The Old Stomping Grounds

[OldManP]

A lot of talk on this subject in Baltimore. 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--visiting-colts-will-find-new-college-campus--football-program-at-old-stomping-grounds-012603790.html

[USAFHoosier]

I don't understand how some people can still be mad after so many years. Also there was a chance the Colts were going to stay in Bmore until they threatened to take the franchise by eminent domain. The city basically made the decision for Irsay.

[Indyswagger]

Talk is all it is. The press is keeping this story relevant. Baltimore has been a bitter city since the theft of the Colts was thwarted by the elder Irsay.

I would rather have seen the Mayflower moving vans rather than the Maryland state police standing guard at the doors so they could not move. What the city of Baltimore (not the fans) attempted to do was nothing less than criminal and completely un-american. If I were told that someone was attempting to steal my property, I would have had the vans there in a minute. Not even a question.

My advice, move on and enjoy what each team has done since the "incident". Relish the superbowls that have been won and continue to dream of future success. Thats what fans do best.

.

[OldManP]

Baltimore is bitter because Indy co-opted all "their" legacy.  Many people get angry when they hear an Indy Colt fan talking about this heritage.  They want to keep what happened in Baltimore and be proud of it.  The Browns are a good example of a better resolution to this.

[Indra]

Baltimore is bitter because Indy co-opted all "their" legacy.  Many people get angry when they hear an Indy Colt fan talking about this heritage.  They want to keep what happened in Baltimore and be proud of it.  The Browns are a good example of a better resolution to this.

Except the fans nor the city of Baltimore had anything to do with the on-field successes of the Colts franchise. That belongs solely to Irsay, his coaches and staff, and they players themselves, all under the ownership of Irsay. An American winning a gold medal in Barcelona doesn't make it a Spanish achievement.

Irsay had every right to take his championships, the name, and the history with him. It was his and he earned it. Baltimore has no claim to it.

That said, I think every Indy Colts fan realizes that those things happened in Baltimore and differentiates them when compared with Indianapolis achievements.

[House]

Any Baltimore fan who gets mad over the relocation is a hypocrite. Period.

And please spare me about hearing of the "Band that wouldn't die" ever again lol.

[jvan1973]

Baltimore is bitter because Indy co-opted all "their" legacy. Many people get angry when they hear an Indy Colt fan talking about this heritage. They want to keep what happened in Baltimore and be proud of it. The Browns are a good example of a better resolution to this.[/quote

Art Modell had no choice. He didn't give up the browns name by choice

[PrincetonTiger]

interesting read

[Smonroe]

Baltimore is bitter because Indy co-opted all "their" legacy.  Many people get angry when they hear an Indy Colt fan talking about this heritage.  They want to keep what happened in Baltimore and be proud of it.  The Browns are a good example of a better resolution to this.

That I can understand. The NFL learned from that move and forced Modell to give up the Browns name. But as someone pointed out, the Colts have now been in Indy almost as long as they were in Bmore.

I guess the Cardinals and Raiders don't have a heritage?

[OldManP]

Except the fans nor the city of Baltimore had anything to do with the on-field successes of the Colts franchise. That belongs solely to Irsay, his coaches and staff, and they players themselves, all under the ownership of Irsay. An American winning a gold medal in Barcelona doesn't make it a Spanish achievement.

Irsay had every right to take his championships, the name, and the history with him. It was his and he earned it. Baltimore has no claim to it.

That said, I think every Indy Colts fan realizes that those things happened in Baltimore and differentiates them when compared with Indianapolis achievements.

So you're one of the rare fans who never says "we" after a team win?

[OldManP]

That I can understand. The NFL learned from that move and forced Modell to give up the Browns name. But as someone pointed out, the Colts have now been in Indy almost as long as they were in Bmore.

I guess the Cardinals and Raiders don't have a heritage?

It's funny how folks on the left Coast (Rams also) and "out West" don't seem to care.  Like the way they stroll into a game partway through.

[Smonroe]

It's funny how folks on the left Coast (Rams also) and "out West" don't seem to care.  Like the way they stroll into a game partway through.

