Coffee Companion -- 3/3

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with some reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine.

Running it back:

The fading Maryland men lost to Miami, 80-66, on Wednesday night. "We just had a bad game tonight, that's for sure," coach Gary Williams said. ... The Orioles had 16 hits Wednesday and held off a late Phillies rally to win, 6-5. ... Ravens players and officials are bracing for a lockout as the deadline looms. ... Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski will fight on the undercard of a pro boxing event. ... The Indianapolis Grand Prix will give Michael Phelps an idea of where he stands.

Hitting the links:

1. Zach Britton is maturing, and his improvement could lead to the majors this season [Baltimore Sun]

2. Matt Wieters is a colossal disappointment? Not so fast [Dempsey's Army]

3. Renovations turned Ed Smith Stadium from a pit to a palace [Big League Stew]

4. Spring postcard: Improving Orioles still have a long way to go [SI]

5. Mark Reynolds looks for positives after his career is thrown a curve [Big League Stew]

6. An interpretive rendering of Cal Ripken Jr.’s young adult book [Deadspin]

7. J.J. Hardy talks ping pong, the Baltimore heat, and Cal Ripken [Camden Chat]

8. The Orioles' 2010 expenditures in international free agency [Camden Depot]

9. An Orioles reunion with Juan Samuel [Schmuck Stops Here]

10. A pass rusher is a logical intersection of the Ravens’ needs and the talents in the draft [CSN Baltimore]

11. Kevin Cowherd: Neither side is worthy of backing in the NFL labor battle [Baltimore Sun]

12. Here's a mock draft predicting the Ravens' first four picks [Ravens Gab]

13. You can put the Terps' loss on the list of Maryland's lousy games this season. [Tracking the Terps]

14. Looking at the immediate future for Maryland basketball [Baltimore Sports and Life]

15. Iconic basketball coach Fang Mitchell's future is unknown at Coppin State [Baltimore Sun]

16. Who said it: Charlie Sheen or the Ultimate Warrior? [Aggrogate]

You said it:

"Now that's why I call Cam Cameron 'The Tackling Dummy.'" -- reader Attila the Hon responds to my post about Peter King not knowing why the Ravens signed WR Donte' Stallworth

Video of the morning:

Check out this game-winning trick play in a NAIA women's basketball game

Danielle Clauson's Game-Winner @ Yahoo! Video

Send me your funny and/or interesting links, photos, YouTube videos, blogs, Tweets, comments, emails, ideas, leads, etc. If I deem them to be worthy for the blog, I’ll give you a plug. You can reach me at [e-mail] and twitter.com/mattvensel.