Redskins Welcome a New Quarterback
By Bill McCaffrey
ST. MARY'S TODAY
The useless, hapless Washington Dead Skins, whoops, Redskins, I mean, looked absolutely horrible in a 27-3 loss to the Eagles in the “City of Brotherly Love” and waved bye-bye to the pine headed Mark Brunell.
Now its welcome back to Jason Campbell. But Campbell is no Sammy Baugh, Sonny J., Billy Kilmer, or for that matter a Norman Snead. I wish Jason well but he may be the Jason of the horror movies and not the savior of the franchise. Hey but the change makes “Downtown” Brown happy. Jason Campbell could be a hero or just another “Hogette”.
Well the Baltimore Ravens are 7-2 and they have to be the weakest 7-2 ever in the NFL. The 27-26 win over the worse team in the NFL was another lucky win for the team who without their defense would be 0-9, no joke McGee! This week the defense better be on their toes or Vick will have a victory. This past week Fisher’s poor conservative coaching and the officials gave the Ravens a win.
Navy smashed the 1-9 sissies they were playing and this week they are playing Temple. TEMPLE this sorry excuse for a college football team is still playing, when the stink can be smelled already. Oh well at least they added Towson to their schedule next year.
This week in the Maryland High School Regional playoffs:
Friday Gwynn Park at Westlake 7pm 3A-So
Lackey at Friendly 7 pm 3A-So
Glenelg at McDonough 7 pm 2A-So
Saturday Bowie at Flowers 1 pm 4A-So
Patuxent at Douglass 1 pm 2A-So
Forest Park at Forestville 1 pm 1A-So
Eleanor Roosevelt at Suitland 1 pm 4A-So
Sunday WCAC Final
Good Counsel vs. DeMatha at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis at 5 pm.
COLLEGE RESULTS
Maryland 14 Miami 13
Johns Hopkins 48 McDaniel 7
Navy 49 Eastern Michigan 21
S.C. State 41 Morgan State 16
Salisbury 42 Frostburg State 15
Towson 31 Richmond 7
This Saturday’s college schedule:
Maryland at Boston College -– Maryland by 6.
Temple at Navy — Navy by 50
James Madison at Towson — Towson by 10

HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
DeMatha 28 McNamara 7
Douglass 13 Potomac 2
Friendly 42 DuVal 8
Dunbar 32 Wilson 0
Flowers 60 Wise 0
Christmas shopping is here and my picks on books for gifts are as follows:
Top pick is “Overtime is Our Time” by Chris King which is about Maryland Women’s coach Brenda Frese and the Lady Terps run to the NCAA National Championship last season. Published by Terrapin State Publishing this is a must read for all hoops and Maryland fans.
Second is the “Reflection of Evil” by A.T. Nicholas is SUPER and is a must read for all mystery fans. Also another good one by Nicholas is “The Fist of God”. Both make great gifts.
“The Night Gardenes” by another favorite of mine George Pelecanos. Another in a long line of great ones by Pelecanos.
“Hardball on the Hill” by James C. Roberts is an excellent one that hits on baseball and politics.
“Bright Star in a Shadowy Sky; the Story of Indian Bob Johnson” by Patrick J. and Terrence K. McGrath is another top story about a favorite player of mine.
All these books will make great Christmas gifts!
Frese Signs No. 1 Recruiting Class in the Nation

Five of the nation’s top players commit to Maryland
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese has followed up a national championship season and four-straight top-10 recruiting classes with signing the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to the All-Star Girls Report. With the signing period in full swing, Frese has announced that high school seniors Anjale Barrett, Drey Mingo, Katheryn Lyons, Kim Rodgers and Marah Strickland have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Terrapins beginning the fall of 2007.
“We are ecstatic about signing another potentially dominant class who will be able to continue to uphold the tradition that has been established here at Maryland,” said Frese. “Each one of these players comes from a winning background and as we have gotten to know them and their families through the recruiting process, we know we are bringing in great people, as well.”
