The Countdown to Super Bowl 47

All right, Super Bowl 47 is only a few days away. Fans around Baltimore are all fired up as the Ravens prepare to claim their second NFL Championship. The so-called "experts" have heavily underestimated the Ravens in the past two playoff games, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that they also have the 49ers as a 5-point favorite. All I'll say is, they've been wrong about Baltimore so far, and I expect them to be be wrong again. I predict a 24-20 Ravens victory.

Moving on....

There's always a lot of media hype and over-analysis leading up to the Super Bowl. But I always get a kick out of some of the side stories. For instance, today I was reading an article about how President Obama said that he would "have to think long and hard" about letting his son (if he had one) play football. Obviously, referring to the physical and sometimes violent nature of the game. But come on Prez, playing football is a right-of-passage for a young boy. Let me guess....I'll bet your fictitious son idolizes Tom Brady? (By the way, Raven's hard-hitting, future HOF safety, Ed Reed also backs the President's thinking on this.)

Reed isn't the only Baltimore safety who has thoughts on the direction of the game. Bernard Pollard predicted that the NFL won't be around in thirty years if it continues to throw flags on every highlight-reel hit. He feels that fans are going to eventually get tired of it. By the way, Pollard was the Raven who knocked the New England running-back unconscious in the AFC championship game. Ouch!

Of course, everyone knows that the Harbaugh brothers will be coaching against each other in the Super Bowl. But a lot of people don't know that San Francisco head coach, Jim Harbaugh was the Raven's starting quarterback in 1998.

Not surprising, Ray Lewis is the topic of conversation for various reasons. First off, the Super Bowl will indeed be his last game ever. Winning another Super Bowl ring would be the perfect ending to a Hall-of-Fame career. I'm sure Ray would want nothing more than to join the likes of John Elway, Jerome Bettis and Michael Strahan as great players who ended their career with a Super Bowl win. But hold on loosely and don't let go......

Lewis was the recent subject of a Facebook message that was posted by the wife of New England receiver, Wes Welker. Clearly bitter after the Raven's victory over her husband's team in the AFC Championship, Mrs. Welker tweeted:

“Proud of my husband and the Pats,” Anna Welker wrote. “By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’ Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!”

Ladies, I know it's probably natural to want to protect your man. But leave the trash talking to the guys. I know Mrs. Welker has since apologized and Lewis says that he has no hard feelings over it.

But actually, we're not quite done with Ray just yet. Now, there are reports that the Raven's linebacker used deer-antler spray to recover from a triceps injury earlier this season. Deer-antler spray, you say? I've never even heard of it either. But apparently this crazy spray contains a substance (IGF-1) that happens to be banned by the NFL. So, expect the Ray-haters to have a field day with the convenient timing of this one. (By the way, do you think that the St. Louis Rams ever use this stuff? Or maybe they maybe a different spray for ram horns?)

And perhaps even more surprising, Joe Flacco actually got into a little bit of trouble this week. Yes, Cool Joe! When asked about the possibility of a Super Bowl being played in Denver (on the heels on next year's Super Bowl in New Jersey), the usually reserved Baltimore QB responded, "I think it's retarded". Was it blown out of proportion? Sure, it was. But, unless he's making a guest appearance on South Park, probably not the best choice of words for Joe.

Of course, Joe is likely gong to ask for some big money when his new contract is negotiated. If the Ravens win on Sunday, Joe will definitely be riding on the money train. Bring home the bacon, Joe!

In other news surrounding the big game:

•  Beyonce is scheduled to perform in this year's half-time show. Do you think it will be live or Memorex? 
• On Tuesday, the 49'ers Randy Moss claimed that he was the greatest wide receiver of all time. I've got two words for you, Randy....Jerry Rice.
• San Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver got himself into some hot water by making anti-gay comments. In his words, "he can't be with the sweet stuff". Apparently, he wasn't referring to Splenda...
• I just read today that Dan Marino fathered a child through an extramarital affair and paid millions to keep it secret. Who does he think he is? Arnold Schwarzenegger??
• San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick loves burgers from Red Robin. So, the restaurant has agreed to give him free burgers for life if he leads the 49ers to victory on Sunday. Hey, if Chick-fil-A gave me that same offer, I'd lead the Detroit Lions to a Super Bowl victory!

There's definitely a lot going on as we inch closer to Sunday. No matter what happens at this point, it has been a phenomenal year for me and all my fellow Raven's fans. Keep the faith and let's bring another championship back to Baltimore!

kw

The Earl Of Baltimore

Growing up in Baltimore, I was lucky enough to catch those great Oriole's teams of the 70's and 80's. "Oriole's Magic", often viewed as the hottest show in town, featured Brooks Robinson's golden glove at 3rd base, Jim Palmer's brilliance on the mound and Eddie Murray's switch hitting  power at the plate. But the director who made the show so successful was a feisty little guy named Earl Weaver.

