Drew's Bio
The only person in the history of Baltimore sports-talk to attend Game 2 of the 1983 World Series, shoot 64 in golf (twice) and sit next to Dave Grohl on a flight from Baltimore to Cleveland (1997), Drew is the host of The Comcast Morning Show from 6am-10am Monday through Friday. Topics routinely range from the Ravens, Terps and the Orioles and their decision to not improve the team for the (insert number of years here) consecutive season. His favorite movie is "Wiggle Bay" and his favorite member of Little Einstein's is June. Drew's son Ethan said, "Daddy, why do the Flyers stink so bad?" when he was only 8 days old. "Gotta start 'em young," the proud papa said that night.
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Drew's Archive
Barring a shutout this Sunday, Matt Stover is going to trot on the field for the Indianapolis Colts and attempt either a field goal or extra point.
And when he does, a little piece of Baltimore sports history will be made at M&T Bank Stadium.
Some amount of the fans on hand will undoubtedly boo Stover. It’s gonna happen, guaranteed.
If you’re a complete jerk, you’ll be one of them.
If you’re a person who respects the heritage of the Baltimore Ravens and the genuine-gentleman that is Matt Stover, you won’t be doing any booing when he comes on the field and fulfills his duty for the visiting Colts.
For the record, I wanted to use a different term for those who boo Stover on Sunday, but management suggested I find another term. Any of you out there have an Uncle Richard? There’s a chance his name might be shortened to “Dick”.
Let’s just say that’s it my opinion if you boo Matt Stover Sunday, you might as well go by the name “Uncle Dick” at the upcoming family holiday party. I think you get my point.
There’s NO VALID REASON, NONE AT ALL, for booing Stover on Sunday.
I take that back, there’s one reason why you’d boo Stover on Sunday: You’re a jerk. And if you’re a jerk, and you want to boo him, go right ahead and confirm your reservation in Jerk-Land.
I can hear it now.
“But Drew, he plays for the Colts” — that is NOT a valid reason to boo Matt Stover. Stover took the gig because he felt he could still kick in the NFL. The Colts called. It was a good fit. Their checks cash. The Ravens didn’t want him. If you worked for Coca-Cola and they fired you, would you go to work for Pepsi if it meant supporting your family and children? You’re damn right you would.
The Ravens fired Matt Stover. He still wants to work. It just happens his new office is in Indianapolis.
But that’s not reason enough to boo him on Sunday. Not even close, in fact.
Would you have booed Johnny Unitas on his return trip to Baltimore as a member of the San Diego Chargers? If you were a jerk, yeah, you would have. If you have a brain and appreciate the legacy established by Unitas, you would not have.
As far as the Baltimore Ravens go, Matt Stover is literally un-booable.
There aren’t many on that list, honestly. Ray Lewis is on that list. Jon Ogden’s on that list. Todd Heap’s on that list. So is Ed Reed. They’ve all earned “Can Not Boo” status.
And so has Matt Stover.
It would be significantly embarrassing to Baltimore’s appreciation of its football heritage if on Sunday, Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf were forced to make comment on national TV about the Ravens fans “lack of respect” for Matt Stover.
So, not booing Stover on Sunday does two things. It keeps you from being an idiot, know-nothing fan — and it saves Baltimore, as a sports town, from being ridiculed in front of millions of viewers across the country.
Frankly, booing Stover is akin to something those buffoons in Philadelphia would do if, say, Donovan McNabb is ever forced out in Philly and plays a half-season in New York because of an injury to Eli Manning.
Those creeps in Philly respect no one once they’re gone. Hell, they hardly respect their own favorites when they play in the city of Brotherly Love.
Booing Stover on Sunday would not only be a 55-yard field goal version of “lack of respect” but it would give Baltimore a seat on the Stupid Bus.
And you’d be a big jerk — an Uncle Dick, if you will — if you’re one of the people who boo him on Sunday.
It’s bad enough that five years ago a bunch of drunk morons in the stadium actually cheered Kyle Boller’s foot injury.
That was a low point in Baltimore sports fandom.
But this Sunday, when Stover trots on the field, there’s little doubt in my mind that idiots will again surface — and boo one of the franchise’s all time best performers and, without question, one of Baltimore football’s best civic ambassadors since 1996.
