Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman is worried that Lamar Jackson might talk too loud.

He’s worried that players and coaches from other teams—either watching live or on television replays—will clearly hear what signals the quarterback is yelling out at the line of scrimmage and find a pattern about what play follows, or which direction Jackson runs.

Think of how clear Peyton Manning’s famous “Omaha” call was on national television a few years back. Now put that situation in a mostly empty, cavernous football stadium. (Manning, the future Hall of Fame quarterback, revealed once he retired that the Nebraska city was an “indicator” word to his lineman that he’d changed a play, and gone to “Plan B”.)

Sensitive microphones can easily pick up language from players, coaches, or the sound of a sneeze, especially with no fans in the stands, which will be the case for at least the start of this Ravens season. It’s scheduled to begin next Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns.

“That’s one of the first things we started talking about,” Roman, the guy who picks the plays that Jackson calls in the huddle and the line of scrimmage, said this week, “how the communication is going to be a lot more evident, based on the fact that it’s not going to be nearly as loud. We’ll definitely mix some things up as we go.” He often holds his hand or play sheet over his goateed mouth so opponents can’t read his lips. A mask might do the job now.

(On a related note, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the other day, “Don’t they put that lip-sync thing out every year?” referring to the series of hilarious “Bad Lip Reading” videos that have linked nonsensical phrases to the movement of coaches’ mouths, “It’s going to kill that industry.”)

In the grand scheme of this most unusual and chaotic year, sign-stealing and code-breaking probably doesn’t rank high on the list of most people’s daily concerns.

As we work from home with kids hanging from our legs, and others struggle with the challenges of not working at all, we’re simply happy to even be talking and writing about sports, and that games are happening.

(And so are others, evidently. As we were researching something for this article, we noticed a Browns fan must have done some recent editing to M&T Bank Stadium’s Wikipedia page, labeling the Ravens stadium as “aka Baker Mayfield’s house” in the first line and picture caption. Can someone please change that?)

Football will be played, but like most everything else this year, it will be different. Because of the pandemic and government regulations, the Ravens home stadium—aside from the players on the field, coaches on the sidelines, and other team staff—will be empty on game days. Same goes for most road games, depending on the state and if policies change.

Fans know that the Ravens have a provocative in-stadium message during big points of a game. “Every decibel counts,” with a fake sound meter encouraging more. But the noise will literally be manually controlled this year. “It’s always great to have our fans there. They’re always energized,” linebacker Tyus Bowser said recently. “It’s going to be a different vibe.”

In fact, the NFL is reportedly requiring teams to play fake crowd noise to create some semblance of atmosphere (as well as background noise for entertainment and competitive reasons, like Roman said). And stadium staff will be allowed to play loud music until there’s 15 seconds left on the play clock.

In this new work-at-home (stadium) life, everyone who isn’t a player will be required to wear a mask on the sideline or anywhere else. Media interviews, typically done in person in or near the locker rooms, will be held over videoconference, like they have been the last month since training camp began in Owings Mills. Players will continue to be tested for COVID-19 every day. (They’re the most tested people in the country, it seems.) Reporters and team staff will spread out in the press box and capacity will be limited.

And, most notably, the Ravens recently said that cardboard cutouts of paying fans will sit in the purple seats at M&T Bank Stadium, which for the previous 22 years have been occupied by real humans. It’s a trend that other pro sports teams, from South Korean baseball organizations to the NBA bubble in Florida, have tried this year. If you ask us, it’s a brilliant idea.

For $45 if you’re a personal seat license (PSL) holder, or $55 if you’re not, your image can be one of the flat likenesses in the crowd on Sundays, and you can maybe catch the paper version of yourself in the stands while watching on TV. The team will tell you in which section of the stadium you should look. All proceeds from the cutout sales will benefit the Ravens’ COVID-19 relief efforts in the Baltimore area, and you can find more details about how to order yours here.

“Unfortunately, we can’t have fans at the game for the time being, so we wanted to give an opportunity for fans to feel like they were still there,” Deandra Duggans, the Ravens director of advertising and branding, said on the morning news the other day while showing a few examples of what the cutouts could look like.

Twenty-six of the NFL’s 32 teams have announced fanless plans, much like the Orioles have done this year. From a competitive standpoint, for the Ravens, it’s really a shame, given that Super Bowl hopes are very legitimate with Jackson, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, entering the prime years of his career. There should be plenty to cheer for. Originally, the team had plans to have 14,000 people in their roughly 71,000-person capacity stadium. Then the Ravens sent a revised proposal to the city and state with a cap of 7,500 fans at games, but that was shot down last week.

“That’s a bummer,” new Ravens defensive lineman Derek Wolfe said the day the decision was announced. “I’m more bummed out for the fans themselves, because they’re not going to get to [go]. Who knows? Maybe a couple of games in we might be able to start letting some fans in. Maybe by the end of the season, going to the playoffs, we’ve got a full packed stadium.”

We’re not going to blame anyone for being cautious, even with the idea of a crowd 10 percent of a normal one. So, dealing with the current reality, the Ravens have practiced at least three times in the last two weeks in an empty home stadium to get a sense of what the season will look and sound like.

On Wednesday, they practiced in the afternoon to mimic what the light will look like—mainly for Jackson and the wide receivers when they catch and throw, and for kick and punt returners when they look into the sky—during their 1 p.m. season opener against the Browns.

With no preseason games this August, the team ran through substitution patterns and game situations all with ambient noise blaring. After the first stadium practice, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, “It was louder than I thought it was going to be. [It was] probably similar to what you have in the stadium when the crowd is there at a normal level.”

That’s good news for his fourth-year assistant Roman, and Jackson, and anyone else who doesn’t want to worry about other teams hearing what they’re saying.

“It’s different,” Roman said, “but once that ball gets placed and the whistle blows, it’s football. And we have to get ready to play some good football.”

Football season is here, and—potential injuries aside—we’re excited for everyone involved. The home opener against the Cardinals this Sunday marks the official start of a new era, of sorts, for the team.

Most notably, there’s a fresh face of the franchise. You’ve likely seen him on the purple-and-black Ravens-branded “Never Less” billboards, wearing jersey number 8. We’ll start this “What to Watch For” season preview with him.

Lamar Jackson and the Debut of the Ravens’ Revamped Offense

We don’t know exactly what it will look like, but we know it will be different. For the first time in a decade, someone other than Joe Flacco begins the season as the Ravens starting quarterback. The team has put its full faith in the 22-year-old Jackson, who went 7-2 as a starter on the fly as a rookie. The Ravens have reimagined their offense around the talents of the 2018 first-round draft pick and former Heisman Trophy winner, employing a healthy mix of running and passing from the freakishly fast QB. But will the plan work?

We saw glimpses last season and this preseason of what the new era could possibly look like—a few can-you-believe-that plays per game, both good and bad—but those games don’t really count. We’ll start to see the full potential, more of the playbook, and if the offseason work Jackson put in to improve his throwing makes a difference, starting Sunday.

“I just can’t wait to put on a show,” Jackson, the affable 22-year-old, said this week. He tends to do that.

This highlight reminds us of the big point you need to know about Jackson’s approach to playing quarterback: “If I am not passing, if I do decide to run, I am trying to score a touchdown or get a first down,” he said this preseason. “I am not trying to get two yards and get tackled. That’s not how I play. That’s not why I’m here.”

Enjoy the Fancy New Things at M&T Bank Stadium

There are now escalators–16 of them!–to the upper deck, as well as a field-level party suite and a self-serve and self-checkout beer market. And more high-definition video boards and fresh LED stadium lighting that the gameday staff can turn on and off as if they were parents waking up their sleepy kid for school. And new food options featuring a healthy amount of crab dip, like a Chesapeake Hot Dog. (Mmmm, repeat: All hot dogs should be Chesapeake Hot Dogs).

