Winning Team

The student: Dane Brown, 16 School: Wilde Lake High School Special achievement: Member of the winning team at the Conference Quiz Bowl sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers at the University of Maryland. What he says about it: "Going into the Maryland competition, I didn't know how many teams to expect or what the local competition would be. So I didn't go expecting to win because it was our first time doing this. During the competition at College Park, I could tell that we had a good chance of winning.

The Houston Texans lost their top tackler two weeks ago when middle linebacker Brian Cushing went down with a season-ending knee injury. A week later, they were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers, 42-24, on their home field as Aaron Rodgers threw six touchdown passes, the Texans couldn't run the football and their special teams faltered. Earlier that day, the Ravens outlasted the mistake-prone Dallas Cowboys, 31-29. In the process, they lost their leading tackler (Ray Lewis) and best cornerback (Lardarius Webb)

On the same day that Miguel Tejada was named Most Valuable Oriole and homered twice, the shortstop offered his employers a little advice. "I think if this team wants to win," he said, "the last thing they should do is trade me." Tejada, who suggested last winter that a change of scenery would be beneficial, noted that he has three years remaining on his contract. He also praised the young talent on the ballclub. But the bottom line always will be about winning. "I like to play every day for something," he said.

MILWAUKEE — Sometimes Zack Greinke goes to a park not far from his new home and stares out at Lake Michigan. This is his favorite part of this new place. Maybe he'll get a boat. He'd like that. Everything here is new. Everything feels fresh. The Brewers are in first place and Greinke is undefeated at home in his new life. Back in that old life, in Kansas City, Mo., the closest the Royals were to first place this time of year was 18 games behind. Here, in this new life, the Brewers already are thinking about how to set up their playoff rotation.

This time, there were no excuses.There was only one turnover and no fourth-quarter collapse. The receivers got open, and the inconsistent quarterback was consistent. A running back rushed for 100 yards, and the team passed for more than 300 yards.Finally.On a day when the fans cheered wildly in the final quarter, the Ravens (5-7) turned in their best effort of the season in a 41-14 win against the Tennessee Titans (9-3) yesterday before 67,854 at PSINet Stadium.Yes, it was a blowout. The Ravens scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, thanks to Jermaine Lewis' 39-yard touchdown reception and a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by safety Rod Woodson in the last six minutes, to secure their first victory over a winning team this year and end the Titans' 13-game win streak against AFC Central opponents.

ASHBURN, Va. -- They came at different times, for different reasons, and with different perspectives. When Brandon Lloyd arrived at Redskins Park last spring after spending his first three seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, he looked at the trade as a chance to play with a winning team and a veteran quarterback, and in the new high-powered offense Al Saunders had just brought from Kansas City. Redskins@Texans Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 5, 1430 AM Line: Redskins by 4

Brendan McKinney posted a 76 to lead Dulaney High School to an easy victory in the team division of the annual Baltimore County championships at Rocky Point Golf Course yesterday.Dulaney, with its four designated team members scoring no worse than 84, finished with a total of 317, followed by Perry Hall (347) and Franklin (356).Of 21 eligible teams, three others fielded full teams -- Lansdowne (364), Catonsville (375) and Loch Raven (389).In addition to the team competition, the event also served as the qualifying round for the individual championship, and the low 20 scorers will play an 18-hole round tomorrow at Piney Branch Golf Club in Hampstead.

Who's hot The Marlins have won five straight games on Friday the 13th. Who's not Jason LaRue of the Reds has 20 passed balls, more than every team but the Orioles. Line of the day Mo Vaughn, Mets 1B AB R H RBI HR 4 4 4 4 1 On deck Brett Tomko of the Padres, who leads the majors with 29 HRs allowed, faces the Giants' Barry Bonds (43) today. He said it "I spent 13 years losing [with the Cubs]. To go out on a winning team, I feel very fortunate." Mark Grace, Diamondbacks first baseman, who is taking a pay cut to stay with the team next year

"I never question my decision. When I came here, I knew a lot of attention was going to be focused on me. As a man, I was willing to step up to the challenge." Joe Johnson On leaving a winning team in Phoenix to join the Atlanta Hawks "He's one of the coaches I've always looked up to. ... For him to get another milestone, I'm glad I can be a part of it." Jimmy Tubbs SMU coach, whose team lost to Oklahoma State Saturday , giving the Cowboys' Eddie Sutton his 787th victory, moving him past Lefty Driesell for fifth all time on the NCAA men's coaches' list

It was exactly one year ago today that Lee Mazzilli was fired as Orioles manager. "It doesn't seem that long," he said. He's not sorry to be gone. Trust me. I couldn't get Sidney Ponson's attention before the pre-game stretch, and I'm not sure he would have talked to me anyway. A New York television reporter asked Ponson if he had any special feelings being back in Baltimore. "None. Zero," he said. "I'm just happy to be on a winning team." roch.kubatko@baltsun.com For more "Roch Around the Clock," go to baltimoresun.

