I got a question for Ravens fans about the Colts

[ravensdan]

9 minutes ago, Ravensfan23 said:

I generally enjoy your post and point of view on most topics so I say this with the upmost respect. I'm so glad they didn't task you with naming this team brother. lol

The rest of the post is good though. 

Americans and Marauders were aweful too though. There were plenty of other horrible names floating around too. 

Edited July 17, 2016 by ravensdan

[Ravensfan23]

Just now, ravensdan said:

Americans and Marauders were aweful too though. 

Agreed. I can't see anything other then Ravens at this point. Although i'm sure The Americans vs The Patriots would have made the current rivalry vs the Pats more of a national media story then it is now. Also it may have gotten the Ravens a little more love in the media, you can't hate on a team named Americans can you?

[cobrajet]

2 hours ago, balfan23 said:

Grew up on the Colts (see avatar ...), had the opportunity to see them at Memorial Stadium. Endured the dread of the Super Bowl III loss (that the sport media world continues to celebrate almost 50 years later) and the joy of Super Bowl V (which no one seems to remember even happened). For me, no pain in sports compares to the loss of the Colts.

You ask "Do I still hate the Indy Colts" ... I don't think I'd use the term "hate". However, as long as "Indy" (NEVER the "Colts") wears that uniform and is run by anyone named "Irsay", I will want them to lose. I may prefer that they win if they face off against the Steelers or Pats, but that's about it. 

I have never, ever been "mad" at the fans in Indy or of their city. My anger is focused on the Irsay family and the NFL for letting Irsay steal our history. The Ravens are now my team and should the league determine that the Colts name and logo should be returned to the city of Baltimore (which obviously will never happen), I would not to change who we are now.

Why do I maintain the Unitas avatar? Despite the Ravens being my team now (and hopefully forever) those who don't know our history need to be reminded of it, since the league stole it away from us. I keep it to pay homage to Baltimore's football roots and to see to it that we fans of Baltimore football never forget those roots. 

I agree, but for me, if they were playing the Patriots or the Steelers for the AFC Championship, I would root for the Patriots or Steelers. That is because I was a Baltimore Colts fan and still can't stand the Irsay's and will never want that team to win.  Anyone that did not wear a "Hey diddle diddle, Lydell up the middle" t-shirt and dance around when the Baltimore Colts beat Dallas in Super Bowl V, will probably never understand. I don't like the Steelers but I did not like the Titans either when we were in a division together. The hatred is just not the same. Unless Irsay gives Baltimore back it's history, I will take my deep hatred to the grave. I highly doubt anyone who is younger and did not live through watching the Mayflower trucks pulling out of Owings Mills and did not suffer the disappointment of getting our hopes up for an NFL expansion team will fully understand. One day all of us old timers will be gone and a Ravens v. Colts will just be another game on our schedule. BTW, your avatar rocks!!!

[JoeyFlex5]

3 hours ago, BmoreBird22 said:

Just curious; how old are you anyway?

I'm 24, so I know only the history of the Baltimore Colts. 

 

Just saying that comparing franchises its not even close lol

[Steve0x]

1 hour ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I'm 24, so I know only the history of the Baltimore Colts. 

 

Just saying that comparing franchises its not even close lol

Yeah Ravens are a lot better franchise than the Colts.The Rosenbloom era 2 Championships 1 Super Bowl Irsay era no playoff wins no Super Bowl. Ravens,2 world championships 9 playoff years.  

[JoeyFlex5]

8 hours ago, Willbacker said:

I'm 50 and still remember the Colts but I really didn't become a major football fan until after they left but I'll never forget the dirty rotten way they snuck out. I clearly remember Vince Bagli (sportsbroadcaster at the time) with tears in his eyes while the Mayflower vans were driving out of the Colts facilities at the time. Extremely sad day for Baltimore.

It also kills me that a lot of sportscasters and other fans in general still have this wide belief that the NFL told Modell he could not take the name of the team and had to leave the records and history in Clev. Bullcrap!! The team was gonna be known as the Baltimore Browns but it was the people here in Balt that said we want a fresh start with new name. We dam sure didn't want nobody elses history especially after the way we got jobbed. Hope a lot of you remember this. I remember personally sending in the name of the Noreasters as a possible name for the new team. Wanted to put a low pressure system on the side of the helmet lol but it didn't make the cut. I remember the 3 final choices being Marauders,Americans and of course the Ravens.

