Ok, the football season is officially over and I'm ready to move on. But I just wanted to talk about a few final things before we turn out the lights.
One again, congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens for a superb season. Although many people didn't give them due credit, they proved all the nay-sayers wrong. The are the team to beat next season. Or are they.....
It will be interesting to see how they'll do next year considering all of the players who are now free agents. Obviously Ray Lewis won't be back. His absence will be felt on and off the field. Having Lewis around was like having a defensive coordinator in the huddle. Someone is going to have to step up next year.
But what about key players like Ed Reed, Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Bryant McKinnie and Cary Williams. These guys are are now unrestricted free agents.There's possibility that none of these guys will be in a purple uniform next season. Keep in mind that both Tight Ends (Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta) are restricted free agents.
The imminent re-signing of Joe Flacco is going to take a big chunk of the Raven's salary cap. I think it's safe to say that this will be enough to guarantee the departure of some of the free agents. Ed Reed, as much as I'd love to see him end his career as a Raven, it ain't gonna happen. I would be shocked if he gets the money that he wants in Baltimore. However, I do expect another team (possibly the Patriots) to scoop him up. Ed Reed has been one of the Raven's all-time greats and, except for his singing, he will certainly be missed. (Sorry, Ed. But after hearing your rendition of "Two Tickets To Paradise", I now know how a defenseless receiver must feel after you bury a shoulder into his chest.)
So, who should the Ravens concentrate on re-signing? Personally, I think you've got to look hard at Ellerbe, who will be the most likely to fill Ray Lewis's shoes. I really like Paul Kruger too, but I don't know if it's possible to pay them both big bucks. Out of the two, I think Ellerbe makes the most sense.
And I think you've got to make every effort to bring Cary Williams back. He's shown that he can step up in big situations. The defense is going to really need an experienced cover guy. If they don't sign Williams, the Ravens will likely have to make an off-season move to acquire another experienced cornerback. It probably makes more sense to just bring Williams back.
As for the tight ends, I think Pitta's got to be your go-to guy. His soft hands and overall toughness reminds me a a lot of Todd Heap. He has proven that he can go across the middle, take a big hit and still take care of the football.. His name doesn't get mentioned nearly as much as some of the other star players, but Pitta was key in the Raven's Super Bowl journey this year. Give the guy what he wants and get him signed!
Now, here's one that I don't quite understand. I hear that there's a possibility that WR Anquan Bolden won't be re-signed for the upcoming season. But when I look at Baltimore's contract details, it shows Bolden as being signed for $6 million for the 2013 season. In any event, this guy has got to be on the team. Along with Torrey Smith, he completed the circuit for Joe Flacco this season. No doubt, Flacco made some pinpoint passes, but there aren't that many receivers who have the talent to catch them. Bolden does! Make sure he's here next year.
Now, as for Torrey Smith, he will indeed be here next year. He is scheduled to make approximately $683,000 for the 2013 season. Alot of money to most people, but relative chump-change for a premiere NFL receiver. The good news is that since they've got Smith at a bargain basement price for the next two years, the Ravens should have a few extra bucks to spend elsewhere..
And keep in mind that Ray Lewis was signed through the 2015 season at a total cost of around $18 million. Now, I'm not sure what happens to that money since he retired. But nonetheless it should at least free up a little money for another player or two.
I don't know how any of this will pan out. In a perfect football world, we would be able to bring back all of the players from this year's Super Bowl team. But realistically, we all know that it's financially impossible. The Raven's front office has shown that they are one of, if not the best, in dealing with these situations. So, I expect them to find the missing pieces of the puzzle by the start of next season.
kw
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
One Day at the Shoe Store
So, I'm in the shoe store earlier today. To be exact, it was a place called The Shoe Dept. I figured I could use another pair of casual dress shoes (aside from the 15 pair that I already have), so I ventured out of Sears and into the adjacent store.
I walk down the aisle where the men's shoes are shelved. I see a pair of nice Rockports that interest me. So, I sit down and start the routine of trying them on. Well, before I even got the first shoe on, something comes flying over from one of the other aisles. WTF? It turns out to be a kid's tennis shoe. Shortly after it hits the wall next to me, I hear a woman yell, "Knock that shit off! I ain't tellin' your ass no more!"
Then, I hear what sounds like a young girl begin to whine. This sets the mother off even more as she screams, "Zip it, now! And sit the hell down!" Of course, she's yelling at the top of her lungs like she's testing out the echo at the Grand Canyon. I don't know why people do this, it's so ghetto.