The amenities represent the completion of a three-year, $120 million renovation to M&T Bank Stadium aimed at attracting fans to watch games at the Ravens’ home venue in lieu of sitting on their couches or casually paying attention on their smartphones. To which we say, right on. Humans are meant to enjoy the outdoors and be around other people. Go have some fun.

Six Players To Talk About With the Big Football Fan at Your Tailgate

A lot of unfamiliar names fill the Ravens’ 53-man roster, the most notable being running back Mark Ingram and safety Earl Thomas (who signed a $55 million contract to come play here). When it comes to new additions, that’s the bare minimum you should know. Here are few more players to talk about if you find yourself in a football conversation with a well-versed fan:

Marquise Brown, wide receiver

Anyone who embraces the nickname “Hollywood” and wears a diamond chain of his own likeness will receive attention. The rookie from Oklahoma, a first-round pick, grew up in Hollywood, Florida, and he’s also got, forgive the pun, leading man skills. A 5-foot-9, 170-pounder who can run with the ball or go a long way to catch it in a small amount of time. “He’s electric,” sums up Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.

Marlon Humphrey, cornerback

The trendy thing for media members to say right now is that, “Marlon Humphrey could be one of the top five cornerbacks in the league this year.” If true, that would be a big bonus for an also rebuilt Ravens defense. But even Humphrey, the third-year pro out of the University of Alabama who has arms for days to swat away opposing QB’s passes, doesn’t know if he’s worthy of great expectations. “It’s just hype,” he said. “There’s not really substance behind it.” Okay then.

Cyrus Jones, cornerback and punt returner

Gilman, represent! Jones, who attended and played at the Baltimore private school from 2008-2011, is now the Ravens’ top punt returner, special teams coach Chris Horton confirmed this week. He might return kickoffs, too. It’s comforting to have a homegrown guy on the team. Off the field, he enjoys rapping in his spare time.

Trace McSorley, backup quarterback

The rookie put together a series of quality performances this preseason (16-for-24 for 203 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles, 15-for-27 for 171 yards against the Redskins). I watched McSorley play in many games at my alma mater Penn State, and he was critical to the team’s success the last four years. “The kid is a winner,” has been said many times by many commentators, and it’s true.

McSorley led Briar Woods (Va.) High to three state championships and a 55-5 record in four years. And he won a program-best 31 games as QB at Penn State. It didn’t surprise me that he proved his wares this preseason when given the chance after Robert Griffin III was injured. If McSorley is called on to fill in for say, Jackson after he refuses to slide to protect himself and gets injured, the Ravens will lose some speed at the position, but they’ll be in good hands. McSorley is also a run-pass option.

Patrick Ricard, fullback and defensive tackle

The big guy (300 pounds) plays both offense and defense. It’s one thing to do that in high school, or even college, but it’s almost unheard of in professional football. That’s why people call him “Project Pat,” which doubles as a title for one of his off-the-field passions: Reviewing local restaurants.

Justice Hill, running back (and a fantasy football sleeper!)

For those looking to have a Raven or two on their fantasy football roster, we suggest rookie running back Justice Hill. Aside from having a perfect name for a television drama (for its title or a character, really), the 5-foot-10, 200-pound jitterbug, who played in college at Oklahoma State, impressed coaches and teammates immediately this preseason with his speed and power. Expect him play a good amount off the bench. “I think he’s the complete package,” says Ingram, the guy who will start at running back, “and I think he’s going to have a great career.”

Save the Date for These Must-Watch Games

About one big game every few weeks. That’s convenient.

Week 3: Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m.
A date a Super Bowl favorite and the only team to beat the Jackson-led Ravens in the regular season last year.

Week 5: Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.
The Rivalry: Part 51. The Steelers have won four of the last six meetings. Boo.

Week 9: New England Patriots at Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:20 p.m.
Tom Brady. Bill Belichick. Fun. This is the scheduled Sunday night nationally-televised game of the week.

Week 12: Ravens at Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Nov. 25, 8:15 p.m.
A trip to play the defending NFC champions on Monday Night Football.

Week 17: Steelers at Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 29, 1 p.m.
A regular season-ending home game against the Steelers. What else could you ask for? Maybe temperatures at least above freezing, and a shot at the playoffs.

Harbs Says…

There are few head coaches in the NFL with more longevity than our dear John Harbaugh, now entering his 12th season on the job. Only the Patriots’ Belichick, the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, and the New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton have longer tenures with their teams.

We’re fortunate to have Harbaugh under contract in Baltimore through 2022, and to be treated to congenial and worthwhile NFL-required media availabilities all season long. The guy appreciates storytelling perhaps as much as he does a proper tackle.

Harbaugh, who often draws inspiration from the military, quoted a former Secretary of Defense in response to one question this week. “[It’s like the] Donald Rumsfeld quote from a few years back: You have to know what the unknowables are, and you can’t worry about them too much,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen on Sunday. We don’t know how certain things are going to look or how guys are going to respond. We might have confidence. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it. But that’s the beauty of it. That’s what’s exciting. That’s the drama.”

The Realistic Expectations for This Season

Let’s end with the nitty-gritty. How will the 2019 season turn out? Here’s one fan’s opinion: The defense will be above average, and the offense will be good, but probably experience growing pains and might even look overmatched against stronger opponents like the Patriots or Rams. But it should be clear by midseason what potential a Lamar Jackson-led offense has long term. Meanwhile, of course Justin Tucker will be great.

With a difficult schedule and so many new players on both sides of the ball (linebacker Matt Judon will now be the face of the defense), a 9-win, 7-loss season with a chance at a playoff appearance feels reasonable. But no one should start calling for owner Steve Bisciotti to fire Harbaugh or DeCosta even if the team finishes 8-8 or a little worse. It’ll still happen, though.

Well, it all comes down to this.

As wild a regular season as they come—complete with a changing of the guard at quarterback, a frisky head coach on the hot seat, and a turnaround from a three-game losing streak to a playoff run—comes to an end on Sunday, when the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns.

It’s the biggest game at M&T Bank Stadium since, um, this time last year when the Ravens also had a chance to make the playoffs. And while pockets of empty seats were visible that day and on many days this season, players are hoping for a packed stadium Sunday, with so much riding on the game’s result.

The idea, of course, is for the Ravens to keep playing in the playoffs, something they haven’t done in three years. With a win, they will. With a loss, things can get crazy and the Ravens could miss the playoffs altogether. With that, here are five things to know before you watch Sunday’s game.

Win and in. Lose and who knows.
There are 96 different possible playoff scenarios (yes, 96!) in play for the Ravens, including being ranked as a high as No. 2 in the AFC, getting a bye and hosting a playoff game, to sitting at home and watching the playoffs next week like you and me.

The simple one is if the Ravens win they play again, but there’s also one where the Steelers win the division instead, and keep the Ravens out of the postseason. This video about it all would make John Urschel proud.

This could be Joe Flacco’s last home game as a Raven.
With a loss, or even a win in a less-than-ideal scenario, this might be the last time to see Joe Flacco in a purple No. 5 jersey, even if it’s merely on the sideline or for a ceremonial goodbye towards the end of the game. Unless of course the Ravens think he’s worth $23 million per year to be a backup QB, or they renegotiate his contract this offseason. Otherwise, odds are Flacco plays elsewhere next season, like . . . the Redskins.

What’s the deal with Hot Seat Harbaugh?
In the middle of the season, head coach John Harbaugh was reportedly on his way out of town. (And we wrote about enjoying the testy public tone of Hot Seat Harbaugh around this time.) But then Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback, and the Ravens’ fortunes turned around. That brought us to last Friday, when the Ravens released a one-sentence statement at 7 p.m., the night before their game against the Chargers, saying that the team will work with Harbaugh to negotiate a new contract, which expires after 2019. It’s the type of end-of-week media release usually sent when someone is getting fired, not supported.

“I think it’s a non-story,” Harbaugh said this week. “We’re just trying to win football games. We’ve kept it simple, kept it about football. Everybody is on a one-year deal. You’re on a one-week deal, as far as I’m concerned, in this league, players and coaches.”

