Watching The Game

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.

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

On the day that the Orioles won their season-high fourth straight game, the feat was virtually ignored, overshadowed by perhaps the biggest baseball brawl in the club's 40-year history.The seventh-inning rumble that interrupted the 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners for 20 minutes resulted in the ejection of seven players plus Mariners manager Lou Piniella. It also gave the Orioles their biggest scare of the season when starting pitcher Mike Mussina was buried under a pile of players on the mound after hitting Bill Haselman on the shoulder with a high, inside fastball.

I did not think Sunday-afternoon football, one of the great pleasures of my life, could get any worse than watching the CBS team of Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf calling the game back in October with the Houston Texans whipping the Ravens. But it got worse Sunday with Gumbel and Dierdorf at the microphone while Denver dismantled the Ravens 34-17. It was worse, because the offense and Joe Flacco now look totally lost. But I'll leave it to The Sun writers who cover the team to dissect the problems on the field and in the locker room.

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)

Orioles rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman 's first two major league starts were marred by home runs and inconsistencies. After losses to Toronto and Washington, the rookie entered Sunday's matchup with Detroit - the best hitting team in the majors - with an 11.00 ERA. But before the matchup with the Tigers - a 4-2 Orioles win - Gausman spent more time in the video room with catcher Chris Snyder looking over the Tigers' lineup from top...

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...

Reserve linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo apologized today for comments he made last night on his Twitter account criticizing the New England Patriots, the Ravens' opponent in Sunday's AFC championship game. "I made selfish comments on twitter last night that reflected poorly upon myself, my teammates, and the organization," Ayanbadejo said on his Twitter account today. "For that I apologize. " As the Patriots were putting the finishing touches on a 41-28 victory Sunday over the Houston Texans that created a rematch in the AFC title contest, Ayanbadejo was taking several shots at the New England organization.

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.