Earl's numbers rank him up there with the best managers of all-time. He finished his major league career with six AL Eastern Division titles, four American League pennants and a World Series Championship in 1970. He had a .583 lifetime winning percentage (1480-1060) and finished five seasons with over 100 victories. Weaver's only losing season, which also happened to be his last, was in 1986.

I can remember Earl retiring (for the first time) after the 1982 season. The Oriole's were neck and neck with the Milwaukee Brewers going into the final weekend of the season. It just so happened that the two teams faced each other in the final series. Weaver had the Oriole's fighting hard, but in the end Milwaukee won the series and the American East. True to character, Earl refused to go down easy.

The following year, Baltimore went on to win the World Series. Although I was thrilled as an O's fan, there was always a little resentment that Earl Weaver wasn't a part of it. After all, this was pretty much the same Oriole's team that Weaver helped build up over the better part of a decade. If Earl could have went out with another World Series ring, it would have been icing on the cake.

Weaver's managing style often found him shuffling players and line-ups. He would study the statistics extensively. If he discovered that out a below-average hitter (i.e. Mark Belanger) hit well against a particular pitcher, he would move that player in the meaty part of the line-up. He was also fond of using a "platoon" system where he would alternate two "full-time" position players. One of his most memorable platoons was Gary Roenicke and John Lowenstein in left field.

Aside from his impressive record, Earl was known for his on-filed tirades with the umpires. Ousted from 91 games in his career, Weaver was always more than happy to go toe-to-toe over any close call. Some of his exchanges were classic. After one particular shouting match, Earl stormed toward the O's dugout and told the ump that he was going to check the rule book. When the ump offered his own rule book to the Oriole's hot-tempered skipper, Weaver replied, "No thanks. I can't read Braille!"

I can still see Earl turning his hat backwards and kicking dirt over home plate. I can remember a few times where I actually felt sorry for the umps!

When not verbally berating the umpires, Weaver was known to go at it with pitching ace, Jim Palmer. As Palmer's career was winding down, Weaver once explained that he had given Palmer more chances than his ex-wife! And Palmer didn't just sit there and take these brow-beatings.Oh, no! He once said that the only thing that Weaver knew about a curve ball is that he couldn't hit one. Now, that's some classic stuff!
.........................................................................................................................................

This past summer, the legendary Oriole's skipper was honored with a statue which stands in the flag court at Baltimore's Camden Yards. He shares the court with some of his most beloved friends: Brooks, Frank, Cal, Eddie and of course, Jim.

Sadly, we learned today that Earl Weaver passed away at the age of 82. He was one-of-a-kind and will truly be missed. Although he may have only stood at 5"6", he'll always be remembered as a giant in the hearts and minds of Baltimore sports fans......

kw

Ravens Vs. Patriots - The Foxborough Rematch

As the Ravens prepare for this Sunday's AFC Championship against the Patriots, the excitement continues to grow for Baltimore fans. After missing a chance to go to their second Super Bowl after a heartbreaking loss to New England last year, the script couldn't have been written any better for this year's rematch.

The Ravens, coming off perhaps the most exciting win in their history, go into Foxborough as the nine and half point underdog. Admittedly, I'm naturally biased as a Raven's fan, but nine and half points? Really? Baltimore just knocked off the number one seed in the AFC on their home turf. Plus, they've already beaten New England this year. So, in my opinion, nine and a half points just seems to be a bit disrespectful.

I think part of the reason for this is because Baltimore has had issue getting over that final hurdle. Although they've been in the playoffs the past five years and making it to the AFC Championship on three of those occasions, that trip to the Super Bowl seems to elude them. That's why it's so important that they upset the Patriots this weekend and prove that they are indeed a championship-caliber team.

I know there's a lot of trash talking about the Patriots. But it's a tough argument when New England has been to five Super Bowls (and winning three) since the Ravens were last champions in 2001. The Patriots walk the walk, what can you say. Although, I have a certain amount of respect for the Pats, it certainly doesn't mean that I like them. For one, I never cared for Bill Belicheck. Frankly, he always impresses me as being a total dick. I hate those cut-off sweatshirts that he wears. I know he does this as an act of defiance against the league, but come on, I think we've all gotten the point by now. And of course, there's the whole cheating thing.

And although Tom Brady puts up the numbers, it's hard to over look the protection that he gets from the officials. Standing in the pocket an extra second or two often gives him time to take a chance way down field. And should the pass be incomplete or intercepted, Brady will inevitably bitch and whine to the refs in hopes getting a roughing-the-passer call. Even without Brady's crying, I have seen flags thrown at defenders for merely brushing up against him. A play several years ago involving Baltimore's Tyrell Suggs immediately come to mind. (For what it's worth, I don't like Ben Rothlesberger either, but at least the guy's not a bitch.).

