Top Ten Terps Since 1996

Since we did the list of top 10 Ravens yesterday, we're going to show some love to our Maryland Terrapins and run down the top ten Terps basketball players since 1996.

Unfortunately, since this list will only consider players over the last 16 years, we're leaving out a bunch of Maryland all-time greats like Len Elmore, Walt Williams, Tom McMillen, John Lucas, Len Bias and Albert King.

Let's start with #10...

Orioles ready to show Jones the money?

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me two through eight times, shame on Angelos. Reports have surfaced today that the Orioles are in serious talks with the agent for Orioles center fielder Adam Jones.

Is the much-maligned owner finally ready to open his checkbook for a promising young player instead of an aging star? Our list of big-money players over the last decade-plus reads like a who's who of has beens, including Albert Belle, Vladimir Guerrero and Rafael Palmeiro (the second coming). Perhaps more troubling is the money we didn't spend on Mike Mussina in the late 1990's, or on funding the scouting and development departments over the last 15 years.

I don't think I will be alone in boycotting Angelos's life if Adam Jones ends up in pinstripes; so, what's our move?

Top 10 players in Baltimore Ravens history

We do not own the rights to this photo. Image courtesy of David Letterman, The Late Show, CBS, and Photoshop. No copyright infringement intended.

Top 10 lists are like crack to avid sports fans. Whether written by credible analysts and former players or scribbled on a dirty napkin that's stuck to the floor of a bar, these subjective rankings are often followed by fanatics as Scripture--and brandished in the face of rivals.

I'm guilty of this insanity, myself, unable to resist the allure of ESPN Power Rankings and all-decade/ century/ millennial teams. It's eerily satisfying, magnetic, even, listening to a third party break down the various elements that make a group of athletic strangers in my city so superior to another, farther away.

As unsubstantial as these rankings are, it's more ridiculous that Jordan and I have only recently realized that, as authors of our own wildly popular and somehow nonsyndicated blog, we can make our own irrelevant lists!

First up, we'll take a look at the top 10 players in Ravens history. Granted, the team has only been around for 16 years, but with Ozzie Newsome running the draft and player acquisitions, we've seen plenty of talent come through town. Let's start with number 10.

Same Orioles, different attitude

The Orioles just closed out a sweep of the Kansas City Royals over a two game road trip. The Orioles are now 11 games above .500; have the highest road winning percentage in the majors at close to .700; and they've haven't won this many consecutive road games since 1999. After last night's 15th inning victory, the team is 5-0 in extra inning games.

Adam Jones hits a two-run homer, his 13th

Back in 2005, the Orioles got off to an extremely hot start then wore down over the second half of the season, winding up with a losing record. But something feels different this year...

Hometown heroes--iron man version 2.0

Ray Lewis turned 37 yesterday. Arguably the greatest middle linebacker to play the game, Ray has played 16 years in the most violent professional sport in the country. As a first-ballot hall of famer and NFL icon, Ray Lewis will be cemented in league annals next to fellow legends Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert and Dick Butkus.

Singletary had the longest career of the three--12 years. Jack Lambert hung up the cleats after 11 years and Dick Butkus stepped aside after 9.

Orioles drop three of four to Rangers, break another record

The Texas Rangers sauntered into Baltimore looking to continue their tear through the American League. They accomplished exactly that, embarrassing the Orioles in the first two contests and winning the second game of a day-night doubleheader to take three out of four. As many in the baseball world expected, the Orioles are starting to look like themselves: struggling on offense, unable to hit with runners in scoring position and showing signs of defeat after the starting pitching digs the team into a deep hole.

But God bless these 2012 Orioles. Even in the midst of a forgettable home series, they ink their names into the annals of Major League Baseball. In the afternoon game of Thursday's doubleheader, each of the first three Orioles up to the plate hit a home run. It wasn't the first in the majors--the last time being 2005--but it was the first in the history of the American League. The other three games in which a team's first three batters hit home runs took place in the National League.

Contender or not, these Orioles keep giving us reasons to watch.

Ravens Recap: Signings, Extension, and Suggs injury update

RAVENS RECAP: Suggs has successful surgery, Ravens sign Jacoby Jones, Bernard Pollard receives three-year extension, team inks four rookies

"All hats off to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We respect them to death. But today was our day. Big Ben, you know he's a great quarterback. God can have his soul, but his ass belongs to me." ....Get well soon T-Sizzle

Suggs has successful surgery, gets “good news”

Terrell Suggs had successful surgery on his torn Achilles yesterday, and apparently also received some good news. 

Baltimore Orioles Claim Best Record in Baseball

Let's take a moment to appreciate that this isn't the second week of the season. Teams are fully settled in and mostly finished working out the kinks in their lineup and pitching rotation. And through 28 games, the Baltimore Orioles are 19-9, good for the best record in the majors and first place in the AL East. They're a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay, five games ahead of New York and seven-and-a-half games ahead of Boston.

First-baseman Chris Davis celebrating his first win and first appearance as a major league pitcher.
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

How does Suggs' Injury Affect the Ravens this Year?

Need some help up, Tony?

Reports have come out this morning that Terrell Suggs has torn his Achilles Tendon. It isn't clear, yet, the severity of the injury or how Suggs sustained the tear, whether he was playing basketball or participating in a conditioning test. Regardless, an Achilles injury is substantial and could potentially hold Suggs out for the 2012-2013 season. So how can the Ravens replace the productivity of last year's defensive player of the year?

Tough Times for the Terps: Goodbye Terrell Stoglin

Shocking news broke Monday morning that Terrell Stoglin would forgo his final 2 years of eligibility and enter the NBA draft. The announcement sparked mass confusion as, nearly a month ago, Stoglin confirmed that he would return to Maryland to play another season, and reports indicated that he would draw very little interest from NBA teams.

Jamison Hensley was Wrong to Call Out Harbaugh for Calling out Belichick

If you aren't a sports freak like myself (I prefer aficionado, for the record), you may have missed this story on ESPN earlier today.

 

Seriously?

Jamison Hensley, the blogger responsible for covering AFC North-related news on ESPN.com, took a quote from Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh's 98 Rock interview this morning and effectively spun it into a national scandal.

Can the Orioles Maintain Success?

The Baltimore Orioles are now 14-8 (Editor's Note: Since beginning this article, they lost to the Yankees and have a record of 14-9. Back in their wheelhouse)—the first time they’ve been more than five games over .500 at any point in the season since 2005. And yet, rather than get excited about the prospect of having a winning season for the first time in 15 years, we’re all just anticipating the collapse. Whether it happens during this next stretch of brutal series or after the All-Star break, Baltimore fans are just bracing for impact with reality.

Take a picture. It will most certainly last longer.

Here’s a quick look at some of our team stats, many of which we have very little chance to maintain throughout 162 games.