Rfk Stadium

WASHINGTON -- It probably wouldn't have rivaled the Beatles, who played D.C. Stadium in 1966. It might not have matched Princess Diana, who graced a state dinner with President Reagan in 1985. But as far as visits by British celebrities go, soccer glamour boy David Beckham's trip to the nation's capital for a Major League Soccer game tonight against D.C. United was shaping up as an A-list event, the sort that causes Washingtonians to use their connections or their cash to ensure they are included.

D.C. United says it welcomes Maryland's interest in becoming the Major League Soccer team's new home but is still weighing its options - including remaining in Washington. The Major League Soccer team was responding yesterday to Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's proposal that the state consider attracting the franchise from Washington. "D.C. United is most appreciative of the interest expressed by Comptroller Franchot. Certainly, there are many thousands of passionate D.C. United fans in Maryland," the club said in a statement e-mailed to The Sun. "We welcome conversations with any governmental agency in the area, including specifically the Maryland Stadium Authority, that can be helpful to D.C. United in getting a stadium built.

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Orioles ended their first game in their new Triple-A affiliate's park by doing something they couldn't manage often last season: holding a late lead. The Orioles' bullpen, which gave up 321 runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings last season, came through in the ninth inning yesterday, as the team edged the Washington Nationals, 6-5, in an exhibition game at Harbor Park. The Nationals cut a 6-4 Orioles lead in half in the ninth, but Chris Ray struck out the game's final batter with the tying run on third.

The HFStival, an annual rock music festival organized by radio station WHFS-FM (99.1), will be held at the Ravens' downtown PSINet Stadium on May 29.The concert was held at RFK Stadium in Washington last year. But the Ravens, acting as stadium managers, outbid RFK and the new Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover for the multi-band show, said David Cope, Ravens vice president of sales and marketing.It will be the first concert held inside the stadium, which opened last summer. It has a removable bank of seats over a concrete pad in one end zone to accommodate concerts.

WASHINGTON -- The book on Scotland was great defense, no offense. The book on the U.S. national team was solid defense, look-good but no-finish offense.The wish by both World Cup-bound teams: get past one another yesterday at RFK Stadium -- the last friendly stop before France -- injury-free.Result: Scotland 0, United States 0. Mission accomplished. Even so, it was an often entertaining match in front of 46,037 on an 88-degree day that created no new pages in the "book" on either team for their first-round opponents in two weeks.

WASHINGTON -- Tickets for the third annual Tibetan Freedom Concert said the event would take place "rain or shine." They said nothing about lightning, though, and it was lightning that changed the shape and schedule of the two-day festival at RFK Stadium this weekend.A fast-moving thunderstorm swept through the region Saturday afternoon, and lighting struck RFK twice. Eleven people were hit, with four requiring hospitalization. The worst-injured, an unnamed 24-year old woman, was in serious but stable condition yesterday, after being moved from D.C. General Hospital.

LANDOVER -- With an unlikely move and a game-winning, 40-yard touchdown pass in overtime to a falling Michael Westbrook in the left corner of the end zone, Gus Frerotte wiped out more than four quarters of frustration for the Washington Redskins yesterday and enabled them to break in the new Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in storybook style.Just as Frerotte looked as if he would go down under a monstrous pass rush, he suddenly broke free and threw a perfect pass to Westbrook for a 19-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals with 1: 36 elapsed in overtime.

Ron Newman is back at it again -- "it" meaning one of his teams constantly besting a Middle Atlantic foe. This time it's Major League Soccer's D.C. United, which on Sunday afternoon gets its only regular-season visit from Newman's Kansas City Wizards.You remember Newman.Back in the glory days of the Baltimore Blast and the Major Indoor Soccer League, Newman coached the hated San Diego Sockers, the one club Blast coach Kenny Cooper and his teams could never beat with regularity.The British-born Newman is steadily adding to his coaching legend in MLS's Western Conference.

Two of the most dominant players in the history of women's soccer will be competing at RFK Stadium in Washington tomorrow as the United States plays Italy in the finale of this year's U.S. Women's Cup.American Mia Hamm, 25, widely called the best all-around player today, and Italy's Carolina Morace, 33, a remarkably consistent scorer for nearly two decades, will be the individual attractions in the 12: 30 p.m. game (ESPN).Both teams figure to arrive undefeated in the four-nation, friendly tournament co-sponsored by the Maryland and Virginia Youth Soccer Associations.

You cannot complain about a lack of opportunities to see some high-skill pro soccer locally between now and the end of October.In addition to D.C. United's regular season and playoffs, the second MLS Cup will be played at RFK Stadium in Washington Oct. 26, and the U.S. national team will be playing twice -- a friendly vs. Ecuador at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 7 and a World Cup qualifier vs. Jamaica at RFK Stadium on Oct. 3.Then, another international attraction...

