Blatant Steeler Favoritism

[ravensfan160]

It doesn't take long (second sentence) to see it clear as day. The writers, Tom Curran and Gregg Rosenthal, are openly excited Pittsburg won the Conference Championship game. Now maybe its because I'm already angry at this point but the rest of the breakdown seems to be (nearly) all positive for the Steelers and all negative for the Ravens.

I'm usually not one of the people that complains about favoritism. There is favoritism in all sports. But for it to be spelled out so plainly is sad. Whats the point of a fair analysis of division teams when you know by the 2nd sentence that it isn't?




http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32631327/ns/sports-nfl/?pg=6#spt_nfl_2009_preview

[RavensClaw52]

"Michael Clayton's hamstring issues"...didnt know we got that dude from Tampa Bay! Did we trade Mark for him or is this idiot just disrespecting us? haha

[PuRock]

I don't see the blantant favortism you eluded too. This is just a typical view of the ignorant media.

Ofcourse the Steelers will be favored, they did win the superbowl last year, and are returning most of their starters. Its hard to argue against that.

As for the Ravens, it's the uniformed media perspective. Scott, Rex, Brown leave. That's what they hear. They haven't paid much attention to our much improved OL or CB posiiton. The media is also usually uniformed about the history we have of grooming excellent drafted LBs to replace rising stars like Scott, AD and Hartwell.

Overall this assessment is very bland, written from a sportcenterish media perspective. Not the down and dirty. The down and dirty would know about how our team was ravished by injuries last year. Or some of our young stars (Suggs, Ngata, Rice and Gaither) will start to shine even more.

You have to take these articles with a grain of salt if you are a hardcore fan of anyteam.

[POE]

[quote name='PuRock' date='01 September 2009 - 12:43 PM' timestamp='1251823415' post='227730']
I don't see the blantant favortism you eluded too. This is just a typical view of the ignorant media.

Ofcourse the Steelers will be favored, they did win the superbowl last year, and are returning most of their starters. Its hard to argue against that.

As for the Ravens, it's the uniformed media perspective. Scott, Rex, Brown leave. That's what they hear. They haven't paid much attention to our much improved OL or CB posiiton. The media is also usually uniformed about the history we have of grooming excellent drafted LBs to replace rising stars like Scott, AD and Hartwell.

Overall this assessment is very bland, written from a sportcenterish media perspective. Not the down and dirty. The down and dirty would know about how our team was ravished by injuries last year. Or some of our young stars (Suggs, Ngata, Rice and Gaither) will start to shine even more.

You have to take these articles with a grain of salt if you are a hardcore fan of anyteam.
[/quote]

I feel the same as you. This feels minor to other articles I have read or comments that were made on air. This type of thing does agrevate me to see all the love that these teams get but they have won 2 SB's in the past 5 years and have been a force consistantly. We are a very young franchise and the direction we seem to be moving in is very promising..our time is near!

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='POE' date='01 September 2009 - 12:52 PM' timestamp='1251823974' post='227735']
I feel the same as you. This feels minor to other articles I have read or comments that were made on air. This type of thing does agrevate me to see all the love that these teams get but they have won 2 SB's in the past 5 years and have been a force consistantly. We are a very young franchise and the direction we seem to be moving in is very promising..our time is near!
[/quote]
I wouldn't have thought anything of this article if it wasn't for the "Steelers win! Steelers win!" part. The rest is, like you said, typical. But you have to admit, the open cheering for the Steelers is going a bit further than usual with that part.

[jfc13]

Yeah, not sure about the "Steelers win! Steelers win!" part, maybe he was trying to mimick a newspaper headline? Anyway, the rest of it is pretty much expected. The Ravens have to prove that they can win with the changes in personnel and I'm fine with that. Also, the road to the Superbowl does seem to go through Pittsburgh at this point; they are the defending champions and the team we have to beat to even win the division.

All-in-all, it's fine. I'll start worrying when they start singing the Ravens' praises too much - I like when they fly slightly under the radar - althought I also like to hear nice things said about them, so it's a certainly a conumdrum...

