How I got over my love of the Colts

[Galen Sevinne]

Born in 1967. I went to my first Colts' game in 1974 with my grandfather - a die hard Colts fan from the 50's and 60's. In 1975, my dad bought season tickets for the two of us and we went to all home games until the move. While my boyhood heroes were Jones, Carr, Lydell, The Sack Pack, etc, my grandfather always took time to point out the legends whenever they were in the stadium - Unites, Berry, Donavan etc. and always told me the stories about them. So much that I felt like I knew them and their era. We sat in Section 7, row 20...I still remember the guy in front of me who smoked cigars the whole time and yelled "Go Blue!". All the adults drank from a flask and smoked and yelled. I was the guy though they turned to for a player's name or a stat since I studied that stuff endlessly (instead of doing homework).

12 years without a hometeam? While I hated the Irsays, I couldn't turn on the the blue and white. The Redskins? I tried but c'mon? Any other team just didn't have the emotional connection...I couldn't care less if another team won or lost but still had that feeling with the Indy Colts.

When the Ravens showed up in 96, I went to games at Memorial Stadium and while it was awesome, the emotional ties still remained affixed to the horsehoes...so much that friends of mine ridiculed me endlessly.

In 98, we bought our PSl's and I remember November 29th Indy came to town. My friend was joking me the whole way to the game about my allegiance. Of course I wanted the Ravens to win but recognized it would be hard to see the horsehoes.

As we sat up close that day for pregame warm ups I remember watching the Colts begin to take the field. The crowd around us was booing and a Colts' player came up to the section and heckled the fans. I thought for a second and was like, "Dude, you don't have a clue...I watched the colts for 12 freakin' years, living and dying every game...I saw the plane crash at the stadium....I saw the Ghost to the Post...I saw Bert Jones walk off holding his shoulder in pain and come back from the locker room to run a play...I listened to my grandfather and the old men tell stories for twelve years about the 50's and the 60's...and you are going to heckle me??? in Baltimore???

I guess I truly felt the anger at that point and still get goosebumps today thinking about it. I really wanted the Ravens to spank these strangers from Indy...and they did that day.

Since then....it's been nothing but Purple and while I will always love the Baltimore Colts...I know the Indy Colts will never match that legacy. I will leave my voice at the stadium this saturday for sure.

Booof...Booooffff...De! - fence!...booooofff....booooooffff....De! - fence!....

[Mr.Boh]

Awesome post man.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

NICE POST DUDE!!!! I even rooted for the B-more Colts when fans were wearing bags on their heads! :bag:

[OwingsMillsAlex]

I'm bitter that I never got to sit in the 50-yard line seats that my Grandfather had just been bumped to for that 1984 season.

[Luker218]

This game is very special for me. While I'm only 23 and was just a few months old when Irsay and the Colts skipped out of town in the middle of the night, I take great pride in the history of the BALTIMORE Colts that was passed down from my father and grandfather. I've heard so many stories about Unitas, Berry, Donovan, Marchetti, Jones, etc. that I almost feel that I was there to experience that special era. I can't tell you what I would give to be able to go back in time and watch the Colts play one time in their glory days. To see Johnny U walk out on the field with the black hightops and lead the Colts up and down the field would be truly amazing.

Anyway, getting to my point, my father immediately fell in love with the Ravens when they came to town. While he cherished his memories of the Colts, he adopted the new team as his own. I still remember him telling me stories of how he cried like a baby when he watched the news that morning that the Colts had skipped town. I was finally able to see how special the father-son relationship can be experiencing pro football on Sundays in the fall.

Sadly, Dad passed away a little over two years ago. I feel so lucky that we were able to experience the Ravens Super Bowl 35 victory together. I remember giving him the biggest bearhug in the last seconds of the game. While I continue to love the Ravens, part of me still hurts not having my best friend there (in a physical sense anyways) to watch this amazing season.

I know this game on Saturday would have been so meaningful to him, not only being a playoff game but also playing Indianapolis. I can only imagine how emotional and special it would be for him and any other Baltimorean that experienced losing their team to see the Ravens knock them out of the playoffs and advance to the AFC Championship game. Just thinking about it chokes me up a little bit.

I'll close by saying, GO RAVENS! Win this one for my dad and other Colts fans who traded in their Blue and White for the Purple and Black. As if we didn't need any other incentive besides a trip to the championship game, this game just oozes with emotion and excitement!

I cannot wait for this game! My brother and I are going and emotions will definitely be running strong as we see the Ravens take it to the INDY Colts. I'm so proud of my city and of my team. GO RAVENS!

[Drkraven]

I saw my dad cry 3 times, one of them was when the Colts left. He did everything in his power to work with the Stadium Authority to get a new team here. He left office in 1991, the year I got married. He took me to many Colt games even though it was not cool to take your daughter in the 1970's. When we bought PSL's in 1999 we wanted in a certain section in 114 to be by our friends, but they only seats in the area were 3 together, dad stepped up and said he would purchase the 3rd seat and start going to games again. A more rabid Ravens fan you will not find. He has missed maybe 3 games due to illness. When I called him when they announced the game times, he reminded me how personal this game is to him. I really play we win.
Dealing with Irsay fans on other boards this weekend has made me say and think things that I would have never in the past. I hope the Ravens wipe the field up with the Irsays on Sat. My kids really want to go to this game but I will not let them, because I'm afraid it will be too ugly. FLY RAVENS FLY!

