Howard Brothers settles into his living room in Baltimore on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch the Baltimore Ravens play on television.
After the Baltimore defense forces another punt, the network telecast breaks to highlights of another game. The studio analyst announces Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has just broken another franchise passing record, eclipsing Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas.
Brothers, 75, gets that familiar twinge in his stomach. Not because he dislikes Manning. He actually admires the quarterback’s play.
The problem is his hero Unitas never played a down in Indianapolis.
The trouble is seeing that old horseshoe and the blue and white uniforms.
The sting is hearing the name “Colts.”
Twenty-five years after the Colts played their last home game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, these feelings continue to resonate with Brothers and many Baltimore fans over the age of 30.
“It makes me feel lousy really," he said. "[Manning] may set franchise records for Indianapolis, but not for the Baltimore Colts. That’s ridiculous. It should be a separate [history].”
Baltimore fans bristle at the notion that they should let these hard feelings go. How callous is it to tell someone to get over something that brought numerous hardened, blue-collar men to infant tears on the morning of March 28, 1984 when owner Robert Irsay and the Colts skipped town in the middle of the night?
For many, it would be like telling them to forget about the death of a family member. These are scars that will never fully heal no matter how many Super Bowl rings the Ravens may win or how many games Indianapolis might lose.
“It was a shock,” said Brothers. “Even though you knew something was coming, it was just a big shock when you lose a team that you rooted for all that time. You couldn’t believe it. They showed the moving van with the snow coming down [on TV]. It was terrible really, a terrible time to lose something like that.”
Older Baltimore fans still remember their Colts fondly, recalling how it brought the community together every Sunday. Players lived locally and worked there in the offseason. Even the demigod Unitas could be seen mowing his lawn or playing catch with the local children of his neighborhood.
Quite a difference from today’s players.
“There was nothing like the old Colts," said Brothers. "It was like a religious experience every Sunday…That’s what you lived for the whole week. ‘Come on Sunday.’ It was amazing.”
The NFL has changed dramatically since Unitas and the Colts dominated the late 1950s. In Baltimore’s 12-year NFL hiatus, from 1984-1996, the NFL introduced free agency, the salary cap, and personal seat licenses for season tickets.
Though the scars of the Colts’ departure remain, Brothers adopted the Ravens as his new team when they arrived in Baltimore in 1996. His sense of civic pride and devotion to Baltimore sports enabled him to embrace the NFL once again, though it’s not quite the same.
Many fans that experienced losing the Colts were at first hesitant to embr
19 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Thomas 9 months ago
I loved the old B'more Colts. I wish we still had them. I also think that they Colts history from then should be B'mores. It would mean alot to us. B'more is the true home of the Colts!!!
my potd.
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Luke Jones 9 months ago
I think it's important for younger fans to embrace the history of Baltimore football. Don't get me wrong, I love the Ravens and wouldn't trade them for anything, but it's important to remember how far we've come since those difficult times without football.
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Thomas 9 months ago
imagine the Ravens D with the Colts O.
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Rob Civardi 9 months ago
amazing
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Scott Miles 9 months ago
“I was thrilled when they came here,” said Brothers. “Of course, the way they got it was the same way that Indianapolis got the Colts. [Cleveland] griped and all, but at least they kept all the Browns’ records and everything."
A bit of a hypocritical statement there, no? Yes, I feel for fans of the old Colts as that was absolutely despicable what happened...but then to have the mayor of your city turn around and steal away a franchise from another city 11 years later doesn't make it right. Yes, we kept the team's history and records, but trust me, it's as though the old Browns and new Browns existed on entirely different planets.
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Luke Jones 8 months ago
I understand your point and by no means am I saying what happened to Cleveland was any less tragic. My point is that in these two horrible situations, the NFL at least stepped in and forced Modell to leave the name, colors, and records behind in Cleveland for an expansion team. Baltimore's biggest gripe to this day is how the NFL did nothing to protect the Colts' name, colors, or history when Irsay left for Indianapolis.
I understand what you're saying about the old Browns and new Browns, but compound that with 12 years without football instead of only 3 and seeing your old team's name, colors, and records in another city and you'll have an idea of what old Colts fan experienced. Both situations were lousy, no question about it.
