25 years ago today, the Colts moved to Indianapolis
by Brad Wells on Mar 29, 2009 9:31 AM EDT
in Colts News
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We'll be writing more about the 25th Anniversary of the Colts in Indianapolis as the day goes on, and articles will likely spill into tomorrow as well.
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The Super Bowl trophy sould have moved with the franchise
along with NFL League Championship rings. Lol, Baltimore would be ticked.
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
The NFL was stupid
when they didnt allow Peyton Manning to pay tribute to Johnny U. It was absolutely pathetic on the part of Baltimore to prevent it. People should have the right to honor whomever they want without facing a fine or consequence. This is America after all.
Johnny U. hated Indianapolis
He personaly said that he would not market for the Indianapolis Colts. Thus banning Indy from ever using his name or picture on any product (including honoring ceremonies). So the Colts had to find a new Johnny U……………
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
by colts9318rock on Mar 29, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
But didn't he go to a game or two?
I could swear I remember seeing pictures of him at the RCA dome.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 29, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly he didnt like indy
but i dont think he necessarily hated the players. To me he is still apart of this franchises history weather the old Baltimore Colt fans like it or not. I have lots of respect for all of the old Colt greats like Unitas, Barry, and Moore. To prevent people from celebrating whomever they want violates one of the founding rights this country was built upon. For that, Baltimore is pathetic.
by metal_militia on Mar 29, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
here ya go
“In December 2005, the state of Indiana attempted to raise funds for a new football stadium by issuing a Colts specialty license plate and auctioning off plates whose registrations represented distinctive Colts position-number pairings (e.g. "QB 18” for Peyton Manning). When the state offered Unitas’s “QB 19” for bid, the Unitas family asserted its intellectual property rights (including the Right of Publicity and its various trademark interests), eventually resolving the situation confidentially."-Wikipedia
They have the law on their side. I guess we are SOL.
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
by colts9318rock on Mar 29, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
but im not talking about maketing
im just talking about a simple tribute. This is the example i was talking about.
“For the game following his death, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning requested to wear a pair of black cleats as a tribute to Johnny’s signature black boots. The league denied his request and threatened Manning with a $25,000 fine. Manning decided not to wear them.” -Wikipedia
This act was not to market his name, it was a simple tribute. To deny that is absolutely stupid.
by metal_militia on Mar 29, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it has to do with the NFL uniform rule
Chad Johnson tried something similar but got shot down like Manning.
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
by colts9318rock on Mar 29, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats correct
A Baltimore local and Raven Season ticket holder here. If Peyton wanted to where the shoes, he could have accepted the fine. Just like Chris Redman did after the passing of Johnny U.
I’m was born in 80 and only vaugly rember the news reports. I think what most of the older colts fans get upset about is the name going to you guys. But in the end most of them are over it.
In reference to stealing the Browns. Their name and colors got to stay in Cleveland. I just think its a little amusing that no one ever talks about the Titans or Rams being “stolen” either. And the fact that Baltimore had but in a bid for the expansion franchise when Jax recieved their team. It was Tagliabue (spelling?) who was in bed with the Redskins and didn’t want another team competing with them market wise. All in all i’m happy with the Ravens organization and that Indy has the Colts doesn’t bother me.
You can have the Irsays.
Sorry if thats a lil long winded. Also I never remember hearing any reports of Johnny U saying he hated any of the players. He just hated the ownership and them trying to make any money off of his name.
Redskins
The ‘Skins are one of the main reasons Virginia (where I live) never got a team. Every time an expansion in any sport comes up, Virginia’s in the mix, but they never get one. They’re pretty much the Northern Virginia Redskins at this point anyway after Baltimore got the Ravens. One of the main reasons why I’m a Colts fan is that they’re from Baltimore and I couldn’t stand the Redskins fans.
If the Colts didn’t leave though, the Orioles wouldn’t be playing in Camden. Which, if anybody likes baseball and has the chance to see a game there, I highly suggest it. One of the best stadiums I’ve ever been too.
As for “stealing” a team, all Irsay did was prevent Maryland from “stealing” it from him. They wouldn’t build a new stadium, figured he was going to leave because they were being dicks about it, and tried to take the team from him. I would’ve done the exact same thing in his place.
Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.
"Stealing"
I don’t want to get this off topic, but I never reffered to Irsay stealing the team or Indy for that matter. Robert Irsay was running the franchise into the ground. Sooner or later with him as the owner the Colts would have left because Irsay was dumping all the good players and signing mediocre talent that would eventually have to play in an empty stadium. What would have been nice is to leave the name and colors and history behind and start over in Indy.
You’re absoulutly correct its His money, his team, he can do what he wants with it. But to say the State was being dicks because it was trying to stop a portion of assets to leave is also unfair.
Model is villanized because he wanted a new stadium and the city wouldn’t do it for him for years. But they would still build a new arena for the Cav’s, a new stadium for the Indians, and the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. With his stadium literally falling apart and losing money year after year along with the city daring him to leave, he did. But also left the name and history with the city.
Like i had said above. It actually worked out for the better for Baltimore that the Colts left. The city got an organization that does allot for it and also the state with numerous playersparticipating in fundraisers and creating comunity organizations.
You got lucky with Robert Irsay’s son taking the helm before he (Robert) had a chance to sell the team again.
Which part of this is untrue?
"1. Due to being far from the downtown area and any major highway, traffic to and from Colt games was very heavy and tied up traffic and trapped locals in their homes. It was also hard to find being about seven miles fron the downtown area on 33rd street. Many fans got lost getting to or coming from the stadium.
2. The stadium was a very poor football stadium and the seating bowl ended at the fifty yard line, the end zone near 36th street was open taking away money making seats. It also no club level. It was far behind its time.
