I t?s too bad the Colts lost their charm when they slipped out of Charm City, but would anybody around here have it any other way?
No offense to Indianapolis, really,but it sure is no Baltimore. Maybe the Corn City ? or whatever it?s called ? and the post-?83 Colts deserve each other. Not only do the Baltimore Ravens outshine the Indianapolis (even after 23 years it doesn?t sound right) Colts, Baltimore outshines Indianapolis. Our city ranks second in the nation in the SustainLane 2006 “report card on urban sustainability” housing affordability index. Indianapolis ranks 11th. In commuting, Baltimore seventh, Indy 45th. Air quality? Us 36; them 41. Drinking water quality: 13; 26. City Innovation? 19 Baltimore vs. 26 Indianapolis. Green Economy? Eight to 33. Overall, Baltimore ranked 11th in the nation; Indianapolis 45th.
When the University of Wisconsin ranked America?s most literate cities, we placed 25th, Indianapolis 27th. We win!
Sure, Indianapolis has come a long way since 1984. It had a long, long way to come. And no doubt stealing the Colts helped them along some. But Baltimore?s Renaissance started deeper in the pits and soars higher than Indy?s ever will, and we did it despite a dozen years without an NFL team.
Now we have the greatest. Indianapolis bought the Colts? glorious past built with sweat and blood in Baltimore: Their media guide claims the 1958 and ?59 World Championships and the 1971 Superbowl for that other city. But Indianapolis could not buy the Colts a future.
Take a look at the record. Even as Baltimore blows past Indianapolis as a world-class city by every measure, our Ravens eclipse the Colts in football legend since they sneaked out of town 23 years ago.
Indianapolis Colts: 10 playoff appearances since 1984; two AFC Championship appearances, but no victories.
Baltimore Ravens: Four playoff appearances since 1996, including a 2001 Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
Let us remember all this Saturday, the first time both teams meet in playoff history. Let us put on the Purple and scream at the top of our lungs: GO RAVENS; GO BALTIMORE; GO MARYLAND! We were meant to triumph together!