Now one the other side, Joe Flacco takes a tremendous beating during every game. But do you ever see Cool Joe whining to the refs? Hell, no! He just dusts himself off and gets ready for the next play. Being an tall, lanky guy, it's actually quite amazing that he's never been seriously hurt.

As for the quarterback comparisons, Brady's overall numbers are going to overshadow Joe's. But, on any given Sunday, Joe is very capable of matching or downright out-tossing the Patriots superstar. That's right, I said it. When, Flacco is on, there are few QBs in the the league that can pinpoint receivers the way he does. And Flacco might have the strongest arm in the NFL (Reminds me a little of Bert Jones back in the day). I honestly can't understand why the play callers don't let Joe air it out to Torrey Smith more often. Smith has the blazing speed to get behind most pass coverage. And Joe has the cannon to put the ball into a safe but catch-able orbit. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Flacco is averaging over 20 yards per completion in this year's playoffs. And for those of you keeping score, if the Ravens win on Sunday, Joe Flacco will have six road playoff wins, the most in NFL history!

With the great defensive teams that the Ravens have had over the years, it's hard to believe that they've only been to one Super Bowl. Ed Reed and Tyrell Suggs, two former Defensive Players of the Year, are still waiting to make their first trip to football's most coveted game. Will this finally be their year?

Is it possible that we'll see an opportunity for the Raven's rookie kicker, Justin Tucker, to go for another clutch 3-pointer? And more importantly, will he avoid the fate that Billy Cundiff experienced in that infamous game from a year ago? (On a side note about Cundiff, his uncanny resemblance to the kid that played in The Sixth Sense always "weirded" me out a little. He may have been able to see dead people, but he sure had an issue with those uprights!)

Ray Lewis being just two wins away, desperately wants to finish his career as a champion. He will no doubt be as fired up as ever. The entire team will rally behind his passion and I expect every Raven to play like it's their last game. The only active player to have more playoff appearances than Lewis is Tom Brady. Don't expect to see any love lost between the two Super Bowl MVP's on Sunday. But do expect to see a very physical and emotional battle between two very good football teams.

I went out on a limb for the Ravens last week and predicted the upset against the heavily favored Broncos. So, let's see if lightning can strike twice. I see a tight finish with the Ravens eventually winning in a 27-24 nail-biter  Will this be the year we see the Harbaugh brothers competing on opposing sidelines in the season finale? You never know.......

kw

The Gun Battle Rages On

The arguments surrounding stricter gun control laws continue to heat up. No doubt, both sides are very passionate about their respective stances on this issue. Me personally? I think an armed nation is a safer nation. Until someone can explain to me how places like Washington DC and Chicago are safer as a result of their strict gun control laws, I'm not buying any of the grab-grabbing bullshit. I believe that everyone (who passes a background check) should have the right to arm themselves. Our government should not deny private citizens their God-given right to protect themselves.

And I always get annoyed when I hear gun opponents use hunting and gun control in the same sentence. Hunting has absolutely nothing to do with the Second Amendment. Our right to bear arms was put in the Constitution to protect us from government tyranny. Ironically  it's that very government that now seems to be hellbent on stripping away our gun rights. Hey maybe, just maybe, our forefathers saw this coming?

Aside from all this, I'm simply amazed at some the recent reactions around the country as a result of the current gun debate. Check these out:

• This week, a two six-year olds were suspended from a Maryland elementary school for using their fingers to simulate guns while playing Cops and Robbers.
• A New York high school was locked down after a student was spotted carrying a toy lime-green Nerf gun.
• A principal at a Massachusetts school was suspended for appearing in a spoof of "The Terminator" movie.

Hey, I can understand taking precautions and being vigilant, but aren't we overreacting just a little bit? I can remember running around with toy guns during my entire childhood. Do they even sell toy guns anymore? As a teenager, most of the boys in the neighbor, at one time or another, owned a BB/pellet gun. Hell, one of America's most beloved "holiday" movies centers around a young boy's quest for a BB gun. Can we expect to see TBS to plug the plug on it's annual 24-hour "A Christmas Story" marathon this year? After all, the kid might shoot his eye out!

I am certainly not trying to make light of gun violence. It's a horrible thing and, yes, something needs to be done to stop it. I just don't believe that disarming the average citizen is the right approach.

In my opinion, the root of the problem lies way deeper than the gun itself. We now live in a society where we feel compelled to blame everything and everybody except the individual who committed the crime. There is certainly some blame to be attributed to the culture of violence that we now subject our children to. But in almost all cases, you need look no further than the individual that pulled the trigger. Guns do not fire themselves. Although we can make a million more gun control laws and I'm totally convinced that it will no impact on any potential senseless shooting. We seem to be missing the simple point that criminals don't obey laws! I don't know, maybe enforcing existing laws might be a good place to start? Too many times, the justice system fails us......

