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Back in 1987, Bill Bidwell, owner of the St. Louis Cardinals, toyed with the idea of moving his team to Baltimore. To us here in Charm City, it seemed like a perfect fit. We would be in the NFC East along with the (hated) Redskins, the neighboring Eagles, and just up the road, the New York Giants. At that time the NFC East was the best division in the NFL.
Also, I thought that the Cardinals' uniforms were pretty good looking in a classic way.
He actually came here two or three times to meet with city officials. I remember on one of those visits he took one of those heavily orchestrated "whirlwind tours" of the city. There were crowds and cheerleaders and speeches and so forth.
Anyway, long story short, Baltimore rolled out the red carpet for Billy Boy, and the town got real hyped. I even went out and bought a "Baltimore Cardinals" sweatshirt and sweatpants set (I still have them). I'm not sure how close it was, but we were all excited for a few weeks, and then a few months later, the Phoenix announcement came.
Baltimore remained out of the NFL for another 9 years, then we got the Browns, and as it turned out, Art Modell had himself a pretty good Player Personnel staff, and the sense to shut up and let them do their jobs. A few great drafts and one great Head Coach later, Baltimore has a Super Bowl, and Billy Boy's still running the Cards into the ground. The Cardinals even got dissed by Homer Simpson ("The Tale of Two Springfields", Original Airdate: 05/11/2000).
All in all, I'd have to say Baltimore got darned lucky in 1987.
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Originally posted by PurpleReign Back in 1987, Bill Bidwell, owner of the St. Louis Cardinals, toyed with the idea of moving his team to Baltimore. To us here in Charm City, it seemed like a perfect fit.
I thought Baltimore was the heroin and syphalis capital of the USA. I guess calling your city "Charm City" is a lot like a really fat guy going by the nickname of "Slim".
Go Cards!!!
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"In sports, we have a tendency to overuse terms like courage, bravery and heroes. Then someone special like Pat Tillman comes along and reminds us of what those terms really mean." - Michael Bidwill
I went to school in Baltimore during the heyday of Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, LG (Long Gone) Dupree, Big Daddy Lipscomb, Alan Ameche, Jim Parker and Gino Marchetti.
If you were out and about on a Sunday afternoon when the Colts were in town, you'd find zero, zilch, zowie people on the streets of Baltimore (They'd all be watching the Colts).
Fast forward 10 years later. Colts (with Bert Jones at the helm) were playing the Raidiz in the playoffs. A few of my wife's relatives headed down to Memorial Stadium to see if we could score scalpers' tix.
It wasn't necessary. The ticket booth was open and we bought "obstruced view" tickets for a song (note - the "obstruction" turned out to be the bench and the players).
That's how far Baltimore support for their local team had sunk.
Not too much later, Irsay backed up the moving vans under cover of darkness. End of story.
The Ravens are nothing more than the old Browns with different jerseys.
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"EVERY "NEXT GAME" IS A "MUST GAME."
Later (GBR/RIP40)
Whatever Purple Helmet. Our state is 5 times bigger than yours, and yes, size does matter!!!! (Or so I've been told...)
SO THERE!!!
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"When I see guys huddling up after the game, to pray, that's what scares me about the game. I'm a Baptist, but I'm also a quarterback killer, and I ain't praying with you. But I will give you 30 seconds to ask your Lord and master to keep me from killing you." -- Hall of Fame defensive end "Deacon" Jones on what aspect of the modern game most upsets him.
Originally posted by TXCardinalsFan NO there isn't Section 11. Except that they participate in Powerball and you can win a fortune to move out of there.
We have Powerball in AZ, and if I ever win, I swear I will try to get Gore-Tex to pitch in with me and purchase the Cardinals!
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"When I see guys huddling up after the game, to pray, that's what scares me about the game. I'm a Baptist, but I'm also a quarterback killer, and I ain't praying with you. But I will give you 30 seconds to ask your Lord and master to keep me from killing you." -- Hall of Fame defensive end "Deacon" Jones on what aspect of the modern game most upsets him.
Originally posted by Capital Card I thought Baltimore was the heroin and syphalis capital of the USA. I guess calling your city "Charm City" is a lot like a really fat guy going by the nickname of "Slim".
Go Cards!!!
Ooooohhhhhh, that was a good slam. We'll never see him here anymore. Perhaps in a free clinic in Baltimore.
I was in DC for training at Goddard Space Flight Center once. Had a good time but was driving around once and ended up in a slum area. Damn! I started hitting the locks in the car when I realized how fast the trip had made a turn for the worst. And the whole time I could see the freaking Capitol building!
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