Those names were awful but your idea is actually really awesome. I'm so glad we aren't the americans, I'd root for a different team.

[BmoreBird22]

4 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I'm 24, so I know only the history of the Baltimore Colts. 

 

Just saying that comparing franchises its not even close lol

I don't disagree; I was just curious about who went through it and who didn't. 

[Inqui]

4 hours ago, Ravensfan23 said:

Agreed. I can't see anything other then Ravens at this point. Although i'm sure The Americans vs The Patriots would have made the current rivalry vs the Pats more of a national media story then it is now. Also it may have gotten the Ravens a little more love in the media, you can't hate on a team named Americans can you?

I've gotta be honest: as an overseas fan, if the franchise had been called that I can 100% guarantee you I'd have found a different team to root for when I was getting into the sport. At the best of times I don't really identify with the flag-waving culture in most American sports, so a name like that might have been a bit much for me, haha.

[Ravenseconbeast]

7 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

Not quite the same thing sir. The Colts left Baltimore like thieves in the middle of the night and took our history and all our achievements along with them. The Ravens when they left Cleveland did no such thing. They left all the accolades of the Browns and the name in Cleveland for the new team to embrace. That was the greatness and graciousness of Art Modell, who is still hated by those fools. Sometimes I wish the Ravens used the Browns name a couple of years before trashing it in favor of the Ravens so all the accolades of the Browns would then belong here in Baltimore and Cleveland would have to choose a new name perhaps the Cleveland Losers - a name that is befitting indeed. So, in summary, there is no comparison between the two cities and what their owners actually did. The Irsays are no Modells by any stretch of imagination.

^ Agree.

If Browns won a Superbowl prior to the new browns comming in, it would've stayed in Cleveland.   Cleveland still have their logos, their jim brown, all the history in Cleveland.  Nothing here in Baltimore has any achievement done by Browns in the past here.   

On the other hand, Colts still has the past Baltimore logos, Baltimore's achievement and our Baltimore players in their stadium, their 'history' in Indianapolis.   

Baltimore should have more than 2 lombardi in Baltimore.   But no.   

 

Its a different case.

[Steve0x]

1 hour ago, Ravenseconbeast said:

^ Agree.

If Browns won a Superbowl prior to the new browns comming in, it would've stayed in Cleveland.   Cleveland still have their logos, their jim brown, all the history in Cleveland.  Nothing here in Baltimore has any achievement done by Browns in the past here.   

On the other hand, Colts still has the past Baltimore logos, Baltimore's achievement and our Baltimore players in their stadium, their 'history' in Indianapolis.   

Baltimore should have more than 2 lombardi in Baltimore.   But no.   

 

Its a different case.

Technically Baltimore has 3 world championships.  

[Moderator 2]

Unitas was the bridge between the Baltimore Colts and Ravens he stood on the 30 yard line-- to bridge the difference.  Peyton Manning was NEVER a Baltimore Colt but he respected our heritage, he was drafted in 1998 first pick round 1.The one thing we did get was Baltimores records are different.then Indys in Canton.  Let's discuss why there was declining attendance.  

In the late 1970's the Baltimore franchise under Bert Jones QB and Lydell Mitchell as RB lost to the eventual SB winner 3 years in a row.   MY dad took me to a game or 2 a year.

1981 Irsay traded Bert Jones to the Rams.  Attendance falling because fans didn't want to put money in Irsays pocket.  I

1982 was a strike shortened season , the team went a whopping 0-8-1

In 1983 the number one draft pick was a QB, who refused to come to Baltimore by the name of John Elway, he threatened to play base ball, all because he hated Coach Frank Kush.  Every game people may have chanted "Irsay sucks"  Baltimore fans are not shy of letting our feeling show-- remember the 'Bovine Scat' a couple years ago?

Jan.  1984 Bourbon Bob at his best

Baltimore has 6 Championships Don't forget

Baltimore Colts

'58,59, 70

USFL Stars

1985

CFL

Stallions

1995

Ravens

2000, 2012

 

 

[Steve0x]

Yes if Irsay never fired Mike McCormick Elway would have came to Baltimore.

[52520Andrew]

Wasn't alive when they moved but I don't like them for how they did it. I think going in the middle of the night is cowardly. Still, I don't have anything against the current players and like Pagano there. Feel bad for Andrew Luck and his lack of an O-line as well, poor guy. Don't really care for the Irsays obviously but there are other reasons for that as well.

