By Zach Wilt, on January 31st, 2012  Michael Irvin might have completely glossed over thirty years of NFL history in Baltimore. The NFL Network analyst chimed in on this week’s most popular topic — no, not the Super Bowl — Peyton Manning’s future in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has publicly gone back and forth with franchise quarterback Peyton Manning about respecting the organization’s image. ”I don’t think it’s in a good interested to paint the horseshoe in a negative light,” Irsay said.
Irvin chimed in, “The horseshoe is first? The horseshoe is nothing before Peyton got here.”
Perhaps it was nothing in Indianapolis, but that isn’t the case in Baltimore.
“This horseshoe was garbage without Peyton — it was garbage when he got here and garbage when he left here this season,” he said according to Nate Davis of USA Today.
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By Zach Wilt, on January 11th, 2012  The guy with one of the most hated last names in Baltimore is trying to make amends. Even though I wasn’t even born when the Colts snuck out of town and Jim Irsay is the son of the man responsible for taking Baltimore’s team to Indianapolis, I still don’t want to hear his well wishes.
The avid twitterer and Colts owner tweeted that he hopes to see the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVI. Since his franchise won’t be there, as they are the worst in the National Football League, Irsay picked his consolation team.
“(I) got tons of friends there,” Irsay tweeted. Tons? — of friends? – Wait. Do they know you’re friends?
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By Zach Wilt, on December 12th, 2011  For the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday’s 24-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts was one for the record books. Not only did the Baltimore beat Indy for the first time since 2001, but for Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Lee Evans, Torrey Smith and Joe Flacco it was also a record setting day.
The Ravens also scored their first touchdown against the Colts since 2007, their last one came in a 44-20 loss prior to the John Harbaugh era.
By Zach Wilt, on December 11th, 2011  How good would the Indianapolis Colts be this season with a healthy Peyton Manning? That’s the question that football fans have been asking all season long. This Colts season is horrendous. Ten Peyton Mannings wouldn’t put them in the playoffs. They have much bigger issues than losing their quarterback.
Even with Peyton Manning this Ravens team would have defeated the Colts in week 14. Baltimore is rolling into the playoffs and the Colts are hoping to put a “1″ in the win column over the next couple weeks.
Baltimore ended a decade long drought against the Indianapolis Colts this week, defeating them 24-10, here are my thoughts on the victory.
- Suggs is the AFC Defensive Player of the Year - If Terrell Suggs finishes the 2011 season the same way he started it, he’s got the be the AFC’s defensive player of the year. Suggs racked up three strip sacks on Dan Orlovsky. On the season, T-Sizzle has a career high 13 sacks and the Ravens lead the NFL with 45. As Tony Lombardi of Ravens24x7.com tweets, Suggs could have had five sacks if the Colts weren’t holding so much. I’m guessing the refs felt bad for Indy.
- Rice’s career year - Ray Rice continues a dominate season and is the Ravens biggest threat on offensive heading into the playoffs. The days of Cam Cameron leaving Rice out of the offense seem like so long ago. Rice broke the 1000 yard mark this week and caught his 235th pass which puts him third in franchise history behind Todd Heap and Derrick Mason.
- Flacco in control - Joe Flacco managed the game against this bad Colts offense very successfully. Flacco threw for two touchdowns and crossed the 3,000 yards passing mark for the third straight year. The Ravens QB did throw a interception in the end zone, but CBS analyst Steve Tasker blamed Anquan Boldin for failing to break up the pass. In the first half, Joe Flacco was 14 of 19 for 138 yards, threw a touchdown pass earned a 111.3 QB rating.
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By Zach Wilt, on December 2nd, 2011  When you go to school to study Public Relations, one of the first things you are taught is that good news comes out on Monday morning and bad news on Friday afternoon. This allows the public to either take the entire week to talk about something exciting or forget about upsetting news over the weekend.
Today the Ravens made their most disappointing announcement in their 15 year history, their free and public training camp at McDaniel College is no more. I wasn’t alive when the Mayflower trucks rolled out of town to Indianapolis in 1984, so in my lifetime the Ravens moving their training camp from Westminster’s open fields to their press only complex in Owings Mills is the saddest thing that has ever happened to my favorite football team.