Reading between the lines, this all looks like negotiating tactics. The Ravens either want Harbaugh back, or least want it to look like they do, and want to work out a new contract with the coach before he heads into a lame-duck year next year. The question is, does Harbaugh want to do the same thing? Not many NFL head coaches survive big-time quarterback changes but to his credit, Harbaugh has fully embraced the change from Flacco to Jackson, so he’s in a great position to do whatever he wants to do.

Moral of the story: Oftentimes everyone is always looking for the “next thing,” the next coach, or the next QB, without enjoying the present. This is a week to enjoy the present.

With a win, Eric Weddle is buying us all “Victory Breakfast.”
Speaking of contracts, Eric Weddle’s is pretty great. With a playoff appearance, combined with a Pro Bowl selection, which the veteran safety has already earned, Weddle will get an extra $1 million sent to his bank account.

That’s more than enough to buy a few “Victory Breakfasts,” as he’s enjoyed the last few weeks. Extra Reese’s, please.

Anything is better than last year.
In case you forgot what happened last New Year’s Eve . . .

One of the best things about tailgating is there is no wait for that next beer. Now Ravens fans can avoid lines inside the stadium, too—thanks to a new fleet of BeerCycles that Aramark is debuting at M&T Bank Stadium this season.

Lovingly dubbed “Tour de Taps,” the three wheeled bikes will offer Anheuser-Busch products out of two draft lines and be able to carry up to three half-kegs at a time.

With mobile pay options, the bikes will each be operated by one staff member and be strategically stationed at popular fan areas around the stadium. The whole idea is to speed up lines and transaction times so that fans spend more time actually enjoying the time, according to Aramark.

Nine other teams in the NFL will have BeerCycles at their stadiums—including the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texas, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bears, and Minnesota Vikings. But the Ravens bikes will be adorned with purple and gold paint.

“We believe this is the first time BeerCycles have been deployed inside a sports venue,” Aramark spokesman David Freireich told the Baltimore Business Journal. “The introduction of the BeerCycles is keeping in line with our effort to create more portable stations that can go where the fans are.”

The jury is still out on whether or not the trikes will be able to transport fans out of the stadium after they’ve had one too many beers.

This highlight is the primary takeaway from the Ravens’ second preseason game last night:

That’s rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, dipping and dodging his way into the end zone in the first quarter of his M&T Bank Stadium debut.

“I thought he was tackled twice—and he wasn’t,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the shifty Jackson, who won the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner as college football’s top player. “You always appreciate that when he’s on your team.”

Even Joe Flacco was impressed, laughing when asked about the play in his post-game press conference: “He obviously got a lot of reactions for it, and he should.”

But before we get too far ahead and anoint the 21-year-old Jackson as Baltimore’s next great sports icon, let’s mention this plainly: Flacco, as oft-maligned as a Super Bowl-winner can be, is still the Ravens’ starting quarterback.

If evidence were needed, the one series Flacco played to start the game, before he took the night off, was a touchdown pass to fullback and converted defensive lineman Patrick Ricard.

“That’s really all we needed from Joe,” Harbaugh said. “That was enough.”

And so, as is customary in the NFL’s preseason, the spotlight shined on unseasoned players and potential future stars, such as a backup quarterback like Jackson, for much of the rest of the Ravens’ 33-7 win over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, who didn’t even play their starters, so don’t make too much of the score.

That’s not to say Jackson’s ankle-breaking nine-yard touchdown run, or his 119 passing yards and 21 rushing yards over much of the first half and including the first drive of the third quarter, were not important. They were. They showed exactly why the Ravens drafted him at the end of the first round of April’s rookie draft, even after the team signed free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III to a contract in the offseason.

“He does seem poised for a rookie,” Harbaugh said of Jackson, who decided to leave the University of Louisville after his junior year. “Even on the sideline, he may not know everything [and make a mistake], but he comes off the field and knows exactly what he did. He’s going to continue to blossom.”

Jackson might be the Ravens’ future quarterback, but, somehow, he’s already leading the team out of the tunnel when they run on the field. He did it during last week’s Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears, in which he threw his first touchdown pass. “I’m trying to score every drive,” Jackson said last night, by the way—and he was the first one out on the field again Thursday night in his Baltimore debut, though he needed some directions to the sideline.

“I was kind of lost,” Jackson told a small group of reporters in the locker room after the game as Flacco left to hold his larger press-conference in the team’s media room. “I don’t want to go out there and mess up everything with our routine. I was asking the vets, ‘Where do I go when we go out of this tunnel?’ It was pretty cool, though.”

So long as he finds his way to the end zone, like he did last night, Jackson can keep asking questions. We’ll see how it goes from here.

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Torrey Smith out of the University of Maryland in the second round in 2011, winning a Super Bowl title in 2012 with the help of eight touchdowns from the standout receiver during the regular season.

Smith added two more touchdowns in the thrilling overtime playoff win over the Denver Broncos that year, but the moment the city embraced Smith came earlier in his second year in Baltimore.

In the early morning hours before a Week 3, Sunday night match-up at M&T Bank Stadium with the New England Patriots, Smith learned his younger brother had died in a motorcycle accident. Obviously distraught, Smith visited with his family in Virginia and then decided to return to Baltimore and play to honor of his brother, catching two touchdowns in a game-winning effort and receiving the game ball for his performance. 

“They [my family] didn’t know I was going to play until the last minute. I texted my Mom when I got to the stadium,” an emotional Smith said afterward during the post-game press conference. “She was excited about it. She said, ‘Of course he would want you to play.’ He admired me so much, which is what makes it so tough.”

Smith, of course, left the Ravens after the 2014 season, but never forgot the city where he got his professional start—even after winning a second Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles this season. In 2016, he was named a nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his work centered in Baltimore while playing for the San Francisco Giants.

For the seventh straight year, Smith announced last wee that he will be hosting the Torrey Smith Family Fund Charity Basketball Game in Baltimore this offseason. The event, which will include current and former Ravens, is scheduled for March 17 at the Royal Farms Arena. 

The Torrey Smith Family Fund supports local after-school and teen mentoring programs as well as the Tevin Jones $5,000 college scholarship named after his younger brother. By the way, for some fun, check Smith’s Twitter feed. His 3-year-old son T.J.’s recent interview on the NFL Network is the best post-game Super Bowl interview to date.

(One more thing, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Smith and his wife Chanel Williams got married in Baltimore, making the cover of our sister pub, Baltimore Bride.)

If Ravens shutout Browns, they’ll break a 72-year-old NFL record.
Not to get greedy, but after watching the way the Ravens defense performed in week one in Cincinnati, we are more confident than ever going against the Cleveland Browns at home. And it turns out, if this Sunday’s game is another shutout, the Ravens will break a 72-year-old NFL record. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the last team to shutout its opponents during the first two games of the season was, ironically, the Cleveland Rams in 1945. If this all seems a little pie-in-the-sky, consider a few facts:

1. The game is at M&T Bank Stadium and the Ravens defense has allowed the NFL’s fewest points at home since John Harbaugh became coach in 2008.
2. DeShone Kizer, the Browns rookie quarterback, is making his first career debut. Godspeed, DeShone.
3. The Ravens held the Bengals scoreless on 12 drives last week, forcing a turnover every time Cincinnati got inside Baltimore’s 10-yard line
4. During the offseason, Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson himself called the Ravens defense “legendary.”

But the cornerstone of the defense, Terrell Suggs, who deflected a key pass last Sunday, says his strategy is to go into this week fresh. “As far as we are concerned, last week didn’t happen,” he told ESPN. “We are taking it as our first game, and of course, it is our first home game. It is our home opener. You kind of have to have a short memory. Because this is the NFL; your fate can change in a week. We are acting like last week was just a dream.”

