Setting the Stage
• Navy and Notre Dame will meet for the 86th time on the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 1 in the Emerald Isle Classic at Dublin, Ireland’s Aviva Stadium.  The game will kick at 2:10 pm in Dublin (9:10 am ET).
• The Navy-Notre Dame football game is the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country. This will be the second meeting between these two schools in Dublin with Notre Dame beating Navy, 54-27, in 1996 at Croke Park.
• The presenting sponsor for the Emerald Isle Classic is The Gathering Ireland 2013, which will be a spectacular, year-long celebration of Ireland and all things Irish starting on Jan. 1, 2013.
• CBS Sports will broadcast the game back to the United States to 100 percent of the country.  Air time will be 9:00 am (ET), 8:00 am (CT), 7:00 am (MT), 6:00 am (PT) and 3:00 am in Hawai’i, the home state of Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.  Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline) and David Feherty (sideline) will call the action.
• ESPN America will take the television feed from CBS and air the game in 66 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  For a list of countries that get ESPN America, go to:  www.espnamerica.com
• American Forces Network will also carry the CBS television feed.  The AFN worldwide radio and television broadcast network serves American service men and women, Department of Defense and other U.S. government civilians and their families stationed at bases overseas, as well as U.S. Navy ships at sea.  The game will be available in 175 countries and U.S. territories thanks to AFN.

Pregame Festivities
• Pregame festivities will get underway at approximately 1:49 pm in Dublin with the march-on of the Brigade of Midshipmen.  Nearly 1,000 of the 4,400 members of the Brigade of Midshipmen have paid their own way to be at the game.
• The United States and the Irish National Anthems will be sung by the Naval Academy Glee Club at approximately 1:56 pm.
• The Notre Dame marching band will perform at halftime.

Navy-Notre Dame Series
• Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Navy, 72-12-1, which includes a 56-14 win over the Mids in South Bend a year ago.  Navy had won three of the previous four meetings against the Irish prior to last year’s loss.
• In 2007, Navy defeated Notre Dame, 46-44 in triple overtime.  The win by Navy broke Notre Dame’s 43-game winning streak over the Mids which marks the longest winning streak by one team over another in NCAA history.
• Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo is one of just three Navy coaches to beat Notre Dame in back-to-back seasons (2009-10), joining Eddie Erdelatz (1956-57) and Wayne Hardin (1960-61).
• Hardin is the only Navy coach to beat Notre Dame three times over the course of a career, defeating the Irish in 1960 with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino (14-7), 1961 (13-10) and in 1963 with Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach (35-14).

Why Navy And Notre Dame Play     
• While World War II raged in Europe during the early 1940s, it was becoming evident that the United States isolationist policy from entering the war would be in jeopardy.
•    In need of better cash flow as a private school, Notre Dame president Rev. Hugh O’Donnell offered the school’s facilities to the armed forces as a training ground. During World War I, the Army operated a Students Army Training Corps program on the Notre Dame campus. This combined military training for students who also were majoring in their college courses.
• However, in the early 1940s, the Army did not respond to O’Donnell’s invitation — but the Navy did. In Sept. 1941, it established the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps where approximately 150 Notre Dame students per year enrolled.
•     In early 1942, Notre Dame turned over four of its resident halls to the Navy for its V-7 program, which also was known as the Midshipmen’s School.
• During that transformation, the Navy constructed a drill hall and a headquarters/classroom building on the north side of the campus — where today’s Hesburgh Memorial Library with the “Touchdown Jesus” mural is located. (It was dedicated in 1962, after the Navy drill hall had been razzed after 19 years of standing.)
• With the United States fully engaged in World War II by 1943, the Navy needed more men to serve and it again teamed with Notre Dame to form the V-12 program.
• On July 1, 1943, Notre Dame welcomed 1,851 active-duty trainees — the largest of its kind — to the campus. By comparison, Notre Dame’s civilian student enrollment was merely 700. Thus, five more resident halls were opened to the sailors.
• The V-12 men were scattered throughout Notre Dame’s five colleges, attended classes with the civilian students, were granted regular academic credit and, in contrast to the NROTC and the Midshipman’s School, were taught by the regular faculty.
• “We were out of business during World War II,” notes 1952-87 Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh in a 1992 interview with the South Bend Tribune. “Navy came in and kept us afloat until the war was over.”
• Hesburgh vowed that under his watch the football series between the two schools would be kept as long as Navy wanted it continued.

– excerpts from Blue & Gold Illustrated story by Lou Somogyi
Navy, Notre Dame Extend Series
• Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk and Notre Dame Director of Athletics and Vice President Jack Swarbrick announced last fall that Navy’s football series with Notre Dame, which is the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football, has been extended to 2026, which will be the centennial year for the series.
• “Our institutional relationship with Notre Dame goes back decades,” said Gladchuk.  “Along with the vast mutual respect we share as two of the finest educational institutions in the nation, that same dimension of appreciation is evident on the football field.  Continuing this traditional and classic rivalry for years to come has always been a priority for both schools.  I am grateful to Jack and his staff for working with us to ensure the continuation of this annual highlight enjoyed by millions of fans during each college football season.”
• The Irish and Mids will meet in South Bend on odd years, while on even years the game will be Navy’s home game, customarily played at regional NFL venues.
• The two schools, which have played every year since 1926, will meet for the 86th time on Sept. 1 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

The Last Time … 
Notre Dame 56, Navy 14    Oct. 29, 2011 | South Bend, Ind.
• Tommy Rees completed 16 of his 22 pass attempts for 237 yards and one touchdown, while Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood combined for five rushing touchdowns to lead Notre Dame to a 56-14 rout of Navy in front of 80,795 at Notre Dame Stadium.
•    The Irish jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by Gray and a one-yard run by Wood.
• Navy cut the lead to 14-7 after Jabaree Tuani recovered a fumble at the Notre Dame 27-yard line early in the second quarter.  The Mids moved those 27 yards in six plays with sophomore quarterback Trey Miller, making his first-career start, hitting Gee Gee Greene on a nine-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal.
• Navy’s hopes of an upset, however, were quickly dashed as Rees came back and hit Michael Floyd with a 56-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and then, after Navy’s Marcus Thomas was unable to come up with the kickoff, the Irish would make it 28-7 when Gray scored from the two.
• The Mids got a touchdown in the fourth quarter from sophomore quarterback Jarvis Cummings, who ran it in from 12 yards out on his first-career carry.
•    Senior fullback Alexander Teich led the Mids with 15 carries for 62 yards.  Miller had 55 yards on 19 carries and completed just five of his 13 pass attempts for 33 yards and one touchdown.
•    Freshman Chris Ferguson led the defense with a career-high nine tackles and a pass break-up.  Tra’ves Bush was in on eight stops, while Matt Warrick had eight tackles and recorded his first-career interception.  Freshman corner Parrish Gaines, making his first-career start, had seven tackles.

The Gathering Ireland 2013
• The Gathering Ireland 2013 is the presenting sponsor of the 2012 Emerald Isle Classic.
•    What is the Gathering?  The Gathering Ireland 2013 will be a spectacular, year-long celebration of Ireland and all things Irish.
•    Ireland may be a small country, but the Irish have put down roots all over the world. Over 70 million people worldwide now claim Irish ancestry, quite something, considering the total Irish population of today is just 5.6 million.
•    Throughout 2013, the Irish will throw open their arms, inviting friends and family from around the world to visit for what promises to be an incredible year.  A packed calendar of local gatherings is planned with communities, towns and villages across Ireland already busy planning events and festivals.
•    Given the strong, historic connections between Ireland and America, an ideal launch pad for the Gathering Ireland 2013 is the Emerald Isle Classic football game between Notre Dame and Navy.
•    The Gathering will kick off in spectacular style with a major large scale New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin 2012. The Festival will involve open-air concerts, markets, family and musical events, with a special showcase event on New Year’s Eve in College Green featuring an array of some of Ireland’s finest musical talent.
•    Log on to www.thegatheringireland.com to see what else is planned for 2013 and how you can be part of it.
•    For information on planning your vacation, see www.discoverireland.com and make sure your trip to Ireland next year provides memories that will last a lifetime.

