baltimoresun.com sports blogs

Sherrill bounces back [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T22:12:55-07:00

George Sherrill didn't make it look easy, but he got it done. He was 0-2 on all three hitters in the ninth inning, but gave up a leadoff single and a pretty hard-hit ball for the game-ending double play. Both Sherrill and Jim Johnson had to battle tonight in the first game the two of them were reunited since Wednesday's ninth-inning collapse. In both innings, the Angels were one swing away from tying the game, but the O's held on to even the four-game series at a game apiece. For those fans who wonder whether Brian Roberts wants to play, there were a couple of situations where it was pretty obvious he wanted this game. He scored from first on that long single by Nick Markakis and almost did a somersault to get his hand on the plate. He also decoyed baserunner Bobby Abreu on that big chopper that Johnson fielded acrobatically and flipped to second for a huge force out.

Hernandez: Early hook? [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T21:26:41-07:00

If you're going to say Dave Trembley just took out David Hernandez too soon, I suggest you do it right now, because I'm not accepting any second-guesses after Jim Johnson finishes the inning (or doesn't). You don't get the benefit of hindsight this time. Hernandez was right at about 100 pitches and he walked Chone Figgins with two outs and Bobby Abreu coming up. The change was automatic, but we'll see how it turns out. Instant update: That was quick. I'm wondering why Mike Scioscia went to the hit and run in that situation, if that was what it was, because Matt Wieters' great throw cost the Angels a chance for their hottest hitter to put a big dent in the three-run lead against a setup guy who might be little tentative after Wednesday's ninth-inning collapse.

Hernandez: Poised under pressure [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T21:15:02-07:00

Sometimes, I think you learn more about a pitcher during his more vulnerable moments, and I think that might have been the case tonight in the fourth inning after he faltered briefly with a 6-0 lead. It was an important juncture in the game, especially in the wake of two disappointing losses in a row. Hernandez was cruising before Juan Rivera's two-out double. He quickly walked Kendry Morales and then gave up his first run of the game on a flyball double by Macier Izturis. Right there, the game was hanging in the balance. If Hernandez wilts and the Angels get one more hit to cut the six-run lead in half, the shift in momentum would have been dynamic. Instead, he made a very good 1-0 pitch to Jeff Mathis to get out of the inning. He showed some toughness there and he has been better than his numbers so far this year. Late to the party: I didn't tune into this game until the third inning because I went to see the new gangster flick Public Enemies. It was fun and Johnny Depp's take on Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger was interesting, but I was a little disappointed that the movie focused so heavily on Dillinger, who has been portrayed in several previous films. The book that the screenplay was based upon was a far more wide-ranging look at the high-profile outlaws of that time. I wish this new take on the era would have developed those characters a little more.

There’s no quit in Jeff Jarrett on TNA Impact [Ring Posts]

2009-07-03T14:42:09-07:00

I want to preface this entry by saying that I like Jeff Jarrett as a performer. While there are many “smart” fans who think he’s overrated and that his pushes have been more about politics than ability, I actually think he gets a bad rap. Jarrett has always been a good worker, and while he has never been a huge box office draw, he is a star. With that being said, however, Jarrett gave those who criticize him for using his position as TNA founder to excessively push himself plenty of ammunition on Thursday night’s episode of Impact.

Reimold Rookie of the Month [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T12:59:31-07:00

Congratulations to Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold for being named Gillette American League Rookie of the Month for June, a month in which he batted .320 with four home runs, nine RBI, 13 runs and 13 walks. He also impressed with a .520 slugging percentage and a .420 on-base percentage. Despite his delayed arrival in the majors this season, Reimold is considered a top early candidate for AL Rookie of the Year honors, and might be going head-to-head with teammate Brad Bergesen, who also joined the team after Opening Day. If you want an early favorite for next month's rookie award, Bergesen might be a good bet, since he opened the month on Wednesday with that impressive eight-inning, four-hit performance against the Red Sox.

CM Punk keeps his eye on the prize on WWE Superstars [Ring Posts]

2009-07-03T11:33:45-07:00

So was world heavyweight champion CM Punk’s left eye partially closed at the end of Thursday’s episode of WWE Superstars because it was injured, or was he really winking at us because he had just pulled another fast one? Punk, who suffered the (kayfabe) eye injury at last Sunday’s Bash pay-per-view, aggravated it during his non-title match with Edge Thursday. After Edge raked his eyes, Punk told the referee that he couldn’t continue, and Edge was awarded the match via forfeit.

Weekly recruiting roundup [Recruiting Report]

2009-07-03T07:37:56-07:00

While the Maryland staff continues to focus its attention on the 2010 recruiting class, there could be a last-minute addition to the 2009-10 UM roster. InsideMDSports.com reported that Matt Pilgrim, a junior power forward from Kentucky, was planning an official visit to College Park this week. Pilgrim, 6 feet 8, spent his first two years of college at Hampton before transferring to Kentucky last year. After sitting out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Pilgrim would have been eligible to suit up for the Wildcats this coming season. When John Calipari was hired to replace Billy Gillispie in Lexington, Pilgrim -- according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal -- was told there wouldn’t be a scholarship available for him at UK. According to a source close to the situation, Calipari and Josh Pastner are working together to bring Pilgrim to Memphis. Calipari, the source said, will support Pilgrim's case to the NCAA. Though Pilgrim said he probably wouldn't make a commitment until he sits down with his family, he acknowledged the urgency of picking a new school so that he can start the appeal process. Pilgrim has also visited Oklahoma State. Here’s a quick video clip of Pilgrim playing with Hampton against, coincidentally enough, Maryland in the 2007 CBE Classic at Comcast Center. The Terps edged Pilgrim’s Pirates, 70-64. Pilgrim finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Check out Testudo Times for more on Pilgrim. • Former Maryland shooting guard target Lance Stephenson has finally found a home. The five-star prospect committed to Cincinnati on Tuesday. "We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," head coach Mick Cronin said. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a Big East Championship. "As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability and versatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season." • Terps point guard commitment Terrell Stoglin has fared well in the Tucson (Ariz.) Summer Pro League, according to league director and former Arizona player Corey Williams. "I don't really follow high school basketball at all," he said. "There's some good, talented kids in town. It's been surprising to me to see these kids come out and play very well against grown men." Over three games, Stoglin has scored 32 points on 56 percent shooting. • Maryland power forward targets C.J. Leslie and Terrence Jones stood out at Nike’s Vince Carter Skills Academy in Orlando last weekend. ESPN.com’s Paul Biancardi listed Leslie as the No. 3 best scorer in camp. Leslie is an explosive, active athlete who is a big-time finisher when he gets in the paint. He has a quick first step to the basket; he stays low on the drive to finish high above the rim. He gets points from finishing dump-off passes from his teammates' penetration along with climbing on the offensive glass. Jones checked in at No. 1 on Biancardi’s best slasher list. This lefty is a physical specimen who drives the ball with explosive strength and overpowers defenders on his way to the basket. A good percentage of his points come from the free throw line because he is so strong and attacks the basket on the drive and from the post. • MaxPreps.com ranked Terps power forward target Tobias Harris No. 8 on its list of New York male athletes of the year. The 6-8 forward missed most of the first half of his junior season with a severe ankle injury but returned with a vengeance to lead the run to a victory over Triche and Jamesville-DeWitt for the Federation Class A crown. Harris averaged 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds after arriving at Lutheran as a summer transfer. College suitors -- and just about anybody that matters would like to recruit him -- will find Harris back at Half Hollow Hills West, where he averaged 29 points as a sophomore on a 22-2 season; Harris transferred back there during Easter break. Football recruiting • Maryland defensive back recruit Avery Graham has been named The Gazette’s boys track Athlete of the Year. Outstanding at Class 2A state meet, scoring or contributing to 40 of team's 76 points. Captured gold medals in 100, 200, two sprint relays, lifting Clarksburg to first state team title. • The Washington Post’s Recruiting Insider reports that Friendship Collegiate (D.C.) offensive tackle Earl Johnson was offered a scholarship by Maryland last week. While he'll likely need to add plenty of weight to transition to a college tackle, Johnson also plays defensive end for Friendship, which has sent several players to low-level Division I programs the past couple of years, but hasn't been able to attract the attention of larger schools like Maryland. • The Terps lost out on offensive guard Daquan Jones earlier this week when the three-star prospect committed to Penn State. Jones (6-4, 300) is from Johnson City, N.Y. He also had offers from Pitt, Boston College, Syracuse, Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers and Connecticut.

What's Scioscia thinking? [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T23:43:14-07:00

Angels manager Mike Scioscia just removed John Lackey from the game after eight innings, even though Lackey had given up just four hits and struck out seven. That's pretty much the same pitching line that Brad Bergesen had in Wednesday's game -- 8 IP, 4H, 6K -- and a lot of people here think Dave Trembley should have been fired for making essentially the same decision Scioscia just made. Okay, I'll give you this. Lackey had thrown 11 more pitches than Bergesen, but he disposed of the Orioles in short order in the eighth. I'm sure the Orioles were happy to see him go, though closer Brian Fuentes is no slouch. Bonus gripe: By the way, if I hear another replay of Gary Thorne saying "Look what I found" and "Lucky Lackey" after that line drive by Adam Jones, I'm going to kick my TV. That wasn't a lucky play. That was a great reflex play by Lackey. The ball obviously came back near where his glove stopped at the end of his delivery, but he reacted and moved the glove into position to make the catch. The Angels played terrific defense all night long. The Orioles played good defense, too, but they lost the game because they were unable to station an outfielder in the second row of the right field bleachers.

Cub fan hungers for win streak [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T23:41:24-07:00

Just when I thought Orioles fans were getting a little too emotionally involved with the team, this story surfaced about a Cubs fan who has announced he will go on a 500-calorie-per-day diet until the lovable losers from the Windy City reel off a five-game winning streak. It's not exactly a hunger strike. The guy, 53-year-old Daniel Kamen of Buffalo Grove, Ill., can probably squeeze a couple of Lean Cuisine frozen entrees out of that 500-calorie limit, but it's the thought that counts. The Cubs need a little extra motivation. They're sitting right on .500 (38-38) in the wide-open NL Central, which may have something to do with the number of calories Kamen will allow himself until the Cubs win five straight or the season ends. Of course, it's a lot easier to lose weight when you're an Orioles fan. You just watch a game like the one on Wednesday and you don't feel like eating for a week.

Does Michael Bisping have a shot against Dan Henderson? [MMA Insider]

2009-07-02T23:26:59-07:00

The consensus seems to be no. He’s the biggest underdog of the three main fights at UFC 100 (according to Vegas) and most pro fighters are taking Hendo in that fight. I think Henderson has been less than impressive in his last two bouts. The nicest moves he had against Rich Franklin were illegal (eye poke, head butt) and even that was a controversial win. And he’s no spring chicken at age 39.

Bisping has good stand-up and has never been stopped. His only loss is a split-decision to Rashad Evans. Of course, there’s also the phantom win over Matt Hamill, which should’ve been a loss. Still, he's a younger guy with a promising future. He should be a good threat for Henderson, right?

When you compare the resumes of the two it’s not even close. Henderson’s reads like a who’s who of MMA legends. Just in the UFC he’s fought Anderson Silva, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rich Franklin. Three legends in four fights and if you go back to his PRIDE days the list goes on and on and on.

I think you can make a case for Alves. I think you can make a case for Mir (although not as much as some think). So, maybe it does make sense that Bisping is the biggest underdog of the three.

(Dan Henderson photo courtesy of Zuffa, Inc.)

Guthrie gives in [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T20:38:56-07:00

Well, what exactly did you expect? Jeremy Guthrie has been extremely vulnerable to the long ball this year, and Bobby Abreu apparently has his number. It would have been nice, however, if Guthrie had changed speeds just once in that at-bat, which almost certainly cost the Orioles this game. He threw Abreu two fastballs outside to get ahead 0-2 on the count, then came inside with a third straight fastball and it got the NASA treatment for the second time in the game. The pitch was right where Matt Wieters asked for it. It was right where Guthrie wanted it. Abreu put a great swing on it. That happens, but when it happens this much to the same guy, it's fair to ask why it keeps happening.

The streak ends [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T19:53:40-07:00

Robert Andino's third-inning single ended a string of 32 straight outs by the Orioles offense, or the equivalent of a 10 2/3-inning perfect game since Ty Wigginton homered to open the fourth inning yesterday. Angels starter John Lackey looks nasty, but so does Jeremy Guthrie, whose breaking stuff is pretty sharp. He just completed his third scoreless inning, but it remains to be seen if he can stare down Lackey into the late innings.

What's up with Melvin? [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T18:21:38-07:00

Dave Trembley is sitting Melvin for the second straight game after replacing him with Oscar Salazar, who pinch hit for him on Tuesday night and hit a game-changing home run. I don't think anything's up with Melvin, other than the fact that he hasn't hit a home run since May 7 and has just six extra-base hits since then...all doubles. Ty Wigginton has been more productive of late and the Orioles are going to need all the offensive punch they can muster in the four-game series against the Angels that starts tonight in Anaheim with a matchup between Jeremy Guthrie and John Lackey. The big question, really, is how Melvin is going to handle this. He can't be happy to get benched, and I wouldn't be surprised if Trembley sends Wigginton out there a lot more regularly over the next few weeks. This is a difficult situation that could get a lot more difficult in the near future. Stay tuned. Tonight's game is a gut check for a lot of people, especially Guthrie. The Orioles need to rebound quickly from Wednesday's horrible loss, and the first-place Angels aren't likely to be very cooperative. Meanwhile, in the Sports section: My latest "News item" column went up a little while ago and you can read it here. I managed to get soccer into the first item, which should pique everybody's interest. Getty Images

Gary Williams and Tiger Woods [Tracking the Terps]

2009-07-02T17:59:58-07:00

Any basketball player can miss, say, nine shots in a row. What sets the good ones apart is that they don't unravel. They compose themselves and find the confidence and focus and fortitude to convert the 10th if the situation demands it.

That ability -- to regain one's footing, to stay in the moment -- is the essence of one of the questions Gary Williams was asking Tiger Woods the other day.

Williams and Chick Hernandez had the opportunity to question Woods on Comcast SportsNet at the AT&T National.

Said Williams: "In basketball, you have to move on to the next play. You can yell at a referee -- every once in awhile I'll do that. But the next play is happening while you do that."

Woods said he'll look at the scenery, gauge the wind and begin assessing the next shot. The key is not to get stuck reliving a difficult moment.

Williams said he heard that Woods' father told his son he had 12 steps to forget a botched shot.

Said Woods: "It was his way of saying, 'Get over it.'"

Handout photo courtesy of Comcast SportsNet.

Today's featured comment [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T13:14:54-07:00

There have been a lot of angry comments on this blog over the past 24 hours, but our olde friend Oldetoys probably speaks for a lot of fans who flipped their lids after yesterday's frustrating late-inning collapse. Of course (sarcasm alert) I agree with everything Oldetoys has to say here: Oldetoys take: So let me get this straight....Trembley doesn't even have to answer for this BS? Well, what about leaving Baez in for 1/3rd of an inning to give up 5 runs? And what about leaving Hill in for 3 1/3rd innings to give up 7 runs? And on and on. This "manager" has utterly no sense of when to pull a pitcher and he should be managing? Sherrill and Baez trade talk? Could our dreams be coming true. Dump the deadwood once and for all. Bring in the kids. And why shouldn't the fans be ragging on management for the past 11 years. The O's have sucked for the past 11 years and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Winning season in 2010? Forget it. You have to dump the deadwood first and that includes a "no clue" manager. Man, you don't see Francona leaving guys in until they're smeared. Pete's reply: Actually, you did see Francona leave Masterson and Okajima in to get smeared on Tuesday night and let Josh Beckett get hammered in the early innings yesterday, but, hey, you're on a roll, as the guy said in Animal House. I think you're right. The minute a manager has, say, five decisions go against him, then he should be fired. Let's not take into account anything else. Let's just look at the wins and losses, because if you go back to the spring, you know that if Dave had managed better, the Orioles would be in first place right now. He's probably cost them 25 wins already with his horrible managing. This team was poised to win it all and he has single-handedly screwed it up. Oh, and while we're at it, lets dump the deadwood All-Star closer. He's a total stiff because he only saved 15 of his last 16. You're right on the money.

Q&A with Torrie Wilson [Ring Posts]

2009-07-02T13:10:38-07:00

I conducted a phone interview Wednesday with former WWE diva Torrie Wilson, who talked about her runner-up finish last week on the NBC reality show I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, as well as her negative experience doing the divas battle royal at WrestleMania XXV last April. So, what’s the first you did when you got back home after three weeks or so in the jungle in Costa Rica? When I arrived at my house I had a very small party with my closest friends and family and I ate some vanilla cake. I’m sure it tasted good to you. Man it was delicious. What was the toughest part about being in the jungle and what was the toughest challenge that you had to do? I think the toughest part about being there was that some of the personalities were clashing, so it was difficult at times to get along with everybody. And, of course, the eating was really difficult. The hardest challenge – there was one where we stuck our head in something [a glass case filled with snakes]. I was really glad I didn’t get the tarantulas. Spencer and Heidi Pratt and Janice Dickinson came off as incredibly annoying. What was it like being in the jungle with them?

The day after [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T11:09:34-07:00

The nice thing about baseball is that, usually, you only have to suffer from a bad loss for one day. But even the schedule has added to the pain that Orioles fans are feeling after Wednesday's bullpen collapse. The Orioles came back from a nine-run deficit to make history on Tuesday night, but a lot of fans didn't even know it until a few hours before Wednesday's afternoon series finale. Conversely, following yesterday's horrendous once-in-a-season loss, they had the rest of the day to wallow in it and now have all day today, since the club plays on the West Coast late tonight. That's just not fair. I wonder if Dave had anything to do with making the schedule. Probably.

Monroe discusses Maryland pledge [Recruiting Report]

2009-07-02T10:23:16-07:00

After Maryland wrapped up its 2009 recruiting class, one of the Terps’ first junior scholarship offers went out to St. John’s College (D.C.) defensive tackle Andre Monroe. The 5-foot-11, 290-pounder thought about making an early commitment, but decided to go through the recruiting process for a little while. That ended Tuesday night, when Monroe committed to the Terps. “It feels great knowing that I’m committed and they were at the top of my list the whole time,” Monroe said. “It feels great and I feel relief, getting it out of the way before the season so I can concentrate on my senior year.” After Maryland offered, New Mexico, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (OH) and Ohio followed suit with scholarships of their own. Other major schools expressed interest, and Monroe took visits to Pittsburgh, Duke and North Carolina. But the Terps remained his only BCS-conference offer. St. John’s coach Joe Patterson thinks there’s a simple explanation for Monroe’s relatively low-profile recruitment. “[Monroe’s height] was the only thing you ever heard anyone talking about ... as far as any issues he may have had,” Patterson said. “If he had been a couple of inches taller, I’m sure he would’ve been a national recruit.” The Maryland staff first saw Monroe at a summer football camp before his sophomore year. Whenever a Terps coach went to a St. John’s game last season to check out offensive line recruit Pete White, Monroe inevitably played his way into their consciousness. Patterson said Monroe’s junior film led to the early UM offer. “Andre is as productive as anyone I’ve ever had,” Patterson said. “Teams had to scheme around him. ... He reminds me, as far as being a playmaker, of Tony Tucker, who’s a defensive end for Pittsburgh. I think Andre brings a whole different range of skills just because he has such a tremendously low center of gravity and he uses his body so well. And he’s got incredibly strong legs. That package [is tough to come by].” Monroe and White used to car-pool together to St. John’s, and the two are admittedly close. But Monroe said his former and future teammate never put pressure on him to commit to the Terps. “He threw his input in there,” Monroe said. “But he wasn’t trying to do it really hard like all the coaches were. He explained to me that he went through the process, too. He showed me how sometimes the pressure can get to you, and he didn’t want [me to go through] some of the things that happened to him.” When Monroe arrives in College Park in 2010, he’ll have a chance to go up against White in practice again on a daily basis. Monroe said he’s excited to suit up for the program that believed in him from the start. For the rest of the summer, he’s committed to making his senior season a memorable one. “Right now I’ll keep working out and continue to get better, spend more time with my teammates to make sure we’re together to have a successful season and win a championship.”

The end of the Born Ready saga [Tracking the Terps]

2009-07-02T06:41:27-07:00

Schools were once dazzled by Lance Stephenson, New York State's boys career scoring leader. Maryland took a long, hard look. So did many others.

But, one by one, schools pulled out of the running. The Baltimore Sun reported on June 15 that Maryland was no longer recruiting him.

Colleges were wary of the recruit in part because of an Internet reality series called Born Ready. Some schools worry the NCAA may question an athlete's involvement with such a site. There was also concern about a misdemeanor sexual assault charge.

But there will always be a suitor for a basketball talent as enticing as Stephenson. And yesterday, Stephenson found his match. He will play for the University of Cincinnati.

"We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said in a written statement. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player, and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a BIG EAST Championship."

More from Cronin: "As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability and versatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season."

Mothers Day "massacre" revisited [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-01T14:11:18-07:00

It's hard not to see the similarities between today's ninth-inning collapse and the infamous Mothers Day loss in which Jeremy Guthrie pitched eight shutout innings against the Red Sox in 2007 and was removed by then-manager Sam Perlozzo. That time, the O's led 5-0. This time, with Brad Bergesen cruising, they led 5-1 and he didn't seem much worse for the wear. The Red Sox won both games, 6-5, though the Mothers Day game was a walkoff win in Boston. So, let the debate begin. I'll try to be consistent. I thought Trembley was going to take Bergesen out with two outs in the eighth, but Bergesen talked him into staying out there and got the last out of the inning. I knew, after that, he was not coming out to pitch the ninth. Jim Johnson was warmed up and needed to pitch. Of course, we all know now he should have left Bergesen in, but I'll stick to the same reasoning I used the last time this happened. The manager has a right to believe his two top bullpen guys will hold a four-run lead for one inning. The likelihood of losing that game -- even for the Orioles --factors out to about one time in a whole season, so choosing to be conservative with your most consistent pitcher on a hot afternoon isn't stupid and isn't reason to call for the managers head. It would have been a great win, but it wasn't. Give the Red Sox an ounce of credit just like you wish they would have given the Orioles a little on Tuesday night. Then try to put this thing out of your mind, because replaying it will drive you crazy. Radio plug: On second thought, let it fester for awhile and join me at six for Sportsline on WBAL (1090 AM) and we'll agonize over it together. I'll be taking your calls and giving you a chance to vent on another very frustrating day to be an Orioles fan. If you're out of signal range, of course, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Rough start for new-look ECW [Ring Posts]

2009-07-01T13:47:46-07:00

With Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne and The Hart Dynasty having graduated with honors from ECW, a new class of young talent debuted on the show Tuesday night. Four performers from the Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory – Yoshi Tatsu, Abraham Washington, Sheamus and Tyler Reks – appeared on the program. It’s always exciting to see fresh faces, but it may have been too much to throw at the audience all at once. The combination of all the unfamiliar characters, a train wreck interview segment and a stupid booking decision regarding Shelton Benjamin made for one of the worst episodes of ECW in quite a while.

Bergesen goes eight [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-01T12:43:50-07:00

Dave Trembley went out to talk to Brad Bergesen with two outs in the eighth inning and everybody assumed he was bringing the hook. Instead, he had a quick conversation and walked off the mound to a huge ovation. Dave should do that more often. He certainly hears plenty from the other side of the aisle. Bergesen then got the last out of the inning with one pitch. He has been borderline unbelievable, getting the club to the seventh inning or later in his last seven consecutive starts with a sparkling 2.06 ERA over those seven starts (52 1/3 innings).

Let's get it started [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-01T11:52:05-07:00

Orioles public relations guru Jeff Lantz just pointed out that the Orioles leadoff hitter has reached base in each of the first four innings and in each of those cases, the runner has scored. In other words, getting the leadoff guy on apparently is a pretty good idea. Community Service update: OriolesREACH, the club's community relations arm, announced at a pregame news conference a new program in conjunction with the Baltimore City Public Schools to support education initiatives for the city's youth. The summer learning program -- entitled Learning with the Orioles -- will help nearly 14,000 students at 84 elementary and middle schools.

Nick the Stick continues to click [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-01T11:32:50-07:00

Nick Markakis, whose two-run double off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon made the difference in Tuesday night's miracle comeback, apparently cannot be intimidated by hard-nosed starter Josh Beckett either. With runners at first and third and one out in the third, Markakis fell behind 0-2 on the count, but fouled off several pitches before lacing a double into the right field corner to score both runs -- Brian Roberts streaking around third and sliding home with the Orioles' fourth run of the game. Beckett has given up so much hard contact that pitching coach John Farrell just went to the mound to talk to him before Luke Scott came up for the second time. And Beckett clearly wanted no part of Scott with Markakis at third, pitching carefully to a 3-0 count before intentionally walking him to bring Nolan Reimold to the plate.

Friedgen, Franklin and the $1M Promise [Tracking the Terps]

2009-07-01T09:02:26-07:00

I have a story today about how long Ralph Friedgen might remain as head coach – and how his current thinking squares with the school’s “coach-in-waiting” agreement with offensive coordinator James Franklin.

There is a bit of a discrepancy here – which is one reason I wrote the story (i.e., to try to make sense of the situation).

Fridge says he’s not trying to set a record for coaching longevity. He says he won’t be Joe Paterno. But he doesn’t seem to want to be limited to three years. He talks generally about coaching three to five more years. He says he might be tempted to stay past 2012 if the Terps go to the Orange Bowl in, say, 2011.

But Maryland has a contract with Franklin that says the university is liable to Franklin for $1 million if Friedgen remains head coach beyond Jan. 2, 2012.

So how do you reconcile these two things?

One way would be for Franklin – who has passed up opportunities in the NFL and at other colleges -- to simply remain as offensive coordinator if Fridge stays on and therefore not exercise his right to claim the $1 million. Another way would be for Friedgen and Franklin to agree to amend the timetable, provided the school’s administration agrees.

Here’s a quote from Athletic Director Debbie Yow that didn’t appear in the story about the $1 million promise to Franklin:

“We have a legal obligation at this point in the document to (pay) that. If Ralph wanted to have that conversation with him, that has to be an agreement they would have that changes the document.There could always be a conversation – of course – between the two of them.,” Yow said.

Atholton's Robinson talks Terps commitment [Recruiting Report]

2009-07-01T06:23:47-07:00

In June 1999, Derry (Pa.) Area offensive lineman Kyle Schmitt landed a scholarship offer from the Maryland football program and promptly accepted. Ten years later, Atholton wide receiver-defensive back Matt Robinson found himself in a similar position as Schmitt -- his new coach -- once did. On Monday, Robinson decided to follow in Schmitt’s footsteps and commit to the Terps. “It just feels good to know where I’m going,” Robinson said. “I’ve been following the team for awhile. They’ve always been a big school in my mind that I wanted to go to.” As a junior, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Robinson was a first-team All-Howard County selection after catching 15 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 74 tackles, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Despite Robinson’s best efforts, Atholton struggled to a 3-7 season. When Atholton decided to make a coaching change last spring, the 27-year-old Schmitt was tabbed for the job, fresh off a two-year stint as a Maryland graduate assistant. While Schmitt’s Maryland ties run deep, the former UM offensive line stalwart stayed impartial throughout Robinson’s recruitment. “I didn’t try to sway him in any way,” Schmitt said. “Me being a Terp player and former coach, I didn’t want that to come into play. Obviously, I’m glad Matt chose Maryland. I think it’s a great program. But I’m happy he’s close to home. His family can see him play, and that’s why I’m thrilled with Matt. He’s ready to do it.” For the past four months, Robinson’s received a free preview of what football might be like in College Park. Schmitt has adopted many of the Terps’ coaching and training methods in his brief tenure with the Raiders. “It’s been really good,” Robinson said. “We’re running all the same stuff Maryland does, really. We’ve got this whole new workout plan. It’s really legit.” It’s likely that Robinson will start his college career as an H-back, though there’s also the potential for him to play safety. Schmitt thinks that versatility is one of Robinson’s greatest strengths. “Right know he’s open to playing anywhere, and I think that’s what Maryland liked about him, and that’s what I love about him,” Schmitt said. “I think he could grow to 230, 240 pounds. He’s one of the top five hardest workers on our team right now. ... I think Matt’s best football is in front of him; it’s not even close. Maryland saw that as well. The unknown with Matt might be his best quality. There’s a lot of potential there that’s untapped right now.” With offers from Fordham, James Madison, Massachusetts, Old Dominion and Stony Brook, it’s safe to say Robinson floated under the radar of most college football recruiters. Schmitt, however, cautions Maryland fans to overlook recruiting rankings when it comes to Robinson’s game. “I told Matt, ‘Maryland knows you better than any school in the country.’ ... The more they saw him, the more they liked him. ... He makes plays, he’s got excellent ball skills for a guy his age and he’s a smart player. Matt’s going to be a productive player. There’s no doubt in my mind.” Robinson’s similarly confident that he’ll live up to the Maryland staff’s expectations. “I work hard and I can bring a lot to the table,” Robinson said. “I never quit.”

