Percentage

Johnny OatesHired: Manager when Angelos bought teamSeason: 1994Record, percentage: 63-49, .563 (strike on Aug. 12 caused suspension of rest of season)Position: Second, 6 1/2 games behindFired: Sept. 26, 1994Phil ReganHired: Oct. 16, 1994Season: 1995Record, percentage: 71-73, .493 (season started late because of strike)Position: Third, 15 games behindFired: Oct. 20, 1995Davey JohnsonHired: Oct. 30, 1995Seasons: 1996-1997Record, percentage: 1996 -- 88-74, .543; 1997 -- 98-64, .605Position: 1996 -- Second, 4 games behind, qualified for playoffs as wild-card team; 1997 -- First, 2 games ahead.

The week in reviewResultsLost at home to No. 2 Duke, 82-64, SundayWon at Virginia, 71-66, last nightWho's hotSophomore forward Terence Morris had made 21 straight free-throw attempts before a miss last night against Virginia. Through Wednesday, he led the ACC in field-goal percentage (.628) and was sixth in free-throw percentage (.839).Who's notFreshman Juan Dixon went 1-for-12 from three-point range during the Terps' recent three-game homestand. With 22 threes, he still leads the team.Quotable "We got hurt, obviously, by that game [Duke]

The week in reviewResultsLost at home to No. 2 Duke, 82-64, SundayWon at Virginia, 71-66, last nightWho's hotSophomore forward Terence Morris had made 21 straight free-throw attempts before a miss last night against Virginia. Through Wednesday, he led the ACC in field-goal percentage (.628) and was sixth in free-throw percentage (.839).Who's notFreshman Juan Dixon went 1-for-12 from three-point range during the Terps' recent three-game homestand. With 22 threes, he still leads the team.Quotable "We got hurt, obviously, by that game [Duke]

This table shows the percentage of Baltimore City third-graders in each school who scored at a satisfactory level each year on reading tests administered under the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. The last column shows the percentage point improvement since test results were first recorded 1994.'99 '98 '97 '96 '95 '94 Chg.Maryland 41.2 41.6 36.8 35.3 34.0 30.6 10.6Citywide 15.6 16.6 11.8 11.2 11.4 9.2 6.4Abbottston 5.3 2.3 6.5 1.5 7.3 4.9 0.4Alexander Hamilton 3.8 17.0 12.7 11.9 5.8 4.8 -1.0Arlington 12.6 20.5 16.2 8.7 10.6 11.9 0.7Armistead Gardens 22.5 18.4 12.0 10.2 23.4 9.4 13.1Arundel 6.8 9.3 14.9 14.0 1.9 2.1 4.7Ashburton 22.9 27.2 21.1 15. 4.3 6.8 16.1Barclay El/Mid 24.0 28.3 10.0 23.1 9.3 12.5 11.5Bay Brook 4.7 5.4 3.7 5.0 NA 2.8 1.9Beechfield 23.5 16.2 12.5 8.1 10.0 8.2 15.3Belmont 5.2 6.1 4.9 2.0 NA 7.9 -2.7Bentalou 14.3 18.4 NA NA NA NA NABrehms Lane 8.7 17.9 13.8 8.6 10.2 1.5 7.2Callaway 10.9 7.9 5.7 5.8 2.7 9.6 1.3Calvin Rodwell 25.5 32.0 17.8 20.8 31.0 13.0 12.5Carter G. Woodson 25.4 9.1 10.4 11.1 19.4 15.6 9.8Cecil 24.0 18.5 6.9 27.0 28.9 7.0 17.0Ch.

This table shows the percentage of Anne Arundel County third-graders in each school who scored at a satisfactory level each year on reading tests administered under the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. The last column shows the percentage point improvement since test results were first recorded 1994....................................'99 .....'98 .....'97 .....'96 .....'95 .....'94 .....Chg.Maryland ..................41.2 ...41.6 ...36.8 ...35.3 ...34.0 ...30.6 ....10.6Countywide .....

Athletics: Ben Grieve leads major-league rookies in average, runs, hits, total bases, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.Blue Jays: Randy Myers has blown three saves in 21 tries. Three of Alex Gonzalez's five homers have come against the Devil Rays.Indians: David Justice, primarily a designated hitter due to off-season knee surgery, made his second straight start in left field. Catcher Sandy Alomar sat out his second straight game with a sore right shoulder.Pub Date: 6/17/98

Carroll Christian Patriots1997-98 record: 16-15Coach: Matt ReisbergTop players: Leigh Ann Belcher, Sr., 5-5, F; Crystal Dixon, Soph., 5-8, F; Katie Kirk, Jr., 5-3, G; Ashley Pickett, Soph., 5-0, G; Julie Wike, Sr., 6-1, COutlook: First-year coach Reisberg, who moved up after a stint ++ as an assistant, finds himself in an unusual situation -- having a terrible time deciding who will start. It wasn't much of a problem in Monday's opener, a 69-18 romp over Montrose, and for the long haul, he figures he doesn't lose anything in going nine deep among the 14 on the squad.

The news on children's reading from the National Assessment of Educational Progress isn't good. The evidence:45.7 Percentage of fourth graders who read daily for pleasure24.4 Percentage of 12th graders who read daily for pleasure59 Percentage of fourth graders who use the library once a week10.2 Percentage of 12th graders who use the library once a weekPub Date: 4/05/98

How much does Baltimore love "Homicide: Life on the Street"?More than any other city in the country loves its prime-time, hometown series, according to Nielsen Media Research.In its winter 1998 "Television at a Glance" survey, Nielsen took top-rated series set in various cities and compared national ratings for those shows with ratings in their hometowns. The most loyal hometown was Baltimore.While "Homicide" earns a 7.7 rating nationally, it garners a 15.5 rating here. Percentage-wise, that edges out Cleveland, where "The Drew Carey Show" earns a 22.5 rating compared with the 11.4 it gets nationally.