Special Helmet Logo
•    This fall the Navy football helmets will feature a special decal displaying the number 1812 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
• The United States declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812, because of British interference with the United States’ commerce and her rights to sail the seas without hindrance.  The small U.S. Navy of barely 20 ships faced off against the largest Navy in the world.  The war lasted until February 17, 1815, when the U.S. Senate ratified the peace treaty.  More than 2,200 Americans were killed in action, and some of the country’s greatest Navy captains emerged from the war, like Isaac Hull, Stephen Decatur, Charles Stewart, James Lawrence, Oliver Hazard Perry and David Porter.

Navy Nuggets
• Navy is 2-2 in season openers under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, defeating Towson (41-13 in 2008) and Delaware (40-7 in 2011) and losing to Ohio State (31-27 in 2009) and Maryland (17-14 in 2010).  Navy last beat an FBS opponent in the opener in 2007 when Navy won at Temple, 30-19.
• This year’s game marks the first time Navy has opened its season against Notre Dame.  The game is traditionally played in late October or early November.
• Five of Navy’s seven losses in 2011 were by a combined total of 11 points. The Mids finished 2-5 in games decided by eight points or less. The five losses by eight points or less were tied for the fifth most in the country.  Under head coachKen Niumatalolo, Navy is 14-13 (.519) in games decided by eight or fewer points.
• Navy finished 2011 ranked No. 1 in the country in fewest penalties per game (2.3) and penalty yards per game (20.0).
•    Navy owns a 17-15 (.531) record in games played away from the friendly confines of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo, including a 3-4 (.429) mark in 2011.  Meanwhile, the Mids are 15-6 (.714) in home games under Niumatalolo which included a 2-3 (.400) record in 2011.
• In Navy’s five wins last year, it outscored the opposition, 105-31, in the first half, including 43-0 in the first quarter.
• In the Mids’ seven losses last year, they were outscored, 152-66, in the first half, including 59-10 in the first quarter.
• The Mids are 8-9 (.470) under Niumatalolo with more than one week to prepare, including a 4-0 (1.000) mark against Army.
• Navy made 48 trips inside the red zone in its 12 games, scoring 37 times (.771), including 30 touchdowns (.625). The Mids were tied for 88th in the country in red zone offense.
• Navy was held below 300 yards rushing in half of its games last year, winning just one of those games (Army). The Mids were 4-2 (.667) when rushing for more than 300 yards in 2011.
• Navy produced a 5-2 (.714) record in 2011 and is 27-4 (.870) under Niumatalolo when scoring first.  The Mids were 0-5 in 2011 and are 5-17 (.227) under Niumatalolo when the opponent scores first.
• The Mids were 5-0 last season when leading after the first quarter and 0-7 when tied or trailing after the first quarter.  Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 21-3 (.875) when leading after the first quarter and 11-18 (.379) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• An opposing running back rushed for over 100 yards in a game against the Mids in eight of the 12 contests last year.  In the previous three years, Navy surrendered only nine 100-yard rushing games to opposing running backs.

NFL Network’s Kim Jones and CBS’ Bonnie Bernstein each Tweeted Friday news regarding the future of the Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium.

Jones, a Penn State alum, said via Twitter “Am told that Penn State plans to take down the Paterno statue this weekend.” Bernstein said “Source: Penn State Board of Trustees voted on a conference call last night to take down Joe Paterno statue. Will happen this wknd.”

PSU officials however have not confirmed such reports when asked by various outlets. One actual denial of the report came from Daily Collegian (the student newspaper at Penn State) reporter Laura Nichols, who quoted Board member Ryan McCombie as saying “We did no such thing.”

The Paterno statue has been the subject of much debate since last week’s release of the Louis Freeh report on the Jerry Sandusky scandal in State College. Earlier in the a plane flew over Happy Valley with the message “take the statue down or we will.” A handful of Penn State students had camped out near the statue this week to protect it.

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Victor Ortiz vs. Joselito Lopez (Saturday 9pm from Los Angeles live on Showtime); WNBA: Washington Mystics @ Phoenix Mercury (Wednesday 10pm from Phoenix live on WNBA.com), Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm (Sunday 7pm from Seattle live on WNBA.com); Pro Lacrosse: MLL Boston Cannons @ Chesapeake Bayhawks (Saturday 7pm from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium live on Comcast SportsNet); U.S. Olympic Trials: Diving (Wednesday 12am & 10pm Thursday 10pm Friday 11pm live on NBC Sports Network, Saturday 4pm Sunday 3pm live on NBC. All diving from Federal Way, WA); Track & Field (Friday 9pm live on NBC Sports Network Saturday 8pm Sunday 7pm live on NBC Monday 9pm live on NBC Sports Network. All track from Eugene, OR); Swimming (Monday 6:30pm live on NBC Sports Network 8pm live on NBC. All swimming from Omaha)

10. Earth, Wind & Fire (Thursday 6pm Pier Six Pavilion), Childish Gambino (Saturday 6:30pm Pier Six Pavilion); Rascal Flatts/Little Big Town (Saturday 7pm Jiffy Lube Live); Counting Crows (Wednesday 7pm Wolf Trap), Diana Krall (Tuesday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Thursday 8pm Wolf Trap); Jill Scott (Thursday 7pm Verizon Center); LMFAO (Monday 7pm Patriot Center); Mr. Greengenes (Friday 8pm Power Plant Live); Tech N9ne/Machine Gun Kelly (Tuesday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage), Ice Cube/Wale/DJ Khaled (Wednesday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Deanna Bogart Band (Saturday 8:30pm Rams Head on Stage); The Hives (Tuesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Modest Mouse (Wednesday & Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club); Fiona Apple (Wednesday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (Friday & Saturday 8pm Jammin’ Java); Del Ray Music Festival feat. Pat McGee (Mt. Vernon Recreation Center Fields Alexandria); Ringo Starr (Sunday 7pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle feat. Soul Asylum/Cowboy Mouth (Saturday & Sunday Pennsylvania Avenue DC); Smashing Pumpkins “Oceania” and Kenny Chesney “Welcome to the Fishbowl” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

I like Donald Glover on “Community” (Six seasons and a movie!) and all, but I was always skeptical about him as a performer. But honestly, not bad (lyrics NSFW)…

Quick. Favorite Counting Crows song ever. I’ll go with this…

Wale and Kevin Durant have something in common. I like them both a LOT but would like them a hell of a lot more if they weren’t Redskins fans…

Fiona Apple is coming to town. Anyone remember their awkward feelings about seeing her in her underwear in the “Criminal” video? I can’t tell you how confused I was about myself watching it the first time…

9. Aziz Ansari (Friday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Paul Mooney (Thursday-Sunday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Jim Gaffigan (Thursday DC Improv); “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter”, “Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World” & “Brave” out in theaters (Friday)

If you don’t think Aziz Ansari is funny I don’t think this conversation is going anywhere and we might want to consider talking to other people…

Also, I think I AM planning on a midnight screening for ALVH Thursday night. I’m hoping to come dressed like this…

If you don’t go see this movie you’re a terrible American.

Towson University head coach Pat Skerry added another transfer to his program Saturday.

CBSSports.com reported former University of Vermont guard Four McGlynn chose the Tigers over Duquesne, VCU, Central Connecticut, La Salle and Penn State.

McGlynn (6’2″, 180 pounds) was a major contributor in the Catamounts’ run to the America East Conference Championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season, averaging 12 points per game. McGlynn’s contributions helped him to be named America East Rookie of the Year.

A native of York (PA), McGlynn was believed to be interested in playing closer to home. Vermont coach John Becker granted his release, but would not allow him to play for another AEC school or George Washington (GWU head coach Mike Lonergan had recruited him to Burlington before taking the Colonials’ job).

After a 1-31 campaign in Skerry’s first season, the Tigers will have two transfers available for 2012-2013. Former Georgetown F Jerelle Benimon and former South Florida guard Mike Burwell will each be eligible to play.

