival of spring Wednesday isn't erasing the possibility of snow in the forecast for the next few days. Forecasters are keeping an eye on two storms - snow from the northwest, and a weaker rain storm from the south - that could affect the mid Atlantic by late Sunday night or Monday, though it's too early to tell what, if any, impact there will be in the Baltimore area. Accuweather lays out the early potential here , with some parts of Maryland possibly getting a wintry mix or heavy rain.

1. Calvert Hall Coach: Bryan Kelly Last season: 16-2, No. 1 Postseason: MIAA A Conference champion Outlook: Despite graduating 21 players, including a number of key members from last year's title team, the Cardinals still have quality talent at every position. They also have something no other team has: Stephen Kelly. The All-Metro first-team midfielder is the area's best all-around player. 2. Boys' Latin Coach: Bob Shriver Last season: 14-7, No. 3 Postseason: MIAA A Conference semifinalist Outlook: The Lakers can make a strong argument for being No. 1 with impressive numbers to support it. They have seven of their eight top scorers back from last year - led by do-it-all attackman Shack Stanwick and All-Metro first-team defenseman Mac Pons.

Television station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. on Monday revised its outlook for fourth-quarter net broadcast revenue to a better-than-expected $153.8 million, or 6.5 percent lower than the fourth quarter of 2008. The Hunt Valley-based broadcaster had previously anticipated net broadcast revenue, from advertising on its stations, of $143.3 million to $146.3 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, or a drop of 11 percent to 12.8 percent. Sinclair, which owns, operates or programs 58 U.S. stations, including Fox 45 in Baltimore, said it has seen advertising revenue improve in the automobile sector because of increased spending on ads by dealers and domestic manufacturers.

Salisbury coach Jim Berkman on his team's approach before Sunday's conference final: "I don't think there's ever been a shortage of confidence here. ... There was a real sense of urgency that our backs were against the wall." (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/lacrosseblog)

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.

Surprise turned into joy as Baltimore Catholics celebrated the election of the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, saying it offered an often-hidebound church a chance for rejuvenation. "One time, John Paul the Great called America, meaning North, Central and South America, the continent of hope," said Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori. "I can only imagine the hopes and the joy that is welling up in the hearts of Hispanic Catholics here in the archdiocese and all over the country.

Head coach: Karol Brown (10th season).Assistant coach: Michelle Salafia.1990 record: 10-5.Top returnees: Seniors Stacy Henderson, Sherri Schmitz, Jesse Furbay, Beth Bryant, Stephanie Ballinger, Stephanie Harrell; junior Gina Hughes.Top newcomers: Juniors Angie Nickolas, Jaime Wheat, Kristen Haga, Bridget Garner; sophomores Tara Haney, Tara Dorsey, Beth Lister.Coach's outlook: "I think we'll have a pretty good team. We have some very hard workers. The county teams provide a lot of good competition for ourselves and this year should be very interesting."

Head coach: Leo Totten (second season).Assistant coach: Kathy Little.1990 record: 9-6.Top returnees: Seniors Jenny Baker, Tina Smith, Shelly Black, Shelley Smith, Kristi Stambaugh, Damien Overholzer, Christy Boesler, Aslynn Hinkle; junior Amber Smith.Top newcomers: Juniors Karen Brooks, Julie LeBrun.Coach's outlook: "I'm cautiously optimistic. We have a great group of kids and everything is looking very positive. We're just going to take it one game at a time and see what happens."Carroll County Sun outlook: With eight seniors in the lineup who have been together for four years, this could be the Eagles' year in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League.

Even the arrival of spring Wednesday isn't erasing the possibility of snow in the forecast for the next few days. Forecasters are keeping an eye on two storms - snow from the northwest, and a weaker rain storm from the south - that could affect the mid Atlantic by late Sunday night or Monday, though it's too early to tell what, if any, impact there will be in the Baltimore area. Accuweather lays out the early potential here , with some parts of Maryland possibly getting a wintry mix or heavy rain.

Surprise turned into joy as Baltimore Catholics celebrated the election of the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, saying it offered an often-hidebound church a chance for rejuvenation. "One time, John Paul the Great called America, meaning North, Central and South America, the continent of hope," said Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori. "I can only imagine the hopes and the joy that is welling up in the hearts of Hispanic Catholics here in the archdiocese and all over the country.

(All games at University of Maryland's Comca s t Center ) Thursday Class 3A No. 4 Milford Mill (24-2) vs. Urbana (21-4) Time: 3 p.m. Outlook: After a one-year hiatus, the Millers return to the state tournament in a bid to capture the program's third championship in four years and sixth overall. First up is an Urbana team from Frederick County that brings athleticism and physical play. Milford Mill counters with superior quickness and basketball savvy, led by guards Justin Jenifer (13.5 ppg)

Ravens veteran offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie was convinced he had assumed permanent residence inside coach John Harbaugh's doghouse. Between frequently facing concerns about his weight and conditioning, reporting late for training camp after saying he hurt his lower back in a fall at his South Florida home, grading out poorly as a run blocker and facing multiple lawsuits from creditors, McKinnie experienced a year filled with nightmares....

Usually by early December, investment professionals have mapped out their outlook for the next year. But such forecasting has been made difficult by the "fiscal cliff" — the confluence of spending cuts and higher taxes that kick in automatically next year if politicians in Washington can't reach a deal. Some experts are waiting for the dust to settle on a compromise before outlining a 2013 investment strategy. But others say if it isn't the fiscal cliff, it would be the debt ceiling or some other Washington-manufactured crisis to worry investors.

Like the owners of any other businesses, farmers can make their best decisions when they have good information. And farmers who attend the USDA's 83rd annual outlook conference will be bombarded with a bin full of thoughts from some of the best minds in agriculture. About 100 speakers, including U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, will discuss a variety of issues including crop insurance, farm income, the outlook for the poultry and dairy industries, and the creation of a new national farm bill.