Frese’s fifth recruiting class at Maryland features four players who are rated among the top 20 high school seniors in the nation in various publications, with all five earning a top 50 ranking.
“Anjale has grown up around the game and has good game IQ, essential for a point guard,” said Frese. “She plays with some flash, is very quick and is fun to watch. She can be a tremendous playmaker who will keep our team in the `up-tempo’ mode we like to play. I think Anjale also has the potential to become a tremendous defender.”
A 5-9 point guard and ranked 11th overall in the nation, Anjale Barrett is a three-time Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals as a junior at St. Michael Academy in New York City. Barrett was named a Freshman All-American team by USA Today at the conclusion of her rookie campaign. She later was selected to the all-state team twice and was an AGS All-American Camp All-Star from 2004-06. Barrett’s family is filled with basketball talent. Her older brother, Andre, is a member of the Chicago Bulls and was a standout player at Seton Hall University prior to going to the professional ranks.
“People at Drey’s high school could not say enough wonderful things about her and we feel very fortunate she chose Maryland,” said Frese. “She is an excellent student and is a dynamic frontcourt player who is competitive and will fit right in with our current group. She’s also going to surprise people with how well she can shoot the ball.”
Drey Mingo was invited to tryout with the Under-18 USA Basketball team over the summer. Rated the 16th-best player in the country and sixth-best forward, the 6-foot-2 post player led Marist High in Atlanta to its first-ever state tournament appearance last season, averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game. She was first team all-state twice and the AAA co-Player of the Year as a sophomore, while also being named Northside Conference Player of the Year as a junior. Mingo has been an honor roll or dean’s list student since grade school and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. She was voted Best All-Around by her classmates.
“Katheryn, who chose Maryland as a sophomore and is in the running for class Valedictorian, is a winner and true team player. As a junior, she led her high school team to an undefeated season and state championship. She is a combo guard who loves to get her teammates involved in the game and is unselfish. She fits the profile of our team perfectly.”
A two-time Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American, Katheryn Lyons from Kernersville, N.C., led Bishop McGuiness High to a 31-0 record and a top-25 national ranking by USA Today last year, garnering Northwest 1A Conference Player of the Year honors. The 5-foot-10 guard, who averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 5.6 steals per game, was also the Winston-Salem Journal’s, Greensboro News & Record’s and the High Point Enterprise’s High School Player of the Year after her junior campaign. Lyons is a three-time first team all-state selection by NCPreps.com and was the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament championship game after she was named the West Regional State Tournament MVP. A three-time first team all-conference pick, she has scored 1,297 points in her first three seasons at Bishop McGuiness. Lyons’ statistics in the classroom are just as impressive. She currently ranks second in her class with a 4.83 grade point average, is a member of the National Honor Society and is the youngest member to ever be selected to serve on the Kernersville Town and Parks Advisory Board.
“A legit three-point threat who will bolster the backcourt, Kim is a physically strong player who has competed at high levels the past three years and has done well for herself. She will fit right in with our team concept and will contribute all over the court. Kim is also an excellent student who has been named to the honor roll.”
Kim Rodgers is rated No. 17 in the country among high school seniors. A 5-9 guard from Virginia Beach, Va., she was named third team Parade All-American in 2006 and a Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American for the second time. A member of the basketball team at Princess Anne High School, Rodgers was a Student Sports Junior All-American and an Honorable Mention All-South selection by the Orlando Sentinel. She earned a number of accolades at the conclusion of her junior campaign, including AP AAA first team all-state. Following a campaign where she averaged 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals per game, Rodgers was selected Beach District and VHSL Eastern Region Player of the Year for the second-straight year as a junior, while being named All-Tidewater Player of the Year for the first time. In the previous season, she was an AAU Under-16 All-American and participated in the Nike Skills Academy. She was an End of the Trail All-Tournament honoree in 2005 and 2006 and, this summer, Rodgers was named the Boo Williams Invitational Most Valuable Player for the second-straight year.
