While Maryland is going bananas over the Olympic gold-medal swimming exploits of Michael Phelps, the city of Baltimore seems to be having Raven problems. The Baltimore Ravens thus far during the preseason are struggling, unable to score with quarterbacks who can't throw, can't run or can't do either of the above.

While it's still early, and many of the Ravens' starters are out with injuries, local fans are already looking for places to dump their tickets. It appears that despite a new coaching staff, the team, for the eighth year in a row, has little ability to score.

I predicted last year that the Ravens would finish 5-11 on the season, and they did. This year I am predicting that they will win even fewer games and, at this point, to get better they will have to totally destroy the team and rebuild from the ground up.

Once the Ravens gave up the No. 8 pick in this year's NFL draft and passed up a chance to get Ryan Clady, a top offensive tackle, I knew the team had made a mistake. You always build the line before anything else. The Ravens' first draft choice was the 18th overall pick, quarterback Joe Flacco.

I hope that I am wrong and the preseason is not a sign of things to come, but things don't look good for this former Super Bowl winner. Boy, did the stands empty out fast Saturday night once the fans saw the punchless Ravens sputter on offense. Many remained for one reason only -- to watch Michael Phelps win his eighth gold medal. That was better than the game.

Senior softball players still enjoying game

Too many athletes retire too early in life. They play in high school, maybe college, then retire from active sports to help coach their kids. That is a mistake. To prove my point, go to Cedar Lane Park on a Wednesday morning and watch the Baltimore Beltway Senior Slow Pitch League featuring players from the ages of 60 to 84.

I had been invited by Howard County Reds players Lloyd Knowles and Ed Hamel to catch a game, but I always seemed to have something else going on. This time another Red, Bill Alborn, who I had not seen for almost 20 years, invited me and I decided to go.

I discovered that these are true athletes who are in good physical shape and play a great game of softball. But I was just as impressed by the good sportsmanship on display and the concern not only for players on the Reds but for those on the opposing team.

I saw running catches by right fielder Dan Gilbert, several super plays by outfielder Dick Shepherd, and a couple well-executed double plays by Tom Gessel, Rich Costa and Andy Zitnay. I also saw some good glovework by Parkville's 84-year-old first baseman, George Breckenridge.

I urge more of our older athletes to take part in a senior game. I believe it will instill a sense of what sports is really supposed to be about. It certainly did for me.

Share the roads with Iron Girl competitors

The roads leading to and from Centennial Park will be quite busy on Sunday morning, Aug. 24. More than 2,000 participants in the Aflac Iron Girl triathlon will be biking on Route 108 and then out Homewood, Folly Quarter and Triadelphia roads. The first wave of swimmers hit the water at 6:45 a.m. The bike and run portions of the triathlon follow.

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