McGlynn will be eligible to practice this season but will not be eligible to play until the 2013-2014 season. He will have three years of eligibility left.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Classic (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Memphis), Champions Tour Regions Tradition (Thursday & Friday 6:30pm Saturday & Sunday 7:30pm from Shoal Creek, AL on Golf Channel), Wegmans LPGA Championship (Thursday & Friday 12pm Saturday & Sunday 2pm from Pittsford, NY live on Golf Channel); WNBA: New York Liberty @ Washington Mystics (Friday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Comcast SportsNet); Mixed Martial Arts: UFC on FX 3-Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall (Friday 9pm from Sunrise, FL live on FX); Pro Lacrosse: MLL Charlotte Hounds @ Chesapeake Bayhawks (Saturday 7pm from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium live on Comcast SportsNet/ESPN3.com)

10. Gavin DeGraw & Colbie Caillat (Sunday 6pm Pier Six Pavilion); Foster The People (Sunday 5:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Carbon Leaf/Civil Twilight (Saturday 7pm Rams Head Live); Hawthorne Heights (Sunday 5pm Recher Theatre); Victor Wooten (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Edwin McCain (Thursday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Little River Band (Sunday 1pm Rams Head on Stage), Marshall Tucker Band (Sunday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Bootsy Collins (Monday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Jimmy Cliff (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club); The Wailers (Tuesday 8pm Howard Theatre); Beach Boys “That’s Why God Made The Radio” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

There was a time in my life when I genuinely enjoyed the tunes of Gavin DeGraw. Maybe that’s not something I should be broadcasting…

Since Foster The People are coming to town and the Beach Boys are putting out a new record, here’s FTP’s EXCELLENT take on the greatest Beach Boys tune of all time…

Any excuse to share a Carbon Leaf tune is a good one…

I wish I could go to RHL Saturday night. Civil Twilight is excellent too…

9. “Prometheus” opens in theaters (Friday); “Safe House“, “John Carter” and “Act of Valor” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Greg Proops (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Doug Benson (Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Honfest (Saturday & Sunday Hampden); Maryland Wine Week begins (Friday)

You know Prometheus as THAT MOVIE EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WANTS TO SEE. Well, at least until “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” comes out, at which point they might as well just stop making movies.

Honestly, there is no single greater gift you could ever purchase me than this movie poster…

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Antonio Tarver vs. Lateef Kayode (Saturday 9pm from Carson, CA live on Showtime), Gabriel Rosado vs. Joel Julio (Friday 9pm from Bethlehem, PA live on NBC Sports Network); WNBA: Minnesota Lynx @ Washington Mystics (Wednesday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Comcast SportsNet); Pro Lacrosse: MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks @ Denver Outlaws (Saturday 9pm from Denver live on ESPN3.com)

10. Zac Brown Band (Thursday 5:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Capital Jazz Fest feat. Indie.Arie, Bill Cosby (Friday-Sunday Merriweather Post Pavilion); Radiohead (Sunday 7:30pm Verizon Center); Miranda Lambert/Jerrod Niemann (Sunday 4pm Jiffy Lube Live);  City and Colour (Wednesday 7pm Rams Head Live); Smile Empty Soul (Saturday 5pm Recher Theatre); Crossfade (Monday 7pm Baltimore Soundstage); Dandy Warhols (Tuesday 7pm 9:30 Club); The Used (Wednesday 7:30pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Victor Wooten (Thursday 8pm Howard Theatre); Dr. John (Friday 7:30pm Birchmere); Rhett Miller (Monday 8pm Jammin Java)

I’d watch ZBB do just about anything, but this was as good as anything I’ve seen them do…

My favorite tune from Thom Yorke and the boys?

For more traditional country folk, I sorta dig this Jerrod Niemann tune…

I wish I didn’t have to admit to digging this tune…

9. Great Grapes Wine & Food Festival (Saturday & Sunday 12pm Oregon Ridge); Guy Torry (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Corey Holcomb (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Man on a Ledge” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Glenn Clark’s first ever “Hogfest” (Saturday)

That’s right. For the first time in my (still?) young life, I will be roasting a pig Saturday. It’s all thanks in part to ABC Rental Store in Rosedale. A talented young man I listen to on the radio is always talking to me about them. I think his show is called “The Reality Check.” I PRAY my results make me as happy as George W. Bush…

Also, I will be hosting a qualifier for the Olympic KanJam team Saturday (more on Twitter @OlympicKanJam). I expect the day to look much like this…

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Ft. Worth, TX), Champions Tour Senior PGA Championship (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on NBC. All golf from Benton Harbor, MI); High School Lacrosse: MPSSAA Class 2A/1A Final-Fallston vs. South Carroll (Tuesday 6pm UMBC Stadium), Class 4A/3A Final-Westminster vs. South River (Wednesday 4pm UMBC Stadium), Class 3A/2A Final-Hereford vs. Glenelg (Wednesday 8pm UMBC Stadium); WNBA-Tulsa Shock @ Washington Mystics (Wednesday 7pm Verizon Center)

10. Drake (Friday 7pm Verizon Center); One Direction (Thursday 7:30pm Patriot Center); Corey Smith (Friday 8pm Rams Head Live); Jason Isbell (Saturday 1pm Rams Head on Stage); Garbage (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club); Collective Soul (Wednesday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Thrice (Wednesday 7:30pm Howard Theatre); John Mayer “Born and Raised” and Garbage “Not Your Kind of People” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

You know that I’m a “money over everything, money on my mind” type of guy, right?

I used to have the biggest crush on Shirley Manson. Hell, I probably still have  huge crush on Shirley Manson…

If you don’t want to go see Collective Soul we probably wouldn’t be much of friends…

John Mayer is apparently doing country music now. This is a classic example of when “success just simply isn’t enough.” See below.

9. “Men in Black III” and “Chernobyl Diaries” open in theaters (Friday); Bob Marley (Wednesday-Sunday DC Improv); Cedric The Entertainer (Saturday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); Brew at the Zoo (Saturday & Sunday Maryland Zoo in Baltimore)

There’s simply no chance MIB3 is something I’ll want to go see. And while Cedric the Entertainer is funny, I’d rather talk about beer.

I have no idea whether or not Flying Dog Brewery will be unleashing canned Underdog Atlantic Lager on the Zoo this weekend, but I DO know that the campaign they used to roll it out in our nation’s capital was simply fantastic…

Brilliant.

Honorable Mention: WNBA-Chicago Sky @ Washington Mystics (Saturday 7pm Verizon Center); Mixed Martial Arts: UFC on FUEL TV 3-”Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier (Tuesday 8pm from Patriot Center live on FUEL TV); Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final-Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier (Saturday 10pm from San Jose live on Showtime); Bellator Fighting Championships 69 (Friday 8pm from Lake Charles, LA live on MTV2); Golf: PGA Tour HP Byron Nelson Championship (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel, Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Irving, TX), LPGA Tour Sybase Match Play Championship (Thursday & Friday 6:30pm Saturday 3pm Sunday 4pm from Gladstone, NJ live on Golf Channel); Pro Lacrosse: MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks @ Hamilton Nationals (Friday 11am from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada live on ESPN3.com); Tennis: ATP Tour & WTA Tour Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Tuesday-Saturday 6am Sunday 7:30am from Rome live on Tennis Channel); Women’s College Lacrosse: NCAA Tournament-Loyola @ Maryland (Saturday 12pm Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex)

10. Infieldfest feat. Maroon 5, Wiz Khalifa, Little Big Town, The Darkness (Saturday 11am Pimlico Race Course); New Edition (Sunday 7pm 1st Mariner Arena); Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys (Friday 6:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion), Lucinda Williams/Drive-By Truckers (Saturday 6:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion), Lady Antebellum/Darius Rucker (Sunday 5:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Styx/REO Speedwagon/Ted Nugent (Friday 7pm Jiffy Lube Live); Buckcherry/Foxy Shazam (Thursday 7:30pm Power Plant Live), Mr. Greengenes (Friday 8pm Power Plant Live); 2 Skinnee J’s/All Mighty Senators (Friday 8pm Rams Head Live); Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage, Thursday 8pm Howard Theatre); Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Tuesday 7pm 9:30 Club), SOJA (Friday 7pm Saturday 8pm 9:30 Club); Fishbone (Thursday 7pm State Theatre); Less Than Jake/Ballyhoo! (Friday 8pm Rock N Roll Hotel); Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival feat. Jonny Lang, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters (Saturday & Sunday Sandy Point State Park); Justin Jones & The Driving Rain (Monday 7pm Ottobar); Night of 1000 Dylans (Friday 7:30pm Creative Alliance); Tenacious D “Rize of the Fenix” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Totally underrated Black Keys tune? “I Got Mine.” See you at MPP Friday night…