I will say that in Baltimore's defense, the city did everything in its power to gain an expansion team in 1993 and had a great package in place. However, Paul Tagliabue and the league had their minds made up about expanding into the South. While Carolina was a fine choice, the Jacksonville selection was a poor one, as the Jaguars now have thousands of seats covered in their stadium to prevent blackouts from occurring. If Baltimore had been awarded the franchise instead of Jacksonville, would the Browns have still moved elsewhere? Who knows, but it was the only way Baltimore was going to get an NFL team.
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robert miller 8 months ago
i was born the very night the colts left i was born on march 28th 1984 i think everything the clots did here in baltimore should have stayed here in baltimore
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Luke Jones 8 months ago
Your birthday is definitely an infamous day in the city's history. It's difficult for younger fans to understand, but when you talk to old Colts fans about that day, you can still see the hurt in their eyes. It's definitely something that you never get over completely.
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chad lamasa 7 months ago
Dude, this is a fantastic article. I like the interview aspect of it. Pick of the day for me even though it's a bit old. I almost missed it. Glad I didn't
I have my own feelings on the Colts. I do remember them up and moving in the middle of the night and it hurt like hell. I became a Bears fan after that. I refused to root for the Colts, time has subsided that pain for me and I like the Colts. I have a hard time not liking them with Manning and Harrison, and Wayne just being as great as there.
I don't if you knew this or not but Peyton petitioned to be able to wear black high tops in honor of Johhny after he died and the NFL in all their wisdom denied his request say it wasn't part of the Colts uniform.
Good move guys.
I think I feel like this because when I was growing up the Colts were terrible at least for the last several years they were here and I didn't have the influence from Dad telling me I should be a Colts fan. I was because they were in my city (I no longer think that should be the only reason you root for a team though). My dad was a huge fan of the Colts growing up (he even has a picture of him as a kid with Johnny )but he kind of drifted away from sports as I was getting into them.
The funny thing is my anger is more directed towards Mayflower moving company. I still boo them everytime I see a truck. I know it sounds stupid but Irsay hired them to do that. They had to know what was happening and they could have said no.
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Luke Jones 7 months ago
Thanks for your feedback, Chad. I remember Manning wanted to do that, and it was a pretty classy gesture. I think I remember the NFL's reason for not allowing it was they wanted Baltimore to have the distinct honor to remember Unitas. Chris Redman wore black high tops that Sunday without getting the league's permission if I remember correctly.
I also like the Colts' personnel. Baltimore fans hate Irsay (even after being deceased for years) and the NFL refusing to make Irsay leave the name, colors, and records in Baltimore.
That's interesting you mentioned the Mayflower trucks. I remember watching a news report years ago saying that Mayflower's business really suffered for a long time in the Baltimore area after helping the Colts leave town. It definitely was not the kind of advertising you want for your company, but they made the choice to do it.
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Brian Gaddie 7 months ago
Baltimorons, get over it!!! If you truly love the Ravens, you should root for them. The Indianapolis Colts build two new football stadiums for their team (RCA Dome and Lucas Oil Stadium) and you all could not even build one!!! Get a life and go on with your lives. These old timers that remember the "good old days" with the "old" Baltimore Colts. The so called good old days included racism and segregation but does anyone really want to go back to those days! There were African American players on the Balitmore Colts that had to deal with Jim Crow segregation. Now we have our nation's first African American president of the United States and we as a nation as advanced into the future. My advice is for you to do the same Baltimore and stop living in the past. Proud fan of the Indianapolis Colts and a resident of Indianapolis.
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Brian Gaddie 7 months ago
I know the mean spirited comments will come but understand that if you cannot engage in a meaningful and intelligent discussion then you only reveal your own ignorance Baltimore. After all, if you really loved and supported the Colts, they would have never left in the first place. Right? Think about it!
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Luke Jones 7 months ago
I find it amusing that you lecture Baltimore fans about engaging in "meaningful and intelligent discussion" when you start your first comment by saying, "Baltimorons, get over it!!!"
Pot, meet kettle. Why bother engaging in discussion if you've clearly stated how an entire city should think and feel? Thank you for enlightening us.
Make no mistake, Baltimore loves the Ravens. It was very fulfilling for Baltimore to win another Super Bowl before Indianapolis did even though they spent 12 seasons without even having a team.
That being said, it's also important to understand and remember our history.