Really don't like Tagliabue who denied us an expansion team and then babied Cleveland. 

As for the Browns, at least they got to keep their history and were given plenty of warning. 

[Tank 92]

On July 17, 2016 at 1:42 PM, Willbacker said:

I'm 50 and still remember the Colts but I really didn't become a major football fan until after they left but I'll never forget the dirty rotten way they snuck out. I clearly remember Vince Bagli (sportsbroadcaster at the time) with tears in his eyes while the Mayflower vans were driving out of the Colts facilities at the time. Extremely sad day for Baltimore.

It also kills me that a lot of sportscasters and other fans in general still have this wide belief that the NFL told Modell he could not take the name of the team and had to leave the records and history in Clev. Bullcrap!! The team was gonna be known as the Baltimore Browns but it was the people here in Balt that said we want a fresh start with new name. We dam sure didn't want nobody elses history especially after the way we got jobbed. Hope a lot of you remember this. I remember personally sending in the name of the Noreasters as a possible name for the new team. Wanted to put a low pressure system on the side of the helmet lol but it didn't make the cut. I remember the 3 final choices being Marauders,Americans and of course the Ravens.

I have a Baltimore Browns T shirt. I think they  we're sold only for a couple of days.

Edited July 19, 2016 by Tank 92

[ravensdfan]

Don't hate Indy fans, players or Peyton Manning, just Irsays. As long as they are owned by an Irsay, I hope they never win a darn thing. It isn't just they left, or that they took all the history, logo and name, it is the NFL's attempt to try to erase Baltimore completely from Colts' history. I remember Johnny U threatened to remove anything to do with him from the HoF because instead of saying he played for the Baltimore Colts, it says Indy Colts. That is just pure crap on the part of the NFL.

As for Cleveland, until their vendetta against Modell getting into the HoF ends, I hope they remain as bottom feeders, since that is how they choose to act.

 

 

[Ravenslifer]

On 7/17/2016 at 2:24 AM, Steve0x said:

Its been 32 years ago since Colts left Baltimore. Do we still hate the Indy Colts or should we let it go and let bygones be bygones? I know these fans in Cleveland still hate us they feel Mr Model robbed them. 

I don't hate them.  We have a team in Baltimore again, and as far as I'm concerned, the most important players involved, the players of the Baltimore Colts, chose Baltimore over the Colts.  Johnny U was a fixture at early Ravens games.  Guys like Lenny Moore, Tom Matte, Stan White, Art Donovan always maintained they were Baltimore players, not Colts players.  So who cares that Baltimore had no football team for 12 years - Baltimore has 3 Superbowl titles, 5 NFL titles in total.  The same people from the same City cheer both versions of the Baltimore football team.  Am I ticked the Colts left the way they did, and on top of everything threw sand in the face of the city of Baltimore by preventing the USFL team from playing in their ABANDONED stadium, sure.  But Indy has its football history, and in Baltimore we have ours.

[Steve0x]

6 hours ago, Tank 92 said:

I have a Baltimore Browns T shirt. I think they  we're sold only for a couple of days.

I also have the Baltimore Cardinals remember that a while back? 

 

 

[Steve0x]

Remember these shirts? 

And Caps?

[Steve0x]

1 hour ago, Ravenslifer said:

I don't hate them.  We have a team in Baltimore again, and as far as I'm concerned, the most important players involved, the players of the Baltimore Colts, chose Baltimore over the Colts.  Johnny U was a fixture at early Ravens games.  Guys like Lenny Moore, Tom Matte, Stan White, Art Donovan always maintained they were Baltimore players, not Colts players.  So who cares that Baltimore had no football team for 12 years - Baltimore has 3 Superbowl titles, 5 NFL titles in total.  The same people from the same City cheer both versions of the Baltimore football team.  Am I ticked the Colts left the way they did, and on top of everything threw sand in the face of the city of Baltimore by preventing the USFL team from playing in their ABANDONED stadium, sure.  But Indy has its football history, and in Baltimore we have ours.

Well said Bro. I agree with you 100% Maybe we should just move on.. We got the Ravens! Heres a new fight song Ravens should have and dump the old Colts fight song. Why not play this song every time Ravens score.