Bizarre giveaway at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday.
Speaking of the Ravens, this has to be one of the weirdest giveaways we’ve ever seen at a local sports game. Biotech firm Orig3n will be giving all fans that enter M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday free DNA test kits. Fans who opt to participate can learn about their genetic makeup in four different genes, but they first have to swab the inside of their cheek, drop the sample into a stadium bin, and register with the company online. Among the findings, fans will be able to discover if they are “generally predisposed” to have difficulty metabolizing Vitamin D.

While we personally think this is odd and invasive on many levels (though clever marketing for Boston-based Orig3n), the Ravens are calling it “one of the most innovative events a partner has ever spearheaded.” If you say so.

Maryland football off to impressive start.
When rumors swirled that Maryland was joining the Big 10, a lot of fans feared that our state football team wouldn’t be able to hold its own. A lot of those worries have been dissuaded so far this season, starting with a 51-41 Maryland win against the longhorns in Austin. In true Terp style, the victory didn’t come withouts  hiccups, including quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome (not even the planned starter) tearing his ACL.Thankfully, true freshman and big recruit Kasim Hill saved the day—earning 57 yards and punching in a three-yard run to put the Terrapins up by 10 with just over seven minutes left in the game.

Though Towson University football isn’t quite on the same level as UT, last week’s 63-17 victory over the Tigers was pretty amazing. (Sorry to our buddies on Osler Drive.) One of the key takeaways is just how impressive the Terps running game is. Against Towson, Maryland rushed for 367 yards and six touchdowns—and running backs averaged 10.2 yards-per-carry. Look for backs Ty Johnson, Lorenzo Harrison III, and Jake Funk to continue to excel—as well as wide receiver D.J. Moore to capitalize on Hill’s success as QB.

Cal Ripken Jr. will not be commentator during baseball playoffs. 
After some, ahem, lackluster reception, Turner Sports confirmed that Cal Ripken Jr. will not be returning to TBS’ Major League Baseball playoff broadcasts. Ripken started working with TBS in 2007 as a studio analyst, transition to game broadcasts in 2012, where he’s worked every post-season since. 

Despite his tenure, Ripken never seemed quite comfortable in the role. The Sun‘s TV critic David Zurawick wrote, “Ripken was sometimes silent for stretches of time, even after Ernie Johnson, TBS’ smooth play-by-play announcer, tried to tee it up for his analysis. Compared to MASN’s Jim Palmer, who is 15 years older, Ripken seemed somewhere between somnolent and comatose in this playoff series during the first two games.” For his part, Ripken acknowledged the learning curve, saying to Awful Announcing in 2016: “I get five or six, I think, of the Sunday games on TBS. So you kind of get back into the position. And over time there is an accumulation of your comfort level, but I could benefit by doing more reps where you could feel like it becomes second nature to you.”

Though it’s not his strongest suit, we will miss the familiar voice of Carl, I mean, Cal during the MLB playoffs.

We love Ravens Ronnie Stanley. And we love Lola.
Ravens linebacker Ronnie Stanley has made it no secret that he’s an animal lover. But there’s something about this recent Petco commercial that is particularly adorable. 

Baltimore is one step closer to hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Back in April, when executive director for Maryland Sports Terry Hasseltine heard that the United States had entered a tri-country bid with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup, he knew that Baltimore needed to be included—so he placed a bid to host at M&T Bank Stadium.

“We obviously want to make sure that M&T Bank Stadium and the city of Baltimore are considered a part of that portfolio,” Hasseltine told Baltimore in April. “We had such a great response when we put in a bid for 2022 [FIFA World Cup], we did it again.”

In a list released on August 15 by the United Bid Committee of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Baltimore was listed as a potential candidate to host and will have until September 5 to declare interest. Final bids will be due January 2018 pending declaration requests.

Ravens are undefeated in the pre-season.

Okay, we know it’s only two games…and it’s only pre-season but we looked good in Thursday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. 

Taking the game early, Baltimore ended the game with a final score of 31-7.

The Ravens defense controlled the tempo of the game, holding Miami to just one touchdown. Third string QB Josh Woodrum showed his chops with 2 touchdowns and some quick running. 

Speaking of the Ravens. . .
There are rumors that the former Ravens center Jeremy Zuttah may be headed back to Baltimore. The 2016 Pro-Bowler was traded to San Francisco in March. However, by August, the 49ers released him putting the big guy in a tough spot.

Considering the injuries on the offensive line and the familiarity of Zuttah, it would be a kismet reunion for both sides if he came back to Baltimore. According to The Sun, the 31-year old offensive lineman and the Ravens are close to a deal. But they better act fast because word on the street is that the Indianapolis Colts are in need of a big guy to protect QB Andrew Luck.

Under Armour’s Kevin Plank parts ways with Trump.
In a statement on Monday, August 14, Under Armour’s CEO Kevin Plank announced that he would be stepping down from President Donald J. Trump’s American Manufacturing Council after the president was openly criticized for not responding quickly to the events in Charlottesville.

“We remain resolute in our potential and ability to improve American manufacturing,” Plank said in a statement. “However, Under Armour engages in innovation and sports, not politics.”

Plank joined the 28-member panel back in January to help the White House promote job growth because he believed that “it was important for Under Armour to have an active seat at the table” representing the sports industry.  After announcing the company’s departure from the group, others on the board followed suit causing the president to disband the panel.

O’s outfielder Anthony Santander set to hit the field in today’s game.
The injury-prone outfielder was unable to play in 2016 due to a right shoulder surgery and was unable to throw during spring training because of a forearm injury. While on the disabled list for 60 days, the Venezuelan has hit .382/.453/.745 in 16 minor league rehab games. To make space for Santander on the roster, the Orioles have optioned outfielder Joey Rickard to triple-A in Norfolk. 

Despite shade from D.C., Orioles win series against Nats.

We’re a pretty positive bunch here at Baltimore magazine. It takes a lot to ruffle our feathers. But when people start talking smack about our city, we want to snap a bat over our leg Chris Davis style.

Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported that 106.7 The Fan, the flagship radio station of the Nationals, was airing a 45-second promo spot with some aggressive shade thrown Baltimore’s way:

This week two of the hottest teams in baseball meet in the Beltway Series. First, the Nats travel to Baltimore to face Manny Machado and the Orioles. Side note: Natty Boh is brewed in Georgia, and 50 percent of crabs served in Maryland are actually from Japan. Then, Baltimore brings its massive inferiority complex to D.C., a city with more jobs, a lower crime rate and a better baseball team. Hear it all on your flagship home of the Washington Nationals, Sports Radio 106.7 The Fan.

First of all, the harsh tone seems odd for a radio ad, especially for two teams in different leagues and who have had a fairly friendly relationship since the Nats sauntered down form Canada in 2005. Were they feeling left out of all of the Orioles-Red Sox press?

Secondly, we agree about Natty Boh. It’s not a local beer. But don’t act like that is all we drink here in Baltimore. Just like D.C., we have an awesome and ever-growing craft beer scene with a ton of (actually) local beer options in Camden Yards. Also, that crab stat is just totally bogus. If you can read, it’s extremely easy to find domestic crab options in season. We at the magazine happen to do it every July.

Then things take a really ugly turn when they bring up our alleged “massive inferiority complex” (an ironic mid-rant jab), crime rate, and job market. Talk about low blows.

But then it all comes to a head in the ad’s concluding point when they just flat out state an alternative fact—looks like the White House is rubbing off. Better baseball team? The Orioles have a 2017 record of 22-12 (a 66.7 winning percentage) while the Nats have a record 22-11 (64.7). What’s more, the O’s have won the season series going back six years now and have a 19-8 record during that span—thanks in part to the two out of three that Baltimore took from D.C. in this week’s abbreviated series.

So, yeah, you may have Wieters, but your insult game is weak.

Plus, Metallica likes us!
Legendary metal band Metallica kicked off its World Wired tour at M&T Bank Stadium on Wednesday night and, from all accounts, it seemed like an awesome show. Before they headed out of town, though, they put together a nice tourism package for the city of Baltimore. We’ll take it!

