Shades of Maryland Red

Marylanders – especially the Terp variety – consider the vivid crimson on the Crossland quadrant of our state flag the true Maryland red.

Students of historic preservation interpret Maryland red as burnt sienna, like the brick masonry that defines many classic structures throughout the state. (Shout out to Camden Yards here.)

But there are a few other shades of red identified with Maryland sports worth noting now -- because you’re going to be hearing a lot more about them in coming months.

So start with the bright red of the Maryland flag and blend in a bit of the white. (Not too much, or you’ll get Pepto Bismol.) Slightly mellower than red is cerise, a color identified with one of the most famous Maryland athletes of all time.

Actually, we’re contemporaries, born just a few months apart. He, however, retired a millionaire before I entered first grade. And, to my knowledge, he made no effort to cover his gray hair, which only made him more distinguished with age.

(We all should be so lucky.)

Native Dancer lived and worked most of his life in Baltimore County. Although his famous home produced many other illustrious champions, there is none so prolific and influential in current thoroughbred lineage that the Galloping Gray Ghost. In this gene pool, he’s Michael Phelps.

Celebrating (and Selling) History

If you live in Maryland, you’re probably aware of significant centennials on the horizon. If not, you soon will be because so many resources are assigned to market them. If there is one commodity Maryland enjoys in abundance, it’s history. Like sports, history and heritage are major producers in the Maryland visitor industry.

For the next few years, we will be observing the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, (aka War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression, etc.,) much of which took place in our border state, and the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and writing of the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814, which also brought action and acclaim to our shores.

Since the State of Maryland is celebrating these events and inviting visitors to join us, the Office of Sports Marketing is tagging every possible activity with historic significance. But sometimes these two realms intersect serendipitously. For one imaginative initiative, The Grand History Trail, we give a nod to our northern neighbors.

All Lax, (Almost) All American

In Maryland, where lacrosse is never out of season, a special all star event takes place over the Fourth of July weekend. The fifth annual Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic brought 88 top high school seniors (girls and boys) to Baltimore for a last chance to play as preps before beginning their college careers in the fall.

For these elite players, it is an opportunity to play on the same team with the rivals they played against for four years. Since the teams are determined geographically (North and South) many of the competitors have long histories as regular season opponents.

Others found the first chance to play with/against future college teammates. The ACC had a total of twenty players on the boys roster, with eight of them committed to North Carolina and six to Maryland. Georgetown did best with the girls, snagging five All Americans. Maryland and North Carolina had four each.

The Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic has deep Baltimore roots, with the iconic sportswear company teaming up with Corrigan Sports and Inside Lacrosse Magazine to make the selections and organize the weekend events. ESPNU (whom we’ve seen a lot of this year around M&T) broadcast the boys contest live.

For the second year, the Under Armour Classic expanded the weekend to include underclassmen in the fun, with teams organized by regions. Boys and girls teams came from Baltimore, Long Island, Midwest, New England, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Upstate New York and Washington, D.C. They participated in pool play on Saturday in the fields around Unitas Stadium, with finals scheduled for Sunday, July 4th at 3:30PM.

Both All-America games were hard-fought, high scoring contests. The North girls barely squeezed past their opponents 17-16 while the North boys were a little more dominant, winning 17-12.

While much is made of the intense rivalry between Maryland and Long Island as the hotbeds of the sport, an interesting irony played out in the boys game. Most Valuable Player, hands down, was an attackman who played midfield and scored four goals in North’s win. His name is Mark Cockerton, and he’s from Oshawa.

That’s right. The most elite All-American of 2010 is a Canadian.

But we’ll be seeing more of him, since he’s heading even farther south, to Charlottesville, where he'll join his brother Matt as a Cavalier. That means he’s a good bet to be playing around here sometime next season.

The Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic had 2,500 fans at Unitas yesterday. Many were F&F (friends and family) who came for the entire weekend to participate in all the festivities in and around Baltimore. After all, it is the cradle of lacrosse, where the game is always on.

Go USA!!

No, the Fourth of July didn’t come early this year; all of the Red, White, and Blue that you saw in Towson this weekend was excited celebrations for the U.S’ kick off in the World Cup games.

Patriot Square in front of the Courthouse in Towson was booming on Saturday afternoon, as many soccer fans came out for a World Cup viewing party.  Hosted by Baltimore County and WNST radio, the event was a huge success! WNST’s Nestor, and County Executive Jim Smith were pumping up the crowd in anticipation.

 There were soccer themed moon bounces for the kids, face painting, and even Red, White and Blue snowballs. USA Soccer fever has set in.   At approximately 2:25 all of the walking around seized, everyone grabbed their lawn chairs, and buckled down around the massive television for a very exciting game one.

 With the odds favored so heavily against the U.S. tying the game up was almost as exciting as a win! At least that’s the way it sounded in the roaring crowd!

Did you see how much fun those crazy horn blower's were having?? That could be us! Don't forget to sign the petition to get the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup here in Maryland!
vote at:  www.gousabid.com/baltimore

More Saturday Soccer Celebrations

In the interest of equal time (not to mention geographic balance) we're giving a shoutout to the upcoming outdoor World Cup watch at the Patriot Plaza, 401 Bosley Avenue, in Towson.


Baltimore County World Soccer Fest, on Saturday, June 12th, is an all day, freebie celebration of local soccer and the big USA-England matchup to kick off the 2010 World Cup.  This family event is organized by WNST, in conjunction with ASG Sports and the Towson Chamber of Commerce, and it's open to any and all who love soccer.

All local recreation councils and youth soccer groups are encouraged to attend and support Team USA and our local soccer culture. Representatives of Baltimore Blast, D.C. United, Crystal Palace and Baltimore Bays will be on hand.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR JUNE 12th

7:00 a.m. — Gates open

7:30 a.m. — Greece vs. South Korea (on the BIG screen)

9:30 a.m. — Kids events open

10:00 a.m. — Argentina vs. Nigeria (on the BIG screen)

Noon — Pre-game events, music and festivities leading up to USA game

2:00 p.m. — Welcome remarks by County Executive Jim Smith & intro of local soccer programs and coaches

2:30 — USA vs. England (on the BIG screen)

5:00 p.m. — Event closes

NEXT:    Where Terry will be watching the USA vs. Great Britain match

Terps Take Trophy in Towson !!!

Energy, energy, energy.  That's what Terry felt at the end of the short hop up 83 to Johnny U Stadium yesterday.  Because despite the 80+ degree temperature, the partisan crowd was electrified at seeing the Maryland women's lacrosse team storm back from an initial 6 goal deficit to beat the reigning (five year) champs from Northwestern.

Just as noteworthy as the intensity of the crowd was the size -- nearly 10,000 fans.  That's the largest attendance for a women's lacrosse event ever.

A great victory for the lady Terps and dynamite product placement for that other home team whose logo is prominent in the trophy hoist.

Stand by for the rest of the Baltimore's lax weekend as we journey to M&T for the men's fnal.  Weather is beautiful and fans are pumped.

The $75 Million Weekend

In our pride at hosting the nationally televised NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship, we don't want to overlook those other lucrative events bringing young athletes, their parents (and their checkbooks) to Maryland for the weekend.

In the lacrosse column, there is the Women's NCAA championships taking place just up the road from M&T at Johnny Unitus Stadium in Towson.  There is also the previously mentioned Youth Lacrosse tourney and the activities associated with the Final Four at M&T.  This is a first time event intended to bring more youngsters into the excitement surrounding the college championship.  That will be taking place at the Cedar Lane complex.

Also at Cedar Lane (it's a pretty big place) is the National Women's Lacrosse tournament, which is the top of the women's club lacrosse programs.  That event is separate from (but always held in tandum with) the collegiate finals.

But in other parts of Maryland, there are prestigious soccer tournaments taking place.  The Elite Soccer Columbia Invitational  this weekend, brings several hundred top boys and girls teams in for the long holiday weekend.  That is a several million dollar impact event.

So Terry figured it up.  With all the men, women, boys, girls soccer lacrosse club collegiate stuff taking place, the State of Maryland is having a $75 million dollar worth of sports events weekend.