You're right, same with baseball games I've been to out there. I used to live in the DC area and totally understand their love of the Colts and vitriol over what happened.

But, even though the Browns left the name in Cleveland, the people in Baltimore don't have a problem with taking their team. If they could get over that you'd think they could get over losing the Colts.

[BlueRedZone]

Okay its 2013

 

Let it go...

 

It happened and there is nothing you can do about it.  

 

People complaining and moaning about it does nothing.  

 

Franchises move.  Look at the Utah Jazz, do you really think of Jazz when you think of Utah?  Or Hornets when you think of New Orleans?

[fatboy]

The best has to be that famous land of lakes, Los Angeles.  I say the name "Lakers" has to move back to Minneapolis were it rightfully belongs.

[Nadine]

this is a topic on which opposing sides will never agree.

You can try and discuss it but it's just the same ole same ole

[Indra]

So you're one of the rare fans who never says "we" after a team win?

What I do really has no bearing on the legality of the situation.

I'm not saying that fans shouldn't care if their favorite team up and moves, but Baltimore fans didn't care enough to actually show up to games when the team struggled. It was almost 30 years ago, it's time for people to move on.

[RayFan]

This is pure "nonsense". I'll agree that there was a time, a long time, when people like me who are old enough to remember the Baltimore Colts, I had season tickets from 1970 until they left town, felt angry about the move but, that has passed. For me, that feeling passed after the you guys beat us in the playoff game a few years ago.... I think it wss the "field goal" game. There has been practically nothing negative about the Colts return to Baltimore this time. Both teams have experienced a degree of success on their own, i.e. both winning Super Bowls and numerous playoff appearances. Although, as a Ravens Fan, I want nothing more than to beat you guys, this CRAP about the "old Colts" and all this other stuff is just nonsense. I'll grant you that there will always be some people who never forget that stuff, MOST Ravens fans could care less about what used to be and have moved on. Like a lot of times, the goofballs with the loudest mouths get the attention. I hope the game Sunday is a good one and if we (Ravens) don't win, I hope you guys win the AFC.

[BrentMc11]

Lets just say Mr. Irsay moved HIS team to the right place:  Indianapolis, IN.  Indiana was a cross between the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals for sooooooooo long.  Every Sunday at 1 PM it was one or the other.....with a dash of the Cleveland Browns and Saint Louis Cardinals thrown in there.  Indianapolis was the PERFECT place for Bob Irsay to move the team.        I was one who loved seeing the horseshoe play...Memorial Stadium, Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, Roger Carr....John Dutton on the DL....Joe Washington all purpose...rain, sleet, snow and mud!  Loved the Colts....and they came to US!   

 

Through the tough times and the great years, Indianapolis has been a classy organization. I remember as a kid Tom Zupancic used to do strength shows and also animal convocations at schools, then all of Jim Irsay's charitable efforts, then a great ride with Peyton Manning.....hospitals....a new stadium....and yes Bill Polian and Tony Dungy!    

 

To 2013:  Chuck-strong Pagano, Andrew Luck with Riley Hospital.....it goes on and on! I am sooooo proud of OUR Indianapolis Colts.

 

To the fans of the Baltimore Ravens:  You have built a new tradition....one that the majority of you are very proud of and should be!!!  2013 is a long way from 1984.......there should be zero bitterness left.  On Sunday we will square off as one hero retires, and a rookie quarterback makes his first playoff appearance.  Good luck to our friends and foes in Baltimore!!!!  GO Indianapolis     

[bavanlan]

This is pure "nonsense". I'll agree that there was a time, a long time, when people like me who are old enough to remember the Baltimore Colts, I had season tickets from 1970 until they left town, felt angry about the move but, that has passed. For me, that feeling passed after the you guys beat us in the playoff game a few years ago.... I think it wss the "field goal" game. There has been practically nothing negative about the Colts return to Baltimore this time. Both teams have experienced a degree of success on their own, i.e. both winning Super Bowls and numerous playoff appearances. Although, as a Ravens Fan, I want nothing more than to beat you guys, this CRAP about the "old Colts" and all this other stuff is just nonsense. I'll grant you that there will always be some people who never forget that stuff, MOST Ravens fans could care less about what used to be and have moved on. Like a lot of times, the goofballs with the loudest mouths get the attention. I hope the game Sunday is a good one and if we (Ravens) don't win, I hope you guys win the AFC.

