The Baltimore (County) Ravens

Success has many fathers, according to the old saw.

So it should come as no surprise that another playoff run by the Ravens would lead elected officials to lay claim to some or all of the football team's success.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, during an appearance on the Midday with Dan Rodricks show on WYPR Tuesday, claimed the team as a Baltimore County team. The executive pointed out that they practice at a facility in Owings Mills.

"It's the Baltimore County Ravens," Kamenetz told Rodricks. "We're looking to bringing that Lombardi trophy back to Baltimore County."

Now elected officials on both sides of the city-county line had advocated a regional approach for years but the comments seemed to tilt the credit to the county.

A spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had a different take.

"Under the leadership of Mayor Rawlings-Blake and County Executive Kamenetz, the city and county share strong ties and work together on regional issues but most people would agree that claiming ownership of the city's football team is a bit of a stretch," Ryan O'Doherty wrote in an email. "It's certainly safe to say the Ravens are a source of great pride for people throughout the region."

It all sounds a bit like the Anaheim-Los Angeles Angels dust up from a few years ago.

But if Kamenetz's claim takes hold, Baltimore County residents can look forward to seeing panoramic shots of Essex or Towson or Hunt Valley as the networks come back from commercials during Ravens games, and a Super Bowl Parade honoring the team like the one Baltimore threw for the team in 2001.

Maybe Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will call and make a wager with Kamenetz over the game Saturday.