#Ravens Nation

3 Artifacts

I have chosen to focus my community around The Baltimore Ravens and more specifically Ravens Nation. There are 3 main aspects of the Baltimore Ravens that come to mind, those include, the team itself and their performance each Sunday, fan support, and the team’s involvement in the Baltimore community. “Ravens Nation” is a large community that includes, the players, coaches, and fans.

For my first artifact I have chosen the front page of The Baltimore Sun, once the Ravens won Super bowl XLVII. On February 3^rd, 2013 The Baltimore Ravens captured their second Lombardi trophy in franchise history. This was a defining moment for not just the team but also the city. This is clear from the send off parade before the Super Bowl, fans meeting the team at the airport, and the parade after the victory. There is no debating what an impact this victory had on the city especially the way it was celebrated throughout the city. Baltimore is a city very passionate about their sport teams and after coming so close in years past, to finally reach the top was great for the city. This was also a big deal for the team and city because this was the final game for Ray Lewis. Ray Lewis had adopted Baltimore as his own, and always did whatever he could for the city. Ray Lewis was an incredible football player on the field but his impact was just as important off of it.

The Ravens do a great job of getting involved with the community. Whether it may be through meet and greets, player hosted camps or attending various charities events and auctions, players and coaches have embraced the community. There are so many instances that players go to hospitals to visit sick kids or serve food at a soup kitchen.  My second artifact I have chosen is an article written about the Ravens coming into the Baltimore community after the aftermath of the Freddie Gray tragedy. Twenty-five players walked up and down the streets in Baltimore city, talking to people and going into elementary schools to speak to students and staff members. It should come as no surprise that retired player Ray Lewis was at the helm of this outreach, even though he no longer lives in Baltimore year round, he flew back to give back to the community one more time. This was obviously a tragic time in the community and even though the team did not solve any major issues, the way they showed up and took time out of their day, not only showed fans that they acknowledge their lives are bigger then football but it served as a “distraction” for many people in the community who had been surrounded by all the violence and riots.

My final artifact is a shirt that says “The only thing I hate more than Pittsburgh is obnoxious Pittsburgh fans. This shirt highlights the rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh and illustrates that this rivalry is not taken lightly. During Steelers week the city is all in and it is a way for the whole community to be “apart of the team.” The team knows how much it means to the city and they rely on the fans in the stadium each game day. You wont walk through Baltimore without seeing any sort of purple apparel and this is just a prime example of the passion the city has for the team.


(I actually posted this Monday, October 5, 2015, 10:04 am, but put it in the wrong blog)

(Assignment 2 Draft) Ravens Nation More Than Just a Game Draft 1

More Than Just a Game

The Baltimore Ravens community otherwise known as Ravens Nation is a large community that represents many different people united together. To me, the three major aspects of Ravens Nation include the team itself, the fans and most importantly how those two groups relate beyond the typical game day interactions and excitement. There are two main primary areas of tensions that come to mind when I think about the tenure of this community. The first is when the Baltimore Colts uprooted in the middle of the night to Indianapolis and the other is this past spring when Ravens players and coaches went into the city and different neighborhoods to try to bring a sense of peace and distraction during the difficult aftermath of the Freddie Gray tragedy.

In the middle of a snowy night on March 29, 1984, led by team owner Robert Irsay, the Baltimore Colts packed up all team gear and equipment, and headed off to Indianapolis. The team needed fourteen “Mayflower” tractor truck trailers and without telling practically anyone made a change that will forever be remembered. The team hardly told anyone and for the utmost secrecy even the drivers were not told where they were going until the next day.[1] This obviously left the community in shock. It largely caused hatred amongst players and fans all directed to Indianapolis. Some fans have expressed their displeasure towards Irsay family by saying "We hated Irsay. We hated Indianapolis. We hated (former Indianapolis mayor Bill) Hudnut," Ziemann said. "Together, we hated them. There's no two ways about it. They took something away from us that belonged to us and they had no right to do that. No right at all.”[2] The lifelong fan and once Colt’s band member continued by expressing his new found love for the Ravens but admitting that “The scar will always be there, The wound has healed, but the scar will always be there and you can't erase history of what was done to us.“ [3]

One of many reasons that this move was so difficult for Baltimore was because of the team’s involvement in the local community away from the football field. Most well known players had to hold down their own jobs outside from football. Even Johnny Unitas, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game was often seen in the community at his local hardware store helping customers who occasionally not even know who he was.[4] There were also many players who worked owned at local restaurants bars and car dealerships.  Players were friendly and very engaging with fans, which only enhanced the strong fan support. The Baltimore Colts fans were always recognized as some of the more passionate ones in the league, and memorial stadium was always seen as one of the best home field advantages.

