How and when did you FIRST become a Baltimore Ravens fan?

[beanfigger]

Growing up in DE, there really is no true "home" teams to root for. Typically, we just default to the Philly teams, and that's what I did for every sport not football. For some reason, I could never become an Eagles fan (guess there's only so much punishment a guy can take), so I became a fan of football as a whole. I was, however, a huge Jerry Rice fan.

 

Baltimore is sort of the second home team city for DE (both the Phillies and Orioles were listed in bold in the local paper), so when the Ravens came I immediately began following them.

 

I'd say I became a full-on "fan" when Rice retired. That's when the Ravens moved up to first priority on my football list.

[Jacquouille]

On 16/3/2016 at 2:37 PM, darklight1216 said:

Ah bon? Il y a pas mal des français sur ce siteweb.

De toute façon Baltimore est plus proche de la France que la plupart des autres villes qui ont les équipes NFL.

Ah, je savais pas! J'ai vu un québécois mais pas de français. Bref, au début je savais même pas où était Baltimore... Je pense que c'est juste le logo qui m'a plu au début, je vois que ça parce que je savais rien du tout de l'équipe.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I was born and raised in Baltimore. Both parents were as well; both sides of my family when they originally emigrated to the US from Poland landed themselves in Baltimore. 

My family were huge Colts fans and my parents in high school did a project on Unitas and went to his house on a whim to try and interview him. He let them in, fed them dinner and answered all their questions over coffee. 

As a kid I was always in awe over their stories about Unitas and the championship Colts. That story in particular just always spoke to the blue collar nature of the team... baltimores athletes have always seemed to be this kind of man; a hardworker, not flashy, approachable, just like one of us. Unitas, Cal, Flacco... These are the kind of men you aspire to be and want your kids to grow up admiring. And I did. 

I loved Barry Sanders and Herman Moore as a kid and rooted for the Lions since I didn't have a team to identify with. 

Then the news came that we were getting a team. I remember the naming contest and being so excited. I was still young at the time, but if I remember correctly "The Rhinos" was among the choices. I wanted The Ravens as a Poe fan and it stuck. 

From day 1 I was in. Seeing the joy and passion from my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles was just contagious. The passion Baltimore has for football was undeniable and only heightened by the prolonged absence. 

And the team matched the identity of the city to a tee. Hard nosed, smash mouth, grind it out football. Ray Lewis was the perfect player to ring in a new era of Baltimore football...

ive been hooked ever since. 

[Winchester]

It took a couple years for ravens to grow into ours and not a team we took from Cleveland. I went to a game with my uncle and his friends and one of my uncle's friends that worked for Maryland's football program. We watched the game with Marty bass and his crew. It was Thanksgiving weekend 1999. Ravens built a lead then put stoney case i think his name was in there for Banks who I was never a fan of anyways. But Case was terrible and nearly gave the game away and Marty Bass was freaking out cursing with every play especially Case's mistakes as the rivals got closer to pulling off a comeback. And i realized the ravens were Baltimore's team and I would root for them against even the Broncos which was my team before the ravens.

[Nightman]

I rooted for the last two Baltimore Pro teams, the Stars who were more like the I95 Stars and later the Baltimore CFL Colts/CFLs/Stallions, I was a little unhappy at first when they announced the move, didn't like the name Baltimore Browns, but that changed once they became the Ravens.  Sure Art may moved the team and left the name so he could get out of the one year remaining on the lease as part of the deal, as an out of court settlement with Cleveland, but it also reinvented the franchise when it came here.  Actually the person to credit for the move was Joan Moag then head of the Maryland Stadium Authority, there other teams interested in coming here, the Buccaneers, the Cardinals (for a second look, this city was runner up to Arizona in the mid 80s) and the Raiders who would have moved had Modell stayed.  Moag went with him, because they would have the best chance for success here.   Actually I like being in the AFC, because I can watch most of the games on DC TV, except for one or two.

I went to the first home game at Memorial stadium after hearing more tickets were relased while watching the last preseason game.  I was a member of a Ravens Roost in Bowie that later became a Nest until folding 7 years ago.  I still tailgate with them before a game in Lot H.  I park in the Park Under Garage for $15 and just deal with the traffic on the way home.  I watch most of the game at Rock Bottom Arlington with a group of DC/NOVA Ravens Fans, although we're still up in the air next season because of their location in Ballston Commons Mall is facing major renovation as they become Ballston Quarter....

[443hurricane]

Living here and will admit grew up a Niners fan with Jerry Rice and Roger Craig being my two favorite players. As I grew up in Baltimore we got the Ravens in 96 and the rest is history. I did have the first seat of season tickets when I was 16 with my Uncle.

 

Great time and then to win a Superbowl with that defense in 5 years of existence was the best feeling. I remember being downtown for the parade.

 

 

[mdrsharon]

How about the first minute the team landed in our beloved Baltimore!

Considering how poorly the NFL treated our fan base , the Ravens couldn't really replace the love for the Colts. But through the years and  great ownership of the Modells and Bisciotti families, we have lots of love for our beautiful Ravens.

looking for a great season!  Go Ravens!!