Blast From the Past

Their aren't many sports packages that are dedicated strictly to local Maryland athletes. In fact, after in depth research, I really couldn't find any.

However, I was able to witness something that was similar to a Maryland-only sports package that made me feel very proud of my state.

This past Friday night, I was able to attend University of Maryland's Midnight Madness at the Comcast Center in College Park. Midnight Madness is a tradition at most universities which gives fans a chance to watch their basketball's team first practice. At the University of Maryland, Midnight Madness is more than tradition, it is almost like a school holiday.

Comcast Center was packed full of students, fans, and alumni decked out in red, yellow, and black. Before the men's and women's basketball teams took the court, a short video was aired on the big screens hanging above the court. The film was a overview of the many sports highlights U of Maryland has had over the past decades. From the football team's historic come from behind victory over Miami in 1983 to the men's basketball national championship in 2002. Every big moment was touched on, and each second filled me with more pride.

As I watched the highlight film, I couldn't help but remember all the great sports moments I would watch growing up. I felt like I was back in my younger days and reliving my past. From the cheers from the crowd, I had a feeling that many fans felt the same thing I did.

Bright Futures

I wrote an article for the Towson Towerlight this weekend speaking about the lack of role models in this country. I was concerned that young children would have trouble finding heroes because of the many scandals in the world of professional sports.

However I was able to find two young men who have not been negatively affected by growing up in an age where having a positive role model is out of the norm. On the contrary, they have flourished despite the negative influence and are well on their way to bright futures.

Nigel Sydnor and Miles Code are freshmen at Saint Paul’s School in Brooklandville, but you wouldn’t be able tell by looking at them. Both well over 6’2, muscular build, and walk around with a maturity and demeanor that rival most grown men. The Randallstown natives have been friends, not to mention excellent basketball players, for most of their lives. Both of these young men were heavily recruited by private schools in the area and realize their maturity now will play a large factor in their futures.

“I have a lot to look forward to in the next four years here at Saint Paul’s and then hopefully to college,” Sydnor said. “I really want to live up to my potential and make something of myself”

Sydnor and Code both hope to attend college together. Even though they are only 14 years old, they are both highly touted recruits and already are being sought after by high-ranking programs.

Sydnor and Code will lead Saint Paul’s when they host Baltimore Lutheran on Tuesday, December 4th .

Local Athlete: Carmelo Anthony

Veni, vidi, vecci. A famous latin phrase uttered by Julius Caesar. It means, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Caesar was speaking those words to the Roman senate about his victory at the Battle of Zela.

He may as well of been talking about Carmelo Anthony, too. Because when Anthony moved to Baltimore with him mother at the age of eight, he did just that. He came to Maryland, he saw what lay before him, he took over.

Carmelo Anthony was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1984. He moved to West Baltimore with his mother, his two brothers, his sister, and his half sister in 1992. Anthony took up basketball when he arrived in Maryland, as began to flourish immediately.

Anthony attended Towson Catholic High School from 1998-2001 where he was became an area legend. He was named ‘The Baltimore Sun’ metro player of the year, and the Baltimore Catholic League player of the year in 2001.

Anthony transferred to prestigious Oak Hill Academy for his senior season and became a national All-American.

Anthony earned a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University and made an instant impact. Anthony tallied team highs in points scored per game (22.1), rebounds per game (10), and minutes played per game (36.4) as a freshman.

Anthony lead the Orangemen to their first ever Men’s basketball National Championship in 2003. He scored 53 points in the Final Four, including 33 points against Texas in the national semifinal. His efforts earned him the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player award, making him the second consecutive Baltimore native to win the award (Juan Dixon of University of Maryland won award in 2002). On the season, Anthony was named national freshman of the year, conference freshman of the year, first team All-Big East, and second team AP All-American.

Anthony departed Syracuse after just one year of college, opting to pursue a lucrative NBA contract. He was selected with the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. Since being in the league, Anthony has not only shown why he was such a promising prospect out of college, but helped to turn the Denver franchise around.

In his rookie season, he led the Nuggets to their first playoff appearance in almost a decade. He bacame the second youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points in a game and the second youngest player in NBA history to score 1,000 points for his career. He was also a member of the 2004 bronze medalist Men’s basketball team in the Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

Anthony continues to give back to the Baltimore community. Anthony hosts an annual 3-on-3 tournament, oversees "HOOD Movement", is helping fund the revitalization of a local community center for local youth, and recently opened the ‘Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center’. Anthony recently contributed $1.5 million to Living Classroom Foundation, which provides education, job training and community service programs for people in East Baltimore.

Although he birth certificate doesn’t say born in Maryland, he has become an icon in the state and I am proud to call him one of my own.

Following In Big Brother's Footsteps: Keon Lattimore

I don't remember a lot about my junior year in high school. At that time in any person's life, so much is going on that it would be difficult to totally recall a certain event; especially events that only last a few minutes.

But I still remember, and will never forget, the first time I saw Keon Lattimore.

It was April of 2001. I was at the University of Maryland's Junior Combine; an organized football workout for local high school juniors to participate for college scouts. I went to the camp not knowing what to expect or how well I would fare against some of the state's best talent. I went through my drills with little difficulty and joined my teammates to watch the rest of the athletes. Shortly after getting to the sidelines, I witnessed an athlete, but he was no ordinary athlete. He ran faster than anyone. He jumped higher than anyone. He went through the agility drills with such ease, you would have thought that they were invented just for him. He played, and looked, the part of a man amongst boys.

I leaned over to my teammate in awe and whispered, "Who is that?"

"Who that?...That’s Keon Lattimore...Ray Lewis' little brother."

As soon as I heard those words, I drew an immediate resemblance. I instantly saw everything in Keon that I knew about his big brother. The athleticism, the passion, hell...the family resemblance. They look exactly alike!

Just remembering Ray Lewis dancing on the field at Raymond James Stadium three months earlier when the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. Recalling Lewis' gyrations, his fire on the field, his swagger because he knew he was better than you. All that was handed down to little brother. Everyone there that day knew he was special, and to this day, he has proved all of us right.

Lattimore hails from Owings Mill, where he was second team all-state as a junior and first team all-state as a senior at Mount St. Joseph's High School He was also a standout basketball player and sprinter on the track team. Lattimore is now the starting running back for the University of Maryland. In his career, Lattimore has gained over 1,800 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. Lattimore ranks in the top 20 in Maryland history in rushing yards.

Like any other little brother, I’m sure Keon wants to follow in big Ray’s footsteps. Who knows, there is a good chance he’ll join his brother in the National Football League next year.