After hearing of the Maryland Jockey Club's decision to prohibit Preakness infield spectators/partyers/lunatics from bringing their own beer into Pimlico Race Course this year, we were reminded of an old polka standard, called "In heaven, there is no beer." And we thought that a re-do of that old ompah standard might give voice to the despair being felt by all those folks who are -- what else -- crying in their beer.

In case you're not a polka fan, there's an audio file below (no pictures) to go along with our lyrics that we like to call the "Preakness Beer Polka" or The Lament of the Infield Sots.

C'mon everone, sing along!

At the Preakness, we can’t bring beer
They’re gonna make us buy it there
We get volleyball babes instead
But they’re still collecting 50 bucks a head.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 3:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

As the Big Game approaches, I wanted to renew what had become something of a standing feature on this blog, which was running music videos that had some timeliness to them or were just plain fun. Just a little dessert to go along with your brown bag lunch. Well, there's a lot of sappy Super Bowl musical tributes to the Steelers out there on the Internet but I can't bring myself to run any of those.

However, one of the things associated with the Steelers that I can admit I am fond of is the late Myron Cope, the broadcaster with a voice that would make dogs howl. Myron, who was the first to laugh at himself and had the nerve to refer to Chuck Noll as the "Emperor Chaz," was also the originator of the Terrible Towel. So here's a music video that has some fun with Myron's favorite verbal expressions, such as, "Yoi!" and doesn't take the concept of Steeler Nation all that seriously.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

In today's Sun, we had a story reporting that Nicanor, a full-brother to Barbaro, will get his first career start on Saturday at Florida's Gulfstream Park.  Frankly, no one knows how good this 3-year-old will be but the eighth race at Gulfstream is sure to draw more interest than any $40,000 maiden race in recent history.  Right now, Nicanor is the favorite at 4-to-1. 

In addition to Nicanor, the Barbaro immediate family line extends to still another full brother, 2-year-old Lentenor and to an unborn colt currently being carried by Barbaro's dam, La Ville Rouge.  The folks who owned Barbaro, Roy and Gretchen Jackson of West Grove, Pa., also own Nicanor and Lentenor and the unborn colt.  They had been hoping for a filly this time but they're getting another colt.  The Jacksons also own La Ville Rouge but not the sire of Barbaro and his brothers, Dynaformer. If you're wondering about the names of the equine brothers, they are all named after foxhounds in a portrait also owned by the Jacksons.

Here are photos of Nicanor (top right) and Barbaro (bottom left) for comparison.  They both have a forehead blaze but Nicanor has white on his nose. Peter Brette, Barbaro's exercise rider, is atop Nicanor as well in this photo.

Photos: Nicanor (Courtesy Gulfstream Park), Barbaro (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Posted by Bill Ordine at 1:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Good morning, Baltimore, or wherever you are out there in cyberspace. Sorry about the hiatus, and thanks to all who wrote to make sure I wasn't the victim of an alien abduction.

During the Ravens' playoff run, I was embedded in enemy encampments in Nashville and Pittsburgh in anticipation of those clashes. Now, we all watch from snowy Maryland as the Steelers and -- I can still hardly say this -- the Arizona Cardinals prepare for the Super Bowl in sunnier climes. If Ravens fans are disappointed, imagine how those Philadelphia Eagles fans must feel knowing that the only thing that stood in their way was a team that lost four games by more than 20 points.

On the list of Super Bowls, the 43rd edition is not particularly high on my personal must-see list. However, if one must watch, I’ve been compiling a list (albeit short one so far) of interesting places to watch the Big Game.

In no particular order:

1. The Playboy Mansion. Now that’s an attention-getter. Yes, you can celebrate the NFL's national holiday at Hef’s place as a guest of actress Brande Roderick of Baywatch fame (right). Actually, the party, called Game Day at the Playboy Mansion, is on the grounds of the grand house, but since 20 Playmates are expected to be attending, what's the difference. An organizer said about 1,000 people attended last year's party. There's a scheduled live performance by heavy metal rocker Bret Michaels, and much more including a cigar roller, massages and, of course, food. So how much, you ask? General admission is $1,500. A table for five is $10,000. And a cabana for 10 is $25,000. Here are the details, big spender. Warning: music automatically plays with the link -- you can turn it off at the bottom of the home page.

