Edited by Larry Harris

... And The Hate Goes On

In the purple-and-black nation, in the heart of the land of Poe and Ray Ray, Ravens fans are preparing for a showdown -- a rivalry unique to this city. It isn't necessarily a storied one or even a game the players and coaches mark on their calendars. But to some Ravens fans, when the Washington Redskins visit M&T Bank Stadium Dec. 7 it will be time for some long-awaited payback to a city and a franchise they have despised for decades.

The bottom line is Baltimore hates D.C., and it seems only natural to assume that disdain would parlay to football fandom.

Hardcore Charm City locals look down on Washington as snooty, martini-sipping yuppies whose pinkies and noses generally point in the same direction. Many Baltimoreans would rather painfully digest a bad crab cake than be lumped in with the folks who reside in the nation's capital.

"Baltimore holds many grudges," said WNST personality and longtime Baltimorean Rob Long. "We're a city with a chip on our shoulder. It's just the way it is."

In many ways, both NFL teams reflect their geographical namesakes. The Ravens are a hard-hitting, lunch pail-toting, passionate bunch that definitely plays with that aforementioned chip. The Redskins, on the other hand, have been labeled as a group of high-profile, money-driven transients, especially during the Dan Snyder era. And the comparisons don't end there.

The Ravens play in a stadium in the heart of the city they call home and the Baltimore skyline towers over the field as a constant reminder of its charm. Washington fans drive out to Landover to take in games miles away from downtown, with the Washington Monument nowhere in sight.

But those parallels aren't exactly what drive Ravens Roosts across Maryland to band together in hatred of the Hogs. It may just go back to when the Colts left in 1984, and that chip on the collective shoulders of Baltimore fans morphed into something much more.

"I simply hated the fact that the NFL forced their team on me when the Colts left town," said Long, who grew up in West Baltimore. "I understand the thinking behind it, but it was just another log in the fire for my hatred."

For the better part of the next decade Baltimore was left in a pigskin-less void, and the NFL and the Redskins certainly didn't speed up the process of football's return. The leaders of Baltimore's attempt to secure an NFL team first publicly accused Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke of undermining the city's efforts to gain an expansion franchise in December 1993.

According to then-Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer and Maryland Stadium Authority chairman Herb Belgrad, the Redskins worked behind the scenes at the NFL's owners meetings in Chicago, at which the league's 30th franchise was awarded to Jacksonville, to keep the league from awarding Baltimore a team.

Schaefer and Belgrad said NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue also hurt Baltimore's expansion chances by telling the owners about Cooke's intention to put the Redskins in Laurel.

"The suggestion of moving the Redskins to Maryland was enough to kill Baltimore's hopes of winning a franchise during the expansion process," Schaefer said at the time.

If any Baltimore sports fan needed another reason to hate D.C., Cooke certainly handed one over on a burgandy and gold platter. So, when the Cleveland Browns announced their intention to move to Baltimore in November 1995, the city had a vehicle for its growing hatred, and it became known as the Ravens.

But as Long said, this may not be the genesis of this sordid affair; many questions remain. Why will Ravens fans save their best trash talk for the Redskins on Dec. 7?

Did the longtime rivalry between these two cities spill over into the sports arena? Or is it jealousy and pride mixed in with a little Jack Kent Cooke that drives Ravens fans to hate their fellow beltway battlers?

"I think a lot of people feel that hate because the Redskins got forced on us when the Colts left," Long said. "However, the hatred for D.C. extends well beyond that and well beyond sports, in my opinion. Baltimoreans feel like we're seen as the 'other' city in the area. D.C. is always the 'pretty sister' who has a great personality."

-- Ben O'Brien 

NOW MCGOWAN CAN GET IT RIGHT

Just for the record, we here on the Front Row weren't nearly as offended as some others when "Baltimore" disappeared from the Orioles' road uniforms about a generation ago, but we're just as happy that dastardly decision has finally been reversed.

Now we can only hope that the REAL travesty can be rectified.