Horses begin to arrive at Preakness.
Though Metallica’s video heavily focused on our sports teams and stadiums, they didn’t happen to mention another Baltimore bragging right. We host the middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, and preparations for the 142nd Preakness Stakes are well underway.

Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming arrived at Pimlico Race Course on Thursday morning and took an early 6 a.m. gallop. “It was kind of what we were looking for—a tranquil, quiet setting,” trainer Todd Pletcher told The Sun. “Also, I don’t have much else to do. I can’t sleep, so we’ve got to get going.” 

Pletcher has had a storied horse-racing career, but Preakness is the only Triple Crown leg he hasn’t yet won. He admits he’s going into the May 20 race more hopeful than ever. “Our confidence level was probably the highest it has ever been in any single horse we brought to it,” he said. “I think just by his physical makeup, he’s a horse that can continue to get better than he already is.”

Ray Lewis’ son transferring to Maryland.
Utah State wide receiver Rayshad Lewis, who happens to have a fairly famous Baltimore dad, announced on Monday that he is transferring to Maryland.

“I just felt at home and very comfortable with the coaching staff, the offense, and how I would fit in,” Lewis told the Orlando Sentinel. In his freshman year at Utah State, he earned 40 receptions and two touchdowns for 476 yards, and should only add to the already talented Terps football team. Due to NCAA rules, Lewis will sit out the 2017 season, play in 2018, and have three years of eligibility.

Though Lewis is a Florida native, there’s obviously a hometown familiarity with his dad, Ray, spending 17 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and his brother, Keon Lattimore, playing for the Maryland in the mid-2000s.

Melvin Mora becomes a U.S. citizen.

On Wednesday, along with 59 other new Americans, longtime Orioles infielder Melvin Mora became a U.S. citizen. Originally from Venezuela, Mora played for the O’s for nine years and still holds the team’s single-season highest batting average (.340). But becoming a U.S. citizen with his wife, Gisel, in front of their six children (including five quintuplets!) was a lifelong dream. 

“This is the time to do it. It’s the right time,” Mora said, according to Press Box. “I was busy with the season. I should have done it a long time ago. My kids were always fighting with me to try and do it.”

Mora became emotional when three of his children led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance and credited his children with helping him study for the citizenship test.

“I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ I’ve been playing in front of all those fans, and now I’m shaking,” he said. “This is something different.”

In the last few years, Baltimore has hosted sporting events ranging from Division I U.S. Wheelchair Fencing to the Grand Prix to the always-popular Army-Navy Football game. But, have you ever wondered how we get so lucky?

Turns out, the man we have to thank is Terry Hasseltine, executive director for Maryland Sports, whose team searches for events that will boost the local economy.

“Intercollegiate women’s lacrosse and men’s lacrosse meet here on a regular basis,” he says. “That creates a great profile. Parents come into town spending money in our food and beverage scene and staying in our hotels.”

But as Baltimore’s skyline expands and gets written up in the national media, Hasseltine sees a great opportunity to go after a wider range of sports. When he heard about the tri-country bid with the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he knew that Baltimore would be a perfect host.

“We obviously want to make sure that M&T Bank Stadium and the city of Baltimore are considered a part of that portfolio,” he said. “We had such a great response when we put in a bid for 2022 [FIFA World Cup], we did it again.”

In 2016 alone, Maryland hosted more than 300 sporting events—primarily amateur sports, youth soccer, and lacrosse tournaments—generating $176.6 million in direct spending on the state’s economy.  

“There are studies performed that show exactly how these large sporting events affect the projected tax revenue for the greater Baltimore region,” says Zach Jones, director of market research for the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore. “The jobs that are spun from the events are a bonus as well.”

To bring that money into Maryland, Hasseltine says that bidding process can take on many forms: some require a simple question-and-answer session, and others involve a more detailed explanation for a why a city should be chosen.

“I like those,” he says. “You get to tell your own story.”

Usually, Hasseltine describes Baltimore’s story as a “diverse market” that is invested in their sports teams with a buzzing social scene and says he is careful to never directly debase the city’s competitors. “Crafty word-smithing” as Hasseltine puts it, is highlighting all of the city’s amenities that the competitor lacks. “We never say names,” he said. “We finesse it.”

On the flipside, he says that Baltimore’s centrally located geography can sometimes be a hindrance when attracting these big-market events.

“The resources in the companies you can penetrate in your market are not the same scale as some of the other major markets like Philadelphia and Washington D.C.,” he explains. “So now you’re knocking on the same doors for professional, colleges, and secondary sports.”

In an effort to solve this problem, Senate bill 1148 and House bill 1619 were enacted in order to create affiliated partnerships with large companies. When a bid is placed, the city has five to six years between the bid and the actual event. This allows more flexibility to acquire the funds while spreading them over a longer period of time.

After submitting 12 bids to the NCAA, Baltimore were awarded five: Women’s D-I Lacrosse National Championships in 2019, 2020, and 2022 at The Johns Hopkins University and 2021 at Towson University. The city will also host the 2020 NCAA Women’s D-III Lacrosse National Championships at Hopkins, as well.

Currently, Maryland Sports is in the process of bidding for M&T Bank Stadium to host the Army-Navy games for 2018-2022 with a decision announced in the next several months. But they are also setting their sights on one other big-ticket item.

“We are in discussion right now with the NFL, maybe taking the Inner Harbor and transforming it for the purposes of the draft,” he said. “We have our eyes peeled on opportunities that will better the city of Baltimore and state of Maryland as whole.”

Ravens announce $120 million renovations to M&T Bank Stadium.
So, here we are thinking that HD is the best quality picture. But, the Ravens are way ahead of us as they plan to install super-fancy 4K ultra high-def video displays as a part of a three-year, $120 million improvement plan for M&T Bank Stadium. The displays, which will double the width of the stadium’s current screens, are just one of many upgrades—including adding escalators and elevators to the 500 level, new suites in the stadium’s upper bowl, a brand new kitchen, and improved concession stands, restrooms, and bar/lounge areas.

“You’re trying to get people to leave their home and come here and enjoy the stadium experience,” Ravens president Dick Cass said at a press conference. “And we have to keep improving the stadium experience because it is a constant battle, and we have to keep fighting to win it.”

Surprise guest joins Ray Lewis on stage for Lip Sync Battle.
For years, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis came out of the tunnel ferociously dancing to Nelly’s “Hot in Here.” Well last night on Spike TV’s Lip Sync Battle, Lewis gave us his most memorable performance to date.

London calling.
It’s only a seven-hour direct flight.

The NFL formally announced this week that the Ravens will be one of eight NFL teams to play a game in London next year. Overseas games are big business for the league, which has staged 17 games in the United Kingdom since 2007, most in front at least 83,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, where soccer is typically played.

Joe Flacco and friends will be there either Sept. 24 or Oct. 1, 2017 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whatever happens, hopefully no one makes like Paul Rudd in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and leaves a bad impression across the pond.

As for this year, after losing to the Patriots on Monday night and releasing veteran returner Devin Hester, the Ravens can still make the playoffs. They just need to win their last three regular-season games (vs. Philadelphia on Sunday, at Pittsburgh on Christmas Day and at Cincinnati on New Year’s Day), or even lose one and get some help from other teams losing. That would avoid a dubious first: missing the playoffs in two straight years for the first time in coach John Harbaugh’s nine seasons.

Get your tea and crumpets ready, #RavensFlock.

Next season, we will play a road game vs. Jacksonville at London’s Wembley Stadium. pic.twitter.com/SqYDeaWk7L
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 13, 2016

Pugh, Trump meet at Army-Navy game.
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh met face-to-(hair?) with President-elect Donald Trump in the bowels of M&T Bank Stadium last Saturday at the 117th Army-Navy football game.