If Maroon 5 promised to not play a song they’ve released in the last 10 years I’d be excited to see them Saturday. But if they did nothing but tunes from “Songs About Jane” I would be in…

If you haven’t seen Darius Rucker play country music, you’re going to have to trust me. He kicks a little ass…

I’m hoping Justin Jones will stop by the studio Monday. He’s quite talented…

9. Brian Regan (Friday & Saturday Warner Theatre); John Henton (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Bobby Slayton (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “The Dictator” (Wednesday), “Battleship” and “Crooked Arrows” (Friday) open in theaters; “The Grey” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Preakness Crab Derby (Thursday 12pm Lexington Market); Preakness Frog Hop (Wednesday 12pm Patterson Park)

Crab races? Okay I guess. MUCH more kickass? PIG races.

And as far as the frog hop goes, I think you already know which frog I’ll be pulling for…

As first reported by the NFL Network, the Baltimore Ravens hosted former Houston Texans WR Jacoby Jones for a visit Sunday.

Jacoby Jones became an interesting name for Ravens fans after the NFL Draft, as the Texans’ selection of DeVier Posey made it appear as though the veteran receiver could become expendable for the team. He obviously was, as the team took only days to part ways with Jones.

Perhaps adding Jones to the mix would be a good idea for the Ravens. He’s been in the league for five years, but has only spent the last three seasons getting significant reps as a wide receiver. His numbers aren’t spectacular (31 catches, 512 yards and two touchdowns in 2011), but they’re certainly serviceable for a complementary receiver. The Ravens clearly need depth, as behind starters Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin they have just four combined career receptions (all belonging to LaQuan Willams) from a group that also includes Tandon Doss, David Reed, Phillip Livas, Rodney Bradley, Patrick Williams and 6th round pick Tommy Streeter.

As much as the Ravens may have needed a playmaker type, they clearly needed depth at the position in general. Jones could bring that, and could also bring experience in the return game. Despite his two fumbles against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2011 NFL Playoffs, he has four TD returns (3 punt, 1 kickoff) in his career.

An even more intriguing name that has loosely been discussed amongst Ravens fans is the name Michael Crabtree. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has been a hot topic after the team drafted Illinois WR AJ Jenkins in the first round of the NFL Draft. In addition to Jenkins, the team has added veteran free agent receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss this offseason, leading to some speculation that the team could be prepared to move on from Crabtree after selecting him with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

I want to reiterate that the rumors surrounding Crabtree have been thinly veiled. While a National Football League source told me he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Ravens had interest in trading for Crabtree, no true source has been able to confirm that actual interest exists. However, in my chat with CBSSports.com NFL writer Clark Judge (who is honestly amongst the absolute best in his line of work) last Friday on “The Reality Check” on AM1570 WNST.net, the Crabtree-Ravens conversation came up…

JUDGE: “Hey one other question for you, are you serious about taking that caller’s suggestion and trying to acquire Michael Crabtree?”

ME: “No, I don’t think that’s realistic at all. I was trying to play devil’s advocate.”

JUDGE: “The thing about Crabtree is that they would probably be willing to give him away because while he’s young, he’s an underachieving diva. A second rounder? I’d probably give him away for a fourth rounder.”

ME: “If they were willing to give him away for a fourth rounder, I’d be willing to have the conversation.”

JUDGE: “I wouldn’t want him on my team.”

It should be made clear that Judge didn’t report to me that the Niners were interested or willing to trade Crabtree away for a fourth round pick. He simply said that HE would be willing to do that if he were making the calls for San Fran. (The chat is available here in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault.)

I’ll say again what I said to Clark Judge. If the San Francisco 49ers were willing to trade Michael Crabtree away for a fourth round pick, I’d have the conversation. I’m aware that Crabtree has yet to fully live up to his potential as a Top 10 pick and has certainly had “personality issues” that stem back to his lengthy rookie holdout. I’m also aware that the former Texas Tech standout has become more and more productive in each of his three years in the league and his best year (2011) coincided with the year his quarterback (Alex Smith) finally moved into the “credible” category of NFL signal callers.

Let me stress, I’d have the conversation. But it’s important to point out again that this is not a fantasy football league. This is the NFL.

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