“Marah is one of the best perimeter scorers in her class. She has the ability to be effective against anyone in the country. She can already hurt opponents in a variety of ways, and with her devotion to the game, she should only get better. Marah is another honor roll student.”
A local product, 2006 Baltimore Sun Player of the Year Marah Strickland is the younger sister of former Terrapin great Marché Strickland (1999-2002). The highest rated player in Frese’s recruiting class and ranked ninth in the country, the 5-10 guard averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds as a junior at Towson Catholic in Baltimore, Md., and was the Most Valuable Player of the End of the Trail Tournament in Oregon at the end of that summer. Marah was a Street & Smith second team All-American in last season, after garnering honorable mention nods twice. She was also a USA Today Sophomore and Junior All-American and was an adidas Top Ten Camp Underclass All-Star in 2002 and 2003. Heading into her senior year, she’s been tabbed a preseason All-American by HoopGurlz.com after also earning Student Sports Junior All-American honors. Strickland’s work rate in the classroom is equally notable as she boasts a 4.2 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Largely regarded as one of the top recruiting coaches in the nation, Frese has brought a wealth of talent to College Park since arriving in April of 2002. Her first recruiting class at Maryland was ranked 10th in the nation, while the current junior class came to campus as the second-best in the nation. The current sophomore class was rated fourth in the nation and this season’s newest class was ranked seventh.

No. 1 Maryland Dominant In 99-43 Win Over George Mason
Kristi Toliver and Ashleigh Newman each scored 16 points
Top-ranked Maryland unfurled its national championship banner, then staged an impressive performance reminiscent of its play a year ago.
Kristi Toliver and Ashleigh Newman each scored 16 points, and the Terrapins rolled to a 99-43 rout of George Mason on Sunday.
Toliver had 10 points during a 22-0 run that put Maryland (2-0) up 43-15 in the first half. The margin swelled to 40 points with 13:34 left, and 50 with 7:14 to go.
Crystal Langhorne scored 14 points and Shay Doron and Christie Marrone had 12 apiece for the Terrapins.
“The most encouraging thing is how unselfish we were with the ball, offensively, and then being able to focus defensively on what we needed to get done,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said.
That was the Terrapins’ method of operation last season, when they used a balanced attack to go 34-4 and beat Duke in the NCAA title game.
Maryland shot 66 percent in the first half and went 6-for-10 from 3-point range in building a 50-20 lead. The blowout was a sharp contrast to the Terrapins’ opener two days earlier, an 80-76 struggle at Middle Tennessee.
Lateisha Wade scored 15 for the Patriots (0-1), who failed to make a basket over the final 10 minutes of the first half.
“Obviously, Maryland was the national champion last year for a reason,” Mason coach Debbie Taneyhill said. “They’re going to win a lot of games this year.”
The afternoon began with a video tribute to the women’s first national championship team. At the same time, still images were displayed on long white curtains that extended from the scoreboard to the center of the floor.
Then the curtains dropped, revealing the 12-foot white banner that ultimately will hang from the rafters, directly across from the red banner from the men’s national title in 2002.
“Obviously, it was a very special day for us in terms of being able to unveil the banner and being able to share that moment with our family, friends and supporters,” Frese said.
Before the Terps came out to the floor, Frese gathered them to stress the significance of the event.
“I told the team to really reflect on that moment,” Frese said. “That banner means so much, in terms of the hard work the players put into it. They were so unselfish and cared about each other. That’s the team we want to be this year.”
Maryland returns all five starters from last season’s squad. Although the Terrapins were pressed on the road in the opener, their talent and depth were evident against the Patriots.
Maryland made nine of its first 12 shots and received points from five different players in taking a 21-12 lead. Langhorne was 3-for-3, including two straight layups at the outset that put the Terrapins ahead to stay.
After the Patriots closed to 21-15, Doron hit a 3-pointer and scored off her own steal to begin the 22-point blitz that put Maryland in control. Toliver then connected from beyond the arc, sank a 10-footer and buried another 3-pointer.