Thoughts on the WWE trade [Ring Posts]

2009-06-30T19:43:31-07:00

Here are my takes on each brand’s acquisitions in the 15-wrestler trade that WWE announced Monday. RAW Evan Bourne (from ECW): The good news for Bourne is that he’s now on WWE’s top-rated show. The potential bad news is that he could get lost in the shuffle with so many big names on the roster. He may have been better off spending another year on ECW and possibly getting a title run there. A program with The Brian Kendrick could be interesting (if Kendrick can get back on television).

Many college refs not paid in 2009 [Re: Lax]

2009-06-30T11:47:15-07:00

When the firm that assigns and pays referees for a large portion of college lacrosse games defaulted on payments to the officials this spring, it wasn’t an issue that reached the fans or the media. In early June, the season was over, but John Powers of the Boston Globe broke the story, directly affecting about a dozen schools in the paper’s coverage area. I started calling around to see if the refs were paid and which schools were affected locally. The company that owns the AssignByWeb service is called PaymentsFirst. They are in Philadelphia and serviced many schools and conferences in many sports for five years before 2008. Some of their reported customers are/were Quinnipiac, MIT, Mount St. Mary's, York, Johns Hopkins, Amherst, Colby, Army and Navy. They had a contract with conferences like the ECAC and even the college lacrosse oversight body, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. More than 50 lacrosse-playing schools had paid in advance but were, in fact, not paying the referees that called the games. The USILA has used the AssignByWeb service for a few years. As you can see in this excerpt below from the USILA Web site, the proposed services were valuable and less expensive that previous methods of assigning and paying lacrosse’s college referees. Section II. On-Line Services - The USILA has contracted with assignbyweb.com to provide online services. 1. Services include: A) Posting all game assignments by date and school B) Posting all post game officials evaluations C) Posting all costs associated with officials fees and travel 2. This replaces the ECAC Program used in 2004 & 2005, at savings of over $15, 000 per year. 3. This new system will allow DAA's to precisely judge officials' travel to allow scheduling to be done with school expenses in mind. The system was working. AssignByWeb was paid in advance by the schools to administer and pay the referees who officiated their lacrosse games. By the way the story goes, the company was paying out to each season with the fees from the next season. When they hit the summer season with no college sports going on, they ran out of money and the spring referees did not get paid. In fact, referees in winter sports stopped getting paid in January when the problem was reported to the ECAC and the USILA along with the individual colleges in many cases. Powers reported that the USILA “alerted the Athletic Directors of its member schools in mid-April, telling them that it was clear they couldn't expect payment from the company and asking them to pay the officials directly.” College referees make between $150 and 250 per game plus mileage. And many of them did. Many of the schools were horrified that the refs were not paid and felt swindled by the company that had their money and would not release it to the referees. Many of the schools started paying the referees the wages they were owed and then manually for the games remaining in 2009. They were back to cutting checks and assigning refs and out the $5,000 or more they each had to deposit with AssignByWeb for the services they did not receive. Roy Condon, USILA's district assigner for New England told Powers that "at least a third [of the schools] have already paid. Another third are sending out W-9s [tax forms]. And probably another third are awaiting a legal response." As it turns out, PaymentsFirst was not authorized by the state of Pennsylvania to transmit money and has been prohibited from operating until it receives a license, according to Powers. I have copies of some of the e-mails flowing back and forth between schools and referees and have seen evidence of schools attempting to pay the referees promptly, but others have claimed that payment would be forthcoming but they do not know when. They have mentioned possible litigation against PaymentsFirst and have noted the inconvenience this has caused all of the parties. The only problem with the wait-and-see approach is that the referees don’t work for PaymentsFirst and should have been paid immediately after the situation was brought to the attention of the schools. In some cases, the schools kept requesting referees after the problem surfaced and still did not promptly pay them. If the school knows at some point that the ref is not being paid and still assigns the ref without making some other arrangement for payment, then they are somewhat complicit in the offense against the referee, regardless of their initial victim status. I should have to explain this to institutions of higher learning? I won’t name the schools that I’ve been told have not made payments even now, as we end the month of June, but fully expect them to do the right thing.

Does Lesnar cheapen UFC 100 for purists? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-30T11:14:09-07:00

The UFC has been building up UFC 100 for months. It’s a topic that was on the minds of fans and media members for months before. It’s being billed by the UFC as the biggest event they have ever had.

So, with that in mind, how much does it offend MMA purists to see Brock Lesnar in the main event of this card? With his pro wrestling background and the fact that he got a title shot after going 1-1 in his first two UFC fights, he had his haters from the beginning.

Is this just more salt in the wound, having a former pro wrestler with less than 10 MMA fights headlining the biggest card in UFC history as the heavyweight champ? Or have fans finally accepted Lesnar?

It’s hard to deny he’s one of the top fighters in the division after his destruction of Randy Couture, so maybe fans have finally accepted that Lesnar is here to stay. The guy is still raw in a lot of areas but he’s got amazing strengths in his game as well. There’s no denying he’s good for the sport, as he’s a huge PPV draw.

After the UFC was forced to move the Mir-Lesnar fight, it was just smart marketing to put it at UFC 100. With Mir coming off a big win and with the revenge factor surrounding this fight for Lesnar, it’s got to be one of the easiest main events to market.

At the same time, though, you’ve got Georges St. Pierre fighting Thiago Alves for the welterweight championship. The GSP bandwagon has been growing exponentially and it looks like St. Pierre could be the new face of the UFC after Liddell’s fade from the limelight.

What better way to reaffirm that then to make his fight the main event at UFC 100? Alves is a more than worthy contender and that should be a heck of a fight. Lesnar’s fight will be interesting as well, but that’s more because we’re still trying to find out what holes Lesnar has in his game -- not because it’s a fight between two guys near their primes as fighter.

I don’t think the Lesnar main event cheapens UFC 100, but I am curious what the purists think on the topic.

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, Inc.)

Calvert Hall's Jackson headed to Navy [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-30T09:11:02-07:00

The odds were stacked against Donya Jackson from the start. That the Calvert Hall small forward is still in high school, let alone excelling on the court and off, is an unbelievable achievement. That the 6-foot-4, 200-pound rising senior is going to college, let alone an institution like the Naval Academy, is borderline miraculous. Jackson, who committed to Navy two weekends ago, was born in Baltimore, spent several years in New York and returned before middle school to the Pumphrey section of Anne Arundel County and later South Baltimore. As a seventh grader at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Brooklyn, Jackson said he was skipping school and staying out late. “All the guys in my family have went to jail or sold drugs,” Jackson said. “A lot of women in my family used drugs. ... Right now I should be somewhere dealing drugs or in jail, because that’s the path that was set up for me.” In Jackson’s seventh-grade year, a chance meeting changed everything. William Russell, the basketball coach at Benjamin Franklin (now called Masonville Cove Community Academy), saw Jackson in a sparsely attended middle school play. The two met after the show and struck up a friendship. Russell invited the 5-7 Jackson to join his team. “It was the first time he ever played. He couldn’t dribble the ball and he couldn’t shoot,” Russell recalled with a laugh. Jackson bought in to Russell’s philosophy and made his mark early on defense. Off the court, Russell began to discover the harsh realities of Jackson’s upbringing. At the time, Jackson was living in Brooklyn with his aunt. Russell offered to take the 12-year-old Jackson into his home. The arrangement suited both parties well, and Russell adopted Jackson the following year, subsequently changing the course of his life. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do right; it was that I didn’t have anyone pushing me, somebody with their foot in my butt,” Jackson said. “When I went with my father, he had a lot of structure. There was no coming home in the wee hours of the night. He had to know where I was, who I was with, when I was there. He had to know everything. ... So going with him helped me a lot. The will to do right was always there. I just needed someone to guide me on the right path.” Jackson spent his freshman year of high school at Northwestern, where he played on the junior varsity team. He transferred to Calvert Hall the following year. As a junior, Jackson averaged 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He was honored as the Baltimore Catholic League’s Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. Loyola and St. Francis (Pa.) offered scholarships, while Mount St. Mary’s, UMBC, Quinnipiac, Niagara and several others were interested, according to Russell. Navy, meanwhile, was always involved. At a team camp earlier this summer, Russell said Jackson connected with Midshipmen guards Jordan Sugars and Romeo Garcia. Father and son “fell in love with the style of play,” Russell said. “We were actually at a regional track championship, and Donya said, ‘Pop, I’ve been thinking a lot about Navy. Nobody’s going to offer me what Navy can offer me.’ And I said, ‘You’re exactly right, son.’ He’s going to have a career after basketball, and that’s what has been important to us.” Said Jackson, “At first, I was kind of scared going to Navy because of the war going on right now. I’m really not a military guy, but when I sat back and looked at the whole picture, the education that I will get when I’m there is tops in the country, I’ll graduate an officer in the Navy and I’ll get to choose any field I want to be in. Me and my father sat down and talked about it, and he said ‘you’ll go there, and doors will open.’” From a basketball standpoint, Calvert Hall coach John Bauersfeld thinks Jackson and Navy are a perfect match. Jackson’s improved shooting and defensive intensity make him an ideal player for the frenetic pace of Navy’s system. “It’s a great fit and it’s 100 percent his decision,” Bauersfeld said. “Nobody pressured him in any way to go there. He said it was the right place for him. ... They’re very excited to have a kid with the quality of character and also the talent and tremendous upside Donya has. They’re very excited to have him.” Before middle school Jackson had never played organized basketball. Now he’ll receive a free education because of the sport. Russell said Jackson’s hard work and dedication to the game made this all possible. But Jackson says his father is the one to thank for his good fortune. “He’s just been so happy,” Jackson said. “I actually just got him a card because we had a little argument and I didn’t get my way and I acted like a brat. I wrote him a big apology in the card because I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for him. All of this is because of him. I look at him and he’s so happy and proud of me because I’m doing the right things. And I have to think about all of that. But he’s definitely extremely happy. I can see it in his face every time he looks at me.”

Chris Turner's "legacy" [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-30T05:00:22-07:00

Quarterback Chris Turner says he wants to leave a "legacy" at Maryland. He wants to be remembered -- to stand out.

It's always good to aim high, and Turner is doing that. It's not easy to rise into a group that includes Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh, Neil O'Donnell, Shaun Hill and others.

Turner knows he'll need a big senior season to end his career where he and the Terps want to be.

Entering the season, Turner ranks fourth on Maryland's career completion percentage list and seventh in career passing yards. He's seventh in total offense, fifth in completions and tied for 11th in touchdown passes.

Turner knows there's room for improvement. Here's an analysis of his game:

Assets: Poise, smarts, toughness. Turner is at his best in big games. Maryland says he has led the Terps to six wins in seven games against Top 25 teams in the AP poll. Among the most memorable came when he entered after Jordan Steffy suffered a concussion in Turner's sophomore season and helped beat No. 10 Rutgers.

Needs to work on: Arm strength, mobility. Sure. Maryland would love to have a quarterback making plays with speed and moves when the pocket collapses. That's not going to happen much with Turner.

I almost fell out of my seat in the press box last season when Turner took off and ran on fourth-and-five from North Carolina's 32, giving the Terps a criticial first down near the end of a tight game.

He's a good college quarterback. He's a bit streaky -- he calls himself a "rhythm" passer. He was picked off twice in each of last season's final two regular-season games. But he doesn't quit when things go poorly. His coolness can be mistaken for apathy. Truth is, he cares a lot.

I think he'll have an excellent senior season if the offensive line -- last year's wild card -- provides him ample protection and a consistent running game.

Some things change on Raw, some don’t [Ring Posts]

2009-06-30T01:14:39-07:00

Realizing that the rosters needed shaking up -- especially Raw’s -- despite having a draft just two and a half months ago, WWE moved 15 wrestlers to different shows Monday. Judging by Monday night’s episode of Raw, the landscape may have changed, but in some regards it’s the same old story. The big news coming out of the show is that Mark Henry appears to be getting a major babyface push on Raw. The former ECW champion was the third man in a three-on-one-gauntlet match against Randy Orton, and “The World’s Strongest Man” scored a clean victory over the WWE champion.

Weekend wrap — Regan makes his choice [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-29T07:36:18-07:00

One week after attending the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Va., Will Regan decided to make that location his home for the next four years. The Buffalo, N.Y., power forward committed to Virginia this weekend. Regan’s other finalists were Arizona State, Maryland, Providence and Stanford. "The coaching staff made the basketball side a good fit beyond being in the ACC," Regan said. "I was basing my decision first on academics and they have a really good business school, so that's a huge attraction to me." • Former Maryland target Lance Stephenson could be close to finally picking a school. The Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln shooting guard took a visit to Cincinnati over the weekend, according to Adam Zagoria. “Word is Lance is signing with Cincinnati,” one Big East assistant coach said. “I think he will on Tuesday from what I’m being told.” Stephenson’s legal troubles could be resolved today. The five-star prospect will appear in a Brooklyn court room as part of his sexual assault trial. He and Lincoln teammate Darwin (Buddha) Ellis were charged with groping a 17-year-old female student outside Lincoln High.

Newsome eventually wants to return to Alabama [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-29T04:00:00-07:00

Ozzie Newsome will likely determine when his run as Ravens general manager ends. When it does, Newsome is looking to return to Alabama, where he grew up and played college football. “At some point I’m coming back home," Newsome told the Tuscaloosa News during his ninth annual golf tournament there. "I’m coming home. And what I do when I get here, I don’t know. But I am coming home." There has been speculation for years that Newsome would go back to become Alabama's athletic director. The Crimson Tide's current athletic director Mal Moore has come under scrutiny lately, which has caused some to wonder about Newsome's return. "I always allow the information to help me make a decision,” Newsome said when asked about the athletic director job. “There is a lot of information that I would need to get before I could even entertain something like that. "I probably get asked that question once a day. I always say, ‘I know the NFL. That's what I do.' " Newsome, 53, is considered one of the top decision-makers in the NFL. He has been in charge of the Ravens' personnel moves since the team relocated to Baltimore in 1996 and was officially named general manager in 2002, becoming the first African-American to receive that title in the NFL.

The Bash thoughts [Ring Posts]

2009-06-29T03:07:25-07:00

When critiquing a wrestling pay-per-view, ultimately only one question is relevant: Was it worth the money? With regard to Sunday night’s WWE pay-per-view, The Bash, the answer is no. That doesn’t mean it was a bad show, it just means it wasn’t worth $40 in my opinion. The Bash had its moments, including another terrific Rey Mysterio-Chris Jericho match and a heated CM Punk-Jeff Hardy contest, but there wasn’t anything on the show that you’d be kicking yourself for if you missed it.

The Bash preview [Ring Posts]

2009-06-28T10:50:56-07:00

Predictions for tonight’s WWE pay-per-view: WWE champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell Match: In this two-out-of-three-falls contest, the first fall is a straight wrestling match; the second is falls count anywhere; and, if necessary, the third is a stretcher match. I’m predicting – and hoping for – an Orton victory. The title has changed hands too many times as of late and Orton is the guy who should be champion going forward. A 14th title reign for Triple H is the last thing the Raw brand needs right now. Whatever the outcome, this feud has overstayed its welcome and needs to end tonight. The problem is that because Raw’s talent roster is so thin at the top, there doesn’t appear to be any logical new opponents for these two.

Team USA dethrones Australia [Re: Lax]

2009-06-27T13:50:09-07:00

I really enjoyed watching the women’s World Cup championship Saturday morning on the webcast from Prague in the Czech Republic. I spoke to a few college coaches who were watching the same way this week. The U.S. women held the Aussies to a low scoring output with a dominant defense, anchored by Devon Wills in the goal. Colorado’s Caroline Cryer exploded on offense with three goals in the 8-7 win. I am not one to boast but I once said, in this blog, that for the U.S. to win Cryer would have to be the MVP. She was edged out by Wills for the honor. I am also not one to dwell on my lesser moments, but I also wrote, just last week, that the Aussies would be too much for the Americans in the final, even after the U.S. “upset” the Australians in the round robin game. I really thought the Aussies had another year in their “dynasty”, while, with the loss, they have no dynasty at all, just a great win in 2005. In fact, I think what we witnessed in the earlier matchup between these finalists, was the shift from Australian domination, up 9-4 at halftime, to the youthful and talent-rich Americans, who won that game patiently 10-9, completely stopping the Australian juggernaut. The U.S. just finished the Aussies off today in the final with patient offense, great coaching, perfect defense and special performances by Wills, Cryer, Kristen Kjellman -- who may be the best player in the world -- and Michele Dejuliis, the leader of Sue Heether’s American squad. Team USA led throughout the second half after a 3-3 intermission. The Australians attempted a comeback with three straight goals, but Wills stopped the tying shot with less than a minute left. The U.S. was the better team, both days. We likely also witnessed the end of the career of Sarah Forbes, and the end of domination by the world’s previously number one player, Jen Adams, who, could not, as I asserted the other day, score a goal at will, or at least not on Wills. Congratulations to Team USA, the Czech hosts and the FIL for what looked like another set of great games!

John Morrison breaks through on Smackdown [Ring Posts]

2009-06-27T11:54:31-07:00

At some point after I began writing this blog a little over two years ago, I stopped reading spoilers on the Internet. I did so because I want my first impressions of matches and angles on taped shows to truly be first impressions, and I also want the opportunity to be surprised when the unexpected occurs. When I sat down to watch Smackdown Friday night, I had no idea that world heavyweight champion CM Punk was going to wrestle John Morrison in a non-title bout. Once the match was announced on the show, however, I was certain that I knew the finish: Punk, wrestling most of the match on the defensive and on the verge of defeat, would take advantage of one mistake by Morrison and pull out the victory.

Suggs on new deal: "We're getting close" [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-26T14:42:17-07:00

Although it has been presumed that Terrell Suggs would play this season under the franchise tag, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker said Friday that he is nearing a long-term deal with the Ravens. The deadline to reach a new contract with franchise players is July 15. If no deal is struck, Suggs will play his second straight season under the tag, earning $10.2 million this year. “I feel like we’re getting close,” Suggs told the team’s Web site. “Negotiations are going on with the Ravens. Fans can be optimistic that I’ll be [at training camp].” It is believed that the Ravens have offered Suggs a contract that would make him among the highest-paid defensive players in the league. But there have been indications that Suggs is still leaning toward testing the free-agent market in March. Because he has yet to sign his contract, he missed all of the offseason minicamps without any discipline from the team. He also would likely miss training camp like he did last year. Suggs, 26, is considered one of the rising defensive stars in the NFL. He led the Ravens with eight sacks and finished third on the team with a career-best 102 tackles. There has been speculation that Suggs is looking for a contract similar to the one given in 2007 to the Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney, whose six-year, $72 million deal made him the highest paid defender in league history at the time. “I just hope we can get it done in time for training camp,” Suggs said. When the Ravens used the tag on Suggs in February, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said, “You have to look at it as an opportunity for us to enter into a long-term deal.” Suggs couldn't be reached for comment.

Samoa Joe sells out on TNA Impact, but I’m not buying [Ring Posts]

2009-06-26T13:04:13-07:00

The performances by Sting and Kevin Nash during the closing segment of Thursday night’s TNA Impact involving The Main Event Mafia were so good that they almost made up for a preposterous story line. Almost. The explanation that TNA came up with for Samoa Joe’s heel turn at last Sunday’s Slammiversary pay-per-view was that he did it for the money (Jenna Morasca footed the bill, apparently).

Weekly recruiting roundup [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-26T09:12:51-07:00

Last weekend's National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp served as an introduction of Richmond, Va., shooting guard Justin Coleman to the college basketball recruiting world. NBE Basketball Report’s Ron Bailey checked in with Coleman, who explained his under-the-radar status. “I just recently got on the map about a month ago” confided Coleman. “I sat out my whole tenth grade year and half my 11th grade year”. That respite from hoops was due to friction with the coach at his previous high school, Louisa. This year, after moving, he transferred to Henrico. • CharlottesvilleNewsPlex.tv conducted a video interview with Maryland small forward target Mychal Parker during last weekend’s NBPA camp. When asked about his interest in the University of Virginia, Parker confirmed that they are on his list of schools that include Maryland, Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Clemson and that everything, "Is still up in the air." Parker will visit other schools as the summer goes along. • Christchurch, Va., shooting guard Michael Gbinije -- a rising junior who was named Most Promising Player at the NBPA camp -- took a recent trip to College Park. Frank Gbinije, Mike’s dad, shared his son is being recruited by “Georgetown, Texas, UVA, Virginia Tech, and Florida”, most if not all of which called him June 15th, the first day college coaches can call the homes of perspective Class of 2011 recruits, per NCAA guidelines. Mike also unofficially visited Maryland several weeks ago. Other colleges will be evaluated. • DeMatha point guard and Terps target Quinn Cook led the United States’ U-16 National Team to the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championships in Argentina last weekend. Cook was the 10th-leading scorer in the eight-nation tournament, averaging 15.6 points per game, and he led all players in assists with 25. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds per game. • SLAM Online took a look at Maryland’s 2009 class this week in its ACC recruiting breakdown. (Thanks to Testudo Times for the link) At 6-10 245 pounds, [Jordan] Williams will take up plenty of space in the paint and should be able to establish position fairly well from the early part of the season. He has a fairly polished post game, has a soft touch and rebounds the ball effectively. There is lots of potential for Williams to be a quality player in the ACC, but there have been a few question marks surrounding his conditioning. • On the eve of the NBA draft, Adam Zagoria wrote a story on how the ‘one-and-done’ rule has affected former Terps target Lance Stephenson. "Late lottery," said draft expert Chris Monter of Monter Draft News, referring to where Stephenson would have been picked if he were eligible. "He's talented but he has a lot of baggage and is perceived as a selfish player." • The Washington Post dug up three interesting things about Newark, N.J., shooting guard Laurin Mincy, who committed to the Maryland women’s team this week. 3. She's been a star since she was in elementary school. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Mincy scored more than 2,800 points "in her grammar school career, and became the first player to have her jersey retired by St. Joseph Elementary School in East Orange." Football recruiting • Last weekend Maryland became the first Football Bowl Subdivision program to offer Atholton athlete Matt Robinson, according to Rivals.com. “I got an offer on Saturday from Maryland,” he said. “They really liked me film and wanted me to come to camp and run well. I did and then did well in one-on-one drills. “That’s when I met with Ralph Friedgen. He just said he really liked my film and they had questions about my speed, but figured them out. They are looking at me as an athlete, with 20-pounds I could be an H-back, if not I can be a special teams guy and a safety.” • Dunbar (D.C.) linebacker Javarie Johnson -- who listed Maryland, Miami, Michigan and Michigan State among his top schools -- has reached a decision. “I feel like I have already come to my decision [and] it’s Miami,” Johnson reported. “I told my coaches this week and they said I couldn’t go wrong with any of my choices, so they were fine with it.” Johnson has not yet made the commitment official with the Miami coaches, but he does not plan to wait much longer to let them know. • Several reports last weekend had Paterson (N.J.) Catholic defensive end and Maryland target T.J. Clemmings committing to Pittsburgh, but according to Adam Zagoria, Clemmings is still on the market. Paterson Catholic defensive lineman Trevor “T.J.” Clemmings is not committed to Pitt, according to PC head coach Benjie Wimberly. “He went out there and made a hasty decision [to commit] without any input from his parents or me,” Wimberly said Monday night. “He’s going to rethink it and continue the recruiting process.” • Pemberton, N.J., wide receiver Corey Reeder told Rivals.com that Maryland and Iowa make up his top two, but he still has to earn an offer from the Terps. “They’re (Maryland) saying I should come out for one session of their camp. I’ll do that and then tour the campus and everything. I always talk to the running backs coach from Maryland.” • Good Counsel safety Frank Tamakloe committed to Wisconsin on Monday, picking the Badgers over offers from Maryland, Northwestern and several others. Tamakloe, 6-foot-2, 172 pounds, has most of the measureables to be a top safety prospect in this year’s high school senior class. He is on the ESPNU 150 Watch List, meaning he is under consideration to be among the top 150 players in the nation, regardless of position. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. • Thomas Johnson linebacker Nick Forbes sported an early Maryland offer but recently narrowed his list of schools to Cal, Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Last weekend Forbes pledged to the Golden Bears. "I had the opportunity to go to the No. 1 public school in the country and compete on a top-10 caliber team. This year, they are rated No. 11 in the country," Forbes said. • Maryland incoming freshman Nick Ferrara helped Long Island to a 31-14 win over New York City in the Empire Challenge on Tuesday. [Miguel Maysonet] bolted 19 yards for a touchdown that gave his team a 13-0 lead after Nick Ferrara's PAT. Ferrara, of St. Anthony's, kicked a 35-yard field goal two seconds before halftime for a 16-0 edge.

Youth is served on WWE Superstars [Ring Posts]

2009-06-26T03:07:46-07:00

If you never watch WWE Superstars, you won’t miss anything in regard to the advancement of story lines. However, if you enjoy wrestling matches (often good ones) presented in a straight-forward format, WWE Superstars is must-see TV. And if you watched Thursday night’s episode, you not only were treated to three quality matches, but you saw some of WWE’s brightest young talent on display. Five of the seven wrestlers who appeared on the program are under 30.

More on wrestling-reality show connection [Ring Posts]

2009-06-25T12:03:40-07:00

In this morning’s post about Torrie Wilson’s performance on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, I listed other wrestlers who have appeared on network reality competition shows, but, as several of you have pointed out, I overlooked a couple.

Third-round pick Webb signs [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-25T10:42:25-07:00

The Ravens continue to make quick work of signing their draft picks, agreeing to a three-year deal with third-rounder Lardarius Webb. The cornerback from Nicholls State received a signing bonus around $530,000. "Lardarius was slowed some in the OTAs with a hamstring problem, but toward the end, when he was feeling better, he showed he belonged," coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "He’ll help us on special teams, including as a gunner, and he’ll contribute to our defense." The Ravens' only unsigned draft picks are: offensive tackle Michael Oher (first round) and defensive end-linebacker Paul Kruger (second round). Historically, the Ravens don't begin contract talks with their draft picks until after the July 4th holiday. But the team has struck deals with Webb, linebacker Jason Phillips (fifth round), tight end Davon Drew (fifth round) and running back Cedric Peerman (sixth round).

Century QB Bordner headed to Boston College [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-25T09:29:17-07:00

Josh Bordner knew the odds were stacked against him. The Century quarterback was well aware that Carroll County schools were off the radar of most college football recruiters. Bordner planned on hitting the combine circuit this summer, hoping to land a Division I offer before Signing Day in February. “I knew I was going to have to get my name out there,” Bordner said. “They weren’t going to know me.” Last weekend Bordner’s timeline got moved up considerably. After spending four days at Boston College’s camp, the Eagles offered the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder a scholarship, and he promptly accepted. “I didn’t really expect it because I [wasn’t sure I’d] go to a huge program like that, and such a good school,” Bordner said. “But then it ended up happening, so it was really exciting and it caught me by surprise.” Bordner, who threw for 2,217 yards, 18 touchdowns and rushed for 10 scores as a junior, said the Eagles’ staff was tipped off to him by DeMatha offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chris Baucia. Baucia, a former Virginia Tech signal-caller and punter, runs a “quarterback factory” in Southern Maryland. Bordner has studied under Baucia for months, and credits him for increasing his recruiting interest. “He knows everybody,” Bordner said. “I’m pretty sure he originally was the one who talked me up and got [Boston College] more interested. So a lot of credit goes to him. Honestly, if I didn’t run into him through this program, I know that I would not have this [scholarship] right now. A lot of thanks goes out to him.” The Eagles coaches were receptive to Baucia’s sales pitch on Bordner, and extended an invitation for him to attend the Eagles’ camp. Once he arrived in Chestnut Hill, Bordner realized just how many quarterbacks he was competing with to earn an offer. After some time, however, he noticed members of the Eagles’ staff paying him more attention. “They liked my arm strength and the way I put the ball on people,” Bordner said. “They said there’s a lot of potential. But I’m definitely going to have to work on some things. They said I have a lot of raw talent.” On Sunday afternoon, Boston College offered Bordner a scholarship. Later that day, he accepted. Now a summer filled with football camps and baseball showcases has been reduced to an occasional baseball tournament and tons of time in the weight room, preparing for senior year at Century and beyond. “I’m just going to lift and get bigger and faster,” Bordner said. “And hopefully up in Boston, I’ll get better ... [and become a] big-time quarterback.” Baltimore Sun photo of Josh Bordner by Gene Sweeney Jr. / November 7, 2008

A look ahead to Terps hoops season [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-25T05:00:41-07:00

Sure, it's 90 degrees out. But what is stopping us from looking ahead for a moment to the hoops season? Absolutely nothing. So let's proceed.