On Wednesday I told our readers that despite a spin by the Ravens PR team, who has won awards for being the best in the National Football League, the team’s move from McDaniel tells me that they no longer care about growing their fan base. Open training camps in Baltimore date back to the early Colts days in the 1950s and when Art Modell brought the Browns to the Charm City the team opted to grow their fan base through open practices in the summer heat. With the team’s success, over 100,000 fans ended up filling McDaniel’s campus every summer to get a glimpse of the Ravens up close.
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By Dave Gilmore, on November 22nd, 2011  Sportswriting, and all forms of narrative or editorial for that matter, exists because of conflict. Whether dire or trivial, the reason we have anything to talk about is because we have challenges and uncertainty at every turn of a given season. I believe it’s a misconception that our culture is overly critical or that there’s some sort of initiative of “gotcha” journalism that hasn’t existed before. How do you think that rumor about Catherine the Great and her horse got started? Today, we just have more avenues to consume the criticism and highlight the conflict.
As dopey as it seems, I get tired of this paradigm from time to time. Even as a semi-professional sports complainer, sometimes I feel like everyone is overlooking what a great time it is not only to be a sports fan, but to live in Baltimore and love sports. It goes without saying that there are real things in life to be thankful for, sure, but we don’t write about them here. Take a moment and lose the cynicism, and think about what you love about being a Baltimore sports fan. Here’s my list. READ MORE >>>
By Zach Wilt, on September 19th, 2011  Image Courtesy: AP I searched and searched and searched for anything to make Baltimore feel better on a sad Monday after a bad Ravens loss. Here’s what I’ve got.
The Indianapolis Colts are 0-2 after losing to the Browns in week two and their fan base is losing its mind. Colts fans are calling for Jim Caldwell’s replacement, calling Peyton Manning’s extension a rip off with his injury and writing off the season on September 19.
The message boards at the Indianapolis Star are hilarious. They’re exactly what a sad Ravens fan needs to see after the pounding Baltimore took in Tennessee.
On Peyton Manning’s $23 million contract extension
Laffyisanidiot wrote: “$23M wasted and 19% of the entire salary going to Capt. Forehead who won’t play a down this season. Way to take one for the team.”
Captain Forehead, now that’s a good one. Manning did take the team for a ride with that new contract, but I can’t believe he wasn’t asked to take a physical before signing.
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By BSR Staff, on August 4th, 2011 A gentle giant out of the gate
A BIG part of Baltimore’s fearsome “D” that to this day Cowboy fans still hate
In sixty-seven he was drafted number one
Charles Aaron Smith, described by his teammates as “one tall son of a gun”
Baltimore football fans knew him as Bubba Smith
And for five years he made another occupation opposing quarterbacks wish
Fearsome off the snap, Agile and tall
He often made offensive lineman look awful small
Against the Namath lead Jets he barely looked alive
but he settled the score in Super Bowl Five
Lining up next to Billy Ray and Mad Dog, he was just one of the guys
But in the heart of Colt fans, Bubba was the prize
Gone from us now is one of the greats
Not Hightower or the pitchman for Miller, but gold old number seventy eight.
Will Wilt is a lifelong Baltimore sports fan and contributor to BaltimoreSportsReport.com
By BSR Staff, on August 4th, 2011 Despite a relatively short career in Baltimore, Charles “Bubba” Smith will go down as one of the most beloved Colts in team history. The overall first pick of the 1967 draft, Bubba’s 6’7″ frame was probably what made him stand out more than anything. He was a giant of a man for his time, yet despite his Herculian stature, Bubba’s smile and sense of humor made him the man he was. This personality translated well for him in the late 70′s hit movies “Police Academy” series were he played Moses Hightower. Hightower was a character very similar to the man himself, a gentle giant, which is probably why it worked so well.
The thing I remember most about Bubba was his local TV sales pitch for a law firm that he promoted. The commercial appeared shortly after the Colts high-tailed it to Indianapolis. At the end of the commercial, he mentioned the lawfirm’s name (even though I remember it, I won’t give the free publicity) and he stated “Still my team, still in Baltimore” a slap at the Indy franchise.
