Reflection Unit 2

Reflection Unit 2

I really enjoyed this Unit 2 assignment. Throughout the whole unit I was able to write about a topic in which I am very passionate. However, unlike most times where I am primarily focused on just issues specific to the team, this unit allowed me to think “big picture” of what Ravens Nation really is and what is the teams larger impact on the city.

            The day we were presented with “discourse communities,” once I read the assignment sheet, I immediately though about Freddie Gray. The violence surrounding the riots centered on the injustice treatment of Freddie Gray was obviously a large issue not just for the city or Baltimore ,but also across the country. I remembered seeing the poor reputation Baltimore was receiving because the media wasn’t showing the kids who were staying away from violence and were trying to do keep our city in tact. The media, as the always do was focused on what would make the best story which in this case primarily centered their coverage on violence. Obviously members of the Baltimore are not innocent in the the way they acted, but it was frustrating to see the media generalize the city.

(What Baltimore communities tried to focus on

 compared to what the National Media focused on)

It was not till later that I read a couple interesting articles about the Baltimore Colts and decided to center the majority of final project around their dramatic move out of the city. My grandfather was a huge Colts fan and I remember all of his stories about interacting with different players on the streets at locations completely unrelated to football. Throughout all of my research I focused on the fact that the teams job is so much more than carrying a ball. Each player has a responsibility to the city they play, which is far more than their performance on the field. If you look at past Ravens who departed through free agency and trades, Ravens Nation focuses more on the players who have dedicated their lives to Baltimore but may be on the decline of their careers as opposed to the player who have not had a huge impact within the city and are coming off a very good (statistical season.) I don’t know a lot about other teams and fan bases but what I do know is when someone comes to Baltimore they are prepared to embrace the city as a whole which not a lot of communities can say.

            As I am sure it is quite obvious, I am a big Baltimore Ravens fan and I relish any opportunity I have to write about the team in any possible way! Just as it is for other people if I am writing about a topic that I am passionate about and enjoy, I am more likely to appreciate writing the papers. These are some of the main reasons why I have enjoyed both unit assignments in this class. Even though we had some guidelines about topic, we have had so much freedom in finding topics that interest us and those that we wish to pursue. I had not written about discourse communities before and this gave me another opportunity to try something new with my writing.

Pictures: http://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FCDtwxx5W8AAxwsG.png

http://media.breitbart.com/media/2015/04/baltimore-riot-police-car-AFP-640x480.jpg

Final Draft Ravens Nation, More Than Just a Game

More Than Just a Game

     The Baltimore Ravens community, otherwise known as Ravens Nation, is a large community that represents many different people united together. To me, the three major aspects of Ravens Nation include the team itself, the fans, and most importantly how those two groups relate beyond the typical game day interactions and excitement. There are two primary areas of tension that come to mind when I think about the tenure of this community. The first area occurred when the Baltimore Colts uprooted to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. The other area of tension occurred this past spring when Ravens players and coaches went into different neighborhood in the city in order to bring a sense of peace and distraction during the difficult aftermath of the Freddie Gray tragedy. Ravens Nation is a prime example of how life is so much bigger than football. What happens on the field is only a fraction of the importance that teams of Baltimore bring to the city. Both current and players and ones of the past have embraced the city as their own which has helped to establish such a strong relationship between the two. 

     In the middle of a snowy night on March 29, 1984, led by team owner Robert Irsay, the Baltimore Colts packed up all team gear and equipment, and headed to Indianapolis. The team needed fourteen “Mayflower” tractor truck trailers and without telling practically anyone made a heartbreaking change that will never be forgotten. The team told very few people and for the utmost secrecy even the drivers were not told where they were going until the next day.[1] This level of secrecy obviously left the community in shock. It largely caused hatred amongst players and fans all directed toward Indianapolis. Some fans have expressed their displeasure with the Irsay family by saying "We hated Irsay. We hated Indianapolis. We hated (former Indianapolis mayor Bill) Hudnut," Ziemann said. "Together, we hated them. There's no two ways about it. They took something away from us that belonged to us and they had no right to do that. No right at all.”[2] The lifelong fan and once Colt’s band member continued by expressing his new found love for the Ravens but admitting that “The scar will always be there, The wound has healed, but the scar will always be there and you can't erase history of what was done to us.“

                           (Picture of Colts leaving Baltimore)                                                (Robert Irsay introductory Press Conference)

     One of many reasons that this move was so difficult for Baltimore was because of the team’s involvement in the local community away from the football field. Most well known players, even the most well-known had to hold down jobs outside of football. Even Johnny Unitas, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, was often seen in the community at his local hardware store helping customers who occasionally did not even know who he was.[4] There were also many players who worked and owned local restaurants, bars, and car dealerships.  Players were friendly and very engaging with fans, which only enhanced the strong fan support. The Baltimore Colts fans were always recognized as some of the more passionate ones in the league, and Memorial Stadium was always seen as one of the best home field advantages.

