Rob Long's Blog, Brought to you by Jerry's Toyota

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...

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.

It's All Based On Your Expectations...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:43:29 GMT

Earlier today on the Rob Long Show, we had some really great discussions on the Ravens' 23-20 overtime loss to the Steelers.

I made it crystal clear that I don't believe in moral victories, and I'm quite disappointed in the team's performance on Monday night.

Based on phone calls and e-mails, the majority of the listeners agreed with me, but some didn't understand my point of view.

Let me try, once again, to connect with you. I THINK some of you were looking at this being a three or four win team. I never thought that. This Ravens' team was where I thought they'd be going into Pittsburgh. I thought they would have two wins going into the Monday Night Football match-up.

I looked at this game as the team's opportunity to really prove who they were. I thought nothing of the Bengals and very little of the Browns going into the season, and they've done nothing to change my perspective.

The Steelers, to me, represent the biggest threat for the Ravens, both this year and in the immediate future.

The Ravens had a 10-point lead in that game. With the Patriots not being as good as they've been, the Colts looking quite human, the Browns being overrated, and the Chargers showing only being "ok," it's time to look at the conference through a different set of eyes.

Ok, you're looking at the Ravens as being this cute little young team. That's not who they are. They are a veteran team with a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach. So what...

This was a game that we had a chance to win. I'm looking at this as a game that, possibly, could come back to haunt us.

I want you to tell me the Steelers are better than us. Clearly the Browns and the Bengals aren't. This division isn't very good, and someone could win it with eight or nine victories. If the Ravens fall short by one game, I want you to tell me how encouraged you are about Monday night's loss then.

I'm not the unbeliever. Maybe those of you who settle for an "encouraging loss" when it should have been an impressive win are the one's who don't believe.

What A Great Season...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:45:33 GMT

I know, it's not popular to talk about MLB in Baltimore these days. Fortunately, I'm not worried about being popular when it comes to baseball. This has been a great season.

On the final day of the season, there are four very relevant games. The AL Central has yet to be decided and the NL Wild Card is still up in the air as well. And depending on who wins, the season could be a lot longer than we planned.

I'm glad the Ravens aren't playing. This gives me the "green light" to watch more baseball today.

If you're a sports fan, you've gotta love this. LET'S GO TWINS!!! LET'S GO METS!!!

Local College Football

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:19:22 GMT

Gordy Combs and the Towson Tigers had their crack at it earlier this year when they faced Navy, and now it's time for Don Hill and the Morgan State Bears to take a swing at it.

The Bears take on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers on Saturday at 3:30. The Bears lost to Combs' Tigers in the season opener, but have been impressive in two wins following the season opening lost.

The Bears defense is modeled after the Cover 2 defense that Defensive Coordinator Alonso Lee learned from Tony Dungy.

The Bears have scored four touchdowns on defense in three games, and they love to have meetings at the quarterback.

The offense is led by junior running back Devon James and an offensive lined nicknamed "The Trench Mob."

This is probably the best year for the Bears to stage an upset over a BCS school. Rutgers is struggling, and they haven't been able to stop the run at all.

Let's cheer for Baltimore as the Bears feature eight key players from our metropolitan area.

Happy Chicken Box Friday and Happy College Football Saturday.

Revisiting "Warrior"

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:30:28 GMT

Earlier this week, I made a comment about the players in the NFL being warriors. I won't back away from that comment, but I do understand some may have been offended by those comments.

First of all, I served in the Armed Forces, and would never make light of the efforts of those who put their lives on the line for this country.

However, even the dictionary recognizes warriors in other walks of life. I got an e-mail from someone who's serving in the Armed Forces now, and he understood where I was coming from.

Again, I'm not backing up from my comments, these guys are warriors. But that does not excuse me from the responsibility to clarify myself. Thanks for reading my blogs.

This Is Why They ARE Warriors...

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:46:19 GMT

Yesterday, as the medical staff attended to Dawan Landry on the field of M&T Bank Stadium, players from the Ravens and the Browns looked on in concern.

Ray Lewis gathered players near him to pray, and Joshua Cribbs looked on in disbelief.

This has become a familiar scene in the NFL. While players grow bigger, stronger, and faster, the risk of injury becomes more prevalent.

However, as Landry was carted off the field, future uncertain, the remaining players prepared to continue with the game.

On the sideline, "Next Man Up" was the mindset of the reserves and both team carried on with the same aggression as before.

This is why, NFL players are warriors. I understand that the word may not be very popular to use in this situation, but they are...

Your thoughts, 410-481-1570, comment on this blog or e-mail me at rob@wnst.net

Here Comes Trouble...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:41:24 GMT

Here he comes. Mr. Ken Zalis is in studio today. The Ravens vs. the Texans has been moved to Monday night, and I'm sure Mr. Zalis has an opinion about this situation.

As always, Ken will openly share his opinion about this and many more topics.

Also, my question to you, does this help either team? Are there players on either team who will be helped by having one more day to heal?

Let's have fun and eat some chicken, and some collards, and some sweet potatoes, and some cobbler...

Proceed With Caution

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:30:42 GMT

I love the way the 2008 Baltimore Ravens have started the season. Having said that, I'm careful of taking last Sunday's results to draw a conclusion.

If the Ravens and Bengals turned the table and the results were different, I wouldn't think the season was lost.

The same goes for the win. I'm not going to predict a play-off season, or begin looking forward to any other game on the schedule other than the Steelers.

Let's have fun and enjoy the ride. I believe this team will accomplish things that are bigger than the final record.

Ravens Talk...

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:23:45 GMT

I've never been one for Gatorade baths during the regular season, but John Harbargh deserved it yesterday, picking up his first career win as a Head Coach.

Another person who deserved it was Joe Flacco. For all of the bad luck the Ravens have had at the quarterback position, it's good to see signs of some good fortune on the horizon.

Flacco showed attributes that Kyle Boller hasn't shown in over five years and Troy Smith hasn't shown in his brief stay with the Ravens.

The Bengals, on the other hand, showed why I have a difficult time believing the Ravens will only win three or four games like many have predicted.

Marvin Lewis' bunch is not a good football team. They are proof that talent alone doesn't win games in the NFL.

The Bengals looked confused and showed a lack of harmony as a unit.

My pre-season prediction was that the Ravens could start the season with a 2-1 start. Most laughed at that idea.

While it's no more of a lock now than it was two weeks ago, the Texans and the Browns outing yesterday makes it look pretty good. The thing you have to use caution about is the Cowboys are an excellent team and I think the Steelers are good as well. The Bengals are a bad football team and the Ravens showed that they're better.

That means that if this is a crossroads season, then the starting point for this football team isn't as bad as many of us thought.

As the fans chanted yesterday, "Let's Go Flacco!!!" Looks like Baltimore finally has a quarterback. Regardless what the record will be this season, looks like we could have some fun.

Baltimore Has A New Quarterback...

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:44:47 GMT

So, yesterday, nearly every media outlet had Joey Harrington coming to Baltimore.

Wow, just before I could get over the excitement of having Harrington, I get the news that it isn't Harrington, but Todd Bouman.

Yes, Todd Bouman. 56% completion, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions of Todd Bouman. You can't see me, but I'm scratching my head, right now.

Bouman hasn't completed a pass in the NFL since 2005. That year, he had two touchdowns and seven interceptions. His quarterback rating was 54.7. His lowest ever, but also attempted more passes than in any other season.

So, this weekend, we had Chris Simms, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, Harrington, 79 touchdowns and 85 interceptions, and Bouman to choose from. Again, scratching my head...

I'm still holding on to them having a plan that is so smart, that no one else can figure it out.

I'm Just Saying...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:35:44 GMT

...not that I'm defending anything that I've already said, but I do feel the need to clarify some things.

I never said, nor do I believe the Ravens are a 3 or 4 win team. That may have been said on my show, but it wasn't said by me. I still believe the Ravens can win 7 games this year.

