This Month in History. The BasketCases believe in the importance of knowing about and learning from the past. Without a historical perspective, we can often make the same mistakes or fail to appreciate the significance of current events. Why, even President Bush alluded to the importance of history when he said, "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

So today's blog is simply a look back at some significant events that took place 10 years ago this month, in January 1998:

• "Ellen" aired its 100th episode


• Charles Barkley pleaded not guilty to an assault charge


• Britain's Queen Mum underwent a hip replacement at age 97


• The Howard Stern Show premiered in Indianapolis


• Posh Spice and David Beckham got engaged


• The WNBA began filling the rosters of its new expansion franchises, the Washington Mystics and the Detroit Shock


• The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII


• Pope John Paul II visited Cuba


• President Bill Clinton declared, "I want to say one thing to the American people. I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"


• And, on January 30, 1998, Maryland defeated Duke in Cole Field House (the last time the Terps beat the Blue Devils in College Park)

Don't take a chance on missing any new Maryland history. Be there tomorrow (Monday) night, at Comcast, where Duke has never (yet!) been defeated. Arrive early; a big crowd is expected; doors open at 5:30PM.

GO TERPS!!!! BEAT Duke!!!!

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Current Events, January 14, 2008. When two ACC powerhouses are about to play each other, the media take notice. The Baltimore Sun , the Washington Times, and the Baltimore Examiner have game previews, while Kathy Orton in the Washington Post has a nice feature about Kristi Toliver and the Carroll County Times profiles freshman starter Marah Strickland. Over on ESPN.com, Mechelle Voepel writes about Duke under new Head Coach Joanne P. (bite me) McCallie, adding a sidebar in which Coach P says nice things about Maryland. The Charlotte News & Observer profiles Duke senior Wanisha Smith, who played at Riverdale Baptist High School for then Riverdale Head Coach and now Maryland Assistant Coach Diane Richardson, making tonight's game somewhat of a homecoming. Meanwhile, down south in Tampa (site of this year's Final Four), the Tribune has discovered the shocking news that Coach B is pregnant!