General Meeting
Judge’s Bench
Call to order – Ken Bauer
Pledge to the flag – Gary Eikenberg (absent)
- Shorty held the flag
50/50’s
- Missy sold tickets – Winner: Laura Poling won $88.00 with ticket # 719888
Guest Speakers – Tim Cowan.
Tim Cowen is on the Board of
Directors for Rebuilding Together (Christmas in April). Rebuilding Together works each year to help
the elderly and underprivileged stay in their homes a little longer. Many of us worked a long and muddy day last
year. Tim rewarded the Roost as we were
presented with a plaque for our efforts.
The plaque will be prominently displayed in the trophy case.
Tony Lombardi – Tony writes “Lombardi’s Way” for www.Ravens24/7.com
as well as hosting Game Time on ESPN radio 1300AM. Tune in 5 hours before game time every
Sunday. (there
were lots of questions for Tony. I’ve
tried my best but have only managed the ‘readers digest’ version of the segment
as I could not type as fast as Tony was talking. Denise)
Q: Why didn’t Chester Taylor play the second
half?
A: Billick often says
in his post game interviews about the parameters and dynamics of the game but
that in a nutshell they wanted to establish the running game. There’s no real answer. Sometimes we forget
these people are human beings with lives and problems of their own off the
field. I think Jamal is going through
this now.
Q: Has it been overheard in locker rooms that if
Jamal got his contract he would play better?
A: Good question. There are more things than just problems with
his contract going on. It’s not an issue
of money. This was heard the day after
the Mike Preston interview. I don’t think
he’s 100% healthy. You can’t expect to
see the 2003 season with all those yards rushing again. Now if we get 1500 or 1700 yards from Jamal
it would be a good year. Running backs
hit a wall when they are 26 or 27 years old.
We can’t pay players for what they did in the past. You pay them for what you think they are
capable of in the future. Jamal has a
lot to prove. He was incarcerated. The offensive line sucks. Jamal got his big runs in the past from the
line sealing off. Chester Taylor is a
different style runner and it bodes well for him now. Jamal is a pathetic blocker. He doesn’t want to do it. I say “the inmates
are running the asylum” meaning the team has control and not the coach.
Q: What does this say about Billick’s
future?
A: Billick is loyal to
a fault. Someone has to get into Brian’s
head and influence him. He has a high IQ
and vocabulary lexicon that is unprecedented and he likes to show that in
interviews but when you sit down with him and have a talk he’s really a very
nice guy. He likes to take the heat for
his team. He has done that so many times
now it’s the teams turn to go to bat for him.
We’ve only been here for 10 years.
We love these guys. We’re
attached to these guys. We haven’t
really gone through a major transition.
Steve Bisciotti and Brian Billick
were talking and Steve wanted to get Mike out of there. Brian convinced him to keep him around for
another year. Billick
was referring to Bisciotti as ‘the young man’ and his
wife as ‘the young woman’ which greatly perplexed Bisciotti. Bisciotti is the quintessential
overachiever and has got a team of underachievers.
Q: Where do you draw the line between loyalty
and arrogance in regards to Jamal and
A: Billick is
arrogant. It’s borderline and someone
will have to address that. It’s not working. There is too much talent on that team. 13 pro bowlers and 2
alternates. It doesn’t
matter. I equate Jamal to a basketball
player who can only use his right hand.
What do you do? You force him to
the left. They have tried to spread the
offense out but the results are the same.
The problems are more than just Brian.
The natural target is the QB. The offensive line? I
don’t see a good offense line. In my opinion
this season is over. Mike Flynn? We let the wrong guy go. Ray loves the game too much to leave. If
Kyle does not get back on the field we are starting right back over from square
one.
Q: How much of a leash will Bisciotti
give Billick?
A: I don’t think it’s a real long leash right
now. I think he has one more year. If we finish 2 and 14 then he’s got to go. They have had 43 penalties for 343 yards in
the last three games. That’s a team
without discipline.
Q: How is the music coming on the Unitas we stand song?
A: (oops, hit a sore spot here, Denise) Johnny Unitas Jr. issued a cease and desist order because we used
the Unitas name.
(OK, I missed some stuff here. I
think Tony was working on a song for a children’s hospital but Johnny Jr.
canned it. Johnny Jr. said he could use
the name but any money raised had to go to ‘you know who’)
Be sure to listen to Game
Time on ESPN radio 1300am 5 hours before the game.
Be sure to visit www.Ravens24/7.com for Lombardi’s Way.
(and
Pat, since Jocelyn said you wanted all the dirt….Tony is what I call ‘easy on
the eyes’).
Membership Report – Mitch - Membership dues were due last month. The Roost will allow to pay
through tonight. If you pay late (after
One new
member. Jack Giordano Jack works with Steve and Toby and he
knows Gus. He’s been a season ticket
holder since day one and has always wanted to be a member of a roost. Buzzy
abstained. Jack was inducted and our
cheer ensued.
Council of Ravens Roosts Report – Ken Bauer - Ken failed to make it to the most
recent meeting claiming he had his ACL torn by an overzealous football player
who was angry with him. But this editor
can tell you that is (ahem…) not 100% accurate since I
was fortunate enough to be sitting next to Ken’s better half. Ken
had no report except for the fact that the doctor drained 110 cc’s of bloody fluid from his knee.
Ken did report that the
Roost is slated to follow Article IV, Section 3a of the Constitution whereas
the board is to select a nominating committee for annual nominations for next
years offices. The Board of Directors
selected Dennis and Mandy to head the nomination committee with Frosty as an
alternate and Joe Marciano as a member at large. Point of order. These people have accepted their post. Dennis is the Chair of the committee. At the November meeting there will be one
final call for officer nomination. The
nominations will be posted at the December General meeting with a list sent out
to all members 5 days before the December meeting. Elections are held in January.
Our Christmas Party will be held at the VFW Hall in
Lucy from The Bench said
they’re having a Ravens costume contest on Monday 10/31. Happy hour all night. First and second prizes.
Vice President Report – Dennis – The convention is on.
Treasurers Report – Mandy –
Total assets - $21,571.39
Allocated – Road Trip - $ 8,788.50
Allocated – Charities - $ 2,250.00
Operations account - $ 5,540.92
Scholarship Account - $ 4,991.97
Website Report – Mitch – Visit www.Ravens24/7.com
to read Tony’s reports. Santa hats are available in purple with
embroidering. About
$8. Bowling shirts are $35, $40 if
embroidered with your name. Sign up with
Mitch for a shirt or hat. Pictures from
the game are on our website.
Board Report – Eddie Powers - Got to get tickets from Patty for the bull roast.
Ways and Means – Toni – no report
Bull Roast – Patty was absent. Our bull
roast is on. It’s the night before the
council roast. Ours is the 18th
of March. More info to
follow.
Charitable Contributions – All of the scholarship packages went out to all 12
high schools. They will make their
nominations. Choice will be made at the
end of November. As always, $250 is
slated to go to the sheriffs department for meals and underprivileged children.
Old business – Ken - everyone wear your Hawaiian shirts when on the
Mitch bought an autographed
picture of Ray Lewis at the Mulitalo Luau and
proposed selling it to the roost as a future raffle item. The motion was placed on the floor. The motion was passed.
A motion was placed on the
floor to put Barb Peterson in as a lifetime member (she will not need to pay
dues ever again). The motion was
passed. Buzzy
abstained. Shorty
said that Buzzy was an asshole for abstaining from voting
Barb as a lifetime member.
New Business – Ken – no report.
Meeting adjourned.