Now, the problems begin, but don't end with the quarterback position. To add to that, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith were out of practice, again, today. That may actually be a blessing. Not that I want them injured, but let's see what the future holds.

I don't believe this team has a homerun hitter at the receiver, unless Demetrius Williams can prove to be that.

I think this team will struggle on defense. No, I'm not talking about struggle compared to what they've done in the past. I mean, they will struggle by anyone's standards.

Here's why. Our cornerbacks have health problems. Cornerback is the toughest position in football, maybe in sports. With only two good corners, and both having health issues, we will struggle at that position.

I don't believe this defense can get their hands on the quarterback. If Terrell Suggs is the only real threat, he will be shut down. Trevor Pryce will have to return to his 2006 form. I'm not sure he can...

Where is this team's best player? No, not Ray Lewis. Ed Reed is the best player on this team, and he's not playing. If he doesn't return soon, he cannot be replaced. Someone will play the position, but the player will remind you how good Ed Reed is.

Ray Lewis joins three other defensive starters who have been playing in the League for more than a decade. It's not an insult to say that he's not the player he once was. The question is: Is he still good enough?

Funny, that's the question for the entire defense. Is this defense still good enough? We all hope so...

John Rallo's MMA Top 5

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:10:05 GMT

John Rallo, WNST's resident MMA expert, put together his top 5 fighters for the sport.

Here's his, who's yours...

1. Anderson Silva

2. Fedor Emelianenko

3. George St. Pierre

4. Urijah Faber

5. BJ Penn

I Give Up... Almost

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:33:22 GMT

Alright. The e-mails have been pouring in and the phone calls have been steady.

Okay, in my business, both of those are REALLY good.

However, for some reason, most of you are of the opinion that Troy Smith is intriguing enough to be given the starting quarterback job.

Nevermind the fact that he hasn't shown us anything, so far, let's give the guy a chance. It can't be any worst than Kyle Boller.

Yes it can, and it is. He is worst than Boller, but that's my opinion. I'm done with trying to convince you.

So, here's to hoping you get your wish. I hope Troy Smith is named the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. I hope that the players get what they want by getting their guy. I hope you all get what you want and Smith is "the guy."

So, I'll do all that I can to give my opinion about it, only when asked. I don't want to be the guy who's accussed of not being a Ravens' fan.

Don't get me wrong, when the time comes, I'll give my opinion. I'm just not going to keep pushing my opinion on you. I'll say it, only, when asked. I think...

So, What Do You Think...?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:49:42 GMT

Now that you've had a chance to digest the second pre-season game, what do you think?

I'm sure most of us can agree that this game was a lot more challenging than the game against the Patriots.

The offense isn't good, the defense isn't as good, and the quarterback "battle" isn't positive.

In all, what are your thoughts on the upcoming season? Is this team better than we've seen so far, or is this as good as it gets?

Let's talk about it...

Comeback Player of The Year

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:26:20 GMT

The Comeback Player of The Year award is usually reserved for players who are coming back from an injury. This year's team has plenty of those candidates.

Samari Rolle was diagnosed with a serious life changing illness that could alter the way he plays the game. If he puts together a solid year, he could be a strong candidate for the award.

Trevor Pryce changed the face of the defense in 2006 with his ability to get to the quarterback without a complexed blitzing scheme. If he can mirror the '06 season, Pryce could be the Comeback Player of The Year.

Again, the possibilities are endless. The Ravens had several injuries last season, which means they're counting on those players to return to form in the upcoming season.

With that being said, I believe the Comeback Player of The Year will come from a player who missed no time at all.

This could be the season that Bart Scott proves he is REALLY a premiere linebacker.

In 2006, Scott had over 100 tackles with 9.5 sacks. Numbers aside, he was an impact player who the Ravens counted on to be a game changer on nearly every play.

Last season, Scott's impact wasn't nearly has great. He had 94 tackles, but his drop-off of only 1 sack reflected his drop-off of impact plays.

I believe that, in this contract season, Bart Scott will go back to being that "Mad Backer" that we've come to expect.

Bart Scott, my 2008, Ravens, Comeback Player of The Year.

Maybe I Just Hate Change.

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:57:48 GMT

I'm feeling very anxious about the upcoming Ravens' season. Not the anxiety that's, "I can't wait until the season begins."

This is the anxiety that says, "I'm really not sure about this season." I really believe it's because of the changes that have occured in this franchise during the off-season.

Maybe I'm showing my age, or maybe I'm just not liking what I'm seeing, so far. I don't know, but I'm trying to figure it out. I am willing to admit it's paranoia. If so, isn't that part of being a fan.

Your thoughts. I need therapy. Am I blowing things out of proportion?

This Is What It's All About

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:11:24 GMT

While at Ravens' Training Camp, I try to stand near the guys who win championships in the NFL. I enjoy watching what the offensive and defensive linemen are doing.

As I sit and watch the men in purple, I'm alarmed at what's happening at the tackle positions. Jason Brown, Marshal Yanda, and Ben Grubbs have been very impressive.

However, if the Ravens don't have a player who steps up to protect the quarterback, you may need three quarterbacks this season.

NFL Running Backs

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:29:13 GMT

We've had this conversation on many occassions. Now, I've shared my thoughts about NFL running backs on fansfantasyfootball.com

As you prepare for your fantasy football draft, don't get burned. It's all about yardage, and that's it. There of a number of NFL backs who can collect 1100 yards.

Check out my article on fansfantasyfootball.com

Flacco...

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:34:35 GMT

Today, in Westminster, I stood on the sidelines, near the end zone. I usually stand there at times during practice because I want to get every good angle possible.

Today, that angle gave me an opportunity to see the passing drills from a great vantage point.

I saw how impressive Joe Flacco really is. Flacco threw some passes that I haven't seen in Westminster in a long time. He was able to hit receivers on fade routes, deep out routes, post routes, and double moves.

Now, we can all agree that he's going to need time to execute, but he's clearly a guy who can make all of the throws with accuracy and with ease.

No, I'm not saying he's going to be our starting quarterback right away. But today, when I saw Flacco throwing to Marcus Smith with Ray Rice in the backfield, I got really excited.

An Observation...

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:30:11 GMT

Football is played once a week. Yes, sometimes, teams may play on a Sunday, and then come back to play Thursday, but if that happens, they get more time to recover before the next game.

I believe, and I'm sure you do as well, this is done because of the physical and violent nature of the game. It's certainly not like baseball and not like basketball. You can create a game-like environment, in practice, on a daily basis for extended periods of time in those sports.

I think football would be much different than that. While I expect a team to go over situations to help the timing aspect of certain plays, but not sure if you can go beyond that on a regular basis.

Maybe it's the Camp Billick environment that I've grown accustomed to, but it seems to be a lot of "live" practices in Westminster. This seems unusual, due to all of the players on the offensive side learning a new system. The thought of learning your way through a new offense with this defense pounding on you is quite scary.

Rex Ryan's crew is back, but the offense, which by nature is always behind the defense, is trying to figure things out while dodging bullets everyday. That seems like an uncomfortable situation.

Will the daily grind of "playing tackle" beat this team up? We'll see. Sometimes, you can peak too soon. For all of the weight training and conditioning that these guys do in the off-season, nothing can prepare them for having another 230 pound man throw his body at you.

Maybe Coach Harbaugh's way is the best way. If not, the early bumps and bruises that this veteran team is experiencing now, will catch up with them later on.

Again, this is, for the most part, a veteran team.

Running Backs

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:25:35 GMT

I like Ray Rice. Yes, I know I wasn't in favor of the team taking a second round draft pick to get him, but the more I see, the more I like.

Yes, I know about his great personal story and I like that, but I love to see this guy run. He has great "wiggle" ability and he has the ability to cut without slowing down.

I believe Willis McGahee will get pushed by this rookie from Rutgers

Who's Number 6?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:39:18 GMT

I think we can all agree that the top five teams in the AFC are the Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Jaguars, and Steelers. Things may change, but for now...

