Monday, February 4, 2013

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!!

THE BALTIMORE RAVENS ARE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! JOE FLACCO IS MVP (Though I think he should have given it to Ray Lewis)!!!

#1. Ravens vs. 49ers highlights
#2. Harbaugh brothers meet after the game
#3. Ravens playing smart with safety.
#4. Super Bowl XLVII power outage.
#5. John Harbaguh frustrated with power outage
#6. Flacco hits Jones for amazing TD
#7. Ravens receive Lombardi Trophy.
#8. Ray Lewis ends career as a champion.

Call it The Countdown.

The Ravens’ backs were against the wall. First-and-goal from the 7-yard line. This was the game.

As Baltimore’s defense made each tackle, the players shouted to each other, counting down the number of stops they needed.

Two-yard run – three more to go. Incomplete pass – two more. Incomplete pass – one more. Fourth down incompletion – Super Bowl champions.

After seeing a 22-point, third-quarter lead disappear in the blink of an eye. After enduring a power outage and delay that axed the Ravens’ momentum. After a season full of trials.

After a season full of trials, the Ravens overcome once again to beat the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, in Super Bowl XLVII and claim the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.

The Ravens made a goal-line stand. And that made them World Champions.

“Backs against the wall,” linebacker Ray Lewis said after sitting down at his post-game locker one last time. “Backs against the wall.”

The Ravens’ season was defined by adversity. So how could the Super Bowl be any different?

“It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But that’s us,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said to the Superdome crowd from the winner’s podium.

The Ravens stormed out to a 15-point lead at halftime. Then they seemed to break the game open when Jacoby Jones returned the second half’s opening kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown. Baltimore had San Francisco right where it wanted it.

And with that, the lights went out – literally and figuratively.

Power was lost and Superdome lights went out, suspending play for 35 minutes. When play resumed, it was almost instantly a different game.

All of the Ravens’ momentum was gone. Their boisterous crowd was quieted. The momentum shifted.

The 49ers scored 17 points within a span of just four minutes, 14 seconds. In hardly any time at all, Baltimore’s lead was cut to just five points. A Colin Kaepernick touchdown with 9:57 remaining left Baltimore ahead by just two.

“It was nothing new for us,” outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We’ve [been] in those types of battles. We just stayed together. We had to win four plays.”

Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe stuffed running back LaMichael James for just 2 yards on first down. Then a pass intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree was thrown out of reach. Crabtree caught the next pass, but had the ball busted out of his hands by cornerback Jimmy Smith.

On fourth down, Smith knew they were going to come at him again.

“I figured it would either be a slant or a fade. I saw Kaepernick tap the back of his head so I figured it would be a back-shoulder fade.”

Smith muscled up against Crabtree and the pass was too far out of reach. There was still 1:46 left to burn, but after some runs and a smart purposeful safety, the Ravens left the 49ers only one final free punt to return with four seconds.

And once Baltimore secured the tackle, they all experienced the confetti Lewis had long talked about. They danced around the field and made snow angels lying on the field.

“For us to stand up like that, it is just a testament of what we’ve been through and how much trust we had all year in each other,” Lewis said.

The 17-year linebacker sat with his children surrounding him at his locker afterwards. He had just played his final game and done something few athletes can ever claim. He went out on top.

“We get to ride off into the sunset, babies,” Lewis said.

While Baltimore’s defense made the final game-winning stop, the Ravens put up 34 points against one of the league’s best defenses.

Quarterback Joe Flacco, long questioned as to whether he belongs among the NFL “elite,” hoisted the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl MVP.

Flacco was on fire throughout the night and finished completing 22-of-33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, good for a 124.2 quarterback rating.

“He’s got guts of a burglar,” Harbaugh said.

“People should shut up about Joe,” said wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who logged six receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. “I’m so sick of people saying Joe’s not an elite quarterback. For all the critics who say he’s not, ask them how many rings they have.”

As the Ravens walked into locker room following their post-game celebration, they party was somewhat more muted than one might expect.

They savored it. They laughed with each other. They finally exhaled.

The Ravens, one time losers of four of their last five games, went on a crazy postseason run. They took out Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. They slayed Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. They toppled Tom Brady and the Patriots.

In Super Bowl XLVII, they overcame the other brother, Jim Harbaugh, and his talented, resilient team.

Safety Ed Reed was the final player out of the Ravens locker room. And the veteran could only take it in with a cigar hanging out of his mouth.

