Superbowl Ring - Olive Branch

[sgtcolt]

Everyone,

In case you have not seen this, I thought many of you would appreciate what Mr. Irsay had to say about this year's championship ring.

Missing from the ring were the diamonds that teams typically use to symbolize the number of championships won by the franchise.

In the Colts case that would be two, counting their 1970 victory when the team was still in Baltimore. Irsay opted against that for two reasons.

"We look at it as being the first one for the Indianapolis Colts," Irsay said. "And there was no need to bring up any friction."

This is from an ESPN article about the presentation of the Rings on Wednesday night. Here is the link if you would like to read the entire article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2903767

r/s
Sgt. Colt

[sgtcolt]

Hmmm. It's been 7 days and there have been 42 reads of this post, but no one has replied.

I thought this would be a subject your fan base would be interested in.

[flraven]

I'm glad Mr. Irsay did that, he is correct, no need to cause friction.

[sailorsam]

since the 'we' (Ravens family) got our own ring, and will shortly gain another, a lot of the sting has been removed. I'm still disappointed that he didn't return the name/colors, as did Mr. Modell.

[Mista T]

That's one small step for a man.

Now, to take that giant leap for mankind:

- the NFL must totally segregate the records of the Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis NFL franchise.

- the NFL Hall of Fame must totally segregate the team displays in Canton between the Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis NFL franchise.

- Irsay should rename the Indianapolis NFL franchise to a name more fitting for the area, such as "Racers", "Hoosiers", "500s", or "We're not Gary". Just like "Colts" was chosen for our team because of the strong horse breeding activity in Maryland. Perhaps hold a local Indiana contest, with the name unveiling to coincide with opening of the new stadium.

[Sports Steve]

Yes the ring is a start to let Indy be Indy. Now separate all the records and leave Baltimore out of all the talk with Indy. They got our team and the colors just continue to make your own records.


:jester: :jester:

[sgtcolt]

Everyone,

Thanks for the response. I didn't think anyone was going to comment on this article for a while.

I, personally, wanted the 'history of the Colts' displayed on the ring, but I understand why Mr. Irsay made the decision he did.

By the way, don't hold your breath on the separate history. The Colts are still the Colts, no matter what city. Just like: Dogers, Cardinals, Rams, Lakers, and other teams that have moved.

I look forward to this season. Good luck to your team (expect for 12/9). And if any of you will be in Canton for HOF weekend, say hello.

r/s
Sgt Colt

[Losac]

By the way, don't hold your breath on the separate history. The Colts are still the Colts, no matter what city. Just like: Dogers, Cardinals, Rams, Lakers, and other teams that have moved.
sgtcolt - you don't want to open up that can of worms. Unless you are ready for a flame war. It's a sensitive topic, so please just let it be.

[Jake]

sgtcolt - you don't want to open up that can of worms. Unless you are ready for a flame war. It's a sensitive topic, so please just let it be.

Too late...

Jimmy tried to do the decent thing because he could see clearly having been in both cities,that this so called "Colts History " was written in two volumes...the Baltimore Volume and the indy volume. You people in indy never got it and never will. You kept the history and the name and the records because you liked basking in the Old Colts Reflected Glory.
Now you have some history of your own, so try to step out of the shadow of Baltimore's Greatness. Make a new start , our history has been carrying you long enough.

[ravenjoe]

I guess I'll never understand the Indy fans desire to cling to another team's storied history?! They now have their own bonified Super Bowl championship; so give Baltimore back its records and storied past, and let Johnny U forever rest in peace!

[sgtcolt]

Okay, gentlemen, I guess the flame war has started.

A Colt is a Colt, and it is not a Raven.

The horseshoe is now in Indy, true. It was in Baltimore, also true. And you are also right, there are two volumes to the history.

But unfortunately, it is two volume of ONE franchise's history. The Colts. Not the Ravens. It is the story of one of the greatest franchises. Ultimate highs, and terrible lows.

Be proud of your part. The Indy fans are proud of theirs. But there are a few of us fans that are proud of both. I am one of them.