* "There was a bit of a flamenco dance step, with the five heads snapping up on 'I Want You Back'; the hands went up over the heads and were clasped together as if in prayer on Jermaine's medley, which began with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'; and on Sly Stone's 'Thank You,' one arm was flung out to the side, then the hands were brought together and down in a slashing motion diagonally across the chest." - James D. Dilts' Sun review of the Jackson Five's September 26, 1971, concert at the Baltimore Civic Center * "Every floor was packed with [fans]

1 Rhyme is reason: It's being called the Battle in Seattle: No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 8 Gonzaga (4 p.m., chs. 13, 9). They had to play there because nothing good rhymes with Hartford. 2 Gator aid: Speaking of sites: No. 6 Duke plays No. 7 Xavier at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (2 p.m., chs. 13, 9). Both teams will be required to have little alligators on their jerseys. 3 Oy-a, Hoyas: Mount St. Mary's takes a step up by taking on No. 15 Georgetown (1 p.m., MASN). 4 Eagle eyes: Navy kicks off the bowl season with a rematch against Wake Forest in the EagleBank game from RFK Stadium (11 a.m., ESPN)

D.C. United says it welcomes Maryland's interest in becoming the Major League Soccer team's new home but is still weighing its options - including remaining in Washington. The Major League Soccer team was responding yesterday to Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's proposal that the state consider attracting the franchise from Washington. "D.C. United is most appreciative of the interest expressed by Comptroller Franchot. Certainly, there are many thousands of passionate D.C. United fans in Maryland," the club said in a statement e-mailed to The Sun. "We welcome conversations with any governmental agency in the area, including specifically the Maryland Stadium Authority, that can be helpful to D.C. United in getting a stadium built.

WASHINGTON -- It probably wouldn't have rivaled the Beatles, who played D.C. Stadium in 1966. It might not have matched Princess Diana, who graced a state dinner with President Reagan in 1985. But as far as visits by British celebrities go, soccer glamour boy David Beckham's trip to the nation's capital for a Major League Soccer game tonight against D.C. United was shaping up as an A-list event, the sort that causes Washingtonians to use their connections or their cash to ensure they are included.

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Orioles ended their first game in their new Triple-A affiliate's park by doing something they couldn't manage often last season: holding a late lead. The Orioles' bullpen, which gave up 321 runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings last season, came through in the ninth inning yesterday, as the team edged the Washington Nationals, 6-5, in an exhibition game at Harbor Park. The Nationals cut a 6-4 Orioles lead in half in the ninth, but Chris Ray struck out the game's final batter with the tying run on third.

Of course I loved Paul the best. He was the cutest, the dreamiest and more approachable than John -- as if I could ever approach any of the Beatles. As it happened, I did approach Paul once, fulfilling a pre-teen vow to meet him one day. I met him by finagling an assignment to cover a news conference where Paul spoke in support of Greenpeace before appearing with Wings at RFK Stadium. Beatlemania Now! takes place at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Lyric Opera House. Tickets are $40, $45 and $50. To buy tickets, call 410-547-SEAT or visit ticketmaster.

Running Susie's Cause 5K Where -- Power Plant Live, Baltimore When -- 8 a.m. tomorrow What for -- Fundraiser for Susie's Cause, a nonprofit providing outreach on colon cancer. Online -- www.charmcityrun.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=484 Baseball Milwaukee Brewers@ Washington Nationals Where -- RFK Stadium, Washington When -- 7:05 p.m. today and tomorrow, 1:05 p.m. Sunday What for -- See two teams trying to avoid a 90-loss season. Online -- washington.nationals.mlb.com/ Pro football Oakland Raiders @Ravens Where -- M&T Bank Stadium When -- 1 p.m. Sunday What for -- For a change, the outlook for the Ravens is looking up. Online -- www.baltimoreravens.

BASEBALL Diamondbacks @Nationals Where -- RFK Stadium, Washington When -- Tonight, 7:05; tomorrow, 7:05 p.m.; Sunday 1:05 p.m. What for -- One bad team meets another. Online -- nationals.mlb.com College football Morgan State @Towson Where -- Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson When -- Tomorrow, 6 p.m. What for -- College football for $12, in a matchup of local rivals. Online -- www.towsontigers.com College soccer UCLA at Maryland Where -- Ludwig Field, College Park When -- Tonight, 8 What for -- Matchup of Top 10 teams follows a women's match between the Terps and Towson.

When I heard that kosher hot dogs - long a part of Baltimore's professional baseball scene - had arrived at RFK Stadium in Washington, I drove over to our nation's capital for a ballpark lunch. I bit into an Abeles and Heymann all-beef dog, $4.50, at the stand called Kosher Sports near Section 220. It was flavorful, a little dry and not quite as warm as the all-beef dog I would subsequently eat during a suppertime visit to Camden Yards' kosher stand, on the lower level of the left field concourse.

HAGERSTOWN -- Already in his uniform an hour before game time, Brandon Nall sets up across from a snack counter behind the grandstand at Muncipal Stadium. The lanky relief pitcher for the hometown Suns holds a Bible in his right hand; a "What Would Jesus Do?" band encircles his left wrist. Fans are trickling in as he begins his testimony. "God has given me the ability to throw a baseball," Nall, 24, a second-year pro from Dothan, Ala., says to the circle of spectators that has stopped to listen.