Blogs

BLAST ADDS THREE MORE PLAYERS TO 2008-09 ROSTER

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:44:50 GMT

Team to Start Training Camp Next Monday

You Play the Coach - Who gets your game ball? - Week 6

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:58:41 GMT

Good luck trying to find a Raven to give a game ball too this week. If you look hard enough, you might find one...I did.

Here We Go, Again...

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:22:01 GMT

I know, today, the blame game is going to be played. I'm ready for that. I took my vitamins this morning. I'm a big boy. I can take it.

However, while we're caught up in that, let's examine the real problem. This is the same team they were last year. We're losing games on the road, not showing up, turning the ball over, and just looking clueless as to what individual assignments are. I would even say that some of the guys in purple looked as if they quit just before halftime.

As I've said before, players make plays, not excuses. So, before you start playing the blame game, make sure the blame is directed toward the players and not the coaches.
Last year, we blamed the coach for everything wrong with this team. This year, we're doing the same things and we have a new coach.

This isn't about "Camp Cream Puff" or any other excuse we can come up with. This is about not making plays. Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, and the Colts defense made plays.

In fact, you would have a difficult time REALLY finding a player of the game for the Colts. Manning, Harrison,Reggie Wayne, the o-line, Robert Mathis, Antione Bethea all stood out. It was a total TEAM effort.

With the Ravens, I guess it was a total team effort too. No one player did well. Steve Bisicotti should deduct airfare and hotel from the players' salaries this week. Make them pay for fuel and food too.

It's time to start looking at a TOTAL overhaul in this organization. The problem seems to be the environment that's set by the players. We have a new coach, who's nothing like the old one, whether that's good or bad. The one thing that's stayed the same is the core of players. Time for new leaders to emerge, and the only way to do that is to get rid of the old leaders, or for them to be willing to step aside.

Boy, Was I Wrong...

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:08:30 GMT

Okay, okay... Leading up to the NFL Draft, I was not a big Matt Ryan fan. I saw him at Boston College and I wasn't very impressed.
However, the rookie quarterback has been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Atlanta Falcons organization. On Sunday, he teamed up with Roddy White for a 300-yard performance and a Falcons' win.
By the way, Roddy White. I was 100% wrong with Matt Ryan, but Roddy White, 2005 NFL Draft, Mark Clayton...

Monday Morning's Crabs and Beer

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:07:42 GMT

Ravens blown out in Indianapolis; Yanda's knee seriously injured, will have MRI today. Some debate whether Flacco might be on hot seat. Weibring wins Constellation Energy Classic.

The true Redskins finally showed up...

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:54:07 GMT

There's nothing like raising money for a great cause to take the sting out of losing to the Colts, 31-3.

With the Redskins loss to Parkville High School on Sunday -- oh, it was the Rams?, ok - we generated a fairly healthy sum of cash for my favorite school, Maryvale Prep.

Last week, I asked all of you what it would be worth to see the 'Skins lose to the woeful Rams - at HOME, no less (pardon me while I giggle...). OK, I'm back. So, based on e-mails and blog comments, I think we're over the $500 mark. Ed from Park Heights is in for $180, Bill McCarthy put up $100, Glenn Clark is in for $52, I'm in for $50 and a bunch of folks pledged $20.

The monies we raised by virtue of a gutless Redskins effort will go directly to the Erinn McCarthy Scholarship Fund at Maryvale.

If you pledged, please make your check payable to: Maryvale Prep - and in the "memo" line, please note: Erinn McCarthy scholarship fund.

Send your check to me at WNST:

Drew Forrester
WNST Radio
1550 Hart Rd.
Towson, MD 21286

I'll bundle up the checks and drop them off to Sister Shawn at Maryvale sometime next week.

As for the Redskins (ever tried to type while you're laughing so hard that you're literally crying...???) - we offer a special thanks for showing your true colors on Sunday while letting Roman Gabriel, Lawrence McCutcheon and the rest of the Rams finally get a win.

Economics, Soccer, Defections, Baseball, Sleep...

jen1026@comcast.net — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:11:45 GMT

Thanks to Rex Snider’s latest blog, he made me stop and think, and as a result, I changed my original plans of going to RFK to see our USA Men’s national team play in person. As a result, I got to watch more soccer (and baseball) than I would have seen otherwise, plus be able to justify our $90 monthly cable bill for this month.

Next time there is a USA Men’s team match within driving distance, I encourage you to go in person. If you have never experienced an international soccer match in person, especially a World Cup qualifier, then put it on your sports bucket list (sports things you want to do before you kick the bucket).

The USA Men’s national team routed Cuba 6-1 in round 2 of World Cup qualifying on Saturday night at RFK. The US clinched advancement to the hexagonal, the final round of World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF. Aside from the lone Cuban goal, which broke an over 500 minute shutout streak for the USA, our guys totally dominated the match.

American midfielder Michael Bradley made sure he wouldn’t make the trip to Trinidad and Tobago for Wednesday night’s match by earning a second cumulative caution in extra time of the second half, which resulted in an automatic one game suspension.

The bigger story was that two Cuban players were “missing” as of Friday. I wondered aloud when Cuban player Yoel Colome, (who received his second caution and subsequent ejection from the match in the first half) would take the opportunity to become the third “missing” Cuban on his way back to the locker room.

Following the US-Cuba match, I switched to watch the second half of Jamaica vs. Mexico on a Spanish language station. It always makes me laugh when something is said that doesn’t have a translation out of English ("Reggae Boys" in this case). Quite the tasty second half, with the referee handing out yellow cards like they were Christmas cards, the Jamaicans held on to upset Mexico 1-0.

After that, it was time to tune into the Red Sox/Rays game 2, where it took 53 minutes to just to complete the fifth inning. By the time the game finally completed 9 innings and had to go extra innings, I was part of the majority of the United States’ East and Central time zones who were fast asleep.

And while there was no one sleeping at the “boring” World Cup qualifying soccer matches, there were some young fans sleeping at the Red Sox/Rays ALCS game.

How many of you REALLY thought the Ravens would win?

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:51:50 GMT

I saw some pick 'em football pool selections today and really chuckled as I saw that maybe 65% of the people actually took the Ravens over the Colts. I had to ask one person why he chose the Ravens. I was told, "Because the experts said they can run on the Colts"

Huh? The Colts are notorious for putting up points. The Ravens have struggled offensively the last 2 weeks when the game was on the line. The Ravens have a hard time getting a decent drive going when they have lousy field position (today in the first half their average starting position was about the 13 yard line) So, the "experts" (and I use that term rather loosely) said the Ravens can run the ball on the Colts porous defense which actually ONLY made them 4 1/2 point underdogs today. This was against a team that has lost 2 games at its new stadium and a team that looked dead for the better part of 54 minutes versus a bad Houston team last week, only to come back to life after Sage Rosenfels pulled his Kyle Boller imitation. That win gave them new life and they knew they could throw on the Ravens secondary. Roethlisberger did it when it mattered, Kerry Collins did it when it mattered and Peyton Manning was going to do it whether it mattered or not.

Since those experts said the Colts defense can't stop the run, why did the Ravens NOT run the ball? First series: run, pass pass, punt....Second series, run run pass punt...Third series, sack, pass, fumble, punt..Fourth series, pass..pass. fumble lost...By then it was already 17-0 and the bars were emptying out at 145pm so people could still take advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

You know the stats by now.... 17 rushes for 51 yards AGAINST A TEAM WHO CAN'T STOP THE RUN...(how many time have we heard that before playing a team, only to have that particular team STOP our run cold? Things that make you scratch your head; down 31-0 and they hit a 37 yard FG. I guess they wanted to boost Stover's confidence....More turnovers (5) than points...More penalties (4) than points. Here's another bizarre stat...Todd Heap, ONE FREAKIN CATCH.

Some people STILL think this is the 2000 defense and Joe Flacco is going to play like he did in weeks 1 and 2. Well, The Bungles are 0-6 and the Browns will likely be 1-4 after tomorrow. On the other hand, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Indy are a combined 12-3. Yeah, the Ravens have a difficult schedule and we all knew (although we hate to admit it) they were not going to beat the Steelers, Titans and Colts in successive weeks.

Now we get Miami and that college offense scheme. Unless someone can teach the Ravens secondary how to tackle, Ronnie Brown will probably pinball for 175 yards and throw for 2 TDs. The Fins HAVE to be at least a 6 point favorite next week.

I wrote last week that it can't get any worse. Guess I was wrong, then again, so were those "experts"

Another day to hate the Indianapolis Colts

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:03:35 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS -- If there was any doubt about where the Ravens stand amongst the elite teams in the NFL, this afternoon’s resounding thud in Indianapolis made it clear as most in the locker room said in the postgame: “There’s a lot of work to be done.”

It was all beer, girls and giggles for a little while, John Harbaugh’s arrival as the new head coach of the Ravens and the likeable rookie from tiny Delaware leading the charge to a 2-0 record and near-wins in Pittsburgh and at home last weekend against the upstart Tennessee Titans.

Today’s three hours in Indy (and it felt like the game lasted three days) made it clear that the stakes are a little higher as teams starts figuring out tendencies, weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Oh, and that Peyton Manning guy is still pretty good, especially when he has time and healthy receivers.

To a man, there were 53 very embarrassed and abused football players in the purple locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was a licking of the century, by far the worst and most disappointing loss in team history, reminiscent of the waning days of the Ted Marchibroda era in 1998. The only game I can remember that was this lopsided was the Jacksonville first-half drubbing at home in that final year of Teddyball.

But Manning has had a few dozen of these almost-too-easy cakewalks en route to Canton over the course of this decade, picking on the likes of Corey Ivy, Frank Walker, and yes, even Chris McAlister.

I shot plenty of videos for wnsTV about my still inexplicable disdain for Indianapolis, the Colts, the Irsay memories and just sitting in their new palace all day brought back the anger of Mayflower vans for me.

(I know, I know…I should be over it. Maybe I need a shrink, because I turn 40 on Tuesday and the Colts are celebrating their 25th season in Indianapolis and my blood still curdles at the first sight of my father’s stolen horseshoe on the bodies of these Midwestern hillbillies. It still sucks and perhaps like a few of the folks left in Brooklyn with Dodger blue, I guess I might never “get over it.”)

I still have a deep hatred for the concept of the Indianapolis Colts and I probably always will.

Oh, and the stadium was beautiful, more gorgeous than the city and the franchise probably deserves, especially considering the first 15 years of ineptitude and empty seats in the heartland.

Oh, and there was the game? There’s really not a lot to say about the game.

You saw it.

It was a trainwreck come to life. Play after play, mistake after mistake, breakdown after breakdown. There wasn’t much most of the players could say except that they’d fly home and attempt to have collective amnesia as they head to Miami next week to attempt to rectify last December’s embarrassment that cost Brian Billick his job and brought Cam Cameron north to run the Ravens’ offense.

Joe Flacco’s play was unacceptable.

Chris McAlister’s play – as well as the secondary in general -- was unacceptable.

And the eight guys who missed tackles on the play before the two minute warning of the first half should hang their heads in shame for that effort.

And the team’s general lack of execution in every phase of the game – Derrick Mason went as far as to say that even the cheerleaders kicked the Ravens’ glutes – was clearly irritating to Harbaugh, who was quite chippy in the postgame Q&A.

Hey coach, we just ask the questions. How you choose to answer them is your deal!

“Let me tell you right now: we’re not about pointing fingers,” Harbaugh said. “So if anybody thinks I’m gonna stand up here and point the finger at one guy or another guy, ‘This guy played well and this guy didn’t play well.’ You can just pack up your tape recorders right now.”

I guess that’s our job, huh, “pointing fingers” and “looking for reasons”?

It was 24-0 at halftime.

It was 31-0 soon thereafter.

Much like at Billick’s darkest hours – Detroit in 2005 and the Miami debacle last year come to mind, but I’m sure there are more – taking the heat ain’t easy. Answering the questions for abominations like this turd in Indy ain’t easy.

But the questions WILL be asked. And the answers might not be easy or they might not come at all. But they show up in the standings, one way or another.

Flacco, for being just five games into his career, was more even in the postgame than his coach and accepted full responsibility for the mistakes at the podium.

McAlister, as his usual custom, took no questions at all. But Harbaugh maintained, “Chris is not hurt.”

So, if Harbaugh wants to know “what kind of men” he has, he’ll have 11 more weeks to find out. Right now, his men are 2-3 and reeling from a surprising knockout punch in Indy.

We didn’t expect much from this team in August. Perhaps the quality of play over the first four hours of the season foolishly fooled us into thinking the team is better than we thought. Or maybe the Indy incident is a blip on the radar and they’ll go back to playing well next week and get to .500 before coming home to play Oakland in 13 days?

But this is Coach Harbaugh’s first test of wills, seeing if he can keep the finger-pointing, distractions and division from bubbling to the surface in a room full of embarrassed players. A 31-3 thorough ass-kicking will do that.

The fans always spend the hours and days after these kinds of losses in a deep funk and civic depression. For the players, it doesn’t work like that. They can’t afford to be distracted.

Tomorrow is a new day in Owings Mills. The team is 2-3 and could easily be 4-1.

At this point, we’d all settle for 3-3 with a good week of practice and play against the Dolphins.

Let’s see how Harbaugh, Flacco and the rest of the gang respond to the crisis.

As Harbaugh said yesterday (and I concur), “That’s what it’s all about!”

Reality check

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:29:55 GMT

Well, the first pummeling of the John Harbaugh era happened today in Indianapolis as the Colts drilled the Ravens 31-3. If you missed the game, the score pretty much describes what took place for four quarters at Lucas Oil Stadium. If you saw the game, then you realize that Baltimore has some work to do to stop what has now become a three-game losing streak.

Cornerback Chris McAlister did not have one of his better days as Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison shook him on a couple of occasions for easy touchdown catches.

I thought the Ravens would have success running the ball today against the Colts. But, after falling behind early, the ground game was almost nonexistent totaling only 51 yards.

When a team turns the ball over five times--like the Ravens did today--there is a very good chance they will lose the game. We are starting to see turnovers every week and a lot of them of been of the costly variety.

Joe Flacco was terrible today. I know he is only five games into his NFL career and I still believe he will be a quality player in this league for years to come. That being said, he stunk this afternoon.

If this would have been Kyle Boller throwing three picks, colliding with his running back on an attempted handoff, tripping over his own feet, getting sacked four times, etc, he would have been lambasted mercilessly by Ravens fans everywhere.

I’m not saying that Flacco is the next Boller, but he needs to do a much better job of protecting the football or we may see Troy Smith sooner than we think.

The Ravens made plenty of mistakes today and the Colts made them pay. Even John Harbaugh said after the game that Baltimore got what they deserved.

Now we wait to see if this team learns from their mistakes and responds in a positive way. With four of the next five games on the road, a season that started with some optimism could start turning into the 5-11 “rebuilding” season that a lot of you predicted in August.

No flimsy excuses this week

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:54:14 GMT

If there's a bright spot, at least this week there's no controversy about instant replay, penalties or odd play calling.

The Ravens got humbled by the Colts today, 31-3, and it would have been much worse had Indianapolis felt like making it worse. Send Tony Dungy a note and thank him for calling off the dogs.

It was a tail-whipping, through and through.

Their quarterback? Terrific.

Our quarterback? Harrassed and relatively ineffective.

Their offensive line? Very good.

Our offensive line? Not very good.

Their running game? Useful.

Our running game? Useless.

Their defense? Hungry.

Our defense? Battered.

It all adds up to a 28-point thrashing that left Head Coach John Harbaugh a tad hasty and abrasive with the media afterwards.

And it leaves Baltimore with three straight defeats and more injuries to the mix, as initial reports have Marshal Yanda out for the season after tearing a knee ligament late in the game.

Even Chris McAlister got picked on today, as Peyton Manning threw at anyone and everyone in the Ravens secondary. Corey Ivy needed SPF 30 after getting burned for a TD and Frank Walker hopped around and pounded his chest after making a nice hit in the second half but by then the Colts were ahead 31-0. Nice move, there, Frank.

Hey, at least Matt Stover connected on a 37-yard field goal in the game's final 75 seconds or it would have been a goose egg on the scoreboard.

There's no analysis necessary in this one.

The Colts played well and the Ravens didn't.

Period.

They have a great quarterback and a powerful receiving corps and the Ravens have a rookie quarterback and a receiving trio that borders on marginally productive -- and that's being kind.

And a Ravens defense that lives and dies by the blitz needed a Priest to administer the last rites just before halftime.

Make no mistake about it, this is a Ravens team that is reeling right now.

Nothing else to say about this one...it was a beatin'.

Oh yeah, anyone know how the Redskins did?

Ovechkin Scores Two in Caps Win

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:20:26 GMT

Caps rally from 2-0 deficit to win home opener, 4-2, against Chicago

Caps Blasted by Thrashers/Hockey Fights Cancer

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:40:50 GMT

Caps goalies play poorly in loss. October is Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month

Laurel Park: Selections for Saturday, Oct. 11th

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:47:31 GMT

Laurel Park first appeared on the racing scene in 1911. The state’s racing industry was the undisputed king of the mid-Atlantic until the last decade when slot machines in Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania created an unbalanced playing field in terms of purses and breeding bonuses. Help the save thoroughbred horse racing in the great state of Maryland. On November 4^th, vote FOR (Slot Machines in Maryland) Question #2.

Recapping my selections from last Saturday, Oct. 4^th at Laurel Park …

Best Bet, Grand Champion (# 6; 2^nd race – Sprint Handicap; 6-5) was bet down to 4-5 and ran more like a 4 or 5-1 shot, finishing a disappointing 3^rd.