What we don't know is who's number six. The popular candidate is the Cleveland Browns, but not so fast. I believe the race for number six is wide open.

In fact, the sixth best team in the AFC may be a mediocre team. The team could be a team with an 8-8 record. This could be a team that stumbles into the play-offs. Could that team be the Baltimore Ravens?

A Very Special Time...

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:53:25 GMT

Last night, I got the chance to share something, very special, with my family.

My wife is from Camden, South Carolina and my oldest child was born in 1998. So, I was presented with the opportunity to give a history lesson.

As members of the 1983 World Champion Baltimore Orioles came onto the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, my family asked me questions about that team. It was an honor to be able to answer those questions.

I lived it, much like many of you who are reading this. I answered whether or not the Martinez's were related. My wife noticed that the team had three Hall of Famers who were announced. My daughter realized that the stadium that was on the video was different from the one the team plays in now.

Last night was special. For the first time, and maybe the last time, the people who mean the most to me had the chance to chant E-D-D-I-E, E-D-D-I-E with me.

The Green Ravens

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:52:46 GMT

I stood out today in Westminster, Maryland, as the young Baltimore Ravens get ready to make a splash in the NFL.

As Joe Flacco, Tavares Gooden, Ray Rice and other new Ravens took the field, I couldn't help but look ahead at what type of impact these guys would be in the NFL.

While you cannot predict whether or not these guys will be All-Pro or All-Cellar, these are exciting times for a fan.

I remember watching JO and Ray Lewis grow up as rookies and into Hall of Fame performers. I don't think any of us knew how good those guys were going to be. That's the beauty of starting over, you never know.

So, while we sit here, debating over Boller, Smith or Flacco, and trying to figure out whether or not Ray Rice was worth the pick, the excitement of the unknown is what keeps us tuned in. It's the television show that comes on once a week and haves you talking about it between episodes. It's the NFL. The ultimate cliffhanger.

The Ravens' QB Talk

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:16:09 GMT

The signing of Joe Flacco starts talks of, "Who's gonna start at quarterback for the Ravens?"

Flacco's confidence in his ability may cause the right kind of problems for the team. He seems to believe that he has what it takes to take over for the Ravens.

The question has been Boller or Smith for so long, that we haven't seriously taken into consideration whether or not Flacco may beat both of those guys out. If so, does he start?

Many Ravens' fans would say "no" to that because of the way Kyle Boller's career has gone since he was handed the starting job as a rookie. The fear is that Flacco would be ruined under the pressure of learning how to be an NFL quarterback, on the field.

It's been done before. There have been rookie quarterbacks who've turned out well after playing as rookies. We can't allow fear of what happened with Boller dictate what's best for Flacco and the current Baltimore Ravens. Maybe, Boller was a bad fit and that's what happened. Maybe Boller starting as a rookie has nothing to do with where his progression stands.

I hope the coaching staff evaluates the quarterbacks on what happens in camp, and not on preconceived notions. If Flacco looks better than Smith and Boller, let him play. If not, sit him and let him learn.

By the way, Joe Flacco will be on the show today during the 3:00 hour. Happy Chicken Box Friday.

Instant Relay?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:03:50 GMT

First, the words, "That baseball game was too long," will never be said by me. There's no such thing.

With that in mind, last nights All-Star game should have ended, twice, in the 11th inning.

Now, I know the baseball purist are going to come out and debate what I have to say, but it's your right. That's why we have a "comment" option for our blogs.

Last night was proof of why baseball should have instant replay for calls at a base/plate.

Ian Kinsler singles to lead off the 11th. He goes to second on a pitch-out. Russell Martin throws to second. Miguel Tejada catches the ball and makes a "sweeping" motion through the bag. While watching it on television, it looked as if Tejada missed the tag. As Fox showed the replay, it was obvious Tejada missed the tag. This was a perfect time for instant replay.

Later in that inning, Michael Young delivers a ground ball hit to center. Dioner Navarro, who was on second, attempts to score to end the game. The throw from Nate McLouth is on the mark. Martin fields the short hop and applies the tag. It, once again appeared the umpire got the call wrong. It looked as if Navarro reached the plate before the tag was applied.

Today, there's going to be lots of debate about last night's game. The debates will probably center around issues like, the game was too long, the game shouldn't count, the rosters should be extended for situations like this, etc. Those are all valid arguments.

However, technology has allowed us the opportunity to "get it right." I guess if I'm not a purist, that makes me radical, but why would you want to get it wrong for the sake of "preserving the game's integrity?" Seems like, to me, bad calls that help decide games kill the game's integrity. Especially when you have the ability to "get it right."

Parker vs. Ogden

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:27:36 GMT

I'm really surprised by the early results of the Parker/Ogden, head-to-head match-up. As of 4pm, Ogden had received 60% of the votes. While Ogden is, arguably, the greatest who's ever played the position, so is Parker.

Is this a result of inactivity in the voting community? If so, that's surprising as well. This was our opportunity to make some noice in showing everyone what kind of sports tradition Baltimore has.

Some of the greatest athletes who ever played came through Baltimore and these two are among the greatest.

The Blame Game

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:05:13 GMT

After last night's game, there's plenty of people to blame. You can blame Dave Trembley. He did take Daniel Cabrera out of the game in the seventh inning. You could assume Cabrera would have gotten out of the inning with the O's lead still secured.

I don't like Trembley's decision, but I'm certainly not going to blame that loss on him. Players have to make plays.

Trembley went to the bullpen with a four-run lead. It's reasonable for him to believe he has enough arms to protect that lead.

I hope Oriole players aren't looking to pass blame. I'm hoping they are looking in the mirror at themselves. They blew that game last night. Miscues, errors and the lack of execution. Not a manager's decision in the seventh inning.

Players make plays, not excuses. I'm hoping our players aren't looking for someone to hide behind. I believe they have more character than that.

Do You Want This Man...

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:35:09 GMT

We don't even know if the Brett Favre talk is real. For all we know, it could all be rumors.

However, when talk such as this begins, we start to examine our own situation to figure out whether or not it can improve with a player such as Favre.

So, I ask, do you think a player like Favre would help the Ravens? Has all of the Favre talk goten boring?

The Ravens drafted a quarterback in April to be "their guy." I believe we will are better served to move forward with our plans.

Honoring The Real Heroes

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:48:38 GMT

Let's face it, we can all do a blog on what we believe MLB does wrong.

However, let me take this time to tip my hat to Bud Selig and MLB for what they did on Friday, July 4th.

Each team wore a hats with "Stars and Stripes" and had pre-game festivities, honoring our men and women who've served in our Armed Forces.

The Long family spent the day in Philadelphia, and the celebration gave me chills. MLB didn't just throw together some "cheezy" celebration for our heroes, they took their time with the festivities.

In fact, the talk in my section in the first inning was not Phillies/Mets, it was about the great job that was done to honor our nation's heroes. HOO-RAH

Excuse Me

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:36:09 GMT

I know, I'm not supposed to get excited. I'm not supposed to be impressed with what I see. I'm supposed to look at the product on the field and find something I don't like about the Orioles. I know what I'm supposed to do, but I'm a fan.

Just when you think this team is ready to "tank it," they defy what we've come to know about the Orioles and win a couple of games. Just when you think the old Daniel Cabrera is back, he goes out and pitches a gem, like last night. That was just what the doctor ordered for a very tired bullpen.

Okay, it was the Royals. Okay, it's only two in a row. Okay, they're only three games over .500. I know everything negative that can be said about what's going on at Camden Yards this year, but when did we stop ALLOWING ourselves to have fun?

In fact, we are just as guilty as the athletes when it comes to having fun. Sometimes we get so caught up in the business of what's going on that we forget to enjoy the game.

Well, last night was fun. In fact, I've had fun more often than not this baseball season. It's been fun to just watch.

So, with football season being just weeks away, let's manage to do what other good sports cities do: let's cheer for the home team(s).

How Long For Wrigley?