[ericnan]

If today's Baltimore fans have a problem with us, they should go kick their own parents in the teeth.  The city WOULD NOT cooperate in supporting the Colts.  They wanted a championship team, but were doing nothing to help get it there.  Bob did more for Baltimore than Baltimore ever did for Bob.  They just use it for fuel against us now.  Let them be mad.  I hope we go in there and kick their #$@ all over the place!

[Baltimore]

For me, as a Baltimore sports fan, I don't find any benefit in dwelling on the Colts' move.  What happened, happened. It seems silly to wish the worst for an entire city, fan base, and team because of a bitter ending concerning a single ownership. Baltimore has another team now and that's where my heart goes. I don't hold any ill will towards the Colts or Indianapolis. I think the majority of Ravens fans think along the lines that I do, it's just that the that speak out against the Colts get more attention. 

[The Fish]

Were there people jumping up and down to watch the Colts from 84-98 in Baltimore
? I say they got spared, lol.

[terpsnation]

I personally hold no grudge about the Colts leaving Baltimore, as I am far to young for that.  I think the issue lies in the way the move occurred, and the fact that the Colts took all of the accolades with them.

 

To say that the Colts legacy wasn't partially owned by the people of the city makes little sense to me.  Baltimore fans turned out every week to cheer on their team, giving the organization the funding that they needed to put together a high caliber team in order to get those accolades.

 

Imagine, for a minute, if the Colts left Indy in the dead of night and moved to Los Angeles - the entire legacy of Peyton Manning moving with them.  How would you feel about that?  Could you just simply brush that off?  I think not.

 

For older Baltimore fans, there will always be a chip on their shoulder regarding the Colts.  That is just a fact of life, and if it hasn't changed by now, I doubt it will change any time in the future.  But for us younger fans, who don't even remember the Baltimore Colts, this grudge means little to nothing.

 

I don't hate the Colts for their abrupt departure - but I will be hating you on Sunday when we face each other in a do-or-die situation.  If you guys win, however, I will likely be rooting for you in the subsequent playoff games this year.

[Colts20593]

Irsay prevented the theft of his buisness by moving to Indianapolis. Any other owner or buisnessman would do the same.

[OldManP]

Irsay prevented the theft of his buisness by moving to Indianapolis. Any other owner or buisnessman would do the same.

Do you consider eminent domain "theft"?  The Supreme Court did not agree, even going so far as to permit the taking of private land so that Pfizer could build a plant in Connecticut.

[Colts20593]

Do you consider eminent domain "theft"?  The Supreme Court did not agree, even going so far as to permit the taking of private land so that Pfizer could build a plant in Connecticut.

If your franchise was about to be taken from you, would you not do something about it? As far as I'm concerned the city of Baltimore has no one to blame but themselves for the team leaving town.

[oldunclemark]

kinda like LeBron leaving Cleveland for Miami....you cant expect those who were there to forgive and forget...

..in another 30 years,..there wont be any more who 'were there'

[jerrylogan]

As old Colts fans pass, there is a new generation of Ravens fans that have moved on. The Steelers are the rival. Not the Colts.  There is still and always will be resentment that the name, the colors, the records, did not stay in the city of Baltimore much like Cleveland. The area as you walk into Ravens Stadium is called Unitas square with a large statue of Johnny U. Fans rub Johnny U's foot for good luck before the game Their is a banner acknowledging the Baltimore Colts Hall of Famers. But by in large the Colts are viewed as any other NFL  team. 

 

[MSColtsFan]

I went to Orioles and Colts games at Memorial.  I lived in Maryland for many years, and have remained a Colts fan.  I've never been to Indy in my life.  Memorial was a bad, bad place to watch a football game, and was eroding by the early 80s.  19,000 'fans' went to the last game in 82.  20,400 or so for the last game in 83 (7-9 season, unlike 82).  We can all hate public funds being used on stadiums, but that's what it takes in almost all cases.  What I see in old Colts fans, the bitter MD bunch, is a lot of after-the-fact claims of supporting, attending, backing a stadium, when in fact, the exact opposite occurred.  Time has caused a certain romanticized version of events, when in fact there was little support for Irsay (and Rosenbloom before him in terms of a stadium deal), and declining support for the Colts during those years.  The disconnect between the team and the city was large, and when litigious actions are threatened, it's too late to fix. 

