Honorable Mention: Soccer-MISL Baltimore Blast @ Chicago Soul (Friday 8:30pm from Hoffman Estates, IL live on MISLtv.com), Baltimore Blast @ Milwaukee Wave (Saturday 7:30pm from Milwaukee live on MISLtv.com); Boxing: Friday Night Fights-John Molina vs. Dannie Williams (Friday 9pm from Santa Fe live on ESPN2); Women’s College Basketball: Miami @ Maryland (Thursday 7pm Comcast Center)

10. Jimmie’s Chicken Shack 20th Anniversary Show (Friday 8:30pm Rams Head Live), Bloc Party (Saturday 9pm Rams Head Live); Kris Allen (Monday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Yellowcard (Friday 5pm 9:30 Club); David Murray Big Band & Macy Gray (Thursday 8pm Howard Theatre); Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club (Saturday 7:30pm Creative Alliance); Dropkick Murphys “Signed and Sealed in Blood” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

You know someone who is camping out for his spot to check out the JCS anniversary show…

I was never a huge Yellowcard fan, but I know they’re about to hit the road with our boys from All Time Low, so I’m back on the bandwagon. Plus this song always kinda kicked ass…

Say what you want about Macy Gray being a weirdo. Don’t say she isn’t a talented chick.

You may remember Dropkick Murphys as the band that put a Christmas tune on their album that was coming out in January. BRILLIANCE.

9. Jim Gaffigan (Saturday 7pm & 9:30pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); George Lopez (Saturday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Christian Finnegan (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Dredd“, “Frankenweenie” & “Archer Season 3” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “Zero Dark Thirty“, “Gangster Squad” & “Promised Land” out in theaters (Friday); Baltimore County Winter Restaurant Week (Friday-Monday throughout Baltimore County)

Want to move into “best friend” territory with me? Get me Archer Season 3. NOW.

On the list of spots participating in BCWRW? Costas Inn. Oysters Rockefeller for all!!!

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Honorable Mention: College Football-New Mexico Bowl: Nevada vs. Arizona (Saturday 1pm from Albuquerque live on ESPN), Idaho Potato Bowl: Toledo vs. Utah State (Saturday 4:30pm from Boise live on ESPN); High School Basketball: Western Tech @ Perry Hall (Friday 7pm), Perry Hall @ Edgewood (Monday 6:30pm)

10. Trey Songz (Sunday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Wednesday 7:30pm Verizon Center); O.A.R. (Friday 8pm Strathmore), Mannheim Steamroller (Saturday 4pm & 8pm Strathmore); AWOLNATION (Thursday 8pm Rams Head Live), Hinder (Friday 8:30pm Rams Head Live); New Found Glory (Tuesday 6:30pm Recher Theatre); Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe presents A Tribute to the Beastie Boys (Thursday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Matisyahu (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club); Jose Feliciano (Friday 8pm Howard Theatre), Ronnie Spector (Saturday 8pm Howard Theatre); Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere); Dropkick Murphys (Tuesday 7pm U Street Music Hall); Local H (Sunday 8pm Rock N Roll Hotel); Green Day “Tre” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday); Rolling Stones “One More Shot” (Saturday 9pm from Newark, NJ live on Pay-Per-View); 12.12.12-The Concert for Sandy Relief feat. Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Who (Wednesday 7:30pm from New York live on AXS tv, AMC, others)

Mock me all you want…I’m an UTTER nerd for some TSO…

You can be sure I’m trucking to Bethesda as soon as the show is over Friday for OAR…

This Karl Denson Beastie Boys thing is really quite dope…

The Dropkick Murphys did a holiday tune for a record that doesn’t hit stores until after the New Year. Why? Because it’s freaking awesome…

9. Alonzo Bodden (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Ted” and “The Bourne Legacy” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Hampden Holiday Gathering (Friday 5pm Keswick & 34th Street); Holiday Gathering (Friday 5pm McHenry Row); “A Christmas Carol” (Sunday 6:30pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric)

We could discuss these things, but I’m afraid if I don’t use this space to post the video of the freakout scenes from “Christmas Vacation.” I can’t mess with tradition…

Ehh….”Ted” came out this week. I’m not really moving on without posting ONE picture of Mila Kunis…

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For the sixth consecutive season, the UMBC men’s basketball team will face American University. The Eagles have won three of the previous five meetings, including the last two. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. All home basketball games are streamed with full play-by-play audio in HD on www.umbcretrievers.tv.