Longshot, Off The Glass (# 7; 1^st race – Starter Handicap; 20-1) showed early speed as expected, but he had a few others to keep him company. Due to that fact, he had nothing left for the stretch run and faded badly to 6^th.

SHOW Parlay Play of the Day, $20 on Spectacular Moon (# 4; 10^th race; 5-1) ran a spectacular race, winning by 2 lengths at 9-2, returning $11.40 $4.60 and $3.80 across the board. Not too shabby of a SHOW pay-off for a 9-2. The SHOW Parlay is alive and well.

In addition to the above, I selected the following winners in my blog last Saturday for Maryland Million Day… Broadway Producer (4^th race - $4.20); Sweet Goodbye (9^th race - $4.20) and He’s A Dixie Boy (12^th race - $26.60).

Here’s who I like on Saturday Oct. 11^th at Laurel Park…

Best Bet: Rough Shot / Imagini entry (# 1/1A; 1^st race; 2-1)

Take your pick because these stable mates are the two best among this group. I’ll go as far to say if one gets scratched, no matter which one, I’ll take my chances on the other. If both run, you might be better off making a Place wager because if they happen to run 1-2, the Place pay-off might exceed the Win pay-off?

Longshot: Yankee Empire (# 7; 5^th race on the turf; 10-1)

This one makes his second career start for trainer Barclay Tagg. The fact that his initial start was taken off the turf at Delaware Park on Sept. 8^th indicates the connections think highly of his potential as a grass runner.

SHOW Parlay available bankroll: $78.90 ($60.90 - $20 bet + $38 return)

Time to build on this bankroll... in an aggressive way.

SHOW Parlay Play of the Day: $38 on I’m Flattered (# 4; 9^th race - turf; 8-1)

Two third place finishes in two lifetime turf starts at today’s distance. She was the beaten favorite in her last race, but a strong stretch rally was halted when interfered with at the 1/16^th pole. With better luck today she hits the board.

These are who I like. How about you? Good luck with your selections!

Eli Manning and Josh Beckett

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:44:46 GMT

Just a couple thoughts as we roll into the weekend regarding two of the bigger stars in today’s sports world.

All of the sudden people think Eli Manning is better than Peyton. That was a topic of multiple sports publications this week and I couldn’t laugh harder. Don’t get me wrong, Eli is good. Eli is the quarterback on my fantasy team (even though I swore that being a Cowboys fan I would take no Giants, Redskins, or Eagles. That lasted until the third round when I scooped the younger Manning away from my unsuspecting counterparts) I think Eli has been great ever since Jeremy Shockey got hurt, and then left town. I think Shockey's personality overtook the team. When the loudest person in your huddle is the tight end, you’ve got problems. Also, tight ends help an offense move the chains, but when he becomes too much of a focal point of the offense, things bog down. Look at what Tony Gonzalez has done in his career for the Chiefs. He’s caught a ton of passes, but they don’t win very much. And don’t give me this bunk about how some of these guys are so talented that you can split them out and use them as a wide receiver. What the Giants have found out is they are better off bringing in a third or fourth wideout who is used to splitting out. These guys are faster and can make plays. This was and continues to be a great thing for the Giants offense, who now seem to have more weapons than they know what to do with. All these things have helped Eli. For these and probably a few other reasons, Eli has become really good. Anyone who didn’t see him moving towards the upper echelon of quarterbacks just wasn’t watching. But to say he’s better than Peyton, you can't, not yet.

So far this year, the Giants have played four games, three of which were against putrid teams (St. Louis, Cincinnati and Seattle). In the other game, against Washington, they put up 16 points. Last year, during their remarkable Super Bowl run, the Giants offense didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard. In the playoffs they scored 24, 21, 23 (in OT) , and 17 in the Super Bowl, seven of which came, in part, thanks to the most unbelievable catch in football history.

I’m not saying Eli’s not good. I’m not saying he won’t continue to put up numbers. What I am saying is this “Eli is the next Johnny U” is slightly overblown. And one more thing, I don’t care how many points he puts up this week against the Browns. They stink, too.

On to baseball and the Red Sox rotation. Josh Beckett has proven to be one of the great post-season pitchers of this era or any other. Now, in the prime of his career, he should be ready to dominate once again. But I guess, when you think about it, he should have been ready to dominate all year. He didn’t. He was hurt in Spring Training, and was hurt at the end of the season. My guess is that he wasn’t right for much, if any, of the ’08 season. With that in mind, why is he pitching ahead of John Lester, who is, by far, the hottest pitcher in the game right now? Francona has Beckett scheduled for games two and six with Lester going games three and seven. I suppose you can look at this two ways. If the series is over in five, it’s academic. If it’s not over in five, then Boston would either be up 3-2 or down 3-2. If they’re up, they only need to win one of the two, so, in theory, which game Lester pitches is irrelevant. If they’re down, then they need to win the both anyway, no matter who pitches when. My thinking would be that I want to win one of the two games in Tampa to open the series. I think Lester gives you a better shot at that than Beckett. Also, if Lester would win a game six which forces a game seven, and Beckett continues to show the rust/injury that he showed late in the season and in the ALDS, you can use an all-hands-on-deck approach to your bullpen. You can do that in a game seven. You can’t in a game six.

I think this is an example where a manager believes in his guy and in his guy’s history more so than what he actually sees on the field. Joe Torre made a huge blunder last year when he started a lame Roger Clemens in game three of their ALDS. Roger said he could pitch, but the Roger Clemens on the mound wasn’t the Roger Clemens that we had come to know. In game two, Josh Beckett will look like the same guy who dominated last year’s post-season. Will he pitch like that guy? I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s right.

Expect Boston’s bullpen to become very familiar with the mound at the Trop in these first two games.

On Air Hosts- WEEK 6 PICKS

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:00:27 GMT

Looks like Miami, Green Bay, Chicago and the Jets get most of the love this week. Bet all four AND DON'T BLAME US WHEN YOU'RE 0-4!!

Remember, these picks are AGAINST THE SPREAD.

If you don't know what that means, or where to find the point spreads, you probably shouldn't be reading this- or you're a liar.

WEEK 6

KEN ZALIS

Chicago Best Bet

NY Jets

Houston

Minn

Arizona

MARK SUCHY

Miami BEST BET

Carolina

Atlanta

San Francisco

Arizona

THYRL NELSON

NYJ BEST BET

MIA

PHI

NYG

JASON JUBB

Miami - Best Bet

Arizona

Carolina

Denver

Green Bay

NEAL SHAFFER

Chicago (Best Bet)

Jets

Indianapolis

Giants

Carolina

RAY BACHMAN

Green Bay Best Bet

Giants

Denver

Atlanta

New Orleans

ANDREW UNGER

Packers BEST BET

Panthers

Raiders

Jets

Colts

MARC UNGER

Chicago BEST BET

Green Bay

Oakland

Miami

NY Jets

REX SNIDER

New England - Best Bet

Cleveland

Dallas

Philly

Oakland

DREW FORRESTER

San Diego Best Bet

Atlanta

Seattle

NY Jets

Tampa Bay

BOB HAYNIE

Bears BEST BET

Eagles

Dolphins

Jets

Packers

Friday Morning's Crabs and Beer

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:54:37 GMT

I'm picking the Colts to beat the Ravens Sunday. 52, Gaither join Washington, Terry in missing practice. Orioles wrap up organizational meetings in Florida. Who's going to Perry Hall-Franklin with me tonight?

The Fantasy Flavor Positional Power Rankings Week 6 (D/ST & K)

thyrl@wnst.net — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:43:43 GMT

Here’s a look at the top 20 D/STs and Ks so far, and a look ahead to their week 6 match ups. Last week’s rankings are in parenthesis.

Are Ravens Fans $elfish .....

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:28:32 GMT

Every morning, you tune into Drew Forrester as he talks about the Orioles and their woes. Then, you spend lunch with Bob Haynie, as he beckons about promise for the Terps. And, finally, you finish up each day with Rob Long as he chats up the 2008 version of the Ravens.

Monday through Friday, you visit this ritual. And, on weekends ….. hopefully, you tune into the “JV” ….. as we try our hand at entertaining you. Is the ‘NST family a happy diversion from the REAL WORLD ….. as it looms in every other aspect of your life?

After all, if you’re exposed to any other media source or living, breathing person ….. you’re undoubtedly very familiar with the economic crisis that looms above virtually every American household. It’s serious ….. very serious.

While you hardly ever hear Drew, Bob or Rob even mention the mess known as the U.S. economy, it’s pretty hard to ignore what’s going on. I realize sports and its outlets (such as this ….) help us to forget our real lives and the pains we deal with, daily.