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:24:35 GMT

I've had the pleasure of watching a baseball game in Wrigley Field. To me, it's everything right with baseball.

I went to an afternoon game between the Cubs and the San Diego Padres during the 1998 season.

Although it was an afternoon game, the crowd was unbelievable. It had a play-off atmosphere.

That makes you wonder about the future of Wrigley. While watching the O's vs. Cubs game on Wednesday night, I noticed obstructed view seating and other nuances of the stadium that make it outdated.

I'm a huge fan of Wrigley, and I know it has to be replaced, someday. I'm just hoping that it's not a "corporate" decision. I hope baseball gets every single year out of Wrigley that's possible. It's truly a history lesson by itself.

KOBS by the decade (Part 5 of 5)

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:15:42 GMT

Let me take this time to offer my apologies for not having the final part of this series on Monday, as advertised. "Rob Long" was Robert Long yesterday morning and I spent the day in school with little Robbie Long for "Father and Son Day." That pretty much wiped me out until my time to prep for my show.

So, here were are. Nestor has already posted the final brackets for the KOBS Tournament. Today, I'm examining the KOBS in our current decade. To be honest, it's really a brutal beat down.

The pendulum swung big time in 2000 as far as the sports scene in Baltimore. The Orioles finished another brutal season. Even though they were under .500, the Birds still finished second in the American League in attendance with over 3,000,000 people attending the games.

However, you could begin to hear grumblings from the fan base about how the team was being built. High dollar players such as Albert Belle weren't panning out and the O's had very little to offer in the minors to replenish the Big League roster.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens were beginning to take fans' minds off the woes of the baseball team. This roster was built with stellar draft picks and veterans who knew how to win. Players like Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, and Chris McAllister made the Ravens' front office look like draft day geniuses, and Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, and Sam Adams proved the organization wanted to win, now.

The 2000 season began with a bang for the Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers became our rivals early in the team's existence, so going up to the Steel City and laying a 16-0 lost to them was a great start. The Ravens followed that up with a 39-36 thriller in their home opener against Jacksonville.

In spite of the Ravens winning five out of their first six games, they were in the midst of a skid that saw them go without scoring a touchdown in five games. That slump challenged the Ravens' Head Coach Brian Billick to make a decision.

With starter Tony Banks struggling, veteran Trent Dilfer was given the starting job and he never relinquished the role. In week 10 of the season, Dilfer and the NFL's most dominant defense beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-7, and never looked back. They rolled through the rest of the regular season schedule with a 12-4 record, and landed a Wild-Card berth.

That first game of the 2000 play-offs put the Baltimore Ravens over the top. Not only did it give the city of Baltimore its home play-off game since 1977, it gave us our first home-play-off win since 1970. It also gave the Ravens the key to the heart of the sports fans in this town.

The Ravens capped off the 2000 season with an overwhelming decision over the New York Giants which provided poetry to many. The Baltimore Colts Championship victory over the Giants in 1958 goes down as the most important game in the history of the NFL. The win versus the Giants in Super Bowl 35 was the most important to a city that was denied another NFL franchise.

Unfortunately, for a baseball fan like myself, the decade continued much like it began. The football took care of business, and the baseball team conducted bad business. While winning championships and divisions in football is something we all want, we also want our baseball team to contend, and that just hasn't happened, yet, in this decade.

The Baltimore Blast won four MISL Championships during this decade. In fact, they won four out of six years, cementing a dynasty in their league. Led by players such as Denison Cabral, Giuliano Celenza, and Sagu, the Blast continued to be the class of their league.

So, who's the KOBS for this decade. Even though this decade isn't complete, I don't think there's any doubt that it's Ray Lewis. He has been the best player on the best team in this city. He's also been the face of this organization throughout its history. There's no doubt this title belongs to him.

Give me your thoughts today and vote for the KOBS. Let's make it fun.

KOBS by the decade (Part 4 of 5)

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:57:03 GMT

"Why Not" really gave Baltimoreans something to be excited about. Even though the Orioles did not win the division, their tremendous growth in just one season, gave them hope.

After all, we only had baseball to be proud of in this town. After failed attempts to lure the Cardinals' football organization to move to Baltimore in the late '80's, it looked as if we would never get an NFL team in the Charm City.

The Orioles failed to capitalize on the success of the '89 season. The team's batting average was just .245 during the 1990 season, and Dave Johnson and Ben McDonald were the only two regular starting pitchers who had records over .500. In fact, Johnson and Gregg Olson were the only two Orioles who live up to their expectations during the '90 season.

O's fans showed up in record numbers in 1991 as Memorial Stadium saw its final Oriole game. Oriole players from years past showed up to bid farewell to a place once referred to as "The World's Biggest Insane Asylum." The day was filled with lots of emotion and uncertainty. O's fans were not sure if the new "Yard" could provide the same atmosphere as 33rd Street.

'92 was the season of new beginnings. It marked Johnny Oates' first full-season as O's skipper, the first season in Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and the first season above .500 in three years. The season also proved to be a new beginning for O's lead-off hitter, Brady Anderson.

After flirting with the possibility of playing in Japan, Brady truly turned his career around in '92. In one season, Brady raised his batting average 41 points, home runs went up by 19, rbi by 53, and 41 more stolen bases. Brady became the perfect lead-off hitter for the Orioles.

The decade also began by drafting the team's eventual ace as well, Mike Mussina. Mussina also saw a breakthrough year in '92. Mussina went 18-5 with a 2.54 era while pitching 241 innings.

The O's future was starting to look bright with an array of youth, veterans, and lots of revenue with the best stadium in MLB. In 1993, Baltimore businessman Peter Angelos bought the team, and promised to do the necessary things to make the franchise a contender for years to come. The team responded with two more winning seasons before falling off in '95 with a losing record.

In '96, the O's made lots of moves and spent even more money and the results were the team making it into the post-season for the first time in 13 years.

1996 also marked the first year Baltimore had an NFL team since the 1983 football season. Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore and changed the name of the team to the Ravens. The team used two first-round draft picks to select Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis. While the team only went 24-39-1 during the decade, the city was resuscitated by the NFL returning to Baltimore.

Baltimore was, once again, a two major sports town. Though the Orioles only had two play-off appearances in the decade, and the Ravens had none, fans had the privilege to cheer for two teams.

However, the decade ended with two franchises apparently going in two different directions. The Orioles just completed their second consecutive losing seasons after going wire-to-wire in '97. The team was loaded with big salaries, but a bad roster.

With the Ravens, '99 marked Brian Billick's first season as a head coach and the team's first non-losing season. The Ravens had what the Orioles had in the middle of the decade, youth to build with and veterans to assume leadership. It started to look as if Baltimore was becoming a football town.

Wow, who was the King of Baltimore Sports during the 1990's? Though the Ravens only played four-years in Baltimore, Ray Lewis was clearly the bright young star, not only in Baltimore, but in the NFL. There was no doubt, as the decade ended, Ray Lewis was on his way to becoming the King of Football in Baltimore.

Cal Ripken's assault on baseball's consecutive game streak in 1995 captured the attention of the entire sports world. While the decade gave O's fans Anderson, Rafael Palmeiro, Roberto Alomar, BJ Surhoff, Mussina, and others, Ripken's accomplishments during the decade, clearly made him the King of Baseball in Baltimore.

So, Ripken, Lewis, or someone else? Who was the King of Baltimore Sports in the '90's? Let's talk about it.

Final installment of this series with be on Monday.

KOBS by the decade (Part 3 of 5)

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:38:02 GMT

As we continue to examine the KOBS by the decade, we look at the '80's. This was a very difficult period for professional sports in the Baltimore-Metro area. This was a decade that saw the demise of a once proud football franchise, the climatic ending to a baseball powerhouse, and a search for true-identity as a sports town.

The decade began with the football team introducing, yet another, new coach. Mike McCormick was ushered in to lead the Baltimore Colts back toward the top of the NFL. In his first season, the team went 7-9, which was an improvement to the two previous seasons that saw the team go a combined 10-22.