RETRIEVER UPDATE: UMBC (2-6) cut a 19-point first half deficit to as few as six points in the second half, but host George Mason hung on for a 74-63 victory at the Patriot Center on Dec. 4. Brett Roseboro led a balanced attack with 14 points. Chase Plummer scored all 13 of his points in the second half and Ryan Cook also tallied all 12 of his points in the final 20 minutes. Cook leads the squad with 16.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg, while Roseboro has scored 46 points in his last three outings.

EAGLE UPDATE: American (3-5) took on cross-town rival Howard at Burr Gymnasium on Dec. 4, but lost a close decision, 55-50. SR F Stephen Lumpkins just neared a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. AU has dropped three of its last four and are 1-4 on the road to date Lumpkins leads the squad in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.3) and is shooting 55.3% from the floor. SO G John Schoof has hit 15-of-26 shots from behind the arc.

WHO’S UP NEXT: UMBC travels to Norfolk State for a contest with the 2011-12 NCAA Championship second round participants on Sun., Dec. 9 at 4:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on   Q1370/www.q1370.com.

UMBC Announces Under Armour As Official Outfitter Of Retriever Athletics

BALTIMORE- UMBC Athletics today announced that Under Armour, Inc., the Baltimore-based leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories will be the official outfitter of Retriever Athletics through 2018.

Under Armour will outfit 17 of UMBC’s 19 varsity teams from head-to-toe including all game-day uniforms, training gear and footwear. UMBC’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads are the only two teams not covered by the agreement.

“I am very excited about the agreement with Under Armour as it ensures that Retriever Athletics will be wearing best-in-class athletic performance gear,” Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Brown said. “Feedback from our student-athletes has been overwhelmingly positive and we are looking forward to what is to come!”

UMBC’s new official outfitter agreement includes entitlements that will complement Under Armour’s marketing campaigns through venue presence and advertising at the university.  Those entitlements include signage at the RAC Arena, UMBC Stadium, Retriever Soccer Park, The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC, and the softball complex; print media advertising, online advertising on the official webpage of UMBC Athletics, www.umbcretrievers.com, and advertising via UMBC Athletics’ streaming site, www.umbcretrievers.tv.

“The new relationship with Under Armour is a tremendous advantage for our department,” Senior Associate Director of Athletics Gary Wohlstetter added.  “We are very proud to be associated with a hometown company right here in Baltimore. Under Armour is the leader in the athletic apparel industry when it comes to both performance and style.”

Coach Speak:

Co-Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Amy Appelt

‘We are very excited about expanding our relationship with Under Armour.  They provide a great product for our student-athletes.  It’s very rewarding for one of the top up-and-coming universities in the country to partner with one of the most innovative athletic brands in the world, right here in Baltimore!”

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Phil Stern

“We are so excited to be on board with Under Armour. They are so innovative and creative and will help make our program even more visible. Our players and coaches are all thrilled with the new products we have already started to wear.”

Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Don Zimmerman

“Our men’s lacrosse program is excited to expand our existing Under Armour partnership. We appreciate Under Armour’s support of our program and look forward to a longstanding relationship.”

TOWSON MEN’S BASKETBALL FACES CROSSTOWN RIVAL UMBC SATURDAY

Tigers Seeking Third Win in Four Games

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Towson men’s basketball team will play a local rival for the second straight game on Saturday as the Tigers make the short trip to the RAC Arena to take on UMBC at 7 p.m.