Heck, some readers have probably ditched this blog, already. No need to read about bad news, right? You’re living it on a daily basis. Trust me, this blog is not intended to remind us of the hardships Americans are facing. Nah ….. I wouldn’t spoil the party.

But, I’m inclined to ask one question ….. why is the landscape of professional sports escaping the perils felt by other business ventures? While the U.S. economy struggles in virtually every aspect, you will still find 70-thousand patrons at the next Ravens game.

The area businesses will be packed. Vendors will be jammed with concession sales and purple paraphernalia, new and old, will be easy for the eye to spot. Oh yeah ….. and thousands of makeshift smorgasbords will encompass M&T Bank Stadium, as only the finest of delicacies are served.

Hasn’t the nearly-catastrophic effects of this economy struck football fans? It certainly doesn’t appear so. In fact, to the casual eye, it looks like business-as-usual in comparison to 2007, 2006, 2005 and beyond …..

How about other sports? I watched last night’s NLCS game between the Dodgers and Phillies, and the joint was packed. The same can be said for NASCAR. While the overall attendance at racetracks is down ….. there are still crowds in excess of 100-thousand people at every NASCAR event.

Can Americans really afford to attend professional sports events? Or, are many folks simply compromising the logical and prudent for the temptation of whetting the desire that helps us to escape from reality for a few hours?

Just as I won’t criticize Orioles fans for selling their tickets to “Yankees faithful” in the name of profit ….. I won’t question Ravens fans for holding onto their precious investment, even in tough times. I’m not gonna tell anyone how to spend their money.

However, I’m really wondering how people can afford to attend sporting events. The American economy is in dire straits, and that’s the truth. Common households are struggling to pay tuitions, utilities and fuel/food costs.

Yet, the Ravens (and other franchises) always get their money. Given this impressive truth, I’m tempted to ask, “are fans ranking the experience of attending a professional sports event ahead of buying braces for kids or fixing the furnace?”

Better yet, are fans dolling out dough for sideline seats, instead of buying shares of trusted stocks – that are at an all-time low? Is it a risk, hell yeah !!!!! But, you don’t think Warren Buffett, J.D. Rockefeller or even Steve Bisciotti acquired their wealth without taking risk, do you?

In fact, noted banker and filthy-rich dude, Baron Rothschild said “the best time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” In all of my 41 years, I’ll suggest this might be the closest I’ve been to seeing red gutters !!!!

So, what gives ??? Has the professional sports landscape been impacted by the travesties of the U.S. economy, or not ??? And, are fans more interested in satisfying the “entertainment streak” in their lives, above other notable commitments ???

Perhaps, this is simply a prime example of Americans putting DESIRES ahead of NEEDS. And, if so ….. isn’t this one of the very selfish factors that got us into this mess …..

Redskins lose to the Rams...what's it worth to you?

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:19:47 GMT

I'm sure you've said it a hundred times in your life and never REALLY meant it.

"I'd give a hundred bucks to see (insert statement here...)"

Well, let's have some fun this weekend with the Redskins and Rams.

Obviously, the Redskins are going to win.

We all KNOW that.

But what would you give to charity if they DIDN'T win? What would it be worth for you to watch the scores scrolling on the top of the TV screen and see this:

Wash 17 - St. L 23 F

How much fun and joy would you all take in revving up a certain Redskins goof with the initials J.R.? I'm sure *wink, wink* that someone here at WNST.net would probably blog about it on Sunday night, giving you plenty of room and freedom to comment on the loss.

I'm in for $50.

I look at it like a wager. If the Rams win, I consider that a win, even though I'm shelling out money. But it's going to a great cause.

How many of you are willing to put up some small amount in the event the Rams win?

Let's donate some money to the Erinn McCarthy Scholarship Fund at Maryvale Prep if the Rams pull off the unthinkable and beat those punks in burgundy and gold on Sunday.

$5...$10...anything you want to put up.

Think about it: "I'd give ANYTHING to see the Rams beat the Redskins."

Well, attach a dollar figure to it and let's follow the action with two great results in mind. The Redskins lose at home to a team that hasn't won yet and the Erinn McCarthy Scholarship Fund at Maryvale Prep benefits too.

I'd give $50 to see it happen. $100 if the Rams win by more than two TD's. lol

In fact, I'm going to text Gary Stills right now and tell him I just saw Clinton Portis on TV predicting a 33-0 win.

Go you Rams, go!

Who's in?

Thursday news and notes

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:11:40 GMT

Here are some news and notes from the Thursday media session:

- The Ravens have some issues with depth in the secondary with injuries to Samari Rolle (neck), Dawan Landry (neck), Fabian Washington (shoulder), and Derrick Martin (shoulder). Rolle and Landry are out for Sunday and I would imagine you will see very little if any of Washington or Martin in the secondary. I fully expect the corners to be Chris McAlister and Frank Walker and the safeties to be Ed Reed and Jim Leonhard.

- Cam Cameron said today that they will have some things in place to help Jared Gaither with his match up against Dwight Freeney on Sunday. There will be times though that Gaither will be one on one with Freeney.

- Cam Cameron mentioned today that Adam Terry, who is nursing a right knee injury, looked better today than he did yesterday. The Ravens went through a walk thru this morning and were scheduled to practice this afternoon. Adam Terry was wearing a compression sleeve on his right knee today during the morning walk thru.

- The Ravens have lost 5 straight games to the Colts. The Ravens last win over the Colts was on 12-2-01. Last time the Ravens faced the Colts was on December 9, 2007. In that game Peyton Manning was 13-17-249 yards with 4 td’s)

- Since September 6, 1998, the Ravens have used 15 different quarterbacks while the Colts have used only one.

- Peyton Manning has taken 10,014 out of a possible 10,334 possible snaps from 1998 – 2008.

The Fantasy Flavor Positional Power Rankings Week 6 (WR & TE)

thyrl@wnst.net — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:03:30 GMT

Here’s a look at the top 20 WRs and TEs so far, and a look ahead to their week 6 match ups. Last week’s rankings are in parenthesis.

Thursday Morning's Crabs and Beer

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:03:00 GMT

Is Baltimore over the Colts move? Harbaugh names Flacco starter for rest of the season; Newsome expects Gregg back for OTA's. Terps seniors call team meeting; Jordan Steffy back to throwing.

Building a Giant Winner

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:31:38 GMT

The Ravens may want to take a cue from the defending champs.

Can The Rays Beat The Red Sox .....

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:21:08 GMT

Yes, they can ….. but, they won’t. Regardless of regular season successes and a “can’t lose” philosophy that’s undoubtedly waffling around the Tampa Bay clubhouse, the Rays are about to enter uncharted waters.

If you’re a regular listener of the station or a subscriber to the diversely entertaining blogs, you’ve probably sensed I’m rooting hard for the Rays. To have them slaying the behemoth budgets of the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and White Sox is absolutely good for the game.

It would also serve as resounding proof that a winning organization really can be constructed from the “ground up” ….. and it could beckon as further inspiration to other small market teams and fans. Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays are good for baseball.

While this marvelous turnaround is an accomplishment, in itself, the Rays are now squaring off against a team that has experience – and a TON of it – on their side. Prior to their series against the ChiSox, the Rays have never played meaningful baseball in October.

Meanwhile, the opponent and defending World Champions of Major League Baseball are gearing up for something that feels as comfy as slipping on a pair of slippers. The Red Sox define postseason baseball ….. over the past decade. They’re chock full of BIG GAME arms, clutch sticks and a confidence that doesn’t waiver.

I can’t stand the Red Sox, and more importantly, I can’t stand a healthy sect of Red Sox Nation. Note to the boss’ wife – I’m not throwing all BoSox fans under the bus. But, there is an aggressive, dominating group that makes their presence felt and loathed, whenever the team plane lands at BWI.

I’ll give ‘em one thing ….. they’re loyal !!!! And, admittedly, I would love to see the Red Sox on the ropes, against an unheralded and disrespected band of wannabe’s, who made the climb from “worst to first” in the span of a single season. But, it’s not gonna happen.

It’s best to simply tuck your heart away, because this “feel good story” is about to be smashed like a squirrel’s head under the tire of an 18-wheeler. Having experience in October, is huge. Winning two world championships, in the span of four years is unfathomable.

I’ll admit it was cool watching BJ Upton smack a couple ‘dongs off Chicago’s staff, Monday. But, you don’t really expect that to happen when he faces the likes of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Dice-K or Papelbon, do you? We’re in a different class now …..

Don’t despair, it won’t be the end of the world when the Red Sox advance to the World Series. There’s a damn good chance the Dodgers will be there to meet them. With Joe Torre, Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe and others, the Dodgers carry a similar “October-Cred” to that of the Red Sox.

Besides, if the Dodgers really do take care of Philly and make it to the big show, would you rather see Manny stepping to the plate at Tropicana Field ….. or Fenway? Yep, I thought so …..

*** For those of you who head out on Friday nights, please stop and see me bartending at the newest and hottest club in town ….. Bourbon Street Baltimore. You can find me on the lower level, at the Big Easy Bar ……

Ravens vs. Colts - Your Predictions

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:28:49 GMT

Who won the prediction poll last week? What about the previous weeks? Check the bottom of the blog to view the winners and don't forget to send me your predictions for this week.

More Caps Media Day Coverage

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:10:39 GMT

Interviews with George McPhee, Jose Theodore, and Donald Brashear; Western Conference predictions

Option: O's stand pat and lose 90 games again

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:29:45 GMT

In one of my 13 points to ponder in Tuesday's blog, I jokingly (sort of) alluded to the fact that the O's won't sign Derek Lowe in the off-season because it might actually make them good next year.

I received a handful of e-mails and blog comments from folks over the last 24 hours who think the signing of Lowe and/or any veteran free agent pitcher is a bad move.

I've been thinking about that a lot today.

Maybe they're right, the naysayers...

Let's NOT sign anyone in the off-season and let's trot out that rag-a-muffin starting staff again next April and let's lose 90 games AGAIN and claim full ownership to Last Place Avenue again in '09.

Sounds like a plan, eh?

People crack me up.

Here's a franchise that hasn't won since 1997. They are apparently NOT on the fast track to winning again next year if the Liz, Bass, Burres, Waters and Olson experiments are any indication of future successes.

As of today, they are a team with one real starting pitcher (Guthrie) and more question marks on the mound than Sarah Palin had colleges. They don't have a shortstop of major league caliber. Their second baseman would rather play anywhere else in the league. Their 3rd baseman is approaching the December of his career calendar. And their bullpen needs another three or four pieces.

And yet there are people out there who are against the notion of spending money on PROVEN, quality major league veterans.

These are folks, by the way, who apparently profess themselves baseball management experts.

The Orioles just wrote themselves a $26 million check (from MASN) for their '08 TV rights payment and their payroll in '08 was 25 MILLION DOLLARS less than '07.

They're receiving $60 million a year from Comcast for the next 8 years, $2.65 a month or thereabouts that you, me and your neighbors are all shelling out whether or not we watch one pitch of the game or not. If we have Comcast, we're FUNDING the Orioles, baby. Isn't that a thought that keeps you up at night?

And so, someone - in this case, me - steps up and demands that they spend some of that money they've hoodwinked us all out of and people are AGAINST that...???

Let's think about this for a second.

Derek Lowe or Radhames Liz?

A.J. Burnett or Chris Waters?

Don't give me all that who-struck-John? about salaries, multi-year deals and any other financial garbage that doesn't pertain to us, as fans. If they give A.J. Burnett 5 years/$75 million, what do you care? Do you want the team to WIN or just make a lot of money for the ownership family?

I don't care HOW much they spend, frankly. Just spend it. For once, spend the money we've given you. Spend the money you PROMISED to spend when you started MASN.

Spend it on anyone you want. Spend it on Jason Giambi if you'd like. Give it to Mike Mussina. Pay Ryan Dempster with it. Sign Lowe or Burnett, or both.

Just spend some money.

Show us you're trying to get better.

If Radhames Liz is the #4 starter next spring, that's not "trying to get better..."

Someone wrote in, "have faith in the front office staff and Andy MacPhail."

I'm faithed-out, actually. No more promises or "we're gonna's" or "give us time".

No more blind faith.

I trust none of those people in the Warehouse.

None of 'em.

Sorry, but that's what 11 years of losing and disconnecting with the city of Baltimore has done.

Come to think of it, maybe losing 90 games and finishing in last place has its benefits after all.

There will be more seats for the Red Sox and Yankees fans to scrounge up next year.

I swear, the more I hear people talk, the more I'm starting to wonder if Aubrey Huff wasn't on to something last December...

BLAST Looking at Three Heavy Hitters?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:42:13 GMT

Word on the soccer pitch is that the Baltimore Blast are talking and possibly very close to a deal with All Star Greg Howes. Two other names who have been mentioned to me are Jonathan Greenfield and Jamar Beasley both possibly coming to B-More. Coupled with the return of 9 members of the championship team they would be in fantastic shape and this is exactly the BUZZ they need. If Howes comes to Baltimore I'm in for 3 season tickets. He's that good. Let's hope deals can be concluded with each of these players.

Added 10/09/2008 7:43am

I can also add the following that Johnathan Steele will be signing with New Jersey and the Blast will be losing another member of it's team from last year who is about to sign with New Jersey as well.

Wednesday Morning's Crabs and Beer

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:42:55 GMT

I break down the ENTIRE Maryland football team at the halfway point of their season. Harbaugh says he expects Gregg to be able to continue career after surgery. O's Walker won't need elbow surgery.

Fantasy Football Week 6

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:59:39 GMT

Fantasy Football What's New For 10.08.08

Hey Check out the New Columns...CLICK HERE AND NEW THIS YEAR to FANS FANTASY FOOTBALL...your official FANTASY DRAFT GUIDE...not who but HOW to draft a winning Fantasy Football Team...CLICK HERE FOR THE WAY TO DRAFT THIS YEAR.

RANKINGS WILL BE OUT EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE FOR THEM...

and

REVIEW of the WEEK THAT WAS IN FANTASY FOOTBALL every TUESDAY RIGHT HERE ON THE WHAT's NEW PAGE!

plus

THE NEW MONDAY MORNING QUICK HITS ON KEN ZALIS's COLUMNS PAGE

Some Notes from week 5:

LJ has to go from your fantasy team...if he has another good week...trade him asap...you should have already done it.
LT will have his 18 TD's when all is said and done.
How did New Orleans lose Monday night...wow!
Baltimore for the second week in a row has found a way to lose.
INDY has won two games now that they should not have.
Baltimore plays at Indy this Sunday. I wonder how it will turn out.
Washington has been very impressive...wins at Philly and at Dallas...
Arizona continued its home happiness...but to get to the playoffs they must figure out how to win a road game.
Buffalo...just when I was ready to jump in...you pull me out.
New England wins the AFC East.
Green Bay needs a win in week 6 at Seattle in the worse way. The bad news is Seattle may be playing for their season on Sunday
Why can't Dallas run the ball better? Is it the line or Marion Barber? just saying.
Miami has now beaten New England and San Diego.....in the same year...back to back....if I had a nickel for everytime that happens ovwer the last 10 years...I now have 5 cents.
If you are 1 - 4 or 0 - 5 in your fantasy leagues and have not made a trade yet....why even play...you may love your team but time to shake it up folks the season is over with a loss this week.

TRADE BAIT(s): Larry Johnson (TOLD YOU), Kyle Orton (Sell high) and Ben Roethlisberger (his line is not getting better injuries will build up)

STAR(S) OF WEEK (officially renamed the LT of the Week): D. Williams (where did that come from?) and Brandon Jacobs

DUD(S) of the Week: LJ and LT...wow its been a long time since we could say that...add in AP for the trifecta!

Hot Pick up(s) of the week: Kyle Orton as a bye week fill in, Matt Schaub, Warrick Dunn in ppr leagues, Bobby Engram if he is still around, RYAN TORIAN...get him now if you can stash him away for a few weeks.

TEAM(s) of the WEEK: WASHINGTON REDSKINS have now won at Dallas and at Philly...have to like what they are doing!

Ut Oh of the week: Tampa Bay ...went to Denver found a full QB problem...only scored 13 when Denver has been giving up 30...has a good Carolina team coming in...

Fantasy Football Start Them This Week...

Check back weekly. We will never say start LT or AP that is too obvious and We will never tell you to sit someone, but here are some people we really like ….you can make the sit calls or email us for our view…track how accurate we are…..we have been as good as everyone else so check us out.

PLEASE READ THIS WEEKS COLUMS ON STARTS: CLICK HERE

QB's: MUST STARTS: ROMO, BREES, CUTLER, WARNER, MCNABB, ROETHLISBERGER, RODGERS, P. MANNING

Other to consider this week: Eli Manning, Hasselback, Campbell, Kitna (my last try with him), Farve and Palmer

RB's: MUST STARTS: LT, Adrian Peterson, Westbrook (hurt), Parker (hurt), Lynch, Portis, Barber, Gore, Steve Jackson, Addai, Jacobs and Ronnie Brown

Others to consider this week: Bush and McAllister, McClain, T. Jones, Forte, Slaton, Jones-Drew

WR's/TE's: MUST STARTS: TO, Greg Jennings, Randy Moss (still have to), Wes Welker (ppr), Fitzgerald, Boldin, Andre Johnson, Burress, Steve Smith, Calvin Johnson, Marshall, Holmes, Wayne, Gates, Witten, Gonzales, Winslow

Other to consider this week: Lance Moore and Devery Henderson, Roy Williams, Berrian, Roddy White, S. Moss (WSH), Toomer, and Edwards.