However, the Colts took a huge step backward the very next year. While having the League's worst defense, and one of the least productive offenses, the Colts finished at 2-14. To add insult to injury, the team ended up winning the final game of the season. This was a game that received national attention, because it was for the number one draft pick in the NFL Draft. The Colts won the game, but lost the pick.

Later that year, once Colts poster kid, Bert Jones, graced the cover of Sports Illustrated along with Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. The cover read, "She's Got Her Man." Jones was now the new quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams. With that move, the Colts became almost unrecognizable to the city of Baltimore. The franchise tried to tie its anchor to John Elway in 1983, but Elway's refusal to sign with the team was the final blow. Owner Bob Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis after the '83 season, leaving the city of Baltimore without an NFL team for the first time in over 30 years.

The city quickly became a one-major sport city. The Orioles completed their second consecutive 100-win season in 1980, but finished three games behind the New York Yankees and failed to make it to the post-season.

The '81 season was shortened by a baseball strike, but that didn't stop Oriole fans from having hope in the future with the emergence of young super star, Eddie Murray. Murray finished among the league leaders in home runs and rbi in the strike shortened year of '81, and continued his power surge in 1982.

The '82 season began with O's fans knowing it was to be manager Earl Weaver's final season as skipper. The push from players and fans was to make the "Earl of Baltimore" a winner in his final year. The O's came one game shy of that when they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers on the final game of the season.

The next year, the Orioles, with almost the entire team in place, won the World Series, and looked to have the makings of a new dynasty.

That was not to be. Age began to catch up with the Orioles, and the once potent dual of Gary Roenicke and John Lowenstein, stopped producing behind Murray. In '84 the team had pitching and no hitting, and in '85 they had hitting and no pitching.

The winning ways ended in '86 and seemingly, so did the love affair with Eddie Murray. Murray appeared to carry the weight of the fan's frustrations. The team continued to slide in '87 and hit rock bottom in '88. Murray was dealt to the Dodgers and Oriole fans thought, "Why Not?"

The decade ended, almost, with a bang. The 1989 season was a special one, as the scrappy Orioles clawed their way into contention in the AL East. They battled the Toronto Blue Jays to the very last day, before losing and finishing in second place.

Still, the team gave fans some hope and something to look forward to. The season represented more than just coming close, it also represented falling short. That seemed to be the theme of the entire decade. The team won the World Series in 1983, but fell short more often than not in the other seasons.

Downtown, there was a new movement going on. The Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team began to pick up some momentum. The franchise began playing in 1980, but as the Colts struggled, fans began to pick up on this game and started following the team.

With three consecutive championship appearances in '83, '84, and '85, the Blast began to establish a tradition of excellence of their own. While they weren't considered a "mainstream" sport, they had their own cult following. Players like Tim Wittman, Mike Stankovic, Keith Von Eron, Paul Kitson, Scott Manning, and Billy Ronson were putting over 10,000 people in the stands. The Blast became a player in Baltimore.

It's really difficult to say who the King was during this decade. Cal Ripken, Jr.? Maybe you can say Eddie Murray for what he was at the beginning of the decade. It is very difficult to name a member of the Colts as King during this time. Regardless of what they did, I don't think it will be given to a member of the Blast.

It's up to you to decide. The King of Baltimore Sports for the '80's. I look forward to hearing from you.

Part 4 of 5 on Chicken Box Friday.

KOBS by the decades (Part 2 of 5)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:35:47 GMT

As we continue with the KOBS by the decade, we now examine the '70's. While the decade was a roller coaster ride for the Colts, it further solidified excellence for the Orioles.

The '70's rolled in without Lenny Moore and saw the beginning of the end for Johnny Unitas. That meant the Colts needed new heroes. The franchise needed players who would continue to put fans in the seats at Memorial Stadium. As Don Shula departed for Miami, the team was also in need for consistency at the helm. Instead, fans saw six different head coaches in the first five years of the decade.

After a huge Super Bowl victory in 1970, things began to take a turn for the worst. The team went 21-35 over the next four years, and decided to build its future on young players such as Bert Jones and Lydell Mitchell. The two helped to lead the team to a combined 31-11 record over the next three years, including three consecutive trips to the play-offs. The offense was ranked first in the league in '76 behind Jones' MVP season and the defense was consistently ranked at least in the middle of the league behind players such as Bruce Laird and Stan White.

Injury to Jones and the departure of Mitchell led to the demise of the Colts at the end of the decade. The Colts won only 10 games in '78 and '79 while struggling badly on the offensive end.

While Jones seemed to have a lock on the title of King of Baltimore football for the decade, one could argue that the Colts weren't the Kings of Baltimore sports during that time.

The Orioles took the momentum that they built at the end of the '60's, and ran into the '70 full speed ahead. The Birds made World Series appearances in '70 and '71, capping off their third consecutive 100-win season.

While the Orioles finished in third place in '72 with a .519 win percentage, they rediscovered their magic touch in '73 and '74 with two consecutive AL East Crowns.

In fact, the Orioles made three World Series appearances, and five post-season trips during the decade. They also won to a .590 clip during the 10-year span. They did it with tradition, excellence and a changing of the guard midway through the entire run.

Players like Frank Robinson left, and Brooks Robinson's career was winding down along with Boog Powell. The O's began to rely on a new cast of characters such Bobby Grich, Ken Singleton, and Doug DeCinces. Young stars like Eddie Murray and Mike Flanagan began to emerge, while veterans Lee May and Mark Belanger continued to contribute.

Through all of the successful changes the Orioles were able to make, there was one player who remained one of the more dominant players at his position. Jim Palmer won three Cy Young awards during the '70's and was consistently among league leaders in wins, innings pitched and earn run average. Palmer earned the nickname "Ace." If you look at his numbers, you'll understand why.

The Baltimore Bullets were very successful in the early part of the '70's. While finishing only two games over .500 during the regular season in 1970, they reached the NBA finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks. Earl "The Pearl" led the team in scoring as this turned out to be his last full season with the team. Wes Unseld, Jack Merin, Kevin Loughery, and Gus Johnson all contributed to provide a very potent offensive line-up for the Bullets.

In '71, the team had a losing season, but still made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, but finished toward to bottom of the NBA in attendance. In '72, despite a 52-win season, and another trip to the play-offs, the team continued to struggle with attendance. That led to the Bullets leaving the city, and making the trek to D.C.

It looks like the Orioles were the King of sports in Baltimore in the '70's, and Palmer was at the top of the class throughout the decade. No team had a grip on success the way the Birds did during that 10-year period, and no player stayed on top of his game as long as Palmer during that same time.

It'll be interesting to hear you thoughts today. Look forward to hearing from you.

Part 2 of 5.

KOBS By The Decades (Part 1 of 5)

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:30:15 GMT

Even though I wasn't around during the 60's, and was only eight years old at the end of the 70's, I know a little something about sports in this city during those decades because of what I read, as well as having family members who debate about those decades all of the time.

As we look at the upcoming KOBS Tournament, I can't help not examining each decade to assist me in my voting.

First, look at the 1960's. This tournament covers the past 50 years, so the 50's are somewhat out of bounds.

The Colts spent the first four years of the 60's, essentially a .500 team (29-25). In fact, the Colts had no post-season appearances during this time either. Even though the NFL never had more than 14 teams during this time, the Colts never finished worst than fifth in the League in total offense.

Meanwhile, the Orioles were spending their time chasing that elusive post-season appearance as well. Although they had budding stars such as Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell, the Orioles just couldn't get over the "hump" in the American League.

The Colts and the Orioles ruled this city during that time, even though Baltimore had a professional hockey team, Baltimore Clippers. The kings of the early part of the 60's was Johnny Unitas and Brooks Robinson. And while the teams were young in the case of the Orioles, and rebuilding as far as the Colts were concerned, things were about to change in the "Charm City."