Final Four Bound: Terps Knock Off #6 Penn State
2-0 victory propels Maryland to its fourth straight Final Four.
The #2 Maryland Terrapins are advancing to their fourth consecutive Final Four thanks to a 1-0 victory over the #6 Penn State Nittany Lions. With just under 15 minutes to play on the rain-soaked turf of the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, senior All-American Paula Infante fired a rocket from the top of the circle that deflected off a defender’s stick and into the back of the goal.
The shot came after the Terps (21-2) earned one of their 3 penalty corners of the game. Junior Janneke van Leeuwen passed the ball to the top, where sophomore Susie Rowe set Infante up for the winning shot.
The defending National Champions held the Nittany Lions (16-6) to just 4 shots as junior All-American Kathryn Masson recorded 3 saves in her second shutout of the weekend.
“Having gotten to the Final Four three years in a row with our senior class can bring a tremendous amount of pressure and I thought they handled it well,” said head coach Missy Meharg after the game.
The Terps will advance to play the Connecticut Huskies, which defeated the Princeton Tigers 3-0 today. The Final Four takes place in Winston-Salem, N.C., the home of ACC rival Wake Forest, another Final Four participant.
“It is always different; we have different players, different tactics, different way of playing,” said Infante of her fourth trip to the national semifinals. “It is going to be interesting. It is going to be fun.”
#6 Penn State (16-6) 0 0 - 0
#2 Maryland (21-2) 0 1 - 5
GOALS: PSU, none. MD, Paula Infante (Susie Rowe) 55:16. SHOTS: PSU 4, MD 10. PENALTY CORNERS: PSU 2, MD 3. SAVES: PSU, Jen Beaumont 6 (1 GA, 70:00); MD, Kathryn Masson 3 (9 GA, 70:00) ATTENDANCE: 330
BRUCE REPORTS!
Acta named Nats’ manager
The Nationals named Mets third-base coach Manny Acta as their new manager on Tuesday. Acta, who will become the second manager in Nationals history, will replace Frank Robinson, who was told by general manager Jim Bowden and team president Stan Kasten in separate meetings on Sept. 30 that he would not return in 2007. “Acta has the job. Manny is there.” This will be Acta’s first managerial job in the Major Leagues. He spent the last two years as the Mets third-base coach and three years with the Expos in the same capacity from 2002-04.
WALTER JOHNSON AUTOGRAPH, LASER SURGERY COUPON ADDED TO BIG TRAIN AUCTION — BID EARLY ON THE WEB
Help us raise the money we need to improve youth baseball and softball fields by becoming a sponsor of our Base Ball & Auction: http://www.bigtrain.org/published/dat/2006auctionform.pdf
You can get a jump on the competition by placing bids on some of the top items in the auction by using the reply card in your invitation or by going online
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/online_auction.html
In past years, we have raised in excess of $50,000 at this event. In the last six years, we have raised more than $320,000 to improve fields for kids in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton, and the District of Columbia. Please act now and help us improve fields for kids.
Mike Veeck, the son of the legendary Bill Veeck, is coming to Bethesda November 19 to headline the Big Train Base Ball & Auction. Sports Illustrated calls Veeck “the Wizard of the Minor Leagues.” He was one of the inspirations that led to Povich Field and Big Train baseball. A trip to St. Paul in the summer of 1995 gave Bruce Adams and Peggy Engel an opportunity to see Veeck work his magic. It was the most entertaining night of baseball the Adams family experienced in six summers on the road doing the research for three volumes of Fodor’s Baseball Vacations. In addition to giving the main talk at our awards dinner, we will have copies for sale of Mike Veeck’s Fun Is Good: How to Create Joy & Passion in your Workplace & Career.
In the Big Train auction, we will also have Major League Baseballs signed by Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Joe Mauer, Bobby Cox, Alfonso Soriano, Jim Leland, Bob Feller, Miguel Tejada and many more! Please continue to check back this week as we continue to unveil new auction items on our website. Bid early this year!