 

I'm not suggesting the community reaction/actions weren't justified, but the city and state and fans can't have it both ways.  If the Colts were that important, they could have been kept.  They couldn't, or wouldn't pay the price.  What they wanted was Irsay to sell, and that wasn't happening.  Know what Baltimore people have said for the last 15 years of Angelos ownership of the Orioles?  The same thing.  Won't win until he sells or passes.  And, a decade after the Colts left, the state built a stadium for the Orioles - and Camden is still sucking up the tax payer dollars, and has ranked no better than 7th in attendance in the AL since 2006.  They built one for the Ravens too, with public money.  They ended up doing what every city who wants a pro franchise does.  Baltimore is a great city, but they are an odd market.  Shoved between larger DC Metro and Philly, stuck in the midst of entrenched Redskins, Eagles, and Steelers country.  How many Orioles fans are Nats fans now?  They aren't coming back to Camden.

 

If this is an argument about colors, name, records, and such, the city, the state, the fan base, and the ownership had a moment in time to decide to keep them, and couldn't financially do so.  Over a 15 year period.  This fight started in the early 70s with the previous owner.  Add to this the gutted relationship between Irsay and the mayor and press, and it was a ticking time bomb.  To think that there was some altruistic requirement of the Irsay family to leave the name, colors, and record books is crazy to me.  He asked to stay, he asked for a stadium, the same way stadiums are being built today, and it wasn't until the state and city threatened eminent domain that the immediate protection of his company was completed.  People need to go back and read the Baltimore Sun articles of the period, get a sense of the tone of the time.  There was disdain for Irsay.  Rosenbloom brought titles.  Irsay brought failure.  The stadium fight started in the early 70s, and Rosenbloom got so frustrated with the process, so sure he would be stuck in Memorial forever, he traded the Rams for the Colts when Irsay bought the Rams.  The state continually failed to pass legislation to build a new park, including a proposed dome at the old railroad facilities at Camden Yards.  The stadium fight went on for a long time, Rosenbloom and then Irsay were patient for 15 plus years.

 

Two things can be equally true, and in this case the Colts needed a new stadium in a different area of the city.  Likewise, the thought of investing in a franchise which was believed to be mismanaged, a bad product on the field, and disengaged locally was a hard sell, especially given the economic situation in Baltimore and Maryland more broadly at that time.   But this speaks to Maryland politics too, because they gave Rosenbloom the same answer when winning, as they gave Irsay when losing, which was no. 

[GoColts8818]

Unless this game has been moved to a stadium that I don't think exists anymore the Colts have never called this stadium home. Honestly the Colts are getting closer to having spent more time in Indy than they did in Baltimore. It's over and it's time for some in Baltimore to just let go. Do browns fans hate the ravens as much as ravens hate the colts for moving? Are Texan fans this bitter towards the titans? How about rams fans with cardinal fans? These other fan bases have gotten over the move and embraced their new teams. Ravens fans for the most part seem to have done the same. However there is a small portion that just can't and act like they are the only city to ever lose a pro-team.

[No 1 Manning Fan]

I don't understand how some people can still be mad after so many years. Also there was a chance the Colts were going to stay in Bmore until they threatened to take the franchise by eminent domain. The city basically made the decision for Irsay.

You know how old folks are, they hold a grudge (no offense to the older generation here on the forum). My father is still mad and we're not even from Baltimore! He is still a Colts fan at least, but I still have to hear a rant about how John Elway nearly killed the team and he can't believe the owners took the team out of Baltimore, blah, blah, blah. I've worked worh several people younger people from Baltimore and the younger generation in Baltimore doesn't really care about that. They hate the Colts because Peyton and company owned them.

I really think the media makes a lot more out of it than it is and the Ravens' organization fans the flames.