Well, eventually I hear the woman grunting and groaning while interjecting an occasional "Oh, my Gawd! . I tempted to peek around the corner to see what's going on. After a few minutes, she says, "Damn girl, I'm all outta breath now. I'm not used to bending over like that and putting on shoes! Whooooo!" Have you ever heard of anyone exhausting themselves trying to put on a pair of shoes??
About this time, the kid starts to act up again. The woman, who by now seems to be laboring to breathe, yells,"All right, Aereola, I told you to knock it off! (breathing heavily) Now, get your shit together and let's go!" I started to laugh as I realized that this woman named her daughter after a nipple. No wonder the kid is throwing shoes at people.
So, I decide not to buy any shoes and start to walk towards the exit. But, of course, I have sneak a look at the mystery woman. As I glance down the aisle, I see a very large woman who is sporting the most disturbing case of muffin-top that I've ever seen. Her sides of flesh are spilling over the top of her stretch-pants like the fondue pot at the Golden Corral. She's sitting on one of those small stools that you often see in shoe stores. She straddles the stool which gives the illusion that it's being eaten alive by her husky ass cheeks. I feel that if I stare at this for too long, I might turn into salt (or something worse)...
I catch a glimpse of the kid, a young girl, who appears to be about 6-years-old. She didn't seem to be phased at all by neither her mother's verbal reprimand nor the assault on the poor stool. She continues to open up box after box, tossing random shoes to the ground like discarded peanut shells at the Texas Roadhouse. The strewn shoes made the floor look like the outside of the Ball-Crawl at Chuck E. Cheese. The kid really needed to have her ass busted. But the mother was having her own issues trying to maintain her balance on the stool.
The whole scene reminded me of something that you might see in an episode of Married With Children. I could see this dynamic duo crossing paths with America's most infamous shoe-salesman, Al Bundy. He surely wouldn't have tolerated any of this nonsense!
kw
I walk down the aisle where the men's shoes are shelved. I see a pair of nice Rockports that interest me. So, I sit down and start the routine of trying them on. Well, before I even got the first shoe on, something comes flying over from one of the other aisles. WTF? It turns out to be a kid's tennis shoe. Shortly after it hits the wall next to me, I hear a woman yell, "Knock that shit off! I ain't tellin' your ass no more!"
Then, I hear what sounds like a young girl begin to whine. This sets the mother off even more as she screams, "Zip it, now! And sit the hell down!" Of course, she's yelling at the top of her lungs like she's testing out the echo at the Grand Canyon. I don't know why people do this, it's so ghetto.
Well, eventually I hear the woman grunting and groaning while interjecting an occasional "Oh, my Gawd! . I tempted to peek around the corner to see what's going on. After a few minutes, she says, "Damn girl, I'm all outta breath now. I'm not used to bending over like that and putting on shoes! Whooooo!" Have you ever heard of anyone exhausting themselves trying to put on a pair of shoes??
About this time, the kid starts to act up again. The woman, who by now seems to be laboring to breathe, yells,"All right, Aereola, I told you to knock it off! (breathing heavily) Now, get your shit together and let's go!" I started to laugh as I realized that this woman named her daughter after a nipple. No wonder the kid is throwing shoes at people.
So, I decide not to buy any shoes and start to walk towards the exit. But, of course, I have sneak a look at the mystery woman. As I glance down the aisle, I see a very large woman who is sporting the most disturbing case of muffin-top that I've ever seen. Her sides of flesh are spilling over the top of her stretch-pants like the fondue pot at the Golden Corral. She's sitting on one of those small stools that you often see in shoe stores. She straddles the stool which gives the illusion that it's being eaten alive by her husky ass cheeks. I feel that if I stare at this for too long, I might turn into salt (or something worse)...
I catch a glimpse of the kid, a young girl, who appears to be about 6-years-old. She didn't seem to be phased at all by neither her mother's verbal reprimand nor the assault on the poor stool. She continues to open up box after box, tossing random shoes to the ground like discarded peanut shells at the Texas Roadhouse. The strewn shoes made the floor look like the outside of the Ball-Crawl at Chuck E. Cheese. The kid really needed to have her ass busted. But the mother was having her own issues trying to maintain her balance on the stool.
The whole scene reminded me of something that you might see in an episode of Married With Children. I could see this dynamic duo crossing paths with America's most infamous shoe-salesman, Al Bundy. He surely wouldn't have tolerated any of this nonsense!
kw
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Fastest Mail Lady in Town
Most mail carriers quietly make their daily rounds as they deposit the bundles of junk mail into your mail box. But things are a little different in my neighborhood. You see, our mail carrier makes her deliveries with reckless abandon. Please allow me to paint the mental picture.......
