Spitz sees Phelps within striking distance

July 6, 2008

And now the race is on. They've leapt from the starting blocks. In one lane, expectations. In another, hope. And in a third, speculation.

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  June 1, 2008

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• Everett's recovery: 'a gift from God'

  March 9, 2008

  Standing in line, they fidget in place, goose-necking over the large crowd and anxiously fingering their cell phones - one text message reads: "You'll never guess who I'm about to meet." They rehearse their lines with good reason, because what exactly are you supposed to say when you reach the front of the long line?

• Loss to Va. Tech tough to stomach

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• Maese: With speech, Ripken fields tough chance

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• Va. Tech fans, teams heal as one

  April 20, 2007

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• Ripken a reminder of O's past success, current problems

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  More than five years have passed, and the face of the organization still hasn't changed. Not for a single day. It was there again yesterday for the home opener, in fact. We saw him lob a soft toss to Miguel Tejada - the ceremonial first pitch. And just as they always had before, the fans went crazy.

• Sport still not making a splash

  April 6, 2007

  As Tiger Woods embarked on winning a fifth green jacket at this year's Masters, he took a moment to reflect on another athlete, someone nearly 10,000 miles away whose athletic uniform wouldn't come close to satisfying the dress code at Augusta National.

• Coaching life, not play, is at heart of 'Big Game'

  February 4, 2007

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• Barbaro runs to legendary status

  January 30, 2007

  Commentary

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  As he does just about every Sunday, Michael Phelps will wake up this morning and slip on his Ravens jersey. A replica of Ed Reed's No. 20 bookends Phelps' trim frame. Then he'll hit the streets of Ann Arbor, Mich., searching for a television that's broadcasting today's game from Kansas City.

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  October 20, 2006

  Tomorrow marks 50 years since anyone was given even a glimpse of what was in store.

• Ripken would be perfect prescription to revive O's

  September 8, 2006

  Pennant fever returns to Camden Yards tonight, once again unpacking its bags and filling the cramped quarters of the visiting clubhouse. The New York Yankees' September series against the Orioles has turned into an annual celebration of the Haves and the Haven't-A-Clues. In the visitors' dugout tonight, they'll be talking about next month, and over on the first base side, talk is already geared toward next year.

• No skating around it: I can't match Meissner

  September 3, 2006

  Kimmie Meissner just might be the strongest human being on the face of the planet.

• Ultimate Fighting's popularity may put boxing down for count

  August 26, 2006

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• Ian Hendricks builds on a baseball legacy

  June 23, 2006

  When we last saw Ian Hendricks, he'd just thrown out the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards, the one that opened the Orioles' season. Rick Dempsey gave him a hug and the crowd stood in appreciation of Ian's father, Elrod Hendricks, the Orioles' longtime coach who died in December.

• Minus star, fans will tune out Belmont

  June 10, 2006

  Time for horse racing's biggest afterthought.

• Terps aren't too young to savor the moment

  April 5, 2006

  Heroes in a half-shell.

• Meissner rings up useful experience

  February 24, 2006

  As Sasha Cohen stood on a podium and felt 20 ounces of silver pulling at her neck, David Raith was talking about the future. Raith is the executive director of U.S. Figure Skating. You bet he's excited about Cohen's finish, but his hope comes from scanning further down the leader board.

• As Meissner glows, Cohen's a no-show

  February 23, 2006

  Her medal hopes ahead of her, the Skating Surprise pulled her luggage behind her.

• NFL neglect of Mackey belongs in hall of shame

  December 27, 2005

  Just the other day, John had to be picked up early from the day care center. He had found some candy, and then he went roaming through cabinets looking for some more. At some point, others saw what John had and then they wanted some candy, too. Only John didn't want to share.