What do you think of Gary Williams' recent tweet? The one where he said: "With Greivis (Vasquez) back and our 09' class and the rest of our team improving every day, I truly believe we have the chance to be top 25 next year."

Here's my take:

Maryland could be a top 25 team, but some things would need to happen.

Greivis coming back is welcome news for Maryland, but it still needs more offense. The Terps certainly hustle on defense -- trapping and pressing and clogging the lane. But what happens when they get into a shootout such as when North Carolina hit 11 of its first 14 three-point attempts to begin a 108-91 victory in Chapel Hill?

Maryland needs more scoring options. Sean Mosley averaged 5.3 points per game and Adrian Bowie averaged 9.0. The Terps need more scoring from these backcourt guys not named "Vasquez." Note: an improving Eric Hayes averaged 10.3 points.

I'm looking at Mosley and Bowie -- and Landon Milbourne-- as sources of more scoring. I think the Terps need to have at least two of these three players pick it up offensively.

And it could well happen. Mosley, a freshman, is such a hard worker and does other things so well, particularly rebound. But he was 5-for-21 on threes (23.8 percent). We've all seen players make big strides once their freshmen season is behind them.

Bowie, so speedy to the basket, can also improve his outside game. He was 13 of 58 on threes (22.4 percent).

Torrie Wilson falls just short on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ [Ring Posts]

2009-06-25T04:07:31-07:00

After vowing three weeks ago to watch NBC’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here as long as Torrie Wilson remained on the program, I found myself torn between wanting the former WWE diva to win and wanting her to get voted off so I wouldn’t have to keep watching the inane reality show. I stuck with it, however, because I knew that Torrie really wanted to win the thing – and she nearly did. Torrie ended up finishing second to actor Lou Diamond Phillips on Wednesday night’s final episode of the Survivor-like show.

The real main event at UFC 100? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-25T00:08:41-07:00

Am I the only one who thinks the Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves fight is the best on the UFC 100 card? The quick answer is no. At least I have the UFC color guy and stand-up comedian (anyone catch his special on Spike? It was incredible) on my side, as he seems most excited for that bout as well.

Everyone else is seemingly buying into the Brock Lesnar-Frank Mir hype. I get it, Lesnar is a beast and is looking to avenge his embarrassing loss to Mir. Mir thinks Lesnar shouldn’t have been given a title shot and thinks he will roll him easily again. Both fighters are coming off strong showings, but how much do we really know about these guys?

Mir is coming off arguably his best fight in his destruction of Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira, but Nogueira also was recovering from a staph infection heading into that fight. Before that, Mir was getting whomped by Lesnar until he caught a lucky break.

Lesnar has even more question marks. He beat Heath Herring and looked even better beating Randy Couture, but neither of those guys have styles that are very conducive to facing Lesnar. Lesnar still has questions about his chin, ground defense and cardio.

St. Pierre, meanwhile, is coming off a big win in a superfight with B.J. Penn. He’s at the top of his game and the welterweight scene is much deeper than the UFC’s heavyweight division. St. Pierre has defeated several of the top contenders already, but Alves presents several new challenges to GSP. His last loss was almost three years ago and he’s a big and athletic welterweight. He’s also, in the words of Rogan, the best striker GSP has faced.

The UFC 100 card will be awesome because of this and the Mir-Lesnar fight (I couldn’t be less excited for a big fight than I am for Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping). One of those main events is a big attraction for the right reasons. The other is a big fight but doesn’t have the same merit.

Then again, other insiders I've talked to think Alves doesn't stand a chance because of GSP's strong wrestling and Alves' inability to prevent St. Pierre's takedowns, so there's that.

USA youth hoops, Harried bring home gold [Varsity Letters]

2009-06-24T09:35:02-07:00

Lake Clifton boys basketball coach Herman Harried, who is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. under-16 national team, returned to the United States from Argentina earlier this week with a gold medal and lasting impressions. The U.S. captured the 2009 FIBA Americas U-16 Championship with a 101-87 win over host Argentina in the title game, posting a 5-0 record in the tournament. "There's nothing like being in a different country and hearing your national anthem, seeing your flag raised and having a gold medal placed around your neck," Harried said. The team was in Argentina for nine days, following a seven-day camp in Colorado Springs. Harried said the biggest challenge for the players and coaches was getting comfortable in a foreign country. "Here we are in a different country -- 12 players, three coaches and the training staff. Our goal as a coaching staff emphasized on dealing with adversity. Argentina loves basketball. All throughout the game they whistled and had noise makers. We had to make sure the kids put that aside and dealt with the basics of basketball," said Harried. The basketball tour doesn't stop there for Harried this summer. He is currently in Dallas assisting Utah Jazz star guard Deron Williams at his summer camp and also will help run camps for Phoenix Suns star Amare Stoudamire and NBA MVP LeBron James.

Nermin Delic discusses Terps commitment [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-24T08:13:52-07:00

When Nermin Delic puts his mind to something, the Maryland-bound defensive end-tight end gives nothing less than 100 percent. It’s a quality that has served the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder well throughout his high school career at Northwest Whitfield in Tunnel Hill, Ga. But Delic’s well-known work ethic is also one of the reasons he’s headed to College Park instead of an SEC school. After the Bruins’ 6-4 season last fall, Delic went straight into basketball mode, working out like a maniac in order to improve his quickness and agility. By January, Delic was down to 215 pounds. As Northwest Whitfield’s starting center, Delic averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. While basketball couldn’t have gone much better, the slimmed-down Delic began to think his weight loss limited his recruiting. Marshall, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State offered scholarships, but most of the SEC and ACC schools -- other than Maryland -- were taking a wait-and-see approach. “When I went to Georgia, they were planning to offer me that day when I went to Junior Day,” Delic said. “I showed up at 215 pounds, and they were like ‘go home.’ But I deserved it. I was pretty mad, but when I got home, my dad told me ‘you look like a receiver or a [defensive back].’ ... That’s when I really decided to get committed to football. So I’ve been hitting the weights hard and eating right.” Since those winter Junior Day visits, Delic has added 25 pounds of muscle onto his frame. Northwest Whitfield coach Mike Falleur said it’s pretty clear Delic’s weight made the difference in his recruitment. “Georgia had him up [earlier this month] and they loved him, but they’re in the race for two of the best [defensive ends] in the country,” Falleur said. “But they told me on the phone Monday, ‘Coach, he can play in the SEC.’ There’s guys out there right now that weigh 250, 260. If he weighed that right now, he’d have offers from [the biggest programs in the country].” As a junior at Northwest Whitfield, Delic recorded approximately 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also caught about six passes for 100 yards and one touchdown, while grading out in the mid-80s on his blocking assignments. Most of the attention Delic received from recruiters was for defensive end, but Falleur noted that he’s a promising tight end prospect as well. Falleur recalled the time Delic squared off against a Georgia-bound defensive lineman last fall. On the first play of the game, Delic, playing tight end, promptly blew the future Bulldog “12 yards off the football. He just manhandled him,” Falleur said. So with that in mind, the Terps’ coaching staff has a decision to make on Delic’s future position. “I think [Maryland’s offensive and defensive coaches] are really fighting over him. I think both sides want him,” Falleur said. “I think wherever they put him, he’s going to be pretty good at either one. I think he has a defensive mentality, but he’s a great blocker and he’s never off his feet. But at the same time, he loves rushing the passer and getting after folks.” Delic was born in Bosnia, but his family fled the war-torn country when he was 6. The Delic family spent their first year in the United States in Seattle, but after a year they relocated to Dalton, Ga., where they’ve been ever since. Delic grew up following Georgia closely, but has been a close of observer of college football in general for the majority of his life. So while Maryland may not get a lot of attention around his hometown, Delic was very familiar with the Terps’ program even before they started recruited him. “I follow college football real well ... and I know what kind of program Maryland is,” Delic said. “They’re trying to get back to where they were in [the early parts of this decade] when they contended in the ACC every year. I knew about guys like Vernon Davis and Shawne Merriman, and how Davis came in and put on 40 pounds in four years, dropped his 40 time by two-tenths of a second and improved his vertical about seven inches. Right away I knew they were doing something right in the strength and conditioning program. So I was real impressed by that. I knew Coach Friedgen had a good reputation of being a man of integrity, so I pretty much knew about the school [before visiting]. But when I went there [last weekend] I was blown away. It was amazing. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like. Everything was awesome.” Delic’s playing basketball in a summer league with his high school team right now. He’s also spending ample amounts of his time in the weight room, making sure he at least maintains his current weight. Meanwhile, Falleur continues to receive calls from other programs about the future Terp. “Maryland’s getting a dang good football player,” Falleur said. “Don’t think because he didn’t have the big ones offer [that he‘s not a great player], because he can play. I think Clemson was fixin’ to pull the trigger, I think NC State was fixin’ to pull the trigger, and Vanderbilt and Kentucky were right there, too. But when he went up [to Maryland] he said he loved it. ... I’d say [Maryland fans] are going to be very excited when he lines up.”

Change of venue [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-24T04:11:59-07:00

Editor's Note: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar is moving to the friendly confines of the Toy Department. Dan will continue to post Daily Think Specials and interact with readers, you'll just find his new offerings under the Toy Department banner. To read his latest entry, click here.

Donald Trump’s commercial-free Raw does big rating [Ring Posts]

2009-06-23T17:39:21-07:00

Whether it can be attributed to the publicity WWE received from the Donald Trump story line, the commercial-free format, the advertised main event of a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE title between Randy Orton and Triple H, or some combination of the three, one thing is for sure: Monday’s episode of Raw was a huge ratings success. Raw drew a 4.5 rating (4.3 first hour; 4.8 second hour), a significant increase from last week’s 3.7. The show’s 6,813,000 viewers made it the most-watched episode of Raw since March 25, 2002, according to wwe.com.

Reading and wrestling make good tag team [Ring Posts]

2009-06-23T16:18:26-07:00

Being in the journalism field, I’m always for anything that gets people to read, especially kids. That’s why I have to applaud WWE for it’s involvement in a program that encourages teens and tweens to visit their local libraries and read throughout the summer. WWE is teaming with the Young Adult Library Services Association for the SummerSlam Reading Jam, which kicks off Wednesday in libraries across the country.

U.S. Women upset Australia [Re: Lax]

2009-06-23T14:00:55-07:00

I root for the U.S. whenever they play other countries in other sports. I have been covering lacrosse as a journalist for so long that I don’t ever root for any team under any circumstance. I sometimes root for outcomes that may help the game grow or get a particular coach a milestone victory or other human circumstances that transcend the field of play. But I have no favorite teams, even the U.S. in the World Games or Women’s World Cup, which is being played this week in Prague. In fact, just yesterday the U.S. upset the world champion Australians 10-9 after trailing at the half 9-4. There was such a stark difference in the play of both teams from the first to the second half of this game that my skepticism rose for a moment, thinking perhaps that all was not as it seemed in Prague. In the first half the U.S. was obviously outgunned and overwhelmed by the Aussie barrage. Stacey Morlang led off the scoring, but two-time Tewaaraton winner Hannah Nielson was effortlessly quarterbacking the Aussies to a slow and steady crushing of the U.S. team. She fed Jen Adams, perhaps the best player in the world (if it’s not Nielson) twice for scores in the first. Morlang, Nielson, Adams, Sonia LaMonica, Sarah Mollison, Alicia Moodie, Courtney Inge, Sarah Forbes and Loyola recruit Tegan Brown make up an offense that I thought, even before the games began, would be unstoppable. The defensive unit of Megan Barnet, Tess McLeod and goalie Sue McSolvin were shutting down the Americans. This same unit scored not a single goal in the second half. Not one. They led 9-4 at half and lost 10-9. They let long periods of time pass while the U.S. worked the ball around without ever playing defense with close to the level of intensity employed in the first half. There was no desperation or even urgency in the play of the Australians, even at the end. Jen Adams took a few shots but did not really try to win the game the way I might have expected and was not even in the game at some critical times. She can score one goal at will, last time I checked. This was, at the very least, an acceptable loss for the ladies from down under. Methinks they like the underdog role 100 percent more than the huge favorite role they had to bear until this game’s end. I'm not suggesting anything of a conspiratorial nature occurred, but now the pressure is firmly on the Americans. I am not saying the Aussies threw the half, although after watching, I can’t help but at least entertain the notion. It may have been that I witnessed the result of the worst coach’s halftime speech ever, or that all of the sudden, the best team in the world just forgot how to win, or even how to really play. I have watched quite a few men’s teams at international events play a 3/4-speed round-robin game against their likely championship game foe. They narrowly lose the first matchup and yet they never panic or really try to win the game. Not like they would in an elimination game. They aren’t really that upset afterward. That’s the way this seemed in Prague -- IN THE SCOND HALF. In 2005, Australia tied the United States 7-7 in the round-robin game, before throttling them in the final. I’m not taking away anything from the Americans who obviously played with intensity throughout and really did pull off a comeback win. They have come back to win against England and Canada in these games, as well, which is a good sign and a bad sign at the same time. But they are now the only 4-0 team at the Games and enter the medal round as the new favorite and No. 1 seed. They have some great players. Attacker Caroline Cryer is very, very good. The midfield is the strongest unit with Caitlyn McFadden, Lindsey Munday, Acacia Walker, Tewaaraton winner Katie Chrest, Sarah Bullard, Sarah Albrecht and two-time Tewaaraton winner Kristen Kjellman. And the 'D' is solid with Amber Falcone, Michi Ellers and Regina Oliver. In the U.S. cage, Devon Wills was the first-half victim and Megan Huether was the second-half hero. I must say that for whatever reason Amy Appelt is not on this squad, I personally am disappointed that she is not on the field representing the U.S. for a second time and think we are a lesser team without her, just as we were in Annapolis in 2005. This is a very good U.S. team, but so was the 2005 squad. The 2005 Australia squad may have been the best team I ever saw. Any team with each of the headline stars from the University of Maryland championship dynasty, Sascha Newmarch, Sarah Forbes, Jen Adams, Courtney Hobbs and Sonia Judd (LaMonica now) had a good chance in 2005 to take that honor without up-and-coming stars Sarah Mollison, Stacy Morlang, Kate McHarg and Hannah Nielson and the incredible unknown Sarah Falcione. This 2009 team has a mature Morlang, Mollison and Nielson. Jen Adams and Sonia LaMonica are at their prime and might be better now than last year. They looked that way yesterday for a half. I talked to one of the top coaches in the land today and they said, after watching the game on the internet as I did, that the U.S. comeback looked legitimate to them and that the Aussies just lost their focus. I am sure that my very knowledgeable friend was right, but I would think twice about putting any money on the U.S. in the final based on the outcome of the last game. Like anyone bets on women’s lax. Click here to see the game.

Terps women land N.J. shooting guard [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-23T07:49:20-07:00

The first time Laurin Mincy thought basketball might lead her to College Park was during Maryland Madness last October. The Newark, N.J., shooting guard met the team, chatted with other recruits and saw Terps coach Brenda Frese work the Comcast Center crowd into a frenzy. Still, the 6-foot Mincy was deliberate with her recruitment and didn’t want to make a hurried choice. “I wanted to make sure [I was comfortable with] my decision,” Mincy said. “I just wanted to make sure it was right because it’s a lifelong decision.” Eight months later, Mincy followed through on that gut feeling, committing to Maryland on Monday. The New Jersey girls basketball Player of the Year picked the Terps over Georgia and Rutgers. Maryland began recruiting Mincy during her freshman year and never ceased in its pursuit. “I think with Coach Frese, she recruited me the hardest out of all the coaches,” Mincy said. “She made the phone calls when she needed to. The coaches e-mailed frequently to keep me informed on how the team was doing [on the court] and outside of basketball. ... [Frese is] also close to my parents. Just the other day, she just wished my dad a happy birthday. My mom’s a newlywed, so she e-mailed my mom, asking her how she felt having my stepfather [experience] his first Father’s Day. A connection with my family is very important, so I took that into account in making my decision.” Mincy, a five-star player according to Rivals.com, averaged 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and two and a half blocks per game as a junior, leading University High to the North Jersey Section 2 quarterfinals. A three-year starter, Mincy has scored 1,843 career points. University head coach Felicia Oliver called Mincy a “go-to player” and leader, but noted that her game goes beyond the box score. “Her strengths are the intangibles that you don’t see,” Oliver said. “Her will to win, her drive, her unselfishness, and her willingness to make players around her better; those attributes make the kid a coach’s dream. She’s not worried about making herself better; she’s worried about making her teammates better. And you don’t find that in every kid, especially those kids that are considered future great players. Oliver first saw Mincy play as an eighth grader. She recalled walking into the gym and seeing four girls draped all over Mincy, who then proceeded to lose the quartet with a crossover dribble, drive just inside the 3-point line and bury a long-range jumper. Oliver has seen more of the same during Mincy's three years at University. “The kid just rises to the occasion," Oliver said. "There’s no quit in her. She can erase a 10-point deficit by herself in a matter of seconds. ... What can you say? She’s like a mini Candace Parker.” Mincy hurt her knee last weekend and is awaiting the MRI results. While the rest of her summer depends largely upon those results, Mincy said she’s excited for her 2010 arrival in College Park, when she’ll try and live up to Frese’s expectations. “She told me that she wants me to come in, potentially start and help them win a national championship,” Mincy said. “We have [point guard] Dara Taylor, that’s coming in now as a freshman. We have all the pieces, so she just told me that she’s putting the pieces together to win a national championship, and I can help them do that.”

Recapping the NBPA Top 100 camp [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-22T04:12:30-07:00

I wasn't able to make it down to Charlottesville this weekend for the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp, but the PR folks at the event were kind enough to orchestrate some phone time with a few participants of interest. Camp director Tim McCormick, who started the NBPA Top 100 camp 17 years ago after the conclusion of his eight-year NBA career, has seen a few notable Baltimore players come through the camp during his tenure. But this year, with seven Baltimore natives in attendance, was unlike any other. “It varies from year to year,” McCormick said. “Obviously the Baltimore area is loaded with great talent this year. And it does vary from year to year, because we are targeting only the best 100 players in the entire nation. We don’t do any favors. For instance, to get the No. 1 player in the country, we’re not going to take the point guard on his AAU team [just to have a chance to land him]. If one player can’t come, we’re going to the next player on the list. [But] Baltimore is really a hotbed of high school basketball. It always has been. It’s one of the best years we’ve seen.” • Richmond, Va., small forward and Maryland target Justin Coleman went from a little-known prospect to one of the hottest players in the country after scoring 23 in his first game of the camp. He also ended on a high note with a 22-point outburst in his team’s final game. McCormick said Coleman, who averaged 10 points per game, came into the camp looking to prove himself. “Well in many ways, to be a top 10, top 15 player in high school basketball is a disadvantage for a lot of kids because they think they’ve made it,” McCormick said. “They expect superstardom to eventually happen. But for a kid like Coleman, he’s a guy that you watch because he comes into the camp with a chip on his shoulder. [He thinks] ‘I know how good I am. I’m going to show everybody else.’ He can’t wait to play against the highest rated players, because he feels like he’s better. So this has been a really good opportunity to showcase his skills. And I think everyone now knows about his ability.” Coleman won the dunk contest and was named the camp’s surprise prospect. • Former Walbrook small forward Roscoe Smith made some waves this weekend when he announced his intention to transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Mount of Wilson, Va., for his senior year. “Me and my parents, we sat down and discussed it,” Smith said. “It was a long thing, but at the end of the day, we made the decision to go to Oak Hill.” Smith averaged 6.4 points in five games this weekend. The five-star prospect isn’t ready to reveal which programs comprise his list of top schools, but playing with the top 100 players in the country helped him focus his criteria. “I had Lenzelle Smith, [who’s] going to Ohio State [on my team],” Smith said. “I liked his game because he’s a point guard that can penetrate and distribute. So, OK, I like that. I could see myself playing [with a point guard like him]. But ... if you’re a wing forward, why would you want to go somewhere with a point guard that’s shoot first, not pass first? But it’s all about having fun here. You’ve just got to really get on your toes, because they’re going to test you. They’re going to push up on you. You just gotta step up and man up.” • Calvert Hall forward Jonathan Graham saved his best for last, scoring 10 in his final game to finish with a 4.2 points per game average. Graham said he’s been limited by his knees -- the 6-foot-9, 218-pounder is laboring through growing pains at the moment. Still, Graham said the camp was very beneficial for his development. “It’s been a great experience, just playing with the best high school players in the country right now in my class,” Graham said. “I feel honored to have been invited here, to be honest.” Graham said the camp directors gave him tips for working on his strength and quickness. As far as his recruitment is concerned, Providence has offered a scholarship while many other high-major schools are monitoring his progress this summer. • Former DeMatha and soon-to-be Lake Clifton point guard Josh Selby (Tennessee) led the camp in scoring at 16.2 points per game. Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer wrote on Saturday that “no one has been better than Josh Selby.” Selby has gotten into the lane with more regularity than any other guard in camp. His speed, power, skill level and competitive drive make him a terror to defend. And he is not just scoring. His passing and gamesmanship have been equally impressive. • Mount St. Joseph point guard Eric Atkins wasn’t on the initial list of invitees, but the Notre Dame commitment ended up in Charlottesville after others backed out. The three-star prospect averaged 3.8 points per game, scored 10 in his last game and acquitted himself well early according to Jerry Meyer. Atkins isn't going to beat anyone with athleticism, but he has passed the ball at a high level during the first two sessions and has knocked down three-pointers off the catch when open. • Former Lake Clifton shooting guard Will Barton continued his strong summer play at the Top 100 camp. The Memphis commitment finished 19th in scoring at 11 points per game. Barton scored a game-high 22 in his second game. Stats: Maryland targets Tobias Harris, Glen Head, N.Y., power forward: 13.3 points per game Michael Gbinije, Christchurch, Va., shooting guard (2011): 13 points per game Terrence Jones, Portland, Ore., power forward: 9.1 points per game Will Regan, Buffalo, N.Y., power forward: 6.7 points per game C.J. Leslie, Holly Springs, N.C., power forward: 6.0 points per game Mychal Parker, Washington, N.C., small forward: 5.7 points per game Stats: Baltimore players C.J. Fair (Syracuse), City small forward: 5.4 points per game Jordan Latham (Xavier), City center: 4.4 points per game

Reports: Terps land Georgia DE [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-20T18:02:54-07:00

Multiple media outlets are reporting that defensive end Nermin Delic committed to Maryland today. Delic, a three-star prospect who also plays tight end for Northwest Whitfield in Dalton, Ga., pledged to the Terps at their summer football camp. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder told Rivals.com he could play defensive end or tight end in college. “I don’t have a preference as far as position,” he said. “I’ve played more at defensive end but I will be playing more tight end this season. I picked Maryland for all the other reasons aside from football, life after football and the people I met.” Delic, who was born in Bosnia and came to the United States at age 6, picked Maryland over offers from Marshall, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State. Check back with Recruiting Report later this week for more on Delic’s commitment.

Catching up with Joe Rogan [MMA Insider]

2009-06-20T13:50:14-07:00

Joe Rogan’s comedy special “Talking Monkeys in Space” airs after The Ultimate Fighter season 9 finale on Spike TV this Saturday. Rogan is one of the more intriguing comedians working today (his interviews in podcast and satellite radio form with people he knows are incredible) and his special should kick ass.

I spoke to Joe earlier this week about the special and his work with the UFC.

JOE ROGAN

On his special

All of my specials mean something at the time. This one means more because it’s the new one. I have a real good relationship with the Spike guys, they have seen me perform at comedy clubs many times and the beautiful thing is they are owned by Comedy Central. So the reruns will be on Spike and eventually on Comedy Central.

On doing comedy and UFC commentary
It’s fun, it’s an interesting way to do it. I like to go to these towns and do comedy one night and the UFC the other night. It’s been working out and has been the best of both worlds.

As a human being you evolve and your thinking evolves. As a comic and artist your comedy evolves as well. The more you do something the better you get at it. I think I enjoy it more now.

On balancing writing new jokes versus research for MMA commentary

All the research I do for MMA commentary is stuff I would do anyway. I’m a huge fan of mixed martial arts and I’d be going to the same websites, watching the same fights and same videos. I’m just a huge fan. I’m very fortunate to be a paid professional fan of the UFC. The more stuff you do the more your perspective is enhanced. The more different things I’ve done the more my comedy is enhanced. The better I am at comedy the better I am at commentary.

On Sanchez-Guida

Diego has a very good chance. It’s a very interesting fight. Clay Guida is a juggernaught. He has great conditioning, great wrestling, sets a relentless pace and is great taking fighters out of their game plans. But, at 155, Diego is a different animal. His jiu-jitsu is off the chain.

On his favorite fighters

I like different varities of fighters. I like fighters that are exciting and intelligent. I love Wanderlei Silva, he’s my favorite fighter of all time. He doesn’t have a safety sense style at all. He has that reckless abandon and just attacks with the most aggressive style ever. I really enjoy that and then I again I enjoy Lyoto Machida. He takes no damager, fights intelligently and is amazing to watch.

You can’t do commentary on the ground game unless you’ve done it. You can call a triangle while it’s locked on but you won’t see the setups, the transitions. There are too many steps before you finish that you won’t catch on. Doing jiu-jitsu has definitely helped my commentary.

Some sports fans just think UFC guys are all a bunch of meat heads. That they aren’t real athletes and that they aren’t intelligent. That’s the biggest misconception.

On the growth of MMA

The outcropping of new organizations like Strikeforce is very important. There are so many up and coming guys that need places to fight and I believe competition is good. New organizations are great for the sport. I just think this sport has so much potential. It’s exploded over the past few years and there’s so much more room to grow. I truly believe it’s the most exciting sport in the world.

On GSP vs.Thiago Alves at UFC 100

Thiago Alves is the very best striker GSP has ever faced. In his career he has one loss from a grappler and one loss from someone who struck with him. Alves is way more powerful than Serra, was more dangerous on his feet. Georges has to be careful in the standup aspect. But how will Alves handle GSP’s wrestling? GSP is the best mixed martial arts wrestler in the business. He’s the best at executing a game plan. His execution is flawless.

On Kimbo Slice joining the next season of The Ultimate Fighter

He’s got Roy Big Country Nelson on that show. He’s a really good jiu-jitsu guy with a ton of experience. He’s a dangerous fight for a guy who has a hard time on the ground. Kimbo will have a real hard time with guys who are good grapplers. It takes too long to learn the grappling game. You have to love it and do it for years before you can defend yourself from a high level guy. I don’t know that Kimbo is that guy. I don’t know if he trains all the time with the right people and goes over positions.

Catching up with Joe Stevenson [MMA Insider]

2009-06-19T18:07:31-07:00

I also caught up with Joe Stevenson, who is taking on Nate Diaz at The Ultimate Fighter season 9 finale.

JOE STEVENSON

On his TUF fight:

I think whoever dictates the pace has the best odds. We’re both very seasoned and very good fighters. You can never count out either of us.

On his hopes for the fight:

Ideally, he walks in, slips and falls, and they raise my hand. I’d also be happy if he slipped right into a choke.

On the MMA video game:

I like the game. I’m honored to be part of it. I’m also glad they did the digital scan of my body right before I had to make weight for a fight so my body fat was down.

