What were the best quotes from the Baltimore sports world in 2020? Here are a few, from Marlon Humphrey to Anthony Cowan Jr. to Mike Elias.

“I think you have to look at yourself in the mirror, and I think this team’s identity right now is to get in the playoffs and choke. It is what it is. This is just the hard truth.”
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey after Baltimore lost, 28-12, to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs Jan. 11

“Whatever you can do to make yourself feel more positive about something, that’s what I try to do. I’m going to tell my kids, I’m going to tell my grandkids, for sure we won the national championship that year.”
Former Maryland point guard Anthony Cowan Jr. March 25 after the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments were canceled due to COVID-19

“We’re going to be in first place in late July. That’s really exciting for us.”
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde at the start of summer camp July 3

“I think somebody special sent Mo to us. We only had him for 14 years, but you know what? Tonight Mo gets to see his first Oriole game. He’s been to a lot of Oriole games, but he’s going to see his first one tonight.”
Orioles play-by-play voice Scott Garceau July 29 remembering Mo Gaba before the team’s home opener

“Ultimately, we realized that there is a lot of pain and guys are feeling hurt about the situation and we just want to stand with one another. And since one of us is feeling that way — or two of us, however many it may be — we’re all going to stand as one and make the same decision. So that’s why we’re not playing.”
Orioles reliever Dillon Tate after Baltimore’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays was postponed Aug. 27 — one of many postponements in the sports world after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 23

“We’ve had a lot of great wins over the years here, but I don’t know if any of them are greater than that win.”
Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo after his team erased a 24-0 deficit at Tulane Sept. 19 and won, 27-24

“The main thing that needs be put in perspective is this isn’t just about football. This is about guys’ families. This is about their wives and their children and anybody else that is in close contact with them at home. So when we get a call saying that one of our players [tested] positive, a million things run through your mind.”
Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III Dec. 2 after starting in place of Lamar Jackson, who tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the Ravens’ 19-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers

“There will come a time when we flip the switch to maximizing wins, but it’s our judgment that we’re not there yet. This is not fun to subtract from your major-league team, but that’s what you do when you’re below .500 and rebuilding and we still are.”
Orioles general manager Mike Elias after trading shortstop Jose Iglesias Dec. 2

“I didn’t pull a Paul Pierce. I was cramping.”
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson following the Ravens’ 47-42 win against the Cleveland Browns Dec. 14, during which he returned from the locker room to convert a key fourth-and-5 and later put together a game-winning drive

Photo Credits: Kenya Allen/PressBox

Issue 266: December 2020 / January 2021

Originally published Dec. 16, 2020

PressBox

For more from PressBox, read the latest news here.