What a weekend in the Baltimore area!  Preakness Stakes number 133…. O’s v. Nationals at Camden Yards…. and three Maryland schools still alive in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament, two of which are playing each other.

It will be one for the ages….

I am heading to the Preakness tomorrow… and I can’t wait to fill everyone in on Monday. How good is Big Brown? We will know a little more in about 24 hours.

I think he is a super horse… but anything is possible in horse racing.

My trifecta… Big Brown, Gayego, and Icabad Crane in that order.

To those attending…. good luck… and be safe.

Ain’t nothing better than spring time in BMORE.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is at it again … this time about 45 years later. 

The Congressman from Pennsylvania is refusing to let “Spygate” die.  Matt Walsh has met with the NFL, he’s admitted that there is no more new information.  He said he never videotaped the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXVI walkthrough.  He has come clean.  Obviously, this isn’t the end that Specter wanted because he won’t let it die.  He has now called for an independent investigation into the whole thing!  Is it me, or is this guy still upset that the Patriots seemed to have beaten the Steelers and Eagles (both teams from Pennsylvania) rather handily during the last eight years???

Here is the theory that Sen. Specter must be working on:

The Patriots hired Matt Walsh back in 1999 only because there is six-degrees of separation between him and head coach Bill Belichek as a distant cousin.  And by the way, they are both weasels. 

This set in motion a chain of events that is reprehensible.  See, Matt Walsh was hired to video tape the Patriots practices … but after several other video tapes surfaced at Matt’s desk of high school football games, school plays, and amatuer porn, they realized he was better at his job than they thought.  So, Belichek, again being the weasel that he is, decided that he should film the other team’s sideline … not to get coaches signals or plays … but to see how many people were wearing sweatshirts with cut sleeves!  Not many know this, that is how Bill Belichek came up with that idea.  That is where the theivery started.  It was one of Belichek’s assistants who saw the signals and decided to use them!

Obviously, this led to several disappointing losses for the Steelers in the regular season and AFC Championship games … and of course, a Super Bowl loss by the Eagles.  And it got Sen. Arlen Specter thinking … if I can account for seven wounds to President John F. Kennedy and Governor John Connelly with ONE BULLET, I can certainly figure out that the Patriots have done something just as un-American as Lee Harvey Oswald!!!  (for those missing the connection, Arlen Specter was part of the Warren Commission after JFK’s assassination and he came up with the “magic bullet theory”)

Well thank you for your time Sen. Specter.  In case you haven’t noticed, the economy stinks, gas is over $3.50 a gallon, we are still fighting a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Amish people still don’t have electricity!!!  Get back to work at your REAL JOB!!  The one that the taxpayers are paying you to do!!  Spygate is over!

Forgive me boss, for i have sinned. It has been 14 days since my last blog…..

1- Why am i still hearing about Roger Clemens?  I don’t care about his personal life, who he slept with, who he dated, or if he fell asleep with a fifteen year old girl watching a movie.  Just let it go already, he tried to defend himself and things really didn’t go his way.  He is out of the limelight, so just let it go.    If there is evidence of him having relations with a minor  or if he breaks the law then bring it up.

 2- Lebron James hasn’t played well in his first 2 games against the celtics. So what!!!  The Celtics are the best defensive team in the league, with the leagues reigning Defensive player of the year. Stop comparing Lebron to M.J., they wear the same number and that is one of the only things they have in common.  Lebron is 23 and no offense to Michael, he wasn’t this good when he was 23.  I don’t think the Cav’s will right the ship in this series, but the real Lebron James will show up in this series……Trust Me!!!

3-Wow, look at D-Cab.  He is pitching well.  He is throwing more strikes and he just looks more confident.  I am very impressed with his play, but i won’t get ahead of myself.  He has done this before.  You have to give credit where credit is due, the guy looks great. 

4- I haven’t commented on the Ravens draft up until now.  I know everybody is saying what a great job they did and typically i like to be in the minority.  I agree with everyone.  Even if Flacco turns out to be a total bust, this was a great draft for the ravens.  Personally i believe Ray Rice will be a player in this league for a long time. I believe I’m developing a man crush on Tom Zibokowski.  I think eventually he will be starting for the Ravens.  Also i think Nakamura and Marcus Smith are gems. Ruki was the heart and soul of the Bearcats defense and a phenomenal Special Teams Player.  Marcus is a RB turned Wide Receiver with unbelievable ability.  He is a project.  Excellent job.