On MMA's reputation:

The biggest misconception casual sports fans have is that we’re brutes. That we’re just in it for the rock and roll part of it. A lot of us that have made it to the top went to college and put in a lot of time and sacrifice to get here. They see one person back at home act that way and assume everyone acts that way.

On the B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian fight:

Well, I married a Hawaiian so I’m picking B.J. Penn. I think B.J. is awesome and will prove to be too much for Kenny on that day.

On his maturation:

I’ve grown a lot throughout the years. I’m training with Greg Jackson now and I think fans will be excited to watch me fight as I mature in how I fight. I think there will be a lot of happy fans out there.

Pietramala staying in Baltimore until at least 2015 [Faceoff]

2009-06-19T07:21:46-07:00

Johns Hopkins and coach Dave Pietramala agreed to a two-year extension that will keep Pietramala with the Blue Jays through the 2015 season, the school announced earlier this morning.

Pietramala recently wrapped his ninth season and became the second-winningest coach in the program's history as he has compiled a 106-30 (.779) record at Johns Hopkins. He has guided the Blue Jays to national championships in 2005 and 2007 and runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2008. The team has qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of Pietramala's nine seasons.

"We are fortunate to have the finest men's lacrosse coach in the nation leading our program," athletic director Tom Calder told the school's website. "Dave Pietramala's coaching resume speaks for itself, but the success our players have had in the classroom and their extensive involvement in community service initiatives is something that we also take great pride in. The manner in which Dave and his players represent Johns Hopkins is exemplary and we look forward to many more years with Dave leading our program."

"The dedication our administration has shown to the men's lacrosse program during my tenure is remarkable," Pietramala was quoted as saying. "Our coaches and players recognize the privilege it is to represent Johns Hopkins University and we take that privilege very seriously. It has been exciting to coach so many fine young men and we look forward to working with another outstanding group during the 2010 season. We look forward to building on the tradition of Johns Hopkins lacrosse under the leadership of our new President, Ron Daniels."

Weekly recruiting roundup [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-19T07:01:28-07:00

Justin Coleman entered Wednesday’s National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp as one of the lesser-known prospects in attendance. Unlike [Wake Forest-bound Travis] McKie, Coleman is still waiting for a scholarship offer. Coleman, who said he's not sure which high school he'll attend in 2009-10, sees the camp as an opportunity to raise his stock. After the first day of play in Charlottesville, Va., the Maryland target and three-star prospect from Richmond did just that. Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer gave Coleman rave reviews for his play at the camp. Whether he was dunking, finishing difficult layups or nailing jumpers from well behind the arc, Coleman was constantly on the attack offensively. He is a high-level athlete with a impressive motor who has a skill game that will continue to develop. Mark him down as a four-star when the rankings are reshuffled before the July evaluation period. • Holly Springs, N.C., power forward C.J. Leslie, another NBPA Top 100 camp participant, still has the Terps under consideration. Leslie, who said he admires the game of Boston's Kevin Garnett, is still deciding what other schools he will visit this year. Florida, Maryland, Kentucky and Wake Forest are on his short list. • Between attending Maryland’s elite camp last weekend and the NBPA camp now, Washington, N.C., small forward Mychal Parker took some time to stop in at Virginia’s camp. The Cavaliers' coaches watched Mychal Parker with particular interest. A 6-5 swingman who attends the Miller School in western Albemarle County, Parker is one of the top prospects in the nation's Class of 2010. The schools he's considering include Maryland, Virginia, Miami and Florida. • DeMatha point guard Quinn Cook, a 2011 UM target, scored 22 points to lead the United States’ U16 men’s national team to a 102-76 win over Venezuela in the FIBA Americas Championship tournament Thursday. "I just wanted to come out aggressive," Cook said. "I wanted to throw the first punch. I was lucky enough to get a couple baskets to get some momentum. I just wanted to be aggressive." • Delaware shooting guard Trevor Cooney earned solid reviews from NBE Basketball Report for his play in last weekend’s Rumble in the Bronx AAU tournament. His current schools of interest include Boston U, Delaware, Syracuse, Villanova, Ohio State, Rutgers, Texas and Maryland. He has been to Delaware and ‘Cuse, ‘Nova and Maryland and would like to see Ohio State and get a sense for what a Big 10 school is like. • The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Barker broke the news Monday that Maryland had stopped recruiting Lance Stephenson. According to the New York Daily News, Stephenson’s father was caught off guard by the report. As of Wednesday night, Lance Stephenson Sr. had no knowledge that Maryland has stopped recruiting his son. "As far as we know Maryland is still an option," the father said. With the Terps bowing out of the Stephenson sweepstakes, Adam Zagoria writes that Memphis could be “the last team standing.” One source with knowledge went so far as to say Stephenson was planning an upcoming visit to the Conference USA school. “I think he is taking a visit. I think Memphis is leading,” the source said. “They are two feet in on Lance.” Football recruiting • Defensive end Nermin Delic, a three-star prospect from Tunnell Hill, Ga., has the Terps at the top of his list, according to GoUpState.com. Delic will visit Maryland this weekend and says he may commit. "I'll be there all weekend with my parents and if it feels right, I'll might commit," he said. "I've talked to my dad about it. He was supportive." Delic says that if he does commit, he will not shut down recruiting completely. "I will listen to schools if they offer me. If Georgia or Clemson were to offer, I would have to listen." • The Washington Post’s Josh Barr reports that Dunbar (D.C.) linebacker Javarie Johnson picked up an offer from Miami last week. [Dunbar coach Craig] Jefferies said Johnson has pared his list of nearly two dozen offers to four schools with a common thread: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Miami. • Jacksonville, Fla., offensive lineman Tramell Williams told Rivals.com that he “will likely commit to Illinois or South Carolina” before the end of the month, but he also discussed where Maryland stands in his recruitment. “Maryland has offered me,” Williams said. “I talked with them early this morning and they said I had an offer. They emailed me a few days ago and said they wanted to offer me as a defensive tackle. They are the first school that has offered me as a defensive tackle. UCF may as well. At this time I don’t know too much about Maryland and I likely not get up there this summer, maybe take an official visit this fall.” • New Jersey wide receiver Shakim Phillips, a four-star player according to Rivals.com, plans to check out College Park this summer. “I’m going to Pittsburgh, Boston College, Maryland, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. Those are the schools I know off the top of my head I’m going to see.

The Pryce is right [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-19T06:52:36-07:00

Thirteen years of playing in the NFL – which includes regular-season and playoff games, offseason practices and training camp – may have taken a physical toll on Trevor Pryce, but the defensive end is still one of the more engaging personalities to talk to in the Ravens locker room. Asked last week if mini-camps are a necessary evil, Pryce replied, “It is evil, but it is necessary. Let’s not say necessary evil. Let’s say evil necessary. But you have to do it. Especially for me personally, when I work out in Denver, no matter how hard you work out, you don’t sweat [because] there’s no humidity. So when I come out here, I put on a lot of clothes and try to run as much as I can to get some sweating in. but you enjoy it. They don’t make me do much. If they did make me do much, then I’d say, ‘This is optional. I’m going home.’ But since they take care of me and get me a play here, six plays there, and get off, then I’m ok.” Jokes aside, Pryce, who turns 34 on Aug. 3, looks to be in great shape and still has the agility and strength that has helped him collect 79 sacks in his career. The Ravens have drafted young pass rushers like Antwan Barnes, Paul Kruger and Prescott Burgess to book-end the talent they have in Terrell Suggs, but Pryce continues to run with the first defensive unit opposite Suggs. “Trevor is an elite defensive player in this league,” coach John Harbaugh said. “At one time, I think he was the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL – he’s that kind of a talent guy. Plus, Trevor knows how to stay in great shape. Trevor does a lot of training here, but he does a lot of training on his own. He’s the kind of guy that runs basketball gassers with weight packs on his back. Nobody’s in better shape than Trevor. He’ll come in here for 48 hours, as he says, then he’ll get out of here. But when you see it, you see the work he’s done. We expect Trevor to be an elite defensive lineman.” After posting a career-best 13 sacks in 2006, Pryce registered just two sacks in five games in 2007 due to a broken wrist and a torn pectoral muscle and 4½ sacks in 16 contests last season. Pryce said he wasn't disappointed with his personal performance last year. “I didn’t have a lot of sacks, but I had the same amount of pressures,” he said. “I guess I didn’t get lucky enough. … As a pass rusher, I thought I played pretty well. I can’t control sacks. I can control pressuring the quarterback, but a lot of other things have to happen for me to get a sack.”

Marshall talks ... but not about his future [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-19T04:00:36-07:00

At his youth football camp Thursday, disgruntled Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall declined to answer questions about his status with the team or a possible to trade to another one. The Ravens, who have not engaged in trade talks for Marshall, have been linked to him. “I think we saw this past year as far as change, as for changes in our front office. Coach (Mike) Shanahan being here 13 years. Gone! I think that’s part of life. You know it’s just change,” Marshall said. “You can control what you can control and what you can’t control you don’t worry about. So I’m here to show my wisdom, to give wisdom and get a feel for the kids.”

Would you like to see the cartoon bird return to Orioles' hats next year? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-18T20:12:42-07:00

It was an absolute landslide. Michael Dukakis thought it was the worst blowout he had seen. Baltimore loves the cartoon bird, or at least this bar does. I asked Thursday about the best Orioles’ bird logo, and there was no question that you people loved the cartoon bird. I remember a few months ago when we discussed “Baltimore” on the road jersey and some of you said the next step should be bringing back the cartoon bird. I agree it was the best logo -- absolutely classic. But do you really want it back now? Or should it be left to a different era? I think I’m OK with having it retired, maybe at least until the Orioles are more relevant in Major League Baseball. But I’m sure some of you feel going back to the cartoon bird will trigger good karma. I was going to do a golf post today, but we’ll let this run all weekend. We’ll make it an informal poll. Maybe someone in power pays attention. Or maybe not. Daily Think Special: Would you like to see the cartoon bird return full-time to Orioles' hats next year?

One undrafted rookie added, three others cut [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-18T19:21:11-07:00

The Ravens signed undrafted rookie linebacker Tony Fein, the one player added from a 10-player tryout. Fein, 27, spent 2 1/2 years in the army before recording 136 tackles in 24 games for Mississippi. The team released three undrafted rookies: quarterback Drew Willy, linebacker-defensive end Luis Vasquez and defensive back David Jones.

Catching up with Diego Sanchez [MMA Insider]

2009-06-18T17:55:21-07:00

Diego Sanchez is headlining The Ultimate Fighter season 9 finale Saturday on Spike TV in a match against Clay Guida and I recently caught up with him for a few minutes to get his thoughts on the fight.

DIEGO SANCHEZ

On his gameplan at TUF 9:

The key to the fight is me executing my gameplan. I’m a better fighter with better fights on my record. I have more experience and am going to have the fight of my career.

On his opponent, Guida:
I have respect for his heart and conditioning, but when he gets on top of people and lays there and holds them down? That won’t work with me. It’s a boring style and I’m ready for anything he tries to do.

On his strategy:

I’ll hit him with elbows, attempt triangles, hitting armbars, sweeps, guillotines. I will be constantly attacking from my guard.

On his current condition:

I feel strong and faster at 155, especially with my wrestling. My takedowns have improved as the guys I fight walk in weighing 160 now as opposed to 190.

On the future:

My plan is when I turn 30 -- I’m 27 now -- I want to turn back to the welterweight division and fight the best. I want to win the belt here and hold it and when the time is right, move to 170. Truthfully, I could fight in both weight classes.

On the MMA video game:

Oh, man, it is so awesome. They did such a good job with the video game. They made me a 90 rating and I’m pretty good on there. I don’t have knockout power but maybe in the next edition I can get that added.

On Georges St. Pierre:

It’s weird ... I fought GSP five times in a row and got my butt kicked. It sucked watching myself get knocked out five times so I switched weight classes.

On what fans don't know about him:

I think my fans know everything about me. What they don’t know they can wonder about.

I also caught up with Joe Stevenson and Joe Rogan, so keep an eye out for those interviews later today or early tomorrow.

A few things [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-18T12:46:23-07:00

Here's a shameless plug alert. The guys at In the Bleachers, a must-read college football blog, had me as a guest on their weekly podcast last night. Click here to listen. The podcast includes lots of local football recruiting talk, a discussion of the Terps’ 2009 prospects, and a look at outside-the-area schools who regularly recruit the state. The co-hosts, Adam Nettina (a Mount St. Joseph grad and GoMids.com writer) and Brian Sakowski, also bring up Michigan football near the end, and I fight back tears as we discuss the 2008 debacle. • There’s been a big push here at The Baltimore Sun to embrace social media, so a couple weeks ago I jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. It’s been an admittedly lackluster debut, but I’ll try to pick it up in the coming weeks. Click here to follow my updates. • We also launched a local high school recruiting database recently on the site. You can search for any area athlete in almost any sport, starting with the 2008 class. Click here to check out the database.

Ravens sign fifth-rounder Phillips, two cut [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-18T12:17:55-07:00

The Ravens signed their third draft pick, linebacker Jason Phillips, to a three-year contract. No terms were available for the fifth-round pick. Phillips joins tight end Davon Drew and running back Cedric Peerman as signed draft picks. The Ravens cut defensive back Anwar Phillips and cornerback David Jones.

Where are they now: Teddy Dargan [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-18T11:19:56-07:00

When Teddy Dargan came up short in the classroom senior year, the plan for the talented Milford Mill defensive tackle was to get as far away from the area as possible. Mission accomplished. The one-time Maryland commitment has resurfaced 2,550 miles away from Baltimore in Yuma, Ariz., as a member of the Arizona Western College football team. Dargan, a former Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection, was the Terps’ second commitment for the 2008 class, pledging midway through his junior year. When the 6-foot-3, 280-pounder fell short of NCAA qualifying standards, Arizona Western coach Tom Minnick was happy to welcome the four-star prospect to Yuma -- even though it meant waiting another year for Dargan to take the field. “He actually grayshirted for us in the fall because he didn’t have a diploma from high school,” Minnick said. “So he had to take 11 hours in the fall and he took 12 hours and was eligible after the spring semester here. So his [eligibility] clock started in January. But he had a great spring and he’ll be ready to play this fall, so we can’t wait to see him go.” Minnick said there’s no question Dargan was disappointed to sit out his first season of junior college football, but over time, he came to understand why he was in that situation. Dargan handled his business in the classroom, and lived up to the hype when he was finally able to suit up for the Matadors in a practice setting. “He really looked good,” Minnick said. “He’s got that body, 6-3, 6-4, and he can run. He’s got good bounce in his step. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with if he comes in shape and does what he’s supposed to do. That’s the biggest thing because it is hot out here, and it takes a while for kids to get used to the heat, even though we practice and play our games at night. ... It takes some time to adjust, but being here, the key is it keeps him out of trouble. Here you concentrate on your academics and playing football, and then lifting weights and doing everything he needs to do to prepare for the next level. It’s a great opportunity in Yuma to take care of your business.” Because of his year-long hiatus from the football field, there isn’t much to speak of regarding Dargan’s recruitment. But that should change in a hurry come fall. “They’ll know about him as soon as he plays,” Minnick said. “And all those people that recruited him in high school, they know where he went. ... So it’ll be up to him if he wants to go back east or have the Pac-10 schools all over him. If he plays well and takes care of his academics, he can go anywhere he wants.” Dargan’s back in Baltimore for the summer, but will return to Yuma by Aug. 6. He’s penciled in to start for Arizona Western at defensive tackle, provided he spends quality time in the weight room and returns to school in good shape. For Dargan and his coach, a return to the field can’t come soon enough. “He’s anxious,” Minnick said. “Sitting out last year bugged him, I know it did. It bugged me. ... I just can’t wait. Just another month and a half.” Baltimore Sun photo of Teddy Dargan by Karl Merton Ferron / Sept. 13, 2006

• Is there a former high school athlete with Maryland ties you’d like to see profiled in a Where are they now segment? If so, e-mail me at mbracken@baltimoresun.com.

Previous Where are they now? features: • Basketball: Latay Darden (Progressive Christian Academy) • Football: Wayne Dorsey (Southwestern) and James Carmon (City) • Basketball: Omar Strong (Douglass) • Basketball: Jeremy Robinson (Northwestern) • Football: Eteyen Edet (Friendly)

Maryland Crab Bowl rosters unveiled [Recruiting Report]

2009-06-18T08:25:37-07:00

The inaugural Maryland Crab Bowl could be tough to top from a talent standpoint. “Last year’s talent was the best the state’s ever seen,” admitted Chuck Harmon, the president and co-founder of the Baltimore vs. Washington high school football all-star event. But Harmon is confident the second annual Crab Bowl — which is scheduled for Dec. 19 at Johnny Unitas Stadium — will hold just as much attraction for local football fans as the first game. Harmon announced the rosters during a news conference Wednesday at Towson University. “Maryland in the past has not had that national reputation that other states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, California and so on has in the nation,” Harmon said. “[But] Maryland is quickly rising. We’ve got some athletes in this state that can play for any university in the United States.” City wide receiver Adrian Coxson and Thomas Johnson linebacker Nick Forbes were both on hand to represent the Baltimore team. Six Penn State commitments played in last year’s Crab Bowl. Coxson, who pledged to the Nittany Lions earlier this spring, said he’s happy to continue that new tradition. “It’s fun. This is all part of me trying to reach my goals,” Coxson said. “I’m just taking the next step. ... Now that I’ve committed, I’m just working hard to get to that next level.” Forbes, a four-star prospect, heard about the Crab Bowl last season from former teammate and Central Michigan-bound defensive back D.J. Scott. Scott and the Baltimore squad suffered a 32-21 loss to D.C. in 2008, but things could be different this year. “I feel like this year, [Baltimore has] a lot of talent,” said Forbes, who has narrowed his list of schools to Cal, Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. “I’m playing to win.” While Coxson’s college future is set, and Forbes will likely make his decision later this summer, Harmon said the Crab Bowl is all about creating an opportunity for overlooked players to have a chance at landing a college scholarship. Harmon said he and Crab Bowl co-founder Sean O’Connor hoped that “five or seven kids” would receive scholarship offers after playing in last year’s game. Those expectations were easily surpassed. “Last year, the first annual Maryland Crab Bowl, we were fortunate to have 88 kids involved in the game,” Harmon said. “Out of those 88 kids, 83 student-athletes received college scholarships. ... When I say college scholarships, that’s Division I, IAA or Division II; not Division III or a prep school. ... We had 27 kids, as a result of playing in the Crab Bowl … get a chance to play and earn college scholarships.” Wednesday’s Super 60 roster announcement was just the initial list of kids who made the cut. Harmon intends to add 14-15 players to each team before December’s game. While most of the skill position slots have been filled, there’s plenty of room for offensive and defensive linemen. Kicker and punter will most likely be addressed after the high school season. Meanwhile, the Washington squad needs two additional quarterbacks. Baltimore has Century’s Josh Bordner, Loyola’s Connor Bruns and Arundel’s Billy Cosh on its roster. Players from the Eastern Shore are generally placed on the Baltimore team, but Taylor Henry from Cambridge-South Dorchester will suit up for D.C. due to the District’s lack of numbers at the position. Listed below are the initial rosters for the 2009 Maryland Crab Bowl. Click here for more information.

Baltimore Josh Alaeze, Parkville linebacker-defensive end Nathan Ayers, Dunbar defensive back Hansen Barrick, Tuscarora offensive lineman Josh Bordner, Century quarterback Connor Bruns, Loyola quarterback Tyrek Cheeseboro, Milford Mill wide receiver Devin Clark, Dunbar offensive lineman Tuswani Copeland, Meade wide receiver Billy Cosh, Arundel quarterback Adrian Coxson (Penn State), City wide receiver Ryan Dixon, Linganore wide receiver Anthony Ferguson (Iowa), Gilman defensive end J.R. Ferguson, Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy defensive end Nick Forbes, Thomas Johnson linebacker Kyle Fuller, Mount St. Joseph cornerback Josh Furman, Old Mill defensive back-running back Emmanuel Gbor, Eastern Tech running back Jeremy Grove (East Carolina), Thomas Johnson linebacker R.J. Harris, Arundel wide receiver Robby Havenstein, Linganore offensive lineman Kevin Johnson, River Hill defensive back Nick Marth, Linganore defensive lineman Jake McGinnis, Joppatowne linebacker Hassam Ouri, Broadneck offensive lineman Bobby Partilla, Arundel linebacker Mike Pitz, Hereford offensive lineman Jim Poggi (Iowa), Gilman linebacker Matt Robinson, Atholton athlete Delonte Tate, Stephen Decatur defensive back Kyle Tucker, Linganore offensive lineman Willie Williams, Hereford running back Zach Zwinak, Linganore fullback Washington Marcus Anderson, Westlake linebacker Antonio Belt, Forestville wide receiver Brian Blue, Gwynn Park linebacker Marcus Coker, DeMatha running back Brandon Coleman, Bishop McNamara wide receiver Michael Coley, DeMatha safety Malik Cross, Oxon Hill linebacker Bisi Ezekoye, Kennedy athlete Troy Gloster, Good Counsel linebacker Devin Goode, Riverdale Baptist wide receiver Jordan Haden (Florida), Friendly safety Taylor Henry, Cambridge-South Dorchester Shane Johnson, DeMatha offensive lineman Jerome June, Gwynn Park defensive end Jeff Knox (Pittsburgh), DeMatha safety Arie Kouandjio, DeMatha offensive tackle Axel Ofori, Gaithersburg defensive back Paul Phillips, Georgetown Prep tight end Chris Pitsenberger, Good Counsel linebacker Mitchell Pollard, Springbrook wide receiver E.J. Scott (Virginia), Good Counsel defensive back Arlando Scott, North Point running back Khalek Shepherd, Gwynn Park running back Devonte Stamps, McDonough linebacker Devonta Tabannah, Potomac wide receiver Frank Tamakloe, Good Counsel safety Titus Till (Maryland), Wise defensive back Oswaldo Velasquez, Magruder offensive lineman Lorenzo Waters, DeMatha safety Louis Young, Good Counsel defensive back

Rookie camp not just limited to rookies [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-18T08:04:28-07:00

Even though Tuesday’s practice was billed as a rookies-only event, there were a few veterans sprinkled in the mix. Offensive linemen Joe Reitz and Bryan Mattison, cornerback Anwar Phillips and wide receiver Justin Harper took a generous number of reps. Although Reitz, Mattison and Harper are technically second-year players, their first seasons went unaccredited with all three spending time on either the practice squad or injured reserve. So the opportunity to get extra snaps and tutoring was appealing. “The whole thought was, ‘Well, do I have to be out here?’ but then I looked at it and thought about it and was like, ‘They didn’t say anything to me about being here, so I’m going to be here,’ ” said Harper, a Virginia Tech product drafted in the seventh round last year. “So I looked at it like, ‘Hey, being a rookie last year and not getting to play, I still feel like a rookie.’ So until I get some games under my belt, I’m still a rookie.” Reitz said he jumped at the chance to refine his technique under the watchful eyes of offensive line coach John Matsko and assistant offensive line coach Andy Moeller without having to elbow his way past his other linemates. “It’s a chance to come in and get more individual attention because during full teams and stuff, the coaches are coaching everybody,” Reitz said. “But instead of 15 O-linemen, there are now five. So you really get that individual attention. Our O-line coaches are given a lot of time for us to ask questions and really get everything cleared up before you go to training camp:’ Phillips acknowledged considering staying home rather than attending Tuesday’s practice. “That’s always an option, but another day you can work is always a good day,” he said. “It’s another chance to get better and work on stuff. I actually learn more details about coverages, and that helps. Some of this may be all new to me, but I’m getting better. It’s another day that maybe guys who are in the same position as me don’t have. It’s another day for me to broadcast my talents.”

Second draft pick signs [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-17T22:09:32-07:00

Cedric Peerman, a sixth-round pick, signed a three-year, $1.2 million deal with the Ravens that included a $78,000 signing bonus. Peerman, a running back out of Virginia, joins tight end Davon Drew as the Ravens' signed draft picks. The Ravens report to training camp in late July. The unsigned draft picks are: offensive tackle Michael Oher (first round); defensive end Paul Kruger (second round); cornerback Lardarius Webb (third round); and linebacker Jason Phillips (fifth round).

Which is the best Orioles bird logo? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-17T18:53:38-07:00

In two days we have managed to talk about fat and slow players and guys who just didn’t look like they belonged in the majors. And we did a little trashing of Alanis Morissette. Not bad at all for a midweek. Since you guys have been especially impressive this week, I am turning the floor over to you today. Or to TJ, anyway. TJ, one of our patrons, has suggested a pretty interesting topic. He wants to know which is your favorite Orioles bird logo? There are probably three main choices here: the classic ornithologically correct one from the old days, the original cartoon bird of the 1950s or the late 1970s-80s cartoon bird. Because I am a child of the early 80s, it’s an easy choice for me. I remember once talking to now deposed lefty Jamie Walker last year about the 1970-80s cartoon bird. He told me he won that hat at a carnival in Tennessee when he was a kid and refused to take it off for weeks. It was just too cool, he said (actually, he used much more colorful language but this is a family fake bar). I am in agreement with Walker. Daily Think Special: Which is the best Orioles bird logo of all-time?

Which Oriole least looked like a big leaguer? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-17T04:33:50-07:00

A huge day at the bar Tuesday. Which is a tad ironic considering the topic was slow. Or maybe that’s not ironic. There was a day when I knew the difference, but then Alanis Morissette screwed everything up. You’ll never find that woman in this jukebox. I’ll put the Bee Gees in before her. I mean it. Anyway, great discussion Tuesday. Several belly laughs – often about Orioles with ample bellies -- on this end. We’re going to try to build on that momentum and steal from the topic a little. We’ve discussed something similar before, but I don’t mind repeating a bit – especially if you guys are on your fourth drink before I make the suggestion. Building on the fat and slow thread that dominated Tuesday’s conversation, I want to know who you think was the most unlikely looking baseball player ever to wear an Orioles uniform. It could be a big guy such as Sid Fernandez or Sal Fasano. Or a little guy such as Willie Harris or Don Buford. Back in the day. my friends and I used to joke that Tim Hulett looked like the guy that pumped gas at the full-serve station on Loch Raven Boulevard. And pitcher Travis Driskill – a good-looking fella who slightly resembled a certain dashing blogger/bartender – once was prohibited from re-entering the Camden Yards clubhouse in street clothes because the attendant didn’t realize he was a player – and had pitched that day. The media had to vouch for him. There are plenty of those types out there, since baseball is played by a lot of Everymen. But is there one that strikes you the most? Who absolutely, positively did not look like a big-league player? Daily Think Special: Which Oriole least looked like a pro ballplayer?

Brandon Marshall speaks ... sort of [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-16T18:54:13-07:00

In his first comments since requesting a trade from the Denver Broncos, Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall wrote on his Web site: "Clearing the Air…" "To whom it may concern. Life is filled with change, and where I am in my life now change is probably best. It’s hard leaving an organization ran by one of the best owners in all of sports, and someone who’s been there for me through my ups and downs. The hardest thing was hearing Mr. B (owner Pat Bowlen) wish me luck in the future, but we both came to the conclusion that this is probably the best thing for me to grow on and off the field. "I thank the Denver fans who embraced my emotion and play on the field and showing me love every time I step outside my door." Ravens officials are looking into Marshall's background before initiating any trade talks with the Broncos.

Tommy Breaux makes pitch to Ravens [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-16T14:57:09-07:00

Tommy Breaux did not try to minimize the quantum leap he is attempting to make. Asked about trying to jump from Towson University to the NFL, Breaux, with eyes wide, said: "It's like going from high school to the NBA." It was an appropriate analogy because Breaux, who grew up in Randallstown, was a two-sport athlete at Towson, and the other sport was basketball. Breaux will finish up a three-day tryout camp with the Ravens on Wednesday. A hair under 6-foot-7, his size and athleticism also got him tryouts with the Redskins and Giants in May. Neither team offered a contract. Breaux went to Blinn (Tex.) Junior College after high school, then to Towson to play both football and basketball. He averaged 5.9 points and blocked 66 shots in the 2006-07 basketball season, starting 22 of 31 games for coach Pat Kennedy. He decided his prospects were better in football than basketball and he committed to the Tigers' football team last season. He missed three games with a finger injury, but grabbed five touchdowns in his last four games, when he had 21 catches for 320 yards. For the season, he had 35 catches for 514 yards and six TDs. In Tuesday's workout, the Ravens sent Breaux on deep routes several times, and threw fade routes at least twice. "I feel I improved from [Monday]," Breaux said. "Cam [offensive coordinator Cam Cameron] said I was starting to look like a football player." The Ravens also invited three other free agent receivers in for tryouts this week. They were Will Buchanon, who has been with the Raiders, Chiefs and Panthers; Kenneth Harris of Georgia; and Chris Vaughn of Louisville. Coach John Harbaugh was non-committal on the free agents after Tuesday's workout. "We're going to look at this tape, and once we get three days of tape, we'll take a look and see if any of those guys can make us better. If they can, we'll make a change."

