Mike Terry

School: El Modena High Sport: Track and field Events: 880, 440 and 220 yards Class: Senior A strategy suited more for energy conservation than fast times has again worked well for Terry. Terry, who hasn't lost a Century League race in the past two seasons, won the 220-, 440- and 880-yard races in league finals for the third consecutive year.

Peer pressure is tough, especially when it's pervasive, grown-up and institutionalized. In samurai movies, as in westerns, the warrior is often faced with a choice between individual morality and fealty to the tribe. Individual morality tends to prevail until society can be established and impose order, though in contemporary samurai movies, like Jim Jarmusch's excellent "Ghost Dog," both choices can be rendered absurd by the circumstances.

MEN Cal State Stanislaus (2-0) at UC Irvine (3-2), 7 -- A poor first half against Pepperdine -- 16.7% shooting and a 47-17 deficit -- was too much to overcome and led to the end of the Anteaters' three-game winning streak. The Division II Warriors are off to a 2-0 start after wins over Dominican and Bethany. --MIKE TERRY

With the white candles, reverent words and hushed tones, it could almost have been a religious service. And in a sense it was: The two musicians and one sound engineer gathered in a tight warren of rooms in the San Fernando Valley were, among other things, paying homage to a departed saint, battered troubadour Elliott Smith.

With the white candles, reverent words and hushed tones, it could almost have been a religious service. And in a sense it was: The two musicians and one sound engineer gathered in a tight warren of rooms in the San Fernando Valley were, among other things, paying homage to a departed saint, battered troubadour Elliott Smith.

Every athlete has a moment he'd rather forget, one that entrenches itself in the psyche for days, weeks, even years. "Get over it," friends and coaches say. "Put it behind you." For some, including Mike Terry of El Modena High School, it's not that easy. Moments after he finished the State 800-meter final last year, Terry could manage only one positive thought: "At least I'm a junior," he told himself. It was the sole consolation to a sub-par race.

If Mike Terry was looking for signs, some indications of how he'd run Saturday night at the State track and field finals, he didn't have to look much farther than his own front yard. His problem was deciding on which sign to focus: the large, paper banner on the garage door-- "Good Luck Michael, State 800 Meter Champion!" --or the large, gaping hole in his truck where, up until Friday night, there was an expensive car stereo.

Peer pressure is tough, especially when it's pervasive, grown-up and institutionalized. In samurai movies, as in westerns, the warrior is often faced with a choice between individual morality and fealty to the tribe. Individual morality tends to prevail until society can be established and impose order, though in contemporary samurai movies, like Jim Jarmusch's excellent "Ghost Dog," both choices can be rendered absurd by the circumstances.

* Coach: Maryalyce Jeremiah (ninth season, 121-113) * 2003-04 record: 9-20, 8-10 (tied for fifth in Big West Conference) *--* CAL STATE FULLERTON *--* * Top returning players: F Amber Pruitt, Jr., 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg; G/F Charlee Underwood, So., 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg; G Meghann Keathley, Sr., 5.3 ppg, 3.5 apg * Outlook: The Titans continue to rebuild, adding seven freshmen. Jeremiah is excited about the return of guard Audrey Taylor, who missed much of last season after knee surgery.

Terry Ewing was late. His plane left in an hour and he was cutting it close. But he couldn't tear himself away from his computer and the hole he'd hacked into the security network of Tower Records. He kept poking around, looking for something interesting to take to the hackers' convention he was attending. Finally, five minutes before the airport shuttle beeped in front of his apartment, he downloaded a file containing 1,700 credit card numbers.

MEN Montana (8-1) at Riverside (0-6), 7 -- A 15-point loss to Eastern Washington on Dec. 10 is the closest the Highlanders have come to a victory. The Grizzlies, who beat Montana Western, 110-71, on Wednesday, are off to their best start since winning their first 13 games of the 1993-94 season. * Pepperdine (2-6) at Kansas (4-4), 4 PST, ESPN2 -- The Waves ended a four-game losing streak by beating Long Beach State on Saturday, 92-86.

* Coach: Maryalyce Jeremiah (ninth season, 121-113) * 2003-04 record: 9-20, 8-10 (tied for fifth in Big West Conference) *--* CAL STATE FULLERTON *--* * Top returning players: F Amber Pruitt, Jr., 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg; G/F Charlee Underwood, So., 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg; G Meghann Keathley, Sr., 5.3 ppg, 3.5 apg * Outlook: The Titans continue to rebuild, adding seven freshmen. Jeremiah is excited about the return of guard Audrey Taylor, who missed much of last season after knee surgery.

Terry Ewing was late. His plane left in an hour and he was cutting it close. But he couldn't tear himself away from his computer and the hole he'd hacked into the security network of Tower Records. He kept poking around, looking for something interesting to take to the hackers' convention he was attending. Finally, five minutes before the airport shuttle beeped in front of his apartment, he downloaded a file containing 1,700 credit card numbers.

If Mike Terry was looking for signs, some indications of how he'd run Saturday night at the State track and field finals, he didn't have to look much farther than his own front yard. His problem was deciding on which sign to focus: the large, paper banner on the garage door-- "Good Luck Michael, State 800 Meter Champion!" --or the large, gaping hole in his truck where, up until Friday night, there was an expensive car stereo.

School: El Modena High Sport: Track and field Events: 880, 440 and 220 yards Class: Senior A strategy suited more for energy conservation than fast times has again worked well for Terry. Terry, who hasn't lost a Century League race in the past two seasons, won the 220-, 440- and 880-yard races in league finals for the third consecutive year.

Every athlete has a moment he'd rather forget, one that entrenches itself in the psyche for days, weeks, even years. "Get over it," friends and coaches say. "Put it behind you." For some, including Mike Terry of El Modena High School, it's not that easy. Moments after he finished the State 800-meter final last year, Terry could manage only one positive thought: "At least I'm a junior," he told himself. It was the sole consolation to a sub-par race.