Sports Beat column - January 2, 2009

Sports Beat

January 2, 2009

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

Sunday the Ravens open their Super Bowl drive when they play the Dolphins in Miami and even though the Ravens are a three point favorite most so called ³experts² are calling for a Dolphin upset, however I am not I am calling for a Raven win by 10. Willis McGahee has come alive after being dissed most of the season by the very fickle Baltimorans and along with Le¹Ron ³the Train² McClain are providing the balance with the pin point passing of rookie QB sensation Joe Flacco. The Ravens defense is very good led by ³Raghead Ray² Lewis, ³Thug² Suggs, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata and Jim Leonhard. Tom Zbikowski is another Raven to watch. The Ravens beat Jacksonville this past Sunday, 27-7. Jim Zorn did a bad job as the Skins head coach and Wade Phillips should be given a bus ticket out of Dallas. Why Herm Edwards is still Chiefs coach is anybody¹s guess. It surprised me that the Patriots, Bills and Broncos didn¹t make the playoffs.

It surprised me that Flacco didn¹t get one vote for NFL Rookie of the Year. I think Mike Tice, Marty Shottenheimer and Jim Harbaugh would do well if selected to coach in the NFL.

TERPS WIN POTATO BOWL

Roady¹s the Truck Stop people backed what was called the ³Humanitarian Bowl² in Boise, Idaho (but many Maryland fans stayed home and called it the Potato Bowl). The Terps behind the standout play of Chris Turner and Da¹Rel Scott (who missed curfew with six other Terps and had to set out the first half). Scott ended up with 174 rushing on 14 carries and a pair of TD¹s.

Coach Ralph Friedgen was ready to send all seven home, but Terp AD Debbie Yow persuaded Friedgen to just keep six of them on the bench for a half. Without Scott the Terps might have lost but he got his 1,000 plus yards rushing season. The Terps won 42-35 before an announced crowd of 26,781 and the crowd looked much smaller than that.

HOKIES WIN, HOKIES WIN

Virginia Tech completely dominated Cincinnati and beat them 20-7 to win the Fedx Orange Bowl. Hats off to the Hokies, Frank Beamer and Billy Hite. Navy lost to Wake Forest in DC Eagle Bank Bowl. Bowl games don¹t create much attention these days unless you have an interest in the college playing. I watched a lot of bowl games over the holidays and a lot didn¹t draw flies. Maryland needs two good offensive tackles and a good place kicker before next season. Danny Edwards will be a good replacement for Edwin Williams at center and the Terps do need more speed and some more big defensive backs like Kenny Tate. Terry Bowden is the new football coach at North Alabama. Georgia Tech, Paul Johnson and his triple option got shut down by LSU, 38-3. USC led Penn State 31-7 at the half then let up in the second half and won by a final of 38-24. Rutgers beat NC State 29-23. The Pac Ten gets no respect but they do well in the Bowl games.

MEMORIES BIG SHOW IN 2009

Hello folks, this is a preliminary notice to inform you about the next concert in this area with The Memories. They will be appearing with Pookie Hudson's Spaniels of: (Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight) fame. This concert will occur on Sat. May 2nd of 09 at the Chesapeake Beach Md. American Legion hall. The Memories last concert there with The Clovers was a sell out and many people had to be turned away. Hope this early, early notice will help prevent that from happening in the May 09 concert. Information re: tickets and price will be forthcoming in Feb. 09. Hope to see you there.

BASEBALL NOTES

As I said the Orioles really never had a shot at getting Mark Teixeira and were about 40 million off from what the Yankees signed him for ( I wonder if J.G. Wentworth would consider putting up all the money accepting what the players are going to get down the line). The Orioles signed veteran pitcher Mark Hendrickson, his career record is 50-63 with a 5.07 ERA, he should fit in with the Orioles staff. Would Richie Sexton be a better fit for the Orioles than Kevin Millar was? Look for Brian Roberts to be traded to the Cubs. The Cubs traded Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for three minor leaguers. Brian Fuentes solves the Angels closer vacancy signing a two year deal with the team. Willy Taveras leaves the Rockies for the Reds. Aaron Miles leaves the Cards for the Cubs. How about the Nationals signing Daniel Cabrera? The Yankees signed another potential starter Chien-Ming Wang who was 8-2 with a 4.0 ERA for the Yankees in 15 starts in 2008 before being cut down by injuring a foot.