[John Dee]

What I don't get is Indy will forever be hated for "stealing" the Colts....  yet it is OK for Baltimore to steal the Browns?

 

Talk about hypocrisy.  

I don't understand how some people can still be mad after so many years. Also there was a chance the Colts were going to stay in Bmore until they threatened to take the franchise by eminent domain. The city basically made the decision for Irsay.

[John Dee]

Actually the Colts have played more games in Indy than Balt.    I'm pretty sure....

 

 

 

Unless this game has been moved to a stadium that I don't think exists anymore the Colts have never called this stadium home. Honestly the Colts are getting closer to having spent more time in Indy than they did in Baltimore. It's over and it's time for some in Baltimore to just let go. Do browns fans hate the ravens as much as ravens hate the colts for moving? Are Texan fans this bitter towards the titans? How about rams fans with cardinal fans? These other fan bases have gotten over the move and embraced their new teams. Ravens fans for the most part seem to have done the same. However there is a small portion that just can't and act like they are the only city to ever lose a pro-team.

[MAC]

Did anyone actually read the article? It has virtually nothing to do with griping about the past, it's all about a small college, with details about some  historical remnants from the Colts days in Baltimore. As a fan of the Colts since Baltimore, I found it enjoyable.

 

The vast majority of the comments are knee-jerk reactions from people who are for some bizarre reason resentful of the fact that fans in Baltimore might still consider this an open wound. I can understand sympathy, I can understand unconcern. I don't quite get "resentment". YOU are not the injured party - quite the opposite. Just enjoy your team and let the Baltimore fans be.

[BOTT]

I personally hold no grudge about the Colts leaving Baltimore, as I am far to young for that.  I think the issue lies in the way the move occurred, and the fact that the Colts took all of the accolades with them.

 

To say that the Colts legacy wasn't partially owned by the people of the city makes little sense to me.  Baltimore fans turned out every week to cheer on their team, giving the organization the funding that they needed to put together a high caliber team in order to get those accolades.

 

Imagine, for a minute, if the Colts left Indy in the dead of night and moved to Los Angeles - the entire legacy of Peyton Manning moving with them.  How would you feel about that?  Could you just simply brush that off?  I think not.

 

For older Baltimore fans, there will always be a chip on their shoulder regarding the Colts.  That is just a fact of life, and if it hasn't changed by now, I doubt it will change any time in the future.  But for us younger fans, who don't even remember the Baltimore Colts, this grudge means little to nothing.

 

I don't hate the Colts for their abrupt departure - but I will be hating you on Sunday when we face each other in a do-or-die situation.  If you guys win, however, I will likely be rooting for you in the subsequent playoff games this year.

Fans own 0% of a teams legacy..and to think so is ridiculous

[GoColts8818]

Did anyone actually read the article? It has virtually nothing to do with griping about the past, it's all about a small college, with details about some  historical remnants from the Colts days in Baltimore. As a fan of the Colts since Baltimore, I found it enjoyable.

 

The vast majority of the comments are knee-jerk reactions from people who are for some bizarre reason resentful of the fact that fans in Baltimore might still consider this an open wound. I can understand sympathy, I can understand unconcern. I don't quite get "resentment". YOU are not the injured party - quite the opposite. Just enjoy your team and let the Baltimore fans be.

I went to a Colts/Ravens game the year after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in Baltimore.  I wore my Colts jersey to the game and the whole afternoon had fans heckle me and yell at me about how "I stole their team."  I was two years old when the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis and wasn't even living here at the time.  I had about as much to do with the Colts moving as Andrew Luck had to do with making the decision to release Peyton Manning.  On top of that when we had our run in 2006 a couple of posters here went to the game Colts Addict was one of the posters and one of her friend and she told us how the Baltimore fans spent most of the day heckling them and even going as far as to throw things at her. 

 

I would agree with you MAC had Baltimore fans done nothing.  Yet Indianapolis are constantly treated like they are the ones who took the team and after a while I think it just grinds of Indianapolis fans.  First of all none of us had anything to do with the move other than being thrilled to get the team they got.  Second of all when you point out that Baltimore did the samething to get the Ravens from Cleveland it's generally dismissed as different.  I said it before it's hard to feel sorry for the city of Baltimore when they turned around and did the exact samething Indianapolis did.  I want to be clear I don't think either city did anything wrong.  They both wanted a team and there was a team willing to come.  What were they supposed to do?  Say no? 

