Purple Baltimore

If you're a current resident of Baltimore and you don't know what Festivus is then I'm afraid you've been living under a rock. Or maybe you're one of those Redskins or Steelers fans that resides in Charm City and chooses not to root for the home team. Either way... here's the deal on festivus.

During the Ravens playoff run in 2000, Coach Brian Billick wouldn't allow the players to speak of the playoffs. He wanted them to focus on one game at a time. The players coined the phrase "festivus" for the playoffs and "festivus maximus" for the Super Bowl. Festivus was created and that team marched on to win the Super Bowl that year. Festivus has stuck and we're happy to be back in the thick of it this year!

Baltimore has come alive in honor of our beloved football team The Baltimore Ravens. City buildings are lit up with purple lights, the harbor is covered with purple street lights. Neighborhoods including the one where I grew up are decorated with balloons, banners, purple lights, wreaths, and signs all cheering on the football team that we know and love.

Now this is my second post involving football. But this is about much more than just football! The Ravens were 5-11 last year... the Super Bowl was furthest from our mind as we started this season with a new coach, a rookie quarterback, and memories of the disastrous season last year. A good friend of mine told me back in September that he'd be shocked if the Ravens won four games this year. Chuck passed away in October but as a former Ravens player and broadcaster, I am confident that he's got a front row seat for what none of us predicted was going to happen to this football team. So here we are... the Ravens did the unthinkable. Now, it's January... it's the AFC Championship... and the Ravens are traveling to Pittsburgh to play in the one game that can get them back to where they want to go... to the Super Bowl in Tampa.

You can feel the energy no matter where you go. Non-football lovers are making plans to go out and watch the game. Purple Friday celebrations will be happening in offices, schools, college campuses, and restaurants all across the state. Whether you're a Ravens fan or not... you can certainly agree that this playoff run has given people something to be excited about during a cold and dreary winter in the middle of what seems to be a very long economic recession. I'll be arriving to my neighborhood bar over three hours before game time to try and secure as many tables and seats as possible.

It's in times like this that I'm so proud to be from Baltimore. I can't imagine being anywhere else this weekend. I am having a hard time concentrating at work this week because I'm just so excited to get together with friends and watch what I hope is a huge Ravens win in Pittsburgh!

I'm soaking it all up... I like the trash talking... I like the plethora of articles in the paper, listening to talk radio, watching the guys on ESPN try to give every reason in the book why Baltimore is not going to win this week. I love it! It all builds up to what is going to be an amazing weekend in Baltimore.

Win or lose I'm just along for the ride. I'll be decked out in purple, drinking my beer, and screaming at the tv.

Enjoy the weekend in Baltimore and most importantly...

GO RAVENS!