NFL: Super Bowl Spotlight, Baltimore Is Back

By Chrys Kefalas CPKSports Editor-in-Chief

BALTIMORE, MD. In 1971, Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew provided the leadership for a nation. Maryland’s former governor served as Vice President of the United States, only to later resign in disgrace. The Baltimore Orioles reached the World Series, only to lose to the Pittsburgh Pirates four games to three. Baltimore’s Bullets challenged Milwaukee in the NBA Championship; they did not win a game in the finals.

Yet, things did not start off so bleak in 1971. Baltimoreans and astute football fans will remember a team draped in blue and white charging towards an NFL title.

On January 3, 1971, the Baltimore Colts matched up with the Oakland Raiders to decide the AFC representative in Super Bowl V. The Raiders could not defeat Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, losing 27-17, and setting up a bout with America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys.

In an exhilarating Super Bowl contest, in front of 79,204 at the Orange Bowl, the Baltimore Colts claimed an NFL title. The boisterous crowd, awaiting the start of the game, could not have anticipated the events to follow.

The first half saw the Baltimore Colts trail Dallas by three thanks to a 14-yard field goal by Clark. Baltimore head coach Don McCafferty’s offense responded in the second quarter, after yet another Dallas field goal. Johhny Unitas riffled a pass to Eddie Hinton that caromed off his finger tips, off Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro, and finally it fell into the hands of John Mackey, who went 45-yards to score on a 75-yard play. The smiles and cheers from Colts’ fans, though, stopped when rookie kicker Jim O’Brien’s extra point was blocked. The score: 6-6.

Minutes later, the thunderous roar from Dallas Cowboy fans shook the Bowl. A 7-yard pass went for a touchdown, the extra point was good, and just like that the Cowboys again took control 13-6. It quickly became worse for the Colts. Earl Morrall relieved an injured Johnny Unitas late in the first half.

Back in Baltimore, fans, stunned, watched and listened as their beloved Colts went into half-time trailing. However, Baltimore was not done yet. The defense would rise to the occasion and Jim O’Brien would find redemption.

The Dallas Cowboys were unable to score the entire second half, while Baltimore managed to put together a touchdown to tie the game. In the final seconds, coach McCafferty asked his kicker to win the game. O’Brien responded with a 32-yard kick and the Vince Lombardi trophy belonged to Baltimore.

The city erupted with joy. Baltimore represented the pinnacle of football excellence and stood above all other American cities on that day, January 17, 1971.

A city could never have expected it would take so long to get back.

Welcome to 2001, thirty-years later. Following the defeat of the Oakland Raiders, again in the AFC Championship game, the Ravens will take Baltimore back to the Super Bowl and the world’s greatest sports event.

Gone are the days of Johnny U. and Lenny Moore. Gone are the days of weeping over the constant image of a Mayflower truck stealing the team away on a snowy early morning in Baltimore. Gone are the days of wishing an NFL team called Baltimore home. Gone are the days of listening to commissioner Paul Tagliabue tell Baltimore to build a museum over a football stadium, while the city was used as bidding tool for other NFL owners.

Baltimore football fans now embrace a whole new era of football and an awesome defense that may seize Super Bowl Sunday and, thus, bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to Baltimore.

It will not be an easy task. But, a city, its citizens, its football team are all thrilled at this moment in history.

No vehicle was on the streets come game time. The malls were empty. The restaurants, without a television tuned into the game, had no customers. When you called someone to ask what they were doing, you already knew the response: “I’m watching the game.” It’s like Baltimore became Green Bay for a day.

Mel Kiper Jr., of ESPN on WBAL radio in Baltimore, said: “It was amazing to be driving from the ESPN Zone downtown -- just after the game -- and see all the cars assembled outside homes for parties, the packed bars and taverns, some people screaming and hollering ‘Super Bowl’ on the side walks, and a city stopping for one team.”

Two Ravens’ fans, Dave and Mary, well known as the founder’s of Baltimore’s Dundalk Ravens Roost chapter, saw the Colts win the Super Bowl, saw the Colts leave, and now see Baltimore football returning to glory.

“I cried for an hour,” said a jubilant Dave after exiting PSINet Stadium were he watched, along with approximately 10,000 other fans, the Ravens defeat the Raiders.

Virtually everyone in Baltimore is enamored with the Ravens’ trip to Tampa.

Mary Triantafilos, a restaurateur and not necessary a huge football fan, stated: “It means a lot for this city -- it’s great that they are going to the Super Bowl.”

Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley stated: “If the Ravens allowed us we would have a rally every day before the Super Bowl.”

Mayor O’Malley has done his part to bring out team spirit. City Hall is lit purple in the evening, along with Baltimore’s Washington Monument. O’Malley has asked others to follow and promises a major celebration “when the Ravens win the Super Bowl.”

An entire city in purple? Quite honesty, it is approaching that stage.

Area stores on Monday could not stock enough Ravens AFC Championship hats and shirts. A Baltimore T-shirt company, which makes NFL licensed merchandise, has decided to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in order to meet demand. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, J.C. Penny, and other merchants say that much -- if not all -- of their Ravens merchandise was sold out in a single day.

Homes, not too long along sparkling with Christmas lights, have now surfaced outlined in Ravens purple. Bars and taverns are flying Ravens banners and flags outside. Changeable signs that usually read “Now Hiring” or advertise a special simply post: “Go Ravens.” Ravens’ decals on vehicles, purple and white pompoms hanging from outside car trunks, children heading to school in all Ravens wear, and state Senators and Delegates sporting Ravens army pants and Ray Lewis jerseys (This is not a joke. There in fact was a debate on the Senate floor on whether Ravens clothing satisfied the dress code requirement in the Senate Chamber of the State House.).

It is unbelievable.

People embracing, some in tears. High 5’s to your left -- to your right. Screaming as Shannon Sharpe ran for a 96-yard touchdown reception as if you had no care in the world beyond that game. Local television reporters, on site at fan gatherings, without voices to report on the pulse of a city’s return to football excellence.

“These are the days to remember.” The days that make you believe Mayor Martin O’Malley’s continual refrain, that “Baltimore is America’s best city.”

The moment is here Baltimore. Treasure it forever.

Article courtesy of CPKSports.com