I can't help but laugh at the irony of this. I have heard callers earlier this morning saying things to the effect of "well, training camp started. Go Ravens! Who cares about the Orioles?" Yet, if you look at the tournament, Jim Palmer is beating the "full moon" out of Ray Ray in voting. Palmer is great but I thought that #52 would get more love and I think that he would have if this were 2001 or the fans actually voted objectively and not because they don't like Ray's off field personna.

Two UNBELIEVABLE facts about Palmer.<br><br># 1 - NEVER gave up a Grand Slam<br># 2 - First MLB PITCHER to earn 6-figures ($100k) per year!<br><br>It's amazing he isn't bitter considering the bums pitching today who get a few MILLION per year!<br><br>I agree with Drew & Bob Haynie... 'Cakes' is the KOBS!!!

There really is no contest. Palmer was one of the top pitchers in the AL in the seventies, won three CY Young awards, had eight twenty game seasons, and really shone in the playoffs and series. In short, he was the greatest pitcher the Orioles have ever had! Palmer was a stopper, almost an iron-clad guarantee to reverse a team losing streak. Ray lewis is a great linebacker, but he never controlled games like Jim Palmer did.

LOL @ Jay Davis comments.... Did you ever watch Ray Lewis in his prime? He totally controlled games. I think this is very biased based on the fact that people are voting on Ray Lewis recently vs his entire career. This should be much closer...<br><br>BTW Jay, Ray won numerous Defensive MVP Awards, Super Bowl MVP, Lead the league in tackles almost every year, and was absolutely the driving force behind the best defense of all time... I know its difficult to compare sports but that is all on par with what you said about Palmer.

There's really little to debate. Taking nothing from Palmer who had a phenomenal career and certainly ranks as one of the all time great pitchers in baseball, Ray Lewis may just be the best middle linebacker in the history of the NFL and he's still going strong! When looking at the overall impact on their respective sports, Ray Lewis, again, get's the nod over Palmer for defining the Middle linebacker position. In a perfect world, they'd both be in the "Final Four", but with only one choice, it's gotta be......Lewis!

It is amazing how quick we forget how everyone would get upset that the offense was introduced before the game because everyone loved {including the players} the Ray Lewis dance. This is a bandwagon city Just as bad as Philly except people here don't know football. Ray Lewis made and makes everyone on his team better. Just look at all the players who left here from our defense {Sharper, Hartwell, Weaver , herring, Baxter , Starks, and AD] not many pro bowls there. Ray helped get Marvin Lewis and Jack Del Rio jobs. Two time defense player of the year in the 4-3 and 3-4 defense . There would not have been a Super Bowl with out the leadership and performance he had that season. People game plan around him still in the running game. This is why Bart Scott and other previous linebackers have done so well here. I think Palmer deserves the votes he gets but lets not forget the best linebacker of his time.

Not only is Ray Lewis not the best middle linebacker ever, he isn't even in the top 5. He is nothing if he has to fight off blockers. Anybody can go sideline to sideline if not blocked...every mlb in the league. He can't hold Palmer's jock.