3. The city of Baltimore would not allow the Colts to play at the NFL’s usual start time at one. Instead, they started at two which by law. Sports events were not allow to start before two on Sundays. Because of this the Colts had a hard time being on national T.V.
4. The Orioles, the city’s baseball team, also used the stadium and had control over food sales, and parking fees even during football season despite the fact that both teams payed a rent fee.
5. The team was playing poorly and attentence went to about 20,000 in a stadium that could hold 60,000.
6. The city wanted to upgrade the stadium but both teams had different demands and the city could not make both happy so it did not upgrade the stadium.
In the spring of 1984 the Colts lease on the stadium was up and Irsay wanted a new stadium or to move. Instead of working out plans with Irsay, Maryland’s senate passed a law that allowed the state to take the team from him by the powers of eminemt domain. All that was needed was the law to pass by the House of Delegates. That was enough for Irsay to decide what to do. He moved his team Indianapols and its Hoosier Dome. Baltimore did however learn from its mistakes. When the Orioles said they had a lot of the same problems with the stadium (location and condition for example,) and threatened to move to Washington D.C., Baltimore built Oriole Park at Camden Yards . Just six years later they would build M&T Bank Stadium for a new NFL team, the Ravens. "
They were in a crap stadium in a bad location, the Orioles controlled their pricing, and when the lease ran up, the Maryland politicians tried to envoke eminent domain. Yeah, that’s pretty dickish to me. The same thing’s happening with the Vikings. If Minnesoate tried to enact eminent domain on him, he’d pop up and leave too if he had an opportunity. And I wouldn’t blame him. The Sonics left because Seattle wouldn’t build them a stadium. Teams leave because stadiums aren’t built for them all the time. The difference is, the state doesn’t try to take the team away from the owner. Maybe if they hadn’t tried to do it before he had a chance to stop it, he would have left the colors and the name.
The last part of your post is sour grapes. You’re right, we got lucky to have one of, if not the best owner in the league (and sports in general). Thanks.
Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.
what the?
I don’t know what your need to clarify points on the team leaving. I already agreed with you. Its a business. Irsay wanted a new stadium, Maryland didn’t want to pay for a crappy product that was being put on the field. When compared to the Orioles who where fairly succesfull at that time period, they had all the chips to negotiate.
I do doubt he would have left them name. He knew the only way to sell that team to any new city was the marketability of the name.
Still if protecting assets is a dicksh move than i’m pretty sure everyone in here would be one. It was a desperate move to try and keep the team and it failed.
I was just saying it would have been nice to keep the name in Baltimore.
Me personally i think its way overdue for the two to seperate. People here (baltimore) get upset thinking of Johnny U being labeled as Indy Colt. But I’m pretty sure most people view that franchise in two different era’s.
Another gripe was not being able to another team for such a long period.
Is there resientment from some of the old people? sure. But for the most part it has passed.
Right now its just a story to read when there isn’t anything else football to talk about.
And it isn’t sour grapes, its true. Not to long ago, before your new stadium deal, there where rumors of the colts being sold to L.A. or whoever else Irsay could have made a dollar off of.
LOL, Golden boy Jeff George is trying to make a come back at the age of 41
And he wonders why no one will pick him up. What a tool.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-thegameface032709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
Baltimore
I was just in Baltimore a little over a week ago. The Sports Legends museum was recommended to me by a few people and I took may daughter in between one of her naps.
It was awesome. The Baltimore Colts exhibits were pretty sweet. One of the exhibits featured this very point in their history. As an Indianapolis Colts fan, I have always felt that their loss was my gain. Having gone through the exhibit, however, I can see why some old timer Baltimore Colt fans could still harbor ill feelings.
Pro-Baltimore historians forget to mention, however, that the city of Baltimore tried to take Robert Irsay’s team away. They tried to enact an “eminent domain” law and basically forced his hand. Even though he was one mean S.O.B…I just don’t blame him in his actions. No matter how you slice it…. and some will probably flame me for this…it was HIS team.
Regardless, it is a wonderful museum and if you’re ever out there, take a look. The Orioles and Babe Ruth portions were pretty awesome as well. You can be sure that I did not care at all for the Ravens exhibit.
By the way….the Super Bowl V trophy is there.
The second trophy is there
the orginal trophy was stolen when the owners of the Rams and the Colts switched franchises.
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
by colts9318rock on Mar 29, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Soooo..
The Rosenbloom family has the original?
from Coltshistory.com
“The Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V trophy is on display in Baltimore at the Sports Legends Museum. The Colts’ Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl V is reportedly in the possession of Georgia Frontiere, owner of the St. Louis Rams. Frontiere’s late husband, former Colts’ owner Carroll Rosenbloom, swapped franchises in 1972 with Rams’ owner Robert Irsay but managed to keep possession of the Super Bowl trophy by "borrowing” it and simply neglecting to return it. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle authorized a replacement trophy for the Colts, but the Colts lost possession of this trophy in 1986 when, as part of the legal settlement following the Colts’ move to Indianapolis, the replacement trophy was awarded to the city of Baltimore."
Nate Davis = beast, The rest of the NFL fails to reconize that
by colts9318rock on Mar 29, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Baltimore Franchise History
Why don’t we ever hear the Baltimore fans talk about how they had to steal the Seahawks from Miami in 1947 and then the Texans from Dallas in 1953 in order to create their beloved Colts franchise. It seems only fitting that the Colts would need to leave so they could continue the tradition by stealing the Browns from Cleveland in 1996.
Baltimore Logic
It’s only stealing when other cities do it. And haven’t you heard? Baltimore is the only city in the history of professional sports that has been traumatized by a franchise leaving. It’ll take them at least another 25 years to find the strength to move on.
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