Baltimore has the Ravens
The our number one team
We're in the air, we're on the ground
Like no one's ever seen
We're always in control
And when you say Baltimore
You're talking Super Bowl 

(Fans Clap in stands)

We've got the offense, we've got the defense,  
We've got the champs,  We got the fans .  
Cause we're the Baltimore Ravens.,  
You know we're gonna hold the line.

(Fans Clap in stands)

Yes The Baltimore Ravens
We're the Baltimore Ravens

(Fans Clap in stands)

Yes The Baltimore Ravens
We're the Baltimore Ravens

[Nightman]

One thing most people forget is Irsay moved after Lawmakers in Annapolis passed an "Eminent Domain" bill which was going to seize the team from him for some type of market value and then sell it for a profit to someone who'd keep it Baltimore.  The Colts owner left to escape from happening that and protect his investment so he had to move fast to get to Indy.

[Willbacker]

On ‎7‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 8:59 AM, Tank 92 said:

I have a Baltimore Browns T shirt. I think they  we're sold only for a couple of days.

Tbh that's a shirt I'd never get rid of.

On ‎7‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 9:16 AM, ravensdfan said:

Don't hate Indy fans, players or Peyton Manning, just Irsays. As long as they are owned by an Irsay, I hope they never win a darn thing. It isn't just they left, or that they took all the history, logo and name, it is the NFL's attempt to try to erase Baltimore completely from Colts' history. I remember Johnny U threatened to remove anything to do with him from the HoF because instead of saying he played for the Baltimore Colts, it says Indy Colts. That is just pure crap on the part of the NFL.

As for Cleveland, until their vendetta against Modell getting into the HoF ends, I hope they remain as bottom feeders, since that is how they choose to act.

 

 

People in Clev don't actually understand that Tags is the one that cost them their team. We had a great deal on the table and did everything we was told (one of them selling out a meaningless preseason that featured two subpar football teams at the time). Instead he chose Jax. Really?

8 minutes ago, Nightman said:

One thing most people forget is Irsay moved after Lawmakers in Annapolis passed an "Eminent Domain" bill which was going to seize the team from him for some type of market value and then sell it for a profit to someone who'd keep it Baltimore.  The Colts owner left to escape from happening that and protect his investment so he had to move fast to get to Indy.

While that may be true I remember Irsay getting off that plane coming back from Phoenix claiming he was not moving the team. Two weeks later.........Mayflower vans. Stone cold liar.

[K-Dog]

On 7/19/2016 at 8:59 AM, Tank 92 said:

I have a Baltimore Browns T shirt. I think they  we're sold only for a couple of days.

I would LOVE to see it.

[ravensdfan]

3 hours ago, Nightman said:

One thing most people forget is Irsay moved after Lawmakers in Annapolis passed an "Eminent Domain" bill which was going to seize the team from him for some type of market value and then sell it for a profit to someone who'd keep it Baltimore.  The Colts owner left to escape from happening that and protect his investment so he had to move fast to get to Indy.

Not exactly. The Senate had passed such a bill on March 27th, but it had not yet gone to the House. The moving vans arrived on March 28th - do you really think he set up that move, hammered out all the details with Indy in less than 24 hours? Please. More anti-Baltimore hype you've been reading.

 

Besides, he had Indy & Pheonix in a bidding war loooonnnnggg before those bills were even thought of.

Edited July 21, 2016 by ravensdfan

[Steve0x]

3 hours ago, Willbacker said:

Tbh that's a shirt I'd never get rid of.

People in Clev don't actually understand that Tags is the one that cost them their team. We had a great deal on the table and did everything we was told (one of them selling out a meaningless preseason that featured two subpar football teams at the time). Instead he chose Jax. Really?

While that may be true I remember Irsay getting off that plane coming back from Phoenix claiming he was not moving the team. Two weeks later.........Mayflower vans. Stone cold liar.

You forgot something. Same could be said about Pete Rozzelle who fought Al Davis moving the Raiders to Los Angeles but Pete Rozzelle did nothing when Irsay moved the Colts to Indianapolis. So i think its fair to say that Pete Rozzelle is the reason why Baltimore didn't get a team for 12 years meanwhile Cleveland and Houston got a team back within 5 years

[Nightman]

Some NFL moves to Baltimore that never happened:
In  1985 Some local businessmen tried to buy the New Orleans Saints and move them to Baltimore, the commissioner shot that down and told the Baltimore, they'd get next expansion team which was a lie.