[TheRavenouseD2008]

wait wait let me get this right you worry what the peacock says , ok they a jealous , peacocks are flightless birds , ravens can fly see just flight envy j/k

[BuckWilds]

It's the media - people with about the same knowledge as an interested fan but who are paid to try to predict the future. That tends to not go well.

[William Murderface]

[quote name='RavensClaw52' date='01 September 2009 - 11:37 AM' timestamp='1251823046' post='227728']
"Michael Clayton's hamstring issues"...didnt know we got that dude from Tampa Bay! Did we trade Mark for him or is this idiot just disrespecting us? haha
[/quote]

I dont think i can really respect anything they say after that comment. All really bland stuff. Pretty much stating the obvious. Also dont get the (Steelers win! Steelers win! part).

[ravensgirlx88]

Who cares? We go through this EVERY year.. I dont care what writers or fans say. They can't talk until we play each other.

[neepo13]

Those guys are trying to make money. 1)Negativity sells. It just sold you. 2) The Steelers have a much bigger fanbase. Of course they are going to cater to them. Just look at the Browns prior to last season, the media didnt turn the Browns into last offseasons media darlings because they went 10-6 and blew a shot at the playoffs, they did it to tap into the Browns huge fanbase pockets.

[Mr. Raven1996]

It was an objective article.Like it or not the Steelers did win the Super Bowl.but this is a new year and a new season and anything can happen.All I hope is that we stay injury free and everyone (rookies included) plays up to their potential.If that all goes well it should be an interesting season.

[mhead66]

[quote name='neepo13' date='01 September 2009 - 04:53 PM' timestamp='1251838395' post='227808']
Those guys are trying to make money. 1)Negativity sells. It just sold you. 2) [b]The Steelers have a much bigger fanbase. Of course they are going to cater to them.[/b] Just look at the Browns prior to last season, the media didnt turn the Browns into last offseasons media darlings because they went 10-6 and blew a shot at the playoffs, they did it to tap into the Browns huge fanbase pockets.
[/quote]
My thoughts exactly.

[K-Dog]

I would rather be feared than respected...

[J-man]

[size="5"][b][color="#ff0000"]MODERATORS NOTE: Please do not circumvent the profanity filter....this is your first and last warning.[/color][/b][/size]

[robermar]

[quote name='William Murderface' date='01 September 2009 - 01:37 PM' timestamp='1251826634' post='227749']
I dont think i can really respect anything they say after that comment. All really bland stuff. Pretty much stating the obvious. Also dont get the (Steelers win! Steelers win! part).
[/quote]

Exactly. Get the names right. How much research did they do if they can't get a player's name right? And, calling Chris McAllister a loss last year is just plain inaccurate. He was benched week 5 and the team only improved after that. Again, lack of research, so I have to take this article with a grain of salt. They only looked at the negative aspects of our offseason, not the positive. Actually, forget taking this article with a grain of salt...it's a joke.

[Alexir]

Last year before the season started, they said Cowboys and Patriots were going to the Super Bowl. Everyone agreed.

Last year before the season started, I said the Superbowl was going to be between the Ravens and Falcons. Everyone laughed at me.

My point is that anyone can do these guys jobs and they always want to take the safe picks of who they think will go all the way and they havent been right in years (if ever)! Where as atleast the teams I selected went to the actual play offs.....

Let them hate our team. Our team knows we love them and support them and thats all they care about.

[Steelerkillers]

The Sports analysts are indentical to music fans or groupies. They're gonna support whateva and whoeva is Hot at the time. Look at the most recent events! The Eagles were the Favorite in the Nfc after the Vick frenzy. Shortly after that, As sooon as Bret Favre signs with the Vikings, They are the team to beat! They used to piss me off too! But, once i realized how much they bandwagon Hop, I've gotten used to it. They Ravens just isnt the media's cup of tea and wont be until we atleast overcome the Steelers an Colts. Besides the Deadskins and Cowgirls, the Steerlers and Colts are Beloved as well! They are successful organizatons with Modern Day and historical success to prove it. We have to play catch-up unfortunately!!!!! But we Will!!!