2. Somewhere in the mountains of Afghanistan. Probably not as comfy as the Playboy Mansion's lawn, but you will be sharing rations with genuine heroes. Raytheon, the folks who brought us the Patriot Missile, along with the Air Force, will provide the technology to beam the live broadcast of the Super Bowl to service men and service women in some of the most remote places where our military serves, such as the mountain outposts in Afghanistan, or in a submarine 800 feet beneath the surface. The technology is the same stuff used in unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the Predator, that send live images of battlefields.

3. Atlantis Casino, Paradise Island.  It's a little short notice, but I like this one because you get to do something that the NFL squelched in Las Vegas, which is pay to attend a Super Bowl party where you can eat, drink and watch the game on a theater-sized screen -- even bet on it because the Atlantis has a sports book. The Super Sunday Game Party is $150 per person. It starts at 5:30 p.m., and guests get four hours of an open bar and food and, of course, the commemorative hat and T-shirt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. No age restrictions. Call 1-800-ATLANTIS for information.

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Posted by Bill Ordine at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Two cautionary words for the Ravens.

Eagles.

Jets.

Yesterday, as Ravens fans were celebrating a spectacular win that kept Baltimore in charge of its own playoff destiny, two other teams that needed to win out to clinch their own playoff spots squandered the opportunities. And in both cases it was against teams that were out, or nearly out, of the running for the playoffs and should have been all that much more beatable.

The Eagles, who the Ravens actually helped with that victory over the Cowboys on Saturday night, failed to score a touchdown against the struggling Washington Redskins and were stopped a yard short of a game-tying touchdown. The Eagles now need to beat the Cowboys next week in Philadelphia and hope both Tampa Bay and Chicago loses. Good luck on that one since the Bucs play Oakland.

The Jets' loss was even more inexcusable, coming as it did against Seattle, which had nothing more to play for than the game was coach Mike Holmgren's home finale. Now New York needs a win against the Dolphins next week and a loss by either New England or -- and here's where I get back to the point, the Ravens.

Of course, Baltimore plays Jacksonville. The Jaguars have been out of the playoff hunt for weeks. But I do not expect the Ravens to emulate the sleep-walking Eagles or Jets. There are too many leaders on this team, especially on the defensive side. And the offensive side understands its identity and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has proven that he has faith in the running game to provide the muscle and in rookie quarterback Joe Flacco to make the third-down conversion when needed.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
                    

Sports fans love to talk in superlatives, especially who was the greatest in a given sport. Ruth in baseball. Gretzky in hockey. And then there are the debates. Jordan or Chamberlain? Bobby Jones or Tiger Woods? The differences in eras spice the discussion and make resolution impossible, and that's part of the fun.

Sammy Baugh, the great Redskins quarterback, just died at age 94 and when the conversation about greatest football players is joined, Baugh's name is right there. In my mind, there are three players in the debate about greatest football player -- and note, I'm making the distinction to say player apart from the single specialties that characterize the modern NFL. There's Jim Thorpe, Walter Payton and Baugh.

Thorpe played in the game's ancient era when running and kicking dominated and Thorpe excelled at both but passing had not yet become an established part of the game. Payton was a throwback in the Super Bowl era. He did everything well that a great running back should as a ball carrier, pass receiver and blocker. But he also could throw effectively -- he had eight career touchdown passes and even punted once. John Madden often remarked that in the single-platoon era, Payton would have been a great defensive back as well.

But Baugh did get to demonstrate his virtuosity in just about every phase of the game, as a quarterback, defensive back and punter. His numbers are extraordinary in every category. He led the NFL in passing six times, he still holds the single-season record for punting average, 51.4 yards, and he had 31 career interceptions. Perhaps, most importantly, like Ruth, he was a transformational player, changing his game forever -- in this case with the forward pass as an offensive weapon.

Debate if you will -- Thorpe, Payton, Baugh and whoever else may be included -- but Slingin' Sammy will always be in the discussion.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Talk about groundhog week.

Last week, all the talk was about how the Ravens’ game against Pittsburgh was the biggest regular-season game in franchise history.

Guess what, fans? Now Saturday night’s game against the Cowboys in Texas Stadium is the biggest regular-season game in franchise history.

The circumstances are incredibly similar. Just as the Steelers and Ravens found themselves in a struggle for AFC North supremacy last Sunday, Baltimore and Dallas are fighting for their playoff lives in a few days.

