Sega

Police logOwen Brown: 7000 block of Knighthood Lane: Someone entered a house through an unsecured basement door Wednesday or Thursday and stole a television, videocassette recorder, video games, a cable box and a Sega video game unit.Pub Date: 10/28/96

Sunday, and for years afterward, thousands of parents will cringe reflexively at a simple declarative sentence uttered by a comical animated man: "It's me, Mario!"Yes, the rotund little plumber is back to step on enemies and collect gold coins, but he's also the standard bearer of a new Nintendo video game system that will likely be one of the most asked-for items this holiday season. Nintendo 64 is a powerful descendant of the Nintendo Entertainment System and SuperNintendo game consoles that lurk under television sets in more than 20 million U.S. households.

In the Mojave Desert in California, near Death Valley National Monument, is a 12-bed hostel with an additional room for a family that may be reserved. Bicycling is popular in the area, and this hostel rents bicycles. Members of Hosteling International-American Youth Hostels may stay overnight for $12; $15 for nonmembers. Death Valley Hostel, P.O. Box 277, Johannesburg, Calif. 93528; (619) 374-2323.Forty miles from Yosemite National Park, on the campus of Columbia College in Sonora, is a 36-bed hostel with family rooms, laundry facilities and a recreation room.

Ravens offensive tackle Tony Jones walks outside the locker room and looks to the sky. Then he does a little dance and prays for rain.Nothing happens.Then he walks down two flights of stairs, muttering every step toward the practice field."Where do I hurt? My butt, my back, my knees, my thighs. I am the injury report. Where don't I hurt?" said Jones. "Every bone and every joint aches. But training camp is nothing but a mind game."Actually, it is more than a mind game. It's hours of near physical exhaustion with two-a-day practices (nearly 4 hours total)

Police logHarper's Choice: 1200 block of Green Meadow Drive: Police said burglars kicked in an apartment's side window Saturday night, entered, ransacked the place and took two handguns, a Sega game and a phone.

A home improvement fair sponsored by the Village of Wilde Lake will be presented from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Slayton House.The fair is part of the Revitalization Project that has begun in the village.The pilot program will address issues facing the aging community.It is a joint project of Howard County, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., Comcast, the Rouse Co., the Columbia Association, NationsBank, Columbia Bank, Wilde Lake Village Board and village residents.The fair will feature contractors offering a variety of services.

RICK KRIVDACareer recordIs in his first season at the major league level. Had first losing record of his professional career last season, going 9-10 with Triple-A Rochester. Has allowed fewer hits thqn innings pitched in his five pro seasons. Named to 1991 Division II first team All-American team as a pitcher with the California University of Pennsylvania. Signed by the Orioles as their 23 selection in the 1991 free-agent draft.Personal recordBorn and still lives in McKeesport, Pa. Turned 25 on Jan. 19. Was a Pittsburgh Pirates fan growing up. Is of Polish and Czechoslovakian descent.

For six hours a day, 10-year-old Adam Swinder stares at his television screen, doing battle with zombies, saving the planet, rescuing cheerleaders, being transformed into a flying dragon."

As Major League Baseball tries to find ploys to attract more fans, Sega Sports has discovered a way to regain the interest of baseball fans.World Series Baseball 1995 is an updated version of Sega's best-selling sports game with a focus on increasing action."

TOKYO -- Japanese software maker Softbank Corp. said it is discussing a joint venture with Microsoft Corp., confirming part of a report that sent shares in Nintendo Corp. and Sega Enterprises Ltd. plunging to their lowest levels in years.Softbank issued a statement after a report in the Nihon Keizai newspaper that it will join the world's largest software maker in a $12 million venture to develop video games for home computers.The report sent shares in Japanese video-game makers Nintendo and Sega plunging on concerns that a shift to computer games would cut away the companies' markets for custom video-game players.