Pugh shared details of the brief exchange with reporters on Wednesday at City Hall. She greeted Trump as he got out of his car and she hand-delivered a letter that details what she hopes are common interests: improving parts of the city’s infrastructure.

Pugh offered Baltimore as “the perfect place to target” federal money for the type of upgrades Trump has touted he will make happen during his presidency. The meat of the letter focused on transportation around a redeveloped Port Covington and a proposed expansion of the Howard Street rail tunnel, upgrading aging water and sewer systems—please, not another sinkhole!—and strengthening citywide internet capabilities.

In typical lightning-rod fashion, when he arrived inside the home of the Ravens during the first quarter, Trump drew some cheers while protesters outside voiced their opinions and officials boosted security for the visit. On air with CBS television during the game, which Army won 21-17 to snap Navy’s 14-game win streak in the series, Trump said of the play on the field: “I don’t know if it’s necessarily the best football—but it’s very good—but, boy, do they have spirit.”

So there’s that. But at least sports brought a Democrat and a Republican together for a few minutes, and gave the city an audience.

With @realDonaldTrump in Baltimore I delivered a letter noting importance of our infrastructure needs & need for investment of federal funds pic.twitter.com/61OsajKvtQ
— Catherine Pugh (@MayorPugh50) December 10, 2016

O’s, kids have fun at holiday party.
The Oriole Bird slipped into his Santa suit and hat—where does he get these things?—and joined Orioles players Chris Davis, Darren O’Day, Caleb Joseph and Tyler Wilson, and 80 outpatients from the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, at the team’s 38th annual charity holiday party on Tuesday.

The kids and adults (well, baseball players are really kids, too) hit the arcade games and shared lunch at Dave & Buster’s at Arundel Mills Mall. Chicken nuggets, pizza and fries were on the menu. Davis even poured a few drinks at the bar: punch and lemonade. And he later joked about how fun it was to get “dominated in games by kids that are half your age.”

Davis and his wife, Jill, a former nurse who worked in a children’s hospital in Texas, have partnered this year with UMCH and they will serve as an ambassadors for the hospital. The Davis’ plan to raise awareness of the hospital’s programs (last year it cared for 40,000 children) and childhood illnesses, in addition to donations that Baltimore’s $161 million dollar man and spouse have already made to the hospital’s NICU unit.

A holiday cheers to that. Now, Santa Bird, we love you and your outfit, but how about that starting pitcher or two we’ve been waiting on the last few years?

At the beginning of summer, Don Follett found himself thinking a lot about Beyoncé. The superstar was coming to M&T Bank Stadium, and as head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Ravens, Follett had just overseen replacement of its 13-year-old turf with natural grass. The singer’s Formation Tour would be marching right across his brand new lawn.

The stadium started with a grass field when it opened in 1998, but wear, tear, and lack of sun on the home-team sideline made it difficult to maintain. The Ravens eventually followed the modern trend and switched to artificial turf, but by the end of this past season, it became clear that the players and coaches wanted to go back to a natural approach. “Grass just has that something,” says Follett. “It feels better, and plays better. Real football is played on real grass.”

But the change means more than just a pretty 120 yards. Some studies suggest that grass might lead to fewer lower-body injuries and even concussions, a top complaint about the sport. “The players are excited,” Follett says. “At the Pro Bowl, Marshal Yanda gave me a big hug and said, ‘Dude, you’re my hero. You’re going to prolong my career.’”

In February, the old turf was torn up, and come Aug. 11, Joe Flacco will walk onto fresh Bermuda grass, kept health and green by grow lights. “It epitomizes what Baltimore is all about,” said coach John Harbaugh in December. “To me, a Baltimore football team should be playing on a grass field.”

The Avett Brothers
June 3-4. Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave. 8:30 p.m. $38-55. 410-783-4189. With the warm sun on your face and cool breeze in your hair, there’s no better way to settle into summer than with a little live music on the Inner Harbor. The Avett Brothers are a perfect band for the season, with their Southern folk rock as pure and American as a cold beer in hand on a hot June night. Dig on fan favorites like “I and Love and You” and “Head Full of Doubt,” as well as new songs like “Ain’t No Man” from their brand-new album, True Sadness.—LW

Design for Mobile Living
June 1-Nov. 27. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive. Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 443-573-1700. Step into the art and culture of Eastern Africa’s nomadic societies. In this exploratory exhibition, admire jewelry, accessories, and gear from the 19th and 20th centuries, and discover the ways in which artwork can be lightweight, functional, portable, and adorned.

Taste of Three Cities
June 4. Patterson Park, 2806 Eastern Ave. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $16.74-69.24. 410-276-3676. Calling all foodies. Once again, Patterson Park will transform into a food-truck playground with the region’s top 40 four-wheelers offering culinary indulgences that range from lobster rolls and barbecue to grilled cheese and cupcakes. Spend your summer Saturday touring their treats, voting for your favorites, cooling off with wine and beer, and listening to live music. Proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers food to people in need, and the (RED) Campaign, whose global efforts are fighting to end AIDS.

Hairspray: In Concert
June 3-5. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 3 & 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $43-109. 410-783-8000. We have Diner, we have Avalon, we have parts of Sleepless in Seattle, but few films are more iconic for Charm City than John Waters’s Hairspray. Back by popular demand, the famous musical will take over the Meyerhoff stage for the first time since 2013. Relive the favorites in this semistaged concert production, featuring Waters himself as narrator alongside members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Beyoncé
June 10. M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St. 7:30 p.m. $45-305. 410-261-7283. Beyoncé is the queen bee of pop culture, with five platinum records, 20 Grammys, and her own HBO documentary, plus flawless fashion, kickass choreography, and once-in-a-lifetime concert tours. (Not to mention her much talked about marriage to hip-hop royalty, Jay Z.) Over the years, she has brought us such seminal smash-hits as “Say My Name,” “Drunk in Love,” and “Single Ladies,” and this past winter she released her first new single in three years, “Formation,” which instantly skyrocketed to the top of the charts. It also sparked BeyHive hysteria for her latest album, Lemonade, which set the internet on fire when it suddenly dropped this spring. For one Friday night, see what all the buzz is about as the living legend brings down the house on our very own Ravens turf.—LW

Tour Dem Parks, Hon!
June 12. Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $20-48. For one Sunday in June, put your rubber to the road as hundreds of bicyclists take a trip through Baltimore’s beloved parks. Whether you opt for a difficult trek or family-friendly cruise, you can swing through the likes of Druid Hill, Clifton, and Patternson parks, followed by a picnic lunch, live music, and lovable rescue puppies, all to benefit Baltimore’s beautiful outdoor spaces.

HonFest
June 11-12. The Avenue in Hampden, 36th Street. Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 12-6 p.m. Free. Get your hairspray, boas, and high heels ready for the 23rd annual HonFest. At this weekend-long festival in Hampden, honor the historic working women of Bawlmer in true eclectic Charm City fashion. Join thousands of attendees for three stages of live music, plus food, crafts, and, of course, a contest for the Best Hon.

Baltimore Wine Fest
June 18. Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-7 p.m. Free-$85. 410-409-7123. For the second time, Canton’s waterfront will turn into a vino lover’s paradise with more than 100 wines from all over the world, gourmet local eats, and live music. Grab a glass, sip some samples, then stumble home.

Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival
June 25. Rash Field, 201 Key Hwy. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $29-89. 410-396-7931. As Marylanders, we all know there is nothing better than a June afternoon with a bushel of crabs. Now in its third year, this annual tradition has upped the ante, becoming the largest crab feast in Baltimore with more than 22,000 people, 30,000 crabs, and 50 beers, plus wines, spirits, live music, and arts and crafts. With enough brown picnic-table paper to stretch across the harbor and back, this festival is ready to dig in, rain or shine.

For more info on what’s allowed at M&T Bank Stadium, visit baltimoreravens.com/gameday/fan-guide.html.