And just think -- the sun will be shining on all this economic activity.  And there is even more to come.

Jumpstarting the Season

The end of January can be pretty dismal.  Winter is not half over, football nearly is, and outdoor sports and recreation seem as far off as March Madness.

Which makes this the perfect time to crawl out of hibernation and prepare for the coming of spring.  Forget the groundhog -- we've had it with winter.

This past weekend were three season starters that longtime aficionados anticipate every year to help with the doldroms.  In Timonium, the Horse World Expo staged its 14th annual event January 21-24 at the Maryland Fairgrounds.  This four day celebration of the horse featured mounted demonstrations, educational seminars, breed and stallion presentations, and vendors selling products and services for every discipline.

There were also clinics and seminars on every aspect of horsemanship. Riding disciplines included Western, hunters, dressage, gaited and eventing. Clinicians demonstrated their approach to handling and training.

With equestrian competitions beginning in the spring, the Expo offered a look at what's new in equipment, training and technique, plus a lot of quality time with horses of every breed.  For the horse lover, this is nirvana.

For those who prefer surf to turf, the 56th annual Baltimore Boat Show docked at the Convention Center for the full weekend.  While primarily a retail event (with sales of boats, equipment, art, and everything relating to the water) the Boat Show is also a reunion for those who make the annual trek during the most inclimate time of the year.  (Yes, just being there made you think warm)

But for one of those days, there was yet another winter tradition that helps us believe spring cannot be unbearably far away --- the Oriole Fan Fest.  It's hard to believe the temps were sub-freezing when you saw all those O's caps and t-shirts wandering down Conway and snaked around the Warehouse ticket office.  I'm told there were about 10,000 in all.  I think they actually outnumbered the kazillion cheerleaders and laxers who were raising the roof last weekend.

So for those who think they'll undergo severe withdrawal after Super Bowl, take it from those who spent their weekends looking ahead -- there's a lot going on in Maryland this spring and there's always something new to learn about.

Bit by Bit – more tales of the trails

There was a small notice in the Baltimore Sun for a community meeting about improvements to Robert E. Lee Park, which straddles the City-County line above Lake Roland.

Only by reading between the lines is it apparent another segment of the Jones Falls Trail is taking a small step forward. This portion, which incorporates some old railroad property (seen above,) will eventually connect a beautiful natural resource area with downtown Baltimore. Like the now-popular Gwynns Falls Trail which passes through Camden Yards, it has been many years and numerous setbacks in the process. Budget cuts, environmental concerns and NIMBYism impede progress, but the care and consensus that go into these trails make them worth the wait.


Checking on my favorite stalled project, the South Shore Trail in Anne Arundel County, I was encouraged by an update from planner Ken Alban. The South Shore Trail will connect numerous schools, neighborhoods, libraries, parks, and ballfields between Annapolis and Odenton, coursing through communities just as the train did many years ago.   No, it is not yet “shovel ready,” but steady progress is taking place on each of the remaining segments. Easements, property acquisition, and the all-important funding are in the works. The design process has begun.


I recently wrote about Baltimore’s experience with the committee compiling the US bid for a future World Cup.  It bears repeating. Our selection as a site depends a great deal on our commitment to sustainability. Not just recycling and energy conservation, but facilities accessible by mass transit, bicycle and foot. Fortunately, our city and state planners were visionary in compiling a master plan which includes public access the old rightaways that provide connectivity.  Implementation is underway, bolstering our case.


While you may not share our enthusiasm for trails as linear parks or part of your fitness regimen, remember that in much of the world (particularly where decision makers reside) pedestrian and bicycle paths are a significant part of transportation infrastructure.

Bit by bit, we are getting there.

Trailblazer Torrey

Dr. Torrey C. Brown is one of our neighbors here at the Warehouse. The Hopkins-trained physician and one time assistant dean of the medical school is now a principal in a biotechnological firm. Yet, he has a far greater connection to Maryland sports that an office overlooking Camden Yards. For in those years between practicing medicine and developing cutting edge health products, Torrey Brown was a member of the Maryland General Assembly (where he chaired the Environmental Matters Committee) and, for twelve years, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. His influence, his legacy, is felt throughout Maryland in the parks and open spaces that provide enjoyment to so many.

