The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general-circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries.

The Sun was founded on May 17, 1837, by printer Arunah Shepherdson Abell and two associates. The Abell family owned the paper through to 1910, when the Black family gained a controlling interest. The paper was sold in 1986 to the Times-Mirror Company of Los Angeles. The same week, the rival Baltimore News American, owned by the Hearst Corporation, announced it would fold.

The Sun, like most legacy newspapers in the United States, has suffered a number of setbacks of late, including a decline in readership, a shrinking newsroom, and competition from a new free daily, The Baltimore Examiner, which has ceased publication. In 2000, the Times-Mirror company was purchased by the Tribune Company of Chicago.

On September 19, 2005, and again on August 24, 2008, The Baltimore Sun introduced new layout designs. Its circulation as of 2010^[update] was 195,561 for the daily edition and 343,552 on Sundays. On April 29, 2009, the Tribune Company announced that it would lay off 61 of the 205 staff members in the Sun newsroom. On September 23, 2011, it was reported that the Baltimore Sun would be moving its web edition behind a paywall starting October 10, 2011.

Baltimore ( /ˈbɒltɨmɔr/, colloquially /ˈbɔl.mɔr/) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located in the central area of the state along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. The independent city is often referred to as Baltimore City to distinguish it from surrounding Baltimore County.

Founded in 1729, Baltimore is the largest seaport in the Mid-Atlantic United States and is situated closer to Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Baltimore's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and a major manufacturing center. After a decline in manufacturing, Baltimore shifted to a service-oriented economy.

At 620,961 residents in 2010, Baltimore's population has decreased by one-third since its peak in 1950. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area has grown steadily to approximately 2.7 million residents in 2010; the 20th largest in the country. Baltimore is also a principal city in the larger Baltimore–Washington combined statistical area of approximately 8.4 million residents.

Nicholas William Markakis (born November 17, 1983) is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. Of Greek and German descent, Markakis is known for his arm strength, stellar right field defense and smooth hitting.

Markakis was born on Long Island, New York, but he later moved to Woodstock, Georgia with his family, which includes his parents, Dennis and Mary Lou and his brothers Dennis, Greg and Michael (also an alumnus of Young Harris College).

At Young Harris College, Markakis played as both an outfielder and a pitcher, hitting .439 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs, while also gathering a 12–0 win–loss record as a pitcher with 1 save and a 1.68 earned run average in 15 games. He was twice named Georgia Junior College Player of the Year and was awareded Baseball America's 2002 National JUCO Player of the Year.

In August 2003, he played in the European National Championships, winning a silver medal with Team Greece. He also played for the Greek Olympic baseball team in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Edward Earl Reed, Jr. (born September 11, 1978) is an American football free safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Miami, and was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, and has played his entire professional career for the Ravens.

In his career, Reed has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and has the NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 108 yards in 2008 ). He is considered one of the most dominant safeties currently playing in the NFL and is often referred to as a "ball hawk." Since entering the league, Reed has been known for studying film to memorize opposing teams' tendencies, as well as his ability to bait quarterbacks into throwing interceptions, which has earned him recognition throughout the league as being the most able defensive player to do so.

Ray Anthony Lewis (born May 15, 1975) is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Drafted by the Ravens in 1996, he has played his entire career for the team, and is the last player remaining from the Ravens' inaugural season. He has been selected to thirteen Pro Bowls and been named an Associated Press All-Pro ten times. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003; he was the sixth player to win the award multiple times. He was also the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and the first linebacker to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. Widely considered to be one of the best linebackers of all time, he played college football at the University of Miami.

Lewis was born in Bartow, Florida. He is the older brother of former University of Maryland running back Keon Lattimore. Lewis was an All-American linebacker and wrestling star at Kathleen High School in Lakeland.

As a freshman at the University of Miami, Ray Lewis was an immediate contributor and became a starter for the Hurricanes' final five games. He compiled 81 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and four pass deflections en route to being named to the freshman All-American team.