I do agree that not everyone should be allowed to own a gun. There should be background checks put in place. You certainly wouldn't want someone who has a history of mental instability twirling a revolver out in public. And if someone has a history of criminal violence, they probably shouldn't be allowed to legally own a gun. However, if someone wants something bad enough, they'll certainly find a way to get it. This is why banning guns altogether will never work. By the way, how's that war on drugs working out?

While guns guns and ammo fly off the shelves across the country, President Obama is in the process of issuing 23 executive actions to deal what he believes will cut down on gun violence. Will assault weapons and semi-automatic handguns be redefined to fit the agenda? Will guns one day be outlawed altogether?

In a perfect world, there would be no need for weapons. Everyone would live peacefully and respect one another. Government tyranny would be something that would only exist in fairy tales. Unfortunately, we don't live in such a world. And until we do, the people's right to bear arms needs to exist!

kw

(Almost) Everybody Loves Ray

Over the past week, the sports buzz around Baltimore has pretty much been centered around the retirement of Raven's linebacker Ray Lewis. It's certainly understandable  since many football fans, including myself  consider Lewis the best linebacker of all time. Local fans haven't experienced this kind of thing since Cal Ripken retired from the Orioles back in 2001.

While there are countless Ray Lewis fans around town, I happen to know of at least one person who just isn't feeling the love for the Raven's famous linebacker. That person would be none other than my father. You see, my Dad (known to most people as Erv) never quite got over the whole Atlanta incident that happened in 2000. He's convinced that Lewis is guilty and, just like OJ Simpson, got away with a double murder. You've all heard the story, we don't need to rehash it.

The infamous news-clipping canister

So, not surprising, whenever we touch on a conversation regarding the Raven's at my parent's house, Erv will chime right in with, "Y'all heard about what Ray Lewis did in Atlanta several years ago, didn't cha?" Of course, we'll tell him that we've all heard the story before. But it still never stops him from going to his canister full of news clippings. He'll pull them out and hand them to anyone who is in the room. We've performed this routine so many times, now we just pretend to read the articles and hand them back.

Several years ago, my son (Ken Jr.) was stationed in California during his Army training. After being away for a year or so, he came home for a brief visit. I was over my parent's house waiting for Kenny to arrive. He finally pulls up in the back driveway. When he gets out of his car, I almost fainted when I saw what he was wearing: a black number 52 Ray Lewis jersey! If he walked into my parent's house with that shirt on, I knew we were facing an very unpredictable situation. So I met him in the driveway and asked as calmly as I could, "Ken, are you freggin' nuts?!"

I encouraged him to change shirts, but there were no other shirts to be had. Finally, Kenny said, "This is ridiculous  I'm not changing, I'm going in dressed just like this!"

I didn't know whether to stay outside at a safe distance and wait for the fireworks. Or go inside to intervene if things escalated out of control. I finally decided to swallow my fear and play the potential role of peacemaker.

Now, keep in mind, my Dad has always been extremely fond of Ken Jr. So, as he walked into the living room, initially my Dad's eyes lit up, but his facial impression quickly changed to a look of utter confusion. He shook hands with Jr. and then jumped right on it, "You know, Kenny, you're a good boy. But that shirt's gotta go. Do you know what that guy did in Atlanta a few years ago?" Shaking his head, he retreated to the kitchen where, right on cue, he grabbed his beloved canister of news clippings.

Last spring, I gave a humorous speech at my parents 50th wedding anniversary party (if you want to read it, search for my blog entitled "A Golden Anniversary ). Well, at one point, I slipped in a line about how my Dad loves to spend time watching the Baltimore Ravens and, in particular, his favorite player, Ray Lewis. Although it was a joke, it was still a very risky thing to say. But fortunately,  it was received perfectly as the crowd laughed it up. It was such a ridiculously unbelievable comment that even Erv had to laugh at it!

Actually, my Dad will occasionally watch a Raven's game where, no surprise, he roots for the opposing team. If you ask him who his favorite team is, he will likely say it's the Colt's. He says they're "Baltimore's team". And even though I've explained that the Colts now play in Indianapolis, he still isn't buying it. When I try to tell him that the Raven's are actually Baltimore's team, he says, "That's not true. We stole them from Cleveland!" Of course, I'll then try to explain that's exactly how the Colt's wound up in Indy. Choosing to ignore my logic, my Dad will reply in a frustrated tone, "That ain't the point, Ken! You might think you know it all but I've been around alot longer than you." Generally, this translates into "You're entitled to your opinion. But you're still wrong!"

(When that book/TV series called 'Sh*t My Dad Says...' came out a few years a go, I instantly thought of how it could have very well been about my Dad!)

With all of this being said, keep in mind, this is my father. So, to all my fellow Raven's fan's, please don't be too harsh with any comments or criticism. He's set in his ways and I would never expect him to change. In reality, he has a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off of his back. Just don't expect the shirt to have number 52 on it...

