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I’ve always liked the way the Baltimore Ravens operate. They’re more like a gang, or a lifestyle, than any other club in football. When wide receiver Derrick Mason announced his retirement a few days back, the response of the Raven organization was reminiscent of a certain Don Corleone. GM Ozzie Newsome quickly retorted that Mason was still considered a member of the squad while Coach Jim Harbaugh called Mason and, essentially, said, “we’ll see you in camp”. Sorry Derrick, every time you try and get out, they just pull you back in …the Ravens are serious prospects for this years Superbowl…in a puzzling move, the New York Islanders have added former Flyers goalie Martin Biron to their roster. That brings the Isles up to three potential starters, including ex-Oiler Dwayne Roloson and incumbent Rick DiPietro. If the Long Island operation was functional and intelligent, the reasonable conclusion would be that they do not believe DiPietro can overcome his ever present onslaught of injuries…the Edmonton Oilers have sent pouting diva Dany Heatley videos of their star players in an effort to induce the Ottawa Senator to waive his no trade clause. Heatley’s agent would not even confirm if his client had watched the collection…Martin Gerber has signed with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL. He didn’t play all that poorly for the Toronto Maple Leafs during a brief stint. The Buds were often horrible and frequently left the goalie to his own devices. Here’s hoping he resurfaces in the NHL someday…the St Louis Rams of the National Football League have lost 27 of their past 32 games. At times their play last year bordered on farcical as they repeatedly proved incapable of performing at a professional level. Based on their off season moves, particularly the release of OT Orlando Pace and WR Terry Holt, the Rams are still a season away from being competitive. The game plan for this season relies heavily on QB Marc Bulger and running back Steven Jackson. That’s a real concern. It is debatable whether either purported star has, in fact, any game left…in Grant Wahl’s book, “The Beckham Experiment”, the author indicts David Beckham for not picking up the tab at the Los Angeles Galaxy’s first team dinner. Wahl is honest enough to admit he has engendered quite a backlash from European fans who protest Becks did nothing wrong. He didn’t come to America to babysit the team and shower them with treats. They’re grown men who should expect to pay their own way. Of all the criticisms I’ve read of the English player, the supposed dinner “faux pas” is surely the most ridiculous…how could the heavyweight division become more preposterous? David Haye has been the subject of explosive hype. The British former cruiserweight champ invaded the heavyweight division with a knockout of shop-worn Monte Barrett and then used his admirable vocal abilities to antagonize both Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko. First Vladimir signed to fight Haye. Haye pulled out. Then Vitali agreed, in what really was an anticipated fight, to meet Haye on Sept 12^th. The fight appeared to be a done deal. Hold on, Flash. Out of the blue Haye has announced he has signed to fight Nikolai Valuev on Nov 7^th. Now both Klitschkos have been left at the altar! Objectively, this is a good move for Haye. Valuev is a lumbering mediocrity who offers a solid jab and, outside of his prodigious size, little else. A Haye win helps his cause immeasurably and ensures a greater slice of the pie if and when he does face the Ukrainian big boys. It will be allot of fun to see Valuev get chopped down by the aggressive smaller man…mercifully, a Haye win on Nov 7^th spares us the prospect of another John Ruiz - Valuev fight…currently reading George Kimball’s “The Four Kings”, a review of the 1980’s fights between Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler. The book is note perfect, capturing the mood of the times and the intensity of the rivalry between the legendary pugilists. A part I loved; after losing to Roberto Duran in 1980, Leonard was crushed by how upset his handlers appeared. Dave Jacobs, Mike Trainer, Angelo Dundee, all appeared inconsolable. Ray reveals, however, that in his heart he had always wondered if he could absorb a beating, if he could fight through pain and persevere. In the quiet of his own mind, the bruised and battered Sugar Man was quietly delighted that he had finally put all his internal doubts to rest. That type of mental strength clearly set the groundwork for his amazing performance in New Orleans a mere five months later…