Primer

After getting badly outcoached and outplayed last week in Tennessee, the Ravens return to their comfort zone in St. Louis today. They face a weak NFC West team with a one-dimensional offense and a bad defense. The Rams are no match for the Ravens. And only the Ravens can keep the Rams in this game. But don't expect it to happen. Here are three reasons why Baltimore wins handily in the Edward Jones Dome: 1) The Ravens will run the ball and control the clock against a defense that is last in the NFL against the rush.

Before we officially embrace the 2011 season today, let's take one last look at how last season ended. In a 31-24 divisional playoff loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Ravens blew a big first-half lead, gave up an inexplicable deep ball on defense late in the game, and struggled once again to protect Joe Flacco. The good news was the Ravens dominated the first half. The bad news was the Steelers dominated the second, when the Ravens dropped passes, lost fumbles and gave up sacks.

The All Rap Round Robin has become a refreshing staple of Baltimore's underground hip-hop scene. That tradition continues Friday night at Floristree, and it's only getting bigger. Now in its fifth year, the annual showcase expands to 12 acts from last year's nine. (Thirteen if you include Secret Weapon Dave, the night's DJ.) That's a lot of performers, and you'd be forgiven for not knowing all of them. You can read my primer on the night's bill here . It'll be published in Wednesday's b and in the weekend edition of the Sun. Words can only do this unique event so much justice.

This may be Charm City, but the PR outfit promoting Prince Edward's visit wasn't sure the Baltimore press corps had the polish to cover royalty. So IMRE took it upon itself to play Henry Higgins to newsroom Eliza Doolittles. "Royal Protocol: The general rule is that on first meeting the salutation is 'Your Royal Highness' and thereafter 'Sir,'" reporters were instructed via email. (I'm wondering if Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's office sent the prince a similar primer, with a "Don't call me 'Stephanie '" advisory.

The Ravens did well in addressing needs during last weekend’s NFL draft. In the first two rounds, they added a supersized press cornerback in Jimmy Smith and a speedy receiver with big-play potential in Torrey Smith. But they still have holes to fill with veteran players whenever the NFL lockout ends and free agency begins. Backup quarterback Marc Bulger has been linked to the Cardinals, who didn’t select a quarterback in this draft. Three of the Ravens’ regulars at cornerback -- Josh Wilson, Chris Carr and Fabian Washington -- are all free agents.

FanFest, the Orioles' annual preseason celebration, comes to the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday. The event, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature appearances by and autograph opportunities with nearly the entire Orioles team, as well as former players Mike Bordick, Rick Dempsey, Mike Flanagan, Ross Grimsley, Dick Hall, Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor, Joe Orsulak, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell and Larry Sheets. Manager Buck Showalter and new bench coach Willie Randolph will be present, as will minor leaguer pitchers Zach Britton and Brandon Erbe.

Thursday, a commission headed by former House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. will convene in Annapolis to study how to put Maryland's $33.7 billion public pension fund in better financial standing. While there are any number of possible fixes for this complex problem, the solution will fall short if it fails to move state employers away from traditional pension benefits and toward a defined contribution system such as the 401(k). That idea is likely to infuriate the unions that represent state workers.

Burning questions Will Joe Flacco become one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks? The franchise quarterback has put up impressive numbers (6,584 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes in two seasons). Now, he must consistently take over games. It wasn't until the third season as a starter that Philip Rivers, a former pupil of Cam Cameron's, had his breakthrough season (more than 4,000 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes). When will Ed Reed return to the field? No one, including Reed, knows how long the hip injury will sideline him. The enigmatic safety said he could be ready for the season opener or be out until December.

Nothing is so heartening to job-seekers nowadays as word that thousands of openings are headed their way. That's the siren call of BRAC — the military base realignment and closure effort that's relocating jobs to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County and other installations in Maryland. About 12,000 jobs are moving to the two Baltimore-area bases between August and next summer, along with thousands more off-base contractor jobs. And they are coming as unemployment is still near generational highs.