     I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and the Colts leaving Baltimore is a prime example. Without this dramatic move, although it was very painful for the players and fans, who knows what Baltimore football would be like today if the Colts had stayed? A “what if” scenario is so difficult to analyze because no one truly know what would have happened 35 years ago if Robert Irsay did not move the team. It is however extremely disappointing that all of the Baltimore Colts' rich history is credited to Indianapolis instead of Baltimore. Even Johnny Unitas’ son acknowledged that the team history had nothing to do with Indianapolis, which is why they shouldn’t receive any credit for all of the team’s accolades. This point shows that fans do have an influence on the game and team as a whole and the players do appreciate it. I know for all fans and former players it is very strange and even difficult to watch the “Blue Horseshoe” on Indianapolis helmets but I know they have all embraced the new franchise. 

(Art Modell Announces the new team name “The Ravens” in front of an excited Baltimore Crowd)

     It can be argued that looking back, March, 29, 1984 could very well have been a good day for Baltimore sports. One Baltimore Sun writer explained how he thinks that day actually can be thought of as a blessing in disguise. “It allowed the city to cut ties with a desperately flawed franchise and a deeply unpopular owner. It spurred elected officials to get serious about plans that would keep the Orioles in Baltimore and attract a new NFL team. Those plans bore fruit in Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, beloved facilities that are now as intrinsic to downtown as the Inner Harbor. The Ravens arrived in 1996 and won a Super Bowl six years before the Colts brought Indianapolis its first Lombardi Trophy.”[5] The city of Baltimore is very pleased with ownership and management of the team, which would not have happened if the Colts hadn’t left Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns hadn’t come to Baltimore twelve years later. Ravens fans are very appreciative of former owner Art Modell and current owner Steve Bisciotti. The team has established a positive reputation on and off the field and fan support quickly returned where it once was with the Colts. As strange as it may seem, and granted I was not alive for this disheartening time in Baltimore, Robert Irsay moving the Colts opened many doors for great things to come. Most importantly, let’s be honest, there’s no debating that Ravens Nation sounds a whole lot better than Colt’s Nation!

(Images from post game celebration after Ravens Win SB 35 & 47)

     On Thursday, April 28, days after rioting and looting in Baltimore City, members of The Baltimore Ravens took to the streets to try to support the city in any capacity that they could. These riots began after Freddie Gray was laid to rest and conversations began surrounding the injustice of his death. The Ravens 85 members, including 55 players to West Baltimore for the day. The team was dropped off at Matthew A. Hensen Elementary School, where they gave out food to more than 500 students and families. The team later walked to Fredrick Douglas High School near a mall that had been looted to meet with students and greet members of the community.[6]

     One of the most notable parts of the day was when former linebacker Ray Lewis spoke at an assembly. CBS captured a portion of Lewis' speech in which he reiterated, “We have an opportunity to change Baltimore. If you want to make real change, be the example of change... We don't win wars with wars. Go home. Baltimore we got a real opportunity. All eyes are on us.”[7] Many players reiterated Lewis' message over their social network pages: Baltimore has an opportunity to prove they are more than the violent city that the world sees. Unfortunately violence in Baltimore was not a unique situation, but now members of the community had an opportunity to show the world a different side to the city. 

     The Ravens took time out of their days to come to the city because they knew that they would have a strong impact on all members of the community. The Ravens players demonstrated their desire to give back to the community by supporting Baltimore and its neighborhoods during a very difficult time. The players provided a distraction and served as a beacon of hope for the people to whom they spoke.  The team knew that they would be able to send a strong message to many of the people in the community, because they are considered to be role models to many families and especially kids. I would guarantee that the furthest thing from the players' minds during this time was football and the upcoming season, training camp, or the draft the next day.  This opportunity was another chance for the team to prove that once again life is so much bigger than football. After the long day in the city, the Ravens later tweeted “"We love this city. Always have. Always will. #BaltimoreStrong."[8]

 (Ray Lewis greets students at Matthew A. Hensen Elementary School)

     Win, lose, or draw the Ravens will have the long-term support of the Baltimore fan base. We are all part of Ravens Nation for better or worse. This not only applies to rooting for the Ravens every Sunday, but acknowledging that we all live in the same city and are united in one strong community. 