The HCYP Raiders 15-U Metro baseball team finished a successful 2011 season on a very high note by winning the ECTB Clash of Champions tournament July 16-17, in Allentown, PA. The Raiders went 5-0 in the tournament and won the championship game, 14-6. This was a 22-team tournament and the Raiders beat teams from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to advance to the championship game against the Delaware Sabres. Pitching leaders on the Raiders during the tournament were Michael Dorsch (Marriotts Ridge High School)

The people who care about Towson University athletics wondered one thing as they watched conference rival Virginia Commonwealth shock mighty Kansas to earn a berth in the Final Four: Why can't that be us? The question speaks to the hope Towson leaders harbor after securing $68 million for a new, on-campus arena and attracting a new men's basketball coach from the University of Pittsburgh. But it also speaks to their frustration that an athletic turnaround has not come more quickly.

Loyola and Notre Dame Prep won the team titles at the National Catholic High School Swimming Championships over the weekend at Villanova and La Salle universities in Philadelphia. Loyola's Oliver Bennett (100-yard butterfly) and NDP's Kendall Krumenacker (100 freestyle) and Erin Dunseith (100 backstroke) won gold medals. Bennett also swam on two winning relays, the 200 medley with Kendrick McDonald, JP Clancy and Aaron Jones and the 400 freestyle with Alex Porter, Connor McGarvey and Cameron James.

It's taken eight years, but Cory Redding is finally part of a winner in the NFL. Before joining the Ravens, the defensive tackle had only played on losing teams. Six years in Detroit and one in Seattle brought 84 losses and tough finishes to the season. That's why getting the ninth win of the season Monday night — which clinched a winning season for the Ravens — dominated Redding's thoughts last week. "That's all I focused on was the No. 9," he said. "I slept with nine fingers under my pillow.

There will be those who think Eric Schuler's victory over Robby Creese in Tuesday's Howard County boys cross country championship race was an upset. But don't put Schuler in that group. The Reservoir senior made his move past the midway mark on the Centennial course and pulled away. Schuler went on to score a surprisingly easy victory over River Hill's Scott  Heydrick and Creese, who hadn't lost in-county since last fall. Creese won the county, regional and state titles last fall and every race this year until taking 10 t h at the recent Georgetown Prep meet.

There were no tantalizing bicycle kicks like last year, and the "beautiful game" was a little ragged at times, but Baltimore's exposure to international soccer still produced its share of memorable moments Saturday night. Much of that action unfolded in the first half at M&T Stadium, when a modest crowd announced at 36,569 saw two early scuffles, one curious red card and one spectacular goal. Throw in an own-goal by Manchester City in the second half and European champion Inter Milan dominated for a 3-0 victory in the preseason friendly.

The major twist on this season of The Apprentice has been dividing the teams into "haves" and "have-nots" by forcing the losing team to sleep in tents outside the mansion where the winning team is living it up. On Sunday's episode, members of undefeated Kinetic muffed their task big time, meaning they not only lost but also had to move to the outdoors camp for the first time. While the just desserts were fun to watch, it was also nice to see Arrow finally win (thanks to the efforts of project manager Aaron, who is from Columbia)

The student: NaShanta Ellerbe, 17 School: Wilde Lake High School Special achievement: Member of winning team at the Society of Black Engineers Conference Quiz Bowl at the University of Maryland. What she says about it: "Winning was unexpected because other schools at the conference received materials to help them prepare, and we just came in, did the best we could. I knew we had a talented team, and while it was unexpected when we won, we felt good because we knew we deserved it." What motivates her: "My mother is the main support in my life.

When Cory Redding drives to training camp this week, the only new starter on the Ravens' front seven will likely be seen with license plates that read: HTRA. It stands for Having The Right Attitude. Its meaning cuts much deeper. When Redding's uncle was in a Texas jail years ago (for reasons Redding declined to discuss), he saw a guard viciously beating a fellow inmate. The guard said this was punishment for disrespecting him. On a nearby wall, there were four letters painted that Redding has embraced throughout a challenging NFL career.

We all have our favorite ways to escape from the pressures of life. Hobbies serve a grand purpose, focusing all our attention when engaged, and thus erasing for a while the irritations, stresses, disappointments and fears that pile up as we go about living. They're better at that than, say, drinking alcohol, since gardening, woodworking and contract bridge don't cause liver damage and shouldn't hinder ones' ability to drive safely. (As an aside, I get a kick out of the oft-heard plea, "He's really a nice guy when he isn't drunk."