Top 10 to 15 or so starts for IDP's:

DL: Jared Allen, Mario Williams, Aaron Kampman, Will Smith, Julius Peppers, Patrick Kearney, Aaron Schobel, Trent Cole, Terrell Suggs, Gaines Adams, Aaron Carter, Justin Tuck and Justin Smith.

LB: D. Ryans, P. Willis, R. Lewis, N. Barnett, D. Harris, M. Peterson, K. Morrison, J. Beason, W. Witherspoon, K. Rivers, L. Fletcher, B. Urlacher, D. Edwards, AJ Hawk, James Harrison, J. Beason, J. Vilma and F. Keiaho

DB: G. Wilson, A. Wilson. C. Tillman, A. Bigby, C. Finnegan, A. Winfield, T. Polamalu, C. Tillman, B. Sanders, L. Landry, M. Trufant, B. Pollard, Q. Jammer,A. Cromartie, E. Coleman and Mike Adams.

Some Other Guys We Like This Week...

SLEEPER(s) OF THE WEEK….what DUD will become a STUD…at least for one week....we will try to give a QB, RB and WR/TE each week...

QB: Matt Schaub...alot of people dropped him too early
RB: Chester Taylor...Minn may have this game in hand early and Taylor could see 15+ carries
WR/TE: Shaun McDonald...Detroit will not run against MINN...so maybe he gets 5 balls for 60?
Kicker and Defense: I like Nedney and the Seattle D

Locks Of The Week...

In a suicide pool? We can help. Once again track our success. We will give you three a week.

After two years we are 118 - 51 (69.8%)...not bad!! TRULY pretty damn good...we have checked others out and we are just as good as they are! 2007 record: 48 - 21.

2008 RECCORD: 11 - 4

WEEK OF 10/12/08:

New Orleans over Oakland
Chicago over Atlanta
NY Jets over Cincinnati

Bonus Pick: San Diego over New England

The Fantasy Flavor Positional Power Rankings Week 6 (QB & RB)

thyrl@wnst.net — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:47:23 GMT

Here’s a look at the top 20 QBs and RBs so far, and a look ahead to their week 6 match ups. Last week’s rankings are in parenthesis.

Caps Media Day and Practice Notes

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:17:23 GMT

Boudreau works team hard; Ovechkin leaves practice early

Puck You...

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:51:32 GMT

Now that we have your attention, it's NHL season again. And the Washington Capitals have reached out to WNST during the offseason and we're trying to have some fun during trying political and unstable times.

For anyone who has followed my career, you know I have one pretty strong lifelong passion that I was truly self-indulgent about: hockey.

The breakthrough in my sports media career came when I was 16 years old and covering Baltimore Skipjacks and Washington Capitals games at The News American. I also covered both of those teams in various forms (as well as the Bandits) for The Evening Sun. I was the beat writer and in 1991 I met Kenny Albert. We did a talk show together and -- voila -- WNST is born.

Well, sorta...

It would be impossible to tell you how much fun and how much joy hockey has added to my life.

The many, many Stanley Cup playoff excursion I’ve been on…

To Vancouver, Anaheim, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Long Island, Manhattan, Raleigh, Miami, Nashville – I’ve seen playoff games in all of these cities.

I’m great pals with Predators coach Barry Trotz and would fulfill a lifetime dream of mine, drinking a tasty beverage from Lord Stanley’s goblet if Nashville ever won The Cup.

I met my wife at a hockey game, an AHL classic in Manchester, N.H.

Hockey Meg is in my life because of hockey. So is Howard Scher, Ed Frankovic and a bunch of other cool people.

Hockey is great. And honestly, people who love hockey are great. And even the players who play hockey with their super quirky Canadian accents are also pretty cool and were always a blast to be around.

If I ever got wealthy from WNST.net, the first and only really stupid thing I’d do is fulfill my wish to own a hockey team. Truth be told, I’d bring a team here in a nano-second and try to market it and make it work.

I love hockey.

The Washington Capitals, who brought me so many cool memories back in the 1980’s at the Capital Centre that I don’t even know where to begin discussing how much fun I had back in the days with Phil Jackman, have reached out to WNST and said this:

“How can we get people from Baltimore to embrace the Capitals?”

Drew Forrester and I went down to Northern Virginia (and WOW, what a facility they have down there) and told them that we could put some real hockey fans together from Baltimore who would like to embrace the Capitals if the Capitals wanted to embrace us.

So, lo and behold, we’re offering many discounts on the website for Caps game and we plan to go to many games this year with some official “WNST Puck Buses” to games in D.C.

We’ll discount the tickets (natch!) and we’ll see if we can create some memories and some fun.

I miss hockey badly. I get to Nashville on occasion. I go to games when my wife goes home to New Hampshire. And sometimes we even take in a game in Hershey on a Saturday night around Christmas.

But we’re going to “Rock the Red” during 2008-09 and try to find some “old-time hockey” spirit.

Anyone interested in being included on the “Puck Bus” presale (coming in the next week), drop me a note at nasty@wnst.net

The first roadie is Nov. 6th vs. Carolina. We’re going to keep the tickets in the $50 to $60 range with all of the trimmings: food, beer, soda for kids, ticket, ride, swag, fun, DVDs, meeting other hockey idiots with puckheads like me.

Stay tuned…

Count your Baltimore sports blessings...

jen1026@comcast.net — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:02:41 GMT

In the grand scheme of sports, things here in Baltimore are good.

Our Baltimore Ravens could easily be 4-0. None of us saw this coming.

Your Baltimore Blast is a class act on and especially off the field. When you inquire about getting someone from the team to make an appearance, they gladly send a player from their current roster.

It’s much easier than it used to be to get good seats for a Baltimore Orioles game.

Plenty of college sports programs to follow in this area too – Maryland, UMBC, Loyola, Towson, Johns Hopkins…

Michael Phelps, the most golden if not also the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, is from here, and looks to be investing his money and time here in the Baltimore area.

Brian Billick has chosen to invest his money and time at WNST, as well as the Living Classrooms Foundation.

And if we don’t like things going on in the sports world here in charm city, we are well within driving distance of Washington, Philadelphia, and New York.

Points - 13 quick ones

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:19:33 GMT

In honor of how many millions per-year "The Eliminator" Derek Lowe will be getting from some team this off-season, here's 13 quick points for you on this beautiful fall Tuesday night in Baltimore.

1. One team that won't sign Lowe is, of course, right here in Charm City. Rumor has it the reason the O's won't sign Lowe is that they're afraid if they DO sign him, the team might actually get good next year.

2. Kimbo Slice lost? Well, one of the two most over-rated sports figures finally got exposed. Now if we can only get the Redskins to lose, we'll have the exacta.

3. I wonder if a certain ex-coach in the NFL who now appreciates lite beer and does commentary on TV looks better in silver and blue or brown and orange?

4. That pick-up of Mark Teixeira sure helped the Angels get over the hump. How many calls will his agent take from the O's before he breaks the bad news to them?

5. We got our first "Harbaugh needs to go" call on Tuesday morning. Jim Morrison was right...

6. My pre-season pick of a New Orleans-San Diego Super Bowl isn't looking so hot right now. It's a long year though. This time last season, no one in their right mind thought the Giants would make it to the big game.

7. Honest question for you: If, right now, there was a mechanism in place where you could ask the football gods to make the Redskins go 0-11 for the rest of the season and the gods said, "sure, we'll do that, but the trade off is that Pittsburgh gets to the Super Bowl", would you do that deal right now?

8. Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots do a great job on CBS.

9. Is Jeff Fisher the best coach in the NFL?

10. That large BANG!! you heard last Sunday around 7:15 pm EDT was Buffalo coming back to earth after getting shellacked in Arizona.

11. I want a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series in the worst way, but I think Tampa Bay is going to win - and face Los Angeles.

12. I'll take Loren Roberts to win (and defend his title) the Champions Tour event at Baltimore Country Club this week.

13. Go Caps!

Angels in the outfield?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:48:51 GMT

There are so many things happening in the world of REAL sports these days it's hard to pick something to write about. By real sports, I mean football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey. Sorry soccer fans, it's not my thing. Soccer is boring and uneventful in the USA, regardless of what other WNST bloggers say.

Last night, you knew Boston was going to win when they were up 2-0 and even when the Angels tied the game at 2. Mike Scoscia should be fired after that lame-brain suicide squeeze attempt. You do that during the regular season, or when you are ahead 5-2, NOT in a tied game in the top of the 9th in a potential elimination game. I don't care what the so-called experts say, "he's been doing that all year, so why change things?"

The Angels proved they cannot beat the Red Sox when it really matters and these days its almost a certain thing that you need to go thru the Red Sox to get to the World Series.

Marvin Lewis should resign as head coach of the Cincinnati Boneheads, unless he wants to collect a big payday by being fired. Yet another Bungle is in trouble for using an illegal substance. Will those idiots ever learn? Maybe the Ravens can get Chad Johnson for a get out of jail free card.