Since everyone on the road will know -- in case there was ever any doubt that the name of this former regional team is the  BALTIMORE Orioles -- do you think there's any chance that public address announcer Dave McGowan will be allowed to introduce the team as such?

It's always bugged us here in the premium seats that, while everyone got all hot and bothered about what the uniforms said when the team was out of town, nobody seemed to mind that the local yocals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards had to hear their team (at least when the Yankees or Red Sox weren't in town) referred to as YOUR Orioles. As if we didn't know. Over and over McGowan's melodic voice has introduced the starting lineup "for YOUR Orioles," the manager of "YOUR Orioles."

Not since the late and revered Rex Barney manned the P.A. system have fans heard the local nine referred to as "your BALTIMORE Orioles," as only Rex could do. They wouldn't put "Baltimore" on the road uniforms and everybody threw a hissy-fit, but night after night people sat in the stands and overlooked the fact that proper identification wasn't even used in their own park. At least not since McGowan has been around.

It was, of course, a subtle way of buying into the marketing of a regional franchise, which led to the demise of Baltimore (just like on the uniforms) shortly after Washington lost a whole lot more than a name when the Senators left for Texas. Jerry Hoffberger, who was as Baltimore-born and bred as any, was the owner when he was convinced by his marketing staff that it would help selling in D.C. if they could sort of ignore the name of the city the team represented.

Edward Bennett Williams, of course, wasn't going to change that when he bought in, keeping alive the threat of a move down I-295, and Eli Jacobs wasn't around long enough to find out what the fuss was all about. And now, finally, with another team secure in Washington, the pressing issue of suitable road uniforms has finally been resolved.

Now can we please "free Dave McGowan." In honor of Rex, if for no other reason, can we hear him say it like it is. 

--Jim Henneman 

ALL-STARS GETTING YOUNGER

In another sign that youth sports are taken far more seriously than in years past, SportsLink and Football University announced last week the creation of an annual Youth All-American Bowl, an all-star game for the nation's best seventh- and eighth-graders that will be played Jan. 4 in San Antonio. 

The first player chosen for the inaugural event has a familiar name -- Ray Lewis. 

Eighth-grader Ray Lewis III, son of the nine-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, was honored with the all-star invitation last week at Lake Mary Preparatory School in Lake Mary, Fla. He recently set a middle school record with five touchdowns in one game.  

"There are currently 3 million youth football players across America," said Rich McGuinness, president of SportsLink. "During Football University Camps, we saw first-hand the talent in the youth arena and we felt it was important, since it has not been done before, to identify the best youth players in the country and create a Youth All-American Game. Like the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on NBC, it gives these top 80 seventh- and eighth-graders a national platform to see how they stack up against one another." 

In addition to practices, there will be skill competitions and sessions with current and former NFL players. The young all-stars will also enjoy VIP status at the Jan. 3 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Shawn Moore, one of the game's organizers, is assisting in player selection and he believes that some of the country's best youth players hail from this area. Coaches are encouraged to nominate players by e-mailing slmoore12@hotmail.com. 

--Buzz Battaglia 

MONROE: NEW SHOT LINE WILL MODIFY DEFENSES   

They have already started hooping it up in college circles and one of the most intriguing questions to be answered this basketball season will be the effect the new three-point line has on the game.

Those long-range bombers now are taking aim from 20 feet, 9 inches or more, a full foot behind last year's line. Still, that may not be a problem for players like Notre Dame's Kyle McAlarney, who has free rein to cut loose the second he crosses the half-court mark. 

The biggest difference, believes UMBC coach Randy Monroe, will be in how the new line changes defenses. "It will definitely spread and alter the defensive outlook," says the big man who took the Retrievers to the NCAA's Big Dance last season. "There will surely be bigger openings in the lane, which makes for more drive opportunities. There will be longer 'close-outs,' advancing the defender toward the shooter."

Still, Monroe says, no one really knows until they start playing the games for real. "All you can do is prepare the team the best you know how. We have some guys who can shoot the long ball and also some who can't. Our job is to capitalize on whatever talents -- and limitations -- our team has. Last year we knew we had several people who could score. You didn't have to be a Phi Beta Kappa to figure that one out."