I can always tell when she's within a five mile radius. I can hear her gunning the engine of the large mail truck from house to house. It kind of sounds like an M1 Abrams tank racing through a battlefield. Because of this, we've affectionately nicknamed our mail carrier "Speed Racer".
Her her daily routine consists of speeding up to the mailbox at approximately 75 mph. Then she'll slam on the brakes and skid into position in front of the box, taking out any flowers or small animals in her path. Once her vehicle comes to rest, she'll recklessly throw in a bundle of worthless junk mail. The smell of burnt rubber permeates the air as she slams the door on the mailbox. Then, she guns the engine again and continues the same routine throughout the entire neighborhood.
I can always tell when she's within a five mile radius. I can hear her gunning the engine of the large mail truck from house to house. It kind of sounds like an M1 Abrams tank racing through a battlefield. Because of this, we've affectionately nicknamed our mail carrier "Speed Racer".
Her her daily routine consists of speeding up to the mailbox at approximately 75 mph. Then she'll slam on the brakes and skid into position in front of the box, taking out any flowers or small animals in her path. Once her vehicle comes to rest, she'll recklessly throw in a bundle of worthless junk mail. The smell of burnt rubber permeates the air as she slams the door on the mailbox. Then, she guns the engine again and continues the same routine throughout the entire neighborhood.
My house is located on a cul-de-sac at the end of the road. She drives so fast that's it's only a matter of time before she takes the turn too fast and the mail truck winds up on my front lawn like a beached whale.
Sometimes, when she has a large package to deliver, she'll race down the long driveway. One of these days, I can see her crashing through one of my neighbor's garage doors. And when she drops off the package, she throws the truck into reverse at breakneck speed and hits the street like Mario Andretti. It's amazing that she can control the large vehicle at that speed.
Our speedy mail lady has also gotten an earful for spinning her wheels on the manicured lawns in my neighborhood. One of my neighbors owns a local nursery. It pains me to see her John Deere mail-truck churn up pieces of his beautiful turf. I think people do get a little upset about it, but what are you going to do? Do you really want to piss off a postal worker? That kind of thing doesn't always work out too well.....
But on one occasion, she was racing through the neighborhood and was stopped and reprimanded by one of my neighbors, who ironically, just happens to be a mail carrier himself. Although the exchange was rather heated, no one was injured during the confrontation. It could have been really ugly if you know what I mean....
Sometimes, when she has a large package to deliver, she'll race down the long driveway. One of these days, I can see her crashing through one of my neighbor's garage doors. And when she drops off the package, she throws the truck into reverse at breakneck speed and hits the street like Mario Andretti. It's amazing that she can control the large vehicle at that speed.
Our speedy mail lady has also gotten an earful for spinning her wheels on the manicured lawns in my neighborhood. One of my neighbors owns a local nursery. It pains me to see her John Deere mail-truck churn up pieces of his beautiful turf. I think people do get a little upset about it, but what are you going to do? Do you really want to piss off a postal worker? That kind of thing doesn't always work out too well.....
But on one occasion, she was racing through the neighborhood and was stopped and reprimanded by one of my neighbors, who ironically, just happens to be a mail carrier himself. Although the exchange was rather heated, no one was injured during the confrontation. It could have been really ugly if you know what I mean....
Last year, Tina was coming home from work and wound up behind Speed. Now, it's not uncommon to see families of deer running through the neighborhood. But because most responsible people obey the 25 mph speed limit, they have plenty of time to avoid hitting any of the deer. Well, with the way our mail lady drives, not even a pack of cheetahs would have a chance. As you've probably guessed, she winds up hitting one of the deer. And the worst part is that it didn't even faze her. From what I heard, I doubt if she even knew she hit anything. She just kept on trucking! You would have thought she might have slowed down to see what exactly it was that she hit. After all, there are kids in the neighborhood.
Tina did call the post office about the incident. Their basic response was, "Well, what do you want us to do about it?" I know postal workers can be a disgruntled bunch, but I was actually a bit surprised by their unconcerned attitude in this case. They explained that their carriers have a certain amount of time to get the mail out. I guess public safety takes a back seat to getting the Pennysaver out on time?
There are speed bumps on the main road in my community but Speed Racer seems to oblivious to them. Taking them on a full force, I can envision the letters and packages spilling all over the inside of the truck. This might explain why she often comes racing back up the street to retrieve my neighbor's mail out of my mailbox.
