People Of Baltimore

HAVANA -- The victorious Cuban team, fresh from beating the Baltimore Orioles, was welcomed home yesterday morning with a huge rally attended by thousands of deliriously happy fans and punctuated by a speech by Fidel Castro that, despite threatening to go on as long as the rain-delayed game itself, failed to mention that at least one member of the delegation apparently defected in Baltimore.In fact, the Cuban leader drew the biggest cheers during his sometimes strident, often tedious three-hour speech when he lauded the baseball players who returned home despite the potential millions of dollars dangled in front of them.

ATLANTA -- Cleveland Mayor Michael White said he hopes his city and Baltimore end up with teams when the dust settles from the proposed move of the Browns."

From The Sun Jan. 21-27, 1846Jan. 22: We mentioned a few days ago the receipt by His Honor the Mayor of a quantity of coal, sent by an anonymous person, by the Susquehanna Railroad, to be appropriated for the benefit of the poor of the city.Jan. 23: We supposed that every person owning a horse would have seen and complied with the necessity of having the animal rough shod to suit the season.Jan. 27: On Sunday night, some rowdies undertook to indulge in a wanton spirit of mischief, by thrusting a heavy plank through the transom window of a dry goods store.

From The Sun June 4-10, 1845June 4: The ship Marianne, Captain Weiting, arrived yesterday from Bremen with one hundred and eighty-six passengers; they were all in a healthy condition.June 7: The extreme warm weather, and the dog days approaching, renders bathing absolutely necessary to health.From The Sun June 4-10, 1895June 4: The colored people of Baltimore County celebrated Whit-Monday, as is their custom.June 5: Confederate Memorial Day will be observed in Baltimore tomorrow with appropriate ceremonies at the Confederate Cemetery in Loudon Park.

Baltimore's TeamWhy does The Sun find it necessary to continue to place the slightest NFL rumor on the front page? Have the citizens of Baltimore not had enough sand kicked in our faces?After lying to us, misleading us, using us again and again to get sweeter deals from the cities they truly wanted in their league -- not to mention humiliating our mayor and governor twice -- the people of Baltimore want nothing to do with an organization that would allow Bob Irsay to be an owner and Paul Tagliabue to be their leader.

Baltimore's Canadian Football League franchise gets a name today. The question is whether it will stick.Jim Speros, owner of the expansion team, is expected to announce his choice of nickname and logo in a news conference this morning. His options appear to be Colts, Stallions, Bombers, Silver Colts, Fighting Colts and lawsuit.Alleging a trademark infringement, the NFL has threatened to take Speros to court if he chooses Colts. A federal court injunction could leave the team nameless for a period of time.

From The Sun Nov. 6-12, 1844Nov. 8: We see, that the Mayor has given notice to those interested, that after the 18th inst., persons will be appointed and employed to take up all swine found going at large, contrary to ordinance.Nov. 9: The Citizens' Union Line to Philadelphia, by steamboats Constitution and George Washington, will be discontinued after this evening. The night line will continued by railroad via Havre de Grace and Wilmington.From The Sun Nov. 6-12, 1894Nov. 7: Gen. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, which has established posts all over the world, came to Baltimore yesterday to inspect his forces here and to tell the people of Baltimore what the Salvation Army is doing to better the spiritual and material condition of the masses.

Fells Point VitalityI read with interest Patricia Mayes' July 30 letter from Fells Point in reference to the "Homicide" television series production company.She talks about the sporadic inconvenience of having a crew in residence.She takes, as a personal insult, her lack of inclusion in "Homicide" production parties, her lack of access to the Recreation Pier playground and the periodic "No Parking" signs when filming is in progress.I don't contend that any of the things she mentions do not occur.

From The Sun Feb. 9-15, 1842FEB. 11: Next Monday is St. Valentine's Day. If there be any who want a choice, let a call be made upon Mr. Steever, No. 20, Pennsylvania Avenue, or H. A. Turner, No. 10 North Street, wherethey may be found in great variety.FEB. 14: An outrageously foul story, charging the Hon. Daniel Webster, with attempting the seduction of the wife of one of the clerks of the State Department, has found its way into the newspapers, having been first published by the common slanderer who edits the Louisville Journal.

City third- and fourth-graders were asked to write and draw their answers to "If I Could Give Baltimore Anything . . . ." Children wanted to give a park, a dream school, trees, a football team, a clean harbor, clean air, and clothes and shelter for homeless people. "I would sing a song for the people of Baltimore," one child said, in a song. Their artwork and writings are on display at City Hall weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reprinted from The Sun of Monday, February 25, 1861. Mr. Lincoln's Secret Passage through Baltimore - Immense Gathering at Calvert Station - Arrival of the Special Train from Harrisburg - Disappointment - The Republican Committee - Mrs. Lincoln and Family on the Train - Their Departure for Washington - Mr. Lincoln's Appearance at Washington - Interviews with Mr. Buchanan and Gen. Scott. Saturday was the day appointed for the passage of Mr. Lincoln, President elect, through Baltimore, and as a matter of course curiosity was on tiptoe to behold the man who had been chosen to stand at the helm of the ship of State.

