Terps Kick Off Big 10 Play in Style
The Terps were favored to win Tuesday’s game against Big 10 rivals Illinois, but not by a lot. First of all, the Fighting Illini were on a six-game winning streak of their own and the Terps, while going an impressive 12-1, had demonstrated an annoying tendency to fall behind and come charging back at the last minute for a narrow victory. Throw in the fact that the team’s big men, Michal Cekovsky and Damonte Dodd, were both on the bench nursing injuries, it seemed a recipe for a close game. Well, the team had other ideas, blowing Illinois off the court for a surprisingly easy 84 to 59 romp. Melo Trimble continued his stellar play, but we were particularly impressed by guard Jaylen Brantley, who, at 5’11” (at most), is usually the shortest guy on the court. In the beginning of the season, some experts were suggesting that Brantley would struggle for playing time, but he has inserted himself into the lineup with his aggressive and confident play. The Terps freshman class is a thing of beauty, with a different player stepping up each game. This time, it was a chance for guard Anthony Cowan to shine. The kid is fast as hell, has great court vision, and can finish at the rim. We think we’re in love.

Speaking of love…
A guy proposed to his girlfriend on the Terps Kiss Cam and it was freaking adorable.

SHE SAID YES! ????????????

Congrats to Terp fans Jeff Wehberg and Carly Smith who got engaged during yesterday’s kiss cam! https://t.co/FwJdI3fXYl
— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 28, 2016

And speaking of adorable…
Boomer Phelps has his own Instagram account and it does not disappoint.

Kevin Plank seals MLB uniform deal at winter meetings.
Though it was confirmed in October that Under Armour will take over for Majestic Athletic as the official on-field uniform provider for Major League Baseball in 2020, the 10-year deal was inked on Monday at winter meetings. In the agreement, Under Armour will supply all 30 MLB clubs with uniforms for 10 years and its partner, Fanatics, will have licensing rights to manufacture and distribute gear.

According to The Baltimore Sun, Plank called the deal “a massive statement for our company. This deal for us is one where we really get to lock arms, dig our heels in and say we’re going to fight for this sport.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is hoping that the UA deal will strike a chord with younger sports fans, getting them engaged in the game of baseball.

“When we started talking about this deal with the owners, one of the single biggest themes that came back from them was they wanted the game associated with a young brand,” Manfred said. “To grow the game with young people, you have to have athletes and products young people want to wear, and we think Under Armour is uniquely situated to provide those products.”

One major difference that the Baltimore-based athletic apparel company has already announced is that its logo will appear on the front of the uniforms, as opposed to the sleeves where Majestic was positioned. Some fans aren’t so happy about this move and one website, Uni Watch, did some quick PhotoShop work to envision what the future uniforms might look like.

Army vs. Navy game this weekend will host a special guest.
In a tradition dating back to 1901, President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the 117th Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. “In keeping with a time-honored tradition, he will spend half of the game on the Army side and then half on the Navy side, who will win their 15th straight game, I’m sure,” Sean Spicer, communications director for the Republican National Committee (and a member of the Navy Reserves since 1999), told The Washington Post.

Though presidents from Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman to John F. Kennedy up through Barack Obama have watched the two military rivals face off, this is the first time in which a President-elect has attended the game.

We’re wondering if President-elect Trump has heard the news that the Baltimore City Council voted unanimously to condemn statements made by him in the council’s first official act. The resolution formally opposed Trump’s “divisive and scapegoating rhetoric, rooted in hate and prejudice.”

Can we say awkward?

Baltimore Ravens draft Ronnie Stanley.
In the first night of the NFL Draft on Thursday, the Ravens selected offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley from Notre Dame with its sixth pick. The 6’6″ 312-lb. tackle will provide much-needed protection for Joe Flacco, many equating the OT with Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys. An added bonus is that Stanley actually played basketball in high school, giving him quick feet and a great run game. Stanley comes into the league as one of the top two offensive tackles in the draft, alongside Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss, whose work ethic has been questioned recently—especially since a video of Tunsil smoking out of a bong with a gas mask was posted to his Twitter account minutes before the draft. Thankfully, Stanley had great numbers in the NFL Combine and is completely clean off the field. Phew!

Under Armour’s Jordan Spieth becomes Snapchat star.
Clearly Under Armour athlete Jordan Spieth didn’t spend much time mourning his surprising collapse at the Masters. Instead, the young golf star has been vacationing in Baker’s Bay in the Bahamas with Justin Thomas and Smylie Kaufman while Rickie Fowler documents the whole thing on Snapchat. There were some boat trips, dinners on the water, time spent in ceremonial headdresses, (because, obviously), and even a video joking about Spieth’s Masters performance. Spieth is relaxing while he can since he has a busy stretch coming up in May before the U.S. Open on June 16-19. But, for now it’s all fun in the Snapchat sun.

