Rocky

Gambling started Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort right after the state approved the opening of its fourth casino, one that Western Maryland leaders hope will lure not only gamblers but also their families to a region eager for more tourist dollars. "It's open and jamming," said Scott Just, the general manager of the resort near Cumberland. "There's a couple hundred people in there. They were pressing up against the ropes. " The $35 million casino, located in what was the lakeside golf resort's conference center, will be open around the clock.

Henceforth, let there by a rule that nothing can be compared to Maryland's failed investment at Rocky Gap, located just outside Cumberland in Western Maryland, except for Rocky Gap and perhaps any other $55 million white elephant loss that comes along. We know Rocky Gap. Rocky Gap is an acquaintance of ours. Sorry, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay resort in Cambridge, but you're no Rocky Gap. Incidentally, let us insert a reminder here. Even the infamous Rocky Gap hotel and conference center isn't Rocky Gap anymore.

THE ''ROCKY'' saga began when a 30-year-old Sylvester Stallone, a few films behind him, wrote a script about a Philadelphia boy named Rocky Balboa, a boxer who wanted a shot at the big time.The studios were interested, but they didn't want to do the film with Stallone. They wanted a bigger box-office name, someone like Burt Reynolds or James Caan. Stallone told them that he was part of the deal, and if they didn't want to do it, he would.He did. Somehow. It cost less than $1 million to make the film.

A teenage boy died Monday after disappearing in the waters of Rocky Gorge Reservoir near North Laurel. The 15-year-old was swimming in the Scott's Cove area of the reservoir when bystanders on shore heard him cry for help about 4 p.m., according to the county fire department's Twitter feed. Scott's Cove is on the north side of the reservoir in southern Howard County and includes a boat ramp and recreational area. He was found in the chilly waters about three hours later, at 7:08 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the department.

When A$AP Rocky's DJ dropped “Brand New Guy,” a thunderous track from last year's “LiveLoveA$AP,” the sold-out crowd at Baltimore Soundstage lost it. And so did Rocky and his Harlem, N.Y., crew - 90 seconds in and they were stage-diving as if it were a well-earned encore. It was the fourth song of the night. Out in the crowd, Rocky was mobbed like a 10-year-vet, not a rap rookie who only started performing live four months ago. “Look at my shirt. I look like Michael Jackson,” the 23-year-old said after realizing his black crewneck T-shirt was now a deep V-neck.

SYLVESTER Stallone has done it again. You would think his ''Rocky'' films would succumb to the law of averages, but the newest in the series, written by Stallone, is better than some of the others.''Rocky V'' has originality, and that's surprising in a boxing film. Aren't the stories always the same?Well, yes, they are, but this one braves a few new trails. When the film begins, the credits give us a review of the last film, one in which the Philadelphia boy took on the Russian champ and put him away.

Rocky Balboa, Hollywood's favorite heavyweight, will be all over AMC today. The franchise started in 1976 with Rocky (3 p.m., repeats 2:30 a.m.), a little film starring a beefy grade-B actor no one had heard of that became a giant, Oscar-winning hit. Sylvester Stallone, whose previous resume included playing a street tough in The Lords of Flatbush (and a stud in the soft-core porn The Party at Kitty and Stud's), almost through force of will alone got this film made. It seemed destined to fail from the start; who wants to watch an unknown actor in a film about a third-rate boxer getting an unexpected shot at the heavyweight title?

Long live "Rocky!" Sylvester Stallone, in the December Connoisseur magazine, says that since his movie career took off in 1976 he's bought about 200 19th- and 20th-century artworks, worth about $25 million.He also reveals that he's taking up painting inspired by his emotion of the moment. For instance, the movie star said he did one following his breakup with Brigitte Nielsen using palette knives, spray paint and his bare hands to create "the smashing effect."

Suddenly on October 18, 2008, ROCKY DAVID WILLIAM TORRES; loving son of Tina and Rafael Torres; step-son of Gary Hare; dear brother of Tyann James and Joey Hare; grandson of Iris Torres and Silverio Colon and the late Andrew and Hilda Shroyer. A Funeral Service will be held at the family-owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue, on Thursday at 8 PM. Cremation to follow. Friends may call on Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM.

