Say what you want about Brian Billick, but notice how the man can still stir emotions even two months after he was fired as Ravens head coach. We had Billick in studio for a three hour radio show, then I sat with him for a TV interview that aired that same night. He shared his perspective on his December 31st firing, and the reaction to his words was strong- both good and bad.

The haters who hadn’t heard Billick speak in so long were quickly reminded of his perceived arrogance. Billick is so available and open, he makes himself an easy target and he stands tall while he’s cursed by fans and media alike. But, he hurts, too. That pain is clear in his reluctance to talk to the Baltimore Sun because he feels the newspaper was personal in its attacks on him while he coached. The disdain for Billick is fascinating. Since he’s a bit smug (and he admits he is), fans and media are quick to direct their anger and hatred at him. I believe that element was at play with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti in his hasty decision to fire Billick. The owner called it a gut decision and that sounds a lot like he pulled the trigger out of growing spite for Billick (a poison that had spread to some players, too).

A further observation about the negative energy directed at Billick: it’s human nature to find a target to unload ones disappointment and pain. The fans wanted someone to pay for a 5-and-11 season, regardless of the number of injuries to key players that were mostly responsible for the record. Someone has to pay, and it’s usually the coach. The cries and screams grow and the media picks up on it. Columnists and talk show hosts fan the flames and an unreasonable swell builds until the owner can no longer justify keeping the guy around. It’s fascinating in its run-away nature. It becomes a therapeutic civic exercise to unload on the coach, because it brings relief. I’m fascinated by the lemming principle at play, and yes, media types become lemmings in the process, too.

There was plenty of positive feeling for Billick, too. In the two months since his firing he’s become a sympathetic figure in some ways. He was always fair to this players, and open and honest with the media (as honest as ANY coach can be in the cloak-and-dagger, paranoid NFL). Two months after his swift, unexpected firing there’s almost (but not quite) some sense of compassion for the guy. If nothing else, a lot of people were just happy to hear his voice because it reminded them of good times, and gave them a chance to say “thanks.”

The NFL is a game of emotion, good and bad. And to that end, Billick delivered…and still does.

I consider myself an even-tempered person, but one sure element to get my blood boiling is the unruly sports parent. I recently read one of those awful “little league parents gone wild” stories. This one took place at a girls fifth grade basketball game in Oregon. A 34-year old coach was ejected by a 17-year old referee. The coach caused a scene, and with parents of the opposing teams squaring off in an on-court confrontation- the girls ran off crying. That scene sickens me, and there are similar reports of crazed adults embarrassing themselves with violent outbursts at little league ballparks and on pee wee football fields across America.

I do not have children, but I do have nieces and nephews and they play youth sports. I played sports as a kid, and chances are you did, too. Unruly sports parents aren’t new to society. We can probably recall that element around our games when we were kids. It scared me then, it angers me now. What seems different now from the time I was a kid is that more parents today are obsessed with their kids being recognized as “select” or “advanced” for elite teams or traveling squads- with thoughts of prep school placement and eventual college scholarships pinned on kids who aren’t even 10 years old yet. You hear those over-zealous parents say “but he/she LOVES sports,” or “it’s great for their physical and psychological development,” etc. What does a kid really want when they’re eight years old? Do they really want parents to push them to be “elite”? That’s good for “development”?

To this point in my life, I’ve chosen not to have children, so I’m not in a position to tell people how to raise their young. I do feel, though, that I have the sensibility to discern what is reasonable. Youth sports are great for kids, so long as they are allowed to be kids. They can learn team work and discipline, along with the lessons of winning and losing. Let ‘em play, and if you’re one of those unruly, overbearing sorts (and I hope you have the sense to identify and restrain yourself before you get pulled off a little league field by a policeman) stay away.

Someone once shared with me their observation that runners don’t look happy. When you see a jogger out for a long training run along the side of a road, they tend to have a pained, tortured look- appearing miserable, like they may be wishing they were doing anything but running. As a runner myself, that observation struck me first as an insult. But upon reflection, I can buy it. The key to the observation, though, is that it’s an “appearance” of pain, when in truth there is great joy to the runner lost in the euphoria of exercise (that’s usually the case for me, anyway). I love to run- no matter how I may look.I bring that up in light of the observation that Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams looks like an angry, miserable maniac during games- flailing and shouting, screaming instructions, clenching and pumping his fists, sweating profusely. He’s angst-ridden and on the brink of a breakdown, it’s often stated. Just like with the runner, with Gary looks are deceiving.I visited with Gary Williams after a recent Terps game in College Park (a victory over North Carolina State). He was an absolute dervish during the game, in his classic frenetic form on the sidelines. But you have to know: Gary loves what he does, and what you see as angst is his love of basketball and his care that his players play the game correctly. He said that to me with a stern, serious look. When most people speak of love or joy, they crack a smile or get that far-away look in their eyes. Not Gary. His demeanor in post-game discussion further exhibited his intensity, his intense love and care for his job and his players.Does he ever smile? He certainly does (I’ve seen it with my own eyes). Williams laughs with his players at practice (once the work is done, of course). He chides them with playful jibes in the locker room after a victory. He smiled when I greeted him following the game (we hadn’t spoken face-to-face in awhile). And Gary smiled when he saw one of his in-coming recruits after the game. Gary loves young people and you could see the genuine care he had for the high school senior that will be one of his students on the court later this year. Yes, Gary loves what he does…it just doesn’t always show on the sidelines.

I appreciate the passionate fan, but I have issue with the mean-spirited, unreasonable zealot. In this case, I speak of the rabid fringe of Oriole Nation that was so quick to blame Peter Angelos for the delays in the Erik Bedard trade to Seattle. Angelos has a history of involving himself in the work of his general managers and has a reputation around Major League Baseball of being meddlesome. He hired Andy McPhail as team president with the promise that McPhail would be given the power to do his job. McPhail was doing his job when delays came up in the Bedard trade, and the outcry of criticism from fans (and media) directed at Angelos was harsh and loud. No one produced a shred of evidence that suggested the delays had anything to do with Angelos, but the outcry took on a life of its own and reached a fever pitch fueled further by columnists and talk show hosts who declared the deal a disaster, get this- even if it was completed! Ponder that for a moment: normally sane journalists declared the deal a disaster even if it was completed. How ridiculous is that?

Angelos is damned by his past, that much is understood. But let’s allow the McPhail era a chance to breathe. I’m not suggesting that McPhail and Angelos will skip arm-in-arm in leading the Orioles back to baseball nirvana. No, I’m just suggesting we let these situations play out before unleashing harsh, unreasonable, uninformed and unfair judgments. Could situations arise in which McPhail feels stymied by the owner? Sure. Has that happened yet? No, not if you ask McPhail, which I’ve done numerous times. McPhail has traded Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard for 10 prospects. He’s handed out record salaries to draft picks, established a new Orioles development plan in the Dominican Republic, set up a scouting system for the Pacific Rim, and outfitted the organization with new computer and video resources- and done so all with the blessing of Angelos.

You don’t have to like Angelos if you don’t want to, but at least be fair in your opinions of the man. Andy McPhail has made some significant moves and to this point, the owner hasn’t stood in his way.

You’ve read my warnings about curbing your enthusiasm when it comes to crushing coaches (and managers). Let me offer some interesting tidbits.

New York Post- December 4, 2006: “The Giants need a new face, and they need a new voice. If they ever listened to (coach Tom) Coughlin at all, they have stopped even pretending that they do any more.” (Post columnist Mike Vaccaro)

Footballoutsiders.com- February 16, 2007: “…if the Giants are truly dedicated to improving their 8-8 record, they should fire Coughlin and hire (Marty) Schottenheimer to take his place. Coughlin has the Giants headed in the wrong direction. (writer Michael David Smith)

Newark Star Ledger- December 24, 2006: “Coughlin should be the next one out the door when the season ends….” (writer Steve Politi)

New York Times- January 7, 2007: “Fire Coughlin…NOW!!!” (posted by “tommy c” at NYTIMES.com)

These are just samples of informed and/or inflamed opinion that were published in print or on the internet regarding New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin. About a year after those passages were printed, Coughlin held the Lombardi Trophy as the Giants celebrated an upset championship run that included a defeat of the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Need I say more? Instead, let me give the last word to Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. Read this quote from Strahan following two lopsided defeats to start the 2007 season. The Giants were 0-2 in the season that they eventually won the championship. Strahan is quoted in the New York Daily News on September 17, 2007: “The key thing is don’t panic. You can’t feel like it’s all lost.”