 I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, as difficult as I am sure it was to go through this for all fans and players, without this move, who knows what Baltimore football would be like today. A “what if” scenario is so difficult to analyze because no one truly know what would have happened 35 years ago if Robert Irsay did not move the team. It is however extremely disappointing that all of the Baltimore Colts rich history is credited to Indianapolis instead of Baltimore. Even Johnny Unitas’ son acknowledged that the team history had nothing to do with Indianapolis, which is why they shouldn’t receive any credit for all of the team’s accolades. This point shows that fans do have an influence on the game and team as a whole and the players do appreciate it. I know for all fans and former players it is very strange and even difficult to watch the “Blue Horseshoe” on Indianapolis helmets but I know they have all embraced the new franchise. 

It can be argued that looking back, March, 29, 1984 could very well have been a good day for Baltimore sports. One Baltimore Sun writer explained how he thinks this actually can be thought as a blessing in disguise. “It allowed the city to cut ties with a desperately flawed franchise and a deeply unpopular owner. It spurred elected officials to get serious about plans that would keep the Orioles in Baltimore and attract a new NFL team. Those plans bore fruit in Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, beloved facilities that are now as intrinsic to downtown as the Inner Harbor. The Ravens arrived in 1996 and won a Super Bowl six years before the Colts brought Indianapolis its first Lombardi Trophy.[5]” The city of Baltimore is very pleased with ownership and management of the team, which would not have happened if the Colts hadn’t left Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns hadn’t come to Baltimore, twelve years later. Ravens fans are constantly appreciative of former owner Art Modell and current owner Steve Bisciotti, the team has established a positive reputation on and off the field and fan support quickly returned where it once was with the Colts. As strange as it may seem and granted I was not alive for this disheartening time in Baltimore, Robert Irsay moving the Colts opened many doors for great things to come. Most importantly, let’s be honest, there’s no debating that Ravens Nation sounds a whole lot better than Colt’s Nation!

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[1] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/03/29/indianapolis-baltimore-move-30-year-anniversary-mayflower/7053553/

[2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[3] http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/04/indianapolis-colts-move-baltimore-bitter-feelings/1810527/

[4] Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens

 By Ted Patterson, Dean Smith

[5] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-03-29/sports/0903280183_1_baltimore-colts-band-colts-heroes-john-moag

Baltimore's Passion stems from the Colts

Baltimore’s Passion Stems from the Colts  

The passion for Baltimore sport is not unique to the Ravens, the passion has been around ever since the Colts and Orioles organizations were founded. It is seen that football is considered to many as a religion in the state of Maryland. It is without a question that Johnny Unitas and the rest of the Baltimore Colts have laid the foundation for that statement of Baltimore sports as they are today.  “Baltimore gave its first professional at a time where the city was badly run down, considered merely a rest stop between Philadelphia and Washington.” According to Patterson the Baltimore Colts and in particular their championship was clearly a turning point for the community of Baltimore.

 Just like the Ravens today the Colts were part of the community, Johnny Unitas, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game was often seen in the community at his local hardware store helping someone who may have not had any idea who he was. It seemed to be that the players and coaches put their city and the rest of their lives ahead of football. This is obviously nice to see for fans and it definitely attracts new fans. When the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 Baltimore was heartbroken, and there was a major hole in the heart of the city. This time was clearly a moment of tension up until 1996 when Art Modell and The Baltimore Ravens, then “The Cleveland Browns” moved to Baltimore. 

It did not take long for Baltimore to adopt their new franchise, as the team sold out the first game with more then 64,000 in attendance. Considering the 12-year period with out football in Baltimore, it’s no wonder that fans were excited to have football back. However, considering so many of the fans lived for the Colts, the positive reception of the team had to come as a bit of surprise. This just exhibited the passion Baltimore has for their sports. It is unfortunate that it took a franchise leaving the city for Ravens nation to evolve, but  “The 410 Nation” and the passion people have for the city never left. The next generation of Ravens Nation have been cultivated and Baltimore is clearly all on board.

Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens

 By Ted Patterson, Dean Smith

10 on 1: What is Ravens Nation?

10 on 1

What is Ravens Nation?

1.     Ravens nation is built on passion, no matter if you are talking to fans, players, coaches, everyone is passionate about the Baltimore Ravens and that shows year round. Don’t expect to ask a member of Ravens Nation about the team and not get into a long discussion about how the media overlooks them. Baltimore loves hiding under the media spotlight because it leads to having a chip on the shoulder.