If the season ended today, the 9-5 Cowboys would be the NFC's No. 5 playoff seed. And if the season ended today, the 9-5 Ravens would be the AFC's No. 6 seed.

With just two games remaining, neither team can afford a slip.

In Las Vegas, the Cowboys are a consensus 4 ½-point favorite. This also happens to be the last game in Texas Stadium before Jerry Jones moves the ‘Pokes into that gazillion dollar space station he’s building out there. Cowboy legends will be crawling all over the place for farewell ceremonies but for all the talk about history’s motivation, this 2008 Dallas team needs no more motivation than its own legacy of playoff futility. You know, the best team ever to never win a playoff game.

This is a weird bunch, these Cowboys. They are bent into a pretzel by internal disharmony and sometimes their play reflects that. But last weekend, when they had every excuse to implode, they put together a great performance against the Giants in Texas Stadium. The Cowboys have been playing well at home –- they’re 6-1 so far. The Ravens have been a decent road team, 4-3.

As far as matchups are concerned, Dallas Morning News sports writer Rick Gosselin points out that the Cowboys have had more difficulties with big backs (Brandon Jacobs, Steven Jackson) than speed backs, which brings Le’Ron McClain into the discussion as a key factor. But against Pittsburgh, the absence of Ray Rice seemed to remove a dimension that gives the Ravens’ offense some big-play threat. A couple of plays from Rice have gone a long way in a few games this season.

On the other side, the Ravens have their hands full accounting for all those Cowboys’ receivers. Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, even Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin. Obviously, that means the Ravens have to choke off the Cowboys passing game where it originates, in the pocket.

Sure, history will be the theme of Saturday’s game as Dallas trots out the Roger Staubachs and the Bob Lillys –- Cowboys who ended their careers long before the Ravens even arrived in Baltimore. But athletes live in the now. These Cowboys who close out Texas Stadium will be more concerned about surviving into the playoffs. And for these Ravens, that building with the hole in the roof in Irving is just another place where they can make a little history of their own.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

The winter holidays are still in front of us but the Maryland Jockey Club is already thinking balmy, as in Preakness Day, 2009. The next Preakness is scheduled for May 16. Yesterday, five months to the day before Maryland's biggest race day, the Maryland Jockey Club unveiled its 2009 logo.

This year's version features the clean lines of a pen-and-ink sketch of a horse and jockey, the cupola of Pimlico Race Course and, of course, a black-eyed Susan flower. Here it is.

Look through the logos of previous Preakness Stakes (2002-present) here.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

You are going to hear this for the next week -- the Ravens' new mantra.

It's a two-game season.

After Sunday's heartbreaking 13-9 loss to the Steelers, hopes for the AFC North championship evaporated. But by running the table at Dallas Saturday and at home against Jacksonville in the final game and finishing 11-5, the Ravens can lock up a wild-card spot.

With that in mind, the Ravens immediately turned to the future in the locker room after the game. Ray Lewis was intense, as usual. Joe Flacco was unflappable, as usual. Terrell Suggs was articulate and colorful, as usual. But the message was the same.

Lewis: "One of the things I'm going to tell my young guys is, is that we have to keep going. There's two more games left, we can go in 11-5. You deal with what you deal with. The bottom line is your motivation cannot change. You take a loss just like you take a win -- strap it up, short week, let's go to Dallas."

Flacco: "Dallas is a good team. It's the last game in [Texas] Stadium. We're going to go there ready to play. We've got two games left to get some wins and prove that we're a playoff team, and that's exactly what we're going to do."

Suggs: "Two games, the rest of our season. We win out, we're in the playoffs. We don't, it's not looking good. So we better handle business."

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
                    

Sun colleague and pressbox clairvoyant Peter Schmuck does it again. For the second time this year, Schmuck called a Ravens' defensive big play in the pressbox. With the Steelers backed up on their own 1-yard line midway through the third period, Schmuck announced, "This has Ed Reed touchdown written all over it." The Ravens safety has been making big plays all season.

On the next play, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a pass to WR Santonio Holmes who immediately fumbled and the ball was picked up by Reed inside Pittsburgh's 20-yard line. The Ravens safety didn't score but the recovery set up a 28-yard field goal by Matt Stover for a 9-3 Baltimire lead.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)