In 1964, the Colts returned to championship form before losing to the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game. They went back to the play-offs the next season, but lost in the first round, and advanced to the Super Bowl in '68, but lost to the New York Jets.

With two Championship Game appearances and a record of 63-17 from '64-'69, the Colts were one of the best teams in the NFL, and with Unitas being the team's leading passing in all but one season, '68, it was obvious that he was the king of Baltimore football during the decade.

The Orioles didn't have their breakthrough season until 1966. In December, 1965, the Birds traded Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson to the Cincinnati Reds for an old 30 year old Frank Robinson. Frank went on to win the Triple Crown in '66 and the Orioles won the World Series.

With the Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell and an amazing pitching staff led by young Jim Palmer, the Orioles would make two trips to the World Series before the end of the decade. Although there's some debate among fans over the true king of baseball during that span, Oriole players don't debate over that title at all. To a man, they'll tell you Frank Robinson was king.

The Baltimore Bullets didn't have a winning season until 1968 and '69. By that time, the Colts and the Orioles had so much momentum with the fans.

While Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Wes Unseld were clearly the kings of basketball for Baltimore, some would argue that high school basketball may have been more popular in this town.

So, the choice is yours. Who ruled the Baltimore Professional sports scene during the 1960's? John Unitas, Frank Robinson, or neither? I look forward to hearing from you.

Part 2 of 5 on Wednesday.

The Bet and KOBS

Fri, 30 May 2008 05:13:09 GMT

Well, well, well. It looks like Bob Haynie will have to sport a L.A . Lakers hat for a week now that Kobe and Company have eliminated the defending champions, San Antonio Spurs.

Concerning WNST's King of Baltimore Sports, I've received several e-mails and phone call about our "selection" process.

As I've stated in the past, this is what makes this such a great tournament. It's like the NCAA basketball tournament. Someone's going to be left out. Just figure out who you would eliminate to add your selection to the list. That's what I'm doing. I did not have anything to do with the selection process, so I'm doing the same thing as our listeners.

I believe we can all agree on this being a great ride.

The Bet

Wed, 21 May 2008 20:05:52 GMT

Bob Haynie and I do "The Hand-Off" everyday at approximately 1:50. It's a segment that ushers in my show and allows Haynie to fill me in on the day's events while you're listening.

Today, Bob issued a bet that the Spurs would beat my Lakers. I accepted the bet, but neither of us know what to put on the line.

That's where you come in. We want some ideas from the listeners on what Haynie and I should put on the line.

Give me a call, 410-481-1570 or e-mail me at rob@wnst.net. Remember, we need it before tip-off tonight, so hurry.

Don't Forget

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:16:58 GMT

In order for the money that you spend tonight at Mt. Washington Tavern to benefit Autism Speaks, you must make reservations. Call now, 410-367-6903. See you tonight.

A Great Cause

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:10:09 GMT

Tonight, my family and I are headed to Mt. Washington Tavern to eat dinner and contribute to a great cause. Maybe I'm just prejudice. I know a thing or two about this cause because it touches my family.

Tonight, from 6pm-2am, portions of everything that's purchased at Mt. Washington Tavern will go to help Autism Speaks. Heidi Shoemaker heads this event and she will be on hand.

So, why won't you join my family and I at Mt. Washington Tavern, located at 5700 Newbury St. Call them at 410-367-6903 for directions.

This night will go a long way toward research. Autism effects many people. At our small radio station, both Casey Willet and I have children with Autism. Join the Long Family tonight at Mt. Washington Tavern for dinner and sports. I look forward to seeing you there.

Inter-League Play

Fri, 16 May 2008 17:46:07 GMT

I know there are a lot of opinions out there about Inter-League Play in MLB, but allow me to add one more.

It seems that baseball "purists," whatever that means, are completely against this concept. They like the "good ole days" when the two leagues only play one another in only the All-Star game and the World Series, but those days are long gone.

I would like to take baseball's inter-league play one step further. I don't think we need designated points of inter-league play. In addition to that, we need more of it.

Inter-league play should be incorported into the MLB schedule, randomly throughout the regular season. I'd rather see the Cubs/Twins, Mets/Angels, or the Rays/D-Backs than see the Yankees and Red Sox go at it nine times before the All-Star break.

I think baseball has already embarked upon a new day, and it's time to "truly" get rid of the two-league concept. Moving umpires from the American to the National League isn't enough. Baseball is still divided in so many ways, and a great way to destroy that division is by scheduling without league boundaries.

Again, I know there are a lot of "purists" out there who are going to disagree with that, and that's fine. However, the NFL has prospered with a one league concept. Maybe it's time for MLB to get over itself and join the rest of the 21st century.

Sporting Event Bucket List

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:20:08 GMT

I was asked this question last week, and I'm just getting to it. Here is my "Bucket List" of sporting event.

I know, some of you are wondering where is the Orioles World Series game or the Ravens' Super Bowl. I didn't list that because They aren't events that happen every year. These are sporting events that you can set your calendar to.

5. Wimbledon

4. USC/UCLA Football Game

3. The Super Bowl

2. NCAA Basketball Final Four

1. BCS Championship Game

That Old Shoe

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:30:50 GMT

Have you ever had a pair of old shoes that fit your feet like a glove?

Everyone around you would tell you that it was time to get rid of those shoes. There were shoes out there to do the same thing the old shoes did, but better looking. The old shoes had scuff marks on it, had worn down soles, and other issues old shoes would have.

Now, when you dress up and wanted to do other things, you would wear other shoes, but the old pair served it's purpose.

I've been told all weekend to go to the NFL Network for draft coverage. I did, but I returned to my old shoes.

Now, I believe the NFL Network is a better for NFL coverage on a daily basis, but for draft coverage, ESPN is my old shoe.

ESPN is comfortable for me during draft coverage. I tried the NFL Network on, but it doesn't fit right. Nothing's wrong, but ESPN is better, for me, during the NFL draft.

The Draft

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:21:15 GMT

First thing, I don't want to be the guy who analysis the Ravens' draft as if he's done it before.

In the world of college recruiting, if I like four kids, and those four kids like my school, I get four kids. I don't have to worry about other schools getting a pick before me to get those kids.

In the NFL, you have to get the best possible player at a position of need, who's still on the board when you pick.

Having said that, the Ravens had that burden in the draft.

Having watched them all year, I thought the biggest need was rushing the quarterback and coverage in the secondary. I believe those two issues are linked together. I thought we lost football games because of that more than quarterback issues and back-up running back issues.

The Ravens chose Joe Flacco in the first round and by all indications, he was their guy at that spot.

I don't like the Ray Rice pick, because I thought they should have gone defensive end or defensive back.

However, after speaking with Casey Willet during the draft, who knows the Ravens as well as anyone in the media, I like the depth that was added at the offensive line positions. But that does cause me to ask the question, "Are there any jobs on the line with the offensive line?"

Hopefully, this draft will help the Ravens execute their plan in the years to come. They still have three picks to go. Let's see where they go from here.

Don't Let Them Get To You

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:24:55 GMT

Look, I know Yankee fans are going to constantly remind you that we've been a losing organization for a decade.

Don't get sidetracked. That's not the point. The point is, the Yankees are the visitors. They are unwelcomed guests. It's not about what's going on in the game. It's about you respecting my home. RESPECT MY HOUSE.

Let's Go Get Some Yankees

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:28:47 GMT

Now, I do not endorse violence. So please, don't take this as that.

However, my blood boils everytime I see this area flooded with Yankee and Red Sox fans.

The problem is, O's fans are allowing it. Whatever you have to do today, do it downtown. So what, you don't have a ticket. That's okay. So a presence. Go downtown and show Yankee fans what Baltimore is all about.

It's not about the Orioles. If you're really offended by what Aubrey Huff said, go downtown before and after the games this weekend and show them your Baltimore pride.

The Hall of Fame Debate

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:00:13 GMT

Here is the final installation of the three part Hall of Fame debate.