1987, the city was the runner up for the Cardinals who moved to Arizona.

The expansion effort with the Baltimore Bombers had 3 different ownership groups, two later owned teams in other cities.  Boogie Weinglass who owned Merry Go Round and the other owners wanted someone who didn't have a ponytail and wore a 3 piece suite.  Al Lerner who later wound up owning the expansion Browns and Malcom Glazier who got the Bucs. 

In 1995 they deal to get a stadium was in the 11th hour and passed after the Colts Band played the fight song.  John Moag had interested from the Bucs, the Browns and Cardinals.  He went with Modell because he felt in the best chance for success, although some people said Modell moved to save his team from bankruptancy, because there were stories that he was broke.

 

 

 

[Steve0x]

Remember what Johnny Unitas said after Modell announced he's moving Browns to Baltimore. He said this would never have happened if Baltimore was granted an expansion franchise. Cleveland fans have nobody to blame but to Mr Tagulbue.  

Edited July 21, 2016 by Steve0x

[ravensdan]

13 hours ago, Steve0x said:

Remember what Johnny Unitas said after Modell announced he's moving Browns to Baltimore. He said this would never have happened if Baltimore was granted an expansion franchise. Cleveland fans have nobody to blame but to Mr Tagulbue.  

clevekand has no one to blame but themselves. They refuse to put any money into that dump of a stadium yet build a whole new stadium for the expansion team. What?

[Nightman]

14 hours ago, Steve0x said:

Remember what Johnny Unitas said after Modell announced he's moving Browns to Baltimore. He said this would never have happened if Baltimore was granted an expansion franchise. Cleveland fans have nobody to blame but to Mr Tagulbue.  

Not to mention the deal to relocate was signed on Al Lerner's private jet at BWI.   Lerner was his partner at one time.  When asked after he became owner of the new Browns franchise about this, he said "I just gave Art a ride" so he has a share of the blame, too.

[funky141]

On 7/17/2016 at 0:38 PM, Ravensfan23 said:

There is a large portion of Ravens fans who don't even know the Colts started in Baltimore and even more so don't know the story behind them leaving. I was born in 84, so I grew up knowing Baltimore didn't have a team but never really experienced the hate. The only hate I had was for the Redskins because it seemed they were shoved down my throat being the closest team to cheer for. So I never really had a strong hatred for the Colts, i just knew not to like them. Even reading the stories and watching the videos of the Colts leaving town that snowy night didn't grow my hatred because I never experience the feeling of "My Team" being ripped away from being. 

Now fast forward to today and my son is 13 years old he barely even identifies Peyton Manning as a former Colts QB. He doesn't know the QB deprived years of the Ravens, all he knows is the playoffs every year ultra successful Ravens. He hates the Patriots and the Steelers but has not care about the Colts whatsoever. So I think that whole storyline is over. Especially after winning 2 SuperBowls, i think the only reason why the Browns still hate Baltimore is because they aren't having any success and being in the same division forces them to see all the Ravens success first hand. 

He hates the Patriots and Steelers, something a Colts and a Ravens fans can agree on!

[Dilferian]

On 7/17/2016 at 3:37 PM, ellicottraven said:

Not quite the same thing sir. The Colts left Baltimore like thieves in the middle of the night and took our history and all our achievements along with them. The Ravens when they left Cleveland did no such thing. They left all the accolades of the Browns and the name in Cleveland for the new team to embrace. That was the greatness and graciousness of Art Modell, who is still hated by those fools. Sometimes I wish the Ravens used the Browns name a couple of years before trashing it in favor of the Ravens so all the accolades of the Browns would then belong here in Baltimore and Cleveland would have to choose a new name perhaps the Cleveland Losers - a name that is befitting indeed. So, in summary, there is no comparison between the two cities and what their owners actually did. The Irsays are no Modells by any stretch of imagination.

It was a lawsuit that forced Modell to leave the name, history, and colors in Cleveland, not a gracious act at all.

Irsay & Modell are one in the same- they could give a rats butt about how they built their fortunes off of rabid fans. Instead, they flee for greener pastures and a sweet stadium deal.

Remember folks, Modell blocked expansion into St. Louis and Baltimore in favor of Jax & Carolina. We should never forget that, as it delayed football in Baltimore and we had the CFL.