Monroe, a Philadelphia native who enjoyed seeing the Phillies take the World Series, had a welcome summer rest, but is eager to get back into action. His team, sparked by feisty point guard Jay Greene, is predicted once again to be a force in the America East.

One coach who firmly agrees with Monroe's stance on the new shooting line is Jim Calhoun, boss of the Connecticut crew that is in everyone's preseason top five.  "By cleaning up the lane in college basketball, if we can get kids to move without the basketball, we've probably made a good change," he said.

--Larry Harris   
 
A SONG GONE WRONG IN CRADLE OF LIBERTY

There is no law prohibiting artistic freedom in the USA, but perhaps there should be. More than 50 years of journalism -- all kinds of sports, several genres of music, the police beat, etc. -- were not enough preparation for the terrible embarrassment inflicted upon this country by a performer known as Patti LaBelle before Game 4 of baseball's World Series in Philadelphia Oct. 26. Never has there been a stronger reason to abolish the national anthem before sports events

The mockery this person made of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was truly atrocious, shameful, despicable. Any resemblance between her rendition and the words penned under British fire by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 was more than coincidental; it was accidental. Some of the people who attempt to sing the national anthem before NASCAR races are truly tone-deaf, but they sound like Luciano Pavarotti compared to the contrived bile that LaBelle spewed.

Compounding the horror was the fact this frightful performance was presented in Philadelphia, where resides a proud relic of freedom called the Liberty Bell. City officials should have checked it closely for another crack. LaBelle might as well have torched the flag while she was at it.

--L.H. 
 
SERENA HEADLINES SHRIVER EVENT

After his daughter Serena Williams' thrilling victory at the U.S. Open this year, her ninth career Grand Slam singles title, Richard Williams told reporters, "Her desire is unbelievable. I describe her as being a combination of a pit bulldog, a young Mike Tyson and an alligator." All of which have a reputation of biting things. Gee, thanks, Dad.

During her 13 years on the pro tour, Serena and sister Venus -- whom she teamed with for doubles gold in Beijing -- have earned a reputation of playing by their own rules, on and off the court, and neither could certainly ever be accused of biting one very important thing: someone else's style. When Williams headlines the PNC Tennis Classic at 1st Mariner Arena Nov. 21, she'll be showcasing that Williams-sister style. (And hopefully not biting anyone in the building -- there are usually a lot of kids there.) 

Since 1986, Baltimore native Pam Shriver's annual event has raised more than $4 million for the Baltimore Community Foundation, which disperses the funds among local children's charities. In this year's featured match, which kicks off the evening, Williams will be going up against Elena Dementieva, who captured singles gold for Russia in Beijing, beating Serena in a three-set semifinal. At press time, Williams was ranked third in the world and Dementieva fifth. Williams has won four of their six matches, but Dementieva has won the last two. 

As she does every year, Shriver has roped a couple of Orioles into playing and embarrassing themselves. This year's suckers -- er, good sports -- are center fielder Adam Jones and pitcher Garrett Olson.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the tennis begins at 7 p.m. 

--James Robert Giza 

FROM THE CHEAP SEATS

 • Ah, the injustice of football. On Nov. 9, Drew Brees threw for a whopping 422 yards on 31-for-58 passing. His New Orleans Saints lost by 14. On the same day Jake Delhomme had one of the worst passing days ever recorded in the NFL -- 7-for-27, 72 yards, 4 interceptions. His Carolina Panthers won by 11.

• Haven't the TV boys just about exhausted that "he stuck his foot in the ground" line?

• Lines to remember from Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle after covering another Raiders debacle: "It was like working the loser's locker room at a bullfight."

• Can't beat athletes for expanding the language. Shaq O'Neal says people love his "quotatiousness." Dale Earnhardt Jr. says fans applaud him for his "awesomeness."

--L.H.

Issue 131: November 2008