Hey, maybe the post office can get this woman off of the street by promoting her. After all, from what several postal employees have told me, the unofficial motto of the post office is: "You screw up, you move up!" So, maybe they can bump Speed Racer up into management and put her in a position where she can't steamroll anyone. Hell, with the way this woman guns the engine of that gigantic mail truck, the USPS will save at least a half a million in gas a year!
But for now, I guess they'll just cut out the Saturday delivery.......
kw
There are speed bumps on the main road in my community but Speed Racer seems to oblivious to them. Taking them on a full force, I can envision the letters and packages spilling all over the inside of the truck. This might explain why she often comes racing back up the street to retrieve my neighbor's mail out of my mailbox.
Hey, maybe the post office can get this woman off of the street by promoting her. After all, from what several postal employees have told me, the unofficial motto of the post office is: "You screw up, you move up!" So, maybe they can bump Speed Racer up into management and put her in a position where she can't steamroll anyone. Hell, with the way this woman guns the engine of that gigantic mail truck, the USPS will save at least a half a million in gas a year!
But for now, I guess they'll just cut out the Saturday delivery.......
kw
Monday, February 4, 2013
Baltimore Ravens - Takin' Care of Business
Super Bowl Sunday is a day of mixed emotions for me. On one hand, it's a chance to watch the biggest game of the year with all of my football friends. The Super Bowl parties are always a blast. But on the the other hand, I know that I'll be going through football withdrawal by next Sunday. Seven months is a long time to wait for the next NFL kick-off.
Of course, this off-season will be a lot less depressing thanks to the Ravens taking care of business in last night's big game. Baltimore fans can walk proudly as their team made an amazing run through the play-offs and into the Super Bowl. We heard that the Ravens would get picked apart by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. They didn't. Then we heard that Baltimore didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating Tom Brady in his house in Foxboro. Umm, sorry experts, wrong again. And then, going for the hat trick...... after beating two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in their home stadiums, the "experts" once again favored the 49er's and their rookie quarterback to beat the Ravens on a neutral field!
Fellas, please see me after class. You obviously haven't learned anything about this team.....
Now, I figured that the Ravens would beat the 49er's last night. But I didn't see things unfolding quite the way they did. Early on, Joe Flacco seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. His passing was on target, he was scrambling well to avoid sacks and he was making smart decisions to throw the ball away when there was nothing there. In a nut shell, Joe was playing like a Super Bowl quarterback.
I felt pretty good when the Ravens went into halftime with a 21-6 lead. The defense was playing really well and I figured a 14-point would be tough for the 49er's to overcome. Then, when Jacoby Jones ran back the second-half kickoff for 108 yards, there was no doubt in my mind that Ravens would win.
Then the lights went out........
When a team is on a roll, the last thing it wants is any type of distraction or disruption. The Ravens momentum was in high gear and they were sensing victory. So, the 49er's must have been ecstatic when the lights went out in the Superdome. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for them. (By the way, I've read that Beyonce blew out the electric twice during her rehearsals for the halftime show. Since the power outage occurred shortly after halftime, could she have had something to do with it? Can someone find out if she's a 49er's fan?)
When the lights were finally turned back on, the 49ers took full advantage and scored 17 straight points. They were back in the game and the Ravens looked shell-shocked. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. And to make matters worse, CBS kept flashing the graphic reminding us that this would be the largest comeback in Super Bowl history (if the 49ers went on to win). It would certainly be a tough one to stomach for Ravens fans. Baltimore pretty much had this one locked up until those damned lights went out!
But in the end, Baltimore pulled themselves together. An impressive, late 4th quarter goal-line stand by the Raven's defense all but guaranteed a Baltimore victory. Not surprising, on the change of possession at their own 5-yard line, the Ravens kept the ball on the ground, milking the clock down to 12 seconds. As Baltimore prepared to punt the ball away, I was still a little worried. I figured that, even with a decent punt by Raven's punter Sam Koch, the 49er's would still have great field position. This could set up the option for one last Hail Mary pass from Colin Kaepernick. But the Ravens milked eight more seconds off of the clock when Koch shuffled around in the end zone and eventually gave up the 2-point safety. A great strategic move by Baltimore. The 49'ers hopes were now down to a punt return touchdown. In the end, the Raven's took care of business and secured the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in their relatively short history.
This wraps up one of the most exciting seasons that I can ever remember as Ravens fan.Who can ever forget the epic back-and-forth battle in the Denver playoff game? And what about Ray Rice's unbelievable 1st-down conversion on 4th-and-29 against San Diego? And how about Torrey Smith's inspirational performance against the Patriots shortly after his younger brother was killed. And one of my favorite memories of this season was when Dennis Pitta nearly got decapitated by the New England defense in the AFC Championship game. And then, on the very next play, Flacco throws a bullet to Pitta in the end zone for a touchdown! That, to me, defined the heart and determination of this team.