Thanks, Michael. Enough said.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley joined us in-studio for my radio show and got right to his point about the need for truth coming from him and the organization. The 2008 team is not a contending team and should make no pretense about it. The O’s are in a serious re-build that could take any number of years to complete, meaning it could be any number of years before one should even utter “Orioles” and ‘playoffs” in the same sentence. Trembley looked me in the eye and with a stern voice said he won’t sugar coat the truth, won’t hide from the reality and won’t snow the people because “Baltimore deserves the truth.” Exhale, O’s fans. I could feel a deep sigh of appreciation collectively breathed out. O’s fans have been gritting their teeth with frustration for years while hearing empty promises from the Warehouse. Fans want to know there’s a plan and a direction, a commitment to the plan, and the right people to carry it out. If owner Peter Angelos gives Andy MacPhail full authority to endeavor a re-build, and Dave Trembley is up-front as the man on the field willing to work with youngsters, then I believe Baltimore will at the very least embrace a renewed sense of direction. No one likes losing (which the O’s have now done for a full decade), but a clear-cut plan to end the losing is palpable to a public whose patience has long worn thin. The truth: what a simple yet effective concept.

So much for the “setback” of Jason Garrett turning down the Ravens. Following the NFL injury theme of “next man up,” the Ravens spend no time dwelling on rejection and turn to Jim Harbaugh who’s hired as the new head coach. Harbaugh’s not only happy to have the job, he basically told the Ravens to give him the job. Ravens vice-president Kevin Byrne was part of the interview process and in the room when Harbaugh told the hiring panel (after two days and 15 hours of discussions) that they should hire him. Byrne tells me that team owner Steve Bisciotti (who was mostly convinced that Harbaugh was the pick) took Harbaugh up on the offer- and a deal was done. Bisciotti himself is a renowned risk-taker with the confidence to trust his gut, and Harbaugh’s hard sell to him fit right in with what the owner is looking for in a new coach.

The press conference to introduce the new coach was like many I’ve covered for any number of teams in different sports. I liken that event to a wedding: it’s all smiles, hugs, handshakes and photographs amidst renewed hope and a fresh start. The guests at the wedding all nod and smile, it’s the respectful thing to do, but when the event ends, and the confetti and rice are swept up- the hard work and tough questions begin. How good is this hire really? What difference can this guy make with an aging and sometimes selfish roster of players? What direction is the franchise headed? What if they struggle early under the new coach- how will the fans react? Ah, yes- marital bliss.

My opinion is that John Harbaugh is a solid, risk-free hire. He comes in with a fresh, take command attitude which Baltimore will appreciate. Given the state of the roster (which I believe will have to change significantly in the next few months), Harbaugh can’t lose. Remember, the Ravens fired Brian Billick after a 5-and-11 season, so Harbaugh’s inheriting a clunker (an injured one at that). Is he expected to go 11-and-5 with the same guys? Of course not. Too early to say what the roster will eventually look like, but at the moment it’s reasonable to say that 8-and-8 might be just fine (again, too early to say, but I said it). If they’re worse than that, then Harbaugh gets the leeway of being a new coach with a rebuilding team. If they’re better than that, it’s all gravy for the Ravens. Again, nothing to lose for the first couple years with Harbaugh.

Jason Garrett would rather be an assistant coach in Dallas than head coach of the Ravens. He turned down the Ravens offer for their top job in what amounts to a slap in the face to Baltimore, at least that’s how some are taking it.