(To keep peace in my family, I'd appreciate it if no one would show this story to my father! Thank you....)

kw

An Epic Win For The Ravens

I have watched good football games. I have watched great football games. And once in a blue moon, I'll watch an epic football game. Yesterday's game between the Ravens and Broncos was exactly that. For nearly four hours, the momentum swung back and forth leaving fans on both sides feeling euphoric one moment and deflated the next.  This was football at it's very best!

Almost every football "expert" picked Denver to beat Baltimore. Although they surely factored in Denver's hot streak, home field advantage and Peyton Manning's extraordinary ability, they failed to consider Baltimore's desire to win. The Ravens never gave up and in the end it paid off big time in the form of a Justin Tucker 47-yard field goal in double overtime. (Yours truly picked a 3-point Raven's upset. The Raven's won by a field goal. Just sayin'....)

Before I go any further, I will admit that, at times, I'm very critical of Baltimore QB Joe Flacco. Even in yesterday's game, I found myself cursing at Joe's image on the TV screen as he trotted off of the field with a big smile on his face after two Raven's mishaps. What can possibly be so funny about fumbling the ball in a huge playoff game? I secretly wished that Ray Lewis might slap Joe upside the head to change his cavalier attitude. Ok, that's all the negative things I'm going to say about Flacco....

If this is what Cool Joe has to do in order to keep his emotions in check, I'm now willing to accept it. He showed yesterday that he is a bonefide big-time quarterback who has the ability to change the game in a hurry. His 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones with less than a minute left in the 4th quarter was probably the biggest clutch play that I've seen all season. As Jones sprinted towards the end zone, you could almost feel the life being sucked out of the Denver crowd. It was a body blow from which the Broncos would not recover....

I must give kudos to rookie kicker Justin Tucker. Being brought in a game-winning situation is enough to rattle the nerves of even a seasoned veteran. And a 47-yard field goal is not a chip shot by any means. But Tucker delivered and Baltimore has to feel great about that after what happened last year with Billy Cundiff.

And what can you say about Ray Lewis? He led players on both teams in tackles with seventeen. I think this is way of saying, "Hey guys, I'm not quite ready to walk into the sunset...."

Today, many Raven's fans are waking up with raw voices and perhaps a headache from the excessive celebrations last night. But that is quite all right. They'll have a full week to recuperate as they await the outcome of the New England vs. Houston to see who the Ravens will face for their second consecutive AFC Championship. The Patriots are a 10-point favorite but then again, so were the Broncos. If the Patriots should happen to win, it will set up a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game where in which Baltimore missed winning by one dropped pass in the end zone.

No matter what happens at this point, Baltimore have to be proud. I'm sure sportscasters all over the country today will be reliving last night's game. Most of the so-called experts never gave the Ravens a chance against Denver yesterday. But sometimes when people don't give you respect, you just have to take it. And that's exactly what the Baltimore Ravens did last night!

kw

Ravens vs. Broncos - The Mile High Showdown

So, I just looked at the latest line of the Ravens/Broncos game for tomorrow and saw that Denver is favored by 10 points. I figured they would be favored but not by double digits.

Agreed, it's always hard to bet against Peyton Manning. His ability to see the whole field and check down to his open receivers is likely going to push the Raven's secondary to the limit. However, if Tyrell Suggs and the rest of Baltimore's pass rush can turn up the pressure on Manning, you never know what can happen. Do I see a pick-6 in Ed Reed's future for tomorrow? We'll see....

And as everyone knows, this is potentially Ray Lewis' last game. He obviously wants to leave on a winning note which would ultimately have him hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans. Can he rally the Raven's defense a few more times to make it a reality? Keep in mind that last week was the first time all season that Baltimore's four defensive horsemen (Lewis, Reed, Suggs and Ngata) all played in the same game. The end result was an impressive 24-9 win against Indianapolis in which the Colts failed to get into the end zone.

The Ravens appear to be feeling good about their chances against the AFC's number one seed. After last week's victory, Baltimore's Anquan Boldin said that he was glad to be getting another shot at Denver. When asked how it would be different than last time, Boldin simply replied, "We'll make it different..."

No doubt, the Broncos seemed to handle the Ravens fairly easily in the 34-17 victory at M&T Bank Stadium just a few weeks ago. But you can't overlook the fact that the Ravens were pretty banged up. Ray Lewis and fellow linebacker Dannell Ellerbie were out along with starting safety Bernard Pollard. On the offensive side, Marshall Yanda, Baltimore's best lineman was out while wide receiver Torrey Smith  and running back Bernard Pierce left the game with injuries. It makes a huge difference not having these these six guys in the game. In addition to all of the this, this was Baltimore's first game with their "rookie" offensive coordinator, Jim Caldwell. (Although Caldwell had held other positions, including head coach of the Colts, this was his debut as OC).