[Yatagarasu]

We have to earn respect from the media to be in the same status as the Steelers.

So far, we're looking pretty dangerous, but there still doubters out there.

Remember, potential means nothing in the real game, performance is what counts.

[Ranger275]

All of these teams have a lot more history behind them than we do, which is one of the reasons for larger fan bases and more media coverage. To be sure, B-more definitely started off on the right foot as a franchise, having two hall of fame players drafted and a Superbowl win under their belts already. Definitely a fast pace set by the franchise, and it will be just a matter of time until they're being nut-hugged by the media as well.

[Corvus]

Did you guys really expect anything else? As others have said, we go through this every offseason and into the regular season. Plus, i would put absolutely ZERO stock in this article, the writers obviously put ZERO effort into doing their homework for it, just ask Michael Clayton in Tampa...

[Yatagarasu]

yup, no stock.

[rlh445]

[quote name='jfc13' date='01 September 2009 - 01:16 PM' timestamp='1251825414' post='227741']
Yeah, not sure about the "Steelers win! Steelers win!" part, maybe he was trying to mimick a newspaper headline? Anyway, the rest of it is pretty much expected. The Ravens have to prove that they can win with the changes in personnel and I'm fine with that. Also, the road to the Superbowl does seem to go through Pittsburgh at this point; they are the defending champions and the team we have to beat to even win the division.

All-in-all, it's fine. I'll start worrying when they start singing the Ravens' praises too much - [b]I like when they fly slightly under the radar[/b] - althought I also like to hear nice things said about them, so it's a certainly a conumdrum...
[/quote]


....*sigh*. This is not directly at you jfc13, but I must say I am getting tired of the 'under the radar' thing some Ravens fans persist at trumpeting every time the Ravens and the media are talked about in the same post. We are not flying under the radar anymore people. Flacco has had numerous spots in commercials and the media. Ray Lewis needs no introduction to anybody, and the same can be said for Reed. Although our passing game may only get a perfucntory glance, the rest of our team as seen as pretty solid. An example of 'flying under the radar' would be perhaps this year's Green Bay team, or the Cardinals of last year. Heck, you could even mention this years Bears as this year's sleeper team. We aren't under anybody's radar, because we went to the AFC Championship last year WITH all of the trouble we had, i.e., IR list, rookie coach, rookie QB.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='rlh445' date='03 September 2009 - 12:02 AM' timestamp='1251950549' post='228228']
....*sigh*. This is not directly at you jfc13, but I must say I am getting tired of the 'under the radar' thing some Ravens fans persist at trumpeting every time the Ravens and the media are talked about in the same post. We are not flying under the radar anymore people. Flacco has had numerous spots in commercials and the media. Ray Lewis needs no introduction to anybody, and the same can be said for Reed. Although our passing game may only get a perfucntory glance, the rest of our team as seen as pretty solid. An example of 'flying under the radar' would be perhaps this year's Green Bay team, or the Cardinals of last year. Heck, you could even mention this years Bears as this year's sleeper team. We aren't under anybody's radar, because we went to the AFC Championship last year WITH all of the trouble we had, i.e., IR list, rookie coach, rookie QB.
[/quote]
What you said is true, but you have to admit that despite overcoming all of that stuff, everyone seems to think the Ravens will be lousy this year. I think that is what most people mean by "flying under the rader." Not many people (who aren't on this board) seem to have high expectations for the team.

[flynismo]

Seriously, who cares? I hate when people say that we dont get enough press or respect...it's like the little kid who cries for attention. Attention is for the vain and insecure, respect is earned, not given. If the Ravens have another year this year like they did last, people will start taking notice and giving credit. But to really gain respect, we can't fail in the AFCCG, we need to finish what we started last year.
I don't want the spotlight on us anyway; save the cutesy interviews and nutstroking for Indy, NE, Pit, etc...