On October 4, 2005; ROCKY D. ANDERSON, beloved husband of Evelyn L. Anderson. Also survived by two sons Ricardo "Ricky" and Dwight Anderson; two sisters, Jessie L. Cartwright and Annie M. Coker of Olanta, SC; two brothers, Robert L. Anderson of Olanta, SC and Wilbur Anderson of Baltimore, MD. On Friday, friends may call VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES (RANDALLSTOWN), 8728 Liberty Road from 3 to 8 P.M., and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. On Saturday, Mr. Anderson will lie instate at New Metropolitan Baptist Church, 1700 Mc Cullough St., where the family will receive friends from 11 to 11:30 A.M., with services to follow.

Gambling started Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort right after the state approved the opening of its fourth casino, one that Western Maryland leaders hope will lure not only gamblers but also their families to a region eager for more tourist dollars. "It's open and jamming," said Scott Just, the general manager of the resort near Cumberland. "There's a couple hundred people in there. They were pressing up against the ropes. " The $35 million casino, located in what was the lakeside golf resort's conference center, will be open around the clock.

Maryland's fourth casino - the Rocky Gap Casino Resort - hopes to open its doors for gambling this week. The casino, which held a controlled demonstration on Monday, is awaiting final approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control agency. The opening could come as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. Located off Interstate 68 near Cumberland, it will be the state's smallest casino. Evitts Resort, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Lakes Entertainment, plans to operate 558 slot machines plus 10 table games at the casino.

The Rocky Gap Casino Resort hopes to open its doors for gaming in three weeks. In the meantime, the resort said today it's holding an open house this Saturday to offer customers - and the merely curious - a glimpse of the resort's upgrades The open house, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will allow the resort to show off its new hotel lobby and room renovations. Guests will be permitted to sign up for a loyalty program that will offer players points for frequent play on slots or table games.

Maryland's gaming control commission granted Rocky Gap Casino Resort preliminary approval Friday to begin gaming operations on May 22, pending the results of a controlled demonstration two days prior. Rocky Gap would become the state's fourth casino, and its smallest. Evitts Resort, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Lakes Entertainment, plans to have only 558 slot machines and 10 tables games available, and has said it will hire 250 employees for its gaming operation. The casino will be open 24 hours a day. Table games will include blackjack, roulette, three-card Poker, Mississippi Stud and craps.

Baltimore's new speed camera company says it took in $18 million in revenue last year - a nearly 10 percent increase from 2011 - but still lost money, thanks in part to a rocky start in the city. In a statement to investors, Brekford Corp. of Anne Arundel County said the company lost $1.2 million in 2012, in part because it had to buy and install new cameras for Baltimore to replace the old ones. In addition, the firm said, more motorists than expected in other jurisdictions where it runs cameras failed to pay their tickets.

Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort, which will become the state's fourth operating casino when it opens later this year, will hold a job fair Saturday, Feb. 23 to fill about 250 full- and part-time jobs. The fair will be held at Allegany College of Maryland's Cumberland Campus in the Continuing Education Building and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Human resources representatives from the hotel will be looking for candidates in many areas of the operation, including food service and casino gaming.

No time to make a fancy dessert? This Rocky Road Cak bakes in your microwave oven in about 20 minutes.This recipe is from Baker's Chocolate.Rocky Road Cake 2 eggs3 1/2 cups non-dairy whipped topping, thawed30 chocolate wafers, crushed into crumbs (1 1/2 cups)1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1/2 cup miniature marshmallows1/4 cup chopped nutsBeat eggs in a large bowl with a fork. Fold in whipped topping, chocolate wafer crumbs and three-quarter cup of the chocolate chips, until just blended.Batter will be white with specks of chocolate crumbs.

Judging from Iraq's dramatic announcement today that it is prepared to withdraw from Kuwait and end the Persian Gulf war, we can't help but wonder if Saddam Hussein might be drawing his military strategy not from the military manuals but rather from the 1976 American film classic "Rocky."Consider events over the past 48 hours: On Tuesday a large number of people, including women and children, were killed when an American pilot dropped a precision bomb into a building in Baghdad.Let us accept, without dispute, the American version of what happened: It was a legitimate bombing attack on a sophisticated command and control station in time of war, and there was no indication whatsoever that any civilians were inside.

The Orioles have agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Jair Jurrjens on a one-year deal, according to a report from CBSSports.com. According to the report, the former Atlanta Braves pitcher will receive a major league deal worth $1.5 million and could earn up to $4 million with incentives. He was non-tendered by the Braves this offseason after earning $5.5 million in 2012. Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette did not immediately return a text message late Thursday night.