“Mission complete,” he said.
Baltimore Ravens.com news, by Ryan Mink

When the lights went out, my dad thought that Beyonce (who did the halftime show) used up so much electricity with the lights that they went out. Man, that was annoying. Never play the 49ers when they are the home team. Because, last year, it was Monday night, the 9ers are playing the Steelers, and moments before kickoff, there's a flash of blue light from outside the stadium, and boom! Lights go out. Lets get another championship next year! GOOO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, January 21, 2013

AFC CHAMPS!!!!!

THE BALTIMORE RAVENS ARE AFC CHAMPIONS!!! ON TO THE SUPER BOWL TO BEAT JIM HARBAUGH (John Harbaugh's brother) AND THE 49ERS!!!

#1. Ravens vs. Patriots
#2. Ravens to the Super Bowl
#3. Steven Ridley fumbles after big hit
#4. Sibling rivalry to play out in New Orleans
#5. Tucker confident he'd made the kick
#6. AFC Championship trophy presentation.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Joe Flacco outdueled Tom Brady, throwing three touchdown passes in the second half and leading the Baltimore Ravens to their first Super Bowl in 12 years with a 28-13 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday for the AFC championship.

The win sets up the first Super Bowl coached by brothers, Baltimore's John Harbaugh and San Francisco's Jim. The 49ers won the NFC title earlier Sunday 28-24 at Atlanta.

The 49ers have been listed as 5-point favorites.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis' final season will conclude in two weeks in New Orleans; he was the MVP of the 2001 game, the Ravens' only Super Bowl win.

Flacco had two touchdown passes to Anquan Boldin and one to Dennis Pitta as the Ravens outscored the Patriots 21-0 in the second half. Baltimore's defense made Brady look ordinary and stymied the league's top offense. Brady was 67-0 at home when leading at halftime.

Flacco's three touchdown passes came in just over 10 minutes in the second half. He connected with Bolden for two TDs in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter - a 3-yarder and an 11-yarder - after hitting Pitta with a 5-yard strike with 6:14 left in the third.

The Ravens (13-6) gained just 130 yards in the first half before Flacco guided them on scoring drives of 87 and 63 yards.


New England (13-5) suffered three injuries in the first half. Cornerback Aqib Talib hurt his thigh and defensive tackle Kyle Love injured his knee. The return of both starters was questionable. Backup safety Patrick Chung was helped off the field after one play.

The Patriots played without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who broke his left arm a week earlier in their 41-28 divisional win over the Houston Texans.

Stephen Gostkowski had given the Patriots a 3-0 lead with a 31-yard field goal with 6:21 left in the first quarter. But the Ravens went ahead on Ray Rice's 2-yard touchdown run with 9:28 to go in the second.

Wes Welker then scored with just over 4 minutes remaining in the half on a 1-yard pass from Brady and the Patriots increased their lead on Gostkowski's 25-yard field goal on the final play before intermission.

New England outgained Baltimore 214 yards to 130 in the half. Brady completed 14 of 24 passes for 139 yards, while Flacco went 6 for 12 for 81 yards. Neither team committed a turnover.

The scoring pass to Bolden ended a drive on which Flacco completed five of six passes, the longest a 23-yarder to Torrey Smith.

The touchdown by Pitta capped the Ravens' best drive of the game, covering 87 yards in 10 plays. It started with a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty. Then, Flacco completed six of his other nine passes on the series. Three of them went for first downs - 22 yards to Pitta, 15 to Rice and 12 to Bolden that gave the Ravens a first-and-goal at the Patriots 10-yard line.

Flacco then connected with Pitta for a 5-yard pass and finished the drive with another 5-yarder to Pitta, who easily beat single coverage by safety Steve Gregory.

The Patriots began the scoring on Gostkowski's kick, ending a 13-play, 67-yard drive during which Brady completed five of seven passes for 55 yards.

Rice's touchdown ended a 13-play, 90-yard drive that lasted 5:51. Flacco threw completions for first downs of 17 yards to Pitta, 11 yards to Rice, 8 yards to Bernard Pierce and 25 yards to Smith. With a first down at the Patriots 15-yard line, Rice ran for 8 and 5 yards, giving the Ravens a first down at the 2.

After Flacco threw an incompletion out of bounds, Rice took a handoff, ran to the left and scored easily.

Welker's touchdown came 4:18 before intermission and capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive. He scored on a pass to the right as cornerbacks Corey Graham and Chykie Brown appeared to get crossed up on their assignments.

On the first play of the series, Baltimore's Dannell Ellerbe was penalized 15 yards for a blow to the head. Then a 24-yard completion from Brady to Welker gave the Patriots a first down at the Ravens 16-yard line.

