Triple Threat

William C. McClean, a retired Polytechnic Institute teacher and athletic coach who was a standout player on the school's 1929 and 1930 football teams, died of pneumonia Jan. 26 at St. Agnes Hospital. He was 97 and lived in the Charlestown Retirement Community. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Mechanicsburg, Pa., he was the son of a Bethlehem Steel Co. manager who was transferred to Sparrows Point in 1919 as it expanded operations there. "My father, the only son in a family of six children, developed leadership skills and a wry sense of humor early on, as he sought to define his role in the family, with five sisters," said his son, William Chichester McClean III of Hobe Sound, Fla. Mr. McClean, who was also known as "Chub," attended Polytechnic Institute.

When Daniel Bryan debuted in WWE, no one knew quite what to think. Bryan, who made a name for himself on the independent circuit as Bryan Danielson, epitomized the never-ending debate between "extremely talented technical wrestler" and "vanilla midget. " Paired with The Miz as his pro on the inaugural season of NXT, Bryan found himself in a peculiar and polarizing position. Critics continued to claim he lacked the personality and charisma to make it as a WWE superstar. When he won the World Heavyweight Championship a few weeks ago, many thought Bryan's reign would be a transitional one. Instead, viewers have been treated to a slow-burn turn to the dark side, and through it all, Bryan has displayed not only his abilities in the ring but also a conniving and manipulative attitude few in the WWE Universe believed he possessed.

For the past week, many wrestling fans have been excited about the idea of the Survivor Series pay-per-view being headlined by a traditional 10-man Survivor Series main event. But WWE seemingly couldn't leave well enough alone. After rushing to announce the two teams - led by WWE Champion CM Punk and WWE legend Mick Foley - on last week's episode of Raw, WWE seems to have let its own doubt run rampant and cause major adjustments to the teams and the PPV card as a whole. Raw opened with a pre-taped segment in which former Intercontinental Champion The Miz walked away from Team Punk.

They make a pretty easy crowd, these 4- and 5-year-olds packed into a basement TV room. Hugs the Clown, bright as a rainbow in red-sequined tie and mismatched shoes, is playing them for all they're worth. "Are you ready to have fun?" she asks. "Yeah!" they cry. And all 15 scream as the Anne Arundel County entertainer pulls a flag from a hat, waves a collapsing magic wand and shows them a bouquet of petunias that droop in her hand. It's a private party to celebrate summer, one of about 5,000 similar gigs she has performed in her day. Now in her 25th year on the circuit, Hugs the Clown — also known as Judy Ewald, 68, a self-taught artist and entrepreneur who lives in Arnold — is one of the longest-tenured full-time clowns in the Baltimore area.

In the closest three-horse Preakness finish in 65 years, Silver Charm edged Free House who nipped Captain Bodgit -- about three feet separated them -- in yesterday's 122nd renewal of the classic race at Pimlico Race Course.In winning one of the most thrilling races in the history of the Triple Crown series, Silver Charm became the first horse since Sunday Silence in 1989 to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Sunday Silence lost the Belmont to Easy Goer. So now in three weeks at majestic Belmont Park, Silver Charm will seek to become the first winner of the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

Amanda White (Dulaney) is that rarest of college athletes -- a star in three sports at a Division I school.Now a sophomore, White began her Stanford career last fall on the cross country team, did the 100-meter breaststroke and 200 individual medley as the Cardinal won its third straight NCAA Division I swimming title and finished eighth in the 3,000 meters in the Pac-10 outdoor track championships.This fall she is one of the school's top three cross country runners after a fourth in the University of San Francisco Invitational and a sixth in the Cal-Irvine Invitational.

Piney Branch Golf Club could have a triple threat on the line for this year's Baltimore Amateur Golf Championship.Among those singled out for invitations to the select event are brothers Carol and Wayne Gailey and Doug Jacobs, all from Piney Branch. The 36-hole championship will be played July 25-26 at Sparrows Point Country Club.The field is restricted to winners and runners-up in individual club championships at various courses in the immediate Baltimore area.The Gailey brothers were convincing qualifiers for the competition.

Maryland Public Television tonight launches a pilot magazine show for "today's generation," while ABC offers a skating spectacular and CBS takes a look back at the 1960s assault on America by British rockers.* "Hot Topics" (7:30 p.m.-8 p.m., MPT, Channels 22, 67) -- Viewers are asked to call with topics for this potential series aimed at young adults, with co-hosts Nate Howard and Annette Gibbs-Davis. PBS.* "Skates of Gold III" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Another sweeps month skatefest features Olympic gold medalists.

Designer Ella Pritsker, 33, loves what she does. "I've always dreamed about it, ever since I was a child," she says. "It's the creative part that appeals to me, being able to express myself -- the way I feel and the way I think -- in clothes." Pritsker came to Maryland 10 years ago from Russia as part of a relief program, traveling through Italy and Australia and soaking up their fabric offerings -- the colors and textures -- as she came. After five years in the United States, she started her own label, Ella Moda, in the basement of her home, fashioning couture-quality suits and separates.