A Super Bowl V champion who only played 5 seasons in Baltimore, he’s yet another Baltimore Colt great that we lost too soon.
Rest in Peace Charles “Bubba” “Moses Hightower” Smith.
Martin Wilt is a lifelong Baltimore sports fan and contributor to BaltimoreSportsReport.com
By Tracy Smith, on April 19th, 2011  One of the city of Baltimore’s, as well as one of it’s biggest sports cheerleaders has passed away. William Donald Schaefer, former governor of Maryland and mayor of the city of Baltimore, the city he loved, passed away last evening at the age of 89. Schaefer will forever be remembered for the role he played in raising the profile of Baltimore by championing projects such as Harborplace and the National Aquarium. He also will be remembered by sports fans for leading the efforts for building Camden Yards to keep the Orioles in town, and for his tireless work to bring a football team back to Baltimore when the Colts left for Indianapolis.
Not to repeat the tired history, but many hearts were broken the night the Colts left town, but none moreso than the then-mayor of the city. While he never got along very well with Robert Irsay, the owner of the Colts at the time, Schaefer kept working to do what he could to keep the Colts in town, even as the team suffered through some terrible seasons towards the end of their time in the city. While Irsay kept talking about moving to one city after another, then lying about not leaving town at the very end, Schaefer and his “do it now” attitude tried to keep Irsay appeased, until finally Irsay had the team move under cover of darkness. The loss of the Colts stung Schaefer, who for years tried to lure or get the NFL to add a team back to a city that helped make the game of football what it had become. During the expansion derby of the early ’90s, Baltimore sold out a pre-season game between two teams it had no rooting interest in, all in an effort to regain what it had lost. In fact, Baltimore met or even exceeded many of the milestones the NFL placed in front of it in its all-out effort to get a football team. Sadly for Schaefer and Baltimore fans, it was not to be. Yet Schaefer laid the groundwork that his successor in Annapolis, Parris Glendening, was able to claim as a success in getting the Cleveland Browns to come to Baltimore.
The loss of the Colts also made Schaefer work to keep the Orioles in town. Afraid that the Orioles would leave just like the Colts did, Schaefer pushed to have a new stadium built to replace Memorial Stadium. While Memorial Stadium held many memories for Oriole and Colt fans, it had become outdated. Schaefer was at the forefront of a movement that saw new stadiums crop up to keep teams in town or to lure teams from other locales to come in. Camden Yards stands today as a jewel of a baseball stadium, some twenty years after first opening, thanks to the efforts of the former governor.
The public face of the city for over 30 years, even as he moved to Annapolis to serve as governor, and later Comptroller, will be missed. But his shadow looms large over the city’s two biggest sporting franchises, even if he never threw a touchdown pass or hit a home run.
By Zach Wilt, on August 26th, 2010  Last night, the Ravens introduced their new fight song for the 2010 season titled, The Baltimore Fight Song. After fans voiced their opinions about the new fight song in a poll on BaltimoreRavens.com, the purple and black will play the famous Baltimore Colts fight song with new lyrics geared towards the Ravens.
The jingle from the Baltimore Colts fight song remains exactly the same, while new words have been adopted to fit the Baltimore Ravens.
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By Zach Wilt, on February 5th, 2010 I was listening to some sports talk radio this morning and the topic of conversation was the Super Bowl, not surprising.
The hypothetical scenario that the host tossed out to his listeners in Baltimore was “who do you root for in this particular situation?” Matt Stover lines up to kick a 43 yard game winning field goal to give Indianapolis it’s second Super Bowl Championship. Do you root for Matt or against Matt, for the Colts or against the Colts?
It’s no secret who Baltimore fans are rooting for in Super Bowl 44. Baltimore fans resent Indianapolis and the white and blue colors they take the field wearing every Sunday. In fact, a lot of fans outside Baltimore see the Colts as the “bad guys” in this Super Bowl. A championship in New Orleans would mean a lot to a city devastated by a horrific hurricane just years earlier.
But you throw in a kicker that Baltimore admired and you start to see a divide between the Colts-hating-faithful and the Stover-die-hards.