There were also two key turnovers from the Ravens in the last match-up that, in all likelihood, dramatically changed the outcome of the game. One was a pick-6 right before the half on the Denver 2-yard line. Baltimore can not commit these same mistakes tomorrow.

There's little doubt that having Ray Lewis in the game tomorrow will make a big difference. He is arguably the best linebacker ever to play the game and quite possibly the greatest team leader in the history of sports. He has the unique ability to make everyone around him a better player. Expect Ray to light a fire under this team's ass tomorrow.

The Ravens arrived in Denver yesterday to get acclimated to high altitude. But does playing in the Mile-High city really make a difference to the visiting team? Possibly. I've been to Denver many times. Just walking around or doing routine activities is no big deal. But any strenuous activity, such as running away from a 250 pound linebacker, might take a little of the wind out of your sails.

Here are some interesting facts to consider going into tomorrow's game:

• Peyton Manning is 9-2 against the Ravens. He is currently on a 9-game winning streak against Baltimore and an 11-game winning streak for the season.
• In Manning's nine wins against Baltimore, he never passed for more than 300 yards/game. However, he did pass for over 300 yards in both of his losses.
• Manning's playoff record: 9-10 as opposed to Joe Flacco's 5-4 record
• Peyton Manning has never won a playoff game when the field temperature was below 40 degrees. The temperature is only supposed to be in the teens by game time tomorrow.
• Since 1980, the Ravens offense ranks number one in "3-and-outs" in playoff games
• The Ravens have the NFL's highest winning percentage (.583) of playoff road games (minimum 10 games)
• Joe Flacco had a career high of 3817 passing yards this season. His worse game of the season (and perhaps his career) came against the Broncos

Most people are picking Denver to win tomorrow  And that's perfectly understandable. After all, they are the number one seed in the AFC. But I wouldn't start the retirement party for Ray Lewis just yet. I can remember during Raven's 2001 Super Bowl run, many people counted them out from the first playoff game (ironically against Denver). From there, they went on the road to beat Tennessee and Oakland. Could we see another road to victory from Baltimore? If they should happen to win tomorrow, this would possibly set up a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game against the Patriots. (The Patriots, a 10-point favorite,  play Houston in Foxboro on Sunday.)

The way I see it, the Ravens are going to have to score at least 28 points to beat Denver. This will be tough considering that the Broncos have the 4th best defense in the NFL. On average, Denver gives up 18 points a game. The Ravens will need a big game from receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. And the defense will have to keep constant pressure on Manning in hopes of forcing a key turnover or two. On that same note, Joe Flacco needs to be very careful about forcing passes into double or triple coverage. Denver's Champ Bailey is every bit as dangerous as Baltimore's Ed Reed when it comes to picking off a pass.

As much as I'm compelled to go with logic and pick Denver to win, I just can't go against my home team. I'm going out on a limb here as I predict a 31-28 Raven's upset. Am I crazy? Maybe, but anything can happen on any given Sunday (or Saturday, in this case).

Nonetheless, win or lose, I look forward to watching the game with my friends and family tomorrow. We've been having a blast all season and tomorrow should be no different. While one buddy is heating up the smoker to slowcook a boatload of pulled pork BBQ overnight, another is fixing up a big batch of chili. And another bud is possibly bringing over some oysters. Toni (aka The Pusher) is making her scrump-dili-iscious shrimp dip. And me? I've got the drinks and cigars covered. So, even if things with the Ravens don't go our way, at least we'll be eating good and have the liquid refreshments to drown our sorrows.......

Here's to the Ravens!

kw 

The Absent Class of 2013

The baseball writers of America sent a clear message yesterday when they elected no one to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2013. Obviously, this was a statement against the alleged steroid use by many of the players that were eligible for the ballot this year. On the surface, it's pretty mind-boggling that the following players did not get elected:

• Barry Bonds - Seven time Most Valuable Player, Eight Gold Gloves, the all-time home run leader with 762, broke the single season home run record with 73
• Roger Clemens - The only seven time Cy Young Award winner, 354 career wins and 4672 career strikeouts
• Sammy Sosa - 609 career home runs
• Rafael Palmiero - One of only four players in Major League history to have over 3000 hits and 500 home runs
• Craig Biggio - Seven-time all-star, four Gold Gloves, 3060 career hits, 414 career stolen bases
• Mike Piazza - Twelve-time all star catcher, Ten Silver Slugger Awards, Lifetime .308 with 427 home runs (the most by any catcher in Major League history)

So, should the writers go strictly off of the statistics and elect the players with the impressive numbers? Or are they perfectly justified in not voted for players that they allege may have not walked the straight line?

