My Ravens Training Camp Experience

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 30, 2009 9:15 AM EDT Comment 39 comments

Going behind the scenes at the Baltimore Ravens opening day of their 2009 Training Camp was like an adult Disney World for me. Hanging with all the other media people along the sidelines and end zone while players and coaches were all around us was a dream come true for this Ravens fan. I brought my camera, note pad and recorder to get the details.

Walking around the fields, I had perfect views of both fields and everything going on in the organized frenzy that the coaches and players only seem to understand. Once the morning session was over, there were podium interviews and then opportunities for other group interviews and even a few one-on-ones that I was able to get with WR Justin Harper, and placekicker Graham Gano. I also got questions in to Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams and even Joe Flacco.

After it was over for the morning, us media people went back to the Best Western hotel where the players were staying to set up our computers in their lobby and prepare our stories. Lunch was served after the players and coaches ate, in the hotel's conference rooms. Classic Catering provided the food, which consisted of crabcakes, chicken, frsh fruit, salad bar, ice cream and any drinks you could want. The meal was great and compliments of the Ravens.

One of the guys who gave me the most info and pointed me in the right direction all day was Mike Duffy, writer for BaltimoreRavens.com. He was easay to approach and ask questions all day long. I also introduced myself to TV's Gerry Sandusky, Mark Viviano and Bruce Cunningham, as well as Ravens sportswriter for the Carroll County Times, Aaron Wilson.

Back out on the fields for the afternoon session, the heat was out in full force, a big difference from the morning session. No interviews after practice this afternoon, as the day was long and tiring for the players, not to mention this "rookie" media personality. More tomorrow and the rest of this week. Jealous, guys? You should be!

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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Sweet! Another Graham Gano interview! Ya’ll must be BFF’s by this point.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 29, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, when he wins the job,....

I’ll have a great “in” for future interviews. Gotta make connections. Working on Marcus and Justin as well (sounds like a beach movie title!).

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love that Mike Duffy

He really is such a cool guy. And also is like 6’7"!

At a Terps basketball game last year, I saw him during halftime and got to talk to him for about 5 minutes while we both stood in line to buy a drink.

Did you sit in the corner of the cafeteria eating fruit salad and ice cream by yourself?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 29, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah, crab cakes, chicken

w/ broccoli and fries. Then low fat yougurt w/ sugar cookie, followed by a Diet Snapple. Great food, think I’d stick w/ the healthy salad?

Sat w/ Sun’s Jamison Henley, Ken Murray and Edward Lee, and next table was Aaron Wilson, Gerry Sandusky, Mark Viviano among others.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 30, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hear that bowl cut tan girl’s voice from the United Way commercial narrating as I read your story.

way to go bruce. i’m jealous. now your eating with the team. what’s next, tanning salons and collar up dress shirts hangin’ with Bischotti?

by raven on Jul 29, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kudos to ya Bruce

I’ve been reading your blogs for a while and would consider my self an avid reader lol. I always envy you when ever you get these player interviews or get special access come training camp.

Sounds like you had fun, keep posting how the boys in purple and black are doing lol. I don’t think you get thanked enough, but coming from a true Ravens fan, I really appreciate what you do for this site and think that you push this site past all other wanna-be Ravens sites.

The Ravens are a a team that strives off insanity.

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

See this guys!?

This guy really gets me. You should learn from him and cut me some slack and appreciate what I do for the big bucks I get for this!

Thanks, guy!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 30, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You deserve a plaque

Bruce,
thanks for acknowledging me as…guy lol :P. Anyways your writing style is very fluid and critiquing it wouldn’t be easy. The way you are able to organize your thoughts out goes along way, when most media writers don’t write things in chronological order. I know it’s not easy when your writing sports, but you manage to make everything sound so neat, in order and organized. I can’t even explain it, but thanks for doing such a great job!

Do you have to pay for everything you do, if so, are you accepting donations? You do so much that you really are worth any salary that you charge. I’m being tempted to tell the guy I write for to come and throw money at you. Your a great writer Bruce, and I look forward to your next fanpost.

