Ron Cassie's picture
January, 22nd 2013

Billboard Notes Ray Lewis Retirement Party's New Date

Photo credit: Ron Cassie

Last week, Boston somewhat infamously put up several billboards counting down to Ray Lewis' inevitable retirement after Sunday’s AFC title contest against the Patriots in New England.

Of course, the Ravens upset the favored Pats — with help from their future Hall-of-Fame middle linebacker who registered 14 tackles — and so Ray now has more game to play.

Monday in Baltimore, just off Russell Street and south of M&T Bank Stadium, a new billboard posted the official date of Ray’s retirement, which has moved to Feb. 3. That's Super Bowl Sunday. The billboard adds in parenthesis: “New England Not Invited."

Ray said in an interview that he’d actually seen a billboard in Boston prematurely announcing his retirement and it got to him.

"I was hurt when I saw a sign that actually said my retirement would [start] tonight," Lewis said. “Man can’t dictate that. God dictates that."

...
Max Weiss's picture
January, 21st 2013

Is This Guy For Real?

When Ray Lewis burst into rather blubbery tears during the National Anthem before last night’s game, Twitter, rather predictably, blew up:

Ray Lewis has way more feelings than you during the National Anthem said @BuzzFeedSports, linking to a GIF of Ray crying.

Ray Lewis really loves America said @USATODAYsports

This Just In: Ray Lewis has Emotions wrote The Score (@thescore).

Ray Lewis Must’ve Watched Marley and Me Before the National Anthem wrote, well, me. (@maxthegirl)

But of course, if you’re a fan of football, you already know about Ray Lewis and his emotions. They pour out all over the field, on the sidelines, in the tunnel, during the coin toss, during the game, in the post-game prayer.  (Probably, and this is just a guess—when he has breakfast, when he picks up his mail, when he walks his dog, when he watches the evening news . . well, you get the point.)

Ray Lewis is. . .The Most Emotional Man...

3:10 pm Comment Count Tags: Ravens, Ray Lewis
Ron Cassie's picture
January, 21st 2013

Ravens Win! Super Bowl Party Begins in Fed Hill

Baltimore took to the streets Sunday night to celebrate the Ravens’ huge 28-13 upset of the New England Patriots in the AFC title game — sending us back to the Super Bowl for the second time in a dozen years.

From Federal Hill (in the above video), where police closed down South Charles Street, to Fells Point, Canton and other neighborhoods, the city erupted after the final whistle with fans singing, shouting and dancing, honking their horns and high-fiving friends and strangers alike in jubilation.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get better than last week’s double-overtime win over the Denver Broncos, the Ravens rallied from a 13-7 halftime deficit with three, Joe Flacco-led second-half touchdowns. Woot!

The question now — who has Super Bowl tickets and is there still time to book a hotel room in New Orleans?

 

Jess Blumberg's picture
January, 20th 2013

Earl Weaver, in Jim Palmer's words

Earl Weaver, Hall of Famer and Orioles manager for 17 years, passed away early this morning from an apparent heart attack while on an Orioles-themed cruise. He was 82.

Baltimore contributing writer Mike Unger was covering Orioles FanFest today and got a chance to ask Jim Palmer, never a man of few words, about his unique relationship with the Earl of Baltimore:

[Earl] went to every statue dedication. It was almost like a victory tour for him because, you know, we got to see him again. I only get to see him at the Hall of Fame. But I would call him every Christmas, wish him a Happy New Year . . . It's a sad day for anyone that knew Earl, but it's also a sad day for anyone that was involved with Oriole baseball. We were lucky to have him here because he did end up in the Hall of Fame. He had some marvelous teams. And now we all share the pain of him being gone.

Obviously, personally and professionally, Earl was about winning. I first saw him when I was 18 years old in...

12:07 am Comment Count Tags: orioles
Ron Cassie's picture
January, 18th 2013

Can Resilient Ravens Come Through Again?

Courtesy: Baltimore Ravens' Facebook page
The Ravens come-from-behind-several-times double-overtime victory last weekend was a playoff performance for the ages. But as much as the team's resiliency may have surprised NFL experts — including announcer Dan Dierdorf who appears to be championing Peyton Manning for canonization — Baltimore fans already understood their team has a unique competitive drive.
 