Marshal Yanda still on schedule [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-16T12:48:52-07:00

Contrary to a radio report a week ago that Marshal Yanda might miss the season after two surgeries on his right knee, the Ravens' third-year offensive lineman says he still expects to play this year and hasn't suffered any setbacks. Yanda tore the anterior cruciate, medial and posterior collateral ligaments in his right knee in Week 6 last season at Indianapolis. He needed separate operations to repair the damage, the second on Jan. 12 for his ACL. Although he wasn't cleared to practice in any of the team's offseason workouts, Yanda has resumed lifting and running and said his knee feels solid. An eight-month projection for Yanda's return from the second surgery would put him on schedule for mid-August. Unless he has a setback, he expects to meet that timetable. After Tuesday's rookie camp workout, Yanda said his "worst-case scenario" is having to go on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list when the Ravens make final cuts in September. Then, he would be inactive for a minimum of six games. "That'd be if I have a setback, which I don't plan on happening," he said. Yanda almost certainly will go on the PUP list at the start of training camp next month, but as long as he isn't on the list at the final cutdown, he need not miss those six games. He said his best-case scenario is to come off the PUP in mid- to late-August, as anticipated, and get ready for the season opener on Sept. 13. There's also the possibility he'll miss a week or two at the start of the season while he works his knee back into playing shape.

First public brouhaha of the offseason [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-16T12:11:22-07:00

The first fracas of the Ravens offseason before the media erupted today during a rookie camp when second-round pick Paul Kruger got involved with an offensive lineman. The scuffle lasted about 20 seconds with teammates pulling apart the participants and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron ordering players to “break it up.” Afterwards, Kruger said he could not remember which offensive lineman set him off. “We kind of got tangled up and started to throw down,” the defensive end/outside linebacker said. “… That can happen at any time, I guess.” What’s surprising to me is that the Ravens waited this long to avoid fisticuffs. Last year, then-rookie offensive tackle Oniel Cousins was involved in scraps with former Ravens Dan Cody and Amon Gordon in a span of two months. Second-year wide receiver Justin Harper pointed out that rookies might be feeling pressed to separate themselves from the crowd with their coaches. “The Ravens are physical, and that’s what guys want to show out there,” he said. “You’ve got linemen scrapping out there and you’ve got Kruger who was a second-round pick. He’s going to get out there and bust tail, too, and show the defensive coaches what he’s got.”

Terps are no longer recruiting Born Ready [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-16T05:00:41-07:00

You heard it here first, folks. Lance Stephenson is no longer being recruited by Maryland. I filed a story for today's paper on this, but let me give you more if I can.

My sources say Stephenson hasn't been in the recruiting picture for about three weeks. One source said flatly that Stephenson will not be a Terrapin.

This story was slow in developing. I began to get curious when I was a guest on Jerry Coleman's radio show on Baltimore's Fox 1370 on the same day Gary Williams did a call-in interview a few weeks ago. Coleman asked Williams whether the makeup of next year's team was uncertain.

Replied Williams: "I've got a pretty good idea. I don't know how hard we're waiting, let's put it that way."

Williams was not free to go further. But doesn't that sound like a hint? Obviously I couldn't write something based on a whim, and it took some time to confirm it.

Stephenson is obviously a talent. I don't know all the reasons behind Maryland's decision to stop pursuing him. I wish I did. Much of it remains private.

But I would say this, folks. Recruiting isn't just about bringing in the best player. Programs have to consider whether the player has baggage, what it takes to get him and whether he fits into the system you're running. You think Maryland wouldn't pursue a player as talented as Born Ready without a sound reason?

Greivis is back and happy [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-16T05:00:19-07:00

What a pleasant, sunny day at Comcast Center yesterday.

Greivis Vasquez was back and happy. His teammates -- some were milling around, others were running sprints on an adjacent field -- wore smiles.

I think most suspected Vasquez wouldn't stay in the NBA draft and would return for his senior season. "I thought he would (remain)," Eric Hayes said. Gary Williams had said much the same thing.

But still. You never know when an itchy NBA team will get a covetous feeling about a player and whisper in his ear.

Gary Williams said he was perfectly prepared to say goodbye to Greivis if the player got a top-20 draft nibble. But I don't think the coach expected that to happen. And neither did most of you Terps fans.

Say what you will about Greivis and his personality -- mercurial? passionate? hot-headed? I think the guy really works to improve himself. He knows all about the turnovers and knows he must improve his shot. I expect him to return a better player this year.

Pro Bowl receiver to Ravens? [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-15T20:28:39-07:00

It has been rumored that the Ravens are interested in trading for disgruntled Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Without citing a source, Pro Football Talk reported that “rumors are flying in some circles that Marshall could land in Baltimore.” Wide receiver has been considered a weak area for the Ravens, who had trade talks for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin two months ago. According to the Associated Press, Marshall has requested a trade and walked out of a Friday meeting with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen with several boxes of belongings. The Pro Bowl wide receiver didn’t speak with reporters as he drove out of the team’s parking lot. The Ravens balked at trading first- and third-round picks for Boldin two months ago because that would be too steep to give up for a wide receiver who turns 29 during the season. Marshall is younger (25) and is a bigger target (6 feet 4, 230 pounds) than Boldin. In his past two seasons, Marshall has caught over 100 passes and surpassed 1,200 yards receiving. But there is baggage with Marshall. He faces a trial later this summer on two misdemeanor battery charges stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend. The result of the case could subject Marshall to punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Nicknamed “the Beast,” Marshall was a fourth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2006.

Who is the slowest Oriole of all time? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-15T18:22:59-07:00

We’ve gotten the accolades out of the way for base runners, mentioning the best in Orioles history Monday. Let’s take a bit of the flip side Tuesday. The obvious question is who is the worst base runner in Orioles history, but that is such a tough call. Certainly, we remember specific boneheaded plays from the likes of Jack Cust and Melvin Mora. But are they the worst base runners in club history, or makers of memorable gaffes? So let’s just analyze the slowest Orioles position players over the years. Catcher Gus Triandos is legendary. He had one stolen base in a 13-season career, but he was a perfect 1-for-1. Boog Powell was a big man who had to carry a cement bag behind him. And Lee May in his later years was the Big Bopper for a reason. Then there was Harold Baines, for whom the term “balky knees” was created. For my money, I am going with a guy I covered: catcher Geronimo Gil. He did have two stolen bases (and twice was caught stealing) in his six-season career. But that was early on. By 2005 I am convinced I could have beaten him from home to first, and I am not exactly Ben Johnson (before or after stanozolol). Gil was that slow. For giggles, I looked to see if “The Chief” is still playing ball, and he is in the Mexican League, batting .303 with eight homers, 11 doubles and a triple (wonder if that one is on You Tube). He has attempted to steal four bases and has been thrown out three times -- in the Mexican League. He is now listed at 240, which was about his playing weight in 2005 when he was listed at 200. Anyway, the Chief is my call, with an asterisk for Triandos, who I never saw play. Daily Think Special: Who is the slowest Oriole of all time?

Vasquez and coaches are meeting [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-15T12:46:43-07:00

The long-anticipated meeting of Greivis Vasquez and Maryland coaches is ongoing. Obviously it's private.

But I'll get you a verdict as soon as I get it.

Greivis Vasquez decision due today [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-15T06:08:58-07:00

Greivis Vasquez has until 5 p.m. today to decide whether to remain at Maryland or keep his name in the NBA draft.

My theories on why the announcement came down to the last day:

*I think Greivis decided the smart strategic move was to keep everybody in suspense. That way, he could potentially exact a higher price from any interested NBA teams because his status was uncertain. You try to use any leverage you can get.

*He wanted to take full advantage of the workout process with NBA teams. The process is good for his game -- he got lots of feedback from NBA coaches -- and he seems to have genuinely enjoyed it. He had workouts scheduled right up until the final weekend.

*I think there were genuinely some mixed feelings about the decision. Pros and cons either way, although I've said before that it's probably best for him to return to college and continue to work on his game, particularly in such a guard-heavy draft.

I was told over the weekend there was a meeting scheduled between Greivis and coach Gary Williams, but no details available yet. We'll keep you posted today. Obviously this is an important decision for the Terps. I could be proved wrong, but it doesn't seem these days that recruit Lance Stephenson fits into Maryland's plans, or vice-versa.

While this situation is still fluid, consider these comments that Gary Williams made a few weeks ago. He was asked by Jerry Coleman of Fox 1370 in Baltimore whether the makeup of next year's team was uncertain.

Williams: "I've got a pretty good idea. I don't know how hard we're waiting, let's put it that way."

The Terps could really use Vasquez's ability to create shots for himself and, just as important, for others.

Who is the greatest base runner in Orioles history? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-14T18:41:15-07:00

Watching Robert Andino steal home Sunday afternoon is today’s inspiration. I’m not sure I have seen that a whole lot. Corey Patterson was the last one to do it for the Orioles, back in 2007. Andino did a nice job anticipating the fielder and taking advantage of his mental lapse. It got me thinking about who was the best base runner I have covered in the Orioles’ last nine seasons. Not the fastest guy necessarily -- that probably is Patterson. Although Jay Payton went from first to third as quickly as anyone I can remember. But great base runners combine speed with baseball instincts; they are the ones that can go from first to third safely in nearly every opportunity. It doesn’t hurt if those guys mix in a nasty edge, too. For me, Jeff Conine had all of those attributes. He was a gifted athlete and an incredibly instinctual ballplayer, but he also had good speed and enough power to waste a catcher at home plate if he had to. Brady Anderson fits that description as well. I asked local radio guru Craig Heist about who was the best Orioles base runner he has covered in his career here, and he says Roberto Alomar. Tough to argue with that one. If you want to go old school, Frank Robinson will always be in the conversation, as will Paul Blair and Al Bumbry. And I am sure there will be some names thrown out from pre-Frank days. Stealing bases doesn’t automatically make you a great base runner – we’ve seen that over the years. But, for argument’s sake, know that Anderson is the organization’s career steals leader followed by Bumbry, Brian Roberts and Blair. Luis Aparicio holds the club’s single-season record with 57 stolen bases. I couldn’t find an all-time organizational list for stolen base efficiency. Listen, this one is about as subjective as they come. And that’s what we like in the bar. It’s all about opinions here. So offer up yours. Daily Think Special: Who is the greatest base runner in Orioles history?

Review & preview: Three teams under the radar [Faceoff]

2009-06-12T08:00:00-07:00

Last June, I published my version of the 2009 preseason poll and added another entry of three teams that I thought had potential. So in keeping with that tradition, here are three teams that did not finish above .500 and missed the tournament this past season. But what they do have is intrigue in either the form of returning players, a new head coach or a campaign that just fell short of the tournament. In alphabetical order, the teams flying under the radar are:

Looking at UFC 99 [MMA Insider]

2009-06-12T00:43:00-07:00

UFC 99 is finally here (well, it will be tomorrow) and the main event of Rich Franklin taking on Wanderlei Silva is a very interesting one. Is it worthy of the headline status? For a show overseas, probably. For a fan to shell out the same cash they will for UFC 100? Probably not.

Whether you watch it at 3 p.m. live or at 10 p.m. on tape delay, it should be an entertaining card. Silva and Franklin both like to stand and bang, and both guys need a win. Silva is trying to make a case for a title shot against Anderson Silva for his middleweight tile. Franklin is trying to gain legitimacy in the scene at 205 pounds. Both guys have gone too long without a defining win. Franklin is the Vegas favorite (-160) and Silva is the pros favorite (according to sherdog.com) and it’s a tough one to call. I think Franklin will get the win with a third-round TKO, but very little (other than a submission or a boring fight, maybe) in this one will surprise me.

The fight between Cain Velasquez and Cheick Kongo should be intriguing as well. Velasquez is an impressive heavyweight prospect, but Kongo seems in line for a title shot after Brock Lesnar faces Frank Mir. While the heavyweight scene in the UFC doesn’t look as bland as it used to, there still isn’t a ton there and Velasquez moves much closer to a title shot with a win. One would have to think Kongo is officially next in line with one. I know Kongo was a late addition to this fight but I’m not ready to jump on the Velasquez bandwagon just yet.

And, for those of you interested in the past, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic is on the card. His bout with Mustapha Al-Turk will be interesting because Filipovic will kick Al-Turk in the head and Al-Turk will lose consciousness. This will cause everyone to rave about how the old Cro Cop is back and is going to set the UFC heavyweight division on fire. Then he’ll go on to lose to Gabriel Gonzaga again or to the loser of the Randy Couture vs. Minotauro Nogueira matchup. It will be cool to see the highlight knockout, but I’m not holding out hope for the old "Cro Cop" to return to the MMA scene.

I’m also pumped for the Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders fight. I saw both of these guys at UFC’s Fight for the Troops and Swick seems like the real deal. He should win this bout but both of these guys are talented fighters. This should be a fun one to watch.

The Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy matchup is intriguing because of the amount of trash talk going on between the two. Davis is a fun guy to watch and he’ll probably add another knockout to his highlight reel in this one.

When all is said and done, this could end up being a really underrated card. It's definitely worth checking out. If I was a betting man, I’d be throwing my money behind Franklin, Kongo, Davis, Swick and "Cro Cop" (in the mentioned fights).

A few quick links

Thefukerton.com has a couple links to check out. They caught up with the TapouT crew and will have the UFC 99 weigh-in streaming live at 10 a.m. EST.

ESPN.com has five things to watch for at UFC 99

Foxsports has an interesting read on the tough reception the UFC is getting in Germany.

It's amazing to see some of the reactions from opponents. Banning minors from attending the event is just excessive. When are people going to realize it’s not two drunk guys locked in a cage beating the crap out of each other? It’s not a freak show. These are well-trained, athletic martial artists. It’s a sport, not a spectacle.

How would you jump-start the scuffling Orioles offense? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-11T21:08:47-07:00

There’s been a pervasive thought for much of this young Orioles season. This club doesn’t have the pitching to compete with the big boys of the AL East yet. But the belief has been that they could swing the bats with anyone. Not lately. The Orioles offense is in an absolute funk. How bad is it? They have scored 20 runs in their last 11 games -- that’s fewer than two a contest. In that span, they are 2-9 and have scored three or fewer runs 10 times. Orioles manager Dave Trembley has tried lots of things to jump-start the group, especially the top hitters. He’s swapped Adam Jones and Nick Markakis in the lineup, he has rested Aubrey Huff and Brian Roberts. He has moved Luke Scott, the hottest hitting Oriole, into the cleanup spot. And these professional hitters just aren’t hitting. Not sure what more changes need to be made. Maybe move Melvin Mora out of the fifth spot? There really doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of options. Trembley keeps saying that he knows his guys will hit again. He says they are too good to continually struggle this much. He’s probably right. But I’m sure you people out there have some moves in mind that could jump-start the offense. So let’s hear them. It’s your turn to manage the Orioles. Daily Think Special: How would you jump-start the scuffling Orioles offense?

Anyone for Wanderlei Silva vs. Anderson Silva? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-11T14:01:54-07:00

After watching the UFC 99 Countdown special it looks like a Wanderlei Silva vs. Anderson Silva fight is on the horizon. I don’t get the hype for this, especially so soon. I like the whole back story of “they used to be close friends but now hate each other!” and the wrinkle of Anderson Silva training with Rich Franklin for his UFC 99 bout with Wanderlei.

Still, I’m not terribly interested in seeing that fight. I used to be a huge Wanderlei Silva fan, especially when he was in PRIDE, but I’ve soured on him lately. I’m fine with his move down to middleweight but I’d like to see him fight a few guys at middleweight before taking on Silva. I’d like to see him fight Demain Maia or even Yushin Okami.

The winner of one of those fights would rightly deserve a shot at Anderson Silva’s title and that match could be a decent draw. I also don’t think Wanderlei is going to take down Franklin (Franklin is favored in Vegas, for what’s it’s worth).

Wanderlei would be a much better opponent than Thales Leites or James Irvin, but we’re running out of Anderson Silva fights (potentially). If he beats Forrest Griffin, he should stay at 205 unless he gets a superfight with Georges St. Pierre or until a clear challenger at 185 establishes himself.

Back tomorrow with a full look at UFC 99.

OC summer ball [Re: Lax]

2009-06-11T09:56:37-07:00

If you are "down the ocean" for the summer and want to play some lacrosse, the summer pickup games start again on Wednesday (June 17). It will be a little different this year. They will be playing in Ocean City at the Third Street fields next to the bay and there is a cost to rent the field. There will be a fee of $30 for the summer (six sessions) or $5 per night. The games will be each Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. See you there next week!

Rookie corner K.J. Gerard makes an impression [Ravens Insider]

2009-06-11T08:11:03-07:00

Rookie cornerback Kevin “K.J.” Gerard would seem to have an uphill battle to climb to cement a spot with the Ravens, but he helped himself out Tuesday by hauling in two interceptions during Tuesday’s passing camp. The undrafted free agent out of Northern Arizona is adept at using his 6-foot-1, 187-pound frame to reach high for the football, but he still has a lot to absorb, according to coach John Harbaugh. “He’s learning where to line up still, so he’s not always in the right spacing,” he said of Gerard. “He’s not always in the right spot. But [defensive backs coach] Mark [Carrier] is doing a great job of bringing him along that way. And he has a natural nose for the ball. He can catch it. You know that he’s making a bunch of plays when the offensive coaches start inquiring about taking a look at him at wide receiver. He’s done a good job.” Second-year safety Tom Zbikowski also had a good outing, picking off two passes of his own. And the Ravens worked on a few gadget plays. There was the hook-and-ladder with running back Ray Rice being the recipient of the lateral from a wide receiver, a double reverse involving Rice and wide receiver Kelley Washington, a double reverse and a lateral back to quarterback Joe Flacco, and a pass from John Beck to fellow quarterback Drew Willy.

Review & preview: Premature poll Part 4 [Faceoff]

2009-06-11T08:00:00-07:00

Here is the final installment of a preseason and premature poll for the 2010 season, publishing the teams ranked from Nos. 5 to 1.

Unless there are confirmed reports about certain players planning to use fifth years of eligibility, this space will assume that seniors in 2009 will not be back next season. Unannounced fifth-year seniors and potential transfers will affect the rankings that come out next February, but here are the teams that I think will fall between Nos. 5 and 1.

Which current players would compel you to tip your cap? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-10T20:29:39-07:00

We are going to move beyond the baseball draft today, because, let’s face it, none of us really knows what we are talking about. That’s never stopped me before, of course, but I am not too old to try new things. Today’s subject is courtesy of Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie (with an assist from my colleague Peter Schmuck, who whipped out his notebook when he realized that a bullshooting session was turning into something interesting and quotable.) After Guthrie’s loss to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night, Guthrie was chatting with a few of us, when he said this: “The one good thing about tonight,” Guthrie said, "facing Ken Griffey Jr. I grew up a big fan. Had all his rookie cards. It's almost like you want to step off the mound and tip your cap to him. There are only a few out there like that." It was the first time Guthrie had ever faced Griffey. The future Hall of Famer was hitless in three at-bats against him and 0-for-4 for the night. His average is down to .208. But it’s what Griffey has done in his career, and the way he has carried himself, that struck Guthrie. When I pressed him on whom else in the game today he has that kind of respect for, he mentioned Derek Jeter. It’s not a long list for most of us. It got me wondering. If you were a current player, who would you hold in that regard? I say Griffey and Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Maybe Chipper Jones and the remaining ex-Brave hurlers, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Am I forgetting anyone? Someone who was not just great, but seemingly did it right. Is there someone I mentioned who doesn’t belong in that group? Daily Think Special: Which current players would compel you to tip your cap?

UMBC visiting the Far East [Faceoff]

2009-06-10T13:38:47-07:00

The Retrievers will take their game overseas as participants in the International Friendship Games as part of an 11-day tour to Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan. The players and coaches from this past season’s team will leave Baltimore on Thursday and join in commemorating the 20^th anniversary of this event.

"We have a great relationship with the Japan Lacrosse Association [JLA]," coach Don Zimmerman told the school’s website. "This past fall, they sent a team over here and after the game, we had a tailgate for them. One of the principle ideas of the JLA is ‘Lacrosse Makes Friends.’ We understand that and give them the opportunity not only to play, but to socialize. As a result, they are always excited for UMBC to come over and participate in this event."

The Retrievers will compete against the Under-20 Toyko squad and the Japan National
squad on Saturday before facing the Under-22 Japan National Squad in Edogawa Stadium in an International Friendship Game on Sunday. The team will play against two collegiate teams on Tuesday before heading to Nagoya the following day.

The squad is scheduled to tour the Nagoya Castle and the Toyota Motor Corporation on Thursday, June 18 and will take part in a clinic the next day. UMBC will then compete in the second International Friendship game against the Nagoya Regional squad on Saturday, June 20 before returning to Baltimore on Sunday.

Fans can follow the team by logging onto www.umbcretrievers.com and going to "The Dawg Blog." Several players will be submitting entries during the trip.

Review & preview: Premature 2010 poll Part 3 [Faceoff]

2009-06-10T08:00:00-07:00

Here is the third installment of a preseason and premature poll for the 2010 season, publishing the teams ranked from Nos. 10 to 6. Thursday will be the last entry, featuring the teams ranked from Nos. 5 to 1.

What's your take on the Matt Hobgood pick? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-10T04:34:44-07:00

I spent much of the evening paying attention to the minor league draft. Boy, have times changed. The Orioles made three selections Tuesday: California high school pitcher Matt Hobgood with the fifth pick overall, Tampa-area high school shortstop Mychal Givens in the second round (54th overall) and Florida International University first baseman Tyler Townsend in the third (85th pick). Another 27 rounds will follow today with the remainder ending up Thursday. Let’s start by saying this is not the NFL draft. I’ve never seen any of these kids play. Not one. So I can’t properly evaluate the picks. That said, because Hobgood was listed as the 18th right-handed pitcher by Baseball America in their draft preview and, because he wasn’t in the top 10 in mock drafts, some fans are bemoaning this as a terrible reach. This kid was the Gatorade National Player of the Year this year, however. He went 11-1 with a 0.92 ERA at Norco High School in suburban Los Angeles. He struck out 101 and walked 26 in 68 1/3 innings while hitting 21 homers and batting .475 as a first baseman. He’s huge – 6-foot-4, 245-pounds – and throws in the mid-90s. He’s apparently got a great attitude, which in part comes from the fact that his father died of cancer when he was 13 and he had to grow up quickly. And he's a good interview already, pleasant, upbeat and well spoken. So I am more than willing to give Joe Jordan and his staff the benefit of the doubt on this one. Are you? I am curious as to whether you were disappointed when you heard the pick or if you formed no opinion because, well, it’s the baseball draft. Daily Think Special: What’s your take on the Matt Hobgood pick?

Bill Tierney heads west [Faceoff]

2009-06-09T11:57:52-07:00

As first reported by Inside Lacrosse, longtime Princeton head coach Bill Tierney agreed on Monday to assume the same position at Denver after 22 years with the Tigers. It’s a surprising development considering that the 57-year-old Tierney was considered the face – and some would say raspy, passionate voice – of a Princeton program that captured six national championships under Tierney’s tutelege.

Tierney’s presence should pay immediate dividends for Denver, which endured a disappointing 7-8 campaign this past spring after two trips in three years to the NCAA tournament and witnessed the dismissal of three players and the resignation of head coach Jamie Munro.

Tierney’s background as a defensive whiz should improve a Pioneers unit that surrendered 10 or more goals in seven losses. His prowess at recruiting should make Denver a quality destination for blue-chip prospects. And with the Pioneers moving to a revamped Eastern College Athletic Conference, they suddenly become Loyola’s primary contender for the league title.

So what does this mean for the Tigers, who were 390-354-19 before Tierney and 238-86 under Tierney? Associate head coach David Metzbower, who just completed his 20^th season at Princeton, becomes the leading candidate to succeed Tierney. But don’t be surprised if the Tigers make a run at Cornell coach Jeff Tambroni, who has guided the Big Red to at least a share of the last seven Ivy League titles, or one of the young up-and-coming Ivy League coaches like Harvard’s John Tillman or Brown’s Lars Tiffany.

Tierney to Denver not just another coaching change [Re: Lax]

2009-06-09T11:16:14-07:00

This is not just another coaching change. Can you imagine how many times a school has asked Princeton’s Bill Tierney to leave the Tigers and lead their program? Johns Hopkins, Maryland, North Carolina, Duke and a few others are among the programs rumored to have approached Tierney in the past. Tierney said yesterday that this opportunity at Denver was one “that I never thought would come my way." That makes me assume he’s had Denver on his mind for a while and it was just a matter of waiting out Jamie Munro, a much younger man who had the job for the last 11 years. Whether it was Munro or the university that made the decision, Jamie resigned on May 7 after posting a 91-70 mark at Denver. I am not trying to fuel speculation, but did the school know of Tierney’s interest before Munro’s departure? I’d fire any coach in the land to get Tierney. This is not just another coaching change. Bill Tierney is not just another coach. He’s the best. This will change the game and he knows it. In his statement yesterday he said, "The expansion of the game to the West is exciting. If we are truly going to make lacrosse a nationwide sport, we need for some programs out there to become great. I think I can help Colorado lacrosse become the launching pad for that movement." He’s exactly right and he’s the only one who can do that in my eyes. If Petro or Zimmerman or Desko were headed to Denver, I would say they sold out for the money, and that the money was likely wasted. But Tierney will have Denver in the final four in three years. A national championship will be won within five years. I have no doubt at all. The others would do as well as Munro out there, which was admirable, in my opinion. This is not just another coaching change. My guess is that Tierney is now the highest paid coach in college lacrosse history, if he wasn’t already that at Princeton. Denver is coming as close to buying a championship as you can come. With it they finance the expansion of the game’s geographic center. Denver was a hotspot already with great pro crowds and huge growth on the youth level, but Tierney will exponentially improve the area in a few years. The Denver summer camps will become a must for blue-chip players. He will draw some of the finest high school players in the land immediately, albeit, perhaps not of the academic caliber he is used to. But that will be a new twist, too. Imagine Tierney being able to recruit kids with less than a 1400 on their SATs. Princeton's academic standards were always a barrier for most kids that would have played for Tierney if they could have. This is not just another coaching change. Tierney will make the state of Colorado a rival to New York and Maryland as a lacrosse hotbed in short order. He will expand the attendance of Denver lacrosse games from an average of 1,300 fans (2,000 for the Notre Dame game) to over 10,000 in a year’s time. He should be able to capture much of the 15,000-person crowds that attend Colorado Mammoth (NLL) and Denver Outlaws (MLL) games. College lacrosse at the top level has usually done better than any other levels of the game in lacrosse hotbeds. This increased attendance, especially by kids, will exponentially grow the game in Denver, eventually. This is not just another coaching change. It will limit a Denver recruit’s access to local Division I lacrosse for a while. That is the short-term downside to such rapid change in an area like Denver, at least for some of the kids there. In 2009, the Denver team included 12 players from Colorado while the Princeton team had none. The whole field of NCAA tournament participants included seven players from Colorado. Under the Tierney era, it will take some improvement in the local high school lacrosse for Colorado kids to make the Denver team in the near term. But in a few years, the make-up of the Denver roster may look more like Princeton or other big NCAA teams than the local team it is now. Eventually it will help Denver kids, but the immediate impact will be a negative one, I would think. Every great coach who takes over a program utilizes what he has while he brings in who he wants. That usually means that each class is exponentially better than the last and that kids who start as freshman each year might not start again after their first season. I saw it happen at Georgetown as they went from being an obscure team of Northern Virginia and Montgomery County kids to a national powerhouse with mostly New York and Baltimore kids. The building blocks of these rising teams are often very temporary and it can get awkward as every year freshmen replace the starters. This is not just another coaching change. This is a change to the game that will benefit our sport greatly. I’ve always moaned about the exclusivity of champions at the Div. I level and suggested that it would take a conspiracy of players to choose a school like Denver or some other outlier to grow the game, but I overlooked this method, thinking Tierney would live out his years at the Ivy League institution where he is an institution. But this will do the trick nicely. Believe me, with yesterday’s news the conspiracies just started. Great high school juniors and sophomores are thinking “Go west young man” as of today! The best kids at Gilman and West Genny and Wilton and Malvern and Georgetown Prep have widened their horizons in a day. The geographic borders of potential greatness just expanded five-fold. This is not just another coaching change. The applications for the new opening at Princeton will likely set a record. It is the best job opening in years. I can’t imagine someone other than David Metzbower getting the job. Tierney’s longtime assistant is the top assistant in the game and he could provide a seamless transition. He is the recruiter and a strategic mastermind who Tierney always shared credit with when they won championships. The national job search may just be a formality. This is not just another coaching change. This is Tierney’s last job. He’s looking to be near family and find a spot to live out his post-collegiate coaching life, too, and what place better than Colorado. His old friend Fred Acee was the coach for years at Air Force and Tierney understands the great quality of life awaiting him. I have always envied the coaches that have a niche in some community that is comforting. Hank Janczyk stands out to me in a small town like Gettysburg. What a life he has up there! I am sure Princeton was a comfort to the Tierneys, but it’s not exactly a retirement mecca, despite the slow pace that the pretty Main Street facade evokes. I am surprised a little that Tierney did not go to Jacksonville, but he must be a mountain guy instead of a beach guy and the hotspot for that type of living is just where he’s headed. He is also headed into lacrosse immortality. He’s already legendary for his coaching. Now he’s attempting to achieve something far more important, something so rare, perhaps only he could do it. Good luck, coach!