Looking forward to the rest of your interviews and specials you have!

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you can stalk Bruce at McDaniel. i can see you jabbing a pencil in your leg over and over again as he walks the sidelines in the distance.

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I would like to meet Bruce :P haha

No, I don’t think I will stab a pencil in my leg though…but I hope he gets some good interviews tomorrow and during training camp!

Will he be out every week or just tomorrow?

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much every day

Look for me in my polo w/ Baltimore Beatdown logo or purple Beatdown t-shirt. I’m the one with the les than professional looking camera!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 31, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually the network The Beatdown belongs to

pays me a “stipend” based on the number of hits the site gets. We’ve been doing real good for us, but at 50,000 hits/month, we are still relatively low down on the SB Nation Football Blogs totem pole. No need for donations but if you’re interested in doing local advertising on Baltimore Beatdown, it could be done relatively cheaply, with proceeds from the advertising going to me. If interested, I can put you in touch w/ the “powers that be.” Feel free to email me at: BaltimoreBeatdown@gmail.com

That advertising opportunity is open to anyone else reading this.

Sorry about the “guy” title, I could just say, Mr. The Instigator!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 30, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you know what an instigator is?

Anyways, you can’t put a price on the quality of your work. Your like Kelly Gregg, but a writer for Baltimore Beatdown. You do things under the radar, which go under appreciated, but the main man of the team/site.

you can call me Dan instead of the instigator lol.

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i know what an instigator is- it’s a quick cajun food.

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you use 'dictate' in a sentence, raven?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 31, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not entirely sure I like where this is going.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 31, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DICTATE

Sentence- I didn’t swipe it but i knows who dictate it.

by raven on Aug 1, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“my girlfriend says my dictate good.”

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Aug 1, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

big bucks? are you being sarcastic? i’ve been sending you the $20 a month subscription fee you asked me for since i joined. that adds up with all the Beatdown members.

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

raven

we all know you’d never waste that money, as it would be equal to a big weekend at your house!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 30, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OR

that money could go towards taking Bruce out, to a nice steak dinner at Ruth Chris which is indisputably deserves.

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm beginning to really like this guy

I mean, ‘Dan!’

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 31, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

noooow i get it..Like Burce Wayne in Batman…Bruce is actually The Instigator. AHA!

Can I advertise ‘Obese Massages’. It’s a new company I started for the self conscious. Hot wax, oils the works.

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL YOU FIGURED OUT MY PLAN

Haha Raven, how did you figure out who I was?

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Instigator should ask Bruce to junior prom.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 30, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, back at my Junior Prom

I pimped a light blue Leisure Suit with dark blue lining the lapels! Swwweeetttt 1975!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 31, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats the same suit Carry’s date wore before he got hit on the head with the bucket of pigs blood.

by raven on Aug 1, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did he ever end up

getting a little from Sissy Spacek? She was like the wierd girl from school that everyone makes fun of but you secretly like her and want to ask her out cause no one else will go out with you but you are afraid even she will say no, so you just daydream about her body under all those layers of clothes and ….nevermind. Sorry.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Aug 1, 2009 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i figured it out by the last sentence “which is indusputably deserves”..just sounds like Bruce.

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woops

I meant to say which he indisputably deserves. Not is. Sorry, typo Raven. You actually sound like a normal human being for once.

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Key word

For once.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 30, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, good ol Raven

Always acting like a foreigner.

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the most reply buttons raven has used since he has been on this blog.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 30, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good?

well I’m happy for Raven!

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 30, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

j-man taught me how to use it

by raven on Jul 30, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

calling for big storms friday

by raven on Jul 31, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nope

they said it went backwards.

Ravens...who else?

by The Instigator on Jul 31, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sunny and hot in the am session

but now sitting in team hotel (after they fed us salmon, etc) for lunch and it just finished raining real hard with high winds. Friday PM practice may not go off.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 31, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs