Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  Blackbird Singing  >  BLACKBIRD SINGING RAVENS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS

Columns

Blackbird Singing - BLACKBIRD SINGING: RAVENS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS

Posted On: 9/12/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
BLACKBIRD SINGING: RAVENS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS BLACKBIRD SINGING: RAVENS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
I WILL FOLLOW YOU WILL YOU FOLLOW ME ~ “There’s a lot of trust being built on the practice field right now. We’re getting to the point where we are all reading the same thing.  I’ve been watching Steve [McNair] for a long time, and you can see that he does like the tight end, but you can also see that he just goes through his progressions.”  That’s Todd Heap on developing chemistry with his QB.
 
HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER ~ "He was definitely an inspiration. Seeing him, what he went through – losing a leg and having shrapnel throughout his body - I knew I could get back up because my leg was [only] broken.  My family is all fighters. We don't give up. There's definitely perseverance. It runs through my blood."  That’s Musa Smith talking about his brother John.
 
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR…IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR ~ Rex and Rob Ryan are not only this week’s opposing defensive coordinators, they are also twin brothers.  Rex is now in his 8th season with the Ravens, and his 2nd as defensive coordinator, while Rob is serving in his 3rd season as the defensive coordinator in Oakland. This is not the 1st time the 2 have gone head-to head. Rex began his career with Eastern Kentucky in 1987, while Rob began his with Western Kentucky. That year, in a Division I-AA playoff match, Rex's Colonels won the game 40-17, but Rob got revenge in 1998 when his Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated Rex's Oklahoma Sooners, 41-26.  This is the 1st time the duo has faced each other in the NFL.
 
I’M WINNING, I’M WINNING, I’M WINNING AND I DON’T INTEND ON LOSING AGAIN ~ A win this Sunday by the Ravens would mark the second time in franchise history that the team won its first two games.  The last time that happened, they finished the season winning 11 straight and a World Championship to boot.  A win this Sunday would also boost the Ravens record v. Oakland to 4-1.  It would also mark the franchise’s 80th regular season victory (51st at home) and it would be Brian Billick’s 40th home win.  It would also push the Ravens to 6-5 in home openers.
 
WELCOME MY SON…WELCOME TO THE MACHINE ~ And with leads at home, the Ravens have been a machine under Brian Billick.  Check out these numbers:
  • When leading at halftime: 47-7
  • When leading after 3 quarters: 50-6
  • When scoring 1st: 37-17
  • With a 100-yard rusher: 31-9
  • With a 100-yard receiver: 11-5
  • When playing at home: 39-17
  • When posting a positive or even turnover ratio: 57-13
  • When having at least a plus-2 ratio: 34-0
  • When leading by at least 14 points: 40-1
ALL THROUGH THE DAY, I ME MINE, I ME MINE, I ME MINE ~ While observing our message board here on 24x7 this morning and after listening to WNST while driving my son to school today, I was amused by all of the hoopla over the WNST rally.  Allow me to put in my two cents. 
 
First, some might think that it’s hard for me to be objective about this since our program GAMETIME was unceremoniously dumped by WNST's owner and general manager.  Things happen for reasons, you get up, dust yourself off and move on.  And so we have.  I genuinely like most of the folks over at WNST and I harbor no grudges.
 
Now about the rally…I believe that the underlying motive behind the rally is a good one -- to bring to the forefront of the collective mind of the warehouse, the public’s disdain for the way in which the Orioles have been managed for nearly a decade.  But how do you do that?  What is the best way and even if you are successful, what will it really do?
 
Let’s face it, a protest or rally has been going on for quite some time.  One only needs to look at the crowds the Orioles are drawing when the Red Sox or Yankees aren’t in town.  Even last night’s attendance during a Yankee game was pretty anemic.  I think that is a daily message to the ivory warehouse and if they haven’t gotten it yet, will they ever?  Do they even care enough?
 
Apparently Nestor Aparicio cares enough and he’s devoted a ton of time, energy and money to the rally, inspired in part by his love for his Pop and for his love of the Orioles.  No one can deny the passion that fuels his crusade and for that he should be commended. 
 
But where Aparicio misses the mark is in his regular force feeding of “The Moon.”  While it may have been a nice listen to hear Aparicio share his childhood memories of his Dad and the Orioles, is it really necessary to recite an audio book about it and eat up quality local programming on his station 20+ minutes at a clip three times a day?  The needless self promoting has done nothing but undermine the true spirit and intent of the rally because now, listeners think that the rally is about Aparicio.  It’s like any song that is overplayed.  When it comes on the radio, you change the station and unfortunately for the rally, many are tuning it out for the very same reason.  What a shame.
 
In the end, I still don’t know what this rally accomplishes other than lining the pocket of the very person the rally is trying to call out...but I’m willing to listen.  From where I stand, the only thing this rally will do is push listeners and possibly sponsors away from WNST. 
 
Surely someone in the warehouse is chuckling. 
 
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to September 22 and my guess is so are several of the on air personalities at the local all sports station.
 
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, EVERY DAY…TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, EVERY WAY ~ In the past, the Ravens have been known to lay and egg here and there after a big win and before another important game.  Apparently the Ravens have noticed the same.  They have chosen their words carefully following the big win over the Bucs and they haven’t shown and voiced the bravado normally synonymous with such a victory.  They seem to be taking an overdue professional approach evident in Brian Billick’s statement, “If you birdie the first hole, you pretty much have 17 more to go.”  The next “black” hole is the 18th ranked hole on the course (aka schedule), an easy par 3 with a slightly elevated green protected in front by Overconfident Creek.  Avoid the creek and this is a very birdie-able hole.
 
FILLING MY EYES, WITH THAT DOUBLE VISION ~ Last night when I sat down to watch the ESPN Monday Night Doubleheader, I was pretty stoked about the evening.  By the first quarter of game 2, I was in the midst of a one-eyed rollback.  Fighting through blurry, tired eyes, I finally bit the dust.  I woke up in my easy chair after the third quarter to head up to bed. 
 
What happened?  Where did the enthusiasm go?
 
Maybe it had something to do with the broadcast.  Perhaps I’m in the minority here, but I used to like the old ESPN broadcasting team of Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann and Paul McGuire.  Forgive me if I’m not riveted by Tony Kornheiser’s insightful analysis that the Redskins should consider giraffes to bat down opposing quarterback passes.  I think Kornheiser was trying to be funny – he wasn’t.  Perhaps this team will gel but if the old one wasn’t broken, why fix it?

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 9/12/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

Polls

From the following list who will have the most sacks in 2012?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/18/12: Why Foster, McCoy and Rice are equals and should be paid accordingly: http://t.co/Q1R93XNe

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland