Saturday In The Park(s) With Viv!

Our work is never done. Saturday was as good as it gets - if you're a sports fan in B'More.

For me, the day started with a youth football clinic in Patterson Park. I had a blast working with all the kids that came out and participated...just a few friends being great parents. Well done...lets make it a tradition. Then off to M&T Bank Stadium to watch the Ravens practice on the home turf. The new field looks and feels spectacular. I had a chance to chat with a number of players afterwards and they're loving the new, higher, softer, more forgiving field turf. Visually it's about as close to real grass as you can imagine - stunning from the Press Box view and looks great on TV. Spent the first 45  minutes of practice in the stands with friends - and fans. I'm here to report that Baltimore is buzzing about the upcoming  NFL season and it's refreshing to hear so many people talking ORIOLES BASEBALL - BUCK YEAH!

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Met up on the field with Viv and watched practice from the home sideline before heading up to the Press Box. Standard Ravens practice for the most part. Steve Bisciotti was on the field and soaked in the amazing atmosphere. He was so impressed that during a break in the action he told John Harbaugh the Ravens will now make it an annual tradition to practice at the stadium...the announced crowd was 17,000. Well done people!

Some notes from practice: Mason left with a minor (l) knee, Carr left with a hamstring, Washington DNP - precautionary move, Gaither -DNP - back spasms.

The defense owned the day during team sessions; as they remain ahead of the offense in timing, communication and execution. This isnt abnormal in any way...just the way football plays out this time of year. The following players stood out - Suggs (looks really locked in), Dawan Landry (playing without hesitation and becoming a leader), Hamlin (2 picks), Ray Rice (solid early season timing from snap -to-hole and doing a much better job on blocking) J McClain and A. Barnes (pushing each other and playing hungry football), Zibby (having a tremendous camp - really impressive practice), Justin Harper (made a spectacular catch), Graham-Cundiff (great battle for the kicking job - Graham looks so smooth), Flacco/Bulger/Smith (solid trio).

Covered the post practice locker room with Viv. Viv had a chance to interview Mason, Hamlin, Graham, Carr, Boldin and Stallworth. Sat in on Harbaughs presser. Check out WJZ-TV during the week or check back here for podcasts of the interviews as we get them loaded.

On to Buckland! Met up with Luke Scott in the locker room before BP. He is healthy and feeling energized - ready to go full-out for the final stretch. I chatted with Jason Berken and Jen Royle in the clubhouse for a bit - Berken is a football junkie and agreed to do a regular football talk segment on the MVS.

Sat in on Buck Showalters pre game chat session. He's gonna own this town by this time next year - mark my words. Had a chance to hang out with John Feinstein and had a great chat with Rick Dempsey while the Orioles were taking BP and warming up. Millwood pitched a gutsy lil gem, but the O's went down 4-2 to the White Sox...still felt like brand new in that stadium as fans are getting  jacked up about the way the O's are playing right now.

O's looking to win another series by taking down the Sox today...Ravens in Westminster getting ready for the pre-season opener on Thursday night against Carolina...

...AWESOME!