I have to call “time out” on the criticism of Garrett. Sure it hurts to be spurned, Baltimore, but handle the situation with some dignity (I say this to those radio talk show callers and message board posters who are ripping into Garrett). As a fast-rising head coaching candidate, Garrett is lauded for his intelligence and maturity. Well, he intelligently and maturely prepared himself for multiple job interviews and took time to be circumspect and careful in assessing his options and making a decision that he deemed best for himself, his family and his career. Being highly sought, Garrett was likewise pursued by his present employer and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones anted up and to make his offensive coordinator the highest paid assistant in the NFL. So Garrett remains in a city in which he and his family are more comfortable, with a franchise he is familiar, making more money and on track to become the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. So, where did he go wrong in that equation?

Hey, no one likes to lose. The Ravens lose out on the guy they wanted to be their coach. Have faith that the Ravens decision makers will regroup and bring in a good coach to take over the team. And, for dignity’s sake, forego the childish sniping at Jason Garrett. He merely lived up to his credentials of being intelligent and mature.

If a 5-and-11 record and the painful firing of a longtime coach weren’t enough humble pie for the Ravens, they seem to have been served another slice in their quest to replace Brian Billick. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says his team has the talent to be a Super Bowl contender and that their job vacancy would be at the top of any prospective candidate’s list. Yet, Jason Garrett walked into the Castle on One Winning Drive, and walked out without agreeing to be the Ravens new head coach. Now, Garrett isn’t a 20-year veteran like Marty Schottenheimer or a Super Bowl winner like Bill Cowher. Jason Garrett has a total of three years of experience as an NFL assistant, yet he’s not so blown away by Baltimore as to take the job. (Garrett would not discuss anything in depth nor answer questions in a brief meeting with reporters Tuesday evening).

Bisciotti is a billionaire and a known winner at the negotiating table. I wasn’t in the room for the seven-hour interview with Garrett, but I have to believe the owner went into that meeting (along with Dick Cass and Ozzie Newsome) intent on getting Garrett’s name on a contract. But the kid walked, and boarded a plane to Atlanta to listen to the Falcons. Maybe it’s just part of the process of eventually getting Garrett to sign, or maybe this is a slap in the face, and the next step toward a Ravens defeat.

My thought is not to pile on the Ravens for what appears to be a public embarrassment. But it’s noteworthy to point out that a proud organization that’s been known to puff out its chest (and had earned the right to do so), is getting a taste of life as an NFL “commoner”- maybe not as special a franchise as once perceived to be.

But just like a lousy 5-and-11 record, an apparent rejection (and maybe just one for the moment) can be a shot of reality toward recovery. It’s an on-going process, I know. I’m interested to see how the Ravens negotiate the upcoming twists and turns. Seems this latest twist was unexpected.

It’s a fitting finish to a bad year for Baltimore sports. The Ravens fire Brian Billick on New Year’s Eve: out with the old, in with the new, right?

The Billick dismissal seems a perfect capper to a 2007 year that also included the firing of Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo in that team’s 10th straight losing season. The Ravens’ 5-and-11 campaign is no doubt the most disappointing year in their 12 year existence, and it included a team record 9-game losing streak.

It was an awful year, but for Billick- what a way to go out! He gets $15 million to walk away from a team that included a sub-culture of disgruntled players who no longer responded to his leadership. While players griped and complained behind his back, Billick bit his lip and kept coaching…and kept his eye on that golden parachute he knew he could cling to when he was pushed off the airplane amidst a growing mutiny. The coach protected his players publicly, never calling them out for their inadequacies (or complaining about roster inadequacies). But that’s the way it works at the highest level of sports: the lone leader is the one to go, not the players.

A similar scenario played out at Camden Yards this year. In the O’s case it was sub-standard talent that managed to play even below the most modest of expectations, and the lone leader was left hanging by the players. Out with Sam, in with Dave Trembley and with the same players, guess what happened? They still lost a lot.

So, as Billick is given a bundle to go away, how much better can the Ravens be with the same cast of players? They need a new coach, renewed health, increased roster depth and balance, and a healthy dose of humility before they can expect to be better. But what do I know? I’m the one who espouses that it’s players who make the biggest difference, not coaches (or managers).

Happy New Year, Brian. You deserve it.