With consumer confidence high, mortgage rates low and home sales on a record pace, the perceived barriers to homeownership have dropped to all-time lows in the 1998 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey.The survey, completed annually since 1992, involves interviews with more than 2,000 people nationwide. Its margin of error is 3 percent.Among the findings:Only 29 percent mentioned "not having enough money for a down payment or closing costs" as being a "major obstacle" to buying a home. That is down from a high of 46 percent in 1996.

The neighborhood where a 5-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet is among the bleakest areas of Baltimore, based on community health statistics. Of the 55 city neighborhoods, Southwest Baltimore's life expectancy ranks third worst, at 64.2 years, a 2008 health profile found. Most of the other health indicators knock Southwest Baltimore into the lowest third. Caroline Fichtenberg, the Health Department's chief epidemiologist, said that although other neighborhoods share Southwest Baltimore's dire circumstances, that area's poverty level - about 19 percent of the population - heavily contributes to its poor health.

Detroit beat the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday to win the three-game series. The Tigers have won nine of their past 12 games since they were swept by the Minnesota Twins in the middle of the month. A major reason has been the performance of their pitching staff, which entered play Wednesday with a 3.88 ERA. Ace right-hander Justin Verlander, whom the Orioles will see Saturday, has won his past five decisions and given up one earned run or fewer in four of them. Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera leads the American League with a .374 batting average to go along with 10 home runs.

If Kyle Boller's throwing shoulder is healthy enough for him to play, he should be the Ravens' starting quarterback in the regular-season opener. Supporters for Troy Smith will point to his confidence. But you can't ignore completion percentage. Boller's completion percentage has increased every season, topping out at 61 percent last year. Smith has connected on just 47 percent of his throws this preseason and about 53 percent in four games last season. The statistics say Boller provides the best chance of moving the ball on a consistent basis.

Despite modest gains by her chief opponent, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon maintains a dominating lead ahead of this month's Democratic primary, a new poll for The Sun shows. Her opponents have attacked her ethics and have blamed her for this year's staggering increase in homicides, but Dixon's large lead has barely eroded - though an increasing percentage of voters do say that they have an unfavorable impression of her. With nine days until the Sept. 11 election, Dixon leads City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. by 46 percent to 19 percent - a 27 percentage-point spread - according to the poll conducted by OpinionWorks, an independent Annapolis-based firm.

With all the craziness around the NFL playoffs and the end of the college football season, it's easy to forget that the NBA regular season is chugging along. A lot of people seem down on pro basketball, but I still enjoy NBA fantasy, so let's check in on the leading story lines this season. The stars are out in Washington: Baltimore has a strange relationship with the Wizards. They're sort of the local team. We can watch most of their games on cable. But they exist at a distance. Well, I'm here to tell you that the Wizards are a lot of fun, both for general basketball fans and fantasy enthusiasts.

Less than two weeks remain before the NBA begins its regular schedule and, you know, I haven't had a single conversation with a fellow sports fan about the impending season. It's a shame, really, because I love pro basketball and think the product is on an upswing after a post-Jordan dip that saw scoring rates plummet and creativity squelched by physicality. But the NBA just isn't a buzz topic the way it was 10 or 20 years ago. Sure, it'll be more of one come playoff time, but that's what, seven months away?

Step right up, it's your turn. That's been the calling card for the undefeated River Hill girls soccer team so far this season. In the No. 2 Hawks' six wins this fall, they have had five different players score a game-winning goal. Yesterday against Howard County rival and No. 8 Glenelg, it was sophomore Britany Yancey's turn to settle the score with a goal in the 75th minute to lead the home team to a 2-1 win. In improving to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in league play, the Hawks have outscored their opponents 20-4, getting goals from all directions.

The Sun is compiling statistics for football, boys and girls soccer, field hockey and volleyball to be published on Wednesdays, starting Sept. 27. Coaches or team statisticians should call 410-332-6786 or 800-829-8000, ext. 6786, on Friday and Saturday (until 11 p.m.), or send an e-mail to patomalleysports@aol.com. Here's how to do it: Start by giving the sport, your name and phone number, and your school. Please give your leaders only and make sure to spell out the names. Here's the breakdown: For football - rushing: attempts, yards, average, touchdowns; passing: attempts, completions, percentage, yards, interceptions, touchdowns; receptions: total, yards, average per catch, touchdowns; scoring: touchdowns, extra points, field goals, total.

While going 0-5 on the road trip, the Orioles batted .200 with 12 walks - eight of them coming in Sunday's loss - a .261 on-base percentage and a .312 slugging percentage. Their starting pitchers posted a 10.17 ERA. I don't recommend it. The Orioles have lost nine of 10 away from Camden Yards. Seriously, this place is dead. There were more people in the waiting room at my dentist's office. I didn't know the Orioles were holding a come-as-your-favorite-empty-chair promotion. The "charge" call has been replaced with the sound of crickets chirping.

CAA women What -- Colonial Athletic Associa tion women's tournament Where -- Patriot Center, Fairfax, Va. When -- Today through Saturday 2005 champion -- Old Dominion 2006 favorite -- Old Dominion. The top-seeded Monarchs (19-8 over all, 17-1 CAA), seeking their 15th straight CAA title, feature a balanced attack. Four players average in dou ble figures in scoring, led by TJ Jor dan at 13.3 points a game. The Mon archs' only league loss came to James Madison on the road six days ago, 75-68.