 

Did people including myself over react to this story?  Probably.  With that said I am not going to agree with you MAC to say there is no reason for Indianapolis fans to respond the way they did.  There is a clear pattern of behavior of Baltimore fans over the years to Indianapolis fans and I think Indianapolis fans are tired of them sitting there making them out to be the bad guys for doing nothing other than loving the team that came to Indianapolis and get even more annoyed at being told they did something wrong when the people telling them that had their city do the exact samething years later.  With that also said I do think times are changing.  There was a monster step this past year when the Ravens put Indianapolis Colts on the score board.  For years they wouldn't even do that.  I think things are moving in the right direction but I can understand why people who live in Indianapolis and who are fans of this team are edge when it comes to this subject. 

[Tark The Shark]

Baltimore is a tough place for any Colts fan.

 

I went there in 06 for the divisional playoff game. They booed and said a lot of bad things about you, but nothing worse than that.

 

I can understand the hatred that the city has for the Colts, but you realize that most franchises now resulted from a team relocating from somewhere else. 

 

Sometimes fans just have to let things go.

[GoColts8818]

Baltimore is a tough place for any Colts fan.

 

I went there in 06 for the divisional playoff game. They booed and said a lot of bad things about you, but nothing worse than that.

 

I can understand the hatred that the city has for the Colts, but you realize that most franchises now resulted from a team relocating from somewhere else. 

 

Sometimes fans just have to let things go.

That right there is what I think most people in Indianapolis issue is with Baltimore.  They seem to be the only city that can't move on from it.  Again, you don't see Houston fans hating the Titans because they used to be the Oilers or heck even Cleveland fans hating the Ravens and both of those are divisional rivals on top of it.  St. Louis doesn't complain about Phoenix stealing the Cardinals or heck Chicago didn't complain about St. Louis stealing the Cardinals from them. 

 

Baltimore isn't the only city to ever lose a team but if you talk to some of their fans they sure act like they are.  Also the attitude they seem to have towards getting the Ravens of well we lost our team so that makes it okay I think rubs some the wrong way.

 

Like I said before I don't think the city of Indianapolis did anything wrong when they got the Colts nor do I think the city of Baltimore did anything when they got the Ravens.  They both wanted a team and had a chance to get it.  Like I said before what they supposed to do?  Say no?  In a strange way I view this like someone getting mad when a free agent signs with another team.  They are well with in their right to do so.  The Colts didn't like the deal they were getting from Baltimore and saw a better one in Indianapolis so they took it.  The Browns did the exact samething when they went to Baltimore. 

 

Honestly it's not like the city of Indianapolis or Colts rub the move in Baltimore fans face.  In fact they go out of their way not too.  The Colts don't display any of the retired numbers from the Baltimore era.  They don't recognize the Super Bowl Title in any shape or form in the stadium and no longer even have the trophy.  Other than what is in the record book they pretty much treat the Baltimore years like they didn't happen other than when a player like Raymond Berry wants to reach out to them. 

[Warhorse]

First of all, lets talk about why this is still being talked about.

 

 

 

It's the media!!!

 

 

 

Thank you.

[MAC]

I went to a Colts/Ravens game the year after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in Baltimore.  I wore my Colts jersey to the game and the whole afternoon had fans heckle me and yell at me about how "I stole their team."  I was two years old when the Colts moved

 

First of all none of us had anything to do with the move other than being thrilled to get the team they got.  Second of all when you point out that Baltimore did the samething to get the Ravens from Cleveland it's generally dismissed as different.  I said it before it's hard to feel sorry for the city of Baltimore when they turned around and did the exact samething Indianapolis did.  I want to be clear I don't think either city did anything wrong.  They both wanted a team and there was a team willing to come.  What were they supposed to do?  Say no? 

