On Sunday, staff writer Ron Cassie caught the Ravens-Saints game with former Colts great Tom Matte at Dave and Buster?s in the Arundel Mills Mall, between his pre- and post-game radio show on 105.7 FM and 1300 AM with Damon Yaffe, Gary Stein and Anita Marks.
» Examiner: Ravens had a bye last week. When you played, guys might have used the break to put in a few hours on their off-season career. What was your worst off-season job?
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» TM: Actually, I liked them all. One thing I did was sell vacuum cleaners. I did product demonstrations in Macy?s basement.
» Examiner: Hard to imagine Jamal Lewis doing that. Got a prediction for today?
» TM: Baltimore, 20-10
(McNair runs for a short, first-quarter touchdown. Ravens lead, 7-0.)
» TM: Quarterback draw ? finally. I?ve been calling for that play for 10 years.
» Examiner: Brian Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel after the last two losses. Do you remember a head coach and coordinator butting heads during the year?
» TM: Unitas and Shula. John hated Shula. I?d run in with a play, and he?d call whatever he wanted.
» Examiner: Where did that animosity come from?
» TM: Shula had played with the Colts, was about John?s age and a defensive guy. John told him he?d run the offense. It got bad after Super Bowl III. John, who had been hurt during the year, thought he should?ve started the second half.
» Examiner: Billick and Fassel are friends though.
» TM: The thing here is, Billick?s job is on the line. Who do you want controlling your destiny ? you or your best friend?
(McNair hits Clarence Moore for a 14-0 lead.)
» Examiner: Looks like a smart decision.
» TM: The players, the offensive line in particular, wanted a change offensively. They got what they wanted, and now it?s on their shoulders.
(Ravens lead, 21-0, after an interception return, but New Orleans scores on a 32-yard pass before half.)
» TM: #*!+$%! They had the crowd out of the game!
(The Ravens, nonetheless, cruise to a 35-22 win and improve to 5-2.)
» TM: (Laughing) Now, everybody?s going to be calling the radio show: ?The Ravens are going to the Super Bowl.? Hell, my wife just called me and said my son is already looking for tickets.