Review & preview: Premature 2010 poll Part 2 [Faceoff]

2009-06-09T08:00:00-07:00

Yesterday, I released the first installment of a preseason and premature poll for the 2010 season, publishing the teams ranked from Nos. 15 to 11. Wednesday will feature Nos. 10 to 6 and Thursday, Nos. 5 to 1.

Athletics staff member is also a writer [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-09T06:00:46-07:00

Brian Ullmann’s day job is senior associate athletics director for the University of Maryland. In his spare time, he writes.

He’s completed a book called "Darwin's Race,” about an adventure race in southeast Tibet.

Ullmann says he included a Maryland reference in the story. “The hero of the book --
Conner Michaels -- is a Terp alum, and at one point gives a Terps hat to his
then-girlfriend,” Ullmann says. “Years later, after a tough break-up, he sees her again, and she's wearing the hat.”

Ullmann says his literary agent is the same one who handled “Sweet Redemption,” the Gary Williams book.

Bring on the West Virginia "rivalry" [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-09T05:00:06-07:00

We talked a lot last year about true rivals, or more specifically the absence of one for the Terps to lustily despise.

Maryland is, in a sense, a solo dance partner. It’s Alabama without Auburn, Army without Navy, Harvard without Yale.

Sure, Virginia is a rival of sorts. Maryland and Virginia play every year, are in neighboring states and have played some exciting games.

But I took notice of the announcement recently that Maryland and West Virginia have signed on for two more football games.

The teams were already scheduled to meet in 2010 and 2011. Now they will also play in 2012 and 2013.

Maryland-West Virginia just feels like a rivalry. It feels hot. Maybe it’s because West Virginia has been more successful than Virginia in football and poses a big challenge. I think it’s because both schools’ fans get amped up for each other. It doesn’t hurt that former standout tailback Steve Slaton vowed revenge for the Mountaineers after being rebuffed by Maryland, his original school of choice.

Credit Maryland for keeping this rivalry alive. I’ve complained in this space before about soft non-conference scheduling by Maryland and other schools. I detest the mismatches that schools put on the early-season schedule simply to fatten their bottom lines. Obviously, the Mountaineers aren’t a cupcake for the Terps.

Would it bother you if the Orioles draft a first-round pitcher? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-08T15:56:41-07:00

Major League Baseball’s draft kicks off Tuesday night, and it is now a made-for-TV event on the MLB Network. God help us all. I remember back in 2001 standing around a writer’s cell phone -- the only one with a speaker phone -- asking questions of the Orioles’ scouting director at the time about the new first-round pick, Chris Smith, who was a mystery to all of us (and still is). Now, the draft has its own show. Progress, I guess. Anyway, the Orioles are on the proverbial clock with the fifth pick. It looks as if all-world San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg will go to the Washington Nationals, and then the Seattle Mariners likely will select University of North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley with the second pick. If either of those two falls, the Orioles will grab one. But they won’t drop that far. With Ackley off the board, there really isn’t a position player that is a slam-dunk at No. 5. Georgia high school star Donavan Tate (who has a dual football/baseball scholarship to UNC) is risky but intriguing. USC shortstop Grant Green had an uneven collegiate season and may have dropped out of the top ten. That means with the fifth selection in the first round, the Orioles will take ... a pitcher. It could be a high schooler. It could be a collegiate one. But they are going to get another pitcher. Bank on it. It goes with Andy MacPhail’s philosophy of “growing the arms.” Still, the organization is devoid of top hitting prospects, and that is a concern. So, if it were you, would you go with the best hitter out there, even if he is not as much of a sure thing (as if there is a sure thing in the baseball draft) as the top pitchers? Or is MacPhail right and you keep piling up the arms? Daily Think Special: Would it bother you if the Orioles took another pitcher in Tuesday’s first round? Bonus Think Special: Any idea on which player you want the Orioles to draft?

WEC, Strikeforce, UFC 99 and Fedor in the UFC? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-08T12:50:00-07:00

A few quick thoughts for a Monday...

*Anyone else surprised Mike Brown was able to retain his WEC featherweight title over Urijah Faber last night? Impressive performance and a very solid show.

*Jake Shields was very impressive in his submission of Robbie Lawler in Strikeforce’s show Saturday. He’s fun to watch and I’d love to see him in the UFC, against the other best welterweights in the world.

*Brett Rogers is a fine fighter, but knocking out Andrei Arlovski in 22 seconds? No knock on Rogers, but that’s a quick fall for Arlovski. I wasn’t impressed with him towards the end of his UFC days, but he looked impressive in the first few minutes against Fedor Emelianenko. He was winning the fight before his colossal error in judgment. He went from having a shot at taking down Fedor to getting knocked out in less than 30 seconds by Brett Rogers. That’s quite a fall.

*Gina Carano finally signed with Strikeforce and will face Cris Cyborg in the August event. It’s good to see Carano back in the limelight as she’s the torchbearer for women’s MMA. Hopefully she’s getting paid what she deserves in Strikeforce. That should be a great fight. The only real question is what happens after that (rematches?) since those are the two biggest fighters in women’s MMA.

*A very interesting read from CBSSports.com’s Gregg Doyel on the UFC breaking through the mainstream sports wall with the addition of Kimbo Slice on The Ultimate Fighter and the inevitable signing of Fedor Emelianenko after his fight with Josh Barnett in August. A Fedor-Brock Lesnar main event would be the highest-grossing UFC PPV ever.

*UFC 99 is this Saturday and in my opinion, it’s a very underrated card. Granted, it’s not great, it’s not going to be as big as the next two UFC shows, but there are some entertaining fights on this card. Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva should be very interesting and I think the Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders fight could be a darkhorse on that card. I’m excited to see the Cheick Kongo vs. Cain Velasquez bout but could care less about seeing Cro Cop fight again.

Review & preview: Premature 2010 poll Part I [Faceoff]

2009-06-08T08:00:00-07:00

Here is one observer’s attempt to take a crack at a preseason and premature poll for the 2010 season. I will break up the top 20 into four installments with today’s entry looking at teams ranked from Nos. 20 to 16. Tuesday will feature Nos. 15 to 11, Wednesday Nos. 10 to 6 and Thursday Nos. 5 to 1.

Who was the most intimidating hitter in Orioles history? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-08T04:48:30-07:00

Hope you had a good weekend. Even with the Orioles and Jeff Zrebiec on the West Coast, I watched a lot of baseball – went to a couple of minor league games and managed two Little League ones. Guess you can dress me up and take me out, but you can’t beat the baseball guy out of me. Anyway, we’ve got some old Bruce on the jukebox (“Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” is screaming at me as I type this) and we’re going old-school baseball again. This weekend we had a great discussion about the Orioles’ most intimidating pitcher -- not necessarily the best, but the fiercest on the mound. Let’s flip it today. Who was the most intimidating Orioles hitter of all time? I am talking about the guy who dug into the box, glared ahead and made the pitchers go, “uh-oh.” There have been several of those guys to put on an Orioles uniform. Love him or hate him, Albert Belle was undeniably scary when he was holding a bat and scowling (really, he was scary and scowling no matter what he was doing). And in the late 1960s, pitchers just weren’t used to seeing a guy of Boog Powell’s size digging in at the plate. But, for my money, this is a two-horse race -- one that may divide generations. Frank Robinson or Eddie Murray? Both are Hall of Famers. And both scared the bejeesus out of pitchers. I am going with Frank, partially on a conversation he had with me and a few other writers years ago when he managed the Washington Nationals. We were talking about purpose pitches, and we asked him how often he thought about charging the mound when he got hit by a pitch. “I didn’t have to. I’d get my message across,” he said, and then made a swinging motion and pointed toward the sky, his way of saying that in his next at-bat he’d homer against the offending pitcher. We all laughed, and someone said, “But Frank, you might have to wait a couple innings to retaliate. Didn’t you ever want to do it instantaneously?” Robinson paused and then said, “Oh I got plenty of revenge running from first to second. I’d send a clean message to the middle infielder trying to turn a double play, and word would quickly get back to the pitcher not to hit me again.” Yes, people. We have a winner -- in my mind, anyway. Does someone beat that? Daily Think Special: Who was the most intimidating hitter in Orioles history?

Who was the most intimidating pitcher in Orioles history? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-05T05:04:20-07:00

I am writing this a few hours after San Francisco Giants lefty Randy Johnson picked up his 300th win, becoming the 24th pitcher in baseball history to reach that milestone. (Sorry for closing the bar without warning Thursday. Blame the weather and the Nats’ front office, not me.) I have covered a no-hitter, a 3,000th hit and a 300th win in my career. I am still looking for a perfect game, a triple play and a winning August or September at Camden Yards. You can’t rush history, I guess. I was talking with a colleague in the press box about whether the 6-foot-10 Johnson was the most intimidating presence ever on the mound. Bob Gibson might win that race, though Johnson, Dave Stewart and Goose Gossage have to be in the discussion. That got me thinking: Who was the most intimidating Orioles pitcher of all time? Jim Palmer was the best. But I am not sure he intimidated opposing hitters with his mere presence. Tim Stoddard was definitely a big guy who cast a daunting shadow. Alan Mills sure had a greet scowl (and a solid right hook). Maybe this is one for the old-timers to add their two cents. Daily Think Special: Who was the most intimidating pitcher in Orioles history? Bonus Think Special: Who was the most intimidating pitcher in baseball history?

Football start times are set for first three games [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-04T11:06:53-07:00

It's often a guessing game -- a popular sport among the Maryland beat writers -- as to exactly what times football games will start. As you know, many of the times aren't known until 12 days before the game to allow ESPN/ABC or Raycom Sports flexibility.

But we do know the start times now for the first three games of the season, courtesy of Maryland media relations:

--The Cal game on Sept. 5 will begin at 10 p.m. ET and be televised on ESPN2. I'll be drinking sugary, caffeinated beverages in the press box to stay awake. We knew this start time already, thanks to the Pac-10.

--Maryland’s home opener against James Madison on Sept. 12 will kick off at 6 p.m. No television scheduled. You think players will appreciate the late start time because it can be hot and humid this time of year?

-- The next week’s game against Middle Tennessee State begins at 3:30 p.m. and is to be streamed live on ESPN360.

Review & preview: Johns Hopkins [Faceoff]

2009-06-04T07:14:08-07:00

Here’s the final installment of a new series that checks in with the seven Division I programs in the state to give a glimpse into the past and the future. Next week, we’ll unveil our take on next season’s top-20 poll. Today, we take a spin with Johns Hopkins.

Updates on Maryland's Brian Farrell and Brian Phipps [Faceoff]

2009-06-03T11:00:00-07:00

It sounds like junior Brian Farrell will return to his previous position as the Terps’ long-stick midfielder after dabbling with a close defenseman’s position this past spring.

Coach Dave Cottle didn’t go as far as to confirm that move, but his comments seem to suggest that sophomore Brett Schmidt, who moved from long-stick midfielder to close defenseman when Farrell was lost for the season after suffering rib and lung injuries just three games into the year, will remain in that position. Farrell will likely return to his old spot.

"I think Brian will be a guy that we use on faceoffs and play some down low, but he’ll also play some pole because he’s really dangerous going from defense to offense," Cottle said, adding that the school plans to help Farrell apply for a medical redshirt that will give him two more seasons of eligibility. "Not only is he a good defender, but he also will help us in transition."

Cottle also said that junior goalkeeper Brian Phipps is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on June 16. Although recovery usually takes about 12 months, Cottle said Phipps tore the ACL in his right knee in August of his senior year at Severn and was ready for season opener.

"We hope that he will be ready," Cottle said.

Review & preview: Maryland [Faceoff]

2009-06-03T08:00:00-07:00

Here’s the penultimate installment of a new series that checks in with the seven Division I programs in the state to give a glimpse into the past and the future. Today, we take a visit with Maryland.

Looking at Vasquez and Born Ready [Tracking the Terps]

2009-06-03T05:00:44-07:00

First, let me tell you the latest from Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez's road tour as he visits NBA teams.

*Greivis continues to work out for teams. Most recently, he attended a workout of some 10 clubs. His schedule has been pretty frenetic.

*He recently met Larry Bird. This was a big moment for him. The former NBA great is the Indiana Pacers team president.

*Vasquez hasn't made up his mind yet. "He's not leaning one way or another," said Stu Vetter, his former high school coach at Montrose Christian. "It's definitely going to come down to the last day or two."

The deadline to decide is two weeks away. One advantage to waiting until the very end is that it gives Vasquez some leverage.

Consider what happens if an NBA team covets Vasquez. If he is still seriously considering returning for his senior season, the team may need to up the ante to secure his remaining in the draft.

Having said all that, I believe Vasquez will likely remain at Maryland. One reason is the abundance of quality point guards in this year's draft. Another is that Vasquez feels at home at Maryland. If he believes it will benefit his draft position to come out next year instead of this one, that's what he will do.

After Randy Johnson, will another pitcher reach 300 wins? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-02T17:34:12-07:00

Great Erik Bedard discussion on Tuesday. Not sure you pushed me off the fence one way or the other, though I agree with those that argue you can’t have enough pitching. I think it will come down to how much he is looking for. The Orioles won’t be getting a discount, so it’s likely they’ll be outbid. But if all things are equal, I believe Bedard would consider Baltimore. Yes, the Toronto Blue Jays would have the edge. But Bedard says publicly -- as well privately to some old teammates -- that he really liked it in Baltimore. So you can’t dismiss a return here -- if the money is right. To another pitching topic: On Wednesday night Randy Johnson goes for his 300th win, and he’ll attempt it against baseball’s current Homecoming opponent, the struggling Washington Nationals. Conventional wisdom says he gets it Wednesday, but baseball has never acquiesced to conventional wisdom. That said, Johnson will get 300 eventually. If not Wednesday, then a start in the near future. And it’s possible he’ll be the last one to reach that milestone. The next closest is Jamie Moyer, who has 250 wins and is 46 years old. It’s possible, I guess, but he’d probably have to do it at age 49. Including Moyer, there are only seven pitchers who have between 150 and 299 wins: Andy Pettitte (age 37, 220 wins), Pedro Martinez (37, 214, currently without a team), John Smoltz (42, 210, hasn’t pitched in the majors yet in 2009), Tim Wakefield (42, 184), Bartolo Colon (36, 153) and Livan Hernandez (supposedly 34, 151). There are no definites on that list. In fact, I don’t think any of them get there. Looking ahead, CC Sabathia is the only pitcher under age 30 with at least 120 wins; he has 122. Sabathia could do it, or maybe Roy Halladay (age 32, 139). But they’d have to pitch well into their 40s. So I’m not sure it gets done ever again. Daily Think Special: After Randy Johnson, will a pitcher again reach 300 wins? If so, predict the pitcher.

MIAA coaches' release All-MIAA selections [Varsity Letters]

2009-06-02T14:54:52-07:00

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association released its all-MIAA teams last week in baseball, golf, tennis and lacrosse, which you can see below. The league's rugby team will be released at a later date. The Baltimore Sun will release its all-metro and all-county teams Sunday. The MIAA coaches selections for All-MIAA TEAMS: BASEBALL “A” Conference Stephen Cooke Archbishop Curley Brandon Franke Archbishop Curley Teddy Gross Archbishop Curley Austin Neary Archbishop Spalding Eddie Palmer Archbishop Spalding Pat Blair Calvert Hall Blake Geiger Calvert Hall Mike Trionfo Calvert Hall Robbie Harris Cardinal Gibbons Andrew Parker Cardinal Gibbons Blake Thompson Cardinal Gibbons Max Cooke Gilman K.J. Hockaday John Carroll Christian Wolfe John Carroll Kevin Shields Loyola Blakefield Harry Slade Loyola Blakefield Ryan Taylor Loyola Blakefield Zach Fitzpatrick McDonogh Mike Draper Mt. St. Joe Zach Spahn Mt. St. Joe Jake Williams Mt. St. Joe Jack Carey St. Paul’s Collin Majev St. Paul’s “B” Conference John Lentz AACS Aaron Marshall AACS Alex Hosier Baltimore Lutheran Tim Parks Baltimore Lutheran Billy Seymour Baltimore Lutheran Spencer Unick Baltimore Lutheran Paul Mellinger Boys’ Latin Huntley Mitchell Boys’ Latin Josh Sachs Chapelgate Kelly Dayton Friends Wick Eisenberg Friends Austin Lasky Friends Leland Nislow Friends Sean Eitze Glenelg Country School Bobby Sanzone Mt. Carmel Jonathan Hettleman Park Andrew Keiser Park Cameron Caldwell St. Mary’s P.J. Martindale St. Vincent Pallotti Kevin Murphy St. Vincent Pallotti Sam Stefanelli St. Vincent Pallotti Joe Kotler Severn Chase Strom Severn “C” Conference Eric Chason Beth Tfiloh Josh Flax Beth Tfiloh Aaron Gillette Beth Tfiloh Harrison Barton Key Anthony Fusco Key Chris Fusco Key Darrell Anderson St. Frances Davante Brown St. Frances Avon Coleman St. Frances Kris Dixon St. Frances Devan Hill St. Frances Sean Connole St. John’s Catholic Derek Macierowski St. John’s Catholic Kevin Baron Towson Catholic Brandon Lukoski Towson Catholic Mark Rodgers Towson Catholic Patrick Williams Towson Catholic GOLF “A” Conference Kaitlyn Rohrback Archbishop Spalding Will Guy Boys’ Latin Justin Hughes Calvert Hall College Jason Burton Calvert Hall College Hunter Reif Gilman Church Waesche Loyola Ben Shields Loyola Sean Bannantine McDonogh Jay Sapperstein McDonogh Andrew Lawton Mt. St. Joseph Steven Albright St. Paul’s Kris Wilcoxon Sts Peter & Paul “B” Conference Richard Bechtold Baltimore Lutheran Sam Farley Beth TFiloh Donald Erdman Cardinal Gibbons Taylor Crampton Chapelgate CA Tyler Leatherwood Chapelgate CA Ben Max Friends School Brian Gibbons Glenelg CS Ben Lukehart Mt. Carmel Harrison Max Park School Jason Clatworthy St. Vincent Pallotti Kevin Poole St. Vincent Pallotti Dan Wayson Severn LACROSSE “A” Conference Boys’ Latin Christian Walsh RG Keenan Calvert Hall Chris Lightner Patrick Fanshaw Tony Rossi Friends Ryan DeSmit Gilman Jack Doyle Greg McBride Marcus Holman Harry Prevas Loyola Rob Fitzpatrick Alex Bement McDonogh Sam Ford Curtis Holmes Mt. St. Joe Chris Costabile St. Mary’s Neill Lewnes Jason Gonos St. Paul’s Pat Powderly “B” Conference Annapolis Area CS Matt Soldano Cody Thomas Sam Ramatowski Archbishop Curley Pete Lee Alex Kelly Chapelgate CA Zach Bruce Glenelg CS Bryan Arnold Joe Clark Matt Lewis John Carroll Dave Pons Tom Murphy Luke Phipps Tom Huff Key Jake Maldonado Park Andrew Duberg St. Vincent Pallotti Mike Marks Sts Peter & Paul John Kaestner Conner Effinger “C” Conference Baltimore Lutheran Jim Woods Mike Steppe Sam Coulter John Jenkins Robbie Rupp Beth TFiloh Jacob Wilkowski Cardinal Gibbons Christian Klimczyk Will Foy Mike Dougherty Indian Creek Morgan Hall Mt. Carmel Mark Concordia Alex Brylske St. Frances Dominique Spence St. John’s Cath Prep Mike Russo Jon Kubala Conlin Pierce Towson Cath Eric Dougan Luke Hahn TENNIS “A” Conference Gideon Wolf - Beth Tfiloh Michael Katz - Gilman James Wieler - Gilman Alec Hoblitzell - Gilman Tyler Hoblitzell - Gilman Tim Lozniak - John Carroll Ben Galloway - Loyola Alex Sidney - McDonogh Chris Bell - McDonogh Tommy Gates - Mt. St. Joe’s Joe LaBate - Mt. St. Joe’s Anand Parikh - St. Paul’s Jack Allen - Severn Felix Hong - Severn “B” Conference Sammy Larsen - Spalding Patrick O’Friel - Spalding Benton Davis - Spalding Ryan Kent - Glenelg Vikram Kumar - Glenelg Ryan Mullen - Glenelg Ajit Gill - Glenelg Josh Altschuler - Key James Luttrell - St. John’s TRACK & FIELD George Chambers Archbishop Curley Josh Peery Archbishop Curley Erik Franklin Archbishop Curley Zach Sullivan Archbishop Spalding Nick Rowe Calvert Hall Sean Caskey Calvert Hall Nick Pasko Calvert Hall Chris Swisko Calvert Hall Derek Mitchell Cardinal Gibbons Jabulani Blyden Gilman Will Fenwick Gilman Brandon Copeland Gilman Que Attenoukon Gilman Chris McMaster Gilman Taaz Amin Gilman Darrius Jennings Gilman Malik Compton Gilman Andrew Mighty Gilman Matt Jablonski Loyola Blakefield John Davenport Loyola Blakefield Demitrios Pagonis McDonogh Justin Gross McDonogh Mikal McClain Mt. St. Joe Phil August Mt. St. Joe Duane Parker Mt. St. Joe

Navy and Loyola to meet in regular season for first time since 1943 [Faceoff]

2009-06-02T11:28:02-07:00

In addition to scheduling a regular-season contest against Towson for the first time since April 12, 1997, the Midshipmen agreed to renew a series with Loyola. The two programs have not played against each other since a playoff game on May 15, 1993 and a regular-season contest on April 3, 1943.

The Greyhounds will replace Navy’s game against Ohio State in the middle of February, and Midshipmen coach Richie Meade joked that it only took him 10 years to figure out that a trip to Baltimore is more economically feasible and less physically taxing than visiting Columbus, Ohio.

"Loyola is right down the block," he said. "It made a lot of sense. I think we’re a good game for them, and they’re certainly a good game for us. I think the games will draw great crowds, and I think there will be a lot of local interest. They will be big games. We play in some big games, but we need to play in more big games. I think that helps you."

Kimbo Slice ... heading to the UFC? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-02T10:48:48-07:00

Kind of.

Against all odds, it looks like Kimbo Slice is one step closer to being in the UFC. Slice is expected to compete on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV. The move is beyond puzzling.

White has repeatedly said the only way he’d let Slice in is if he competed on The Ultimate Fighter and Slice will breathe new life into the TUF franchise, so it’s a no-brainer for White. Especially if a no-name competitor manages to clown Slice the way Seth Petruzelli did in his last EliteXC bout, which would just make White look better.

It’s puzzling to see what Slice has to gain from this. He’s professed a desire to go into boxing and even if that didn’t pan out, he could’ve gone overseas to fight in Japan. Japan is probably the only place he could get a reasonable fraction of his EliteXC paydays, as they seem to be big fans of freak shows over there.

I hope Slice is getting paid for his appearance on the show, otherwise he’s got almost nothing to win and a lot more to lose. Either way, it looks like another win for Dana White and especially for Spike and the TUF franchise.

Review & preview: Navy [Faceoff]

2009-06-02T02:20:00-07:00

Here’s the fifth installment of a new series that checks in with the seven Division I programs in the state to give a glimpse into the past and the future. Today, we take a spin with Navy.

Would you want Erik Bedard back for 2010 and beyond? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-01T19:00:08-07:00

Slap me the next time I try to engage you people in a civilized discussion about the NBA. As Jack tried to put it politely, that talk just doesn’t fly in here. This is a seamhead and pigskin joint. We should stick with that, for the most part. So it is back to baseball, and to a subject we’ve knocked around a little in the past. Erik Bedard. The Surly Canadian, as we jokingly referred to him in his days in Baltimore, pitches against the Orioles on Tuesday night for the first time in his career. Right now, he is still with the Seattle Mariners, you know, the organization that gave you Adam Jones, George Sherrill and Chris Tillman. By the end of July, Bedard will probably be somewhere else. The Mariners aren’t contenders, and they’ll probably try to get something for Bedard, a free agent this winter. The Orioles wouldn’t trade for him this year. There is no point. But I am curious as to whether you’d want him back for 2010 and beyond. Bedard is a pretty darn good pitcher when he is healthy -- though he’s only had one 30-start season in his career. He won 28 games for the Orioles in his final two seasons here, posting a 3.76 and 3.16 ERA, respectively. And he is 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA through nine starts in 2009. He turned 30 in March. For perspective purposes, he’s just one year older than Rich Hill. Given all that, Bedard likely will get a pretty lofty contract. Consider that Bedard’s Mariners’ teammate, Carlos Silva, wasn’t as accomplished and received a four-year, $48 million deal two years ago -- and that’s probably your going rate. My guess is that Bedard will get between $10 and $15 million per year in free agency. He’s making $7.75 million this year. He could make more if he decides to go to the highest bidder, but I’m not sure Bedard does that. I think he’ll be pretty picky about his landing spot. He likes being comfortable and left alone by the media, and he won’t get that in the big markets. So Bedard could be intrigued about coming back to Baltimore at the right price. He still has plenty of friends here, and there’s always a special place in a ballplayer’s heart for his first organization. I assume there are two camps out there regarding Bedard: One, his left arm would be a great addition to a promising young staff. Two, his attitude and fragility aren’t worth the millions he’ll command. My take: I am not sure he’s a pitcher you build around, but he is awfully good when he’s in a zone. Call me torn. Daily Think Special: Would you like to see Erik Bedard back with the Orioles in 2010 and beyond? Or have you moved on?

UMBC's Atwell expected to return for 2010 season [Faceoff]

2009-06-01T11:34:02-07:00

While talking to Don Zimmerman for today’s Review & Preview, the Retrievers coach said senior defenseman Bobby Atwell’s torn anterior cruciate ligament is healing according to schedule.

Atwell’s doctors have prohibited him from playing any lacrosse, but he is rehabilitating.

"All indications are that his knee is going to be where it needs to be," Zimmerman said. "I know it was a tough year for Bobby, but I think that’s going to help him be even more ready to come back and resume his role on this team."

Worthy challengers for Machida? [MMA Insider]

2009-06-01T10:57:00-07:00

With his devastating win over Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida has opened the eyes of many doubters. Machida has always been “elusive” and “technically sound” but was never considered to be an overwhelming fighter.

His style made him a tough matchup for most fighters, and now that he seems to be getting better every time out (his last two fights were two of his best, in my opinion), it looks like he could have a lengthy title reign.