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Brian Gaddie 7 months ago
Luke, thanks for your feedback. It is important for you to have a sense of humor. After all, I have heard Baltimoreans, and yes I know that is your residents name, refer to the people of Indianapolis as "hicks and hillbillies." The Baltimore Ravens did win a Super Bowl before the Indianapolis Colts, but the Indianapolis Colts have been by far a more winning and successful franchise. Do you want to trade franchises? I bet in a heartbeat you and the city of Baltimore would love for us to give you back the Colts in exchange for the Ravens. Remember your history, I agree but remember the good and the bad times too! Remember that your city and state refused to build a new stadium for Bob Irsay and my city and state build two new stadiums for the Irsays and the Colts. By the way, we will be hosting the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. I know that would never happen in Baltimore.
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Luke Jones 7 months ago
"By the way, we will be hosting the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. I know that would never happen in Baltimore."
It's a simple thing called a retractable roof. And it's the only reason Indianapolis will host a Super Bowl and Baltimore will not.
While the Colts have enjoyed much success over the last ten years, the franchise was a joke from 1984 to 1998. I'll agree the Colts have been more successful but not "by far." It all comes down to championships and the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens have each won one since the Ravens' inaugural season. And no, the city of Baltimore would not trade the Ravens for the Colts.
On a side note, it amuses me that you've taken shots at Baltimore in your comments since nowhere in my article do I criticize the city of Indianapolis. Classy.
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Brian Gaddie 7 months ago
Describing the Ravens' record from 1996 to 1999, it was a joke as well. Sure you won the Super Bowl with the Ray Lewis led defense in 2001 (this Super Bowl victory is getting a little long in the tooth don't you think). To quote Janet Jackson, "what you done lately." The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the consistent elite franchises in the NFL since 1998 while the Ravens have been up and down and not consistently successful. I should be able to express facts about the Baltimore Ravens without you referring to who is and who is not "classy." The trouble with Baltimore fans is that they want to blame Bob Irsay as the devil when it is much more complicated than that. The city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland refused to build the Irsays a new stadium and he moved to Indianapolis because Indy build a new stadium for the Colts (RCA Dome). The Colts are owned by the Irsays and not the city of Baltimore. The Colts are a private business and therefore have a right to move to where it is best for their business model. Indianapolis has been profitable for the Colts and Baltimore was not! Then your city stole the Browns from Cleveland and you allay your own guilty conscience by saying "at least Cleveland kept the team colors, name and records." The fact is that teams move all of the time and I don't see the people of Brooklyn hating Los Angeles because the Dodgers moved. You proved my point about the city of Indianapolis doing more for the Colts. After all, Lucas Oil Stadium is a $700 million retractable roof stadium that is state of the art. Why didn't Baltimore build a new stadium in 1984? If you did maybe the Colts would be in Baltimore tonight and not in Indianapolis for tonight and forever!
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Luke Jones 7 months ago
It was clear that Irsay was not the only one to blame for the demise of the Baltimore Colts. Lawmakers certainly dropped the ball in a major way. Yeah, Irsay had the right to move the Colts since he was owner of the team. However, the manor in which he conducted his business was extremely dishonest and lacked any kind of integrity. His own mother even called him the devil (check out a Sports Illustrated article from 1986 and then tell me if you have any respect left for the man).
Yes, teams move all the time, but it doesn't make it right. If an owner chooses to move, at the very least, the history, name, and colors should be left behind. What good does it do having a "history" and records that belong to players that never even played in your city? The biggest problem it creates is that it leaves the old Colts players with somewhat of a lost identity. You do realize that Unitas and company never wanted anything to do with Indianapolis, right? That should say something considering they were the ones that made the Baltimore Colts what they were.
All I can say is that even if the Browns name had followed Modell's franchise to Baltimore, you wouldn't have seen me in a Jim Brown jersey. The history, name, colors, etc. belonged to Cleveland. And you know what, I don't expect that statement to change Cleveland's hatred for the Ravens either, and they have every right to feel that way.
I find it pretty unconvincing that you cite the city of Brooklyn considering that happened over 50 years ago. Much of that generation has passed on or was too young to really remember it. I'd venture to guess that you found strong disdain for the Dodgers in the years following the move in Brooklyn.
Once again, the disdain exists for the franchise and late owner, not the city.
