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Kyle Goon

Kyle

Kyle Goon joined the staff of The Baltimore Banner in April 2023 as a sports columnist. He previously covered the Los Angeles Lakers for the Orange County Register, including a three-month stint in the NBA bubble for the team’s 2020 NBA championship. He started his career at The Salt Lake Tribune, where he covered high school sports, Utah State University, University of Utah and the Utah Jazz. Kyle grew up in Ellicott City and is a Mt. Hebron High and University of Maryland grad.

The latest from Kyle Goon

Kyle Goon: Fixing the Ravens’ defense might be impossible. But Kyle Hamilton is the right guy for the job.
Even as the defense loses some of its leaders, in Hamilton, the Ravens have a foundational safety who is maturing quickly and whose leadership shows in good times and bad.
Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton catches a touchdown pass as Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton defends during the second half Sunday.
Kyle Goon: Tony Mansolino should not be the Orioles’ next manager. It’s time to look for an outside voice.
Baltimore’s interim manager has guided the club through a turbulent season and even played about .500 baseball. But an organization known for being insular sorely needs to challenge itself with an outside voice.
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino takes questions from reporters following a loss to the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 25.
Kyle Goon: The Ravens’ inability to stop the run is the fatal flaw in their Super Bowl dreams
The team's most underwhelming run-stopping performance in eight years highlighted a fundamental shortcoming that will prevent the Ravens from reaching a championship level ... unless they change their trajectory.
Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs out runs Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) in the 4th quarter during the Ravens game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium, in Baltimore,   Monday, September 22, 2025.
Kyle Goon: Why do we need other people to run? Here’s what Canton Run Club has taught me.
As a runner — sometimes even a reluctant one — it always surprises me how many people, and how many newcomers especially, are out there in our local public park.
Members of the Canton Run Club begin their route around Patterson Park on a recent Monday.
Kyle Goon: Instead of Shedeur Sanders, the Ravens picked Carson Vinson. Thank goodness.
The Ravens got ended up with the guy who is a better fit, anyway.
Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson (71) prepares for the next drill during the Ravens’ organized team activities at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Kyle Goon: Ravens’ tough love for defensive personnel made a big difference against Browns
In the NFL, there are no higher stakes than playing time. To get players’ attention, the coaches had to be willing to pull those strings.
Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith hits Browns quarterback Joe Flacco as he throws a pass Sunday during the Ravens’ 41-17 win.
Kyle Goon: Joe Flacco’s drama-free handoff to Lamar Jackson was his last great Ravens moment
Joe Flacco accomplished a lot in 11 seasons with the Ravens, including a Super Bowl win. But his transition into the Lamar Jackson era deserves special appreciation from Baltimore fans.
Joe Flacco had 38,245 passing yards with the Ravens and has 45,987 in his career.
From Navy to the NFL, Gilman alum Rayuan Lane III treasures his snaps with the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Gilman alum rose from a no-star recruit to an all-conference safety for the Midshipmen. A new DoD policy made it possible for him to defer his service in the Marines to play in his first NFL game last weekend.
Rayuan Lane III of the Jaguars attemps a tackle during a preseason game against the Steelers.
Kyle Goon: The Ravens keep proving they deserve their reputation for choking
With a penchant for blowing double-digit leads like no one else in the NFL, the Ravens have to get to the root of the problem. Denial doesn't help.
Bills players rush kicker Matt Prater after he made the winning field goal Sunday night.
Kyle Goon: Jim Palmer knows Mark Andrews’ pain — and how to heal from it.
Jim Palmer knows what it’s like to crash out in a loser-goes-home-game from getting shelled in 1982. He believes Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will bounce back.
Hall of Famer pitcher Jim Palmer played for the Orioles from 1965 to 1984.
Kyle Goon: On a night celebrating history, the young, gritty Orioles finally give hope for the future
The Orioles have struggled in close games at home, becoming the last club to win a walk-off game. But lately they've shown signs that they're gathering resolve.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Emmanuel Rivera #26 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Robinson Chirinos #23 after hitting a single in the ninth inning to walk off the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Samuel Basallo rips first Camden Yards homer for walk-off win over Dodgers
The enthralling finish was a needed splash of joy after starter Dean Kremer exited early in a pitching showdown with reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani.
Samuel Basallo heads toward home plate during his home run trot in the ninth inning Friday night at Camden Yards.
Kyle Goon: Cal Ripken Jr. was my hero. Seeing him as a mere man makes the Streak even more remarkable.
Cal Ripken Jr. loomed like a giant to a generation of Maryland kids, including myself. The reality is that, throughout his 2,632 straight games, Ripken felt the very real pains and frustrations that all people feel. But he kept going, and that's what makes his Streak even more remarkable after 30 years.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., sitting on the back of a sportscar, receives a standing ovation from the cheering crowd during post-game ceremonies celebrating Ripken's surpassing of Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games, at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Md., on September 6, 1995. Fans on the right display the new record of 2131 straight games played in major league baseball.
Kyle Goon: Everything you need to know about the Ravens offseason (to sound like you paid attention the whole time)
The NFL can feel like a bit of a flat circle, especially for a Ravens team that consistently plays like one of the league’s best teams in the regular season only to come up short in January.
Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 — Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) plays catch with a fan on the sidelines prior to the Ravens preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium.
Kyle Goon: The Ravens’ undrafted free agent trio is the feel-good story we needed to end camp
You’ve got to see the video of Jay Higgins finding out he’s on the team.
From left, Ravens linebacker Jay Higgins IV, safety Reuben Lowery III, and corner Keyon Martin.
Kyle Goon: Kyle Hamilton is the Lamar Jackson of the Ravens defense. They just paid him like it.
The Notre Dame product’s versatility and intellect have made him the NFL’s best safety in just three seasons. His long-term future with the Ravens is as important as Lamar Jackson’s on offense.
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton takes questions from reporters following the team’s mandatory minicamp on June 18.
Kyle Goon: Baltimore’s golf tournament success shows our aptitude for MLB, NFL headliners
The BMW Championship was a smooth-running event with 120,000 people coming to Baltimore County. Let’s get more big-time sports stops in the area.
A large gallery watches as Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the 12th green Sunday during the final round of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club.
Kyle Goon: Orioles owner David Rubenstein says he wants to sign more extensions. Is anyone ready to be next?
Orioles controlling owner David Rubenstein said he's “committed to doing more of these” long-term extensions “as soon as we can.” It shifts the onus from ownership to the players if anyone wants to lock up a long-term future in Baltimore.
Orioles owner David Rubenstein used Saturday’s press conference to announce Samuel Basallo’s contract extension to send a message to other players.
Kyle Goon: With Samuel Basallo’s extension, the Orioles finally show they’re in the big leagues
The Orioles have more to do, but signing a homegrown star to a longterm deal is a good start.
Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Samuel Basallo watches his teammates play a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.
Kyle Goon: Scottie Scheffler called his chip-in ‘nice.’ For the rest of us, it was unbelievable.
It wasn't that Scottie Scheffler won the BMW Championship that was surprising. It was how.
Scottie Scheffler celebrates with his wife and son following his win at the BMW Championship Golf Tournament held at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, MD on August 17th, 2025.
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