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Blackbird Singing - RAVENS NOT SEEING RED

Posted On: 6/27/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
RAVENS NOT SEEING RED
I DON’T WANNA WORK…I WANNA BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY ~ Since his departure, Ravens management has let it be known that Chester Taylor was never really someone that they’d like to have over for tea, biscuits and pleasant conversation.  Although unassuming for the most part, Taylor was viewed as a bit of a surly presence in the Ravens locker room and was once involved in an altercation with massive tackle Orlando Brown who off the field was the Dr. Jekyll to his Mr. Hyde persona on the field.
 
Fox Sports reports that the Vikings aren’t thrilled with Taylor’s work ethic and that he isn’t in the best of shape.  According to Scouts.com, “Taylor has not taken his offseason workout habits too seriously. He showed up to minicamps overweight.”  Some say that his four-year, $14.1 million payday should be the motivation he needs while others wonder if Taylor has fallen prey to the fat cat syndrome and he’s now reaping the rewards he fought to attain in Baltimore.
 
CAUSE HE’S GONE, GONE, GONE…I DON’T KNOW IF I’M HAPPY, I DON’T KNOW IF I’M SAD…HE’S GONE ~ When the clock struck 12 and the free agency period opened, Maake Kemoeatu was given 27 and a half million reasons to leave Baltimore ($11.5 guaranteed) and join the Carolina Panthers.  Kemo was a great clubhouse guy and a solid albeit unspectacular player but at those rates, the Ravens were right to wish him well and step aside.  The Panthers were interested in Kemo to eat up blockers given his size and strength.  Apparently there’s been more than blockers on Kemo’s menu and his size has now come into question since he reported to OTA’s a bit bigger than the listed 350 pounds.  Word out of Carolina is that John Fox’ staff wants the former Raven to show a little more quickness. 
 
Maybe he used it up jumping at that contract at 12:01 am on that evening back in March.
 
THEY SMILE IN YOUR FACE…ALL THE TIME THE WANNA TAKE YOUR PLACE, THE BACK STABBERS ~ PGA Golfer and likely champion of the Booz Allen Classic Ben Curtis, has a deal with NFL properties similar to that of the late Payne Stewart.  While Stewart sported turn of the century attire fashioned in the colors of NFL teams, Curtis has opted for more traditional wear.  During the first round of the Booz Allen Classic held in Potomac, Maryland Curtis wore the Ravens colors and did quite well. 
 
The Cleveland Browns fan had this to say about his purple ensemble: "I thought I would get it out of the way today with an early tee time and beat the crowd," Curtis said. "Who would have thought that my least-favorite team, that I would go on to shoot a career low? Maybe I'll have to wear it again later on this week."
 
Please Ben, don’t do us any favors.  Go ahead and proudly wear those candy corn colors of the Browns.  That way when you yack in future tourneys, the stains won’t be so obvious.
 
CRAZY, BUT THAT’S HOW IT GOES…MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING AS FOES ~ Somewhere Earl Weaver had to be grinning ear to ear when he heard of or witnessed the antics of Joe Mikulik.  Mikulik is the skipper of the Class A Asheville Tourists who lost his mind when his team took on the Lexington Legends on Sunday.
 
After Roger Clemens’ kid Koby was ruled safe on a pick off attempt at second base, Mikulik snapped.  After protesting the call, Mikulik was tossed from the game and that’s where the fun began.  Mikulik imitated Clemens’ dive back into second base to plead his case.  He then ripped second base out of the ground and heaved it towards right field.  As he walked in towards home plate, Mikulik picked up the rosin bag and tossed it towards the bullpen.  Then he proceeded to cover home plate with dirt, kick dirt on the home plate umpire, throw bats and water bottles from the dugout on to the field only to re-emerge from the dugout and pour a bottle of water on home plate.  He then feigned calling balls and strikes and then topped off his performance by spiking the water bottle on home plate.
 
Quite the personality that Mikulik.  He wishes a few select others could have just a little.  "I just wish the umpire's association would train their young men to have a personality," he said. "I could get two mannequins at Sears and umpire better than what I saw this whole series."
 
After he left the field, Mikulik performed a bit of an encore when he pushed a couple of water coolers, a chair and a batting practice screen in front of the umpires’ locker room.
 
No mannequins were found.
 
