Let me be the first to say that Sunday’s win over the Washington Redskins was huge. Being born in 1984, in the Baltimore – DC area, meant that I was deprived of ever getting to know the Baltimore Colts. I always rooted for the the Redskins growing up – still do, but was never much of a football fan….until 1995. That was when the Cleveland Browns announced they were moving to Baltimore. The Baltimore Browns later changed their name to become the Baltimore Ravens…the franchise went with the Raven in honor of Edgar Allen Poe (a Baltimorean) and well you know the rest. Since the Ravens have been in Baltimore, the Redskins have looked down upon the Purple and Black. Yet since the Ravens have been in Baltimore they have had much more successful than the Redskins have.

So the Ravens remained in the AFC and the Redskins were in the NFC. Meaning that the 2 franchise would only meet once every 4 years – killing any dreams of a Beltway rivalry. Although for the fans, once every 4 years the “Battle Of The Beltway” becomes a pride issue. A Chance to say that their team / their city is the best in the Mid-Atlantic region. Before Sunday’s game the Ravens had the series lead at 2-1, but both teams were having successful seasons.

The Ravens, have been a big surprised, coming off a disappointing 5-11 season, the Ravens were not expected to do much this season. Then the Ravens had to rely on their rookie QB with McNair retiring, Boller out for the season, and Troy Smith suffering from multiple illnesses. The Ravens threw Flacco out on the field and he has handled himself like a true pro. Sure, he has not put up Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady numbers, but he has played well. The Ravens defeated the Skins on Sunday night to move to 9-4, making them 1 win shy from doubling their 2007 total. Flacco and the Ravens were at 2-3 after the first 6 weeks of the season but since losing those 3 straight games, they have now gone 7-1 in their last 8 games and are riding high. The Ravens are now 1 game out of first for the division behind Pittsburgh as the Steelers will be coming to Baltimore this upcoming Sunday in a matchup which could very well determine the division champion.

Noone expected much from Joe Flacco with consideration to the Ravens past history with Quarterbacks. Now, he has instilled more faith in the city of Baltimore in him than any of his biggest fans could have imagined at the season beginning.

I have always been one to support the players who play for the love of the game and been a hater of those who play for the money. This is a reason why my love for “America’s past time” as been slowly and steadily dying. Baseball has become a “Me-Me-Me” sport (not like any of the other major sport industries are not), but it has become all about the money. For instance, look at the juggernaut that is the New York Yankees. They do not care if players want to come to New York or not, they throw barrels upon barrels of cash in front of players faces to the point that it would be ridiculous to turn down the offer. The recent signing of C.C. Sabathia is proof that the Yankees do not care about what the player wants, or how their fans feel about it.

Now another free agent Mark Teixeira, a super-stud from the Baltimore-DC area has been offered an 8 year deal for over 160 mil by the Washington Nationals, and a 7 year deal for over 150 mil by the Baltimore Orioles. My problem with these 2 offers is this, both teams have struggled in the past few years. Teixeira has stated 2 things: 1) He would love to be back home and play with his hometown team and 2) He wants to play for a World Series contender. Both the Orioles and Nationals are not going to be World Series contenders unless some major improvements have been made this offseason. So far the Orioles have addressed their need at shortstop by signing Cesar Izturis and have traded away Roberto Hernandez who was a disappointment. These are 2 steps in the right direction for the Orioles franchise. Since Teixeira has said that he would want to play in his hometown – he should be taking the hometown discount and NOT be paid an insane amount. There are FEW players who should be paid that – they are the Michael Jordans, the Tiger Woords, the Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkins, the Babe Ruths of sports.

Now something I do not understand is the Boston Red Sox involvement in the Teixeira sweepstakes. The Boston Red Sox have an All Star first basemen in Kevin Youkilis, and All Star third basemen in Mike Lowell, and a super slugger at DH in David Ortiz. This means there is no place for a Mark Teixeira unless one of those players were to be traded or release – which would seem pointless.

Again, I have notice that, the city of New York has dominated the free agent season by throwing cash into the air and seeing who comes to grab it the quickest. K-Rod signing with the Mets was probably the best move that the city of New York has made so far this free agent period, but the Yankees have many, many issues that need to be address if they want to be a contender this season. Most of their roster is old, injured, or just not as good as expected.

Dear President Elect,

Why don’t you do your job and worry abotu the country’s “issues” and stop worryign abotu COLLEGE football. You should be worried about how you are going to be handling the issues and adversities that the country and you will face for the next 4 years. First off, it’s COLLEGE football, it’s a bunch of kids playing football you should not be concerning yourself with this. Second off, youa re the President, you are NOT the chairman of the BCS committee or the NCAA. I ahte to be cliche and say this but know your role. As President you should be worried about the economy, international affairs, etc.

How does one, who has been playign a sport for his entire life nto know about a tie? First off, McNabb has been in the league for roughly 10 years now. Meaning he was already in the NFL when the last tie occured. Andy Reid and McNabb both were making poor excuses by saying that McNabb was unaware of a tie in the NFL regular season. Being a 5-4 team you should not need 5 quarters to beat the 1-8 lowly Bengals. Really this game should have been decided in the first half.

Honestly, I think the tie rule is stupid – let them play you need winners, especialyl when it comes close to the playoffs. This tie coudl really hurt the Eagles chances of makign the playoffs. McNabb, you ahve been playing a sport for soo long – you should ahve known this rule. Also, if you had not known abotu this rule, you still should have tried to win the game. Same goes for Andy Reid, the two should have handled teh clock better and handed their play calling/execution better. There is no reason that the Eagles with Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb should tie with the Bengals.