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[1] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/03/29/indianapolis-baltimore-move-30-year-anniversary-mayflower/7053553/

[2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[3] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[4] Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens, By Ted Patterson, Dean Smith

[5] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-03-29/sports/0903280183_1_baltimore-colts-band-colts-heroes-john-moag

[6] http://www.bustle.com/articles/80217-baltimore-ravens-volunteer-after-freddie-gray-riots-challenging-students-to-help-make-change

[7] http://www.bustle.com/articles/80217-baltimore-ravens-volunteer-after-freddie-gray-riots-challenging-students-to-help-make-change

[8] http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-baltimore-ravens-riot-20150430-htmlstory.html

Pictures:

Mayflower: http://media.theindychannel.com/photo/2012/09/29/Mayflower-truck-Colts-move-1984-4870367_166736_ver1.0_320_240.jpg

Irsay Press Conference: http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SP.IRSAY13P1.jpg

Art Modell Team Announcement: http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2015/8/26/ravens-top-20-naming-the-team

Ravens win Super Bowl 35: baltimoreravens.com

Ravens win Super Bowl 47: baltimore ravens.com

Ray Lewis - http://cdn.patch.com/users/57041/2015/04/T800x600/201504554243de0ba77.png

Mini Dialogue

Dialogue with Baltimore Sun Writer

What was your first reaction when the Colts left Baltimore.

- I was very disappointed but was not completely surprised because I knew the ownership's commitment to the city seemed to be lacking. Irsay was pushing for new stadium and facilities that at the time the city could just not provide.

What was the general fan reaction after the team left.

- No one really knew what to make of what had just happened. As I wrote, the team left in the middle of the night, with out telling anyone. Obviously the city was distraught and could not believe they were without a football team.  At first the fan base was just shocked because no one could see it coming. One day Baltimore had the reputation as one of the best fan bases in the NFL and the next day they are with out a football team. The city felt as if they had given everything to the team, and had poured so much passion and support into the Baltimore Colts they couldn't believe that they were blindsided.

How do you think the city embraced the new Ravens franchise.

- I think the city embraced the team very well. Most people were just ready to have football back in their lives and they knew that they were getting a great organization. Art Modell was very passionate and the beauty was not many people had high expectations for the team. No one expected them to do well, and especially not win the Super Bowl 4 years after they came to Baltimore.

Do you think Baltimore has moved past their memories of the Colts.

- I don't necessarily think that because of all the history the team brought to Baltimore. The Colts had so much success it is hard to forget all they did. Also considering so many players still live in Baltimore or work with the Ravens the memory of the Colts will not be forgotten. I will say Baltimore is very pleased with the Ravens organization from ownership all the way down to players and the Ravens have established themselves as one of the premier franchises not just in the NFL but across all of sports

(Assignment 2 Draft) Ravens Nation More Than Just a Game Draft 1

More Than Just a Game

The Baltimore Ravens community otherwise known as Ravens Nation is a large community that represents many different people united together. To me, the three major aspects of Ravens Nation include the team itself, the fans and most importantly how those two groups relate beyond the typical game day interactions and excitement. There are two main primary areas of tensions that come to mind when I think about the tenure of this community. The first is when the Baltimore Colts uprooted in the middle of the night to Indianapolis and the other is this past spring when Ravens players and coaches went into the city and different neighborhoods to try to bring a sense of peace and distraction during the difficult aftermath of the Freddie Gray tragedy.

In the middle of a snowy night on March 29, 1984, led by team owner Robert Irsay, the Baltimore Colts packed up all team gear and equipment, and headed off to Indianapolis. The team needed fourteen “Mayflower” tractor truck trailers and without telling practically anyone made a change that will forever be remembered. The team hardly told anyone and for the utmost secrecy even the drivers were not told where they were going until the next day.[1] This obviously left the community in shock. It largely caused hatred amongst players and fans all directed to Indianapolis. Some fans have expressed their displeasure towards Irsay family by saying "We hated Irsay. We hated Indianapolis. We hated (former Indianapolis mayor Bill) Hudnut," Ziemann said. "Together, we hated them. There's no two ways about it. They took something away from us that belonged to us and they had no right to do that. No right at all.”[2] The lifelong fan and once Colt’s band member continued by expressing his new found love for the Ravens but admitting that “The scar will always be there, The wound has healed, but the scar will always be there and you can't erase history of what was done to us.“ [3]

One of many reasons that this move was so difficult for Baltimore was because of the team’s involvement in the local community away from the football field. Most well known players had to hold down their own jobs outside from football. Even Johnny Unitas, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game was often seen in the community at his local hardware store helping customers who occasionally not even know who he was.[4] There were also many players who worked owned at local restaurants bars and car dealerships.  Players were friendly and very engaging with fans, which only enhanced the strong fan support. The Baltimore Colts fans were always recognized as some of the more passionate ones in the league, and memorial stadium was always seen as one of the best home field advantages.