I WANT TO RUN, I WANT TO HIDE…I WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE WALLS THAT HOLD ME INSIDE ~ University of North Carolina second basemen Bryan Steed probably wants to just crawl out of his skin today while hoping that last night was just a bad dream.  Steed entered the deciding game of the College World Series against the Oregon State Beavers as a defensive replacement for the Tar Heels in the fifth inning.
 
With the score tied at 2 and two outs in the bottom of the eighth with runners on the corners, Steed cleanly fielded a waist high hop.  That’s when the problems began.  Instead of completing the ground out, Steed “Steve Saxed it”, sending his throw by the UNC first baseman allowing the tiebreaking and ultimately the winning run to score.
 
Some thought that fate might be on Steed’s side when he led off the 9th inning.  But Steed struck out and with admirable composure he walked back feeling like a steed’s backside but still cheering on his teammates.
 
It’s probably a good thing that Steed doesn’t play for Pitt University.  Just ask that poor women in Pittsburgh who unfortunately hit Ben Roethlisberger’s motorcycle.
By the way, congrats to the Beavers.
 
I COULD CHANGE MY LIFE TO BETTER SUIT YOUR MOOD…BECAUSE YOU’RE SO SMOOTH ~ Randy Moss has been behaving himself these days and he appears to be smoothing over a tumultuous past and is now getting back to his West Virginia roots.  Moss you see has opened a juice bar serving smoothie-like beverages to his mountain brethren.  Along with his lawyer Tim Dipiero also a native of West Virginia, the Raiders receiver has opened a brand new Inta Juice franchise in the heart of Charleston.  Initially Dipiero was a bit reluctant.
 
"I said, 'I don't know. West Virginia, we're a bunch of people who seem to like junk food,"' DiPiero recalled telling Moss. "'I don't know if they'll go for this healthy food."'
 
The jury is still out but Dipiero might end up wishing he had stuck with his gut.  This concept is certainly not a lock in those parts – you know, like a John Denver song or a Denny’s might be.
 
While Moss brings star power to the project, it by no means assures him of success.  One only has to look to Ray Lewis’ Full Moon BBQ in Canton for proof.
Hey, maybe Moss should have hooked up with Ray.  After all Randy has a way with moons.  Just ask the folks at Lambeau Field.
 
IT’S A NICE DAY TO START AGAIN…IT’S A NICE DAY FOR A WHITE WEDDING ~ Speaking of moons, here’s one with honey.  Our sincere and very best wishes go out to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times on his recent trip to the altar.  Aaron was married over the weekend and is celebrating and vacationing in Cabo San Lucas where we hope he’s living it up just south of the Hotel California.  No doubt that Aaron is putting the down time in the NFL to good use.  All the very best to one of the very best!
 
REV ON THE RED LINE…YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN ~ Ever notice how so many quarterbacks in the NFL where red jerseys when they practice?  The idea is to let oncoming defenders know that the QB is not to be touched.  Yet the Ravens don’t use the red jersey for their signal callers during OTA’s and camp.  I wonder why.  Do other teams go at it a bit harder and they need the reminder?  Inquiring minds want to know…
 
I WANNA GO BACK AND DO IT ALL OVER BUT I CAN’T GO BACK I KNOW ~ One has to wonder if that is exactly what’s on the mind of Texans head coach Gary Kubiak.  The Texans learned last week that RB Domanick Davis is still on the mend and isn’t responding well to rehab on his knee that was scoped in December.  Davis continues to have swelling and this could be an ongoing problem.  If Davis can’t play at 100% in 2006 and Reggie Bush shines, the Texans’ front office better run for cover.
 
TELL ME WHAT’D I SAY…TELL ME WHAT’D I SAY ~ According to various sources Ravens QB Steve McNair (doesn’t that just roll off the tongue) is talking like he’s ready to move on and embrace the task at hand – returning the Ravens to the post season.  "It's going to work out," McNair said of the transition to the Ravens. "It's all about getting comfortable. ... I think I'm at a better place as far as having the opportunity to win a championship."
 
To which McNair added, "With the great defense [the Ravens] have and the talent they have on offense, I think we've got two or three good years to make a run before I have to hang it up," I know Baltimore's looking for some great things out of me, and I'm willing to take that on head-first."

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Posted On: 6/27/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

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