Hockey is not a prominent sport in this region, except for a few closet Crapital fans. If they don't win the SE Division title this season, they need to fold up the team. It's all going to come down to goaltending and I am not certain that Jose Theodore Beaver Cleaver is the answer in goal. Huet screwed them and how much remains to be seen. BTW is Brent Johnson still the backup goaltender on New York Ave?

There are some with the purple colored glasses who think the Ravens actually have a chance against the Dolts on Sunday. I am not buying into the hype that teams can once again run the ball against the Colts. Freeney and Mathis are licking their chops and salivating over the Ravens young O-line. I hate to say it, but I think the Dolts win by at least 14.

For all you football pool players; Isn't it frustrating when you never know which teams will show up week after week? Green Bay starts 2-0 now 2-3, New Orleans 2-3, Minnesota looked good then bad then good again at 2-3. The Eagles are an enigma and once again do not have healthy RBs. Is Washington for real? 2-1 in the division on the road. The Colts sprang to life thanks to Sagebrush Rosenfels' Kyle Boller imitation.

And how LUCKY has Pittsburgh been? I hate them but respect them to no end. I tell you, Big Ben is the real deal. He has to be the absolute toughest SOB to take a snap over the last 20 years. He escapes trouble more than Adam West as Batman in the 60's and comes out winning. I hope Joe Flacco can develop into a top notch QB like Roethlisberger has. Unbelievable

I even hate saying this.....Red Sox over Tampa in a 4 game sweep and will face the Dodgers in the Series after they dispatch the Phils in 5 games. You know it's coming. Yeah there's the worst to first story with Tampa but would anyone watch a Tampa/Philadelphia World Series? The baseball TV execs want the storyline of Manny, Joe and Lowe returning to Beantown. They'll surely play up Manny versus Jason Bay in the battle of the traded players.

Yawnnnnnn... I sure wish the Orioles were playing.

This Weeks Soccer Polls

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:13:03 GMT

This weeks soccer polls are out with several area teams making the Top 25; both in High School and College.

This week in the boy's high school national poll DeMatha came in at #17 with a 10-0-3 record and McDonogh again broke into the poll at #25 with a 11-1-0 record. Knocking on the national door this week was River Hill. In the Region IV poll 4 Maryland boy's teams made the top 15. DeMatha is #3, McDonogh is #4, River Hill is #6 and Churchill is #14.

On the high school girl's side the national poll has only McDonogh in the Top 25 at #3; moving up from #5 last week with a 14-0-1 record. But in the Region IV poll there are 5 Maryland teams in the Top 15. McDonogh comes in again at #1, Good Counsel is #8, Archbishop Spalding is #9, River Hill is #10 and Bethesda is #13.

At the College level this weeks national rankings only have two local teams in the Top 25. The Maryland Men's team comes in at #10, dropping from #4 after a couple of losses. Loyola made a big move from #16 to #12 in this weeks poll. Maryland is still #1 in the South Atlantic Poll with Towson dropping from #5 to #7 with their loss to Drexel. Loyola again is #1 in the North Atlantic Poll this week with a 8-0-1 record.

On the Division III level, both the Johns Hopkins men and women's teams are national ranked this week. The Johns Hopkins men's soccer team moves from #23 to #19 this week with a 9-2-2 record. The Hopkins men stayed at #3 this week in the Middle Atlantic poll with Frostburg coming in at #10 with a 8-3-0 record. the Salisbury men dropped to #6 this week in the South Region poll with a 8-3-1 record and 2 straight losses.

The Johns Hopkins women's soccer team dropped from #5 to #9 this week in the national poll after suffering a tie to Frostburg. The St. Mary's women's soccer team broke into this weeks national poll at #25 with a 6-0-3 record. Hopkins women still are #2 in the Middle Atlantic Region with a 8-0-3 record. St. Mary's is #4 in the Middle Atlantic Region.

WNST Host "Against the Spread" Challenge

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:59:54 GMT

After week 5, SEVEN WNST hosts are in the "black". Not bad, eh? Ray Bachman gets special kudos for hitting five straight "best bets".

Here are the results for week 5 and standings (in order) thus far:

WEEK 5

JASON JUBB 3-1-1 (+3) 15-9-1 (+9)

Indy Best Bet W

Baltimore L

New England W

Minnesota W

Denver P

RAY BACHMAN 4-1 (+4) 14-11 (+8)

Chicago BEST BET W

Washington W

Cincy W

Indy W

Jacksonville L

NEAL SHAFFER 2-3 (0) 14-11 (+4)

Chicago Best Bet W

San Francisco L

San Diego L

Carolina W

Dallas L

MARC UNGER 3-2 (0) 14-11 (+4)

Buffalo Best Bet L

New Orleans L

Chicago W

Cincinnati W

Indy W

MARK SUCHY 3-2 (+2) 13-12 (+4)

Washington - BEST BET W

Chicago W

New England W

Buffalo L

Jax L

THYRL NELSON 3-2 (+2) 13-12 (+4)

Indy BEST BET W

Chicago W

Buffalo L

New England W

New Orleans L

KEN ZALIS 1-4 ( -4) 13-12 (+2)

San Diego Best Bet L

Jacksonville L

Carolina W

Philadelphia L

Dallas L

DREW FORRESTER 1-3-1 (-3) 12-12-1 (-1)

New Orleans BEST BET L

BaltimoreL

NY Giants W

Denver P

Jacksonville L

BOB HAYNIE 4-1 (+4) 12-13 (-2)

Patriots Best Bet W

Giants W

Jags L

Colts W

Redskins W

ANDREW UNGER 3-2 (+2) 8-17 (-6)

New England- Best Bet W

Chicago W

Jacksonville L

Indy W

Buffalo L

REX SNIDER 3-1-1 (+3) 8-16-1 (-7)

Minnesota - best bet W

Philly L

Denver P

Atlanta W

Pittsburgh W

Tuesday Morning's Crabs and Beer

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:03:29 GMT

McAlister remains my top Raven 4 weeks into the season. Gregg to have season ending microfracture surgery. Green has 77 yards and TD in Terps' JV game. Loyola announces basketball schedule.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 6

thyrl@wnst.net — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:00:32 GMT

Here are the week 6 NFL Power Rankings. Again, there is no scientific formula or panel of expert consultants, just my opinion based on what we’ve seen so far this season. Last week’s ranking is in parenthesis.

Ravens Q&A

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:15:05 GMT

Tuesday means it is time for another edition of the Ravens questions and answers blog.

The Tuesday Top 7

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:08:02 GMT

There were a bunch of solid performances on Sunday despite the 13-10 loss to the Titans. Without further adieu, let's get to the Sunday rankings and the overall season point totals after four games.

10/5 vs. Tennessee

#7 - Chris McAlister -- Pitched another shutout, although the Tennessee pass catchers aren't exactly Rice and Moss out there. Saved a TD in the 3rd quarter with a deflection in the end zone and picked off a pass in the 1st quarter that snuffed out a Titans' drive.

#6 - Le'Ron McClain -- Averaged 4.6 yards per-carry, scored the team's only TD and was punishing defenders early in the 4th quarter when the Ravens handed him the ball on their first season of the final period. He's made the list in all four weeks this year, the only player on the team to do so.

#5 - Ben Grubbs -- Ravens gained 132 yards on the ground and the offensive line didn't allow a sack - and Grubbs was a big part of both of those accomplishments. What a player this guy has turned out to be.

#4 - Jared Gaither -- See above...just insert Gaither's name in place of Grubbs. And I thought Ozzie and Eric didn't draft offensive lineman? Hmmmm........

#3 - Ray Lewis -- Had 5 solo tackles and was a force once again. Yes, he bit on Collins' pump fake on the TD throw to Crumpler, but so did Ed Reed and everyone else in the middle of the field.

#2 - Jim Leonhard -- Lead the team with 7 solo tackles and has really done a nice job filling in for the injured Dawan Landry. A typical "lunch pail" guy...just comes to work every day, gives 110% and does the job he's asked to do. One of the team's better off-season signings.

#1 - Jarrett Johnson -- Had a terrific game and bounced back admirably from the Pittsburgh penalty that helped alter the momentum in that game. Five solo tackles and nice work in pass coverage in short yardage situations. Was the team's best overall player on Sunday.

Current points through 4 games

7. Jared Gaither -- 10 points
Joe Flacco -- 10 points
5. Jim Leonhard -- 11 points
Jarrett Johnson -- 11 points
Terrell Suggs -- 11 points
2. Le'Ron McClain -- 17 points
1. Ray Lewis - 18 points

Caps Cuts and Interviews

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:21:52 GMT

Caps send Alzner, Bourque, and Laing to Hershey; See interviews with Mike Green and Shaone Morrisonn

Monday Night Madness

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:18 GMT

As a sports official, I know how difficult it is to see everything happening on the field, court, or ice rink. Your focus is supposed to be on the action at hand when the play is in your "zone."