It's a tough call. Frankly, I always thought that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens seemed like arrogant jerks. But then again, I heard some really nasty stories about Ty Cobb and he got in on the very first Hall of Fame ballot way back in 1936. Also going in that year was Babe Ruth who I still consider the greatest baseball player of all time. However, I wouldn't really characterize him as the greatest role model.

But, of course the real issue here is the PED's (performance enhancing drugs). Unfortunately  it is and has been part of the game for the past twenty years or more. But are the players totally to blame? Are you going to tell me that no one in management of the front office of these teams knew anything about any of the steroid use? Come on, really? I read somewhere that Barry Bonds' head grew two or three inches larger during his playing days. How does no one on the team notice that?? 

The bottom line is that the owners loved when these guys were hitting balls into the stratosphere because it put asses in the seats. So, as long as the fans were happy and coming out in big numbers to see the next home run record broken, it was convenient for the owners and management to turn a blind eye. The way they saw it, the ends definitely justifies the means, as long as it translated into big profits.

It will be interesting to see if any of these players get voted in on next year's ballot. I have to wonder if players like Bonds and Clemens really care about being snubbed this year. After all, they got rich and their numbers are still in the record book. But if the public perception is that you were a cheater, is that really something that you can feel good about?

The guys who I really feel bad for are the ones that may not have used PED's. Did Piazza or Biggio use them? Is it fair to stereotype them just because they happened to come from the same steroid era as Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa?

It will be really interesting to see what happens next year when the baseball writers will have to vote on these same guys again. Maybe they should just let the fans vote. Just a thought......

kw

Signing For Dollars

I can remember when getting a baseball signed by your favorite player was relatively cheap. In fact, there was a time that the only price you paid for an autograph was a short wait in line. Nowadays, you have to work a second job in order to have a decent autograph collection.

Personally, I think that it should be part of the player's contractual duty to occasionally sign autographs for free. For someone making $5 million a year, I really don't think it's asking that much.

And even if they're going to charge, do they have to charge so much? I was just reading an article about how Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton charges $125 for a signed photo. And you have to provide the photo! If you want your football signed, it will cost you $150 and if you bring your jersey, plan on coughing up $175. Oh, and it not over yet. if you want it personalized (i.e. To Ken), bring an extra $50. Am I the only one who finds something wrong with this?

Several years ago, I just happened to be at a shopping center where legendary Oriole's manger Earl Weaver was doing a bookstore signing. If you wanted, you could buy a baseball that was previously signed by Earl for $25. Looking back, I wish I would have bought one. But, instead,  I opted to take one of the free 5x7 head-shots which Earl gladly signed. I asked him if he would make it out "To Ken". He smiled and said, "Absolutely." Now that's the way you treat your fans.

As a kid, I can remember players from the Oriole's and Colts routinely showing up around the community to do autograph sessions. And I never remember anyone paying a dime. In fact, I had so many Brooks Robinson autographs at one point, I used a signed ball for a pick-up game of baseball at the local park. I mean no disrespect. I just figured that there would be plenty of other opportunities to get another ball signed. And besides, we wanted to play ball! Even Brooks himself would appreciate that.

Nowadays, it's all about squeezing the last cent out of the fans. I just found out earlier today that the Oriole's annual fanfest will require autograph vouchers. In other words, not only will you pay for admission to the activity, but you'll also have to pay an addition fee if you want to get anything signed by the players.

And I know in a lot of these cases, we're told that a portion of the signing fees will go to charity. Somehow, I'm not buying the sincerity on this one. I could even see if the charge was ten or twenty bucks, but come on. $150? Really?

And remember when you could actually read the signature? Today's autographs often look like something a child scribbled or a simple check mark. Come on, if someone is chalking up $150 for you to sign your name, can't you at least take the time to make it somewhat legible?

Playing the devil's advocate for a moment, I can understand how autographed memorabilia has become a huge business. I guess the players feel that if someone is going to make a buck off of their signature, they might as well make a buck as well. If this is the case, then I have an easy solution. Since personalizing the autograph significantly decreases the value, don't charge for those signings. If someone requests a standard signature, feel free to gouge him for whatever makes you happy.

Anytime I've ever gotten a signature in person  I've always asked to have it made out "To Ken". The items that I've accumulated over the years, for the most part, only have personal value. And that fine by me since I have no intention of ever selling any of it. Of course, these items will eventually be passed onto my son. And since he shares my name, they will be personalized to him as well. If today's players found out about something like this, they would probably charge double!

kw

The Practical Man's Guide to Cigars

It's kind of funny that I would have ever took up cigar smoking since I've always found the smell of cigarette smoke absolutely repulsive. But over the past ten years or so, I find myself really looking forward to a good cigar every now and then. And being that I hardly ever burn one alone, my cigar collection is more than just a variety of fine tobacco. It's a social enhancer.

