[News] Eisenberg: Forbes Ranking A Genuine Baltimore Sports Triumph

[BR News]

The league got it wrong when it didn’t award Baltimore an NFL franchise in the early 1990s.

View the full article

[jravens13]

Shortly thereafter, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue infamously stated, in response to a question, that "perhaps Baltimore should take the money it had slated for football and build a museum."

 

That's a messed up thing to say to a city. Good thing Art saw the potential.

Edited July 21, 2015 by jravens13

[Baltimore Bandwagon]

Nice article John. In your FACE, NFL !

[Bat-mite]

Everybody knows Tagliabue was bosom buddies with Jack Kent Cook. Together, they conspired to keep football out of Baltimore for fear that it would damage the Redskins.

Now look at it ... the Redskins are losing their name, they can't field a winning team, they can't find a franchise QB ... and yet they still have a huge, loyal fan base.

Bringing a team to Baltimore was never a threat to Washington. Two separate markets, two separate fan basses. Yet B'more got screwed for it.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Like Ray said "There would be no Baltimore Ravens without Mr. Modell's vision." And #Ravensnation is forever grateful for Art bringing football back to Baltimore!!!

[Jim Giampaoli]

Baltimore had its back to the wall in the early fifties also. George Preston Marshall, then owner of the Washington Redskins went around trying to convince other owners not to award a NFL team to Baltimore in 1952. In 1954, Clark Griffith, owner of the Senators, tried to keep the Browns from coming to Baltimore. Baltimore had to fight tooth and nail to overcome the politics.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Jim Giampaoli

[stixfix69]

everything happens for a reason, if we got a team earlier, then a good chance no Oz, RL52, Reed, and a ton of others.......The timing was perfect, and 2 SB's....

[budman]

All of that article is exactly who we are. The team that gets spurned. The team that gets no respect. The consummate underdog. Everything is usually against us yet we show up, we go out and we win. Against all odds and predictions, we still win. We are Ravens!!!

[stampedehero]

Nice to know we are worth more than premier "futbol" clubs

[stampedehero]

All of that article is exactly who we are. The team that gets spurned. The team that gets no respect. The consummate underdog. Everything is usually against us yet we show up, we go out and we win. Against all odds and predictions, we still win. We are Ravens!!!

You are a FAN!! and we are in the doldrums of baseball season

[stixfix69]

I think it was perfect timing, we got Oz, and company, and have been able to stick it to Cleveland fans for over a decade now.....

[AsianRice]

I'm ecstatic that Maryland still has a football team. There are so many Ravens haters, and it's like 99.9% from the fans; owners and players are loving the Ravens. They are just envious that young franchise like us striving for the best...

[raven410]

Reading this article and some of the comments have given me a history lesson today. Interesting facts.

[budman]

Baltimore had its back to the wall in the early fifties also. George Preston Marshall, then owner of the Washington Redskins went around trying to convince other owners not to award a NFL team to Baltimore in 1952. In 1954, Clark Griffith, owner of the Senators, tried to keep the Browns from coming to Baltimore. Baltimore had to fight tooth and nail to overcome the politics.

And that's just another "no win situation" that we ended up winning.

[salamander]

As a kid I went to many Colt games with my father and I learned to love football. When the Colts drove away in the middle of the night, all of Baltimore was stunned, angry and praying that 1 day we would get another NFL team. Thanks to Art Modell, Baltimore was able to celebrate getting another team. Yes, the NFL screwed up big time. Small market Baltimore fans are among the most appreciative and enthusiastic football fans anywhere. Ravens football is here to stay.

[krnraven]

Ravens Town Forevvveeeer!!

[jrock6587]

After all that crying from the Cleveland fan base the NFL finally gave them a team. They're still mad at us and Mr. Modell. Get over it. Even if we traded teams with you right now the Browns would be two time world champs and you would still be a losing franchise. It not the city where you play but the players you put out there.

[ChevVan75]

I feel that Baltimore tried everything to get a team the respectful way and lets be honest....they were used and abused. It came down to Baltimore realizing it had to do what was done to them to get a team BLAME the NFL for that. Cleveland put Modell on the back burner for years and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. Cleveland took care of their basketball and baseball teams and Modell had had enough. It is a shame the way the NFL promised Cleveland a new team with their name and colors and records and finances to put in a new stadium. What did the NFL do for Baltimore........Oh, tell us two NFL franchises can not do well so close to each other.....ha ha! Build a museum with our raised monies.....ha ha!

Well, the last laugh is Baltimore's...........GO Ravens, I luv this team and ownership....Booya!!

