Sumo

He smashes records. He brings home more gold than any other Olympic athlete in history. He triggers global swoons every time he slips off his shirt. Michael Phelps not only hails from Baltimore, he also dolphin-kicked right back here after Beijing to buy a home even when he could have lived anywhere. As if that weren't enough, he's single-handedly helping local restaurants survive the recession with his famous sumo-worthy meals. How many bands that hit the big time have a homage to their hometown built into their very name?

LAST SUNDAY, Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts from the Bollman Bridge Cluster participated in a nationwide Girl Scout tradition: Thinking Day. On this day, American Girl Scouts pause to acknowledge and celebrate Scouts who live in other countries. Last year, the Bollman Bridge Cluster chose to honor the worldwide Girl Scout movement by exploring languages. Each troop selected a language, then prepared a presentation to introduce that language to the cluster. It snowed on last year's Thinking Day - a lot. Schools closed, roads were impassable and by the time the roads cleared, other activities made rescheduling Thinking Day impossible.

NAGANO, Japan - With the stomp of a sumo wrestler and the passing of a torch, one world assembled for play and for peace at the 1998 Winter Olympics.The ornate opening ceremony that combined ancient Japanese traditions with high-technology magic was held on a crackling, cold winter's morning in this sprawling city and beamed live to the United States last night.The production featured gigantic sumo wrestlers and tiny ballet dancers, soaring wooden pillars and roaring bonfires.There was a peace appeal from International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

The first Maryland Beer & Foodfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and April 27 at Ripken Stadium, featuring hundreds of beers, select wine, spirits and an array of food. The event will feature domestic, import and exotic brews, wines from around the world, select spirits, gourmet food and entertainment. Beer and wine lovers can explore all aspects of the brewer's art, from tailgating and munchies to gourmet food and beverage pairings. Musicians and entertainers will perform continuously both days.

BaseballHouston Astros -- Agreed to terms with 1B Sid Bream on a one-year contract.Philadelphia Phillies -- Agreed to terms with 1B Ricky Jordan on a one-year contract.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Announced that Kent Tekulve has quit his part-time job as a special assistant in the team's marketing and broadcast department. Hired Greg Brown as a full-time broadcaster.San Diego Padres -- Agreed to terms with P Andy Benes, P Andres Berumen and OF Randy Curtis on one-year contracts.Seattle Mariners -- Outrighted P Travis Buckley to Triple-A Calgary.

Harford bowlers dominated the boys divisions, both scratch and handicap, at the 11th annual Maryland State Ten Pin Council Scholarship Tournament, held at Elk Lanes, Elkton.This six-game singles tournament held last month was open to the best young tenpin bowlers in the state. They had to be in their senior year of high school. Four $1,000 scholarships are awarded to winners in the girls and boys scratch and handicap divisions.Shawn Blake, bowling out of Harford Lanes, won the scratch boys division and finished fourth in the handicap division.

LONDON -- Even though British designers have created some of the most wearable clothes of the spring 1992 season, the soul of London's style is in the streets.Even fashion trend-setters as notable as French iconoclast Jean Paul Gaultier have admitted that, when they need inspiration, they head for the streets of London.If he were here this week, Gaultier would have seen the Americanization of London street style. Faded blue jeans are part of the street uniform on Brits of all ages. Baseball caps featuring the logos of American sports teams also remain popular.

TOKYO -- On a street of stolidly upper-middle-class apartments, a shop window is filled with familiar Tokyo icons: Revlon lipsticks, Shiseido skin creams, Christian Dior scarves and Issey Miyake belts.Inside, the ceiling is painted with angels and cherubs. French impressionist prints line the walls. A "relaxation room" at the rear is lined with gilt-edged mirrors, makeup lights and hair driers. A massage chair gives off the sound of birds chirping and the fragrance of lilacs.Is this any way to run a pinball joint?

No less an authority than Rolling Stone declares that Baltimore has the nation's best "scene." Really. "Hotbed for rap and art rock," it says. Part of the appeal: Golden West Cafe, "the late-night post-show hangout." There's also some stuff about "electronic party starters," unlicensed concert venues and "Wire-inspired Hamsterdam mixtapes." But frankly, the only thing I grasped was the restaurant. And even that confused me. Isn't Golden West a family-friendly, crayons-on-the-table kinda place?

After the prom, high school senior Cody Wolfe ditched his tuxedo and slipped into a hulking, flesh-toned sumo suit. He then raced onto a mat to body slam two classmates who were also wearing puffy fat suits. What better way to spend prom night? After the last slow dance, Wolfe joined about 240 C. Milton Wright High School students who left the ballroom on a recent Saturday night and headed to another party where the DJ played fast-paced, upbeat songs, the cooler was packed with nonalcoholic drinks and the hot tub was running - all under the watchful eyes of 50 parents.