Now, finding the right type of cigar might take years. As much as I hate to admit it, my cigar days started when a friend offered me a Tatiana vanilla flavored cigar from his humidor. It smelled really good and it had a sweet aftertaste. Little did I know at the time that smoking flavored cigars is a faux pas in the company of established smokers.

Before long, I graduated to the more expensive Drew Estates herbal infused cigars. I even bought a box of their Kahlua infused stoogies. You could taste the hints of sweet liqueur with every puff. I lit one up at the hotel bar at The Princess Royale in Ocean City several years ago. Eventually, the bar tender walked over to me. I figured he was going to tell me to put it out. But instead, he says, "That smells really good, Everyone wants to know what you're smoking." This should have been an indication that I wasn't smoking a "real" cigar.

After a few years of putting my feet in the water, I decided to move on to the more traditional smokes. I started with some light bodied Connecticut wrapped cigars. These tend to be mild. The biggest issue with them is that they also tend to lack flavor. So, my time with this variety was short lived....

I experimented with the medium Cojoro and the dark Maduro wrappers, eventually settling on the fuller bodied Maduro. The Corojo wrapper can be good, but certain brands (i.e. Rocky Patel Sun Grown) can be  a bit too spicy, leaving your throat feeling like you just took a swig from the pepper shaker.

Nowadays, my "go to" brands are Perdomo, Punch and Rocky Patel. They are good quality cigars that won't break your bank. A box of these (20-25 cigars) will run you somewhere between $100 to $130. Of these brands, my favorites are:

• Perdomo Habano
• Predomo Lot 23
• Punch (classic)
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1992
• Rocky Patel Vintage 2003

Every now and then, I'll splurge at a local cigar shop and go for a top-notch single cigar. Two of the better ones that I've had are the Ashton VSG and the Alec Bradley Presado (voted Cigar of the Year last year). There's something nostalgic about the classic cigar shop with the wooden Indian perched out front. However, the cost of buying a box at these shops is considerably higher than purchasing them from the online retailers. Nonetheless, I like to give the local shops some business when I can....

Don't buy more than a few cigars at a time unless you have a humidor. Left out in the open air, your cigars will quickly dry out. Once you get your humidor, try to maintain somewhere around 65% humidity  I found this to be the optimum level. If you get below 60%, your cigars will start to dry out which will cause the wrappers to split. If you go over 70%, things will be too moist and you'll tend to create a cigar that is hard to keep lit.

It's nice to a have stock of good cigars to offer your guests but if you have as many social gatherings I do, you'll find out that your stock can quickly get depleted. This is something you're just going to have to accept. The only advice I can give you here is that you should should buy a box of cheap "give-aways". Frankly, there are people who really can't tell the difference between a $30 Padron and a Dutch Master from 7-11. I've given a good cigar to some of these guys only to see them take a few puffs and then leave it in the ash tray. I don't want to come off cheap here. Anyone who's ever attended a party at my house knows that my humidor is community property to my guests. What's mine is theirs. But it does bother me when I see one of my quality cigars being wasted. I take note and these folks will have their future cigars picked by me. Considering that I give away about two/three cigars for every one that I smoke, I've got to use some discretion in these situations.

This same thing applies at social gatherings away from home too. If it's an outdoor even, I'll usually bring along a few cigars. I'll take two good ones and two "cheapees". I've save the good ones for myself and someone that I deem worthy enough to appreciate it. I will inevitably have a guy, sometimes a total stranger, walk up and ask me for a cigar. I always like to have something to offer, even it's a $1 Padilla. Hey, beggars can't be choosers, right?

Most of my friends will drink a beer or two with a cigar. However, I like to have something with a little more of bite. I'll usually sip on a chilled glass of a sweet liqueur. Grand Marnier or Irish Mist always does the trick for me. On a more adventurous evening, I might pour a glass of cognac. I have tried Scotch, but I can't seem to acquire a taste for it.

The one thing that I forgot to mention was the cigar cutter. There are three basic types: the straight "guillotine" cutter, the V-cutter and the punch cutter. I prefer the v-cutter because it opens up the end of the cigar for a nice draw while still leaving the cap secure enough to keep the tobacco from coming apart in your mouth. The punch works nicely too although you may occasionally have a hard time drawing smoke through the opening. By the way, if you ever find yourself with a cigar that is pre-cut by the manufacturer, it's probably not worth lighting up.

And speaking of lighting up, the preferred way of lighting a cigar is by a butane lighter. Matches are frowned upon by many experts because the sulfur in the matches can "corrupt" the flavor of the cigar. I always found it odd that most cigar shops will give you a box of matches with your purchase. Although a fancy expensive butane lighter looks impressive, all you really need is cheap one from the local drugstore. 

I don't claim to be a cigar aficionado. I'm just an average guy who burns one or two a week. But whether I'm out by the pool or huddled in my garage after a Raven's game, my cigar time with friends is always entertaining and enjoyable. Here's to good times!

kw