RIPKEN TIES GEHRIG TONIGHT

Barring an unforeseen disaster, legendary Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken tonight will tie a record many thought untouchable -- Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games in major league baseball. Wednesday, he'll break it. TIME sportwriter Steve Wulf says Ripken's achievement can be explained in a word: attitude. "He just wants to be in the lineup every day," Wulf says. "Unlike most ballplayers today, Ripken has been conditioned to play baseball every single day. Most players grow up having their managers give them a day off every now and then. Not Cal." Gehrig's record has stood since his run ended in 1939.