If you don’t want to clap and cheer for him on Sunday because he plays for an opposing team, I’ll check off on that. It would be nice if Stover got a great show of appreciation from the fanbase, but it’s also completely reasonable to just do nothing and remain silent.
That wouldn’t be disrespectful at all.
If you’re not comfortable clapping for him and showing him your appreciation, just sit there with indifference and put your hands under your rear end for a minute or two.
But please, don’t be a jerk on Sunday.
Don’t boo one of the guys on the un-booable list.
That’s something only your Uncle Dick would do.
Uncle Dick is a jerk.
And…as the scoreboard reminds all of you:
Don’t be a jerk.
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November 18th, 2009 at 6:05 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WNST, WNST. WNST said: Drew Forrester: You’re a jerk if you boo Matt Stover on Sunday http://bit.ly/33hxGW [...]
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November 18th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Great blog. Matt Stover is unbooable. He is the definition of a Raven and should still be one. If he was we would be 6-3
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November 18th, 2009 at 7:46 am
If I were lucky enough to be at the game this Sunday, I would probably give Matt Stover a round of applause when he came on the field. However if it came down to a game winning FG I would probably yell like crazy to make him miss, I would be yelling at the Indy place Kicker, not Matt Stover. Matt Stover is a great guy I wish him all the best, except this Sunday.
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Drewski, do all a favor and don’t lecture people spending good money to go see a football game, what they can and can not do. Comparing Stover to Unitas shows how shallow your knowledge of sports are. As far as the Uncle Dick club, Nestor and yourself must be charter members for the private war you instigated with Angelos. (DF: I didn’t compare Unitas to Stover…dummy. I said Unitas is on the “can not boo list” and so is Stover. Try reading the whole thing next time. Say “hi” to Andy for me if you see him at the coffee machine today at the Warehouse.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I felt this way before I even read your blog. That would be like school on Thanksgiving - No Class.
Stover is the definition of class. He belongs in the ring of honor and, I think, the Hall of Fame.
Stover should get a huge cheer, if I were going to the game on Sunday, I would cheer for him, even if I were the only person in the stadium doing so.
If not for him and the record setting defense, we wouldn’t have made the playoffs in the 2000 season, let alone win the Super Bowl.
What was it? The last six games of the season that we couldn’t muster an offensive TD? He was our offense for much of that season.
I hope the fans in this town understand that and do the right thing. They don’t have to cheer but if they boo, I would put that second behind cheering Boller getting hurt as the low point in Ravens fandom.
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:27 am
There might be a handful of boos but Baltimore fans in general are way classier than those in cities like Philly. I think he’ll get more of the Rex treatment which was a smattering of applause and a smattering of boos but mostly silence.
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I didn’t even have to read your blog. Last night I was thinking how I would love to be at the game Monday to be able to cheer Matt Stover. How many games has this man won for the Ravens. He has treated Baltimore with nothing but class. It was not his fault he was not resigned this year, a move I disagreed with completely. I would hope people would show their appreciation for all he has done on and off the field for us all.
(But, I do think I would boo C Mac)
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I meant Sunday not Monday!!!
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Unitas and Stover share no “list”, real or imagined by you. Unitas, Brooks Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Micheal Jordan, etc may share a list or three but not Matt Stover, you dummy. By the way, if i worked at the warehouse, i’m quite sure Andy would send his greetings to Uncle Drew.
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November 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Couldn’t agree more, Drew. Stover was instrumental in the Ravens’ Super Bowl year when we had an offense that went 5 games without scoring a TD. Without his consistency, we would not have even gone to the Super Bowl! Add to that the fact that off the field, he wove himself into the fabric of the Baltimore community, always conducted himself in a professional manner and wanted very badly to end his career here. No way does he deserve anything from Baltimore fans than a hearty chorus of “bravos”! That being said, we both understand as Stover himself probably does, that there are some
“fans” whose conduct is an embarrassment to themselves, their team and their city!
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November 18th, 2009 at 9:17 am
[...] caller agrees with Drew’s blog this morning and goes even further to say that Matt Stover should receive a standing [...]
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November 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I’m glad you brought up the Boller thing…I was going to say that we can turn this into a Jeff Foxworthy-esque thing here…
“If you cheered for Kyle Boller getting hurt…you might boo Matt Stover.”
