Thoughts From The Sy'd Line
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I arrived at the Bel Air Crack Pot (the new official hang out of Nest#1) at about noon on Sunday. I was early but not as early as some. The built up anticipation for many of us apparently could not wait to expel itself. So as we, the stalwart, waited for the rest of the faithful to arrive and ultimately the game to start, we sat, imbibing, anticipating, and speculating.
Around 12:15PM I was asked to offer my predictions for the game and/or for the season. I was temporarily distracted, however, as a small family had just entered the lounge, the child portion of which, wearing a Redskins jersey. After only a few seconds, the knee-jerk red faded from my soul and I thought, “Well, at least it’s not a Steelers jersey!” and turned my focus to the query presented before me.
I informed my good friend that I was out of the business of making predictions when it came to the Ravens. My new policy is, “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell.” I then went on to explain exactly why I have adopted this policy. I see no value in taking up valuable real estate in my conscious mind with whether it is logical to anticipate a Ravens victory. All I want to do is hope that victory occurs.
And on those occasions where it was highly illogical to assume that the Ravens would win, I want no conflicts with my heart and my head. Gambling on sports exists, in my opinion, to make less desirable games more interesting and I have no problem at the present time with maintaining my focus when the purple and black are on the field. At the conclusion of my elucidation, he appeared truly sorry that he approached me in the first place and continued quietly drinking his beer.
While I would not publicly speculate, I would be lying to myself if I did not admit that Devil Logic was taxing me internally. The Bucs were a good team, defensively anyway. The game was on the road, a place that Devil Logic reminded me, the Ravens have not won in the previous 11 attempts. Still, I thought if we can score first and eventually force Chris Simms(who I am still not convinced is a bona fide NFL QB) to throw, we would have a good chance of keeping it close and coming out of Ybor City with a victory.
At approximately 12:45PM, the crowd already fairly thick, the Fan Man, et al, arrived. Like St. George, Fan Man immediately sensed the presence of the Redskin dragon and b-lined himself over to exchange a few good natured, friendly barbs. (St. George may have indeed slain the red dragon. I looked over 5 minutes later and they were gone!) Anyway after about 15 minutes of organized and unorganized cheers, the game was finally about to begin.
I guess it was about 1:20ish when we scored our first touchdown, after a 14 play, 80 yard drive that took over 9 minutes off of the clock. The Crack Pot Lounge was rockin’! “This team’s good!” I thought to myself, but was immediately reminded by Devil Logic that it was only the first series of the first game. DL went on to suggest that I see how the defense will respond on Tampa Bay’s first series.
The Buccaneers began their first series on their own 27, ran three plays, gained a total of 2 yards, and punted. “Ha! Devil Logic, how do you like me now?!” Devil Logic, of course, reminded me that it was only Tampa’s first series and we still had over 75% of the game left to play. (Devil Logic loves quoting numbers and statistics too back up his statements.)
Our next series started on our 27, ended on our 20 and forced us in to our first punt of the day. This 4 play series included a very “Boller-esque” fumble on Steve McNair’s part (which he thankfully recovered). “You feeling me now?” inquired Devil Logic as he slammed down a double shot of Jack Daniels. I had to wait a mere 2:08 of game time to join my fellow Nest mates in raucous celebration of Chris McAlister’s interception return for a touchdown and to turn to Devil Logic and say, “Feel THIS!”
And so it went for most of the game until somewhere in the forth quarter Devil Logic threw down an Irish Car Bomb and a final shot of Jack Daniels and left the bar slurring something in “Drinklish” to the effect that I better hope that McNair stays healthy. I think I read the next day in the Harford County Police Blotter that he was pulled over for DWI and his license got suspended.
For those of us who were at the Crack Pot on Sunday, September 10, 2006, I hope that I speak for all of us when I say that we had the time of our lives. I can remember few Ravens games that I have enjoyed as much. Fan Man was leading “R-A-V-E-N-S” cheers seemly every 15 minutes. People were running around the bar getting group high fives. And on 3rd downs each side of the bar was trying to out shout the other side’s cries of “DE-FENSE!!!” Not to mention that I was able to “get my groove on” from 12PM until the end the game, enjoy a well spiced plate of buffalo wings and generously tip my bartender all for under $20. But I can’t help thinking how much more fun I would have had if I had not invited Devil Logic.
I thought to myself the next day, this is exactly why I have adopted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Logic not only contributes NOTHING to my enjoyment of watching the Ravens, it actually takes something away. I don’t watch and root for my Ravens with my head, but with my heart. And besides, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-0 in their own house. Where is the logic in that, Mr. Spock?
So from now on, if you ask me what I THINK the Ravens will do today, I will respond with, “I THINK that I would very much like to see the Ravens score more points than their opponent by the time the game is over.” If you ask me what I THINK the Ravens will do this season, I will respond with, “I THINK that I would very much like to see the Ravens win every single game that they play.” These are the only thoughts I want to consider when watching my Baltimore Ravens. These are the only thoughts that are of value to me. These are the only thoughts that really matter. Because, when it comes to the Ravens, thinking doesn’t matter…feeling does.
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