 5.  Lastly, if you know me, then you know i am a huge fan of the Sweet Science.  Boxing is one of my favorite sports.  Thursday of this week marked the Anniversary of the death of Diego Corrales.  He gave the boxing community one of the greatest fights of my generation and a trilogy that rivals some of the greats that we have seen….Zale /Graziano, Ward/ Gatti,  Ali/ Frazier, Ross/ Mclarnin and one of my favorites Barrerra/ Morales.  His personal life was suspect.  He witnessed his the murder of his best friend at the age of 13, He was sent to prison for beating his wife and struggled with a ton of personal problems.  My talks with Bert Sugar, The great boxing Historian, who said that he was making strides to better himself as a human being.  He was survived by his wife and 4 children.  The trilogy he had with Jose Luis Castillo was magical.  I was never a big fan of Corrales the person, but Corrales the boxer was a joy to watch.  He died in a motorcycle accident near his home, so boxing loses another great one, who in my mind will not be forgotten.  But i say R.I.P Chico, i know you will be missed.

This 5 game losing streak for the Birds certainly leaves alot to be desired. Five losses, none by more than 2 runs, is just terrible… but it is what I and most people expected. They are still battling and fighting. And they’re gotten a ton of good pitching performances from the young group of arms, which is the MOST important thing.

And there  are a lot of good things going on in the minors right now… so  let’s keep things in perspective… Hopefully, the team can do  well in K.C.

I haven’t weighed in on the Kentucky Derby and Eight Belles yet. I feel terrible about it. Like everyone else,  I am very upset that the filly died and I feel badly that it took away from Big Brown’s incredbile victory.

These PETA People are another story.  I care for the welfare of the horses– I really do. And there are serious issues that we can discuss in a civialized manner… like how they are trained and bred. But, to indict the sport, and even the jockey,  is unfortunate  at best.

Hello! People have been riding horses for thousands of years… This country was colonized by people riding horseback. These animals are born and bred to run. And,  many of the thoroughbreds have better lives than those people  who take care of them.

Memo to PETA… nice effort, stick to Greyhound abuse.

I am annoyed and my blood is boiling … it was boiling before I got to work today about PETA and their protest over the Kentucky Derby.  But after hearing Nicole Matthews, a spokesperson for PETA on the Anita Marks show, my blood is bursting out of my veins!

PETA’s platform here is the jockey Gabriel Saez is at fault, pushing the horse past its limitations and “mercilessly whipping” the horse to the point that it caused Eight Belles to break down and eventually have to be put down.  If PETA is trying to use this to push the bigger issue that horse racing needs to be changed to be better for the animals, then they aren’t going about this the right way.  That is a whole other argument … 

First off, I have to respectfully cut on (if you can do that) my co-worker Anita Marks here.  You have a representative from PETA on your show and you failed to ask one challenging, tough question about their stance.  PETA is blaming the jockey … where is the PROOF????  Never once was PETA challenged to prove their position that Gabriel Saez is at fault.  The burden of proof is on PETA to show factually, scientifically, or medically, that Saez knew the horse was in pain and negligently did nothing about it!!!  I don’t know how you let that question go un-asked?!?!!  It was a “cupcake” interview filled with batting practice softballs that totally missed the point of PETA’s assessment. It was irresponsible journalism that challenged nothing and once again let someone off the hook.

More on my take (hell, this is my blog and I can do that!) …

Someone please tell me what the issue is here?  Is it the fact that horses are being euthanized too often because of trainers, bad track surfaces, and whipping?  Or are we against the institution of horse racing as a bad “sport” for the animal itself??

What this boils down to for me is manageable losses.  If two horses are put down for every 1,000 starts, what are the others horses doing??  Going on to live long, fruitful, well-treated lives out to stud and/or pasture.  I don’t care if you ban whipping, go to all synthetic tracks, and put limitations on trainers beyond restriction … there is NO ABSOLUTE way to eliminate all the horses from breaking down.  How come no one accused Edgar Prado of causing Barbaro to break his hind leg?  No one accused trainer Michael Matz either!  This is a casualty of the sport, just like car wrecks in NASCAR, head trauma leading to death in boxing, and runners collapsing and dying during a marathon.  It is just as inherent to death in war.  So it goes back to the question, what is considered a manageable loss?  How many horses are we willing to put down for the sport to change its ways? 

Lastly, the other big problem in changing horse racing is that there is no one, main governing body for the sport.  It is run individually by each state.  And until a governing body is put in place, changes will be hard to come by … especially in places like Kentucky and Maryland where the sport is over a century old.

I have always been a fan of horse racing.  I grew up around it.  My heart broke when Barbaro’s leg did.  It was sad to see Eight Belles go down.  But like anything in life, it is part of it.  PETA isn’t going to change anything about horse racing … they have missed the point and are going after the wrong people.  And to boot, they are just annoying.  Everything they get involved in just gets cluttered and distorted.

