Wrist

As a defender, Jacksonville junior Rachel Hannon doesn't contribute the big scoring numbers that make headlines, but she draws the spotlight in another way. Hannon set a NCAA record this spring for draw controls in a season. She won 131 to break the record of 126 set by Maryland's Dana Dobbie in 2008. She also broke the record for draw controls per game, averaging 6.89 to best the 6.29 of Towson's Hillary Fratzke in 2006. In addition, Hannon set a Dolphins record for most draw controls in a game with 13, just two off the all-time mark of 15 set by Virginia Tech's Allie Emala (Bryn Mawr)

The rules of lacrosse allow for both player-to-player and stick-to-player contact, leaving players susceptible to acute traumatic injuries like those commonly seen in football and ice hockey. However, as lacrosse continues to become a year-round game, chronic repetitive injuries like those typical in baseball, tennis and swimming may begin to surface. Lacrosse has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. According to a recent survey by US Lacrosse, the sport's national governing body, participation has risen by an average of 10 percent a year since 2002, with more than 600,000 people now playing at various levels.

Before the Orioles finished their exhibition schedule Wednesday at Triple-A Norfolk, manager Buck Showalter joked with Nick Johnson that the first baseman needed to stay healthy for just a matter of hours before the 5 p.m. roster deadline. The oft-injured Johnson, a non-roster invitee whose contract would be purchased by the Orioles by that deadline, took a ball to the ankle later in the day. "It just smoked him on the ankle," Showalter said. "He asked what time was it. I said it's a little early.

North Carolina sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall underwent surgery on his broken right wrist Monday, but his playing status remains unknown, according to a statement released by the university. Marshall suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist during the Tar Heels' 87-73 victory against Creighton on Sunday in the third round of the NCAA tournament. With the victory, North Carolina advanced to the Midwest regional semifinals in St. Louis, where the top-seeded Tar Heels will play Ohio on Friday night.

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.

Why are we wasting taxpayer money on a show trial prosecution of state Sen. Ulysses S. Currie, when we all know he will get little more than a slap on the wrist, if that? Of course, if Mr. Currie were a Republican he would already be in jail, with the key thrown away. Gail Householder, Marriottsville

St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said he has accepted the NFL's decision to send a memo to all 32 teams warning of sanctions if the league can prove that players faked injuries during games. The memo - a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press Wednesday - reminded the team that coaches are supposed to discourage the practice and warned that fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks could be assessed. The memo came two days after it appeared that at least two New York Giants players faked injuries against the Rams during Monday night's game to halt the offense's no-huddle approach.

David Reed might have vaulted himself into the team's discussions about its options at wide receiver with his impressive preseason debut. His performance — three catches for 68 yards in the Ravens' 31-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night — also was a surprise, at least to coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh acknowledged that he was shocked to see Reed participate against the Chiefs, considering that Reed, who had been nursing a left wrist injury, had been activated from the Ravens' physically-unable-to-perform list Aug. 15. "I was very surprised he got in the game and then played as well as he did because he wasn't even supposed to be in contact last week," Harbaugh said Sunday.

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The Orioles cling to the belief that veteran first baseman Derrek Lee will be ready to start the regular season on time, but manager Buck Showalter didn't hesitate when he was asked who would likely open at first base if Lee's sore wrist prevents him from getting enough at-bats this spring. It's the same guy who would have been the designated hitter if the Orioles hadn't signed Vladimir Guerrero, and the same guy who arrived in camp as the likely left fielder after the O's signed Guerrero and Lee. Luke Scott, of course.