and perception still won’t change. It doesn’t really matter.”
Yeah, Joe you’re right. But those people don’t matter if you don’t mind.
What does matter is that this franchise is at a serious turning point with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed moving past their twilight and quickly toward the sunset. Hell, Matt Birk has all but admitted this is the end of his great career.
Fans nationally and the national media don’t like the Ravens. The worst performances of the season were the ones most of America witnessed — the meltdown in Jacksonville, the night of no punch in San Diego and a lethargic playoff win over Houston. No one believes. Except the fans of the Ravens and the city of Baltimore – the city that “believes” and needs some belief in its football team now more than ever even after 13 wins in 17 tries.
And the more this whole “national underdog” role plays out the more it becomes a civic concern and a way of life…
Ugly is a Baltimore way of life.
By the way, I loved the Suggs soundbite from after the game when I fired a question at his Sizzleness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nlB5X51XXo
Ugly is also a way of life for Sizzle, who was once voted King Ugly by his Baltimore Ravens’ teammates in training camp.
Even the coach — a long-time special teams coach