• The Great Mystery: Only the hardwood gods and the NCAA know why college basketball doesn't have an under-the-basket arc, as does the NBA, to help officials with the difficult charge-block calls.

• Mine's Bigger Than Yours: Not to be outdone by Jerry Jones, that nabob of NASCAR Bruton Smith has constructed a TV screen at Charlotte Motor Speedway than spans 200 feet and is 80 feet high.

• Enough, Already: There are about 25 NBA games every night, so why does each game story for the last 100 days start with another rumor about Carmelo Anthony?

• Still Collecting: Not many people know the NFL is still paying former commissioner Paul Tagliabue scads of money in deferred funds and retirement. He picked up a check for $12.5 million recently.

• Charm City Aces: How's this for an all-Big East team made up of Baltimore youngsters: Isaiah Armwood, Villanova; Roscoe Smith, Connecticut; Henry Sims, Georgetown; C. J. Fair, Syracuse; Eric Atkins, Notre Dame; Cleveland Melvin, DePaul. All but Melvin are playing key minutes for top 20 teams.

-- Larry Harris

Plunging For A Special Cause  

The 15th-annual Polar Bear Plunge raised an estimated $3 million for Special Olympics Maryland. There were about 12,000 plungers at this year's plunge, held Jan. 29 at Sandy Point State Park. (Photo by Sabina Moran/PressBox)

More Front Row:
• 'Little Kristy Black' Grows Into Terps Star 
• No Boredom (Or Parking) At Legends Museum 
• Celebrities Auction Is Amazing Success 
• Local Football Coaches Go Outside State Lines 
• Cheap Seats 
• A Message From The Publisher 

Issue 158: February 2011