Watching The Game

On Nightlife With the Ravens out of town last week, there was no better time to hunker down at a Fells Point pub and watch the action on the tube. Granted, Fells Point bars have their drawbacks. They can be small, dirty, smoky and filled with big, dirty, smoky people. s is at 1629 Thames St. Call 410-522-5820. sam.sessa@baltsun.com

The sight of Orioles designated hitter Wilson Betemit rolling and writhing on the infield grass of Ed Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon suddenly quieted a sellout crowd and sent chills through the home dugout. As routine an act as Betemit's was - going on a full-count pitch from first base to second during the Orioles 12-9 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox - the result was anything but. Betemit's right knee buckled mid-stride as he stumbled in the basepath, crumbled to the ground and clutched his knee in severe pain.

LAS VEGAS -- Dennis Kelley, a nurse from Pittsburgh, came prepared for Super Bowl Sunday at Caesars Palace. Kelley had his Ben Roethlisberger jersey. He wore his gold football pants. He even pulled on his throwback Steelers leather helmet. And he had a pillow. If you want a good perch to watch the Super Bowl here, you better have a game plan. Kelley's strategy was to get to the Caesars Palace sports and race book, one of Vegas' premier spots to watch the game, early enough to save seats for his fiancee and her aunt.

With TVs on the walls, in the booths and hanging from the ceiling, the Field House in Canton is a wonderful place to have a few beers and watch multiple games at once. On a recent visit, however, some of the food played third-string to the entertainment and libations. The enormous space, which used to be Ray Lewis' Full Moon BBQ, gives off a steak house-meets-frat house vibe: High-backed leather booths and college banners abound. Our first server was a bartender who, upon being asked whether the "local calamari" ($10)

On Saturday night, I walked down to Camden Yards and bought a $10 Upper Reserved ticket. At some point, it became less $10 ticket and more like a $10 cover charge, the price for admission to a gorgeous urban gathering place and to the new Roof Deck in particular. The choice seats on the new Roof Deck at Camden Yards are first-come, first-served. So far, that seems to be working. On Saturday night, a few fans wearing Minnesota Twins gear had successful commandeered a few of the front-row stools under the overhang, and no one seemed to begrudge them them.

The Baltimore sports scene is blessed with a bunch of talented bloggers who bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Each week, I hope to chat with one of them in a regular feature called Blogger on Blogger. This week, I exchanged emails with Matt Taylor, who blogs about the Orioles for Roar From 34 . MV: You recently wrote that last year you were waiting for the bottom to fall out with this team, but that isn't the case this season. What makes you believe that this Orioles team has staying power?

On Saturday, Taylor Teagarden hit a walk-off home run in the 13th inning to beat the Detroit Tigers after being activated from the 60-day disabled list earlier that day. After the game, Teagarden went on for a live interview with the Fox announcers in the booth, where his teammates proceeded to hit him in the face with a shaving cream pie. While wiping his face off, Teagarden said a four-letter word that is a synonym for 'poop' on...

Gardiners Furniture might be eating its Super Bowl bet but couldn't be happier about it. Gary Mullaney, co-owner of the Baltimore chain, said Monday that his phone has been ringing off the hook and reporters have been clamoring for interviews since an improbable offer came true. Gardiners told customers all furniture bought between Jan. 31 and 3 p.m. on the day of the game would be free if the Baltimore Ravens returned a kick for a touchdown during Sunday evening's Super Bowl . And then Jacoby Jones returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown to open the second half, forcing the store to give away $600,000 in furnishings.

Fifty years ago this month there was a knock on our apartment door. With a baby on my hip, I greeted my downstairs neighbor: "You've got to read this!" she said, pushing a book toward me. "It will change your life!" That was my introduction to The Feminine Mystique. It was a pleasant change from Dr. Spock. Although I was part of Betty Friedan's target audience - - a white, middle class, college-educated woman relegated to changing diapers and keeping house while her husband enjoyed a fulfilling career - The Feminine Mystique did not speak to me. It was a powerful, revolutionary book that should have made me mad as hell, but this then 25-year-old, happily married wife and mother felt blessed every day to be able to stay at home, care for her baby and keep house for an appreciative husband.

It figured to happen sooner or later, and last week it finally did: The Orioles' inaugural season at Camden Yards became a virtual sellout.Scattered single seats remain for most of the final 16 home games. The team also expects to receive ticket returns from groups that have purchased large blocks of seats and cannot use all of them. Otherwise, the cupboard at the team ticket office is bare.Still, team officials emphasized that fans shouldn't completely abandon hope of seeing the Orioles play this month.