And so forth.
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November 18th, 2009 at 10:09 am
[...] Drew Forrester says fans who boo Matt Stover Sunday ‘jerks’ [...]
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November 18th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Drew,
I agree with you that booing Stover would be uncalled for, however I don’t know why you think the fans would do that. You used the example that Ravens fans cheered Boller getting hurt 4 years ago (against the Colts), but you have to remember those fans didn’t like Boller. The fans that are at the stadium Sunday do not hate Stover, there is no reason to because he did nothing wrong. I would be shocked if there are enough boos directed at Stover to be noticed Sunday.
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November 18th, 2009 at 10:20 am
The classier and thing that gets into a players head most is indifference. I hope Ravens fans do better than boo and show total silence towards him. That is being classy and sending a message to him. I still wouldn’t be surprised if he resigns after Vinatieri comes back next week.
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November 18th, 2009 at 10:53 am
So let’s get this straight. When and if Stover lines up to kick a game tying or game winning field goal, you will cheer and root him on? I wouldn’t boo him when he introduced or even walking on and off the field, but if he is lining up to kick the game winning or even tying field goal there is no way in hell I am not going to boo my ass off. What the hell are you supposed to do? (DF: Do whatever you want.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I will be you even money that the “low-life, scum-bag” Ravens fans will boo the hell out Stover on Sunday afternoon. How soon all these idiotic Ravens forget that Mr. Stover single handedly won the Ravens the Super Bowl 10 years ago with his foot alone! Remember that high-flying Ravens offense back then didn’t score a touchdown in 5 games! I hope Stover goes 5 for 5 in FG’s and the Colts lay it on the hapless Ravens!
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November 18th, 2009 at 11:48 am
What should we do if he misses ? (DF: Depends on which way you bet the game, I suppose.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I hope Stover receives a thunderous ovation from the home crowd on Sunday. It wasn’t our decision to let him go, and we never got a chance to say good bye to an original Raven. Matt Stover is a class act who deserves his place in the Ravens’ Ring of Honor! And I’m sure given the Steve Hauschka disaster, Stover deserves the red carpet treatment from this fan base. I mean, he was our offense for a decade. Well said, Drew.
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November 18th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I absolutely disagree Drew. Someone as competitive as Matt would find it disagreeable if we didn’t Boo him in support of our Ravens. He should be cheered when he steps on the field and then Booed on every time he steps back on the field which will probably be frequently. I will Boo him. I’m booing not the man but what he will do against my team. Matt is great, I got to meet him at the OJ Brigands fundraiser and he is as classy a gentleman you will find on the planet, however on sunday he shall be the enem and I shall boo him as such.
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November 18th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Look, I appreciate Matt Stover and all he did for the Ravens. I really do. But the secong he put on the helmet that ripped out our hearts and took football out of this town, he became dead to me. I will not cheer any player wearing that uniform. I don’t care who he is. That would be like cheering for Ray Lewis wearing a Steelers jersey. I will boo him on Sunday. Not out of disrespect to him. But out of hatred for his uniform. So call me a jerk if you choose. (DF: If you boo him, you’re a jerk. No disrespect to you, either.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I’m wearing my Stover jersey Sunday. I said all along Ozzie should have done the right thing and gave him another year! Matt was a class act all the way…he didn’t leave, he was ignored by the Ravens. They could take a page out of his book and learn from it.
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November 18th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
you don’t boo class acts. end of discussion
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November 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Drew,
I seem to remember you beating the Ravens up quite a bit over the summer over the Stover situation (I thought certain people say that you’re too much of a Raven’s apologist to ever criticize them as you do the O’s). You repeatedly said that if you were a GM, given the narrow margin of talent among teams, that a priority for you would be to always pay top dollar for the best available kicker. At the time of Stover’s release, he WAS the most accurate place kicker available. He’s damned near a Mariano Rivera on the sidelines ready to close out a game.