HOLIDAY HOPE A HIT
LOUIE'S HOLIDAY HOPE PROJECT HELPS FIVE FAMILIES

The Bowie Baysox and their mascot Louie were thrilled to help five local families through Louie's Holiday Hope Project this year. The Baysox partnered with Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department and the Bowie Police Department to reach out to three Bowie families, one family in Edgewater and a family in Southern Maryland. Mark Brady, chief spokesperson for the Prince George's County Fire/EMS department said the organization was happy to help out. "Fire Chief Sedgwick and all the men and women of Prince George's Fire/EMS Department were thrilled to participate in such a festive way to help local families in need this holiday season." The five families the Baysox helped through Louie's Holiday Hope Project were each nominated by other members of the community. Louie wanted to make the event as special as possible for each of the families, and went to deliver food and Christmas presents personally. In all, Louie was able to reach out to a total of 12 children through the 5 families in the program. Baysox Director of Marketing Brandan Kaiser was touched by the community's response to the program. ³It was great helping out five local families in need this holiday season. We received many responses from neighbors, families and individuals looking to help out others by nominating a specific family. The outpouring of support from the community to help others was amazing to see!" Loretta ResPass of Bowie was glad her family was nominated for the program. "I'm just elated. I'm so happy we were picked. That's special. We appreciate it very much this holiday season." Brenda Whiting of Edgewater has been overwhelmed by the support the community has given her family after they lost their home to a fire in November. "It is awesome that Louie was able to come to our home. We want to thank everyone. It's been the schools, all the neighbors, people that we don't even know. We want to thank them for the prayers, the donations, all the thoughts and the kind words. It's been incredible. We didn't expect any of it, it's been amazing."

Louie's Holiday Hope Project is in its second year. Last year the Baysox were able to help two local families through the program, and the organization looks forward to expanding the program in 2009. Louie and the Baysox would like to thank Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, Bowie Police Department and the City of Bowie for their help with Louie's Holiday Hope Project this year. The Bowie Baysox will enter their seventeenth season as the class AA Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009.

The Baysox will open the 2009 Eastern League season in Akron on Wednesday, April 8. The Baysox will hit the field at Prince George's Stadium for the first time on Thursday, April 16 when they take on the Akron Aeros at 7:05 p.m. Baysox ticket packages are available now by calling the Baysox at (301) 805-6000 or by logging on to www.baysox.com.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NOTES

The Maryland Women beat UNC-Ashville 90-57, then topped Mississippi State 80-73 to win the Terrapin Classic. The Maryland men beat Elon 76-50.

RESOLUTIONS FOR 2009

1-      I will not call John Pocket and Paul Weasel liars, even though they are.
2-      I will finally be able to walk.
3-      I will not call ³Downtown² Brown on his impersonation of a sports reporter or on his eating habits.
4-      I will eliminate my web site.
5-      I will stay within my budget.
6-      I will leave my TV show sometime in 2009.
7-      I will reduce everything (even my weight) and go into seclusion and finally finish my book.

SPORTS NOTES

Don¹t forget those great sweet potato pies from Henry¹s Soul Café, they are the greatest. I wonder where they are todayŠJanet and Vera May Hood, Bonnie Sorrells, Jack Lynch, Nancy McDonald Purvis, Hank ³Jumping Abe² Abraham, Cliff Hood, Linda Gerik, and Francis Moore?

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the following:
Ed Sutton (former Redskins running back who was one of the lollipop backfield along with Don Bossler and Jim Podoley. He was a doctor in Northern California and was a teammate with Anacostia great Dan Droze at North Carolina and the Quantico Marines). Thanks to Dan for the information. Stephen G. Posniak (graduate of Wilson (DC) HS where he was a member of the Cross Country and debate teams). Nick Lynch (great football coach at Suitland HS where his teams won two State Championships and two runner ups compiling a 117-33 record. He graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt HS and East Tennessee State. He lived in Brandwine and was killed in an auto accident at Branch Ave and Brandwine Road). Thanks to Rick Snider for the information. Vincent C. Burke, Jr. (graduate of Gonzaga (DC) College. Donald Adrian (1949 Anacostia (DC) HSW graduate). Thanks for Fred Plummer, Bill and Doris Garrett for the information though sad.

