Since Tony "Goose" Siragusa peeled off his ample No. 98 purple jersey for good after the 2001 season, the former Ravens defensive stalwart, who now lives in New Jersey, has become a TV regular. On January 9, he's back as host of Man Caves, a testosterone-charged home improvement show on DIY network.
Baltimore magazine: What's your man cave look like?
Tony Siragusa: It's a serious man cave. I have a casino with real slot machines. I got a poker room with a nice fireplace and stone walls. I have a man kitchen—it's a very workable place where guys can cook and you can hose it down, you don't have worry about cleaning. I got a beautiful bar, and I got a theater with a 120-inch screen. Right outside is my outside grilling area and outside fireplace where you can hang around and smoke cigars.
B: So why do men need their own basement oasis?
TS: I think guys work all day, they come home, when they come home, they go in their bedroom and there are 45 pillows in there you can't touch. You spend more money on comforters and pillows than the rest of the bedroom set. The females pretty much run the show, so you need a place where you can go and you're the boss. You can drink, you can smoke, you can do whatever you want, and they have to abide by your rules.
B: How do you know when your wife or girlfriend has gotten too involved with your man cave?
TS: If there's flowers, scented candles, throw rugs, anything like that, it's definitely not a man cave. You gotta get that out right away. There should be a spittoon. We haven't done it yet, but if you have a man cave, the bathroom should only have a urinal. The toilet shouldn't have a seat.
B: What do you miss most about Baltimore?
TS: I miss winning, lately. I miss the food, the people. I miss everything. I probably get down there between eight and 10 times a year. Steve Bisciotti does a great job of trying to get guys who have retired from the Super Bowl team to hang around and feel like a part of the team. I miss the crabs, obviously, and the crab cakes, all the seafood stuff. The people are great down there.
B: Any chance of a comeback? The Ravens could use you.
TS: They can use a lot more than me. They need a quarterback and some offensive linemen and a running game. No comebacks.