[20306cab]

Could somebody tell me who the Baltimore sportscaster who was on the air, I believe WBAL, almost every night during this expansion derby in '95, who constantly said Baltimore did NOT deserve an NFL team! Somebody has got to know. How 'bout you John?

[FloridalovesRavens]

It was a sad day when the Colts left. I worked for that team and was shocked and saddened when a new franchise went to others BUT when one door closes another one opens. We are truly blessed to have the Ravens. Kudos to Mr. Biscotti, the coaches, players and the entire Ravens Organization. Art Modell deserves to be in HOF. Go Ravens.

[Rich McG]

Tagliabue was in Cookes' pocket as Cooke was trying to move the Redskins to Laurel. Tagliabue is huge disgrace to the NFL...a real bum with plenty of Cookes' blood money.

[balfan23]

I have my theory on our snub. I think it came down to the senior member of the owners club, Jack Kent Cooke, working over Tagliabue. In the end, it didn't matter ... it only delayed the inevitable.

 

People in Cleveland who whine about the Ravens get no sympathy from me. The league gave them a franchise (with the same logo and history) on a platter 2 years after their team's departure. They told us to go build a museum. The loss of the Browns was in no small part due to the fact that the league botched the expansion selection.

 

While none of this went to script, right now, I wouldn't have it any other way. We've got a fantastic organization behind a fantastic franchise, with a fantastic fan base. I'll take it. 

[JacktheRaven]

The NFL & The Ravens are trying to separate themselves from "the old Browns". History tells us The Ravens were a "new" team, "born" in 1996. I tell this to all fans that say we stole the Browns. One problem is E. Byner in the ROH. That doesn't fit with The Ravens history.

[TXRavensFan]

I have my theory on our snub. I think it came down to the senior member of the owners club, Jack Kent Cooke, working over Tagliabue. In the end, it didn't matter ... it only delayed the inevitable.

 

 

I agree. I think one of the things that went under the radar during that process was that Jack Kent Cooke wanted to claim the Baltimore market for the Redskins, much like the Orioles dominated the combined market for decades. I don't know if the numbers have changed, but at the time Baltimore-Washington was the 8th largest market (if I recall correctly). I have no doubt that his influence with Tagliabue was a major factor in Baltimore getting passed over.

[b93333]

Because of my job I had the duty to work closely with Mr. Modell as he made the move to Baltimore... I was extremely impressed by his character... a fine man who didn't let wealth go to his head. I still become angry when the garbage from Cleveland denigrates his character. He was a fine man and a great owner. We are fortunate in B-more to have two great owners in a row.

[edreed2o]

"Go build a museum"? Really? Basically saying that under him, there will never be a Baltimore team. Well look at Baltimore now. Redskins have been irrelevant for the last two decades. Ravens own ALL of MD.

[cobrajet]

I feel that Baltimore tried everything to get a team the respectful way and lets be honest....they were used and abused. It came down to Baltimore realizing it had to do what was done to them to get a team BLAME the NFL for that. Cleveland put Modell on the back burner for years and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. Cleveland took care of their basketball and baseball teams and Modell had had enough. It is a shame the way the NFL promised Cleveland a new team with their name and colors and records and finances to put in a new stadium. What did the NFL do for Baltimore........Oh, tell us two NFL franchises can not do well so close to each other.....ha ha! Build a museum with our raised monies.....ha ha! Well, the last laugh is Baltimore's...........GO Ravens, I luv this team and ownership....Booya!!

Well said! He who laughs last, laughs best......;and Baltimore's Best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ravenseconbeast]

I shake my head on the folks that live in MD that still whine and waste money on 'Redskins' that isn't even on their own state.

[BmoreB]

@John Eisenberg... Good article but it could have been great. You left out one major contributor for the Ravens successful ranking, the fans. We've been there through thick and thin. Even during the hardest of recent economic times the fans ponied up. We helped build this franchise too, fact.

[RRRRRavens]

I shake my head on the folks that live in MD that still whine and waste money on 'Redskins' that isn't even on their own state.

Go ahead and neg me if you want but I've always been a fan of both the Redskins and the Ravens.  I never saw the need to choose between them except when they played each other, which was rare.  Our real rivals are the Steelers.  And the Redskins real rivals are the Cowboys.  We're not even in the same conference.  This way I double my chances of having one of my teams in the playoffs.  Of course lately it's been our Ravens that have done the job.  But back in the 80's it was nice rooting for Doug Williams and that most amazing 2nd quarter in Super Bowl history when the Redskins pancaked John Elway's Bronco's with five straight touchdowns.  Yes, the same John Elway that snubbed Baltimore by refusing to come play here after the college draft.  To this day I cheer when his team gets smacked around.  Hopefully this will be repeated this year by the Ravens when we play them on our opening game in Denver this September.