Lengthy is a relative term in mixed martial arts, especially for the light heavyweight class, which is generally recognized as the deepest in the UFC. But on the surface, it doesn’t seem like there are too many challengers on the horizon for Machida.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was supposed to be next in line for a title shot, but he turned it down to coach on The Ultimate Fighter against Rashad Evans. That takes two top-five fighters out of the equation in the near future. Forrest Griffin is another highly-ranked light heavyweight fighter, but he has a match with Anderson Silva on the horizon at UFC 101. Griffin is a talented fighter but isn’t going to be favored in that fight.

Silva has repeatedly said he won’t fight Machida and that he didn’t even want to make a run at the light heavyweight title because he felt it was Machida’s to win. I don’t know that too many people took him seriously, but they have to now. Dana White says they will fight, but there would have to be some extreme arm-twisting to get the two to fight and I don’t see it happening.

At that point, I think you take a step down in light heavyweight contenders. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is Machida’s first scheduled title defense, but Rua hasn’t looked like the Rua that fought in PRIDE for some time. Beating up on older fighters past their prime doesn’t give us much of a gauge on where Rua will be at 104.

If he’s not in top shape, there’s really nowhere else to go. It’s not clear where Dan Henderson will go after fighting Michael Bisping at middleweight and Rich Franklin could possibly be on the horizon for Machida, but Franklin still has a lot of work to get done at the light heavyweight level before earning a title shot.

It looks like Machida may hold onto the title for awhile just based on the lack of quality challengers. And it will still probably come back to Rampage after he wraps up The Ultimate Fighter.

Glenelg's baseball coach handing off position [Varsity Letters]

2009-06-01T09:51:38-07:00

Long-time Glenelg Gladiators coach Tom Thrasher, 58, is stepping down as the team's head baseball coach. His assistant, Dave Boteler, will move into the head coaching job. Thrasher said he will coach the Gladiators' junior varsity next season. "I coached Dave when he went to high school here, now he is back teaching at Glenelg and worthy to coach," said Thrasher, who has been the head coach since 1997 and took the team to state titles in 1998 and 1999. He was also the assistant coch on the 1995 team that won the state championship. "I don't have one reservation about this," Thrasher said. "Dave is at the school, he took care of the field this season. He'd have to call me when it was too wet to play. It's just going to make it easier all the way around." Thrasher, who teaches U.S. History to eighth graders at the Glenwood Middle School, said he will continue in that role.

Review & preview: UMBC [Faceoff]

2009-06-01T08:00:00-07:00

Here’s the fourth installment of a new series that checks in with the seven Division I programs in the state to give a glimpse into the past and the future. Today, we take a visit with UMBC.

Does LeBron's absence affect your interest in the NBA Finals? [Connolly's Corner Sports Bar]

2009-06-01T04:42:35-07:00

We have done plenty of baseball, the old standby, and we’ll be back tomorrow with an oldie/goodie. I promise. But I am venturing back to the NBA for a moment. I think Dwight Howard is a wonderful young player and the Orlando Magic should be an interesting matchup for the Los Angeles Lakers. I will watch as much as I can. But I have to admit, not having LeBron James against Kobe Bryant is a disappointment. To me, that is Must See TV. Now, it’s Might See TV. Should it matter? It is the NBA Finals after all. And even if you aren’t a NBA fan, championships are always worth watching. But, still... It just isn’t the same. Am I wrong here? Daily Think Special: Does LeBron’s absence affect your interest in the NBA Finals?

Notes from Foxborough [Re: Lax]

2009-05-31T12:47:51-07:00

What a final! So, after all the complaining I always do before the playoffs about the monopoly on the title by a few schools, I am always so impressed by how these teams pull it off year in and year out that I forget to complain. This year, either the Syracuse kids pulled off the win of the young century or the lacrosse gods were just playing with our heads. I mean, this comeback was not just unlikely -- it was unnatural. Cornell had just played perfect defense for 2.9 games against the best teams in the nation. They held Princeton to four goals, Virginia to six goals and then Syracuse to seven goals before it all fell apart. Or did it? Is there a better defensive feat than deflecting a critical pass to an open attacker with five seconds left in a national championship game? The Big Red had the game won with 27 seconds left and possession of the ball, but after a behind-the-back desperation pass by Stephen Keogh on a ground ball followed by a backhanded, tipped pass from a double-covered Matt Abbott -- which is now called the "Immaculate Deflection" -- was caught by a falling Kenny Nims who landed at his man’s ankles while shooting and scoring the equalizer with 4.5 seconds left. It was truly a miracle in Foxborough. While the faithful never faltered, everyone I was with knew it was over the minute it went to overtime. We kept it to ourselves because Richie Moran, the legendary coach of those Cornell champions in the 1970s, sat only a few seats away and we knew how much he wanted it. He deserved it, really, as did Jeff Tambroni, Max Seibald, John Glynn and Jake Myers, but like so many others in the short history of the college game, it was yanked from their grasp at the last moment by those lax gods I mentioned. It was hard to see Richie after the Jamieson goal. As the Orange stormed the field, I turned away from his direction. I did not want to invade his very public private moment of despair. He wanted it so bad for all those guys. They’re still his guys, decades after his retirement from coaching. Roy Simmons, the legendary retired coach of the victorious Syracuse team, referred to the players as “his boys” in a discussion with us at the Syracuse tailgate after the game. He was as happy as Richie was sad, I imagine. The game of lacrosse is not without its growing pains from the rapid popularity, geographic growth and advancement into the mainstream. Each year more and more news organizations join the throng covering the final four weekend. And each year, members of the media with no real lacrosse knowledge increase in numbers. Ever since I’ve covered the NCAA tournament, the members of the media have selected the tournament MVP and the All-Tournament team. There have always been disagreements in the process, but over the last five or six years only the flashy make the cut, while the subtle goes unappreciated in the voting. One defenseman makes this year’s team, after each team held an explosive offense to small numbers and then played a defensive classic against each other. The blaring absence of Syracuse defensman Sid Smith is stunning. He held Duke’s Ned Crotty, who led the nation with 76 points, to two assists and then Sunday held Cornell’s Ryan Hurley to one goal and two assists while lending a big hand in keeping Max Seibald to only two goals. He made the check that stole the initial and crucial overtime possession from Cornell, which led to Cody Jamieson’s winning goal. If you watch that last Cornell possession, Smith just stalks Hurley with his feet, playing perfect position and only laying one check to take the ball. Then he gobbled the ground ball and started the immediate clear. That’s the type of play that is totally missed by the “new media”. All the guys on the list below are quite deserving, though. I wouldn’t take it away from anyone, but Smith was very possibly the tournament MVP and did not even make the team. Here’s this year’s All-Tournament team: Matt Abbott, Syracuse, Senior, Midfield John Glynn, Cornell, Senior, Midfield Ryan Hurley, Cornell, Junior, Attack Cody Jamieson, Syracuse, Junior, Attack Matt Moyer, Cornell, Senior, Defense Kenny Nims, Syracuse, Senior, Attack Rob Pannell, Cornell, Freshman, Attack Pat Perritt, Syracuse, Senior, Midfield Max Seibald, Cornell, Senior, Midfield Joel White, Syracuse, Sophomore, Longstick Midfield Speaking of Jamieson and Smith, in the blog I recently wrote, noting the geographical origins of the NCAA Division I field of players, I noted that there were only two Native Americans in the whole group and implored coaches to do more to recruit the descendants of the game’s fathers. Well, those same two Native Americans made the two most critical plays in the 2009 National Championship overtime. And they are great friends. As soon as Cody knew his final goal had gone in he immediately located Smith, some 80 yards away and ran right to him without stopping for any of the celebrations in between. He knew who he needed to celebrate with. Bureaucratic red tape pertaining to the transfer and acceptance of grades from a community college almost had Jamieson missing this postseason like he missed most of the season. His presence deepened the already potent Syracuse offense. Both potential opponents in the final, Virginia and Cornell, had played Syracuse already this season, but not with Jamieson in the lineup. On a funny note, when Virginia beat Johns Hopkins by 11 in the quarterfinals, the sports information department at UVa. sent a release with this heading: "Virginia Men's Lacrosse Romps Past Johns Hopkins 19-8", but when they were beaten by Cornell by nine, they sent the following: "Cavaliers Fall to Cornell 15-6 in National Semifinal". Good thing they didn't lose by two more goals. They just barely avoided a romping, I guess. I thought Syracuse wouId win by one in overtime but over Virginia. In the semi I predicted a halftime score of Virginia 8, Cornell 2. The halftime score was Cornell 9, Virginia 2. A local win in the Foxborough final. You might have noticed that both Cornell and Syracuse are STX teams. STX is the lacrosse manufacturer from Baltimore and they supply some of the best teams in the game with all their gear. In this case, while the game was out of town and the teams were from upstate New York, all of the gear on the field on Memorial Day was from right here in Charm City!

Severna Park pitcher has number retired [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-28T19:18:20-07:00

Severna Park senior pitcher Dylan Taylor became only the second player in school history to have his number retired Wednesday night at the Falcons' Spring Banquet. Taylor went 9-0 this season and pitched the Falcons to the Class 4A state championship and a No. 2 ranking in The Baltimore Sun's final baseball poll of the season. Taylor's No. 17 joins the No. 5 of Chris Crum, Severna Park's storied two-way player who was the No. 3 hitter and No. 1 pitcher for the Falcons' 2003 and 2005 3A state championship teams and never lost a game. Coach Jim McCandless said that while Taylor will be away at college next spring, there will be a special ceremony to formally retire No. 17 and hang it and No. 5 on the team's outfield fence. "It doesn't happen very often," McCandless said. "Dylan deserves this honor. Both these young men are pretty special." McCandless said Taylor overcame adversity as a sophomore when he "got caught up in the realization that he was playing on the varsity team. He got kind of in shock that he was getting that experience as a sophomore and he struggled with his control. "But he handled that by working harder on his fundamentals and his mental makeup until this year he believed, like we did, that he could be the most dominating pitcher in Maryland." Taylor also has been selected for the Gieco Financial Brooks Robinson Senior All-Star Game at Camden Yards on Sunday, June 14. The top seniors in Maryland will play at approximately 4 p.m., immediately following that day's Orioles game. The North and South teams will be composed of public and private school players.

Dulaney, Severna Park golfers win scholarships [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-26T06:45:08-07:00

Dulaney's Carolyn Chandler and Severna Park's Adam Robert Chaput have been named the recipients of $2,500 scholarships awarded annually to two local high school golfers by the George E. Sonnenfeld Foundation, Inc. Chandler, a Phoenix resident, is a four-time Baltimore County champion and a two-time district champion. Chaput, a Severna Park resident, has been on the Falcons team for three years and was team captain as a senior. In addition to playing golf, both student athletes maintained high grade-point averages.

Hammond's Baker finds a home [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-22T09:00:07-07:00

In the middle of the basketball season, I blogged about a hidden gem I was impressed with from Howard County: Hammond senior point guard Chris Baker. The second-team All-Metro selection, a four-year standout who averaged 20.7 points as a senior, has recently signed a national letter of intent to play at Missouri Southern. Baker, listed as 5-feet-10, 181 pounds, surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in his four-year career and brought positive intangibles to the floor with leadership and energy for the Golden Bears. This season, he also averaged 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 5.4 assists.

More on Greivis and the NBA [Tracking the Terps]

2009-05-22T05:00:44-07:00

Thoughts after watching Greivis Vasquez work out with the Wizards and talking with him afterward:

*You get the sense that this process of working out with NBA teams will be good for Greivis even if he returns to Maryland. I had never attended one of these sessions before so I didn't realize that prospects can get some feedback from guys who really know hoops. Vasquez's session was run by Washington coach Flip Saunders with help from former NBAers Sam Cassell and Gene Banks.

"Show them how they do it at Maryland, baby," Banks, who played at Duke, yelled to Vasquez during one of the drills. Banks was not shy about offering encouragement or pointers to Vasquez and other players on hand.

Greivis seemed not only comfortable but buoyant afterward.

In the two-on-two drills, he had pretty easily taken the other prospects to the hoop. Remember that there were no big men in the drills to guard the lane. Vasquez's outside shot was not great in the scrimmages, but he looked good from behind the arc during shooting drills. He made nine of 14 uncontested shots from behind the line during one drill.

Vasquez said there is no downside to working out -- this was his third such "tryout" -- for NBA teams and going against such talents as Kentucky's Jodie Meeks and North Carolina's Wayne Ellington.

Between final fours [Re: Lax]

2009-05-21T15:22:30-07:00

I just got back from the MCLA Tournament in Denver. For the second year in a row, Michigan and Chapman battled in the final with the Wolverines taking the title. The final was a great game. Chapman, having lost in the final last year, had only one goal this year and that was to win the championship. It was a tremendous heartbreak losing to the same team again. But Chapman played Michigan better than anyone all year. The Wolverines finished a second 20-game undefeated season with the win and now stand at 40-0 in the last two years. In the Division II tournament, St. Thomas defeated Dayton in the final. On the final day, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions event was held at the complex. Some 200 youth teams played all day long on 20 or more fields. I saw teams from Utah, California, Texas and lots of Colorado kids. The whole state is getting good at the youth level quickly. Denver is a hotbed in the making. And they support their pro teams better than any other town, so they are already a top lacrosse community. They hosted a great event and the facility was first rate with plenty of parking and perfect fields under clear skies. While I was gone Gilman won the MIAA A Conference championship as I thought they might. Congratulations to them and to Calvert Hall, which would have been a fine champion also. The Bayhawks lost in the opener to Toronto. If you missed it, Toronto comes back in a week or so for another game in Annapolis. But the big news while I was at the “other college championships”, was the NCAA quarterfinals where Johns Hopkins and Maryland were eliminated while Duke and Cornell found their way in against likely finalists Virginia and Syracuse. I was stunned that UNC lost three to Duke in a year. I was stunned that Cornell held Princeton to four goals. I am encouraged that we could see a Duke-Cornell final. That would be my hope. I have nothing against Virginia and Syracuse, but I’d just like to see the group of recent champions expand. There are some very interesting games Saturday and possible match-ups for Monday in Foxborough, Mass. The first is the Duke-Syracuse game. These teams have never played and that makes it very interesting to me. I would imagine we’ll see an offensive affair with any real defensive standout performance being the difference. If any of the Orange or Blue Devil stars are shut down, that would be the difference. Virginia already beat Cornell 14-10 in Charlottesville in early March. Both are better teams now. I love the play of Max Seibald and Rocco Romero. I saw them play together years ago on a team in Vail and knew then that both were special players. Coincidentally, Rocco is from the Denver area but graduated from Boys’ Latin in Baltimore before going to Cornell. Virginia has the tools to limit or surpass both of the Cornell stars but so did Princeton, on paper. I was so ready for a Princeton-Virginia semifinal that Cornell-Virginia seems like a good game to me. But then I look at the Hopkins-Virginia game and see that Virginia is hitting on all cylinders now. This one may not be close after all. But we can hope for a good game. A Cornell win would be a huge upset. But if they won, the matchups for the final would be sweet either way. Cornell always plays Syracuse tough and they have a tradition of upsetting the Orange. They lost a 2007 semifinal thriller to Duke, which was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen. A rematch of that game is appealing to me, especially for the national title. If Virginia wins the semifinal they could face Syracuse in a battle of traditional contenders. The game, which has a 70 percent likelihood of occurring, in my opinion, would be well played, hard fought, and exciting to watch. But the result would just add a notch to a crowded gun handle either way and blend in well with the history of the game. Should Virginia face Duke in the final, the fun begins, because the best team in the nation and the most touted team in years would have to beat a team they just can’t beat statistically. The Blue Devils have beaten the Cavs seven times in a row, winning every game since 2005. The last time they played was the semifinal of the ACC tournament. Duke beat the top-ranked team 16-5. Virginia lost the first meeting of 2009, 15-10. But a Duke win would mean they beat two conference teams three times each in the same season. That is a massive achievement in any sport. It may be too much to ask for should the Blue Devils survive the battle with Syracuse, which should take a lot out of them. If Virginia cruises in their semifinal they could have an advantage they would need to pull out a trend-breaking win against their conference nemesis. Again, the fact that they would be playing for a title makes that game very attractive. A Cornell-Duke final would mean that a new champion would be crowned and would join the group of modern-era winners, a most elusive feat, but in this case, a sure thing for one of the two teams and all of us. Cornell beat Duke in Durham earlier this year by a score of 10-6. I love this matchup and would already be happy that the game’s glass ceiling had been cracked. That said, dreaming of this final Monday matchup is as close as I will get. It is far less likely that Cornell will play Duke in the final then it is that the 2009 final between Syracuse and Virginia be called one of the greatest games ever played. Either way it will be great for the fans in attendance. See you up there!

Final impressions on the week in boys lacrosse [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-21T09:10:06-07:00

The boys lacrosse season came to an end Wednesday night when South River wrapped up the Class 4A-3A state title with a sturdy 11-5 win over Urbana. The week left plenty of lasting impressions. Let's start with the best, and that was No. 1 Gilman, who came out fast in Monday's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game against talented Calvert Hall and simply overwhelmed the Cardinals with a faster pace and determined approach that netted a surprisingly comfortable 13-7 win. After losing by a goal to Loyola in last year's title game, the senior-dominated Greyhounds were not to be denied, despite the fact that every team in the country's best league was gunning for them. The B Conference title game -- Annapolis Area Christian's thrilling 14-13 double overtime win against John Carroll -- featured seven ties and an impressive first half from Eagles senior Matt Soldano, who scored all five of his team's goals unassisted to stake the would-be champs to a 5-3 halftime lead. Soldano went on to finish with seven goals and one assist. Among the publc schools, Pikesville's impressive run to the Class 2A-1A championship -- a 6-5 win over Queen Anne's -- featured a gritty 17-save effort from goalie Erick Zarzecki. When teammate Max Kinkoff described Zarzecki as a 'brick wall' in the post-game news conference, adding how confident the team also played knowing he was behind them, you could see in Zarzecki's face how much that meant to him. The big kid was smiling and even blushing a bit. And how about South River, who overcame a sluggish first half against Urbana and played their best quarter of the season -- five unanswered goals in the third en route to the comfortable win -- when it was needed the most. I watched the Seahawks beat Severna Park for the first time in 17 tries to capture the Anne Arundel County championship, and the fans swarmed the field like the team won the state title. The Seahawks made sure to give their strong supporters the chance to celebrate again with Wednesday night's impressive performance.

UFC Undisputed lives up to the hype [MMA Insider]

2009-05-21T08:39:08-07:00

I recent played an advance copy of THQ’s UFC Undisputed, and I have to say it’s an incredible video game. I really thought this game couldn’t live up to the hype because mixed martial arts seems like such a complex video game topic. It’s not hike the ball and throw it to the open guy, it’s not press A for punch and B for submissions. Being able to utilize different attacks and disciplines is impressive.

The gameplay is great, it was far above and beyond what I expected. The Career mode is also fantastic and it’s fairly challenging. I wish fighters could have longer careers though, I suppose that would be one gripe of mine.

This game should be a big hit, even for casual fans. The gameplay isn’t hard to pick up and the game is simply a blast. At one point, I cleaned out the entire light heavyweight division using Anderson Silva’s clinch. I also replayed some of the classic matches, including Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva II. I wanted to have Franklin come through and take down The Spider but instead he gained mount and just pounded away at my face. It ended quicker than the real fight.

I’m a sports fan and I’ve played my fair share of video games, but this is easily in my top five. Much better than anticipated, especially since it would’ve been easy for THQ to mail it in.

* Editorial note: I'll be out of town getting married for the next week, so I won't have any updates until after UFC 98.

Should Dana White get to make the call on Chuck Liddell's retirement? [MMA Insider]

2009-05-21T04:09:06-07:00

Dave Meltzer has an interesting column on Yahoo about Chuck Liddell’s retirement saga. Basically, Dana White says you will never see Chuck fight again. Liddell’s trainer is saying that should be Chuck’s decision. I have to think I side with his trainer, John Hackleman, on this.

White claims he doesn’t want to have guys fighting past their prime and getting embarrassed, but Liddell’s losses have been to good fighters. White’s comment that “he’s 40 ... you want me to put him in with a 26-year-old?” makes a lot of sense. MMA is a young man’s game, especially with how the sport is advancing and how versatile younger fighters are these days.

Still, how can White make that argument while he gives a three-fight deal to a 45-year-old Randy Couture? What does Couture have left to prove? He came out of retirement because he saw an opportunity to win the championship in a weak heavyweight division. I’m not saying I don’t want to see Couture fight anymore because I think he still can. But it’s hard to say guys like Couture and Mark Coleman aren’t past their primes.

Chuck Liddell is the biggest star in mixed martial arts history. Shouldn’t he be allowed to go out on his own terms? Shouldn’t he be afforded the luxury of calling it quits? If he still wants to fight and people still want to pay him to fight, I think White should let him.

Obviously, his next contract shouldn’t be as lucrative and he shouldn’t be headlining any pay-per-views, but I think there’s still a role for Chuck Liddell as an active fighter in the UFC. And if not, that should be his call, not White’s.

Still, you have to respect White’s standpoint. When you look at some of the MMA promotions that failed and used quick cash grabs like Kimbo Slice, you know they wouldn’t hesitate to keep putting Liddell in big fights. Liddell is still a big draw; he’s still a moneymaker. It takes guts to retire someone that can still be good for business. Even if you don’t agree with him, you have to respect Dana White for that.

Does MMA need a Hall of Fame? [MMA Insider]

2009-05-20T16:44:35-07:00

Mike Fagan from bloodyelbow.com had an interesting take on the news last week that there will be two new editions to the UFC’s Hall of Fame at UFC 100. He has a problem with the Hall of Fame because there’s no transparency in who gets selected, unlike baseball, which admits members through a vote.

I guess it begs the question -- how many MMA fighters deserve the “Hall of Fame” classification? And, is this even something sports fans today still care about? Hall of Fame ceremonies are great to honor past stars and to give them one final sendoff. But Hall of Fames don’t generate nearly the number of heated debates used to among sports fans.

Would anyone be truly heartbroken if someone like a Matt Hughes wasn’t included in the UFC Hall of Fame? While Hughes may be a likely choice someday, what about someone who ended up on the wrong side from the UFC brass, like Tito Ortiz? You can debate whether or not there would be merit for Ortiz but there’s no question he’d never be considered.

And, if it’s something fans wanted to take seriously, what criteria would fighters be judged on? The sport is still in its infancy so would you hold that against fighters who have been retired for several years? They didn’t have to deal with fighters as athletic and versatile as Georges St. Pierre. Then again, Babe Ruth didn’t have to play against African-American pitchers.

And what about performance enhancers? Does that automatically make someone ineligible for the Hall of Fame?

There are some interesting dilemmas that would present themselves if the UFC wanted to legitimize its Hall of Fame but at the end of the day, does anyone really care? Currently, it’s a way for the UFC to give a nod to the fighters that helped get the promotion to where its at today and I think it’s just fine that way.

Vasquez to work out for Wizards [Tracking the Terps]

2009-05-20T15:52:47-07:00

Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez will work out for the Washington Wizards Thursday -- part of his NBA tour to decide if he'll leave his name in the draft or return for his senior season in College Park.

The Wizards said the workout will last about an hour.

Also working out for the club tomorrow are three other guards -- LSU's Marcus Thornton, Kentucky's Jodie Meeks and Mississippi's David Huertas.

Like other NBA clubs, the Wizards may invite as many as 40 to 60 players to work out before the June 25 draft. So this should not be taken as a sign of serious interest. If Washington did select him, it wouldn't be in the first round. The Wizards hold the fifth pick.

Vasquez is also scheduled to attend a pre-draft combine in Chicago on May 27-31.

The 6-foot-6 guard from Caracas, Venezuela -- who led the Terps in scoring, assists and rebounds -- has not hired an agent and could still opt to return to school in the fall.

Fallston girls: Teams you can believe in [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-20T07:08:39-07:00

After watching Fallston’s girls basketball team upset highly favored Paint Branch in the Class 3A state final two months ago, I thought it would be a long time before I saw anything that impressive in a state tournament. Leave it to another team of Fallston girls to prove me wrong. In one of the most dominating performances in state lacrosse tournament history, the No. 14 Cougars rolled over No. 3 Mount Hebron, 16-1, Tuesday night at UMBC. It was their first state lacrosse title just as it had been their first state basketball title. Two players – Monica Fischer and McKenzie Hannahs – played on both teams and also played in the state final with the soccer team last fall. Several lacrosse players -- including Jenn Ward and Roxy Raab, who combined for nine goals against Mount Hebron -- played on the state championship field hockey team. While it has been a banner school year for the Cougars girls – their softball team reached the state semifinal Tuesday night before dropping a 1-0 game to Northern of Calvert County and their volleyball team made it unbeaten to the regional final before falling to eventual state champ Centennial – the performances of the undefeated basketball team and the 17-2 lacrosse team were remarkable in how they overcame such heavily favored opponents. There never seemed to be a doubt among the players that they were going to win, although I would venture to guess that few others gave them a chance in either game. I figured they had a shot at the lacrosse title but only in a close game -- and that feeling certainly came from watching what the basketball team did. Mike McTeague, who coached both the basketball (filling in for Vern Brown) and the lacrosse teams, didn’t really expect those endings either, sitting down at both post title-game press conferences to ask something like, “OK, so who here expected that would happen?” McTeague, in his fourth season as lacrosse coach, gave all the credit to the players. “Like basketball, the thing that surprised me about these girls,” he said, “… is coming in here against a team that’s won 15 state championships – basketball we were playing a team that had five state championships coming back for back-to-back – it’s tough to get girls to believe that they can win. It’s one thing to have talent, but you have to have the personalities and I was so lucky as a coach to have two teams that had that kind of personality that they took the floor as competitors. They believe they’re going to win, if they play hard, they’re going to win. To believe that is half the battle, especially against legendary teams like the ones we played.” Fischer, an All-Metro soccer player who hit key three-pointers and finished with 14 points in the 65-62 basketball win, contributed two goals and a handful of caused turnovers in a stellar midfield performance during the lacrosse final. “I couldn’t have asked for a better senior year, three state championships – two winning and one finalist,” Fischer said. “My teammates were great, working well together and the coaches were phenomenal. Only three losses all year, it’s an amazing way to go out ending my high school career.”

Ex-St. Frances player Aric Brooks to transfer to Morgan [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-19T13:22:05-07:00

Former St. Frances basketball player Aric Brooks announced Tuesday on 1370 AM that he is transferring from Jacksonville to Morgan State. Brooks was a second-team All-Metro selection in 2007. The 6-6 forward averaged 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 14.7 minutes in 63 games during his two seasons with the Dolphins. Morgan State made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance this year, losing to second seed Oklahoma in the first round. Click here for audio of Brooks discussing his decision with Rob Long on 1370 AM.

Atholton's Hand sets record straight [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-18T16:48:52-07:00

Atholton senior baseball player Wes Hand and his family wanted to make a clarification on something that appeared in a Q&A with him in the May 10 edition of the Howard County section of The Baltimore Sun. Hand said he had not pursued a baseball scholarship and had chosen Villanova because of its chemistry department and because of the academic community's commitment to community service, something he has enjoyed taking part in through his local catholic church. When asked if he would then be attending Villanova on an academic scholarship he said yes, but pointed out ""Villanova did not offer the best financial aid package" and that he had spent a lot of time debating if the school that was his first choice "would be worth the additional financial burden." He decided yes. But when he and his parents saw the story, they decided they wanted to further clarify Hand's financial support from Villanova. "We do believe it is important to point out that there was apparently some miscommunication as to his attending Villanova University on an academic scholarship (in photo line and in several paragraphs)," said Dave Hand, Wes' father. "Wes was fortunate to be accepted to several fine schools, and although his grades and SATs were good, he did only receive some minor scholarship monies to Villanova and other schools (less to his first choice Villanova than to most others)." Now, the record is straight.