And until someone can show me solid, factual, scientific proof that the horses are going down for one specific reason, or can be prevented from going down for another specific reason, then I am fine with things the way they are and will continue to support a quiet passion of mine that I have my whole life.

It is here… an annual right of Spring, It  is the Triple Crown season!

As I have stated in previous blogs, I love horse racing. I love the tradition, I love the sound, I love the excitement of the stretch run. Plain and simple: I love the events. It is the Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont…It is mint juleps and black eyed susans.

I love watching it… As a sports broadcasting aficionado I think it is perhaps the hardest sport to call, and right now with Tom Durkin and Dave Johnson. we are in an era of great horse racing broadcasting..

Bottom line: it truly is the sport of kings….

I am not an expert on the sport, but I do have a working knowledge….

So naturally I am excited for the Run for the Roses… Derby number 134…. I haven’t picked my pony yet… but I have done well in Derby’s past.

No doubt,  it is an event I will one day attend.  In fact it is an event that one day I must attend….

I am working some Preakness week events for ESPN Radio 1300…. If I’m not working the actual race, however, I might return for one more year in the infield… I have not decided, I may be finished…. Still , those were some of the best days of my life. It is like nothing else on earth.

Thoughts on the Draft…

First,  about my day on Sunday…. My work assignment was a fascinating one, to say the least. I first went to Ray Lewis’s Full Moon BBQ, where the Lewis/ Lattimore family was watching the draft. Then I headed out to the Castle in Owings  Mills to wrap up our two day coverage of the draft.

At the restaurant, the upstairs was blocked off  just for the family, and I was the lone member of the media who was there.  I spent two hours there, and
the family was great to. And they certainly didn’t have to be. It was an intense period for everyone there.

Keon Lattimore, the brother of Ray Lewis ,was a senior running back last year at Maryland. He completed a very solid career in College Park… He also played high school ball at Mt. St. Joe.

Obviously, the family hoped that the Ravens would draft him and he would get a chance to play with his brother. That didn’t happen, as you know.

Of course,  there  was no guarantee for Keon. The media and fans witness all of the glory surrounding the NFL draft… the 1st two rounds are simply a game of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” But, for everyone else hoping to be drafterd, it is the most stressful two days of their lives. Everything that they have ever worked for is on the line: they  either will or will not realize their dreams in a mere 48 hours.

Keon and his family put on brave faces. He was told to be ready in the third round. I had to leave for Owings Mills at around the 5th round, and he had yet to be chosen. People were getting very nervous at that point… Family members were trying to keep the mood light by cracking jokes. And people were consoling Keon. But, he definitely had to be tough and he was… he took each selection in stride.

He kept repeating “all I want is my shot to prove I’m better than every other back in this draft.”  Fortunately, Keon was eventually signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.

It was a tough day all around for the Terps. Erin Henderson left college early and was not drafted. He led the ACC in tackles and was 1st team ALL-ACC. His brother is a very good MLB in Minnesota. It was just very surprising. And… I also expected Haynos and some other Terps to be  selected.

As for the Ravens… we will see. No one really knows how these players are going to turn out. I do like a lot of their selections on paper… like Gooden…. come on…. a linebacker from the U who wore number 52 in College. And the safety from Notre Dame… friends of mine who were teammates with him in college love everything about him.

As for Flacco… Let’s just say I really hope it works out.

The Detroit Lions selected Safety Caleb Campbell from Army yesterday in the 7th round of the draft … and I couldn’t be happier!

First off, I am a Captain and a veteran of the Iraq war and currently still serving in the Army National Guard. I was formerly active duty, deployed back in 2005-2006 to Baghdad and have over nine years of total service to my Army and my country. This being said, I feel emotionally tied to this issue.

Officers in the Army come from all walks of life. West Point, ROTC, direct commission and OCS. Regardless of the source of their commission, some are good and some are poor. Some meet and exceed the standard and some barely get by and sometimes fail. From the outside perspective, Caleb Campbell looks like a pot of gold. He is saying all the right things, at the right times and in the right manner.

It’s about time that the Army and West Point have caught up with life. The Army might be the most institutionalized place in the world. People who have spent a better part of their careers in the military and in the Army are so engrained in the way of life they can’t understand how to adjust to change. They get angry when others within the Army want to do so. Socitey, life, the Army and war have all changed and been modernized and we must adapt to it.

