All these years, all those kicks -- 38 years old and he can still whip Le Jambe like a side-show contortionist, and sail one 52 yards and win the day.  And McAlister -- did you just know the Ravens defense was going to make a big play? And did you have every confidence that McNair was going to put the ball where it needed to be for God's Kicker? That was fun.

Nice story by e-mail this morning from a Cockeysville reader named Pete Schap:

I was fresh out of the US Navy in January of 1973 after serving 4 years.  I met my future wife in September of that year and we began courting on a regular basis about two weeks later. It was later that year, or possibly in 1974, that we were celebrating an occasion with my parents.  Pat (my wife) and I were treating my parents to an evening at Haussner's Restaurant.  It was a Saturday evening and the line about 7PM was long and about a block in length.  Mayor William Donald Schaefer was in line alone.  His Honor was asked by the hosts at Haussner's if he wanted to advance to be served.  He said very privately -- but we were close enough to hear --  a no to the hosts. Mr. Schaefer said basically that he would wait his turn in line.  My father was quite taken with this response and approached Mr. Schaeefer saying he thought that was a very nice action for Mr. Schaefer to take.  My Dad and Mom are gone now, but my wife and I never forgot that evening at Haussner's.