Every now and then it comes up in conversation – a conversation that is perhaps inspired by a cold weather city like Minneapolis hosting a Super Bowl.
Should Baltimore have built a retractable dome stadium?
Obviously, such a structure would have placed an additional burden on taxpayers, but in hindsight, did the Maryland Stadium Authority err during the planning process?
Purists will argue that they prefer the outdoor game and that football was meant to be played in the elements upon a grass field. But even they have to admit that the open-air stadium limits the possibilities of the real estate. Hosting conventions, basketball tournaments, year-around concerts – even a Super Bowl, all could have been within reach with a retractable dome.
And all of those things bring revenue that a stadium which hosts a dozen or so events annually, simply can’t touch.
STATE OF THE RAVENS
Still no scheduled date for the annual State of the Ravens press conference. The team’s brass did meet in Jupiter last Thursday at owner Steve Bisciotti’s home to map out their offseason plans, something that has historically been done AFTER the press conference.
At this point you have to wonder if the SOTR presser will ever happen in 2018.
Maybe John Harbaugh’s final press conference was supposed to be a substitute for the SOTR presser.
Maybe they know they’re going to be torched about the player protests and the subsequent backlash from fans delivered in the form of empty seats.
Maybe they just don’t have anything good to say that will lift the spirits of fans.
The Ravens had an opportunity to provide their customers with some hope had they hired Chuck Pagano as the team’s defensive coordinator and/or if they hired an offensive coordinator who can light up a scoreboard. But they didn’t and now the only thing the team can do to bring fans back is to make some offseason splashes.
But given the 16th pick in the draft and an undesirable cap position with just $7.3M in cap space, how will offseason splashes become a reality?
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#PleaseStand
The NFL has rejected an offer from AMVETS to place an ad in the Super Bowl program showing military men with the US flag with #PleaseStand printed at the very top of the ad.
The Associated Press reported that Commissioner Roger Goodell was sent a letter dated Monday from AMVETS national commander Marion Polk to express the Lanham, Maryland-based organization’s dismay with the league’s decision.
“Freedom of speech works both ways. We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought — and in many cases died — for,” Polk said in his letter to Goodell. “But imposing corporate censorship to deny that same right to those veterans who have secured it for us all is reprehensible and totally beyond the pale.”
And get this…
The same ad has appeared in All Star Game programs for the NHL and NBA.
The arrogance and cluelessness of the NFL and its highly overpaid empty suit of a commissioner is just mind-boggling.
Good luck bringing stadiums around the league to full capacity.
Until then to AMVETS, we’ll proudly display your ad…
DIE EAGLES DIE
When the Colts left Baltimore, I adopted the 49ers as my team. When the Niners visited DC, I would head down to old RFK and take in a game wearing a 49ers sweatshirt or ball cap. When they visited Philadelphia, a friend of mine would get tickets at The Vet and we’d take in the game together. But my Philly friend always warned, “Don’t wear any Niners gear.”
The behavior of Philly fans is well-documented. They’ve booed a motionless Michael Irvin, flat on his back upon The Vet’s concrete-like turf; hurled batteries at opposing forces; thrown snowballs at Santa Claus; the list goes on.
Philadelphia embraces its rogue fans. They laugh at them and in a strange way they are proud of their homegrown idiots. And on Sunday during the NFC Championship Game the idiocy was on full display.
Before the game Eagles fans showered visiting Vikings fans with full beer cans, bottles and obscenities. See for yourself below.
What’s it like to be a #Vikings fan inside the #Eagles tailgate? *Sound up* I followed a few fans in purple. @kare11 pic.twitter.com/GkK9viGyRR
— Ryan Shaver (@RShaverSports) January 21, 2018
They then took to the streets to celebrate like deplorable miscreants.
Millie Wall, a soon-to-be 100-year-old Vikings fan, was honored by the team for her lifelong support through the thick and thin of the franchise. Millie was given tickets to the Divisional Playoff game against the Saints and she will be a guest of the Vikings for Super Bowl 52, right there in her hometown.
It’s the kind of story that there isn’t enough of in our world. Here are a few video clips of the sweet senior citizen:
Millie is spry, feisty and throws a foam brick at her TV when the Vikings mess up. How could you not love her?
Well Eagles’ fans have an answer.
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
Here are the Eagles fans walking around South Philly taking shots at a 99 yr old grandma pic.twitter.com/j14vBF03oJ
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) January 22, 2018
The Eagles fan base is insufferable.
So too is that of the Patriots.
But a 6th championship for Tawmy Boy might not be such a big deal to them. I doubt that Patriots fans will burn the city or that Boston’s finest will have to put Crisco on utility poles and traffic signals to keep fans from climbing them like hooligans.
I doubt that they’d say F*** Millie if they were playing the Vikings.
A 6th Patriots title will strip away bragging rights from Steelers fans who regularly flash their six digits as if helps them win any NFL-related debate.
Add it up, and at the end of the day I’m rooting for the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.
Remember This?
P.S. I’m a tad bit early with this inaugural Chicken Box Friday because I’ll be attending the wedding of Nick Cloyd and Chelsea Wise in Jamaica. Congrats to the lovely couple!
