Phil Hecken and the gang over at Uni Watch wrote an excellent post about the curious circumstances that abound when an existing franchise relocates and basically morphs into an “expansion team” (as the Browns did into the Ravens in 1996). It raises some interesting points about team ownership vs. city “ownership.” Also it offers a glimpse into an awful parallel dimension where the “Baltimore Browns” are an NFL team.
It took us a couple tries to read the article though, because of the awful Baltimore Browns sweatshirt headlining the post. “Chill.” (!) It’s even that weird long-sleeve, no hood type of sweatshirt that only dads seem to wear anymore.
For our part, we think things worked out okay. The Colts had been in Indy for over a decade by the time the Browns moved, so it wouldn’t have been exactly cool to try and fight for that name. But thank God they didn’t bring the Browns name and colors with them. We don’t think any Baltimorean would say they’d rather be buying Browns gear than Ravens merch.
True, but as a diehard, I’d still rather buy a Baltimore Colts hoodie rather than the Ravens.
Hear me out…most of you guys grew up with the Ravens. Imagine the team moves to Las Vegas and they are the Las Vegas Ravens. How pissed would you be?
Then you get a new team, the colors are completely different than the team you grew up with and they are called the Baltimore Steamers. Wouldn’t you be pissed too?
So before you tell me to “get over it”, “move on” or whatever, think about it in that context.
the cleveland steamers….
It would have been, and was, right to try to get the Colts name back here where it belongs. The name was created by a Baltimore fan, and befits a city with a horse racing tradition (as opposed to a city with an auto racing tradition, where a name like 500s or Racers fits. Plus, it’s not like the team had made itself a contender or champion during its time in Indianapolis to that point, and connected Indy with a winner named Colts. The team was lousy, to the point where some fans weren’t even attending games (the city had guaranteed sellouts for 15 or 20 years, so Irsay made his money regardless.)
Thanks for the “back-up” Al.
FWIW, thought it was unnecessary when Irsay prevented the CFL Colts from being called the Colts, but regardless of origins, it creates a hostile business climate for the owners if someone can just “take back” a trademark from an organization that (while sadly) legally moved its operation. Perhaps the class move for the Indianapolis Colts in 1996 would’ve been to surrender the trademark, or at least sell it to Modell, but realistically that’s not a business decision anyone can be expected to make.
This shirt is not as ugly as seeing Indianoplace and Colts on the same shirt…
This shirt is not as ugly as seeing as seeing Spy and Chowman doing time in the sandbox.
This shirt is not as ugly as The Intimidator’s first wife and his current boyfriend.