Plus! Just try not to tear up at this video of Steve Smith Sr. taking North Carolina high school senior Aubrey Bridges to prom.
It’s impossible.

1. Hyun-soo Kim is a perfect fit for the Orioles.
There’s a new hon in town, and he also happens to be an Iron Man. The Orioles on Wednesday reportedly agreed to a two-year, $7-million contract with South Korean outfielder Hyun-soo Kim. The O’s hope the soon-to-be 28-year-old’s statistics from the Korea Baseball Organization —Kim is a career .318 hitter and had 28 home runs and 128 RBIs last year—translate to the major leagues. Projected as a leftfielder, he also played in 141 of the Doosan Bears’ 144 games a season ago, and has earned a Cal Ripken-like reputation for durability in a decade of pro ball. Some have even called him the Korean Iron Man. As first impressions go, this is pretty good.

Meanwhile, the object of much attention, slugger Chris Davis, remains on the free agent market, although Jimmy’s Famous Seafood pulled out all the stops to see that he re-joins the O’s sooner rather than later. The restaurant offered Crush, his kids (he has one daughter), and potential grandchildren free crab cakes for life as a reported seven-year, $150-million deal from the O’s was on the table as well. Where do we sign?

Dear @CrushD19,
Please come back to the
@Orioles. If you do, free #crabcakes for life. And ur kids. And their kids. pic.twitter.com/XHLr8Swa35
— Jimmy’s Seafood (@JimmysSeafood) December 10, 2015

2. The Ravens QB carousel continues.
After the Ravens first blowout loss of the year, a 35-6 defeat to Seattle at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, John Harbaugh mentioned “next year” in his post-game press conference. By Monday, he told reporters some younger players would get more chances in the final three weeks of the season. With a 4-9 record, things are basically over. And on Tuesday, the team made a move with an eye to the future, signing free agent quarterback Ryan Mallett to a contract through the 2016 season.

Mallett, a one-time starter in Houston, was famously cut by the Texans earlier this season after missing a team charter flight to Miami. He had to fly commercial, and he also overslept for a team meeting previously. “The best thing probably was for me to be cut,” Mallett said Wednesday. “It was a piece of humble pie, but it digested real quickly.” Whether the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder learns the offense in time to play for the Ravens this season remains to be seen. Joe Flacco’s first backup, Matt Schaub, is slowly recovering from a chest injury and the Ravens seem to have settled on Jimmy Clausen for the rest of the way if needed.

Perhaps this is a good time to pause and appreciate Flacco some more. Maybe his durability alone in his first seven NFL seasons, and 10 games of his eighth, was worth the big contract. Hurry back.

3. Niumatalolo-gate
Navy football supporters were a bit uneasy in Annapolis last week and early this week, as coach Ken Niumatalolo flirted with overtures from Brigham Young University about its open head coach position. Rumors of mutual interest between the sides percolated ahead of Saturday’s Army-Navy game. The Midshipmen took care of business against their rival, winning 21-17 in Philadelphia, to beat Army for the 14th straight time and improve to 10-2 this season. But Niumatalolo soon headed to Utah to meet with BYU officials, calling the opportunity “just different.” The winningest coach in Navy football history and a national coach of the year candidate is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns and operates Brigham Young. His son, Va’a, is a sophomore linebacker there, and his other son, Ali’i, would likely join him there if dad took the job.

But he didn’t. Navy announced Wednesday that night Niumatalolo was staying. “It was a long and agonizing two days, probably the hardest two days of my life, but the Naval Academy has been my life for the last 18 years and I love it here,” he said.

This will go down as one of the greatest videos of all time. Thank you for everything, Coach! @NAVYCoachKen pic.twitter.com/829qQ39cxL
— Connor Stalions (@CStalionsUofM) December 13, 2015

4. Steve Smith wants “healthy Achilles’” under the tree.
All I want for Christmas is a healthy Achilles’, a healthy Achilles’, a healthy Achilles’. So says injured Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith, who flew in from Charlotte to join several Ravens at an 11th annual charity shopping spree on Monday night at a local Target store. He sure sounds like a guy who wants to come back and play next season. That would be a gift in itself.

5. Donald Trump gets a Ravens wig.
We hate to give the controversial presidential candidate any more attention, but a meme that attacks his hair and points out some of his terrible business decisions? We’re on board. Yesterday, writer David Rappoccio at Uproxx redesigned every NFL logo to include Trump’s likeness—or, in some cases, his bullish attitude. We have to say that the Ravens logo might be among the most accurate. He basically sports a bird atop his head anyway.

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All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: First Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game

#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit

#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29

#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs

#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception Return Against the Browns

#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against the Browns

#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History

#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance