In my last post, I said I was going to be interviewed for a Ravens blog and I was, you can find it here.
The thing is, I am not so good with random trivia. I think I am kinda funny and I think my friends agree..but man, I am a geek. Anyway, in all fairness, I wanted to give Ravens girl a chance to talk to Steelers fans. Thing is, she doesn’t realize my audience is pretty much Cowboys, Redskins, Giants and Colts fans – other than my Dad of course. I don’t even think my brother reads my blog (but that’s more because he’s embarrassed by my overwhelming football knowledge and it makes him mad!)
Anyway, I asked Ravens girl a few questions..you know, to get in the head of the opposition before the big game this weekend. Here’s what I found out….
SG:Â I assume you have been in Baltimore for a while, what’s it like being a Ravens fan after the Colts did the big skip outta town? Are you glad that you ended up with a team afterall? (and the Browns did too all said and done)
RG: Oh man, I hate the NFL for the Colt thing and could (probably should) write a book about it….I grew up in Niagara Falls, NY, so I wasn’t here f or that whole fiasco. I married a football guy and come from a football family (Go Bills), so it was not hard for me to see and feel that sense of loss that Baltimore people felt, still feel. Everyone knows the NFL screwed up- my God, they want to act like it never happened. Whole generations just don’t forget, the NFL is not Big Brother. Or is it?
Sure the Ravens helped heal that wound, but it is still open and there is a scar. Why did Johnny U get a fancy-smancy wrist piece that called him an Indianapolis Colt (former Colt, Tom Matte told me this recently in an interview where a celebration took pl ace in Baltimore- not Indianapolis, mind you- to commemorate the Greatest Game Ever Played, I have yet to confirm?)
No matter, until the Baltimore Colts records make their way back to this city this will remain a blemish on the NFL in Baltimore’s mind. Indy has their franchise guys in P. Manning and their former coach Tony Dungy (love him) and a Superbowl victory. Give us back our records, make it right. This issue is alive for many, we’ve just learned to accept it… That said, Ravens inaugural season was the year we got married. My husband Neil and I have been season ticket holders since the Ravens came and it has been one incredible ride with them. We went to t he Superbowl in Tampa, got to go the game. It was a dream come true! And then we won. INSANE…in my top 5 of best days ever in my life. Remember, the Bills are my second team…I watched four consecu tive Superbowls where they just couldn’t wrangle it in. So, superbowl and winning weren’t in the same sentence.
(I agree, that would totally suck. I can’t imagine having my Steelers move to, say, Albequerque or something. It’s just pathetic!)
SG: What’s your favorite part of being a Ravens fan?
RG: OMG, they were supposed to suck. Right now, there is an absurd energy in everything, everywhere. This is such an amazing surprise. We actually have a good QB and an offense! Aside from this gift, I love their passion and their work-ethic. Watching that live and in real time is intoxicating, with or without the booze. The spirit of their game gets up in your grill and you can’t help but get all torqued up and giddy inside.
(Hmm, I’d rather watch the Ravens WITH booze!)
SG:Â It’s 4th and 2 – would your team go for it or try to kick a field goal…and if they go for it, what play do you think (or wish) they would use?
RG:Scoreboard sister…
(Yeah, ok, I feel ya on that one..)
SG: Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu? (come on, the hair really is pretty!!)
RG: Seriously? Ed Reed is the man! I’ve never been into guys that have longer hair than me either. I just couldn9 9t go there…
(Yeah, I don’t typically like guys with longer hair than me…but every once in a while – like G Mudfoot (inside story totally unrelated to football, sorry))
SG: Primanti brothers sandwich or crabcake sandwich?
I don’t know Primanti brothers- but there is nothing like a good, fresh jumbo-lump Maryland crabcake. No bread. No crackers. I want to hear about this primanti brothers business though, I’m a big sandwich fan.
(I’m not so sure actually about the Primanti Bros…it looks yummy if you are drink at a football game, but I don’t think I have reconciled the drunken goodness with the way my stomach would feel afterward. I’ve been in MD too long…I love crabcakes! Been to Timbuktu??)
SG: What does “What’s our name” mean? Is that like “Who’s your Daddy??”
RG: Hmmm.. “It’s Ravens, bitch!” (remember Britney’s crazy days- this is taken from one of her lines…it’s Britney, bitch??)! LOL!!! That was the initial marketing campaign idea but the flaw, Ravens market to all ages they had to redo it and came up with this one. It scored big ratings in their test market in Canton and how cool is it going to be on those AFC championship shirts…whoop-whoop! Reminder to the rest of the world…
(mmmhmmmm, we’ll see about that shirt…..but to see what the Ravens org said about it, Ravens Girl sent me this update today.)
SG:Â If you were stranded on a desert island, which Raven would you want with you?
RG: Todd Heap, killer bod- ridiculous smile and he’s a Mormon! Can it get any better than that?
(I have no comment, but girl’s got a point)
SG: What’s with all the birds, by the way? Ravens, orioles? (And don’t g ive me that Edgar Allen Poe stuff)
RG: What can I say, we’re into ornithology? This is birdland, baby…
SG:Â If the Steelers win this weekend, and I am not saying they will, but if they do, who do you want them to play in the Super Bowl and who do you want to win? (by the way, if Steelers lose, I am cheering for Ravens – keeping it AFC North)
RG: First off, you are way more classy than me. Way…I just can’t do it. I’m hoping for a Ravens, Eagles match up. That’d be amazing. We met this season and McNaab was benched. He is a different dog now and I’ve always admired his skill. He’s got like the lowest pick/interception rate to td’s of QB’s ever…Plus, if we were to play the Cards, it would be written off as flimsy or whatever… the Eagles would be a more dominating win. And I’m sorry, I’m all for sticking to this most magnificent division but my husband Neil would likely ask for a divorce if I rooted for the Steelers…so what’s a girl to do?!
(Good point and I NEVER want to be the reason any happy home breaks up!)
SG:Â What do you think about that “statistical” (and I use that loosely) discussion about how hard it is to beat a team three times? Since it’s win/lose, isn’t it really the same statistically as heads/tales? And isn’t each time a 50% chance? I mean, I am NO math major or anything, but just saying here….
I think this is the AFC Championship game and those numbers don’t mean diddly-squat. If anything, the two games we had earlier in the season were INCREDIBLE and highly controversial so we are feeling like this is our time now. Period. The Ravens are a different team than I’ve ever seen before….I think team chemistry gets alot of unneccessary attention, but this is one case where it is noticable and real. Everything is just flowing. One guy falls, another picks him up…perfect combinations of leadership, veterans and rookies just meshing well. A lot of the guys went to Ray Lewis’ house to watch the Pitt game together- that’s how they roll. Before it was more cliquish like, are offense and defense support each other.
So, what did we learn here boys and girls? Seems like the Ravens fans are very passionate about their team, they are dedicated and may still harbor some ill will against the Colts (rightly so). I’m still standing by my steel curtain, but I think me and Ravens girl could go out and have a drink…a friendly conversation…and a good time. However, I think we need to make that a post-SuperBowl thing! This game will be exciting and I totally look forward to it.
Thanks for inviting me to play the game Ravens girl. Good luck to you..may the best team win 
You can find more of Ravens girl at www.sportgivesback.com till then it’s www.mdbirdlover.wordpress.com