For a Baltimore Ravens fan, it doesn't get any better than this. Many people doubted the Ravens this year. And many said that Joe Flacco was no "elite" quarterback. Well, the Ravens are now World Champs and Flacco is the Super Bowl MVP. If that doesn't make Joe and the entire Ravens team elite, then I'm more confused than all of the "experts" who doubted them.
To the entire staff of the Baltimore Raven's, congratulations on an extraordinary season. You've made your city and countless fans very proud!
kw
Of course, this off-season will be a lot less depressing thanks to the Ravens taking care of business in last night's big game. Baltimore fans can walk proudly as their team made an amazing run through the play-offs and into the Super Bowl. We heard that the Ravens would get picked apart by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. They didn't. Then we heard that Baltimore didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating Tom Brady in his house in Foxboro. Umm, sorry experts, wrong again. And then, going for the hat trick...... after beating two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in their home stadiums, the "experts" once again favored the 49er's and their rookie quarterback to beat the Ravens on a neutral field!
Fellas, please see me after class. You obviously haven't learned anything about this team.....
Now, I figured that the Ravens would beat the 49er's last night. But I didn't see things unfolding quite the way they did. Early on, Joe Flacco seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. His passing was on target, he was scrambling well to avoid sacks and he was making smart decisions to throw the ball away when there was nothing there. In a nut shell, Joe was playing like a Super Bowl quarterback.
I felt pretty good when the Ravens went into halftime with a 21-6 lead. The defense was playing really well and I figured a 14-point would be tough for the 49er's to overcome. Then, when Jacoby Jones ran back the second-half kickoff for 108 yards, there was no doubt in my mind that Ravens would win.
Then the lights went out........
When a team is on a roll, the last thing it wants is any type of distraction or disruption. The Ravens momentum was in high gear and they were sensing victory. So, the 49er's must have been ecstatic when the lights went out in the Superdome. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for them. (By the way, I've read that Beyonce blew out the electric twice during her rehearsals for the halftime show. Since the power outage occurred shortly after halftime, could she have had something to do with it? Can someone find out if she's a 49er's fan?)
When the lights were finally turned back on, the 49ers took full advantage and scored 17 straight points. They were back in the game and the Ravens looked shell-shocked. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. And to make matters worse, CBS kept flashing the graphic reminding us that this would be the largest comeback in Super Bowl history (if the 49ers went on to win). It would certainly be a tough one to stomach for Ravens fans. Baltimore pretty much had this one locked up until those damned lights went out!
But in the end, Baltimore pulled themselves together. An impressive, late 4th quarter goal-line stand by the Raven's defense all but guaranteed a Baltimore victory. Not surprising, on the change of possession at their own 5-yard line, the Ravens kept the ball on the ground, milking the clock down to 12 seconds. As Baltimore prepared to punt the ball away, I was still a little worried. I figured that, even with a decent punt by Raven's punter Sam Koch, the 49er's would still have great field position. This could set up the option for one last Hail Mary pass from Colin Kaepernick. But the Ravens milked eight more seconds off of the clock when Koch shuffled around in the end zone and eventually gave up the 2-point safety. A great strategic move by Baltimore. The 49'ers hopes were now down to a punt return touchdown. In the end, the Raven's took care of business and secured the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in their relatively short history.
This wraps up one of the most exciting seasons that I can ever remember as Ravens fan.Who can ever forget the epic back-and-forth battle in the Denver playoff game? And what about Ray Rice's unbelievable 1st-down conversion on 4th-and-29 against San Diego? And how about Torrey Smith's inspirational performance against the Patriots shortly after his younger brother was killed. And one of my favorite memories of this season was when Dennis Pitta nearly got decapitated by the New England defense in the AFC Championship game. And then, on the very next play, Flacco throws a bullet to Pitta in the end zone for a touchdown! That, to me, defined the heart and determination of this team.
For a Baltimore Ravens fan, it doesn't get any better than this. Many people doubted the Ravens this year. And many said that Joe Flacco was no "elite" quarterback. Well, the Ravens are now World Champs and Flacco is the Super Bowl MVP. If that doesn't make Joe and the entire Ravens team elite, then I'm more confused than all of the "experts" who doubted them.
To the entire staff of the Baltimore Raven's, congratulations on an extraordinary season. You've made your city and countless fans very proud!
kw
Thursday, January 31, 2013
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:
kw
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
Saturday, January 19, 2013
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
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
Friday, January 18, 2013
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 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
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