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Orioles honor the Greatest Oriole of all times!

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:23:07 EDT

After the 1965 season the Orioles traded Milt Pappas to Cincinnati for the "over the hill" Frank Robinson. Frank was a rookie of the year and a NL MVP for the Reds. The Orioles came close in 1963 when they had pennant feaver but were stuck. The Orioles made two moves that put them over the top. Besides getting Frank they added All-Star shortstop Luis Aparicio from the Chicago White Sox and traded former rookie of the year, Ron Hansen.

Immediately in 1966 Frank Robinson became the leader of the Orioles both on and off the field. On the field he won the triple crown, first in home runs, RBI and batting average. He was the first to accomplish that feat since Mickey Mantle in 1956. Off the field he created the Orioles (then famous) kangaroo court. He would preside as judge and fine players $1.00 for making mental errors or not getting someone home in an RBI situation. He brought a sense of family and responsibility to the Orioles which had never been seen before. The term "The Oriole Way" was created by the Ripken family but the Oriole Way was created by Frank. I was fortuante enough to watch his solo shot off of Don Drysdale in game 4 of the 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I was sitting in the upper deck behind the Orioles 3rd base dugout.

My take on the NFC

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:28:15 EST

Ok, I have no dog in the fight in the NFC so I can be fairly objective about the remaining games.

The New York Football Giants are a psycho team. Some weeks they look like they should be booking rooms in Indy and some weeks they look like they should be booking tee times the next Monday. To predict what they do from week to week is impossible. Like most quarterbacks, if Eli Manning is hit early and often he will make mistakes. That leads to interceptions. The one thing the G-men have going for them is the north-south running of Brandon Jacobs. Once he gets a bit of steam he is difficult to bring down. If the Giants establish their running game they have a legit shot to win. Their defense must put pressure on Aaron Rodgers or they will lose. Nobody has really done that in the last 13 months in a game that's mattered. Green Bay will win by 10 points.

Have Mercy on PSU - Give the NCAA Death Penalty

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:42:07 EST

Folks, this isn't going to get any better. Until this week the head coach of Penn State, Joe Paterno, was one of the most powerful people in the state of Pennsylvania. In the pecking order starting with God, JoePa was top five in PA. What he stood for was much more than wins and losses. He was the law and the morality of at least the Pennsylvania State University. What has come out in the last few days will not only tarnish a perceived stellar reputation but will crush the university, the athletic program and their football program.

For Joe Paterno to tell the board of regents he will retire on his own terms is no longer reality. His excuse of telling the athletic director was proper protocol is not believable. What would happen to a Penn State Athletic Director who disagreed with Paterno on an important issue? A man with backbone would have acted. This is a sad day for all the victims, none of which are those that knew about Sandusky's criminal acts.

The Harsh Reality of Baseball in Baltimore

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 7:34:41 EDT

This weekend the State of Maryland and a group of private investors unveiled a 9 foot statue of Mr. Oriole, Brooks Robinson. This statue is located across the street from Orioles Park at Camden Yards. The statue's likeliness of Brooks is uncanny. The glove he's sporting is gold to honor the 16 consecutive gold gloves he earned during his career. For the record Brooks also appeared in 18 All-Star games and collected 2,848 hits. His entire professional baseball career from 1955 to 1977 was spent in the Orioles organization. Though Brooks was born in Little Rock, Arkansas he has spent the majority of his life as a Baltimorean.

During the time Brooks played professional sports most had off season jobs. Brooks was the pitchman for Crown Central Petroleum. It was the gentleman he worked for at Crown, Henry Rosenberg, who was the driving force in making sure the most beloved Oriole of many generations had the well deserved statue. During the ceremony the list of donors were read. There was nobody named Angelos mentioned. The statue located near the stadium was not on stadium property. Angelos should have worked with the group and had the statue at the stadium, just like Brooks' friend, Johnny Unitas, statue is located at Ravens Stadium.

McGee - Reality at the end of the bench

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 9:27:18 EDT

Derek Fisher and most of the well dressed folks at the podium have enjoyed the fruits of their labors for many years. If those fortunate few have invested wisely or at least not squandered their millions they are set for life. That is not the case for those sitting at the end of their teams benches.

For a rookie player who sits at the end of their team's bench earns the NBA minimum $473,000.00. If they are lucky enough to get a second year before a younger more promising player takes their place at the end of the bench they will earn an additional $760,000.00 minimum for a player with 1 year experience. That totals to over $1,000.000.00 over two years for a person considered for two years to be one of the best 360 people in their profession during that period.

