Winning a Super Bowl is nice, but the perks of being champions are even nicer. While it’s great to hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy, it also exciting to meet the president and collect your Super Bowl ring.
Next week the Ravens will do both. On Wednesday they head to the White House to meet President Obama. It is a long-standing tradition for the Super Bowl winners to meet the president; the Ravens met George W. Bush in 2001.
Obama will address the team and acknowledge their contributions to the community.
On Friday the Ravens will receive their Super Bowl rings in a private ceremony. The players and coaches are excited to receive their rings which will serve as a constant reminder of their crowning achievement last season.
This weekend the Ravens are hosting the 2nd Annual Beach Bash in Ocean City, Md. Players and fans get to interact in a fun setting; this year’s bash is extra exciting since everyone is still celebrating the Super Bowl victory.
The bash features players and cheerleaders and includes a parade and tailgate.
Some players are busy giving back to the community. Cornerback Corey Graham and his wife recently hosted a blood drive and autograph session to raise money for the victims of the Oklahoma tornados.
After all of the good Graham experienced in the last year; he wanted to give back and help those in need:
“The last year has been amazing for us in Baltimore as players,” Corey added. “We just wanted to come together to help wherever we possibly could. Say a tragedy happened in this area, you would want people in different places to come out and help.”
Other Ravens who participated in the blood drive include wide receiver Torrey Smith, linebackers Bryan Hall and Josh Bynes, cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Asa Jackson, safety Michael Huff and running back Anthony Allen.
Cornerback Lardarius Webb is hosting his 4th Annual Charity Softball Game on June 2 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md. Webb’s charity, the Lardarius Webb Foundation, supports underprivileged youth in the Baltimore Area. The Ravens offense will take on the defense.
In the meantime the Ravens wrapped up their second OTA just in time for minicamp starting June 11.
It’s good to be Super Bowl Champions. It’s fun following the excitement; it fills the void until training camp starts in late July. The Ravens should continue to enjoy the ride, they earned it.
Zennie Abraham