Today's debate is the NFL. I saved the best for last. Again, think active players, so Brett Favre will not appear.

I've given 16 players who'll go and five players who I don't think will go. Let the debate begin.

- Tom Brady - Forget Super Bowl 42, he's the best in the game.

- Jason Taylor - 117 total sacks. He may be a better football player than Strahan.

- Ray Lewis - The best linebacker. EVER.

- Jonathan Ogden - You won't realize how great he still is until he retires

- Peyton Manning - The most dedicated quarterback in the games. Over 41,000 yards and 306 touchdowns.

- Marvin Harrison - If he doesn't go, neither should Manning.

- LaDainain Tomlinson - Over 10,000 yards in only seven seasons. Best football player in the game.

- Michael Strahan - 141.5 sacks. Is there any debate?

- Donovan McNabb - A rare breed. The ability to drive his team is unmatched.

- Brian Urlacher - Should he go? No. Will he go? Yes.

- Isaac Bruce - Quietly put together a Hall of Fame career. 942 reception, 14,109 yards, and 84 touchdowns.

- Randy Moss - Do we really need to discuss this?

- Torry Holt - Has flourished in a wide open offense.

- Steve Hutchinson - The best at his position.

- Terrell Owens - I'm not a fan, but he's dominant. Pencil him in for 80 receptions, 1000 yards, and 10 touchdowns.

- Edgerrin James - 11,607 yards, 418 receptions, and 88 touchdowns for a great offensive team.

Not Quite the Hall

- Zach Thomas - 12 years, only four seasons with 100 tackles or more.

- Chad Johnson - Very productive, but will his act wear thin?

- Steve McNair - Not sure if he's done enough.

- Tedy Bruschi - Everyone loves Tedy, but he's no Hall of Famer.

- Alan Faneca - Kills the Ravens, and is one of the best around. Not sure if he's a HOFer.

Hall of Fame Debate

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:57:52 GMT

Today's part two of the Hall of Fame debate. Today, we discuss the NBA.

Now, I'm sure, for many of you, your NBA days ends with either Larry Bird and Magic Johnson or even Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. However, the NBA is still going pretty strong.

If you look at attendance and NBA Pass (the pay-per-view tv package), the Association still appears to be pretty popular.

Yesterday, we did the 15 current MLB players who were already Hall worthy and five players who weren't in.

Today, we'll do 12 NBA players who are in and six who aren't quite in. Read the list and let the debate begin.

- Kobe Bryant – The best player in the game today. He has the three NBA titles and the scoring average to prove it. While everyone’s looking for the next Jordan, don’t miss out on the first Kobe.

- Allen Iverson – While in Philadelphia, he was a one man show. The best little man in the game, maybe in NBA history.

- Shaquille O’Neal – The last of the “True” big men. Everywhere he goes, he wins titles. No argument, the most dominant player of his generation.

- Tim Duncan – The Quiet Storm. No one talks about Duncan, including Duncan. He continues to win titles and play the game the way it should be played.

- Steve Nash – He and Duncan are the only players on this list with back to back MVP honors. Arguably, the best point guard in the game.

- Kevin Garnett – He’s a guard in a center’s body. KG can do everything. Blessed with the ability to dominate, but not with the ego.

- Jason Kidd – If Nash isn’t the best point guard in the game, then it’s Kidd. Took New Jersey to new heights. Has the ability to make EVERYONE around him better. Kidd is a walking triple-double.

- LeBron James – Some of you may think he hasn’t accomplished enough to be on this list now. It would be a shame if he never played another game, but he would go into the Hall if he didn’t. No one has possessed his skills since Oscar Robertson.

- Vince Carter – Half man, half amazing. He puts up all of the numbers and has carved out his own place in NBA history.

- Tracy McGrady – A truly gifted player. If you listed the top five players in the NBA, he would appear. Injuries have hurt his career number, but he’s better than Carter.

- Dirk Nowitzki – Is second only to KG in terms of pure talented big men. His game is complete and he has carried his team at times. One of the best shooters in the game.

- Tony Parker – Come on, he’s the straw that stirs the best team in this era. Duncan can’t go in alone. He certainly didn’t do it alone, he did it with Parker. Different from Kidd and Nash, but one of the best ball distributors in the game.

Not Quite The Hall

- Alonzo Mourning – Did not have a great impact on the game. He’s a solid player, but not great. His numbers don’t “wow” you either.

- Rasheed Wallace – He gets a lot of hype, but doesn’t fit the caliber of current Hall players. He’s not a great big man and not in the class of Nowitzki or KG.

- Ray Allen – Again, that word “impact.” He’s a very good player, but he doesn’t have a place in the Hall.

- Sam Cassell – He’s won titles and is a very good player, but too many point guards are better than Cassell. He’s a “hired gun,” but not a franchise player.

- Dwyane Wade – Injuries have hurt this player. He started out rivaling King James, but has fallen off quickly. Needs to have a strong four year run to get over the hump.

- Grant Hill – He made this list because he has Hall of Fame talent. He could have been one of the best players of his era. He fell off because of injuries, and it may be too late for him to get back in.

Give me a call, 410-481-1570 or e-mail me at rob@wnst.net. Look forward to speaking with you.

Hall of Fame Debate

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:52:24 GMT

Today, I'm starting a three part series of current players who are Hall of Fame worthy.

Today, I'll start with MLB. Don't look for Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza, because they aren't on anyone's rosters.

Here it is, 15 players who are worthym and a list of five who are conspicuous by their absence.

- Alex Rodriguez - Nine Silver Slugger Award with over 500 homeruns and a career batting average over .300.

- Derek Jeter - Eight All-Star appearances and four World Series titles. The most recognizable figure on the most recognizable team.

- Manny Ramirez - Manny being many mean a career .313 average with over 2220 career hits.

- Ivan Rodriguez - The best all around hitter of his generation. Well over 2000 hits.

- Vladimir Guerrero - .320 career average with over 2000 hits. Never played on a very popular team.

- Ichiro Suzuki - The best and most popular Japanese born player. .333 career average and already over 1600 hits.

- Greg Maddox - May be the best pitcher of his generation. 350 wins, over 3000 k's and less than 1000 walks.

- Chipper Jones - The best third baseman of his generation. The best offensive player of the Braves National League dynasty.

- Tom Glavine - Over 300 wins and the second best lefty of his era.

- Pedro Martinez - Not a 300 wins guy, but he dominated the NL and AL for seven years.

- Billy Wagner - 2.40 era and over 350 saves. Had eight years of over 30 saves.

- Albert Pujols - Only Manny and A-Rod are better right handed hitters. Over 280 homeruns already.

- Ken Griffey, Jr. - .290 batting average, 590 homeruns, and 13 All-Star appearances.

- Randy Johnson - The most dominant lefty of his generation. 14 times over 200 innings. Six times over 300 k's. 4600 career k's.

- Jeff Kent - 360+ homeruns and career .290 average are better than Joe Morgan.

Conspicuous by their absence

- Mike Mussina - He has great numbers but so does Don Sutton and he shouldn't be in the Hall. He was never considered GREAT.

- Jim Thome - Tremendous homerun numbers, but represents the current 500 homerun club. Very one dimensional.

- Roy Halladay - If he stays healthy, he has Hall of Fame stuff.

- Gary Sheffield - .295, 480 homeruns and 2500 hits may not be good enough.

- Jason Isringhausen - Has a lot of saves, but 3.50 era means he wasn't dominant.

Give me a call, 410-481-1570 or e-mail me at rob@wnst.net. Let's talk about it. It should make for a great discussion.

Mock Draft

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:32:22 GMT

The popular move in most mock drafts out in cyberspace is the Ravens taking Matt Ryan out of Boston College. I hope not.

I have nothing personal against Ryan, I don't know him personally. I'm just not convinced Ryan is the answer for the Ravens quarterback woes.

I know, he has a big arm and he's the perfect size for a quarterback in the NFL, but he doesn't pass my eye test.