Your last statement still kills me and lacks class ("tonight and forever"). Like I've said already, you can have the franchise. Baltimore has made out just fine in the long run. To me, it's sad that you take enjoyment in the situation of stealing a team. I'm glad I don't do the same to the people of Cleveland.
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Brian Gaddie 7 months ago
Just like I predicted from Baltimoreans like yourself, mean spirited comments. You don't even know me and yet you can refer to my " lack of class." The people of Baltimore and the people of Indianapolis need to halt the "civil war between our two cities." You as a fan do not have a right to determine what an owner should do with his or her team and the colors, name and records. If that owner wants to move, he or she has that right in a free market capitalist economy. Contrary to what you said, I don't like when teams move but it is what it is! Jim Irsay told Indianapolis he would never move the Colts out of Indianapolis and he kept his word and the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana built Lucas Oil Stadium.
I am not convinced Bob Irsay was a "bad man" because in Indianapolis he was and remains a beloved figure. The people of Indianapolis loved Bob Irsay and now love his son Jim Irsay so I don't have the same bitter experience you and Balitmore had with him. Also, we know the media can make up quotes about people so I don't know if Bob Irsay's mother said he was "the devil" or not. Maybe he did not give her enough money for one month, I don't know and I really don't care! My point is that as long as people like yourself refuse to move on about "the move of 1984," the enmity and hatred will continue toward the Colts and the city of Indianapolis from Baltimore which is rather sad and pathetic. It has been 25 years since the move! In a few short years, the Colts would have played longer in Indianapolis than they did in Baltimore. The Colts as a team have set more records in Indianapolis than they did in Baltimore, especially during the Dungy and Manning era. This includes the first African American NFL head coach to win a Super Bowl.
I invite you to visit Indianapolis during the 2012 Super Bowl and you will see the people of Indianapolis are good and decent Americans. We have taken very good care of the Colts and they have taken very good care of our city as well. The Cardinals used to play in Chicago, St. Louis and now in Arizona. Their colors, name and records followed them to each new city. I am sure some player did not like it but it happened. The fact that Unitas did not like that his records are in Indianapolis would be the same situation as a player for the Cardinals not liking the fact that records he set in St. Louis are being broken by another player in Arizona. Maybe because the Cardinals historically are not very good this may not matter to you.
You will find in this life that forgiveness is the key to a long and fulfilled life. My advice to you and Baltimore is you and your city should forgive Bob Irsay so you all can hopefully move on and live out the rest of your lives without bitterness and hatred. After all, football is only a game!! Thanks for your feedback and best of luck to your Ravens. They will need it if they ever face the Colts in the playoffs.
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Luke Jones 7 months ago
This will be the end of the debate from my end but just a few points. One, I said the statement lacked class, not you personally. It really came across as rubbing it in the face of Baltimore fans. Second, you started off this debate by using the term "Baltimorons." Yeah, you said you were simply joking, but that's a weak cover-up when you were clearly trying to stir things up and certainly set the tone for your argument.
I'm still asking you to point out any part of my article that was critical of the people of Indianapolis. Like I said, your comments have been far less-flattering toward Baltimoreans than anything I've said about the people of your city. If you've had bad experiences with other Baltimoreans, that's unfortunate.
Do you really think I'm living with bitterness and hatred? I'm completely happy with the Ravens and the history they have already begun to build in Baltimore. Quite frankly, I think very little about the Colts other than in studying the history of Baltimore football. For what it's worth, I was only a few months old when the Colts left town in March 1984.
However, I will not forget about the fact that the NFL did a disservice to the city (and other cities for that matter) by doing nothing to protect the team name, history, and colors. Irsay had the right to move the franchise no matter how much Baltimore hated him for it. That has never been my argument. If you had truly read my article and had not been so quick to reply with the old "get over it" cliche, I think you would have seen that.
Will this article change anything? Of course not, but change only occurs because people speak up. And please, save the whole "football is only a game" speech. Of course there are far more important things in life, but the premise for this website is sports discussion.
I once again ask you to simply do some research on Robert Irsay. The Sports Illustrated article will make you think. If you still want to call him a "beloved" figure, so be it. Perhaps he underwent some change after moving to Indianapolis, but you'll be surprised at his behavior dealing with both the franchise and other aspects of his life prior to his time in Indianapolis.
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