Starting this week, the Examiner will talk with former Colt great Tom Matte on Sundays and get his take on the Ravens, his life in football, and some other things, too. It?ll be brief, in a Q & A format, and hopefully fun, too.
Sunday, staff writer Ron Cassie caught up with Tom 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.
Recommended Stories
» Ron Cassie: Tom, my first question is how did you find parking? This place is packed in like a goal line stand.
» Tom Matte: I drove around for 20 minutes; you gotta look for a hole.
» RC: The Ravens have started fast, and credit has gone to coach Brian Billick, who apparently opened communication lines with the owner and become more ?sensitive? to players? needs. Did you ever hear of this working for a head football coach?
» TM: That?s a good question. I?ll tell you what, I played for Woody Hayes and if I was there today, I?d own the school ? he hit me that many times. At one practice, he hit me so hard he almost knocked me out. He was so mad, he hit himself next, and did knock himself out. Bo Schembechler, my position coach, told me to get out of there before he woke up because he was going to kill me.
That was a different time.
» RC: Speaking of Ohio State, they?re 4-0.
» TM: I?ll be there when they play Michigan. I?ll be late Sunday for the radio show, but screw it.
(Moments later, the Cleveland Browns score to make it 14-3 at the half. Matte, who flies an American flag, and either an Ohio State or Ravens flag at home on the weekends, is visibly upset.)
» TM: Are you kidding me?!?
» RC: What does Billick say in the locker room?
» TM: I?d chew them out a new one.
(Down 14-12 in the fourth quarter with time ticking away, the Raven?s Chris McAllister intercepts a pass in the end zone.)
» RC: This will be the first true test for McNair.
» TM: That?s right, a veteran should be able to get something done here, That?s why you got him. But we?re damn lucky to be talking about this game at all.
(Three minutes later, Matt Stover hits a game-winning 52-yard boot.)
» TM: Today they got outplayed, but they never quit. That?s the key. Next week (when the Ravens play San Diego) we?ll find out if this team is for real.
?Mondays with Matte? will run following every Ravens game. You can reach Ron Cassie at [email protected]