When I asked myself to answer this question it was simple. If Stover sets up to kick a 43 yard game winner, I hope he shanks it. Nothing against him, he’s a hell of a guy and I’d love to have him back here in Baltimore. But Colt hatred is in my blood. I wouldn’t want anyone to make that kick.
What do you think, If Stover has to kick a game winner in the Super Bowl do you root for the Colts in that situation or against them?
By Zach Wilt, on October 14th, 2009 I was born five years after the Colts left, but the stories I heard growing up from my father made me a little misty during “The Band That Wouldn’t Die“.
Barry Levinson’s story hits the heart of all Baltimore fans and strikes a nerve of how Baltimore was snubbed for 12 years by the National Football League. In fact I was surprised that ESPN let Levinson tell the story so openly.
“The Band That Wouldn’t Die” is a one hour documentary from the Academy Award Winning Director that doesn’t shy away from Baltimore’s struggling history without an NFL franchise. From the drunken, idiotic Colt’s owner, Robert Irsay, to Paul Tagliabue giving Jacksonville a professional franchise over Charm City, this film details the struggle that Maryland faced in getting a team after the Colts snuck out of town on a snowy March night.
Seeing the Mayflower moving vans take all of Baltimore’s history to Indianapolis is heart breaking, even for someone that didn’t see it happen in person. I can’t imagine losing the Orioles or Ravens to some far away town. This town was devastated by the loss of the Colts and the Marching Band was the leading voice in getting a professional franchise back in Baltimore.
David Modell‘s agreement to name the Colt’s Marching Band the official band of the Baltimore Ravens sealed the deal for any fan in this fare city. 12 years without a franchise had come to an end when Art rescued Baltimore from its lost connection.
“The Band That Wouldn’t Die” is an outstanding documentary of Baltimore’s struggle to regain its history in the NFL. We set the National Football League on the map with the greatest game ever played in 1958, but Baltimore was without football for 12 years.
I watched this story and felt as close to being there as I possible could. After talking to my father, who lived this devastating event, I felt the true sadness that Baltimoreans faced when the Colts left. My dad carried an NFL sign to O’s games, to the NFL exhibition game, and local events.
We all love the Ravens and they are the perfect replacement, but the stolen team, the Colts, will always be missed in Charm City.
By BSR Staff, on March 28th, 2009 25 years ago today Baltimore fans had their world turned upside down. Years of history was packed into Mayflower moving fans in the middle of a snowy March night and shipped to Indianapolis.
Without hesitation, before anything could be done, the Colts left Baltimore and changed football history in Charm City forever. As a 21 year old fan, I missed the Colts by 4 years, but I am passionate about all young fans recognizing this day in Baltimore history.
A lot of people ask me why I care about something that never took place in my generations. The answer is because it’s in my blood. I didn’t have a pro franchise until I was 13 years old, so for the first half of my life my father brought me up to hate everything about Indy.
Any young fan that takes a trip to Sports Legends and soaks up the history instilled in Baltimore by Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Art Donovan, Gino Marchetti, and tons of other guys will leave upset that their history and records belong to a city in Indiana.
Without an NFL franchise, my father told me that Baltimore would win a Super Bowl before Indianapolis ever would. It was a crazy notion, but he said it with such confidence. Sure enough the Modell family blessed Baltimore by moving the Browns in 1996 and after just four years the Ravens held up the Lombardi Trophy after being victorious in Super Bowl XXXV.
I bleed purple, but the Colts’ history was taught to me from a young age and even though I wasn’t there I can’t imagine losing the team I love in the middle of a snowy night in March.
By Zach Wilt, on October 1st, 2008 The Baltimore Sun is reporting that former Baltimore Colt defensive back Milt Davis has died today at the age of 79 from cancer.
Davis helped the Colts win two championships in the 1950s and led the NFL in interceptions in 1957 and 1959.
Full article at the Baltimore Sun.
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Michael Irvin might have completely glossed over thirty years of NFL history in Baltimore. The NFL Network analyst chimed in on this week’s most popular topic — no, not the Super Bowl — Peyton Manning’s future in Indianapolis.
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