I've seen Ryan on several occassions, and I've never been "wooed" by him.

Now, I'm not a draft "expert" and not a NFL scout, but I know what I'm watching, and Ryan is not the guy I want.

The Nats

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:12:13 GMT

Look, I'm not encouraging anyone to go see the Nats, but it's strange that the stadium isn't full right now.

Washington whined about a new team, and then a new stadium for years, and now they can't sell out.

Think about it, I know they're losing, but it's a new stadium and a new team. There should be a huge "buzz" about Nationals baseball in DC.

I Told You So..

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:22:30 GMT

So, I'm at the 1st Mariner Areana watching the class of the MISL, Baltimore Blast, wrap up another successful regular season. The Blast play-offs begin Thursday at 1st Mariner Areana.

If you listened to the Rob Long Show on last Thursday, you know that there was a celebrity soccer game at halftime of the Blast game.

It's great to see so many different media members in one room. You see how much respect everyone has for one another. I don't want to start "name dropping" and then insult someone by leaving their name out.

However, I will drop one name. That is the name of the Comcast Morning Show producer, Adam Dembeck.

Before the game, I told everyone to get the ball to Adam. I knew Adam had a soccer background because we use to talk about it when he was an intern. I think everyone thought I was just trying to promote a WNST guy...Okay, I was, but I really knew he could play.

So, with 10 seconds left in the game, Adam received the ball on the left perimeter and shot a laser over the out stretched arms of the goalie for the game winner.

Great times on Saturday night. Amy Keller of the Blast does a great job organizing that game. Good luck to the Baltimore Blast in the play-offs.

Erik Bedard

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:01:48 GMT

Ken Zalis is not the president of the Erik Bedard Fan Club. Focusing on Bedard's 40 career wins and unwillingness to go deep into ball games, Zalis questions Bedard's heart.

I think Erik Bedard is a very good pitcher, but I'm not sure if he has the "make-up" of a true ACE.

Your thoughts on this topic are, as always, welcomed.

Attendance

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:00:52 GMT

It's funny how much conversation there is about attendance at Camden Yards. I really don't understand what the conversation is about. We get it. I've heard hundreds of people tell me that they aren't going to the game. I'm sure you can say the same thing.

When people have made an effort not to go to the Yard, the results will be, small crowds, or no crowd. Fans have to see a little more to buy into what this organization is doing.

Bridging The Gap

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:04:20 GMT

Dave Trembley talked about bridging the gap yesterday. He talked about bringing in players from the O's past and telling some they are welcomed to come here at anytime.

I wonder if that message was ever sent before Trembley. If not, it's pretty sad. At least Trembley is extending an "olive branch." Trembley said that we have a "sleeping giant" here. That's an interesting way of looking at what we have here. He's looking at the potential. Haven't used that word for Oriole baseball in a long time.

Top Wrestle Mania Matches

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:07:09 GMT

Ken Zalis has HBK in four of his top Wrestle Mania matches of all time. Wow, what a man crush.

I bet KZ has an HBK poster hanging, somewhere in his house. I bet, if he could, he would have an HBK haircut. I bet he wore tight jeans like HBK.

I wish someone would tell KZ that it's pretty weird how he has such a "thing" for Shawn Michaels. I wish someone would also tell KZ that Michaels is going to lose on Sunday.

Barry Bonds...

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:38:45 GMT

Now, I think Barry Bonds is one of the greatest players, if not the greatest, baseball player of my generation.

Having said that, if the Orioles sign Barry Bonds, like some faithful listeners want, it would look as if the O's are taking a huge step back.

The Orioles look as if they are trying to get young and finally start over. Barry Bonds signing is Sammy Sosa, all over again. Bonds would be more effective on a team that is close and needs a veteran bat to get them over.

Draft Thoughts

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:51:47 GMT

The latest Sports Illustrated has some of the Class of 2005 draft picks. Some suggest that this is one of the best draft classes in baseball history.

As I strolled down the list of draft picks for that year, I am very impressed, but it's difficult to quantify that now.

What it did do is get me to think about some of the top draft classes in sports history. I think of the class of 1983 in the NFL and the class of 1979 in the NBA.

It's really difficult to determine which one class was the best.

Your comments are welcome at rob@wnst.net or 410-481-1570.

I Need Your Help

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:36:58 GMT

Okay. As mentioned yesterday, I allowed Allen McCallum to talk me into a fantasy baseball league that drafts today at 4pm. I don't know if you noticed, but I have a show from 2-6.

So, this is what I'm going to do today. I'm soliciting help from all of my friends. I'm asking my guests and my listeners.

I'll spend the 4pm hour of my show mult-tasking. I'm hosting and drafting today. HELP. Just don't tell Nestor.

NIT

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:03:06 GMT

You absolutely have to go to the NIT. There has been some opinion by some fans that Maryland should not go to the NIT.

I know it's disappointing not getting into the NCAA Tournament, but you have to accept an NIT berth. It does not help recruiting, but it does help the kids who are currently in your program. They get to play more games "under the whistle" as well as more practice time.

In fact, the more NIT games for Gary and the Terps, the better for returning players.

Your thoughts on this topic. rob@wnst.net or 410-481-1570.

NCAA Tournament Talk

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:06:02 GMT

One of the great things about the NCAA Tournament is the debate that goes on between fans around town.

Does Maryland deserve to go in? Well, that's no longer a question, because they've done nothing to prove themselves worthy.

However, when you talk about Villavova, UAB, and Kentucky, you really have a debate. There are several teams that have simular resumes and some will be left out. We all look at different "brackets" that are put out by several publications and we run with the ones we believe in.

I, for one, believe the Big East should have eight teams in and UAB deserves to go before Kentucky due to the head-to-head win.

You may have other teams who you feel should go in. Let's talk about it. rob@wnst.net ore 410-481-1570.

Behind The Scenes

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:54:42 GMT

What a first hour. Ken Zalis is on FI-YA. That's "fire" for those who didn't understand that.

Gary Williams needs to be fired? According to Ken, Coach Williams' time has expired. I do question whether or not he's still hungry, but how do you pull the plug on a man who's built the expectations to be what they are now?

You could say that doesn't matter who established the culture, it is what it is. If Gary can't keep up, you have to move on.

You thoughts. wnst.net or 410-481-1570

Wrestle Mania Viewing Party

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:26:28 GMT

Here's the deal. We, as you know by now, are huge wrestling fans at WNST. That means we are watching Wrestle Mania.

There's a lot of people who want to watch the event with us. We are currently looking for an establishment to do so.

E-mail me at rob@wnst.net if you either have a venue that can host this, or have an establishment in mind and we'll follow up.

My Favorite Day of The Week

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:30:55 GMT

Ahhh. It's Friday. No, it's Chicken Box Friday.

I love everything about this day. Ken Zalis, the chicken, the cobbler, the half and half, everything.

Tune in and check it out. Today we have Jon Wallach to tell us how great everything in Boston is.

Peter Vecsey will be in to talk some NBA with us. There's lots going on in the Association and Peter is "in the know..."

Dave Ginsburg will give us an O's report. The Birds play the Red Sox in Grapefruit League play today.

We'll also have John Harbaugh sound and lots of fun in studio.

E-mail me at rob@wnst.net or call at 410-481-1570.

Number 8

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:36:35 GMT

There have been e-mails and comments made about ranking Brett Favre as number 8 in my "All Time" list.

One of the arguments that's been made constantly is that Favre holds every record there is to hold.

Okay, he broke some of Dan Marino's records, so does that mean Marino should be ranked number 2? It's a list of personal opinion to spark conversation. It's not an indictment on Brett Favre's career.

Another argument that was raised was that it's not fair to put quarterbacks in front of him because they won more championships. The question was asked about ranking those other quarterbacks so high if they hadn't won titles?

That's not a fair question. The championships are a part of the resume. That's like asking me if it wasn't for all of the World Series titles, would the New York Yankees still be the best baseball organization of all-time?