Rave On!

At 8:00 AM on a Saturday morning, I thought I'd have the place pretty much to myself while planting some Russian sage on the hill above the light rail at M&T. 

Wrong.  Even though the Ravens open practice wouldn't begin until noon, there was a steady stream of jersey-clad fans making their way to the gates at that hour.  (I later learned our operations staff found them camped on the steps at 6:30 AM.)

By 10:00 AM the lots were nearly full, the light rail was packed and folks were --- yes --- tailgating in the shade of the overpasses.

By 11:00 AM, the band was playing in Unitas Plaza, cheerleaders were flying through the air, traffic was crawling on Russell Street and vendors were hawking their wares.   I rolled up the garden hose and fell in with the parade.  This was clearly a happening I couldn't miss.

It's hard to explain the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd.  It's August, 85 degrees and there isn't an opponent in sight (unless you count the White Sox, and they stashed away in the Hilton.)  But these folks acted like they were on their way to the Super Bowl.   In a way, maybe they are.  For those fans, today was the first step in the journey.

This is the first open practice in Baltimore in many years and the excitement is palpable.  Admittedly, at the sight of Joe Flacco my shutter finger froze and all I was able to get was one bushy eyebrow and a National Guard patch.  (But that's him on the left.  Honest.)

I didn't stick around for the whole practice, but it was an unexpected thrill to be there.  (The Russian sage will have to wait until sundown.)  The new video boards are stunning and I heard a lot of nice comments about the great images they project.

They will shine even brighter this Thursday night when the team returns to take on the Panthers.  Today was only a taste of the anticipation in the air. 

This is shaping up to be the year everyone has been waiting for.  Nearly 18,000 fans were there to see it unfold.