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
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