Ravens: It's on!
The Ravens open their preseason schedule tonight against the Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium, and I couldn't be more excited.
No, not because the first preseason game has any measurable competitive significance to anyone but the bubble players on the roster. It's a big night because I'm actually going to be there -- and I won't be on crutches.
It's been five weeks since my mid-life basketball career came to an end with a complete right Achilles rupture, but thanks to the great people at Johns Hopkins Sports Medicine, I'm back on my foot and headed to the stadium. Can't drive yet, because I have to wear this big black orthopedic boot for another month or so, but WBAL sports guy Keith Mills was nice enough to offer to pick me up and bring me home.
So, I guess I owe Keith a radio plug. He'll be hosting the pregame coverage on WBAL starting at 5 p.m. Future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden will be a regular presence on the pregame show this season, and the format will be much more interactive than in the past. Keith and Jon will take questions from fans in the show tent at the Federal Hill end of the stadium as well as by phone.
The pregame show will also feature a long list of guests, including myself, WBAL-TV's Pete Gilbert, The Sun's Jamison Hensley and the in-game broadcast crew of Gerry Sandusky, Stan White and Rob Burnett.
It doesn't end there. Keith also will host the post-game show, which will include interviews with the players and coaches, as well as postgame analysis and -- most important -- your calls. It's a great way to pass the time in postgame traffic. I'll be joining Keith after the game tonight, and if I do good, he said won't make me limp home.
Pregame update: The stadium just got a nice rinse, but the skies appear to be clearing and we're still 2 1/2 hours from kickoff. Some of the Ravens are loosening up on the field. Joe Flacco is playing some light catch. There are even a handful of players kicking a soccer ball around. And the sun just peeked through. Nice.
Comments
Fire Trembley.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 3:54 PM
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm not really Anonymous. LOL
Glad to see you are up and off that couch. Now maybe we'll get a blog from you before 2PM. :)
Go Ravens!! H@ll with the Redskins!
Posted by: Bob F. | August 13, 2009 3:58 PM
Fire Trembley
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:16 PM
And so another Orioles season comes to a merciful end with the beginning of Ravens season. Yes I know they'll technically still be playing for another month and a half. But let's be honest, it hasn't looked like the O's have wanted to play for some time now. At least now I don't have to go through the motions of paying attention like they are going through the motions on the field.
Go Ravens!
Posted by: Harrisburg Bob | August 13, 2009 4:18 PM
Fire Billick!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:25 PM
Curious to see how Troy Smith and Colt Brennan do on their own.
Posted by: Sam | August 13, 2009 4:29 PM
Fire Zorn
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:31 PM
Fire Ryan
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:32 PM
Fire Cam Cameron
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:33 PM
Hey pete it might be very benefical to you as well as everybody else that the ravens start tonight.
Posted by: blancione | August 13, 2009 4:38 PM
Fire Wade Phillips
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:40 PM
Fire Anonymous
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 4:43 PM
Fire Fire
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 5:03 PM
Fire Bruce Boudreau
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 5:26 PM
Fire the NFL executives from the 1970's who decided that season ticket holders MUST purchase exhibition games, too!!
(What? Oh, sorry, Pete Rozelle; I mean 'pre-season' games!)
It certainly wasn't the only reason, but the Colts' insistence of that starting around '73 or '74 helped contribute to the decline of their relationship with the city. Yeah, I know that was 35 years ago, but these games are just as meaningless now as they were then.
Posted by: Thomber Hugoharris | August 13, 2009 5:52 PM
Hey Pete,
Did you see there's a new movie in pre-production called Dinner for Schmucks? It stars Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell. Paul Rudd, one of my favorite actors (really, everyone needs to see his performance in Wet Hot American Summer), made me geek out and almost spit water on the guy in front of me when he was wearing the O's jersey in Knocked Up.
Anyway, you should see if you can get a "cameo."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427152/
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | August 13, 2009 5:54 PM
I won't be able to watch until NFL Network re-airs it tomorrow, but boy oh boy am I excited. I'll see you next year Dave Trembley [well, hopefully not], NFL FOOTBALL IS BACK! HALLELUJAH1
Granted it's only the 1st preseason game, but there will be some key depth chart battles that I'll be looking closely at. Specifically, I want to see Ellerbe in action and see how he compares to the [barely] more seasoned Tavares Gooden and Jameel McClain. One of them will have to slide in next to Ray Lewis when we punish Matt Cassel into a pulp in Week 1, and while I don't think losing Scott was a huge deal, it's still important for that guy to play well.
I'm excited to see all the rookies, particularly Oher, Kruger, Webb, and Drew. I didn't know anything about Webb when we drafted him but by now I'm a huge fan.
Kelly Talavou is ahead of Brandon McKinney on the NT depth chart even though McKinney looked pretty solid for us last year. Definitely want to see what this guy is made of.
Justin Harper has been turning heads, and with Clayton's hammy a problem our #4 wide receiver is going to be an important one because we might just see him on the field in 3 wideout sets this season.
And lastly, I might be the biggest Haruki Nakamura fan out there. Can't wait to see him out there.
Oh, and... Fire Trembley!
Posted by: Ryan K | August 13, 2009 5:55 PM
And, the saga goes on. Soon the smell of burning leaves in the air on crisp fall afternoons, and hope springs eternal now that football season is, apparently, upon us. Wait a minute. What's that I hear, the NL Wild Card First Place Leader, Colorado, decided to cement their hold on the lead by, give me a drum roll please, by calling up Mr. Adam Eaton from AAA. Holly molly Batman. The guy's like the mold inside my bathroom shower. Tried everything to get rid of it, but it keeps coming back.
Posted by: Jay Peterson | August 13, 2009 6:17 PM
Phew!
Finally, a real pro sports franchise starts it's season.
I remember when Baltimore had 3 teams--the Colts, the Bullets, and the . . .
I can't remember the 3rd; you know, the baseball team.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2009 6:42 PM
Phew!
Finally, a real pro sports franchise starts it's season.
I remember when Baltimore had 3 teams--the Colts, the Bullets, and the . . .
I can't remember the 3rd; you know, the baseball team.
Posted by: logiopath | August 13, 2009 6:42 PM