I think people don’t realize how much difference a “money” kicker makes in the minds of both a team’s psyche knowing “all we have to do is get to point A” and it’s over or to the opposing defense’s playing tight for fear of letting a drive get to a certain yardage knowing they’ll lose. Jimmy Johnson used to always say that he wanted players who could sink the 8 ball and that was Stover. (DF: I probably just got lucky on this one, Al.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Wow, thanks for the guidance Drew, I really wasn’t sure quite how to react. You’re an amazing guy, so smart when it comes to sensitive things like this. Looks like Brian is starting to rub off on you. (DF: I can close my eyes and see you in the stands on Sunday, hopped up on liquor, booing Stover like crazy. Fits you and your personality to a tee, Uncle Dick.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Sorry Drew, I think your a little off on this one. I don’t think anyone will boo Stover after what he has done for this team for so long. He is a future Raven hall of famer and worthy of being voted into the NFL hall of fame. I think he will get a well deserved standing ovation the first time he trots out on the field for an extra point or field goal attempt. (DF: What are you sorry about? I don’t understand.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I agree with Drew. This is going to make some of you mad but if Steelers fans did not BOO Joey Porter when he returned to Heinz Field as a member of the Dolphins how could anyone BOO Matt Stover.He is a 1st class guy who would have loved to stay here but the front office decided to waste their monies on a 2nd FG kicker and LJ SMITH.
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November 18th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
ps. If the Colts had not moved we would be cheering for Stover this weekend
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November 18th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Matt is a great kicker and a great person. I will be at the game Sunday cheering for him. I wish he was still a Raven, but it’s the Ravens’ fault that he’s not. He did the logical thing that anyone would do; get a job with another team. I’m happy for him
that he is on the team that in week 10 is considered the best team in the NFL. We can’t begrudge him that just because we are Ravens fans.
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November 18th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I will boo any colt that takes the field on Sunday, including Matt Stover. We are fans booing the opposing players is what we do. I want the ravens to win the game and I hope Matt Stover shanks 3 feild goal attempts. Matt Stover is no longer a Raven and I do not want him to feel welcome. The jerks are the people from Baltimore that hope Matt Stover kicks 4 field goals and the game winner. Who you routing for? and why would call someone a jerk for booing the oppossing team? (DF: I’m “rooting” for the Ravens. I would definitely prefer to see Stover not make any field goals on Sunday. That would be great. But booing him makes you - or anyone that boos him - a jerk. I’ve explained myself in the blog. You don’t have to agree with it. But you have my reasoning right there in front of you.)
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November 18th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I don’t understand what all the drama is about. Nobody in purple is going to boo Stover. We might boo during an attempted field goal just to create noise to encourage a miss, but it’s nothing personal against Matt. In fact, if the Ravens dare to show an up close shot of Stover on the scoreboard, there will assuredly be a rousing standing ovation, and I will most definitely be one of them.
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November 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Maybe we can get Matt back after Venitari comes back and Matt can memorize the Colts playbook for us.
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November 19th, 2009 at 10:51 am
You and Nestor would know best. (DF: About what?)
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November 19th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
totally agreed. stover is certainly in the top 10 of the do not boo list. he did nothing to disgrace himself or our team for the 13 years he was here and while I will hope and pray that he misses every kick he attempts, I would never boo Matt Stover.
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November 21st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hopefully they let him come out before the game. There, he should be cheered. Once the game starts, all bets should be off. I’m hopeful that he comes out during player introductions and get cheered. He should be at that point. I like Matt Stover. I don’t believe I stated that properly in my initial post. He did, as you said, handle things with class. And it was not his choice to leave. The Ravens made what they believed to be the right move going with a kicker with a stronger leg.
I know fans will cheer him. That’s fine. But I cannot cheer a guy kicking against our team. It’s nothing against Matt. He’s playing against us, so I can’t cheer for him possibly costing us a win. I just can’t do it.
As I said, I hope he gets cheered during player intros. He certainly deserves it, for what he’s been to the Ravens. But once the game starts, it’s go time.
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November 29th, 2009 at 8:32 am
[...] It would be significantly embarrassing to Baltimore’s appreciation of its football heritage if on Sunday, Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf were forced to make comment on national TV about the Ravens fans âlack of respectâ for Matt Stover. …Continue Reading [...]
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January 20th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
[...] fact, when the Colts came to town in November, I wrote this blog chastising fans who were considering booing Stover for signing with Indianapolis at mid-season. I said, basically, “you’re a jerk if you [...]