Towson (3-3) saw its two-game win streak snapped on Monday as the Tigers fell, 65-53, at Loyola.

Junior Jerrelle Benimon leads the Tigers with 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He is one of five different Towson players that have led the team in scoring during a game this season.

Freshman Jerome Hairston led the Tigers with 13 points and a season-high six rebounds against the Greyhounds on Monday. The guard is fourth among Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rookies in scoring at 9.2 points per game and he’s averaging 11.0 points per game in his last three outings.

UMBC (1-5) has dropped four straight contests, including an 83-65 home setback on Thursday night against Canisius. Senior guard Ryan Cook leads the Retrievers in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg).

Towson holds a commanding 34-19 lead in the series, dating back to 1970. The Tigers have won four of their last five matchups with the Retrievers, but UMBC won at the Towson Center last year, 62-58.

Saturday’s game will mark the seventh straight contest Towson has played away from home as the Tigers begin the year on a 10-game road swing.

The Canisius Golden Griffins will visit the RAC Arena for the first time ever when they take on the UMBC Retrievers on Thurs., Nov. 29. The two teams met for the first-time ever in Buffalo last season, when the hosts edged UMBC, 73-66, in the Sears Bracket Buster game. Tipoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. (EST)  and will be streamed on www.umbcretrievers.tv.

RETRIEVER UPDATE:  Chase Plummer scored a team-high 12 points and the visiting Retrievers hung with the Big East’s Marquette Golden Eagles for quite a while before falling, 79-46, at the Bradley Center on Nov. 26.  UMBC held Marquette to its lowest first-half point total of the season and took a brief 31-30 second half lead, but MU scored 51 second-half points en route to victory. UMBC has dropped three in a row.

GRIFFINS UPDATE:  Canisius, under the direction of first-year, but veteran head coach Jim Baron got off to a 3-0 start, before falling, 82-75 at America East’s Stony Brook on Nov. 24. They opened the season with home wins over Boston U. (83-75), St. Bonaventure (72-69) and Buffalo (71-64). SR G Harold Washington and JR G Billy Baron, son of the bench boss, average 17.8 and 17.5 points per game respectively.

 WHO’S UP NEXT:  It’s a quick turnaround for the Retrievers, who must face local foe Towson at the RAC Arena on Sat., Dec. 1. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.

IN-SEASON UPDATES

*The loss to Penn was UMBC’s fourth consecutive setback to start a season…The 48 first-half points scored by UMBC was the most in the first 20 minutes by the Retrieves since tallying 49 in a 91-54 win over Stevenson (Md.) on Nov. 15, 2008.

*UMBC snapped a three-game losing streak in home openers, when they defeate Eastern on Nov. 12.

*The Retrievers led the first two games at the half and have led  three of the first four games with 10:00 remaining in regulation.  They have led four of five games at some point in the second half.

*Brian Neller hit his first four 3-point field goals at Penn, missed his next 13 attempts before hitting four of his final nine vs. Central Connecticut.

*UMBC starting post players of Chase Plummer and Brett Roseboro combined total of one free throw attempted through two games. Plummer attempted 180 (6.0 per game) in 2011-12, the third-highest single-season figure in school history.  He bounced back wtih an 8-of-11 effort at Loyola.

*Both Penn and Loyola hit 50.9 percent from the floor vs. the Retrievers.

*The Retrievers scored 70 points or more in each of the first four games of the season.  The last time they accomplished that feat was in the championship season of 2007-08.  The streak was snapped as UMBC tallied 46 points at Marquette.

*After enjoying healthy rebound margins vs. Penn and Eastern, UMBC was -17 at Loyola, although the Greyhounds were only +3 in second-chance points in the game. UMBC bounced back and was +12 vs. Central Connecticut.