Lucifer Vanden Bosch

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:53:42 EDT

I know the defense is supposed to scare the hell out of the offense but Kyle Vanden Bosch has taken it to a new level. I don't know how many folks watching the game last night noticed that the cameras were constantly focusing on Vanden Bosch's face, at least every series of downs.

After checking to see if my wide screen had slipped a gasket I realized that Vanden Bosch must have worn RED, yes I said RED, contact lenses. His eyes were red. If his devistating play and his glaring looks weren't mean enough? I found myself having to look away from my set. Hollywood couldn't have done it better.

The bottom line is Kyle Banden Bosch has taken football to a lower level. That's entertainment!!!!! Gotta love them Lions!

Reflections from Ravens 35-7 victory

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:59:44 EDT

Now that it's midweek and I've had time to see the highlights from Ravens domination over their Arch Neminsis, Pittsburgh Steelers there are some things that strike me.

1. What's wrong with America's team? (Cowboys relinquished that title many years ago) This is the first Steelers game I've been to that the stands weren't filled with former, current or wannabe Western Pennsylvanians. A few graced M&T but they were few and far between. The team itself was not ready for the level of energy the Ravens exploaded upon them.

2. Two of the best defensive players in the NFL play for The Ravens. Suggs and Ngata are amazing.

3. Although Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are not the same players they were 5 years ago their cerebral abilities have enabled them to remain elite and All-Star calibur.

Thank You Gary Williams...Time to move on

Thu, 05 May 2011 23:04:24 EDT

A short tribute to Gary Williams then let’s get down to business.

Gary Williams took a program that was in chaos and made it into an elite program, then took it back to mediocrity. I remember it all very well.

The day after the 1986 NBA Draft when The Boston Celtics chose Len Bias with the second pick the basketball program imploded. Charles "Lefty" Driesell became the fall guy for the new UM administration. The new administration wanted change and used Lefty to change not only the basketball program but also the overall reputation of the University of Maryland which was known as a top ten party school. The administration hired Baltimore City legend, Dunbar High School Coach, Bob Wade to succeed Lefty. The boosters and those remaining in the Athletic Department administration hated how all this went down. Lefty was their guy. Bob Wade got no support from the Maryland Athletic Department or the boosters. He was the "Doug DeCinces" of the Terps. (DeCinces, an outstanding 3rd baseman succeeded the HOF Brooks Robinson).

Lockout hurts players, owners and fans

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 9:06:54 EDT

Enough already!

The latest in the craziness shows the forced mediation was another fruitless demonstration of each side drawing a deeper line in the sand and nothing more. The players are waiting for a court decision ending the lockout that the owners would surely appeal if the players win. The owners are waiting patiently for players to cave to their demands knowing the young men will soon grow wiery of the instability of their situation. While those gazillionaires like Peyton Manning, Drew Breese, (my fav) Ray Lewis and others are preaching stay the course and shouting at the top of their lungs that the owners settlement is not fair all know ultimately the owners in fact do have the upper hand. But nobody really cares about who wins in the contract agreement. The one thing we know is that everybody will lose in the War of 2011.

The Orioles didn't get Victor Martinez. Why?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:27:09 EST

Many of my fellow Orioles fans are perplexed again when Victor Martinez, their coveted free agent prospect, signed with the Detroit Tigers. Most of my comrads will be equally perplexed when the likes of Adrian Beltre, Adam Dunn, Carl Crawford and others sign with teams that do not don the orange, black and white bird on their caps.

I am hearing from a few that the Orioles should get Derek Jeter just to piss off the Yankees. I just chuckle and try and get them to keep those remarks coming by saying we should sign Cliff Lee too. My friends respond by saying the O's shouldn't sign Lee because starting pitchers could break down and it would take a long term contract which the Orioles shouldn't tender.

Hey fellow O's fans, wake up! We're not geting Jeter, Beltre, Dunn, Crawford or Lee unless their is something very very wrong with them that everyone sees except the Orioles. We haven't had a winning season since Bill Clinton was in the middle of his second term. The Orioles record from 1998 to 2010 is 921 - 1183. That's a winning percentage of .438. We have finish 4th in a 5 team division 9 times and dead last 3 times out of the 13 year period.