 

There is a clear pattern of behavior of Baltimore fans over the years to Indianapolis fans and I think Indianapolis fans are tired of them sitting there making them out to be the bad guys for doing nothing other than loving the team that came to Indianapolis and get even more annoyed at being told they did something wrong when the people telling them that had their city do the exact samething years later. 

That right there is what I think most people in Indianapolis issue is with Baltimore.  They seem to be the only city that can't move on from it.  Again, you don't see Houston fans hating the Titans because they used to be the Oilers or heck even Cleveland fans hating the Ravens and both of those are divisional rivals on top of it.  St. Louis doesn't complain about Phoenix stealing the Cardinals or heck Chicago didn't complain about St. Louis stealing the Cardinals from them. 

 

Honestly it's not like the city of Indianapolis or Colts rub the move in Baltimore fans face.  In fact they go out of their way not too.  The Colts don't display any of the retired numbers from the Baltimore era.  They don't recognize the Super Bowl Title in any shape or form in the stadium and no longer even have the trophy.  Other than what is in the record book they pretty much treat the Baltimore years like they didn't happen other than when a player like Raymond Berry wants to reach out to them. 

First of all, the only times I've ever seen the Colts is in NY or Philly, and I've never worn a single item of Colts clothing to those games. That's called "asking for it". You WILL get verbally abused, and if you're not careful, worse. The content of what gets said may be different in Baltimore, but it's still irrelevant and not to be taken seriously. You are in "enemy territory" voluntarily, you deal with it. Than you go home and enjoy your team - without harboring a lifetime of resentment.  

 

Secondly, you can't possibly believe that those comments - in person, in the media, or on a forum - should be taken personally. Nobody in their right mind would think that YOU did something, your jersey is just a symbol. If I was in that position instead of getting angry I would just say some variation of "I'm sorry man, I can imagine how you feel. If that had happened to me I would have been devastated. But I'm not going to deny that I'm glad it happened - the Colts are tremendously important to me. Curse Bob Irsay all you want, but you and I actually have something in common". We love the Colts." Or more realistically you keep your head guiltily down, let the noise pass, and get on with your life. You don't get mad at the victim, have some empathy.

 

Third - there is little comparison between the Colts move and the other teams that you mention. One could say that Irsay was a Chicago business man who wheeled and dealed his way into town, established himself as a miserable drunken jerk that paled in comparison to the previous owners, had some initial success, than did everything possible to drag the team to the pits of the league such that fans felt compelled to show their disapproval by not showing up at the stadium, and then used that as an excuse to take the team back to the vicinity of Chicago. Amazing coincidence that. And the last time I looked, the Browns still play in Cleveland, and the city was without a team for only three years. If the Colts had been reborn in Baltimore in 1987 I wouldn't be here to have this conversation, and I'd actually get to see them play at home occasionally. My only thought of Indy would be "thank you for taking the worst owner in professional sports off our hands". The other cities who lost teams were largely so oblivious to the franchise that there wasn't the same kind of passionate reaction. That's why they lost the teams in the first place. The fans in Baltimore have a unique response because it was a unique situation. And as someone who lived through it (albeit from three hours away) I FELT it and understand completely. The fact that Indy ignores the pre-Indy days isn't a sign of respect or compassion, it's just another slap in the face. Indy fans don't seem to value or respect the history, the VAST majority of them would prefer to pretend that it doesn't exist. I'd be 1,00 times happier if it was proudly embraced, but instead it's been ignored to the point it's in limbo - not really belonging to any franchise. It's hard not to draw the conclusion that Indy didn't just steal the franchise, they killed and buried it. Talk about rooting for the laundry. People like me are left just whistling in the wind, pretending that the Colts are the Colts, and the only thing that changed was the city. We are lying to ourselves. In fact the primary difference between Baltimore fans and myself is that I lacked the guts to cut the cord. I found it easier to pretend that everything was just fine. It was never fine. I don't resent you or any Indy fan for wanting a team, but I'd happily urinate on Irsay's grave if I had the opportunity. The next generation may not care, but anyone who lived through their team being ripped away in the middle of the night, and went TWELVE YEARS without a team, is going to harbor resentment for the rest of their lives. I suspect that it circumstances were reversed, so would you.