RAVE REVIEWS FOR RAVENS’ NEW STADIUM

It opened to rave reviews. Everybody -- the media, fans, players and coaches -- seemed awed by their surroundings last Saturday night at the opening of the Baltimore Ravens’ new 68,400-seat stadium in downtown Baltimore. "A Fabulous Stadium," said the headline in the Washington Post, which called it a "glittering new stadium." The hometown Baltimore Sun called it "a successful coming-out party." "It aims to set the standard for future NFL stadiums," wrote The Associated Press. One of the stadium’s outstanding features is a pair of 100 X 24-foot scoreboards, the largest permanent display boards in any sports venue in the world. "Nobody has a super board like that," said MARK BROOMER, a first-night fan from Pasadena, Maryland. "It’s brighter than TV." In addition to the stadium itself, the Ravens served up a victory for their fans -- 19-14 over the Chicago Bears. "Playing here could be worth five points to us," said Ravens coach TED MARCHIBRODA. "Hopefully, six."

BROWNS BEGIN "ONE-YEAR COUNTDOWN"

On Friday, August 21, it will be "one-year-and-counting" for Cleveland Browns fans. And time to celebrate. A "Countdown Celebration" will take place exactly one year to the day that the team’s first home preseason game will be played at the new 72,800-seat Cleveland Stadium. The day-long celebration will be broadcast live on the team’s Web site (www.clevelandbrowns.com). At noon, the Official "Countdown to Kickoff Rally" begins at Cleveland’s Tower City Center, highlighted by the appearance of 50 former Browns players, including all 11 Browns Pro Football Hall of Famers, such as JIM BROWN, LEROY KELLY, LOU GROZA and PAUL WARFIELD. An original Browns music video saluting the team’s return, "Here We Go Again," will debut at the rally. From 1:00-7:00 PM, the "Browns NFL Experience," a version of the Super Bowl NFL Experience interactive theme park, will be open at Cleveland’s Riverview section. In the evening, there will be a "Browns Music and Video Concert" at Gund Arena featuring the Cleveland Pops Symphony. Then – only 364 days away – kickoff!

SAILOR "RE-UPS" WITH JETS IN NAVAL FIRST

It wasn’t boot camp, but it was New York Jets training camp -- exactly where Petty Officer First Class SEAN CARROLL wanted to be. Carroll, a Jets fan since the JOE NAMATH days, re-enlisted in the Navy on July 24 -- on the Jets’ Hempstead University practice field as the team went through its paces. Wearing his uniform, the 32-year old held up his right hand and was sworn in by Commander MOIRA FLANDERS WURZEL. The Commander said the Navy tries to accommodate "re-up" requests at unusual sites. She also said that although she has had sailors re-enlist at such locations as the World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty, she has never had anyone go through the ceremonies at an NFL training camp.