Artscape
July 17-19. Mt. Royal Ave. & Cathedral St. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. artscape.org. For the 34th year, America’s largest free arts festival returns to Station North for three days of all-art everything. From its iconic art cars and outdoor sculptures to big-name concerts and boundless creativity, dive into this year’s water theme with more than 150 artists, designers, and craftsmen, plus art exhibits and performing arts.

Idina Menzel
July 8. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. 8 p.m. $50.25-122.75. 410-837-7400. france-merrickpac.com. Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel is off Broadway and headed to the historic Hippodrome stage for a one-night performance from her new world tour. The Glee, Frozen, Rent, and Wicked superstar will show off her powerful pipes with beloved hits like “Let It Go” and “For Good.”

Bill Maher
July 11. Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. 8 p.m. $45-85. 410-900-1150. lyricoperahouse.com. Bill Maher might not be for everyone, but the political satirist, cultural critic, and host of HBO’s Real Time has made his mark over the last 30-plus years with an honest, unapologetic sense of humor, garnering some 23 Emmy nominations. This month, see him at the Lyric as he goes back to his roots with a night of standup comedy.

Baltimore Pride
July 25-26. Saturday: Charles & Eager Sts. 3-10 p.m. Sunday: Druid Hill Park, 2600 Madison Ave. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 410-777-8145. baltimorepride.org. Celebrate the LGBTQ community with the 40th annual Baltimore Pride, the largest event of its kind in the state of Maryland. The two-day festivities start with a Mt. Vernon block party and parade on Saturday, followed by a festival at Druid Hill Park on Sunday, with performers, competitions, vendors, and fun for all.

Billy Joel
July 25. M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St. 8 p.m. $49.50-124.50. 410-261-7283. baltimoreravens.com. This summer, the Piano Man is leaving New York to get in a Bmore state of mind. Catch the rock-and-roll legend at Ravens stadium as he performs from his epic collection of greatest hits.

[Image credits from top: Flickr Creative Commons; Robin Wong; David Becker; Shutterstock; Myrna Suarez.]

It’s not the oldest rivalry in college football, nor does it decide the winner of a top conference. It doesn’t have a colorful nickname like “The Iron Bowl” or feature players headed to the NFL immediately afterward. Army-Navy isn’t a lot of things that big-time college football has become, which helps make it what it is: the best rivalry in all of American sports. And this year it’s coming to Baltimore. From the pre-game pageantry, when the immaculately uniformed corps of cadets and brigade of midshipmen march onto the field in tight formation, to the post-game moments, when both teams stand at attention, sweating and shivering together during the playing of each school’s alma mater—the 70,000-plus at M&T Bank Stadium and millions more watching on TV around the globe will be treated to a spectacle unlike any other.

“It’s about recognizing those who have served, and those who are about to serve,” says Maryland Sports executive director Terry Hasseltine, who helped bring the game here. “If you are a sports fan, this is one that has to be on your bucket list.”

But peel away the pomp and circumstance and, at its core, Army-Navy (never Navy-Army) is a competitive football game. For the seniors, all but the rare exception, it’s their last. Military service, not the glamour and riches of professional football, await them when the clock hits zero.

“It was so bittersweet,” Mount Airy native and former Midshipmen receiver Billy Hubbard says of his last collegiate football game, Navy’s 30-28 victory in 2000. “I remember walking into the locker room and taking off my shoulder pads thinking, ‘I will never do that again.’ Everybody knows you’re not going to play sports forever, but you all know you’re going onto the battlefield together.”

Those words have grave meaning. Since 2001, five Navy football players and 95 U.S. Military Academy graduates have been killed in combat. They’re why, when the whistle blows, players offer a fallen opponent a hand up, why unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are unheard of, why on the second Saturday in December this game stands alone.

And why Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, who won the Heisman Trophy at Navy in 1963, once said, “This is not a regular game, and everyone involved knows it.”

Army and Navy first squared off on the gridiron in 1890 at “The Plain” in West Point, NY. Navy won that game 24-0, while Army took the rematch 32-16 the next year in Annapolis. The rivalry, which has been unusually streaky over the years—Navy holds a 58-49-7 overall advantage based on its current 12-game winning streak—was on.

It first came to Baltimore in 1924, when Army won 12-0 at Municipal Stadium, as Memorial Stadium was once called. In 1944 it returned, this time, under the cloud of war. Undefeated Army entered the game ranked No. 1 in the country. Navy was No. 2.

“It was the biggest game of World War II,” says Randy Roberts, author of A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game That Rallied a Nation. “Here is a time when Army was never more present in the thinking of America. We’re talking about the time between D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. You have a football team that represents West Point and by extension the army rolling through its schedule kind of like Patton’s tanks through France.”

Historically (and still) staged in Philadelphia, the Army-Navy games were almost canceled during the war, according to Roberts, a Purdue University history professor. With travel restrictions for military personnel, the series moved onto the schools’ respective campuses for the 1942 and 1943 games, but those venues ultimately proved inadequate. By 1944, “these were the best two teams in the nation, so considerable pressure was brought on the government to change the venue [to a larger stadium],” Roberts says. Since the game was supposed to be played in Annapolis, it went to Baltimore.

“As a plebe . . . you’re always having to yell, ‘Go Navy, beat Army!’” 

Army, which had legends Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, known respectively as “Mr. Inside” and “Mr. Outside” because of their tandem running prowesses, won 23-7. The teams remained relevant nationally through the ’50s and into the ’60s before the changing nature of collegiate athletics pushed them to the fringe of big-time NCAA football.

Still, the game remains critically important to the academies—the entire brigade of midshipmen and corps of cadets attend—their alums, and for three hours on a usually frigid afternoon, to fans of the purest version of college football.

“The Army-Navy game is the culmination of the entire first semester,” says Christopher Barker, a 2000 Naval Academy grad. He didn’t play football, but the Davidsonville resident tailgates before most home games. “As a plebe [a freshman], in particular, that’s what’s drilled into you from day one. As you’re squaring your corners [walking in the hallways], you’re always having to yell, ‘Go Navy, beat Army!’”

Barker recalls attending his first game as a plebe at the old Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. “Pouring rain, it was miserable, it was cold. We ended up losing, and it was such a morale hit,” he says. “Guys were crying because they thought, ‘Man, this was important.’ It’s a rite of passage.”

Then a senior at Linganore High School, Mount Airy’s Hubbard was also at the Vet that day, on a recruiting visit. His father had played sprint football (172-pound weight limit) at Navy, and his uncle played lacrosse at the academy. Four years later, after breaking into the starting Navy lineup as a senior, he played his final game a short drive east on I-70 from his childhood home.

“I kind of sensed when we played that neutral-site game in Baltimore that the fans were more for Navy,” he says. “I felt like it was our home turf. I had one catch in that game. There was a third and long, and I ended up catching a pass, but we didn’t get the first down. It was a meaningless play, but it felt like the most important play of my life.”

Navy’s close win that day salvaged a disappointing 1-10 season. At least the “one” was the one that mattered most. For 364 days, they held bragging rights over their rivals.

The following year, in 2001, Army beat Navy by nine points, the culmination of a 0-10 season for the Midshipmen and a low point for the program before its subsequent resurgence under coaches Paul Johnson, now at Georgia Tech, and Ken Niumatalolo. (Navy even managed to knock off Notre Dame three times in four tries between 2007-2010.)

“I remember Army’s crowd chanting ‘Defeated!’” says Ralph Henry, an Essex native who played for Navy from 1999 to 2003. “I won’t ever forget being on the sideline saying to myself, ‘We will never lose to these guys again.’ Twelve years later, we haven’t. [The next season] when I got the opportunity to beat them and actually have some impact on the game, there was no better feeling,” the 6-foot-2, 280-pound former defensive end continues. “Just to watch the Midshipmen in the stands jumping around, it was awesome.”

Included in Navy’s recent streak is last year’s 34-7 win over Army, and a 38-3 victory in 2007 at M&T Bank Stadium, the last time the game was played in Baltimore.

