the stadium. They’re not all about The Knee. But I’ve got to think with the Colts coming to town and the playoffs on the line and the mojo being at the lowest I’ve ever seen it, The Knee is the primary reason it’ll be unusually quiet downtown given the stakes of a game of this magnitude.
The Knee was a game changer in the relationship between many of the Baltimore Ravens white fans and the team’s black players.
And I don’t think Dick Cass or Steve Bisciotti or any of the players of color on the Ravens owe you a phone call or an apology or a mea culpa or a letter begging you to come back because you disagree with their political position about equality and freedom of speech and expression. And quite frankly, the over-the-top military recognition that we’ve seen on Ravens game days since The Knee now borders on patronizing for my tastes.
I know the Ravens love the military. I’ve seen the planes fly over and the “Salute To Service” swag. Plus, they’ve been playing two National Anthems for years…
“Well, I’m proooooud to be an American because at least I know I’m free.” (Well, free to do everything but protest a corrupt, abusive President).
“And I woooooon’t forget the men who died, who gave THAT RIGHT to me.” (Well, until I use that right of freedom of speech or peaceful expression and then all hell breaks loose…)
But the Ravens want – and need – all of the fans they can get.
And if you’re still coming to the games in spite of The Knee – even if you were greatly offended initially but somehow are now getting over it as a “one time thing” and you can agree to disagree – I guess the big questions the Ghost of Baltimore Football Present would ask:
What do you expect from your football team? What do the Baltimore Ravens owe you as a fan? How will the Ravens ever fill the stadium again?
First, it’s pretty clear that they MUST WIN.
Period.
Anything less than dominance and 12 easy wins and four close losses we can bitch about will be unacceptable in the new world. And this will probably cause more empty seats because that is a high bar for entry.
The team is 8-6 and probably headed to 10-6 albeit against a softer-than-usual schedule but this year’s Mondays have been almost universally dreary, even after the wins. And this Ravens defense had three shutouts this season.
There’s a lot at stake for the Ghost of Baltimore Football Present. Winning is more important than ever. Not losing to the dregs of the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals is important for the future of the franchise and the morale of