 I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, as difficult as I am sure it was to go through this for all fans and players, without this move, who knows what Baltimore football would be like today. A “what if” scenario is so difficult to analyze because no one truly know what would have happened 35 years ago if Robert Irsay did not move the team. It is however extremely disappointing that all of the Baltimore Colts rich history is credited to Indianapolis instead of Baltimore. Even Johnny Unitas’ son acknowledged that the team history had nothing to do with Indianapolis, which is why they shouldn’t receive any credit for all of the team’s accolades. This point shows that fans do have an influence on the game and team as a whole and the players do appreciate it. I know for all fans and former players it is very strange and even difficult to watch the “Blue Horseshoe” on Indianapolis helmets but I know they have all embraced the new franchise. 

It can be argued that looking back, March, 29, 1984 could very well have been a good day for Baltimore sports. One Baltimore Sun writer explained how he thinks this actually can be thought as a blessing in disguise. “It allowed the city to cut ties with a desperately flawed franchise and a deeply unpopular owner. It spurred elected officials to get serious about plans that would keep the Orioles in Baltimore and attract a new NFL team. Those plans bore fruit in Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, beloved facilities that are now as intrinsic to downtown as the Inner Harbor. The Ravens arrived in 1996 and won a Super Bowl six years before the Colts brought Indianapolis its first Lombardi Trophy.[5]” The city of Baltimore is very pleased with ownership and management of the team, which would not have happened if the Colts hadn’t left Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns hadn’t come to Baltimore, twelve years later. Ravens fans are constantly appreciative of former owner Art Modell and current owner Steve Bisciotti, the team has established a positive reputation on and off the field and fan support quickly returned where it once was with the Colts. As strange as it may seem and granted I was not alive for this disheartening time in Baltimore, Robert Irsay moving the Colts opened many doors for great things to come. Most importantly, let’s be honest, there’s no debating that Ravens Nation sounds a whole lot better than Colt’s Nation!

---

[1] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/03/29/indianapolis-baltimore-move-30-year-anniversary-mayflower/7053553/

[2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[3] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[4] Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens

 By Ted Patterson, Dean Smith

[5] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-03-29/sports/0903280183_1_baltimore-colts-band-colts-heroes-john-moag

Baltimore's Passion Stems from the Colts

Baltimore’s Passion Stems from the Colts  

The passion for Baltimore sport is not unique to the Ravens, the passion has been around ever since the Colts and Orioles organizations were founded. It is seen that football is considered to many as a religion in the state of Maryland. It is without a question that Johnny Unitas and the rest of the Baltimore Colts have laid the foundation for that statement of Baltimore sports as they are today.  “Baltimore gave its first professional at a time where the city was badly run down, considered merely a rest stop between Philadelphia and Washington.” According to Patterson the Baltimore Colts and in particular their championship was clearly a turning point for the community of Baltimore.

 Just like the Ravens today the Colts were part of the community, Johnny Unitas, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game was often seen in the community at his local hardware store helping someone who may have not had any idea who he was. It seemed to be that the players and coaches put their city and the rest of their lives ahead of football. This is obviously nice to see for fans and it definitely attracts new fans. When the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 Baltimore was heartbroken, and there was a major hole in the heart of the city. This time was clearly a moment of tension up until 1996 when Art Modell and The Baltimore Ravens, then “The Cleveland Browns” moved to Baltimore. 

It did not take long for Baltimore to adopt their new franchise, as the team sold out the first game with more then 64,000 in attendance. Considering the 12-year period with out football in Baltimore, it’s no wonder that fans were excited to have football back. However, considering so many of the fans lived for the Colts, the positive reception of the team had to come as a bit of surprise. This just exhibited the passion Baltimore has for their sports. It is unfortunate that it took a franchise leaving the city for Ravens nation to evolve, but  “The 410 Nation” and the passion people have for the city never left. The next generation of Ravens Nation have been cultivated and Baltimore is clearly all on board.

Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens

 By Ted Patterson, Dean Smith

10 on 1: What is Ravens Nation?

