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!

Women and Football

I am a huge football fan. I cheer for my home team... The Baltimore Ravens. Growing up, my Dad was a high school football coach. I didn't take advantage of truly learning the game when I was younger. It wasn't until I was out of college and back in Baltimore that I really got into the sport and specifically the Ravens. At that point they had one Super Bowl under their belts and were on the search for another title. My Dad was able to teach me the basics and I learned even more by watching the games and listening to the commentators.

So as I was driving home from watching my Ravens beat Miami on Sunday, I was listening to sports radio. I like to hear what the announcers have to say about the Ravens game as well as the other games of the day. A woman called into the show to offer her comments on the Ravens game. She obviously knew what she was talking about and the radio host commented that he was impressed with her knowledge. Well with that, the phones and computers went crazy... men from all over the area were calling in wanting to meet this woman who actually knew what she was talking about when it came to football. Men were asking the host for the woman's phone number... like he was actually going to hand that out.

Lots of women that I know have vast knowledge about the game of football. Many times it is a group of girls that I meet up with on game day to watch the game... either at a local bar or at someone's house like we did on Sunday. And while there is some gossip and girl talk that goes along with these meetings, we really are there to watch the game. If the Ravens win, we go out and celebrate and if they lose, we hang our heads in disgust and head on home. So in 2009 is it really so crazy to think that women know and watch football? My Mom goes to the home games each week and sits in front of the television to watch the away games. My sister can always be found by the television for games. Is this strange? It's certainly what I'm used to. Now I realize that not every woman is into football and sports but I don't think it's so uncommon that men are falling over a woman who calls into a radio show.

Maybe I'm wrong... Maybe I hang out with a unique group of women but we're into it. And we're certainly ready for the big game on Saturday afternoon... Ravens vs. Titans. Purple jerseys and t-shirts will be worn, beer and snacks will be consumed, and we'll be pacing and yelling at the tv to try and cheer the guys on or to let out some frustration. Hopefully it will be just like our Super Bowl run and we'll walk into that stadium and come out with a win!

Go Ravens!