Is it just me or..

[Blackbirds20]

Are there way to many Pittsburgh fans or people who "hate the ravens" in MD. It seems to me that ravens are always the underdog, and almost the most hated team in the NFL.

Ps. i got to go to the Steelers game at Pittsburgh this year with my friend who's a big steelers fan. Seeing that whooping in front of all there fans in person wearing my Ed jersey, made me so happy and proud to be a diehard ravens fan.

[Mista T]

There are many Marylanders who came from Pennsylvania. My father did -- but he was a Colts fan. Others who moved retained their Steelers loyalties. We have a great economy, while they don't: metro Pitsburgh is the only major US metro area to consistently lose population.

I don't think we are hated any more than the Raiders, Bears, Cowboys, Steelers, or Redskins.

[ravensfan1996]

Remember its good to be hated....no one hates on the Devil Rays!

But back to your question....depends on what part of MD you are in as to if you find raven-haters...western md is definitly steelers/redskins depending how far west you go, south western part (pg , montg) youll find a mix of redskins/ravens. central md 90% ravens. Even where i am in southern york county PA i see 80% ravens stuff and 10% eagle/steelers and 10% other.

People and the media tend to take things a bit far, if you see 10 steelers fans there is now a HOARD...when its only 10.

[Reed_4_President]

There are many Marylanders who came from Pennsylvania. My father did -- but he was a Colts fan. Others who moved retained their Steelers loyalties. We have a great economy, while they don't: metro Pitsburgh is the only major US metro area to consistently lose population.

I don't think we are hated any more than the Raiders, Bears, Cowboys, Steelers, or Redskins.

I totally agree T about the hated part .. We are hated just as much as the team's you did state above but I don't get why people hate on us so much a lot of people say because we wear "purple" but I'm sorry that is the lamest excuse ever!. OH yeah! and can't leave out that we have Ray Lewis I hear it all the time how everyone seem's to all hate him. Personally I think it's just jealousy issues these fan's of other team's have. I would be jealous of Baltimore too if I was a fan of another team and I didn't have Ray Ray!!

[BMoreFan]

I get it all the time from my inlaws. I live in York, PA. I met my wife in high school (1992) before we had a team. Up to that point, I did not follow football. Was always a big O's fan though. So, since her family were Pitt fans, I followed them as well. Then came the birds and I immediately jumped ship. Boy did I ever catch hell and still do.

But my point is a lot of football fans who missed football may have been looking for a team after we were abandoned and may have picked Pitt. I think they kept that loyalty. It does bug the crap out of me though to see all the Pitt fans in BMore. That is why I vote for the Ben hit by Scott as the #1. Very gratifying!

[BDRaven17]

There are many Marylanders who came from Pennsylvania. My father did -- but he was a Colts fan. Others who moved retained their Steelers loyalties. We have a great economy, while they don't: metro Pitsburgh is the only major US metro area to consistently lose population.

I don't think we are hated any more than the Raiders, Bears, Cowboys, Steelers, or Redskins.

You are on the money T.......i've been to several places and seen many steeler fans, if you meet them, most of them say they grew up in that area, then moved away. Many transplant from PA once they get older. Real tough job market up there.....I spent 6 years of my life up there, and that is a big problem......jobs and taxes..

[rockonravens]

Were I live is Western Md, about 1 hour away from Pittsburgh; so you can only guess how us raven fans are far and few.

I still ware my gear, and fly my colors though with full pride. The only thing that really sucks, is finding any Raven's stuff.

I have to order on line from the store for almost everything I want.

So that's just another reason why we need to win the Divison and The Super Bowl this year........So I can wear the shirt etc. that says champions, just to piss Pittsburgh off!!!

[athena raven]

I'm a native Cumberlander, moved to the Baltimore area over 7 years ago, was a Ravens fan before they even played their first game and being a Ravens fan in Cumberland can be difficult. The Country Club Mall (LaVale) doesn't really carry Ravens merchandise, as mentioned earlier it's Steelers & Skins.

I was thrilled when in '96 the NFL made WHAG-Hagerstown, who carried Steelers games in Cumberland, switch to the Ravens. When I arrived here and started meeting Ravens fans at the gym I go to, everyone seemed to hate the Redskins, where I hated the Steelers (Stemming back to the 70's and living in Cumberland), it didn't take long however for them to start feeling the same way I did.

Back in '03 the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad dedicated one of their diesel locomotives to the Ravens by painting it in Ravens colors and name; not many people were there for the dedication so I walked up to the Ravens rep who was there and he seemed delighted that someone wanted to talk about the team, we talked for nearly 30 minutes and one inside story he told me about a road loss in '02 was well worth hearing.

I have been noticing however in Cumberland, that more Ravens fans are showing up there, as compared to the mid 90's when it was basically just the ex-Colts fans who never picked up another team.

[Go Ravens]

We're definitely one of the most hated teams in the league. The media hates us (do a search through the Google news archives and you'll find quotes from people such as Dan Dierdorf criticizing the name Ravens and suggesting that Modell shouldn't have moved to Baltimore or Tony Kornheiser telling people from Washington not to root for us in the Super Bowl against their rivals, the Giants; then there's that America's Game show where we weren't included among the 20 greatest Super Bowl champions even though the 99 Rams, a team that should have lost to McNair's Titans, and the mediocre Patriots were) and the fans hate us (they call us "boring" and complain about us being on MNF 3 times or they say that we aren't a contender).

I actually miss 2 games a year because the Fox network where I live doesn't carry Ravens games if there is an Eagles game at the same time. Last year, it was the 2 games that McNair got hurt and Boller played. I laughed when the Eagles went on a losing streak, starting with the first game they pre-empted the Ravens. Serves them right for keeping the Ravens off the air. The Steelers fans are the majority locally and have been complaining for years about the CBS station airing Ravens games (the station itself wants to air Steelers games, but the NFL told them they have to air the Ravens).

It would be nice to win the Super Bowl again. All the haters deserve to have to sit through us blowing somebody else out in the Super Bowl again so that they can learn to respect the Ravens.

[Tiz]

Have you read sportspickle.com? The guy on there is also one of the contributors from ESPN Page 2. Basically his ponder this section always includes a jab at Ray Lewis and he readily admits his distain for RAy.

As for the boring thng. One conversation I love having with people is around that. I ask them to compare the Cheifs from 2004 to the 99-00 Ravens in terms of style and ask them which team would they take. The #2 point scoring and the fun Chiefs or the 'boring' Ravens who pounded the ball and played great Defense. You then remind them that the Ravens won the SB and the Chiefs were 7-9.

To me it's more fun to win then it is to put up lots of points and lose.

[MKdave]

I think watching our D is fun, because we get alot of turnovers. I think they are the funnest plays to watch (espescially when its in #20 or#21's hand's!)

[brad]

It sucks living in southern maryland where the fans are primarily Redskins...I'm surrounded by them on my street too. I've got one obnoxious neighbor who blows an air horn every time the redskins score on game days and I'm trying to come up with a creative retort to his audible displays

[MKdave]

It sucks living in southern maryland where the fans are primarily Redskins...I'm surrounded by them on my street too. I've got one obnoxious neighbor who blows an air horn every time the redskins score on game days and I'm trying to come up with a creative retort to his audible displays

paint his car purple and slap some ravens bumper stickers on it!

[brad]

paint his car purple and slap some ravens bumper stickers on it!

Thats one way to look at it

I fly my window flags and always make sure I drive around the long way past his house on game days though