Before we go diving into a pile of "questions without answers," let me first answer a question for some of you who have called recently.

The application box for our 10th annual Anne Arundel County Sun Academic-Athletic Team soon will be running on these pages. Look for it, and if you are a student-athlete who goes beyond ordinary requirements, please make sure you apply.

Once again, we will be looking for 12 boys and 12 girls from around the county who combine those rare qualities of excellence in academics and athletics.

It goes without saying that we are looking forthe student-athletes whose grade-point average is well above the Anne Arundel County public school requirement of 1.67 to play high school sports.

To be eligible, you must have played more than one varsity sport, reside in the county (meaning those who attend high schoolsoutside the county are eligible), fill out the application that willfrequently appear in the Anne Arundel County Sun and have a parent or guardian sign it.

You also should send along recommendation letters from such people as administrators, faculty, coaches and employers and information on any school and community involvement.

Often times, the determining factor in selecting someone for the prestigiousteam over someone else with equal credentials is the neatness of your application and its preparation.

Last year, nearly 100 student-athletes applied for the team that recognizes the unsung heroes of high school sports, the kids who do more than just lead the county in scoring.

Applicants also will be asked to write an essay on a specified topic. Many of last year's candidates really shined in that area.

Sometime this spring we will honor the team with an awards presentation. That night, each of the 24 chosen will be publicly recognizedfor his or her achievements.

Since this is the 10th team, we alsoare looking for those named in the previous nine years and would like to know where you are and what you are doing.

So, if you are reading this today, please give me a call on the 24-hour Sportsline, 647-2499, and leave your name, phone number, year you were selected and the school you attended and tell a little about yourself.

Any family member who reads this and has a former team member who moved out of town, please call and provide us with some information.

Now let's get down to those "questions without answers."

* Wasn't that extraordinarily tacky on the part of the Anne Arundel Community College administration last week to prevent a player on the men's hoops team from participating because he had not yet paid his second-semester tuition?

How many junior college athletes around the state and the nation do you think might be playing despite not meeting all their financial requirements?

How many students attending class are not paid up?

Yesterday, the school's registrar's office told me that lateregistration for second semester runs until Jan. 27. Second-semesterclasses just began yesterday, so why wasn't that basketball player given at least until yesterday to pay his tuition, instead of being told last Thursday that he couldn't play?

The young man attended school during first semester, worked to get his grades up so he could play during second semester, and had practiced all last week to play inlast Thursday's game against Essex Community College.

I can't believe the school would be that cruel to a student/athlete. Was the kidbeing used to get at Mark Amatucci, who resigned Saturday?

Does that school ever cease to amaze you?

* By the way, wasn't the men'shoops team lucky that Mark Healy got back in time for Monday night'sgame, rather than have Buddy "Brine" Beardmore as interim coach?

* Can you believe that the Old Mill girls junior-varsity basketball team humiliated the Annapolis girls, 68-5, last week and kept the press on until the bitter end? Is that what high school sports is all about?

Hasn't the Old Mill JV girls hoops coach been doing that kind of thing for at least a couple years now? What does it accomplish? Does it make the coach look great?

* While I've blamed former countyCoordinator of Physical Education Paul Rusko for naming the two county sports divisions "Bay" and "Friendship," did you know it really was Arundel High Principal Ken Catlin who came up with the names?

Can you think of better names? C'mon, will you give me a hand by comingup with two better names that I can pass along to my good friends onRiva Road?

* When we get out of this budget mess and recession and things start moving again, shouldn't the county seriously consider finding a way to have a full-time certified athletic trainer at each county high school?

* This "Q" provided by veteran youth coach TomCaines of Pasadena: 'Why is Northeast High the only non-Class 4A school north of Annapolis?"

* Is there a better rebounder in the county than Arundel's 6-foot-5 junior Richard Abrams?

According to Wildcats coach Gerald Moore, Abrams had 72 boards in three games last week to run his season total to 204 in 11 games. Abrams had 27 boards to go with 27 points in the Cats' 94-77 loss at streaking South River (11-1) last Friday.

* Is there a better basketball player in the county, pound for pound, than Old Mill's 5-foot-9 senior guard Erik Shepherd?

* Do you agree with me that there is not a dominant boys hoops team in the county this season and that the Class 4A Region IV playoffs are up for grabs?

* Are you ready for another round of applause for Northeast baseball coach Harry Lentz, who received still another award, this time Maryland Coach of The Year by the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches?

Lentz led his Eagles to a 24-0season and No. 1 national ranking last spring.

* Did you know that at Northeast, most of the coaches address themselves as "coach," instead of using first or last names? And can you believe that it has gone so far that Lentz's wife calls him "coach?"

* Did you know that Severna Park grad Betsy Anderson, an All-County soccer player who received a partial scholarship to North Carolina State, completed her freshman season as the Wolfpack's Rookie of the Year?

Anderson wasrunner-up for the overall Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year honors.

* Did you hear about the exchange Annapolis coach John Brady had with one of his own fans at Old Mill last Friday night?

Huddled with his players during a timeout, Brady bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Screen! Screen! Screen!"

Just like a parrot, the Annapolis fan started shouting at Brady, "Scream! Scream! Scream!"

While the fan was having a good laugh, Brady told him, "You're real smart, but listen, I don't come bother you while you are on the job at McDonald's."

* Can you believe that a Severna Park girls basketball parent called the Sportsline at 7:10 a.m. Monday to give me the following "Q?"

"Why is it the Severna Park JV girls basketball team wins every game it plays, but when they get to the varsity, they are barely a .500 ball club?"

Sure, the Falcon varsity girls and Coach Kevin McGrath are suffering through a 3-8 season, but where has that parent been the last nine straight winning seasons?

McGrath's teams had gone 94-21 over the last five seasons coming into this year. How quick they forget.

Also, doesn't that parent realize that the difference in winning on the JV and varsity levels is like night and day?

* Do you realize that the Navy ice hockey club team is outdrawing the Navy varsity basketball team?

* Will Archbishop Spalding have an ice hockey team before it ever names a football coach? Or were the Cavaliers waiting for all the NFL jobs to be filled?

* Since Linthicum's Paul Stracke (brother of Jim, the county's premiere mail carrier) has won the North County Fantasy Football League three of thelast four years, would Boogie Weinglass consider him for GM if he lands an NFL franchise?

* Finally, is it too much basketball on cable television -- it gives them a chance to watch their peers -- that causes youth basketball refs to blow the pea out of their whistles andcall as many as 45 fouls in a 28-minute, 12-and-under game?