Both teams punted on their first possession before the Patriots began their scoring drive at their 21-yard line after a 50-yard punt by Sam Koch.

The Patriots began the series with Brady's 8-yard completion to Brandon Lloyd. The pair teamed up for three completions, gaining 37 yards, on the drive.

The Ravens punted on their first three possessions in the first quarter. The Patriots punted on three of their four series, forcing Baltimore to start deep in its territory.
Associated press, Baltimore Ravens news.

You can tell by, watching video #6, there were a lot of Ravens fans at Foxborough. And when Cary Williams had that interception in the endzone, the stadium exploded in cheers. Now can the Ravens beat the 49ers?

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Team USA baseball roster revealed

Adam Jones found out who his teammates would be for team USA. I will give the names to you.

Manager
Joe Torre, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager.

Coaches
Gerald Perry, former hitting coach of the Oakland Athletics
Greg Maddux, former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Dale Murphy, former outfielder for the Colorado Rockies
Willie Randolph, former third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles
Larry Bowa, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager
Marcel Lachemann, former pitching coach for the Colorado Rockies.

Pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt of the San Fransisco Giants.
Heath Bell of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Mitchell Boggs of the St.Louis Cardinals.
Steve Cisheck of the Miami Marlins.
Tim Collins of the Kansas City Royals
R.A Dicky of the New York Mets
Luke Gregerson of the San Diego Padres
Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers
Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves
Kris Medlin of the Atlanta Braves
Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins
Chris Perez of the Cleveland Indians
Vinnie Pestano of the Cleveland Indians
Ryan Volgelsong of the San Fransisco Giants

Catchers
Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins
J.P Arencibia of the Toronto BlueJays
Johnathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers

Infielders
Mark Texaria of the New York Yankees
Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds
Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies
David Wright of the New York Mets
Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays
Willie Bloomquist of the Arizona Diamond Backs

Outfielders
Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers
ADAM JONES OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Giancarlo Stanto of the Miami Marlins
Shane Victorino of the Boston Red Sox

That's the roster!

Great #4.

Friends, I have bad news, The Baltimore Orioles' greatest manager ever, #4, Earl Weaver died this morning =(. He was on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and had a sudden heart attack. Here is a link to Orioles.com: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130119&content_id=41036310&vkey=news_bal&c_id=bal. I heard it when my dad, brother, and I were heading into the O's Fanfest (that's another story), and the guys behind us were talking and I heard one of them say: "Earl Weaver died this morning." I turned around and said "What did you say?" The guy said he was watching ESPN this morning and it came on.
R.I.P, Earl, we'll miss you.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Lakers lose!

The Heat beat the Lakers 99-90. Here are the highlights.

#1. Heat vs. Lakers
#2. Heat starting hot
#3. Steal and slam
#4. Wade finds James

L.B.J had his highest points in the season last night, 39, he also had 8 assists, and Chris Bosh had 6 steals. Yesterday was Dwayne Wade's birthday, and celebrated it by beating the Lakers! Now, let's go back home and rest until Wednesday! GO HEATLES!!!!!!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

20,000 points!

LeBron James (28) became the youngest NBA player reach 20,000 points! Here are the highlights.

#1. Heat vs Warriors
#2. LeBron's milestone assist record
#3. James finishes strong
#4. Wade to James
#5. Jackson congratulates James
#6. 20k club's youngest member

LBJ had 25 points, and 10 assists, Udonis Haslam had 10 rebounds, And D. Wade had 5 steals.

LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points, and his Miami Heat cruised to a 92-75 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
James finished with 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds before being shut down early to conserve energy as the Heat wrap up their six-game, nine-day road trip Thursday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
Dwyane Wade had 15 points, eight boards, six assists and five steals for Miami, which looked vastly improved compared to the performances in disappointing losses in Indiana, Portland and Utah on this trip. Geoff Lepper, NBA.com news.

We have a Heated rivalry coming up tonight Heat vs. Lakers. The Lakers may have the best line-up in the NBA, but in truth, their terrible. Let's Gobeat-Kobe. GOOO HEATLES!!!!

Starting 5 for tonight's game.


Los Angeles Lakers.                                                                          MIAMI HEAT
PG: Steve Nash #10                                                                          PG: Dwayne Wade #3     
SG: Kobe Bryant #24.                                                                       SG: Mario Chalmers #15
SF: Metta World Peace #15                                                               SF: Lebron James #6
PF: Pau Gasol #16                                                                              PF: Udonis Haslam #40
C: Dwight Howard #12                                                                       C: Chris Bosh #1.