New Baltimore Ravens Fight Song

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 6:44:53 EDT

I sent an online message to the Ed Norris and Steve Davis radio show this morning after listening them banter about how they couldn't understand the lyrics to the newly created Ravens version of the old Baltimore Colts Fight Song. This is what I wrote:

"I was listening to you this morning around 0545 talking about the lyrics of the Ravens fight song. The only importance of the lyrics is that the song now belongs to the Ravens. That't it.

Let me explain. My dad and uncle, who have since departed, and I had season tickets to the Colts games until the mid 1970's and the only lyrics I knew of the Colts fight song was "Fight, fight, fight". I never remember the 59,000+ fans singing anything but fight, fight, fight. The only ones that knew those lyrics were either in the marching band or connected with the Colts Corrals. That's it!

Reality Check

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:46:51 EST

We're 10 games into the season and my Ravens are 5-5. I can't stop thinking that just maybe the Ravens are not a play off calibur team. Good teams find ways to win close games even on bad days and bad teams find ways to lose close games despite playing well.

At a look at the first 10 games I see tell tale signs from the get go. I attended opening day against the Chiefs. Brody Croyle quarterbacked the Chiefs. Matt Cassell had not yet recovered from his injury. The Chiefs scored 24 but the Ravens won. I chalked that one up to getting used to a new defensive coordinator. I was a bit squeemish about the Ravens Dbacks though. I saw Domonique Foxworth at Maryland and thought he was good but not stellar. I then dwelled on how good Ray Rice and Joe Flacco looked. I also thought our resident genuis, Cam Cameron did it again using Willis McGahee perfectly. McGahee played only a handful of snaps but scored twice.

The far reaching affect of the death of Len Bias

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:49:51 EST

Last night before ESPN showed the tragic death of Len Bias they showed the 1986 overtime victory over North Carolina. Bias scored 35, looked like a young Karl Malone but smoother, a better jump shooter and effortlessly jumped higher than anyone else I've ever seen. His basketball play was a thing of beauty.

I won't rehash the documentary but it got me thinking how Len's death impacted so much both in a positive and negative sense. The obvious impact it had on the Boston Celtics was huge for the beaners. Had Bias played his career with the Celtics Bird, McHale and Parrish would have had more years as a player because Bias would have allowed more situational play for the big three and more bench time towards the ends of their careers.

The Ravens have my head spinning

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:09:46 EST

Before the game yesterday I didn't understand why the line on the game favored the 3-3 Ravens who defensively were vertcally challenged. The Broncos D was supposed to be the best in the NFL. Josh McDaniels was the second coming of the Belichick, hoodie and all. Yes, Jared Gaither resumed his duties at left tackle with Michael Oher going back to the right side, but how could Joe Flacco withstand the mighty Broncos' lead leading defense?

During the game there were so many tell tale signs the team playing against the undefeated Denver Broncos was different from the team that had played the six games prior. Even in winning the Ravens did not look like the real deal. From the first series when Jarret Johnson leveled Kyle Orton I knew this wouldn't be like the previous 6 contests.

Bowe to Ravens? I hope so.

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:44:04 EDT

I heard one of the experts on Mike and Mike in the morning say the Ravens were talking to the Chiefs about trading for Dwayne Bowe and sending a 3rd or 4th draft choice to KC. The Ravens have two glaring needs not to mention others. First they need a defensive back. I am still scratching my head about Domonique Foxworth. I saw him play at Maryland and thought he was only average. At Denver he always had help because on the other corner was the best in the NFL, Champ Bailey. Bailey can go mano y mano with anyone in the NFL.

The other glaring weakness is at the receiver position. Derrick Mason has been outstanding for the Ravens. He has the heart of a lion. But if last week's fiasco against the Bengals told me is he can be taken out of the game with a good corner and help. Teams don't have to worry about Mark Clayton because he rarely separates. If the Ravens and Chiefs pulled the trigger on this trade Joe Flacco would have more weapons than he ever had. Mason would be the second option which at the junction of his career should be second option. Along with Todd Heap and Ray Rice the offense would be quickly vaulted to the top 5 of the NFL.

Ocho Cinco is great!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:02:39 EDT

Recently I read the Baltimore Sun and read the tweets of Chad Ocho Cinco, of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth of my Baltimore Ravens. Below is an exerpt I got from the Baltimore Sun:

Chad Ochocinco (OGOchoCinco) to Fabian Washington (FABEWASH31) at about 10:30 p.m. Monday night: "bruh you in trouble Sunday, you gone kiss da baby, this ain't a threat it's a promise. I'm shutting the front door on you!!!!!"