With 7 officials on the field in New Orleans HOW THE HELL can they miss the facemask on Reggie Bush and the Minnesota incomplete pass early in the 2nd quarter. Oh, I understand now. It's when you are on Ed Hochuli's crew. What were they looking at? Certainly NOT the ball carrier or the receiver.

I am watching as they blew the whistles on a false start. All the officials moved in toward the line waving their arms. Had that happened yesterday, well, we don't know what the result would have been.

Once considered one of the top NFL referees, his credibility has really suffered so far this season. With all the money being spent on NFL games, the league either needs to simplify its rules or make the officials full time employees.

The rules I think are totally lame are illegal contact away from the pass direction, allowing the QB to throw the ball away intentionally if he is out of the pocket, the contact to the head of the QB when the defense is clearly trying to deflect the attempted pass, and the off side unabated to the QB. Any other time they allow the defense to get back. I can see it if he busts thru the line and is actually bearing down on the QB, but most times it's called on an outside LB or lineman. No wonder rookies have a hard time adjusting to the NFL. Pop Warner, High School and NCAA rules are all very different from NFL rules, so they have to learn, re-learn, re-learn again and finally throw everything they have learned out the window and learn NFL rules. Keep it simple so everyone can at least try to gain an understanding, especially their own officials.

Talk about a pathetic display of football. Minnesota and New Orleans along with Jaws, Tirico and Kornheiser.. Time to watch MLB..well they have been playing for about 1:50 and are in the bottom of the 5th. Looks like another 5 hour game.

And whats with a 5 freakin hour baseball game that only goes 11 innings? TELEVISION..does anyone really pay attention to the commercials? I mean , do you rush out and buy a Toyota or F150 because of the result of a experimental road test on a closed course with professional drivers? Not me.. Oh crap..the Red Sox are rallying with 1 out in the 5th.. Time to switch to wrasslin or CSI-Miami.

MLB: Congrats to Rick Vaughn and Tampa Bay Rays!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:55:54 GMT

An hour ago my wife pulled me away from my Apple Mac Book Pro and lured me toward the television to watch the last inning of the “Sox” game.

No, not the Red Sox.

Instead, the Chicago White Sox were about to get bounced out of the ALDS and MLB Playoffs by the Tampa Bay Rays on a chilly night in Chicago. (Ever since they took the “Devil” out of their name their fortunes have changed. Coincidence? Hmmm…)

So I watched the last three painful outs not just for the White Sox but for all Chicagoland baseball fans. I lived, on and off, in Chicago for three years when I was syndicated at Sporting News radio. My cousin is a White Sox Hall of Famer, even though I’ve never been a fan of the Southsiders.

But I know this: Chicago loves baseball.

And with the final whiff of Ken Griffey’s bat (and perhaps career), Chicago was extinguished yet again from the hope of a World Championship. Well, they got theirs three years ago when the Sox won, but it’s all over for another winter in the Windy City.

And then I watched a beautiful thing?

An old Baltimore P.R. friend named Rick Vaughn – the man who single-handedly orchestrated one of the greatest days in Baltimore’s vaunted sports history, the final O’s game on 33rd Street back in 1991 (it actually was 17 years ago today!) – was amongst the throng of celebrating young men in gray jerseys.

But the Rays’ P.R. extraordinaire Rick Vaughn (and yes, he shares the same name as the Charlie Sheen character from “Major League”) left Baltimore when the Angelos family purchased the Orioles in 1994 and moved on to become the P.R. poobah for his first love, the Washington Redskins. He lasted a short time there before returning to baseball as the first and only P.R. guy for the Tampa Bay Devils Rays.

That was BEFORE the disease of Angelos inflicted the Orioles. Can you imagine anything worse than watching the Orioles since 1998? Well, think about the Tampa Bay Rays, who not only never had any history with Brooks and Boog and Frank and Cakes and Eddie and Cal and Earl?

Before this six months of incredible turnaround that landed them wildly celebrating with champagne in the bowels of Comiskey Park tonight, they had never won 70 games in a season. That’s 10 seasons of sucking worse – way worse when you consider they only finished fourth once in that span – than the freaking Orioles.

And Rick Vaughn sat through every lonely losing flight from Anaheim to Seattle from Boston to Texas and back home to sunny Tampa Bay. Where any game that they drew five figures was a giveaway night or a night when the Red Sox or Yankees were in town.

(Does that sound familiar?)

So, this celebration tonight tears at me on two levels:

1. I feel so good for Vaughn, who is one of the true professionals and good people I’ve encountered in all of my years on the sports media beat, and also for manager Joe Maddon, who has always been a gem of a guy to deal with when I’ve been around him.
2. It makes me wanna puke that the Tampa Rays can actually have a team worthy of hosting ALCS games this week and the Orioles have just finished their 11th consecutive worthless season en route to at least a few more. And the stadium and the city sits empty while Tampa (a city that doesn’t even deserve a baseball team and has no fans) gets to host mid-October baseball. I’m insanely jealous and angry all over again.

Sure, the Orioles and Bud Selig will tell you that “stories like the Tampa story can happen in Baltimore.”

Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.

But, tonight and for the next few weeks, I’ll choose to cheer for the “little guys” in Tampa and even feel good for the heckler behind home plate, who was also a really good guy when I went to Tropicana Field last April in support of Free The Birds.

My wife is a little pissed that I’m supporting the Rays, but I’m sick of Boston. And I’m sick of the Red Sox.

Red Sox vs. Rays?

David vs. Goliath?

Nah, I’m just supporting Rick Vaughn and hope that he gets that championship ring that he never would’ve gotten had he stayed in Baltimore 15 years ago.

Let’s Go Rays!

Dodgers…Phillies…Red Sox…

And Rays?

You Play the Coach - Who Gets Your Game Ball? - Week 5

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:36:39 GMT

It might be hard to give a game ball out to a Raven this week. But despite the loss, there was a Raven on the field who out-performed everyone. Check out the bottom of the blog to see the results from previous weeks.

You Reap What You Sow...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:30:47 GMT

It's cool, I know people are going to ask me my opinion about OJ Simpson for all obvious reasons. I get it.

I grew up in a home with a mom who kept me in church. I don't know what went wrong, she raised me right. The man you know now is not her fault...

Anyway, I learned a lot of lessons while spending six hours every Sunday in church. Many of those lessons still stick with me today.

Well over a decade ago, OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his wife and her male friend. He was not convicted of those crimes.

Now, with me, I would have lived a life low crawling, being certain not to make the headlines for anything good or bad.

In fact, I would have been forgotten about. As Drew Forrester would say, "Period, full stop."

Oh no. Not Mr. Simpson. He's been a complete idiot since the famous murder trial. We've known his every move.

Now, the question I've gotten a lot over the weekend is, do I think this conviction is a result of the court system, or "The Man" getting even with OJ.

The chances of being accused of double murder and kidnapping in one lifetime are pretty slim. Chances are, he did something.

It goes back to those lessons I had in church. "You reap what you sow." If that doesn't do anything for you, "what goes around comes around." If that doesn't hit it for you, try Karma. Whatever the case may be, we aren't talking about multiple speeding tickets or illegal parking. We're talking major crimes here.

So, to answer all of the questions I've been receiving about OJ over the past three days, sometimes reaping, coming back around and Karma can be a son of a gun. I don't know what OJ had done, but even with a second chance, all of those principles caught up with Mr. Simpson.

Here We Go...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:11:31 GMT

Last week, I became Public Enemy Number One with some WNST listeners with my comments about the Ravens loss.

I really didn't mind that. One great thing about working here is the listener's passion matches the passion of the people you work with.

I made several comments, but one in particular was, "Winning teams find a way to win and losing teams find a way to lose."

I certainly understand that is a very "matter of fact" satement and the perception is that I was being harsh for a young team.

Again, this isn't a young team. This is a veteran team with a young quarterback and a first year Head Coach. But it's not a young team.

For the second week in a row, the Ravens managed to lose a game that they led in the second half. This time they lost a game that they led in the fourth quarter.

So, we stand, again, looking for blame and even excuses. Neither blame or excuses are appropriate at this point. The bottom line is, and that's what matters in professional sports, we lost a lead and lost a game and there were a "series of events" that took place for this to happen. Until you become a winning team, that's what happens.

Look back to the team's most recent winning season. Think of all of the crazy ways we won games. Think of all of the "fluky" ways that team won that year. That's what winning teams do.

However, the Brown, Raiders, and Bills were on the other end of those games because the were losing teams that year.

Until we become a winning team, we'll continue to lose games like the Steelers and Titans games. That could change this year, or not. We can continue to look for reasons, but the reasons really don't matter. It's an attitude that this team, hopefully will develop.

Winning teams will themselves to wins and their actions show throughout the game.