[Admin Steve]

Required reading from the front page: http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=44&id=1010&view=archive

[ravenwoman]

I grew up loving the Colts as far back as I could remember. I remember shaking Johnny Unitas's hand out at practice in Westminster when I was 6 years old. Boy, what a big hand he had!!

Anyway, I saw in person many of the memorable games mentioned in the above posts.

I hold no grudges against the people of players of Indianapolis. I am over that "a team" has left and gone to Indianapolis. But, I want the colors and the name and the history back here. Everytime I see the Indy Colts, I want them to lose, no matter who they play against. I hope the Irsay curse lives on forever and I wish them nothing but failure, now and in the future.

There should be a law in the NFL that if a team moves, they must change the name and leave the trophies, the history the colors, etc. with the city that they abandoned. Just my opinion.

[Manningfan88]

U ppl need to grow up! That was over 20 yrs ago, cherish ur memories with ur Grandpa, and think of how Clevland Browns Fans Feel? U guy all say Indy is cheap for this, but Balt. is just as cheap to Clev. Ray lewis should be a Brown, all of the Ravens should be, ppl change teams change, 100 yrs ago there were no Cars, but there are now thing change get over it and stop, bitching about the same things u have done to other fans (Browns) as well.

[Pat McGroin]

Get over it?

Fuck you

[Manningfan88]

Get over it?

Fuck you


Well, eat a dick up u crybabys!!!!!!!!!!

[Manningfan88]

Manningfan88 to take a long walk off a short pier. 88 belongs to John Mackey anyway you dunce.

Same to u "Eat a Dick up" and Ray Lewis belongs to the Clevland Browns so do the Ravens

[Pat McGroin]

Oh, and another thing motherfucker. Who plays in Cleveland? That's right asshole, The Browns. Nobody around here thinks Jim Brown is the greatest Raven ever.

I'd like to know where you cornholers get off claiming Baltimore football heritage as your own. Dickhead.

BTW, one more thing....fuck you

[Mista T]

U ppl need to grow up! That was over 20 yrs ago, cherish ur memories with ur Grandpa, and think of how Clevland Browns Fans Feel? U guy all say Indy is cheap for this, but Balt. is just as cheap to Clev. Ray lewis should be a Brown, all of the Ravens should be, ppl change teams change, 100 yrs ago there were no Cars, but there are now thing change get over it and stop, bitching about the same things u have done to other fans (Browns) as well.

You fucking asshole. :thumbdown:

Who the fuck do you think you are to tell us to get over having our team stolen by that drug and alcohol addicted ownership of the pirate Indianapolis franchise?

and, btw, we do know how Browns fans feel. Except they knew they were getting an expansion team within a months after the Browns move was announced, while we had to wait 12 years to know.

I dare you to make up a sign that states your post and bring it to the tailgate lots next Saturday. Never happen, because I can tell by your writing style that you are a pre-teen or early teen, who can't afford to make the trip to Baltimore and cannot fly as an unaccompanied minor.

Fucking douchebag.

[Greg]

The Browns are in Cleveland and weren't stolen.

I would have driven the moving van myself if I knew we could get rid of the Irsays and keep the name, history and colors.

Obviously we got the superior franchise in the deal, you can't argue with that can you, Irsay Bitch?

[Admin Steve]

So...what did I miss? :hammer:

[Drkraven]

Im sorry, but people like this is why I can't be civil, call me whatever but I feel my blood pressure rising.

[Admin Steve]

Rather than send an otherwise award winning thread to the smack forum, I left it in here and clicked the nuke button on manningloser88.

Other visiting fans, learn from his mistake :)

[mavhimself]

was that bengalsrule in disguise. he had the same mastery of the english language.

[TL24x7]

Nice job Admin24x7! It's ok to have differing opinions but until that Indy fan walks in the shoes of a Baltimore Colts fan, he'll never know. That isn't his fault. You had to live it to understand it.

What is his fault is acting like the late Bob Irsay.

Folks, don't stoop to his level. We'll have the last laugh by 8PM on Saturday! Those imposters are the equivalent of the Bay City Rollers calling themselves The Beatles. At the end of the day, they are just some other team standing in our way.

On Saturday we get the chance to help our team move them aside by being the best 12th man!

[RAVENOUS52]

They can steal our name and uniform, but they'll never have our heritage.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

U ppl need to grow up! That was over 20 yrs ago, cherish ur memories with ur Grandpa, and think of how Clevland Browns Fans Feel? U guy all say Indy is cheap for this, but Balt. is just as cheap to Clev. Ray lewis should be a Brown, all of the Ravens should be, ppl change teams change, 100 yrs ago there were no Cars, but there are now thing change get over it and stop, bitching about the same things u have done to other fans (Browns) as well.

Now you are getting out of hand DUDE!!! If I were you, I'd get on out of here before some real poop hits your fan.....:nerd: