“Catch!”
It seemed like an innocuous request to Bobby Nyk at the time. So, the Columbia, Md.-based disc jockey and Ravens fan looked up, put his hands out and did exactly as he was told ? he caught a football.
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At the time, Nyk was walking through a tailgating lot outside Cleveland Browns Stadium, but once Nyk caught the ball, it was open season.
He said he was wrestled to the hard asphalt lot by Browns fans ? and his three broken ribs led him to the conclusion he wasn?t welcome.
That was several years ago, but Nyk went back into the heart of Browns country Sunday for another Ravens-Browns game to tailgate with some Cleveland friends he has made during his trips.
But his time in the parking lot was brief, as Browns fans showered him with beers.
“Cleveland still hasn?t let go of the Modell thing,” Nyk said. “And there?s nothing that I can tell them otherwise.”
The “Modell thing” is a nice way of describing how former Ravens owner Art Modell moved the original Browns franchise to Charm City in 1996, which left Cleveland without an NFL team for three seasons.
When the Browns resurfaced, they joined the Ravens in the AFC Central Division ? now the AFC North ? and Cleveland was ready to unleash its hatred toward Baltimore.
The rivalry has been one-sided in the wins column, however, as the Ravens entered Sunday with an 11-5 head-to-head advantage.
But in the hostility department, Cleveland is the clear winner.
On Sunday, many Cleveland fans wore “Baltimore Sucks” shirts.
Some Ravens fans are oblivious to the history of the two teams.
Tim Wilson, a 12-year-old Ravens fan who lives in Toledo ? the heart of Browns country ? attended the game with his brother, Anthony, 9, and mother, Francisca Borjon.
“We were told not to wear any Ravens gear coming up, because Cleveland fans, like Pittsburgh fans, are going to throw stuff at you,” Borjon said after being educated about the Browns and Ravens by her sons.
Tim, who was seeing his first NFL game in person, was just excited to see his favorite team.
“I just like all the Ravens,” he said before entering the stadium.
On the field, the Ravens players are aware of Cleveland?s disdain for Baltimore.
“This is what the NFL?s about,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said.
“You go into a hostile environment, get the chance to be the bad guy. They poured beer on us last time. Cleveland is an interesting place to play.”