*UMBC hit ten 3-point field goals (10-of-22) vs. Central Conn. State, burying double figures from behnid the arc for the first time since converting in double figures since Jan. 20, 2011 at Hartford. They made 12 in that game and the 10 vs. the Blue Devils halts a streak of 44 straight with single-digit treys.

* Ryan Cook and Chase Plummer both recorded double-doubles vs. CCSU, marking the first time a pair of UMBC players stuffed the stat sheet in that manner since Justin Fry and Laurence Joliceour did so vs. VMI on Nov. 14, 2010.

* Central Connecticut had the outright lead over UMBC in appoximately five minutes over the final 25 minutes of play.

* UMBC did manage to hold Marquette to a season-low 28 first-half points on Nov. 26 in Milwaukee.

The UMBC men’s basketball team (1-3) boards a plane for the first time this season when they travel to play Marquette at the Bradley Center on Mon., Nov. 26. It will be the fourth time a Retriever team has visited Milwaukee to face the Golden Eagles. Tipoff time is set for 8:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be streamed on ESPN3 with Dennis Krause and Jim McIlvaine describing the action.

RETRIEVER UPDATE: Five Retrievers scored in double figures, but visiti ng Central Connecticut State (3-2) edged UMBC (1-3), 83-82, in overtime in a high-energy contest played at the RAC Arena on Nov. 20. UMBC had a five-point overtime lead, but CCSU hit both ends of a one-and-one opportunity at the line with five seconds left to escape with victory. SR G Ryan Cook posted his second double-double (20p-10r) of the season and leads the team and America East at 18.5 ppg.

EAGLE UPDATE: Marquette just returned from the Maui Invitational, where they captured fifth place, dropping a heartbreaking opener to Butler (72-71) before dispatching Mississippi State (89-62) and USC (72-64). Reserve forward Davante Gardner, a high school teammate of UMBC’s Jamar Wertz, leads a balanced attack at 14.2 points per game and has 22 offensive caroms in less than 20 minutes per contest. Marquette is expected to finish seventh in the 15-team Big East, according to a survey of the conference’s head coaches.

WHO’S UP NEXT: UMBC returns home to face Canisius at the RAC Arena (7:00 p.m.) on Thurs., Nov. 29.

UMBC (1-2) meets a familiar foe on Tuesday, Nov. 20, when the Retrievers welcome the the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (2-2). Both programs debuted at the NCAA Division I level in 1986-87 and Tuesday’s contest will be the 34th between the Devils and Dawgs. Tipoff time is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on www.umbcretrievers.tv.

RETRIEVER UPDATE: In UMBC’s last outing, JR F Chase Plummer broke out for 28 points at Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 14, but the hot-shooting Greyhounds held off UMBC, 86-70. SR G Ryan Cook has been in double figures in all three games and leads the squad at 18.0 ppg.

BLUE DEVIL UPDATE: After opening the season with a one-point loss to Fairfield (64-63, ot) and a three-point setback at St. Peter’s, (64-61), CCSU roared back with impressive victories over Brown (86-71) and at LaSalle (81-74) on Nov. 15 and 18. SO G Kyle Vinales (23.3 ppg), the 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year, was named the NEC Player of the Week. Vinales posted three straight 20-plus point outings in Central’s 2-1 week. SO F Adonis Burbage scored a career-high 21 points and hit 7-of-8 from the field, 5-of-6 from three in the win over LaSalle.

Who’s Up Next: The Retrievers travel to Marquette for a contest in Milwaukee on Monday, Nov. 26. The game will be streamed on ESPN3.

SET THE SCENE: UMBC plays the first of 14 home games during the 2012-13 season when they welcome the Eastern (Pa.) Eagles to RAC Arena on Mon., Nov. 11.z

The game marks the return of Eastern Head Coach Nate Stewart, who served on the UMBC staff from 2006-11.

