83 Degreez: Plastered with Paintballs

Hello Ravens fans. Thanks for coming back to read the 83 Degreez blog once again. I’m coming off a really fun weekend. It was my second-annual Celebrity Paintball Tournament, and I thought it went great, even though I wish I had more players show up. It was a difficult weekend to do it, though, because there was the Ravens Roost Convention in Ocean City and the rookie trip to the Hall of Fame. Having about 12 guys at the paintball was a pretty good number. I think everyone that was actually in town came by at some point.

It was me, Mark Clayton, Ed Reed, Kerry Reed, Amon Gordon, Matt Willis, Jake Nordin and Edgar Jones.

Edgar was hilarious. I think he said he’d paintballed once before, but it had been a long time since he did that. He said his adrenaline was so high, he felt like he was in a war zone. Whoa, his team was gangster. They only lost one time, and that was in the playoffs.

It was raining pretty hard, so I know what EJ was talking about. It really made it so much better. The craziest thing about it was that you’d think if it rains at a charity event, people would complain and want to go home. That was definitely not the case here. It was raining cats and dogs, and we kept it going until the end. Even the full women’s team we had out there that looked like cheerleaders. Even they didn’t care that they were getting hit by paintballs!

For the record, my team - SmartWater - should have won the whole thing. We were in the championship, and at the end of the final game, it was me and Mark Clayton on the field. We were both stuck in some bunkers shooting at each other, but I got antsy and tried to make a run for it. That didn’t work. Pop! Pop! I got hit trying to make a run for it. I’ve only got one good foot, so that’s my excuse. One shot to the side, one on the back.

The fact that Ed came was huge. I love the fact that he likes the event so much, because it really makes it easier on me. Ed came in just for the paintball tournament, so I have to give a big shout out to him.

If you see the names of people that came, I think it was a good mix of players from across the locker room. I think that’s the reason why some players in this league don’t have as successful events as they would like is because they are afraid to ask other players. A lot of times, you only see their position group at the event, or just one or two friends. The way I see it, I’m a Raven. I’m part of this entire team, so I’ll go around the locker room and get guys to come out. If I could get all 53 guys to show up at every event, that would be the best. I try to shoot high.

Really, these things are great ways to get to know the fans. Some of the guys - and I was one of them - don’t have their name out there. My first year here, I made some fans just by going to charity events for other guys. I went and met people at those events that are now diehard Wilcox fans. That’s so cool to me. To ask where they can get an 83 jersey is something special. They can’t just walk into any store to get one; you have to order them. How cool is that?

Some of those fans are local business owners. I had a few of them out to play paintball, like No Limit, who did some detailing work on my truck. I love my truck, and I have to say that everything came back immaculate. They sponsored a team and came out in their No Limit shirts, and they definitely stunk at paintball. We killed them! Haha.

My friend Mr. Incredible came out to DJ the event. He’s one of the best in Baltimore, and I actually have him coming to my wedding to DJ the party. He’s going to be my permanent DJ, like follow me around with theme music.

Anyway, the paintball event is something that really gives back. All the money goes to my non-profit foundation, Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. We got a big grant and some products from Hooked on Phonics last year that is still sitting with my foundation, so I’m trying to put together something big for later in the summer to target some middle schools.

Speaking of that, the Baltimore Bee right now is up to 80 schools. It’s crazy. We’ve been having a great year with that. We started the Bee out at 30 schools two years ago, then it was 50, and now that we opened it up to Baltimore City schools, we’ve got 80 competing.

The little girl that was Baltimore’s representative this year, Emily, did a great job at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I think she made it to the first round, which is an accomplishment because you have to make it past a preliminary round before even getting into the actual Bee. It was a blessing.

On the wedding front, the planning is going great. It’s been tough having to bring all of this together - and expensive. If weddings were a stock, I’m telling you to invest in them.

But really, we’ve had some great help in planning the big day. I’m working with the Tuxedo House, which will outfit all my guys in the wedding party. I’m getting my best friend, DeVaughn Scott up in New York, to do my tuxedo. My fiance’s dress is going to be custom-made, too.

I know there is going to be a lot of media there. World Bride magazine is getting the first rights to the wedding pictures. We’re going to premiere in World Bride. RaveTV is going to be there for some pieces for BaltimoreRavens.com. I hope we can maybe do a TV show surrounding the wedding.

We’re looking at some awesome cake designers. SugarBakers in Catonsville is doing one of the cakes.

We also have the best stage to get married on - M&T Bank Stadium. It’s happening on the 50-yard line, which will make us the first couple to ever be married in the stadium. All the extras that we’re putting into the wedding are going to be worth it.

With my injury, I’m still getting better. I’ve been running around, catching balls with just a little pain. It doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it did. I feel like I’m just below three-quarters better, but it’s definitely going to happen. My due date to get back on the field isn’t until late June/early July, so I’ve still got time. Hopefully, I can rest for a week on my honeymoon and come back and tear it up.

I need everyone out there that reads this to throw your prayers up in the air. I need all I can get to help me recover and get back on the field.

Thanks for the prayers and for being Ravens and Daniel Wilcox fans. Keep an eye out for another blog entry later in the summer. I’ll have a lot to update you about then.

Much love,

- D. Wilcox #83