NFL: Movin' On To Oakland

By Chrys Kefalas CPKSports Editor-in-Chief

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. For those of you not in Baltimore, you don’t know what you are missing.

A day after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the favored Tennessee Titans in Tennessee, the city of Baltimore still reveled in the excitement of being one game away from the Super Bowl. The local sports radio talk show callers hailed: “We are going to the Super Bowl baby,” “The defense is unstoppable,” and “It’s time we get some respect.”

Some other fans, decided to avoid the prose display of excitement and instead inserted some poetry. Norm Lewis, meteorologist at Baltimore’s WMAR-TV, named the Ravens defense: “The ‘Chamber door.’”

Twenty-three years have passed since Baltimore football fans experienced this type of atmosphere.

On Sunday, Baltimore stopped for football. Instead of visiting a museum, some people headed to their local watering holes and others made their morning voyage to church to ask for their sins to be forgiven and for a Ravens victory. From the local Pizza & Sub Shops, to, yes, even various Church offices nearly everyone was listening or watching the game. Certain people, received a score report as soon the service ended.

7-0 in just the opening minutes. Tennessee ahead.

The city quieted immediately as Eddie George and the Tennessee offense managed to score on their first possession, giving them the opening edge. But, Baltimore was just waking up.

Hours later: horns honking, people screaming,, and a city shining over a spectacular 24-10 victory over the defending AFC Champions.

Thousands of fans, including the Mayor of Baltimore, greeted the arriving Baltimore Ravens to Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport in an unprecedented display of enthusiasm and appreciation.

“I have never seen anything like this before in my life,” said receiver Patrick Johnson.

“This is why I wanted to play football in Baltimore,” exclaimed Trent Dilfer.

The tremendous crowd present at BWI, estimated at 3,000, reminded many of Baltimore’s legendary football past. The years when Memorial Stadium was called “The World’s Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum” and when a town embraced football heroes such as Johnny Unitas.

Instead of fans featuring the blue and white of the Colts, young and old alike wore their purple Ravens jerseys, some painted their faces in the team’s colors, many held signs stating “All The Way To Tampa Bay,” and everyone shouted in a deafening tone as one by one Ravens' players, coaches, front office personnel, and ownership appeared.

Baltimore is back in the playoffs and charging towards a Super Bowl. And the last team to play Baltimore in the playoffs? The Oakland Raiders.

A whole city enamored by a football team. One the city had waited many years to have and one that now edges closer to giving owner Art Modell his first ever Super Bowl Championship and a city its well-deserved vindication, jubilation, and pride.

“The darkside,” as Ravens coach Brian Billick called his defense, heads to the Oakland this Sunday. In the midst of a record cold winter, Baltimore may be thawing for a trip through the black hole and to Tampa Bay.

It’s been a long time coming, and the fans and a city cannot wait.

Article courtesy of CPKSports.com