The Ravens just don't give in easily. They suffered through a number of major setbacks this year — the season-ending injury to Ladarius Webb — the supposed-to-be season-ending injuries to Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, to name a few. Oh, and they let their longtime offensive coordinator go a few weeks back.
 
And now, Ray Lewis' retirement announcement is adding...
Ron Cassie's picture
January, 17th 2013

Denver Mayor Sends Steaks; Update on Ray Lewis Dance Injury

Courtesy: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's Facebook page

Earlier this week, it was widely reported, including here — based on information from the Mayor of Denver's office — that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock injured himself "practicing" Ray Lewis' dance to pay off a bet with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Hancock, it was officially announced, would have to dance at a later date to make good on the wager, which also included sending 15 pounds of "cowboy cut" rib-eye steaks in Baltimore (see above photo) in lieu of the Broncos' loss to the Ravens Saturday.

In an email Wednesday afternoon, the Denver mayor's communication coordinator corrected the original story:

"Mayor Hancock did not injure his leg while practicing the dance, the injury occurred the previous night at a...

Max Weiss's picture
January, 17th 2013

You Won't Like Ray Lewis When He's Angry

We all know about locker room material, right? Insults, taunts, or perceived slights hurled at a team by their opponents (or the media) that is often used to rile that team up.

Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo, for example, last week Tweeted that the Patriots' hurry-up offense was "a gimmick." ("We've got your gimmick right HERE, Brendan," replies the Patriots locker room, no doubt.)

But there are slights and then there are SLIGHTS, and what Boston has going on right now may very well be the mother of all slights.

They've put up this billboard in town counting down the days and minutes to Ray Lewis's retirement—as in game time this Sunday, as in THE PATRIOTS WILL SEND RAY TO AN EARLY RETIREMENT.

 

And all I...

Ron Cassie's picture
January, 16th 2013

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Courtesy: Baltimore Ravens' Facebook page

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has a lot to celebrate this week — the thrilling win over the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning Saturday, making the cover of Sports Ilustrated — and today, his 28th birthday.

Hey, we still have a young quarterback!

Last year, the big quarterback reportedly celebrated his birthday at Chazz: A Bronx Original in Harbor East (not far from Baltimore's offices incidentally) with his wife Dana and the Pittas — Dennis and Mataya.

No word on Joe Cool’s plans for this evening. Of course, he’s also a parent now and he and Dana might decide it’s easier to celebrate at home.

Either way, Happy Birthday, Joe! And thanks for all the big wins in the past year. Keep 'em coming.

Ron Cassie's picture
January, 15th 2013

Denver Mayor Hurt Warming Up to Settle Ray Lewis Dance Bet

Courtesy: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's Facebook page

A spokeswoman for the Mayor of Denver said the Mile-High City’s top official won’t be doing Ray Lewis' famous dance anytime soon because of an injury suffered Monday night “during pre-game warm-ups,” according to a story in the Denver Post this afternoon.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock bet Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake a box of dry-aged, “cowboy-cut” rib eye steaks against a platter of crab cakes from Lexington Market last week, pending the outcome of the Broncos-Ravens game Saturday night.

Also, as part of the wager, Rawlings-Blake agreed to bathe Mt. Vernon’s Washington Monument in orange and blue should the Broncos win. In turn, Hancock promised to perform Ray Lewis’ iconic dance should the Denver mayor's heavily favored squad lose — which they did, of course, 38-35 — in a dramatic, double-overtime battle.

Hancock’s spokeswoman said the Denver mayor is not reneging...

Ron Cassie's picture
January, 15th 2013

Happy Birthday, Dr. King: City's Annual MLK Parade Saturday

Courtesy: Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts Facebook page

The federal holiday is next week, Monday, Jan. 21, but Martin Luther King, Jr. would have turned 84 years old today.

In Baltimore City, the 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade is scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 19, at noon.

The parade launches at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Eutaw Street and then, proceeds south on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard before concluding at Baltimore Street. The parade honoring the late Civil Rights and peace activist will feature local high school and community marching bands, floats, “civic organizations, high stepping fraternities, honor and color guards, lively cheerleading squads and equestrian units,” according to the Baltimore Office of the Promotion & the Arts.

A video of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. — given 50 years ago this coming August — can be found...