Sgt. Colt

[ravenjoe]

When the Browns moved here from Cleveland, I, along with the majority of the fans here in Baltimore, Did Not want the Browns team name; their uniforms; or their heritage - That will forever belong to the fans and city of Cleveland, and Not the fans of Baltimore! Furthermore, had Mr. Modell Not done the decent thing and returned the colors to Cleveland, I predict the fans of Baltimore would have demanded he do so!

[mitchell26]

I have no problem if Sgt. Colt or any other Indy fan wants to embrace both "volumes" of the Colts. They can do whatever they want. I don't quite understand it. As a lifelong Oriole fans, I have never had the slighest interest in the history of the St. Louis Browns, but hey,to each his own. My problem comes when the NFL and Hall of Fame pretends that there is only one volume of the Colts.

I also find it funny that Sgt. Colt mentions the Dodgers. Has he ever seen Jackie Robinson's Hall of Fame plaque? It does not say he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers or even the "Dodgers." It says Brooklyn NL. MLB and the Hall of Fame goes out of its way to ensure that no one will ever confuse the LA Dodgers with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The shame is that the NFL & its Hall of Fame could not do the same thing. The solution is really simple. The Baltimore Colts died in 1984. Just like the Canton Bulldogs and Pottstown Maroons, they no longer exist. It is time that the NFL accepts reality and seperate/retire the Baltimore Colts records, as Johnny Unitas long ago requested. Why? Because it is the right and decent thing to do. Then, if they so choose, the Indy Colts could publish the Baltimore Colts records as a seperate section of their media guide and the Ravens could do the same thing. That way, everybody could be happy.

By the way, it was a classy thing that Jimmy Irsay did. The NFL needs to get with the program and follow suit.

[Losac]

A Colt is a Colt, and it is not a Raven.


Wrong. Why did Johnny Unitas stand on the sideline of every Ravens home game while he was still alive? Why did he want nothing to do with the franchise or the city of Indy after the move?

Same with Tom Matte, Art Donovan, and all of the old Colts from the glory years. They stayed loyal to Baltimore, and all of them support the Ravens. Matte was the color man on all Ravens radio broadcasts. You still see Donovan around the local Bmore crab houses.

Face it, the old Colts consider themselves Ravens supporters today, and want nothing to do with your stolen team. They know the team they played for is now in limbo and have to live with that until Irsay does the REAL decent thing and separates all of the Baltimore history from Indy.

If you want to latch onto the history and accomplishments of another city in another era, that's your prerogative, but just know that #19 died a Ravens fan living in the Baltimore suburbs.

[McLovin]

It is good to see that Irsay did the right thing by leaving the BALTIMORE Colts super bowl off of the current colts super bowl rings. It truly is two different histories Baltimore and Indianapolis. People in Indy will never know what it is like to be a true colts fan they will never get to step foot in Memorial Stadium and they will never have the support from the old Baltimore colts players who still come to Ravens games. People in Baltimore are the luckiest fans in the NFL because they have legends from a different era who still live in Baltimore and attend ravens games Baltimore fans also still have possession of the only Baltimore Colts Super bowl trophy it is at sports legends museum at Camden Yards if you would like to see it. Indy can take our team but they can never take our memories our history our legends and the Ravens truly carry on that tradition I would not trade them for any franchise in the NFL because I am a Baltimore fan and that is what truly is special.

[drdelaware]

Read the article on #19 in the Baltimore Sun today and you will see why the franchise in Indianapolis is a fraud. Their fans suck - go get your own history. What, you all couldn't come up with your own name that reflects your city and state?

Midwestern losers.

[drdelaware]

What means more?

Baltimore and the Colts and it's players who still live here?

or

The fact that a drunken ass with money purchased the rights to the name, and ruined it. And then his kid, who is an ok guy by all accounts, doesn't want to part with it because it's been in his family all his life?

So:

Baltimore Colts - championships, Unitas, Berry, Moore, insane aslum

vs.

My daddy owned the team and it's all I know.

:(

[esizzle]

I have a very wise friend that once told me to "Build a bridge and get over it."

We have our team now. Move on.