Stay Healthy

ASHBURN, Va. -- To be a cornerback in the NFL, it's not enough to have talent."There's a certain temperament you have to have to be a cornerback," said coach Richie Petitbon of the Washington Redskins. "You have to have a gunslinger's mentality. You have to have the ability to forget the last play. Cornerbacks are going to get beat. They all get beat. Guys who brood about stuff like that think themselves right out of a job."Petitbon thinks that A. J. Johnson, who has stepped in for the departed Martin Mayhew, has that quality.

SARASOTA, Fla. - More than a decade after he broke into the major leagues, first baseman Nick Johnson has little doubt that he can still hit a baseball. That part of the game has never been a problem for Johnson, signed by the Orioles to a minor league deal a week before spring training began here at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Staying on the field has. Coming up with the New York Yankees in 2001, Johnson was seen as one of the most promising hitters in the game, but injuries often stepped in the way of potential.

Demetrius Williams still titillates the Ravens the way he first did when they saw him at Oregon. Big body, velvet hands, sprinter's speed. The Ravens loved the profile when they drafted him in the fourth round in 2006, and they love it now. But three years later, they need more than the promise he offers as a deep threat. They need more than three touchdown catches in three seasons. Most of all, they need him to move past a nettlesome ankle injury that has kept him out of 19 games, including playoffs, the past two seasons.

A few months before his wedding, Neill Howell was tipping the scales at 240 pounds and knew he needed to make a change. There was just one problem: Howell was the executive chef in a restaurant kitchen, a high-stress workplace full of ready-to-grab calories and little opportunity to work them off. Three years later, Howell has oatmeal before work and packs himself a healthy meal for the middle of the shift. He does Muay Thai, a vigorous combat sport that emphasizes conditioning and has proved to be an effective stress reliever.

Their busy lives have kept them running in different directions for years, so the Shock sisters, all six of them, have decided to run together -- in local road races. At a 5K run in Patterson Park this weekend, sponsored by the State's Attorney's Office and Baltimore Child Abuse Center, the sisters are planning to be together again on the race course, thanks to a combination of personal motivation and good-natured sibling rivalry. "There's always the goal of beating my sisters," says Peggy Hughes, 44, of East Baltimore.

On deck Curt Schilling (11-1) of the Diamondbacks and Pedro Martinez (7-0) of the Red Sox square off today. He said it "I'm going to focus on today and trying to stay healthy, trying to finish the season healthy." Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers catcher and perennial All-Star, who lost 24 pounds while spending seven-plus weeks on the DL

On the Orioles' projected lineup [Melvin] Mora is going to kill us in the 2 spot. He's 35 and on a three-year down trend. I'd move [Jay] Payton and [Corey] Patterson to the 2 hole. Against righties, [Kevin] Millar should definitely be in the lineup over Jay Payton. For all of his many faults, Millar does do a good job of getting on base. Provided [Aubrey] Huff and [Jay] Gibbons can stay healthy, they both are potential 30-homer guys.

1. The Redskins need to settle on the interior offensive line positions and have them produce, both in the running game and pass protection. 2. They must get some consistency and big plays at quarterback, whether it's Shane Matthews or Danny Wuerffel throwing the ball. 3. Their young wide receivers must come through and be in sync with the quarterback. Rod Gardner is the No. 1 receiver and he's only in his second season. 4. Running back Stephen Davis needs to be used in the passing game and given enough carries to represent a running threat.

The Orioles acquired Melvin Mora in a July 2000 trade that sent shortstop Mike Bordick to the New York Mets. A two-time All-Star third baseman, Mora hit .274 last year with 16 home runs and 83 RBIs while playing a career-high 155 games. Mora, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Orioles in May, lives in Fallston with his wife Gisel and six children. The couple had quintuplets on July 28, 2001. What's the hardest part of being a father of quintuplets? -- For me, the hardest part is when we have a meeting in the school.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Richie Petitbon, working on his 32nd year in the NFL as a player and a coach, has no trouble remembering how long he played before he suffered an injury that knocked him out of the lineup."

New Year's resolutions are the kiss of death. We all know this. So instead of drafting some sweeping resolution we know darn well we'll never keep, how about thinking small for 2012. How about trying one thing — maybe two — that just might nudge you a tiny bit closer to "fit" and "healthy. " And don't take it from us — we asked local folks who each, in their own way, have already resolved to live healthy, fit lives, to share one fitness secret and healthful eating tip. These things work for them.

Containers of hand sanitizer have been deployed near the doors at St. Mary's in Annapolis. The doorknobs are being cleaned between Masses, and the bathrooms are getting more attention. The Rev. John Kingsbury has practiced giving Communion without touching the hand of the recipient. But the pastor still worries about the impact on the 16,000-member Catholic parish if the H1N1 virus hits the community hard. "I think the spiritual side is the one that has yet to be faced," Kingsbury said.

The water's lapping at your freshly manicured toes. The sun's shining down on your back and your Blackberry is most definitely turned off. It's a glorious beach moment. But sun seekers beware: A dazzling day at the shore can be the perfect summer escape, but don't let the relaxation put you off your guard. When it comes to sun, there can be too much of a good thing. Heat exhaustion and sunburn are not just minor annoyances; they can be harmful. Heat-related illness, ranging from cramps to life-threatening heatstroke, happens when the body struggles to cool itself.

Demetrius Williams still titillates the Ravens the way he first did when they saw him at Oregon. Big body, velvet hands, sprinter's speed. The Ravens loved the profile when they drafted him in the fourth round in 2006, and they love it now. But three years later, they need more than the promise he offers as a deep threat. They need more than three touchdown catches in three seasons. Most of all, they need him to move past a nettlesome ankle injury that has kept him out of 19 games, including playoffs, the past two seasons.

INFIELDERS No. Name Ht Wt Avg HR RBI Jeff Zrebiec's skinny 12 Robert Andino 6-0 170 .206 2 9 Late-spring acquisition will give the Orioles insurance in the middle infield. 17 Aubrey Huff 6-4 234 .304 32 108 If first baseman even comes close to replicating last year's numbers, Orioles will be more than satisfied. 3 Cesar Izturis 5-9 190 .263 1 24 Slick-fielding shortstop was signed to strengthen the team's defense; any offense will be a bonus. 6 Melvin Mora 5-11 200 .285 23 104 In what could be his last season as an Oriole, Mora will be counted on to be a steady run producer.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -Based solely on resumes, the Orioles' 2009 bullpen should be a major strength. George Sherrill is an All-Star closer, and Chris Ray has a 33-save season and an electric arsenal. Jim Johnson was one of baseball's best setup men last year, and veteran Jamie Walker has made a career of shutting down left-handed hitters. Dennis Sarfate and Matt Albers are young, versatile pitchers with strong arms and untapped potential. On paper, this version of the Orioles' bullpen looks to be the club's best since 2002, when it ranked second in the American League in ERA. But there's a catch - one that will go a long way toward determining the success of this season.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Richie Petitbon, working on his 32nd year in the NFL as a player and a coach, has no trouble remembering how long he played before he suffered an injury that knocked him out of the lineup."

The 32nd Street Farmers' Market in Baltimore opened last Saturday morning with four produce farmers unloading batches of fresh blueberries for sale. Two and a half hours later, the berries were gone - undoubtedly scooped up by patrons who covet not only the seasonal fruit's sweet taste and variety of uses, but its abundance of health benefits. In fact, blueberries routinely make lists of nutrient-packed victuals commonly known as super foods. They are among the most important blocks in the food pyramid: vegetables, fruits, meats, beverages and dairy products that have helped popularize such terms as Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and beta carotene.

No matter the destination, travelers often come home with more than pictures and T-shirts. They pick up a malady - a cold or a stomach ailment, or worse. But as the summer travel season gets under way, those in the business of keeping people healthy say good planning and some vigilance can increase the odds of keeping illness at bay. They say that for most people traveling domestically by car, train or plane, the most important steps to staying healthy - or at least reducing the severity of a cold - are simple.