Stranglehold on NCAA lacrosse; weekend picks [Re: Lax]

2009-05-15T15:26:21-07:00

I hate it when I’m right. Well, that is, only when it comes to picking NCAA tournament lacrosse games each year. But if you’re sick of my cynical rants about college lacrosse’s glass ceiling, stop reading now. In the words of Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett, “The rich get richer, the poor get the picture.” The title monopoly is just a never-ending cycle of the best players picking the same four or five schools that win the title and so on and so on. Once again this past weekend, that rusty nail was driven home. As you know by now, all but one of the first-round games were won by the higher seed. The one upset was Maryland over Notre Dame, and was that even considered an upset? In the interests of real growth in the game and Notre Dame’s last two first-round losses -- to Johns Hopkins in 2007 and Syracuse in 2008 -- anything that gets the Irish deeper into the tournament would be an upset. In the traditional sense of lacrosse, Maryland beats Notre Dame every time. But on that same note, the Terps also lose in the next round to Syracuse every time. Notre Dame is one of the programs I am counting on in my lifetime to break the stranglehold on the NCAA hardware. Duke is another team who has a chance. But these teams, when they have strong years, ultimately lose when expected in the bracket -- and often by a goal in overtime, like the outcome was fixed. It’s not, which is a shame, because we could do something about that. But it’s just the cycle of self-interest that is known as human nature. Why do people always choose the restaurants with the longest waiting lines? The game suffers from free will, common sense and the desire to win. We don't want to change those things. It will have to work itself out in time. Maybe at some elite camp somewhere this summer, the top five or 10 recruits for the class of 2012 will initiate a conspiracy to all go to Notre Dame or maybe Jacksonville. Unfortunately, that’s what it may take to pull off a real insurgence in lacrosse -- one that gives us real change at the top, not just Notre Dame becoming seeded in the tournament, or Delaware making it to the final four, or Maryland losing in the championship. We’ve seen those things before, and they just tease us. With that said, here are my picks for this weekend: Syracuse beats Maryland Virginia beats Johns Hopkins Princeton beats Cornell UNC beats Duke You may think UNC over Duke is an upset, but it's not in the long-term perspective. If, by some strange circumstances, Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Duke made the final four, I’d bet the house on the Blue Jays. I can't even imagine Maryland vs. Cornell or Duke in the final. Johns Hopkins beats Cornell, or the Blue Jays beat Duke just sounds much more probable. Again, I hope I am wrong. I hate it when I’m right.

Big weekend for local lacrosse teams [Re: Lax]

2009-05-15T15:03:23-07:00

This will be huge weekend for lacrosse teams -- both at the college level and in the pros -- from the state of Maryland. In Major League Lacrosse, the Bayhawks open their season at 7:30 tonight at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. They host the Toronto Nationals, which are coached by Dave Huntley. His son, Kevin, plays for the Bayhawks. The Bayhawks are loaded this year with attackmen Andrew “Buggs” Combs, Jake Byrne, Spencer Ford, Huntley, and Scott Urick. The midfielders are Kyle Dixon, Kevin Buchanan, Hunter Lochte, Jed Prossner, Ben Rubeor, Justin Smith and Brian Vetter. On defensive midfield, they just traded for Benson Irwin who joins Billy Glading and Loyola assistant Dan Chemotti. On close defense, Shawn Nadelen returns for his ninth MLL season. He is flanked by Ronnie Staines, Greg Vetter, Zack Burke and Kyle Sweeney. In the cage, they feature Chris Garrity and Chris Collins. Alex Smith gets things started at the faceoff X. That's quite a squad! For tickets, contact the Bayhawks box office at 1-866-99-HAWKS (42957), or go to the team's Web site at http://www.washingtonbayhawks.com. At the college level, Maryland has the unenviable matchup against defending national champion Syracuse at Hofstra at noon Saturday. The Terps are coming off the upset of undefeated Notre Dame, but the road likely ends in Long Island this weekend. They sure could use some fan support up there. It's only a six-hour drive for the faithful. The first game Sunday at the Naval Academy is between Johns Hopkins and No. 1 Virginia at noon. This should be a classic with the Blue Jays as the underdog -- like they are ever really the underdog. I am thinking this game will end in an overtime victory for Virginia, but don't count out Johns Hopkins. These teams know each other well and excellent preparation will be evident on both sides. The Duke Blue Devils will take on ACC rival North Carolina for the third time this season in Game 2 on Sunday at Navy. They will faceoff around 2 p.m. Can Duke beat the Tar Heels three times in one season? Billy Bitters is on a tear, and Duke is in destiny-overdue mode. This will be a wonderful game and perhaps a second overtime contest between the two teams. I think UNC will pull this one out to deliver a long-awaited return to the final four. To purchase tickets for these games, call the Navy ticket office at 1-800-US4-NAVY. Also Sunday at 1 p.m. in Baltimore, Stevenson will host Gettysburg in the Division III final four. Paul Cantabene's Mustangs pulled out the win over Salisbury Wednesday and face the Bullets, who they pounded early in the season. It's Stevenson's first final four, and they look like they can go to Foxborough if they don't blow up. Cortland or Middlebury will be waiting for Stevenson in the championship if it wins Sunday.

Softball powerhouses Broadneck, Chesapeake-AA square off again [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-15T09:11:57-07:00

It has become a rite of passage this time of year, a virtual lock that could practically be guaranteed before the softball season begins: Chesapeake-AA vs. Broadneck in the Class 4A East region softball championship. The previous two seasons, Chesapeake has avenged losses in the regular season and Anne Arundel County championship game to beat the Bruins and go on to win the state championship. This year, Broadneck is ranked No. 1 with a 17-0 mark, including a win over the No. 3 Cougars (16-2) during the regular season. The two teams shared the county championship because rain cancelled the game. As I write, Broadneck is getting its home field ready for a 4 p.m. scheduled start. This year's game promises to again include the same talent with some added intrigue. For Chesapeake, two-time All-Metro Player of the Year Lauren Gibson, who has back-to-back no-hitters in the past two state titles games, will close out arguably the finest career in softball-rich Anne Arundel County history. On the Broadneck side, the Bruins have been on a successful season-long mission to honor their former coach, Jim Ware, who passed away unexpectedly last summer. The past two years, this has been the state title game with Chesapeake and Broadneck, for the most part, clearly the best two teams in the entire class. After the Cougars got past the Bruins last year, they dominated the action at states, including a 7-0 win over Sherwood in the championship game. This year appears to be no different. Along with Gibson, the Cougars bring senior second baseman Kelly Hickman, who has produced plenty of big hits in this storied rivalry. The Bruins have an equally dangerous lineup featuring the area's most potent one-two attack in junior pitchers/shortstops Kourtney Salvarola and Ashley Thomas.

Which team stacks up the best? [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-14T10:23:36-07:00

The spring season is coming to an end with a number of teams looking to close out banner seasons. A few stand out above the rest: The McDonogh girls lacrosse team is 18-1 heading into Thursday's Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference semifinals and have been dominant this season against area competition. Can the Gilman boys lacrosse team, which had one midseason hiccup against Boys' Latin, snag the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship that eluded the team by one goal last year? In softball, No. 1 Broadneck and No. 2 Seton Keough will try to complete perfect seasons.

Instant replay for state basketball finals? [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-12T14:11:00-07:00

Instant replay might be coming to a high school state championship basketball game near you next winter. Then again, it might not. The National Federation of State High School Associations has approved instant replay for last-second shots in state basketball finals, but it will be up to each state’s association whether to adopt it. Approving instant replay is one thing. Implementing it is another. Not many state high school championships have TV crews the likes of CBS Sports. Sure, instant replay would come in handy when no one saw exactly where the shooter’s foot was along the three-point arc or if the ball left the shooter’s hand before the buzzer sounded. It was approved only for use during the final seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime and only if the shot made a difference in the game’s outcome. Still, the big question is can cameras catch all of that at a high school basketball championship. Ned Sparks, executive director of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, said there are many logistical considerations to be worked out, but that instant replay will be on the agenda for the boys and girls basketball committee meetings in the fall. “We have an agreement with Scholastic Sports Network who will be video streaming our games, so we will have a recording of it,” Sparks said. “Now, how many cameras do you have, how many angles do you have, do you have the foot on the line or not on the line, was [the camera] on the shooter or on the basket, can you use audible sound, all that kind of stuff. I don’t know." Sparks said many issues will have to be considered, especially whether Scholastic Sports Network would be able to provide the kind of video the viewer wants to see as well as the kind of video aimed at the shooter’s foot or the shooter’s hand as the clock runs out. He also said there would need to be a monitor by the court, so the video could be played back quickly. “How many times would you ever use it?” Sparks asked. “But, of course, if ever you needed it, you’d probably want to have it. We’ve got to sort it all out.”

Lloyd's saves boost Severna Park [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-12T12:05:00-07:00

When lacrosse season began back in March, Severna Park’s Sarah Lloyd never envisioned herself as a goalkeeper. She figured to be a key player in the midfield for the Falcons, who were coming off two straight unbeaten state championship seasons. But Lloyd suffered a stress fracture in a leg early in the season and until a few weeks ago was relegated to the sidelines. She watched as the Falcons lost three regular-season games for the first time in a long while. The area where the Falcons needed the most help was in the goal. “I wasn’t up to running speed yet, so I thought, why not try goalie,” said Lloyd, also a state champion swimmer. That has worked out very well for the Falcons as Lloyd made six saves in helping them beat South River and start their march back toward the top. Monday night, she made some terrific stops among her eight saves as the No. 13 Falcons avenged an early season loss to No. 3 Broadneck, 17-9, and advanced to Wednesday night’s Class 4A-3A East regional final. They will host No. 10 South River at 5 p.m. Lloyd, a junior, was one of the big differences in the Falcons being able to turn the tables on the Bruins. “She’s so athletic,” Falcons defender Lelan Bailey said. “She has great reaction time and great field sense. As a midfielder, she saw the whole field and that makes her even better as a goalie because she can see the open girls.” Falcons coach Carin Peterson agreed that Lloyd’s athleticism has helped her come along so quickly. “She’s just a pure athlete,” Peterson said. “I could put her anywhere on the field and tell her to do anything and everything and she’d walk on and have no problem picking it up, and that’s probably any sport. You tell her to go play golf and she’d probably be one of the best golfers out there."

Loyola's Dauses has his own tough act to follow [Varsity Letters]

2009-05-12T11:22:56-07:00

For Loyola senior attackman Trevor Dauses, it was one of those games a player simply never forgets. The two-time defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champ Dons were mired in a four-game losing streak and trailed 9-4 against rival Boys' Latin on April 30. But the Dons scored six straight goals -- Dauses providing the game-winner in double overtime with his fifth of the game to go with an assist. Should the Dons find a way to successfully defend their championship in this talented field that's the game they will look back on. Defending that crown starts at 4:15 this afternoon with a visit to ... you guessed it: Boys' Latin in the quarterfinal round.

The NCAA teams by the numbers: A recruiting perspective [Re: Lax]

2009-05-05T15:00:26-07:00

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the rosters of all the teams that made this year’s tournament from a recruiting and geographical perspective. It surprised me in a few ways and, while not a full look at the Division I recruiting scene, it is quite telling. Here are some of the results.: Of the 16 postseason teams, 146 players are from Maryland, while 201 are from New York. No wonder, Syracuse has 28 New Yorkers and 1 kid from Maryland, while Siena has 40 from their home state and none from ours. Not surprisingly, Maryland has the most from Maryland with 32, while UMBC is second with 26. Both have some New Yorkers though with 11 and seven respectively. UMass has 11 kids from Massachusetts, Brown has eight and Maryland has four. Undefeated Notre Dame has an even number of players from Maryland and New York with 10 apiece. The Irish have no one from Indiana on the squad. Indiana has lacrosse, but no players in the field this year. That will change rapidly if Notre Dame wins a championship in 2009. Lacrosse is the national sport of Canada and Canada is the reigning indoor and outdoor world champion, but only 14 Canucks are found on these teams and nine are at Cornell. Cornell has more New Yorkers, though, with 15. The team with the fewest amount of states represented is Siena with six and the one with the most is Princeton with 13 states plus Canada in the mix. Syracuse, Maryland and Cornell are tied for second with 12 states and some Canadians. Some other interesting numbers are also found in the data. Duke relies heavily on the state of Connecticut for recruiting with 9 kids from the state, which has 36 players in the 16-team field. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts have a few more with 39. New Jersey has 55. California surprised me with 18. Who has more kids from Ohio than anyone? Maryland with six. How about Nevada kids? Maryland again with two. Who has the most kids from Virginia? Yep. The Terps with seven. The University of Virginia has only five. How about North Carolina recruits? Um ... the Tar Heels with seven. Duke has only two. Hopkins has a good mix of blue-chippers with 15 from Maryland and 10 from New York. But Hopkins also has the only recruit from Arizona. Only seven Coloradans and seven Illini are in the field. There are 12 from North Carolina, 11 from Ohio, nine from Michigan, five from Rhode Island. There are three players apiece from Washington D.C., New Hampshire, Texas and Georgia. There are two each from Tennessee, Delaware, Maine and Nevada. There’s only one Australian. He’s at Maryland. Cornell has the only Minnesotan. Princeton has the only Montanan. Siena has the only Oregonian. Syracuse has two members of the Iroquois Nation. The whole field has two members of the Iroquois Nation. That is sad. More coaches need to attend the Nation’s Cup in the fall and see the talent that exists at the all-aboriginal tournament.

Tewaaraton Award finalists announced [Re: Lax]

2009-05-05T14:54:16-07:00

The Tewaaraton Award finalists were announced this week. The nominees for top collegiate men's and women's players are: 2009 men's finalists: Matt Abbott, Syracuse Ned Crotty, Duke Danny Glading, Virginia Zack Greer, Bryant Max Seibald, Cornell 2009 women's finalists Jillian Byers, Notre Dame Carolyn Davis, Duke Amber Falcone, North Carolina Caitlyn McFadden, Maryland Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern I am very happy that Zach Greer made the list. Seibald should win the award once, but Crotty may take this year’s trophy. Now that Matt Abbott is in a smaller group, he looks more attractive as a potential winner as well. Still, none of these guys is the best in the land. The best player, in my opinion, is really Virginia’s Danny Glading. I think he is the most talented lacrosse player in this group. This may be his last chance to beat Crotty at something. Of course, some of these guys have a few more games to play on the big stage and how they do will have an impact. On the women’s side, what a job it was to pick five players. Nielsen should have this one locked up, in my opinion. Maryland’s Caitlyn McFadden could pull off the upset, on the field or at the Tewaaraton awards. Jillian Byers is such an exciting player with a joy for the game. I’d love to see her sneak in. I was stunned to see my dark-horse favorite, Duke’s Caroline Cryer, not make the final list. She is so good. Cryer has 40 goals and 32 assists while Carolyn Davis has 59 goals and 15 assists just as a comparison with her teammate. Both are amazing. I thought both would make the final list. I have seen Cryer play for years now and if women’s lacrosse was the NBA, she would win three or four of the next 10 MVP awards. Her potential is that strong. But there is no women’s pro league so athletes like Cryer and Hannah just play club ball if they continue at all after college. Some play World Cup, but that’s only held every four years. It’s a shame that there is no platform for athletes like these to continue developing as great lacrosse players for all to see.

Chuck Liddell and Anderson Silva [MMA Insider]

2009-05-04T10:44:06-07:00

The remnants from UFC 97 seem to be falling into place. UFC president Dana White claims there will be “war” if Chuck Liddell won’t retire gracefully, all but ensuring we’ve seen the last of Liddell in the Octagon. Is everyone cool with this? Anyone still want to see Liddell fight?

I may be in the minority, but I feel like the guy has earned the right to go out any way he wants. He’s already a legend in the sport and sticking around too long left fans with unpleasant memories of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, but hasn’t he earned that? If White is going to let Mark Coleman come back in his mid-40s, he should at least let Liddell have another fight or two so he doesn’t go out on a loss.

I think the guy can still fight and while he will never be a contender anymore, I’d still be interested to see him have a few more fights (maybe a rematch with Randy Couture and a shot at former TUF student Forrest Griffin?).

As for Anderson Silva, he’s been paired with Griffin for UFC 101. Finally, the UFC is giving Silva a legitimate challenge. This is a huge fight for both guys and it was just a matter of time before we saw Silva at 205. Although he won’t fight Lyoto Machida, if Machida doesn’t beat Rashad Evans, Silva’s last four fights could be memorable in the UFC.

That’s the best fight for Silva since he took on Dan Henderson at UFC 82. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen him against a worthy opponent.

First-round NCAA predictions [Re: Lax]

2009-05-04T05:24:58-07:00

I like the field this year. No teams left out got totally robbed. Maybe Loyola has an argument but they had a couple of chances to state their case in close games against this field and did not. Bucknell and Colgate proved they could play with this field but not consistently. Georgetown had no chance after losing to Penn State. So here are my picks for the first round. Also, be sure to check out the Lacrosse Pool Contest at E-Lacrosse this week! Villanova @ Virginia I’ve seen a Villanova-type team beat a Virginia-type team. It was the Drexel at Virginia upset a few seasons ago. I don’t think I will ever see such an upset again, much less in the playoffs. Virginia is just too strong in this matchup. They are the legit No. 1 seed in my opinion. This one's a ten-point win. Brown @ Johns Hopkins Hopkins is a team with character, because of their failings. They have had to overcome all year long. And they are better than their record. Their losses are close ones to good teams. Close losses and close wins build character. They will need all of it to beat this Brown team, perhaps the best I’ve ever seen. Brown is coming off a loss to Princeton where they really never got out of the gate. They were embarrassed. Hopkins is coming off an emotional victory over a Loyola team they had beaten, and then let back in the door and had to go to overtime to close out. This is going to be a close game and I have no pick. They are even. Both would lose to Virginia in the second round. Hofstra @ Cornell These are two teams with chips on their shoulders. They want to be included among the top programs, but usually fall short. This will be the most fiercely contested game because both need respect, though the result doesn’t prove anything. Each of these teams needs to go to the final four to consider their seasons a success. I like Cornell by three. UMass @ Princeton Princeton is all that. I like this team. UMass will have to play better than they have all year to win and Princeton will have to crumble. But when’s the last time you saw a Bill Tierney team crumble? They will be prepared and know they belong in the final four. Princeton by six. Navy @ Duke The big upset potential in the first round is most likely right here. I like the matchup of Navy’s physical play and discipline against Duke’s strong offense. This will be a fun game to watch. I think Duke will pull it out but it may take overtime. UMBC @ North Carolina I like these teams equally. They are coached by two of my favorites in Joe Breschi and Don Zimmerman. This will be another great game and I really can’t pick the winner. Both can beat Duke or Navy in the next round. Another Duke-UNC game would be very interesting. But UMBC can be a final four team, too. They have the most exciting offense this year and the best keeper in the land in Jeremy Blevins. Maryland @ Notre Dame Because we don’t know enough about Notre Dame through comparative scores, you could sum up their chances against Maryland this way: If Irish transfer Will Yeatman would have been their best player this year, then they will lose to Maryland, because he’s not Maryland’s best player. But if I know Kevin Corrigan teams well, they would insist that there are no stars on the Irish squad and that they use teamwork to do things that individuals cannot do. That may be enough to beat Maryland in South Bend. In the Terps’ games I’ve seen this year, cohesive offensive teamwork has been their shortcoming. Remember, I picked the Terps to be in the final four before the season. On paper they are still that good to me. Travis Reed is a wildcard they don’t play enough. I thought he would be the star of their offense this year. He’s done very well despite his more limited role, but I saw something different unfolding for the Terps this year with him in the middle of it all. I was wrong. I’ll take Notre Dame in a two-point game. Siena @ Syracuse This would be the largest upset in lacrosse history if Siena beat the Orange in the dome. Siena has a well-deserved sense of accomplishment just getting into the tournament and Syracuse would be devastated with a loss here. But it’s really about the players. If Siena was up 10 at the half, John Desko could pull every starter, put in a whole team of guys who haven’t played much this year and still win the game. The toughest contest Syracuse will play this week will be in practice against these same second-teamers. I’ll take Syracuse, a little to a lot.

Kessenich declares a new age of lacrosse [Re: Lax]

2009-05-03T17:28:05-07:00

I got home rather late from covering the UMBC-Stony Brook America East championship game Saturday night. I turned on the TV and the last few minutes of the Johns Hopkins-Loyola contest were being played out. Hopkins was up by two with a minute or so left and, of course, we all know what happened if we’ve seen the score of that one. Loyola scored two goals in desperation to tie the game and go to overtime with their nemesis. The Greyhounds have only won three games against the Hop, which they revile. Hopkins, of course, won in overtime, but that’s not surprising. I had just come from watching the favorite win two different season finales -- two games with serious NCAA implications at Princeton and UMBC. I missed the Villanova upset of Towson, if you can call it that. In any case, all was normal in the lacrosse world. That is until I heard the words uttered by the color commentator for ESPN’s coverage of the Hopkins-Loyola game, Quint Kessenich. Without quoting him directly, which would just feed his massive ego, the Q-tip said that there were ten teams that could win the title in 2009. These were either the most disingenuous words ever uttered in lacrosse or the most ignorant. In a game where only five teams have won a title in the last 30 years, Quint was either promoting ESPNU's monopoly coverage of the forthcoming NCAA tournament with a marketing ploy that makes the Sham Wow guy seem like Honest Abe, or he has lost his mind. This ain’t the Kentucky Derby. The statement could be true, if we think of it this way: There are maybe four teams that have a shot in DI men’s lacrosse, three in DIII men’s, two in DII men’s, and two in the MCLA college club championships. If we join those four entities together we arrive at eleven teams that could win a national championship. Otherwise, the comment would be intensely wrong. In fact, Quasimotomouth was so wrong that we have re-instituted the rule in our house that when an ESPNU lacrosse game is on, the volume must be muted. The comment showed such a lack of comprehension of our game that I was forced to write this. If I could stand to talk to “Q” for even a moment, I’d bet him a thousand dollars that he was wrong and would even give him odds. I’d donate my winnings to charity, perhaps for the diminutive and tragically arrogant, so that in some way I might help those like Quint. I’ll take Virginia, Syracuse, Duke, Hopkins and Princeton and he would have every other team in the field. I’d give 5-1 odds at least and I’d walk away with the money easily. The worst thing that could happen is that Quint is proven right and our game finally emerges from the incestuous, entitled dark ages that imprison it. I’d pay $5,000 for that to happen anyway. It would be the answer to my prayers and the jolt our game needs to actually build a spectator base outside of the playing community and the accompaniment of parents. It’s a no-lose situation for me. I win money or get everything I ever wanted for the sport I love. The only downside would be acknowledging that Quint made the hardest call in the history of the game and made it right. That considered, make it 10-1 odds.

Predictions for the NCAA tournament [Re: Lax]

2009-05-01T12:53:59-07:00

It's time for NCAA tournament predictions. We all have our ideas of who is in and who will be left out, so let's have all of your predictions before Sunday when we all have to reshuffle and predict who will win using the actual brackets. Hofstra really hurt its chances by losing to Villanova in the Colonial Athletic Association semifinal. The field for the NCAA tournament is tight, and I think UMass, Hofstra, Maryland and Georgetown are all bubble teams now. If Notre Dame or UMBC do not win their tournaments, more than one of the teams above will not get in. Here's my prediction for the pairings if Notre Dame wins the Great Western Lacrosse League tournament, UMBC wins the America East title and Towson is victorious in the CAA: (1) Syracuse vs. Siena (8) Johns Hopkins vs. UMBC (5) Princeton vs. Maryland (4) Virginia vs. Brown (3) Notre Dame vs. Loyola/UMass (6) Cornell vs. Hofstra (7) UNC vs. Navy (2) Duke vs. Towson/Villanova If Notre Dame and/or UMBC loses this weekend, then Maryland -- or maybe even Hofstra, Loyola or UMass -- also will be out. UMBC and Notre Dame are going to be in the tournament even with a loss in their conference tourneys. Loyola would be in with a win over Johns Hopkins, regardless of how UMass does against Rutgers. You can join the prediction discussion on The Baltimore Sun's lacrosse forum.

Lacrosse passes another diversity milestone [Re: Lax]

2009-04-30T13:22:50-07:00

Last Sunday, Ryland Huyghue became the first African-American coach in the history of college lacrosse to win a league championship. Huyghue’s Cal State Fullerton team won the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference Division II title last week. The 49ers beat UC Irvine in the semifinals, 16-6, and then topped Cal State Long Beach, 10-7, in the final. The Titans will now go to Denver to compete for the MCLA Div II national championship. When asked about the achievement, Huyghue said, "It's a milestone just to be in the national championship." Congratulations to Huyghue and the 13-3 Titans.

Last call for Medium Well [Ray Frager's Medium Well]

2009-04-30T09:34:05-07:00

The last call I took as an employee of The Baltimore Sun was from a gentleman who was bugged because hearing "Alfonso Soriano" was making him think of a former Orioles pitcher with sort of a similar name, but he just couldn’t figure out who it was.

After thumbing through some old media guides, I finally determined he was thinking of Armando Benitez.

So, at least on my last day of work, I made one person happy.

No doubt, my involuntary departure from The Sun Tuesday will make some other people happy, too. Over the years, through a couple of stints of writing a sports media column and, more recently, a blog, I often have been told what a moron I am and how I’ve wasted a reader’s time with my drivel. (I did like hearing from one commenter about how it was my "dribble" that was so offending. If this guy had ever seen me play basketball, he would have known just how right he was.)

There was even the occasional local media personality who found it much easier to dole out criticism of those in the sports world than to receive some critical words himself.

Unlike Mark McGwire, I am here to talk about the past. This layoff came on roughly my 24th anniversary of arriving at The Sun.

I was originally hired as a sports desk slot man, a job in which one serves as the last editing eyes on type before it is printed in the newspaper, before being promoted to different editing duties. Since getting into the newspaper business in 1979, most of my time has been spent as a sports editor of one kind or another. It was always my goal to make the game stories, columns and features that went through my hands as clear, informative and accurate as possible. I wanted headlines and captions to reflect the tone of articles to which they were attached. And though there were times I had to take a writer’s prose and turn it into English, I never thought it was my job to make his or her story read as if I had written it.

I hope, even as the world of journalism -- sports journalism in particular -- continues to shake out, that there continues to be a place for those who take care of the words.

I also hope there is still a spot for those who have a sense of place, who understand what is important to the readers. Despite 20-plus years as a Baltimore area resident, I was told by a native colleague how I would never understand what "Baltimore" on the Orioles road jerseys meant because "you’re not from here." Ah, but he is, and so I would listen to him and others who grew up here when it came time to make judgments on things such as story play and photo choices. He is still at The Sun. I hope they keep listening to him and others like him, who are unwavering in their devotion to the old Colts and the pizza at Squire’s in Dundalk.

I leave with no real regrets except that I am leaving. Well, OK, I regret that higher-ups nixed my headline suggestion for Cal Ripken’s 2,131 night, "Cal touches home," in favor of the correction-in-waiting "Immortal Cal."

It has been an honor to work with a collection of talented writers and editors and to help produce sports coverage for the passionate, dedicated fans of Baltimore. I hope to pop up soon with a new sports media blog and would love to continue wasting your time. You can reach me at rfrager@gmail.com.

Oh, and one more thing for those who might care: I was Mr. Flip.

-- Ray Frager

Last night's Emmy scores [Ray Frager's Medium Well]

2009-04-28T07:15:31-07:00

The Sports Emmy Awards were handed out last night, and the totals went like this: NBC 10, HBO 8, ESPN 6, CBS 5, Fox 5, Fox SportsNet 3, TNT 2, ABC 1, NFL Network 1, Showtime 1. Those totals include some shared Emmys for talent appearing on two networks and shows produced by two and also add Web site awards for networks.

The on-air individuals honored:

Studio host: Bob Costas

Play by play: Jim Nantz

Studio analyst: Terry Bradshaw, Tom Jackson

Event analyst: Cris Collinsworth

A few comments: Good to see Jackson recognized. He has been the best thing about ESPN's NFL studio coverage for a long time. ... Bradshaw? Not so much. ... How about Jay Bilas for a share of the studio Emmy? ... You would expect to see NBC leading the way after an Olympic year.

Mayock and McShay's final mock drafts [Ray Frager's Medium Well]

2009-04-27T08:41:54-07:00

In the last mock draft posted by NFL Network expert Mike Mayock (helpfully placed in the sports media blog by The Dallas Morning News' Barry Horn), Mayock correctly predicted the "reach" for Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey by the Raiders. Mayock also had the Ravens' first-round pick, Michael Oher, going at No. 10.

Here is the last mock by ESPN's Todd McShay (through No. 16). He also had Oher going at 10.

For those of you keeping score, each correctly predicted seven of the top 16, with McShay getting the first four up until the Jets-Browns trade at No. 5 and being right on six of the first eight.