Bob Huggins and his West Virginia Men¹s basketball team is being led by soph John Flowers, 6¹7 who played his high school hoops at Thomas Stone then played his senior year at St. Mary¹s-Ryken. Earl Hawkins son is going to play football at Buffalo University for Turner Gill. Larry Gandee who won seven State basketball championships as coach of the boys basketball team Gwynn HS has returned to coaching, he¹s now coaching boys five and six in the Southern Maryland Youth Organization. Former Westlake football star Randy Starks now with the Miami Dolphins made a sizeable donation to Westlake¹s Athletic Department. Don¹t forget the bull riding event at Baltimore¹s 1st Mariner Arena on January 2 and 3. Had a lot of great phone calls over the holidays from Don Saccardi, Larry Gandee, Bevo Shore, Phil Kapneck, Rick Snider, and Delegate Dave Rudolph.

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, I have never in life been a Dolphin fan, but this story is just too much not to ignore. A 1-15 team last year. Now a month before the season opens they only have 2 rookie QB's and one over the hill. The Jets throw away Pennington for Farve and get rid of a very successful kicker to the Jets (Feeley) and keep a rookie kicker. The Dolphins unbelievable go 10-5 behind the first year leadership of Pennington and wind up in a game in NY for the division championship which now is history. Pennington has huge numbers and really can manage a game and should have been in the pro-bowl. After last year they have accomplished something nobody has ever done. However, I think it's come to a halt with that Baltimore defense. But loved today, as those transplanted Jet fans here are the most nauseous group of fans I've witnessed. Loved this game. John

Dear John, Great post, everyone seems to think the Dolphins are going to pull an upset. Bill

Bill, I enjoy your column. I played softball at the Fat Boys with Castleberry Autos. We had Ernie Sullivan, Mac Yoho and other Eastern High graduates. Also, I remember those C&P Parties. Cody Pearson made the Gazzett first team soccer selection and the second team All-Met. He is from DeMatha, a senior. Cody is the son of my favorite niece Leslie, Hite, Pearson, VT's Billy Hite sister and daughter of Bill Hite with whom you worked with C&P. Joe

Dear Joe, Thanks for the information, you and the Hites are great. Bill

Bill, This is a friend of a friend of mine from Florida, pretty touching. Barbi

Navy Petty Officer Mike Monsoor
PO2 (EOD2) (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow Seals. During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego , as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEAL's were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffi n arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to i t. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero. This should be front-page news instead of the crap we see every day. Since the media won't make this news, I choose to make it news by forwarding it onto you guys. I am damn proud of our military. If you are proud too, please pass this on. If not then rest assured that these fine men and women of our military will continue to serve and protect.

Bill, What did you think about Mike Shanhan getting fired? SOT

Dear SOT, I would have kept him. Bill

Bill, I need some help from McCaffrey Nation. I've given up one of my jobs and I am writing blogs attempting to make up the difference. My first column is at www.associatedcontent.com/article/1312337/inaugural_eaglebank_bowl_offers_rare.html

I get paid by the hit. I would appreciate it if you and several thousand McCaffreyatics would hit it a few times. Merry Christmas, Andy Arnold

Dear Friends and Family, My apologies if you are receiving this for a second time. There was a technical snafu with the first attempt, so I have to re-send it to everybody. I welcome you to my Polar Bear Plunge Headquarters! On January 10, I will again throw caution to the chilly winds and jump into the freezing waters of the Chesapeake Bay for the preeminent issue of our time the battle against global warming and climate change. My plunge into the Bay will benefit one of the premier environmental groups in our region the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN). With overwhelming support from so many, I did this for the first time last year -- and obviously lived to tell about. However, that was in early December. This year it will be in mid-January. So, in what may be my final act of desperation on behalf of Mother Earth (ha!), I will join a couple of hundred other crazy people on the icy shores of the Chesapeake Bay for the 2009 Polar Bear Plunge. The deal is the same as last year and again it doesn¹t require you to even step outside: I'll agree to get wet and freezing cold if you'll agree to sponsor me. By doing so, you will help CCAN fulfill its crucial mission of educating and mobilizing the public to take action to protect our planet and its sustainability. The suggested minimum donation is $20, but the more you can give the more CCAN can accomplish and make this icy Bay plunge that much more worthwhile. As a reminder, contributions are completely tax-deductible. CCAN has been central to almost every major initiative to combat global warming in our region since it was founded in 2002. You can read more about CCAN at www.chesapeakeclimate.org Thank you so much for your kind consideration and generous support! I am grateful. Very best wishes this holiday season and for the New Year ahead... Bill Bronrott Check out my fundraising page!

Best wishes for a healthy and Happy New Year!

SUPPORT SOUTHERN MD SPORTS!!