Here are some of the items you can place early bids on from our website:
Walter Johnson Autograph
Minimum bid: $500
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/oaitem7.html
Check signed by Walter Johnson, baseball’s Big Train. Johnson, the greatest pitcher in baseball history, was among the first five players enshrined in the Hall of Fame. A Walter Johnson signed check went for $2,390 at a recent Heritage Auction. This one will be framed by Framers Workroom with the 1999 inaugural season Big Train program that features Walter Johnson on the cover. The check for $5 payable to the Montgomery County Tuberculosis Committee is dated December 7, 1942.
$1500 off Laser Eye Surgery
Minimum Bid: $750
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/oaitem8.html
$1500 off custom Lasik with Mark Whitten MD or Edward Perraut MD at TLC Laser Eye Centers Reston or Rockville. They have performed this surgery on over 400 doctors and over 300 athletes. Certificate is good for one year from the date of the auction. Certificate is transferable or maybe returned if the purchaser is not qualified for the procedure.
For more information about LASIK eye surgery vist:
http://www.tlcvision.com/centers/rockville/doctors.fxml
RFK Seats
Minimum Bid: $250
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/oaitem4.html
These two seats are from the section behind the third base dugout that had to be removed to allow the stadium to be reconfigured for baseball. Seats that are in the left field area for soccer and football swing into the area behind the third base dugout for baseball. The permanent seats had to be removed. The movable seating area is where the Jumpers jump.
Donor: The District of Columbia Sports & Entertainment Commission.
“The Franchise” Plaque
Minimum Bid: $250
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/oaitem9.html
This custom framed plaque contains two of Major League Baseball’s most exciting young stars. The Met’s 3B David Wright and SS Jose Reyes have eached signed their baseball card in the plaque. Plaque also contains a 8 X 11 photo of the two players together.
Orioles jersey signed by the three World Series Champion Managers
Minimum Bid: $250
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/oaitem5.html
This Orioles jersey signed by the three World Series Champion Managers is a one-of-a-kind item that would be the centerpiece to any Oriole fan’s personal collection.
Donor: Lenny Gordon

TRYOUTS FOR DEREK HACOPIAN’S TRAVEL TEAMS DECEMBER 5-7
Tryouts for our U9-U14 select teams will be held at the Maryland Baseball Academy December 5-7. Please go to our Academy Teams page for more information and to register for tryouts.Thanksgiving Hitting Clinic (November 25 and 26)Holiday Hitting Clinic (December 27-29)5 Day High School Hitting and Pitching Clinic (February 19-23)We will analyze each players swing using our digital video motion analysis system. Players will receive a CD-ROM of their swing with voice over technical analysis by one of our professional coaches.
Maryland Baseball Academy 18966 Bonanza Way Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 Phone: 301-977-1450 Fax: 301-963-6826 Web site: http://www.marylandbaseballacademy.com
From the Positive Coaching Alliance:

http://www.positivecoach.org/ConPics/Con440/Momentum_Autumn06.pdf
FIGHT NEWS
Tim Coleman ran his record to 6-0 stopping John Campbell with a TKO at 2:06 of the first round before a decent crowd at Michael’s 8th Avenue.
Eric Fields improved to 4-0 scoring a first round TKO over Donald Jones.
James Franks fought a four round draw with Jorge Lara.
Reubl Williams won a unanimous decision over Samir Mohammad.
Martin Wright took a tird round TKO over Antwon Barrett.
James Shednick, Jr. took a six round unanimous decision over veteran Larry Brothers.
Sources say “Has been” Rahman wants to fight Evander Holyfield on a twin-bill main event with Mike Tyson waltzing with Riddick Bowe in the co-feature.
Wladimir Klitschko K’oed Calvin Brock in the 7th round to retain his IBF heavyweight title.
Evander Holyfield won a twelve round decision over Fres Oquendo.
The December 9th Main Event featuring Jimmy Lange vs. Fontaine Cabell will now be for the WBC Continental Americas Jr. Middleweight Championship Title. Additionally, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson is no longer part of the six-bout card.