Howard County Exec. Issues Challenge Ahead Of Sunday's Ravens Game
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's being called the "Beltway Battle." The line is drawn before Sunday's big match-up between the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Redskins.
Mary Bubala reports Howard County's executive has chosen a side and issued a challenge to his counterpart in Prince George's County.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman delivered his challenge in his Ravens jersey to Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, who governs deep into Redskins territory.
"When we come down to Fed Ex Field and beat you this Sunday you will take my favorite jersey--my Haloti Ngata jersey--and you will wear it in the office on Purple Friday," Ulman said.
Ulman is also doing a little trash talking, saying he's sick of hearing all about the Redskins new quarterback RG3.
Ulman and Baker will be at Sunday's game together between the Ravens and the Redskins at Fed Ex Field. Expect tension--maybe not on the scale of the Steelers/Ravens emotional rivalry--but this regional rivalry is real.
"It would be kind of crazy if we ever had a Ravens/Redskins Superbowl. That would be crazy, but it's going to be quite the game. It's not going to be any different than last week. It's going to be a slug-fest," said Ravens running back Ray Rice.
Baltimore leads the series rivalry three to one. In the first match-up in 1997, the Ravens defeated the Redskins 20-17. Three years later they beat us 10-3, but in our last two meetings the Ravens have won 17-10 and in 2008 24-10.
Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith grew up in Virginia watching the Redskins, and some of his extended family are Redskins fans.
"I got a lot of text messages. 'We are going to beat you all down. You all aren't ready.' It's all fun, but I am looking forward to it," Smith said.
Ulman is awaiting Baker's response, but if the Redskins win on Sunday Ulman has agreed to wear an RG3 Jersey all day in the office on Monday.
Ulman also says he will light up the outside of Howard County government buildings in Redskins colors if they make it to the playoffs, as he had done in years past.