2.    We are a community, you wont hear fans say they won or they lost, after each game, trade, or draft pick the proper response is “We won, we traded him away,” etc. Every Sunday when you are watching the game in the stadium or at a restaurant Ravens fans are a community all united together against the other team. The beauty of sports especially in Baltimore, is every game, fans put their differences with one another aside and are all untied together.

3.    You can’t think of Ravens Nation with out thinking of rivalries! Baltimore is most notable for the rivalry with Pittsburgh but a rivalry with the New England area, as well as Cleveland and Cincinnati is definitely growing.  Anyone who year after year is in the Ravens way of getting to the Super Bowl is a city that fans and players grow to dislike. The feelings are definitely mutual between teams and communities, which adds to the excitement.

4.    Persistent, determined and driven, every year the goal for the Ravens is a Super Bowl, it is the same goal from the owner all the way down to the fans. A lot can be said about the team itself but one thing that has never been said is that they give up or “the effort wasn’t there.” Even if pre-season the Ravens are not projected to do that well, everyone in Baltimore has faith that the team will succeed based on a drive to win and great coaching!

5.    The Team, The Team, The Team: no one comes to Baltimore to chase the money, people come to help the team and do what’s in the best interest for the team. Baltimore has never been a place where flashy free agents come to be in the media spotlight and be the prize and face of the franchise. All free agents and draft picks are all just another piece in the puzzle. This strategy has worked the past 20 seasons and it seems like it’s a good plan moving forward. After each game especially after a loss, no one talks about individual statistics. Sure stats are nice but any player would rather get the win, as well as any fan would rather get the win as opposed to watching their favorite players win the MVP or make the Pro Bowl.

6.    Life is bigger than football! This is an important message in the locker room and football community. All the players and coaches understand that even though there job is helping to deliver the best outcome on the field that doesn’t mean anything if they don’t give back to the community. Athletes constantly need a reminder that life is bigger than their sport and they still have an important responsibility other than “playing a game.” Football is clearly very different for players and fans, for all fans we use football as an escape from regular every day lives compared to the opposite NFL lifestyle. Even though for many, the outcome of a game can be very stressful, every game day is an opportunity for fans to escape and be apart of something bigger than themselves. 

7.    Ravens Nation is built on intensity. Especially in M&T Bank stadium, players and fans pride themselves on intensity and intimidating opposing fans and teams. M&T Bank stadium is one of the hardest stadiums to play in. This isn’t like many other stadiums that are credited with being loud primarily because where the architects designed the stadium to “send the noise straight to the field.” All fans are intense in their own way, but walking down the streets, seeing the city of Baltimore covered in purple, is an intimidating site to see but an amazing thing to be apart of!

8.    Hard work! The Baltimore Ravens are a hard working team just like the city of Baltimore and surrounding areas; we are all apart of a hard working community. The Ravens may not have the most talent each game but their hard work pays off not just in practice but also in dedication towards getting better on the field and in the “classroom”. Baltimore is known for being a hard working blue-collar city, and it is only fitting that the two major teams fit in that definition.

9.    W. I. N. (What’s Important Now!) This was a slogan for the team in the past but was certainly embraced by the community and is still reference by the community. This slogan is perfect for the team because it doesn’t let them get “too high” after a win or “too low” after a loss. All that can be controlled is the next practice or the next game, because that is “what is important now.” I also like to directly relate this quote to my personal life. It’s not that I personally need it but I love inspirational quotes and love to be inspired. This isn’t directly an “inspirational quote” but if you think about it gives you a good outlook on life. I think of W.I.N and I don’t think about the test I just took that I might not have done that well nor getting stressed out about a event a couple months away. W.I.N. is a reminder to live in the moment and only worry about what is important and what can be influenced now!

10. Win, lose or draw, Ravens Nation is definitely devoted. You won’t see the team “throw a game” to get better draft position because they know they owe it to the fans, each and every game. Ravens Nation like all communities has their complaints every now and then. With that said, Ravens Nation will always stand behind the team through thick and thin. Ravens Nation is a definition of loyalty; this works great across the sports community and gives great representation to the great city of Baltimore.

Moments of Tension

Jason Collins Article

Tension

3 moments of tension in the article

1.     NBA lockout

a.     Moment of tension for all, players, coaches, owners, sponsors, fans

2.    The grandmother and her reaction of how others will treat Jason

3.     Perceived reaction of the discomfort some teammates in the locker room

3 places of tension in my discourse community

1.     Tension between civilians and police officers

2.     Tension surrounding public school system

3.     Tension surrounding unemployment and poverty