RETRIEVER UPDATE: Despite a tremendous 28-point, 11-rebound effort by senior guard Ryan Cook, the visiting UMBC Retrievers fell, 80-75, at Penn in the opening game for both teams. The game marked UMBC’s first under Acting Head Coach Aki Thomas.

UMBC led, 48-34, at the half, but a hot-shooting Penn squad outscored the Retrievers, 34-9, over the first 12:23 of the second half and the visitors could not overcome that rally.

SR G Brian Neller hit his first four 3-point attempts of the night and added 15 points.

EAGLE UPDATE: Tonight’s game marks the opening contest of the season for the Eagles. In Nate Stewart’s first season in 2011-12, Eastern put together a record of 15-11. But all five starters from that squad completed their eligibility and nine of Eastern’s 15 players ont the roster are freshmen or sophomores.

WHO’S UP NEXT: UMBC heads cross-town to visit 2012 MAAC champion Loyola on Wed., Nov. 14. The game will be broadcast by MASN-TV with a tip-off time of 9:00 p.m. Johnny Holiday and Troy Green have the call on the network for the 46th meeting between the Retrievers and Greyhounds.

Honorable Mention: Mixed Martial Arts: UFC Macao-Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le (Saturday 9am from Macao, China live on FUEL TV); Women’s College Basketball: Mount St. Mary’s @ Maryland (Friday 7pm Comcast Center), Maryland @ Loyola (Sunday 7pm Reitz Arena); Boxing: Gary Russell Jr. vs. Vyacheslav Gusev (Friday 10pm from Indio, CA live on Showtime), Abner Mares vs. Anselmo Moreno (Saturday 10pm from Los Angeles live on Showtime); Vanes Martirosyan vs. Erislandy Lara (Saturday 9:45pm from Las Vegas live on HBO); High School Football: MIAA A Conference Semifinals-Mount St. Joseph vs. Calvert Hall (Saturday 12pm Mustang Stadium), McDonogh vs. Gilman (Saturday 5pm Mustang Stadium)

10. Carrie Underwood/Hunter Hayes (Wednesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Chicago/Kansas (Saturday 7:30pm Patriot Center); Brandy (Saturday 8pm Rams Head Live); Rock Harvest 2012 feat. Don Dokken (Saturday 1pm Recher Theatre); Mint Condition (Saturday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Ed Kowalczyk (Sunday 7:30pm Rams Head on Stage), Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group (Monday 6pm & 9pm Rams Head on Stage); Theory of a Deadman (Wednesday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Yelawolf (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Social Distortion (Tuesday & Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Motion City Soundtrack (Thursday 5pm 9:30 Club), Gary Clark Jr. (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club), Taking Back Sunday (Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club); Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Tuesday 8pm State Theater), Victor Wooten Band (Friday 9pm State Theater); The Script (Wednesday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Great White (Friday 8pm House of Rock); Chick Corea (Saturday 8pm Sixth & I Historic Synagogue); ZZ Ward (Saturday 8pm Georgetown University)

I’ll go see Eddie K ANY DAY OF THE WEEK…

MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS MIKE NESS…

I have to wait until Saturday to see GCJ (in Philly) because I’ll be in Brooklyn Friday night. It’s troubling because I’m not fully certain I can wait ANOTHER DAY.

I’ve put in a good bit of time with ZZ Ward recently. I could put in about six million hours more, too.

9. Doug Stanhope (Saturday 8:30pm Ottobar); Tommy Davidson (Saturday & Sunday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Flip Orley (Wednesday-Sunday DC Improv); Adam Carolla (Thursday 8pm Warner Theater); Bill Engvall (Friday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam (Saturday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric); David Alan Grier (Sunday 7:30pm Kennedy Center); “The Muppet Christmas Carol” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday), “The Amazing Spider-Man” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “Skyfall” out in theaters (Friday)

Adam Carolla is funny EVERY FREAKING TIME.

The absolute best thing about The Amazing Spider-Man? Emma flipping Stone.

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