As for the nattering negativists who will surely say this is a dumb idea, that it will never work, that Baltimore will never get this and never get that - well, blah, blah, blah. We've heard it all before. Mr. Grumpy-Gills really should treat himself to the big picture sometime. I know. It's hard. You've grown accustomed to thinking weenie and being cynical. After all, that's part of our national culture, and the condition has long been acute here in Baltimore, where the only thing we've had to "celebrate" lately was the Orioles' win in the World Series - 25 years ago. But, really, the many of you who think small, and who make a hobby of ridiculing Baltimore and taking glee at the city's flaws, you who today think building a big, new arena on the site of our old, dumpy-but-still-bookin'-dates one is a foolish idea - you really need to get out more.

Khia Edgerton, a pioneering DJ who as "K-Swift" became one of Baltimore's top radio personalties and a major player in the local music scene, died early yesterday morning after a pool accident at her home. She was 29. Through her popular radio show, which attracted thousands of listeners each night, and frequent live performances, Ms. Edgerton helped reinvigorate and reintroduce the aging genre of Baltimore Club music to a younger generation of listeners. For local artists, a spin on K-Swift's 92Q radio show meant instant recognition.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. denied yesterday accusations by Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. that the governor has refused in recent years to communicate with the top official of his home county - one that played a key role in Ehrlich's failed re-election bid last week. "I've been with Jim Smith dozens and dozens and dozens of times, on many occasions, and [we] worked together on a lot of things, so that's kind of silly and political," Ehrlich said in response to a question on the Stateline program on WBAL-AM.

Good morning --Jim Leyland -- You're a genius - unless you don't make the World Series. QUESTION OF THE DAY Should people complain that the Baltimore Marathon messes up traffic in the city one day a year? No. On that one day each year, most of us should get our fat, lazy butts outside, leave the car parked and truly run (or walk) our errands. Ken Diehl Towson If the people of Baltimore cannot be inconvenienced for one day because of a worthy sporting event that brings people together, then shame on them.

Before he said all those ridiculous and offensive things that defined him for a new generation of Democrats, William Donald Schaefer was the most popular, effective and entertaining public official in Maryland, and those of us who cringed at his behavior in recent years will no doubt remember him that way. I've said it before: It's almost too hard to write about Recent Schaefer because his disparaging remarks were sufficiently self-destructive and because...

Readers of The Sun had lots of comments, questions, suggestions, praise and criticism to offer the public editor in recent days. Here is some of what they had to say: Goodbye to Tom Horton "Thanks from a fan. I've enjoyed years of good reading and the elegant, balanced, thoughtful summary of your 13 years as columnist for The Sun. Good luck and good future. Don't go far and please find a venue that keeps your voice heard." S.M. Schmidt Stansbury Creek "Who will take over for Tom Horton?

Columnist should write about O's, not their foes On April 10, the Orioles won the rubber game of a three-game series against the Yankees in New York. On April 11, instead of a column about the series, readers of The Sun were treated to a puff piece about the life and oh-so-hard times of ultra-rich Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, courtesy of Yankees-obsessed columnist Laura Vecsey ["Lord of the non-rings, Yanks' Rodriguez is trying harder"]. Included in this column were numerous references to various Yankees and Boston Red Sox players, not to mention Rodriguez's infant daughter.

AS PERHAPS NEVER before, Baltimore is on the radar screen of the country's moviemakers. For the first time, the city made MovieMaker magazine's list of "Top 10 Cities for Movie Makers," the fifth annual countdown of the best cities for independents to live in and make movies. Editors of the industry publication interviewed writers, directors, location scouts, film office representatives and dozens of cinematographers about their favorite cities in which to live and work. Baltimore ranked ninth, ahead of Orlando, Fla., Atlanta and San Diego, and among heavyweights such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.

WE, THE BASEBALL-loving people of Baltimore - home of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum - want the bat. Whose bat? Babe Ruth's bat. What bat? The bat Ruth used April 18, 1923, to hit the first home run in the first game at Yankee Stadium -thereafter known as The House That Ruth Built. The bat being called The Holy Grail of sports memorabilia. For complete information, go to the Sotheby's auction house Web site. Find the 312-item catalog for The Babe Comes Home: Important Baseball Memorabilia.