10 on 1

What is Ravens Nation?

1.     Ravens nation is built on passion, no matter if you are talking to fans, players, coaches, everyone is passionate about the Baltimore Ravens and that shows year round. Don’t expect to ask a member of Ravens Nation about the team and not get into a long discussion about how the media overlooks them. Baltimore loves hiding under the media spotlight because it leads to having a chip on the shoulder.

2.    We are a community, you wont hear fans say they won or they lost, after each game, trade, or draft pick the proper response is “We won, we traded him away,” etc. Every Sunday when you are watching the game in the stadium or at a restaurant Ravens fans are a community all united together against the other team. The beauty of sports especially in Baltimore, is every game, fans put their differences with one another aside and are all untied together.

3.    You can’t think of Ravens Nation with out thinking of rivalries! Baltimore is most notable for the rivalry with Pittsburgh but a rivalry with the New England area, as well as Cleveland and Cincinnati is definitely growing.  Anyone who year after year is in the Ravens way of getting to the Super Bowl is a city that fans and players grow to dislike. The feelings are definitely mutual between teams and communities, which adds to the excitement.

4.    Persistent, determined and driven, every year the goal for the Ravens is a Super Bowl, it is the same goal from the owner all the way down to the fans. A lot can be said about the team itself but one thing that has never been said is that they give up or “the effort wasn’t there.” Even if pre-season the Ravens are not projected to do that well, everyone in Baltimore has faith that the team will succeed based on a drive to win and great coaching!

5.    The Team, The Team, The Team: no one comes to Baltimore to chase the money, people come to help the team and do what’s in the best interest for the team. Baltimore has never been a place where flashy free agents come to be in the media spotlight and be the prize and face of the franchise. All free agents and draft picks are all just another piece in the puzzle. This strategy has worked the past 20 seasons and it seems like it’s a good plan moving forward. After each game especially after a loss, no one talks about individual statistics. Sure stats are nice but any player would rather get the win, as well as any fan would rather get the win as opposed to watching their favorite players win the MVP or make the Pro Bowl.

6.    Life is bigger than football! This is an important message in the locker room and football community. All the players and coaches understand that even though there job is helping to deliver the best outcome on the field that doesn’t mean anything if they don’t give back to the community. Athletes constantly need a reminder that life is bigger than their sport and they still have an important responsibility other than “playing a game.” Football is clearly very different for players and fans, for all fans we use football as an escape from regular every day lives compared to the opposite NFL lifestyle. Even though for many, the outcome of a game can be very stressful, every game day is an opportunity for fans to escape and be apart of something bigger than themselves. 

7.    Ravens Nation is built on intensity. Especially in M&T Bank stadium, players and fans pride themselves on intensity and intimidating opposing fans and teams. M&T Bank stadium is one of the hardest stadiums to play in. This isn’t like many other stadiums that are credited with being loud primarily because where the architects designed the stadium to “send the noise straight to the field.” All fans are intense in their own way, but walking down the streets, seeing the city of Baltimore covered in purple, is an intimidating site to see but an amazing thing to be apart of!

8.    Hard work! The Baltimore Ravens are a hard working team just like the city of Baltimore and surrounding areas; we are all apart of a hard working community. The Ravens may not have the most talent each game but their hard work pays off not just in practice but also in dedication towards getting better on the field and in the “classroom”. Baltimore is known for being a hard working blue-collar city, and it is only fitting that the two major teams fit in that definition.

9.    W. I. N. (What’s Important Now!) This was a slogan for the team in the past but was certainly embraced by the community and is still reference by the community. This slogan is perfect for the team because it doesn’t let them get “too high” after a win or “too low” after a loss. All that can be controlled is the next practice or the next game, because that is “what is important now.” I also like to directly relate this quote to my personal life. It’s not that I personally need it but I love inspirational quotes and love to be inspired. This isn’t directly an “inspirational quote” but if you think about it gives you a good outlook on life. I think of W.I.N and I don’t think about the test I just took that I might not have done that well nor getting stressed out about a event a couple months away. W.I.N. is a reminder to live in the moment and only worry about what is important and what can be influenced now!

10. Win, lose or draw, Ravens Nation is definitely devoted. You won’t see the team “throw a game” to get better draft position because they know they owe it to the fans, each and every game. Ravens Nation like all communities has their complaints every now and then. With that said, Ravens Nation will always stand behind the team through thick and thin. Ravens Nation is a definition of loyalty; this works great across the sports community and gives great representation to the great city of Baltimore.