Barbaro's owners driven by love

January 30, 2007

The death of a thoroughbred racehorse is never less than heartbreaking. The horses are magnificent athletes, bred to race, with muscular torsos perched on sinewy legs. They instinctively give their all. They deserve good fortune but don't always get it.

Recent columns

• It's stuff of fiction, but it's fact

  January 10, 2007

  Let's call it what it is: a pure sports fantasy.

• Bonds that made '66 O's special remain strong

  October 21, 2006

  After all these years, they shared another bus ride the other night.

• Elrod's widow can't forget: 'Fact is they broke his heart'

  April 4, 2006

  Her late husband's team began another season yesterday at Camden Yards. Her youngest son threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

• O's should do right thing, retire Hendricks' number

  March 31, 2006

  Opening Day at Camden Yards is just days away, and the Orioles still haven't decided whether to retire Elrod Hendricks' uniform No. 44.

• Today's vagabonds can't grasp Hendricks' connection

  December 24, 2005

  As I drove in to work yesterday, I listened to radio talk shows still mourning Elrod Hendricks' death. That was all the callers wanted to discuss.

• Elrod's team was community

  December 22, 2005

  In his own way, Elrod Hendricks was the most valuable Oriole every year. He was a one-man community outreach program, forever taking the time to sign autographs, chat up fans, make appearances, giggle with kids - the kind of stuff that pro athletes used to do all the time.

• No bows for Brooks

  September 14, 2005

  THE ORIOLES will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brooks Robinson's major league debut Saturday at Camden Yards, but Robinson won't be there to help.

• F. Robinson, 70, still has what O's lack -- fire

  August 31, 2005

  FRANK ROBINSON turns 70 today, still angry after all these years.

• Juice leaves lasting stain on Palmeiro

  August 2, 2005

  Rafael Palmeiro sounded pretty convincing yesterday when he explained how he had "unintentionally" used a banned steroid. He was even more convincing last March when he told a congressional committee he had "never used steroids - period."

• He defined era long gone, forever embraced

  March 7, 2005

  CHUCK THOMPSON would have blushed at the suggestion that his death and Johnny Unitas' were in any way comparable. He didn't play the games, he just broadcast them. Unitas was the one on the field, the one who was important, the one whose death signaled the passing of an era.

• Streak makes Ripken an ironclad great, though he'd find fame even without it

  October 10, 2001

  INCREDIBLY, people used to argue about whether Cal Ripken was a deserving Hall of Famer without the consecutive-games streak.

• In Ripken's sentimental journey, last chance to play is the real trip

  October 7, 2001

  WHY DID YOU and Cal become such good friends?" a reporter asked Brady Anderson before Cal Ripken's last game last night at Camden Yards.

• Iron Man's timing on, as always

  June 19, 2001

  He got it right again.

• All aboard the Rahman bandwagon

  April 24, 2001

  COME ON. BE HONEST. Until a few day ago, if Hasim Rahman had come up to you on the street, introduced himself and forced you to guess if he was, a) a backup defensive back for the Ravens, b) a middle school science teacher, or, c) a heavyweight title contender from Abingdon in Harford County, you never would have guessed the last of the three.

• We were just too tough, too good

  January 29, 2001

  TAMPA, Fla. -- You saw it. The Giants gave in. Early. Long before the game was over. Long before it was even decided.

• We were just too tough, too good

  January 29, 2001

  TAMPA, Fla. -- You saw it. The Giants gave in. Early. Long before the game was over. Long before it was even decided.

• Ties that bind are fitting as a tribute to Steadman

  January 24, 2001

  TAMPA, Fla. - Ernie Accorsi will wear one to the Super Bowl on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. So will some writers in the press box.

• Fifth place goes down like 'butter'

  September 20, 2000

  He had the right reaction for a 15-year-old who had just finished fifth in a swimming final at the Summer Olympics.

• While Williams shrugs, Goodman is left hurt, dangling

  September 8, 1999

  If you make a mistake, you pay for it. That's how most of the world operates.

• For Donovan, emotional ties are long gone

  November 25, 1998

  So, the moment is at hand. The Colts at Baltimore. The great grudge match, hon. Our past against our present. The horseshoe against, well, a logo under pending litigation.

• This year, Donovan has some hearty thanks to give

  November 28, 1991

  At various times in his 67 years, Art Donovan has used this day to give thanks for Spam, the old days in the Bronx, salami, offensive linemen who couldn't block, beer by the case, NFL Films, football on real grass, David Letterman, Italian food, life after 60 and the fact that he got to live in America, because, as he once put it, his ancestors in Ireland didn't have anything to eat.