Love it. Ray's dance and "Proud to Be an American" are worth the price of admission alone.

I was "Proud to Be an American" before 9/11/2001.

If this is your biggest issue as a sport writer you have a easy life, don't you. When Ray one day is gone you will ask probably who will step up and do a dance as Ray did. Ray is Ray and the dance belongs to him. He does a great job on the field for years and keeps as going. So we know now that your last excitement was when the Thriller album came out. You really have boring life seams like, don't you? Sad, very sad!!

Guru,

Proud To Be American was written back in 1984.

As far as Ray Dancing.

If it helps us win I could care less either way.

If all we do is lose and look "Flat" it becomes pathetic and self serving at best.

I'd be an even prouder American if they'd stop playing velveeta like "Proud to be an American" at my football games. :-)

Yo Mike, will James Farrior's New Contract impact Ray-Ray's negotiations??? They seem comparable in their age, ability, future impact and significance to their respective franchises. What's your take? With Farrior as a frame of reference how much should Ray-Ray get paid??

Maybe he should just try out for Dancing With the Stars.

I hate that song. I am proud to be an American. I've served in the armed forces, and stand respectfully at attention during the national anthem. But people are treating that stupid song the same as the anthem, and I think that's wrong. I sit during that song. I wish they would stop playing it.

I am proud to have been randomly born in this geo-political region.

Maybe I missed the comment or answer from Mike Preston, but why aren't the Ravens swarming the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin? Last time I checked our receivers were undersized and could only catch 5 yard passes. Why wouldn't we give up a 4th rounder for a pro-bowler when our offense is dismal?

Love doing the dance when he dominated the game circa 96-04. The dance is tired and so is Ray. I'll attend Canton when Ray's inducted, but I'm tired of his act. When he comes out dancing on the 7th, does that mean Carson Palmer won't lite up the secondary like usual?

It's sad when the comments are better than the blog entry (but I guess that is what we should expect at this point). I thought the same thing about Farrior's contract. It will give the Ravens and Ray something to work from. Certainly he will want more, but I think the Ravens can work from that contract. It would be nice if our expert columnist wrote about this himself rather than just writing a sophmoric post about Ray's dance. The comment on Boldin is a good one as well. We need help in a big way at that spot. Problem is, who would we deal? T Sizzle for Boldin?

I'd trade T-Sizzle for Boldin in a second!!! T-Sizzle was nothing last year without Pryce on the other end. He's overhyped and like a lot of other guys who have left here - Baxter, Starks, Dalton, Sharper - who were made to look better than they were by a fabulous defensive system.

Totally agree with the "proud" comments. I never knew so many people hated the song. I always thought I was the only one.

It is so cheesy and makes me feel ill everytime I hear it. Not to mention Family Guy destroyed its credibility last season.

My wife is British and she was appalled by all the cheesy patriotism prevalaent when I took her to a Ravens game a few years ago. We need to be more like English soccer fans and sing chants instead of overblown outdated cheesy "patriotic" songs that no one actually pays attention too. Its good for fan spirit.

T-Suggs straight up for Boldin? That is nice trade for both Ravens and Cardinals . Boldin wants out and new contract but he definitely be our # 1 WR . Suggs also wants new contract but he can help Cardinals' pass rush .

I hate to give up Suggs but WR's like Boldin are hard to find .

a couple of draft picks for boldin sounds good to me.

mike let the man dance, youre such a hater.

Get off Ray's case. He does the dance to have fun and entertain people. Isn't that why we love football? The guy has given his heart and soul to this town for his career and we have much to be thankful for. I liken it to Ozzy Smith and his flip. One day, when his statue stands at the base of the stadium, people will remember him as the heart and soul of a defense, a franchise, and a city. Let Ray dance, it pumps up the crowd. Nothing was more boring than the lame team introduction. For me, personally, the intros are all about getting the players and crowd pumped, and it seems to work great!

Charles,
You're my kinda guy. I've been hammerin these yahoo's for weeks about Ray. He helped to take a fledgling franchise, that only knew losing, and made it a feared and respected enterprise. If the man wants to dance, let him! He earned it! Nobody works harder for this team. He won us a championship for goodness sake! I think the yahoo's are down on him because of his age. I hope he leads this team to 10+ wins this year and shuts all your mouths.... tall order, though it may be.

Wow! I thought for sure Harbaugh would cease these one man antics. Here we go again. Forget the Ravens and name them the rayrays. As a season ticket holder I will insure I'm late to the games so that I miss this immature display of ME ME ME!

Team Not Rayray you are just another "fan" with amnesia when it comes to what 52 has done for and meant to this city. You just wish you could groove like Ray!

As others have said, Ray has earned anything he'd like to do before the game and nothing gets me pumped up for the game like the dance. Instead of constantly dwelling on the negatives and trying to nitpick every little thing he does, how 'bout showing some respect to the man who's been a huge factor in bringing respect to this city and organization.

A trade for Boldin would be a waste of time and talent, you have no quarterback to throw to him.

I realize it is only preseason but if you can't beat the Rams, then you have some serious issues going into the season.

As for Ray Lewis and his pre-game theatrics, he needs to give it up, it's really getting old, just like he is getting.

Its hard to imagine player introductions without 52. I complained about the Ray dance for an off season once and then watched him come out of the tunnel the next year and I got chills from the crowd noise it created. Ride the Ray train while you can, he will be missed when he is gone.

Trade for Boldin, get real, the Ravens have other dire needs besides a receiver. You need a Quarterback who can actually throw a pass to a quality receiver like him. YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT QUARTERBACK. Instead of trading for him, the Ravens should concentrate on establishing a solid offenseive line. I believe Flacco will be good but should not be rushed into the starting quarterback position. Trading for Boldin is not going to make this limp offense any better.

Why doesn't a has been take the hint and retire while he still has some respect.His "dance" was and is childish, immature and definitely has no rhyme or reason or rythm.Play ball or join dancing with the stars.

Ray's dance I could take or leave. As for the "Proud" song, I cringe as soon as I hear the first note. Seems sooooo contrived. I wait for our actual national anthem to stand and honor my country. Please, Ravens, PLEASE stop playing that song!!!

To Sal:
I don't remember the Cardinals offering Boldin for a fourth round pick...or a third, second or first. It would take quite a pacdage to get him (they wouldn't want Suggs who is on a one-year franchise tender). And, Boldin's considerable talents would be wasted here even more than they are in AZ because of both teams' QB situation.