Some 15 cities fromthroughout the country submitted proposals to host the game when the academies put it up for bid in the late 2000s. In 2009, Baltimore was awarded this year’s game along with the 2016 game. Next year, and in 2017, it will be played in its traditional home, Philadelphia.

“Baltimore showed that they could meet the fiscal expectations, the community expectations, the facility expectations,” says Chet Gladchuk, Navy’s director of athletics. “The Ravens were involved, the mayor [then Sheila Dixon] was involved, the governor [Martin O’Malley] was involved.”

Why did a single football game garner such attention from so many important people and organizations? Terry Hasseltine can give you 25 million reasons.

“Army-Navy is not just a one-day football game, it’s three to four days of other activities,” he says. “We’re talking two weeks from the Christmas holiday, two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday, during a time when the city’s pretty quiet. You have the gala [at the Baltimore Convention Center] the night before, you have alumni groups having parties. The estimation is it’s going to be between a $25 and $30 million impact. That includes a full dynamic of out-of-town spending, hospitality spending, transportation spending, ticket sales, concessions, parking.”

“We [at Navy] thought that practice was the best part of the day, because school is so tough.”

A civic-pride factor is at play as well as an afternoon in the national spotlight. The game attracts military VIPs, political dignitaries (even the President, occasionally) and the eyeballs of thirsty college football fans watching at home. Since moving to the week after the sport’s conference championships a half-dozen years ago, it’s generally the lone game on the schedule, and Army-Navy television ratings have nearly doubled, drawing 6.2 million viewers in 2013—the highest-rated game between the teams since 1999.

“The week leading up to the game, the visibility is extraordinary,” Gladchuk says. “It’s as visible in its promotion as a national championship game and, of course, it culminates with the game. We sold every ticket that we had back in July.”

Demond Brown might need to track down a few for his friends and family. The junior slot back attended Old Mill High School in Millersville. He played special teams during his first Army-Navy game, and last year got on the field for a number of offensive plays. With the game coming to his backyard, he hopes to have a greater impact on December 13.

“It’s always a special feeling when I play in Baltimore,” he says. “This will be a big deal. We have ‘Beat Army’ on our weights [in our gym]. When we’re preparing for Army, the focus increases tremendously. It reaches another level.”

Big Ralph Henry, the former Eastern Tech and Navy defensive lineman, knows this firsthand, and he knows that the Army players know it, too. When he looked to the opposing sideline he saw friends, not foes. On the field, he sensed a feeling of mutual respect, not animosity.

“We have so much in common,” he says. “We all work hard in school. No knock to any of the other colleges out there with football programs, but when it comes to academics the academies are second to none. We have to take all the engineering classes, take chemistry and physics and mathematics. Then you still, after a hard day of school, have to perform for your coaches.” At other universities, Henry adds, the football players probably hate practice, but not at the Naval Academy. “We thought that was the best part of the day, because school is so tough.”

He now lives in Beltsville, where he’s a management consultant for IBM and a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve. The former standout remembers his last Army-Navy game vividly, and when he talks about it, he sounds as if he’s ready to strap on a helmet.

“My senior year we got them good,” he says of Navy’s 34-6 victory in 2003. “I didn’t get any sacks that game, but I racked up like 5 to 10 tackles. It was just a dominant game. We brought everything together, and we smashed them. I almost felt bad for them, to be quite honest.”

He pauses for a few seconds, contemplating. “Almost.”

In our new column “Pregame Platter,” senior contributing writer Mike Unger selects the best food and drink options coinciding with that week’s opponent.

Bengals at Ravens, Sunday Sept. 7, 1 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium, CBS

After a month of seemingly interminable preseason games (preseason football is like going on a date with a person you know you’ll never get lucky with—you can bring your A-game, but in the end, what’s the point?) the Ravens get to do it for real Sunday against the NFL’s most hideously outfitted franchise.

What to Eat: Cincinnati is known, of course, for its cinnamon-based chili. I got this recipe from my friend Pinkerton, a longtime Fells Pointer originally from the Cincinnati area. It’s the real deal.

Ingredients: 

• 1 quart water 
• 2 pounds ground beef 
• 2 medium onions finely chopped
• 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 3-4 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tsp unsweetened coco powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 whole bay leaf
• 4 garlic cloves crushed (or 1 tbsp chopped garlic from jar)
• 2 tbsp vinegar 
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions: Add ground beef to water in large pot. Stir until beef separated into a fine texture. Boil slowly for 30 minutes. Add other ingredients and stir to blend. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about three hours until desired consistency is reached.

If making anything beyond toast exceeds your mental and physical capabilities on a Sunday (believe me, I understand), pick up a steak chili pie from Dangerously Delicious in Canton. It’s filled with steak, onions, tomatoes, kidney beans and “all the right spices,” and it’s well, dangerously delicious. Call 410-522-PIES to order one 24 hours in advance.

What to Drink: The Queen City has a number of microbrews that I’ll discuss when the Ravens travel to Cincy at the end of October, but unfortunately, none of them are available here. (My rule of thumb on tracking down beer is to call Total Wine in Laurel or The Wine Source in Hampden. If they don’t carry it, I quit looking.) Porters and stouts pair well with chili, so I’ll be going with our own Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout, which, at eight percent, packs a punch.

Last summer, Baltimore thought it was big-time when Jay Z and Justin Timberlake came into town. But this month, Jay Z has found himself a possibly even more high-profile partner in his wife Beyoncé, as their On The Run tour comes to M&T Bank Stadium on July 7. “I think it sold so fast primarily because of the novelty of them touring together,” says Mike Burke, Ravens senior manager for ticket sales and hospitality. “But also, there is no D.C. show and

no Hershey show, so people are going to come here from all over.” The couple recently made headlines when video of Beyoncé’s sister Solange kicking Jay Z in an elevator at the Met Ball went viral. But this month, all eyes will be on the two as performers since they’ve never officially toured together. “Unlike the Timberlake show, and even U2, this sold out every

seat almost instantly,” Burke says. “I guess that’s the power of Beyoncé.” 

Football Stadiums

Today, ESPN ranks M&T Bank Stadium, opened in 1996, as the No. 1 NFL stadium for home-field advantage. Still, we sometimes miss watching Lydell Mitchell et al. scamper across the infield dirt of Memorial Stadium (pictured above).

Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street was tagged “the World’s Loudest Outdoor Insane Asylum” when the Colts played and was known for the antics of O’s cheerleader Wild Bill Hagy.

M+T Bank Stadium, 2007 -Courtesy of The Baltimore Ravens/Shawn Hubbard

Baseball

Oriole Park at Camden Yards takes its name from old Oriole Park, situated on East 29th and Barclay streets.

That was then, this is now

The Glory Days of The Civic Center

From 1962 until its 1986 name change, the Baltimore Arena was known to us as the Civic Center. The facility hosted a number of teams, including the NBA Bullets of Wes Unseld, Gus Johnson, and Earl “the Pearl” Monroe”; the American Hockey League Baltimore Clippers and Skipjacks; and the indoor-soccer team Baltimore Blast. More than a few bands have played here, too, including the Beatles in 1964.

Negro League Baseball, 1941

The Baltimore Elite Giants started in Nashville, arriving in 1938 and staying until 1950, winning two Negro National League titles in that time.

The team (pronounced “EE-lite”) played in the now dismantled Bugle Field on Edison Avenue and Federal Street in East Baltimore.

(Photo reprinted with permission of The Baltimore Sun Media Group. All Rights Reserved.)

Pimlico

Horse Racing

The second oldest racetrack in the country, Pimlico hosted its first races in 1870. Two years before, after a dinner party in Saratoga, NY, Gov. Oden Bowie and prominent racing friends had agreed to hold races featuring horses—then just yearlings—in two years time to commemorate their evening. Bowie pledged to build a model track if the event was held in Baltimore.