Ochocinco to Domonique Foxworth (Foxworth24): "cmon son, how you cover me with a last name like foxWashington to Ochocinco: "trust me home boy it's going down. Believe dat"

Ochocinco to Washington: "don't do that, don't talk back son, know yo competition son, this ain't madden, you really hit to see me"

Plaxico Burress is paying the price of fame

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 9:02:34 EDT

I can't help but think that something is definately wrong. What is wrong may not be as obvious as Joe the fan may think. Plexico Burress will most likely go to jail. He took an unlicensed gun into a night club that had lots of people and shot himself in the thigh. The rants and raves of the political types say to lock the cell and throw away the key. They want to make an example out of this high profile athlete.

What is not said or asked is why he carried a leathal weapon into a public place. Burress is a high profile athlete. He plays a position that gets on the highlight reels every Sunday. He caught the game winner for the Giants in the Super bowl in 2008. Under the anonymous face mask his face is known by most football fans.

Jeff Bzdelik to Minnesota? Good for him.

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:30:47 EDT

After reading that Colorado head coach Jeff Bzdelik has talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves I thought about the time I worked with him while he worked with the Washington Bullets (now called the Wizards) as assistant coach under head coach Wes Unseld. Although the Bullets never cracked .500 while I knew Jeff their lack of success was not because of him.

I worked with the Bullets in the early 1990's and helped run their summer youth basketball clinics. Bullets assistant coaches Bzdelik and Bill Blair (head coach with the T-Wolves for a cup of coffee) along with a rookie or second year player would run drills and give positive messages to the kids. Bzdelik and Blair were great.

During his tenure with Denver Bzdelik achieved a degree of success before his no nonsence approach was shunned by Carmelo Anthony, their budding superstar. Players have a habit of getting their coaches fired if they don't like them and all Melo and the guys had to do was take their game down a bit and voila! Bye, Bye Bzdelik.

The Wizards need all the elements not just some

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:55:06 EDT

After reading about Flip Saunders becoming the new head coach I started a thread about how Saunders could most likely get the team to overachieve and with his core of Arenas, Bulter and Jamison healthy they could compete but not reach the highest heights of the NBA.

Most likely the Zards will pick anywhere from first to fifth in the NBA draft. They have a nice mix of vets and young players but I don't see a Kobe, LeBron or Howard in the draft. Getting a Dwight Howard would be the finishing piece of the puzzle but a Howard type player is not in this year's draft.

The Wizards need a dominant center to finish the puzzle they have not come close to completing since the late 70's. Neither Arenas or Butler make the players around him better. Jamison fills that role at times when he plays defense on someone not much heavier that his 220 lb frame. He's no 235. I do have confidence in GM Ernie Grunfeld. He has done a good job keeping their core together. If they could package their pick with a role player without sacrificing too much they should be able to find an under achieving center that a coach like Saunders could get to perform better. I will be reading and writing before and after the draft to see where Ernie and Flip are going into the draft. This could be fun for Zards fans.

The morning after

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:23:35 EST

I've had a night to recover from my Ravens losing to the Steelers. Wait till next year. It's ok. I hope Ray Ray, T-Sizzle and Bart re-up. I would be very dissapointed if at least Ray Lewis and Suggs don't sign. It looks like Rex Ryan will be the next coach of the Jets. Good for him. He deserves the shot. It's all good. We can come up with the next defensive genius. No problem. Lot's of great things to look forward to. Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Ray Rice, Jarred Gaiter, the young linebackers, LeRon McClain, etc. After having expectations of being an 8-8 team to being one win away from the superbowl is great.

How bout them O's?

McGahee - A poor man's TO?

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:42:09 EST

In the Baltimore Sun it was reported that Willis McGahee is playing for himself now, not any team. He was good at times and the Ravens attempted to give him as many carries as possible but when they have LeRon McClain having a Pro Bowl year and Ray Rice flashing brilliance as a rookie there are only so many carries one back can have. Last year the Ravens had a pathetic offense with no passing attack. With Flacco, Mason and Clayton their offense is no longer one dimension. Instead of sucking it up and performing at his best all the time McGahee has really been pathetic at times and whines like a little baby.

McGahee isn't as good at his position as TO is at his. The Boys can deal with TO's garbage as long as he is playing like TO. TO plays his best all the time. McGahee does not. No wonder the Bills were glad to see Willis go.