Pat Tillman set the world on fire with what he did for his country (unfortunately it had a sour ending). Caleb Campbell can do the same. You many never hear someone say “I joined the Army because of Caleb.” But the overall perception of what the Army is about will change. I share Campbell’s view of everyone in the Army having their own individual mission. While I was in Iraq, I faced more danger than probably 75% of the soldiers there (I deployed with the Special Forces), does that mean I was more important to the fight than the Private who was the administrative assistant in the personnel department??? Absolutely not. We all have a different role in this fight, the main thing is to embrace the role, and exceed all the expections of your job description. That’s how we win this fight.

I myself, have had similar situation, on a lesser scale, like Campbell. I was a cheerleader in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens for eight years and now with my job at ESPN. Both have conflicted with my military obligations on several occasions. But being a good leader of soldiers is in part about flexibility, creative thinking, and alternate solutions to complex problems. Caleb Campbell appears to be an officer of that mold.

Lastly, I felt so proud when he was drafted. The camaraderie of soldiers is nothing you can find anywhere in this world. When he got selected, I felt like it was my brother being picked. He is me … and I am him. We are in this together as soldiers. I hope that he has a great NFL career. I hope he fulfills his obligation in anyway the Army wants him to. I hope he continues to spread the good word of what it means to choose to be an officer and a leader in the military. Most importantly, I hope the Army has dozens more like him … we need young leaders who can challenge the norm and excel.

I will be placing an order for a Caleb Campbell jersey as soon as I can. I will sew an American flag on it and wear it proudly each time Campbell plays.

1 Jake Long- Miami Dolphins…. He’ll probably get 5 years with 30  million guaranteed or something like that….

2. Chris Long-St Louis rams… Don’t be surprised if the Saints trade up to grab Dorsey.  I believe if the Rams stay here, then they will grab the other Long.

3. Glen Dorsey- Atlanta Falcons…  Was a tough choice between him and Ryan but i think Dorsey is more Valuable here.

4. Darren Mcfadden- Oakland Raiders- What a perfect fit and what a steal for the raiders .  Fills a huge need that this team has had for the past few years.

5. Vernon Ghoulston- Kansas City- After trading Jared Allen, this is the perfect pick for them.  If Chris Long is on the board, he could go here as well.

6.Matt Ryan-New York Jets…. This is a hunch, but i believe the jets may grab the QB of the future here.  Kellen Clemens isn’t good and Pennington is too injury prone.

7. Sedrick Ellis - New England….  This is a tough call to see who the pats would take, i believe they want to trade out, but i think they will take the best player on the board and i think Ellis is the guy here.

8. Leodis Mckelvin- Baltimore Ravens…..  This guy is outstanding… Some believe it might be a reach.  This kid can do it all, he even returns punts.  I think it would be an excellent pick.  I do believe that if Matt Ryan is there…..The Ravens will select him.

- First thing on my mind, is this weekend.  Its the NFL draft and there is no clear cut favorite for the top end of this draft.  There are needs for every team, and plenty of talent to fill those voids.  I’m excited and i think Matt Ryan is the wild card in this draft.  I do believe the ravens will draft Leodis Mckelvin of Troy.

-NBA Playoffs have been great.  Philly was a bit of a shocker in game one, but Detroit will bounce back and take that series.  I still believe the Mavs series and the Suns series will go 7 games.  The wizards, Rockets, Nuggets and Hawks have looked less than impressive.  If you are not watching…your missing out. Oh yeah Kobe’s performance was off the hook in game 2.

-Daniel Cabrera has been pitching well.  I feel like that troubled wife on the show cops, just waiting to be hit again.  Constantly flinching every-time her husband raises his hand.  I wont get my hopes up with D-Cab.  I don’t want to let my guard down just to be hit again.  Although you have to give credit  for these last few outings.  Keep it up.

- Shaun Alexander let go by the Seahawks.  Kind of shocking because he was the MVP of the league just 2 seasons ago.  There are talks of Chad Johnson, Jason Taylor, Lito Shepard, and Brian Urlacher trades.  The NFL is not just a “what have you done for me lately league?”  Its also “what are you worth to me now?” type of league.  Here are my thoughts.. Ocho Cinco and Over Rated LB - Please shut up and play.  Lito shepard wants to be paid, so his value isn’t what it should be. Lastly  J.T. can dance and sack the Q.B., but he is up there in age and his value isn’t what it should be.

- Lastly, Im wondering whats happening with some of the players in MLB.  AndrewJones is awful, he cant even hit my weight.  Ryan Howard still striking out and barely hitting over .200.  Poor Matt Cain has an ERA under 3.00 and he is 0-4. Giants = worst team in baseball.  Verlander and Sabathia started off horribly.  These players have killed fantasy teams.  Oh Giambi anyone, Andrew Jones just called and told me he stinks.

Ill be back tomorrow with my top 8 Mock Draft and my thoughts on the whole thing….