Some of Maryland’s most prominent venues (like Fair Hill, Sandy Point, and Somers Cove Marina) are DNR properties. Others (like the rivers and our Bay) are DNR regulated. In fact, DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife. Learn about DNR facilities and programs here: www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/pfwma2.html

During his tenure, Torrey Brown was responsible for a number of advancements in the state’s park and recreational assets, helping to make them the attractions they are for outdoor sports. He fought some tough battles, too. One of the most controversial was banning the harvest of rockfish for five years when the species was seriously endangered. That’s a story for opening day of rockfish season.

Another bold initiative was transforming a 21 mile segment of the deserted North Central Railroad corridor, stretching from Hunt Valley to the Mason-Dixon line, into an all purpose recreational trail. In 1984, such a concept was revolutionary and met with tremendous resistence. Now when we see hikers, cyclists, and equestrians of all ages enjoying the linear park year round, it’s hard to imagine the furor he faced from NIMBYs who opposed him back then. But Torrey prevailed, and in the process the North Central Rail Trail became a national model for this type of recreational adaptive reuse.

Today, more than 800,000 visitors annually enjoy the trail, which is part of Gunpowder Falls State Park. And now it is known as the Torrey C. Brown trail, having been renamed in 2007 to honor the physician/visionary/conservationist who wasn’t afraid to take a tough stand to do the right thing.

Our next adventure (Ashley’s going along for this gig) is a visit to the Torrey C. We’ll start in Monkton and see where it takes us.

Tankagas State -- where the action is

There’s another reason – a very big one – why Maryland rules for hosting youth or college tournaments.

While an international airport and Amtrak’s Northeast corridor make Maryland venues easily accessible for major events, it is the interstate highway system and central location in the Mid-Atlantic population center that drive (literally) the friends and family network who comprise the fan base for youth and collegiate sports.

Call us Tankagas State. Not a campus, but a geographic reality -- with Maryland as the epicenter.

NCAA Lacrosse provides an excellent example. Baltimore, where both the men’s and women’s championship tournaments will be held next year, is only a tank of gas away from colleges in Long Island to Tobacco Road. Half the schools in the men’s Division I level are located within that radius, as are the families of many athletes. For a weekend event, Maryland is a rollicking road trip for a car and a cooler.

In the case of lacrosse, it goes beyond convenience for those involved in the tournament. Maryland also furnishes the talent for many of the teams, and other homegrown fans involved in many of the rec lacrosse programs, camps, tournaments and media outlets that comprise the outreach network. From a marketing standpoint, Maryland is lacrosse nirvana. The sport is nurtured here, and the locals will come regardless of who is in the tournament.

For tankagas road warriors, Maryland is a destination of choice for other reasons. Lots of lacrosse-centric activities and attractions are here. Ditto accommodations downtown or on light rail/water taxi lines.

We're counting down to NCAA Men's and Women's Lacrosse Championships, to be held in Baltimore Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. But until then, let's look at some of the other lacrosse tournaments that bring youngsters from all over the East Coast to Tankagas State.

Lax Splash, Timonium, June 6-7

Part of the Aloha tournament network, the Lax Splash tourney celebrates its 10th year in 2009. 160 teams participated in 1999. Since then, the tournament has grown steadily, now hosting more than 7,000 participants watched by nearly 20,000 attendees. The event, now considered the largest youth lacrosse tournament in the nation, is divided across 47 fields in 13 different locations, with the major hub of activity at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

Beach Lax Festival, Ocean City, June 6-7, 13-14

More than 200 lacrosse teams participated in the annual Beach Lax Festival over two weekends in and around Ocean City. 2009 is the 11th year for the girls (98 teams, June 6-7) tournament and fourth year for the boys (122 teams, June 13-14)

The purpose of the tournaments recognizes the end of the rec league season, the end of the school year, and the beginning of summer. But ultimately they celebrate family commitment to youth sports and Maryland's love affair with lacrosse.