30 for 30 (2009–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Band That Wouldn't Die - full transcript

[lively percussive music]

*

>> JORDAN DELIVERS A TWO-RBI...

[people clamoring]

[people speaking indistinctly]

>> AS A VERY YOUNG KID, YOU

KNOW, MY FATHER GOT SEASON

TICKETS, AND I STARTED GOING TO

SEE THE BALTIMORE COLTS WHEN

THEY FIRST CAME TO TOWN.

I WENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS



TO EVERY GAME, SAT IN THE SAME

SECTION YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN THEY

LOST THE TEAM.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS FASCINATION

WITH THIS MARCHING BAND FROM

BALTIMORE REPRESENTING A CITY

WITHOUT A FOOTBALL TEAM.

SO I WANTED TO TELL THAT STORY

OF THAT BAND THAT JUST MARCHED

AND MARCHED AND DID EVERYTHING

THEY COULD TO HELP BRING ANOTHER

NFL FRANCHISE TO BALTIMORE.

[brisk string music]



*

[cars whooshing]

>> THE--THE AFTERNOON I CAME IN

TO WORK, THEY ASKED ME TO GO OUT

AND ESTIMATE A JOB.

THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME WHERE IT

WAS AT.

THEY JUST SAID THAT THEY HAD TO

GO ABOUT A HALF HOUR.

BEFORE I REACHED BALTIMORE

AND CALL THIS LADY'S--

IT WAS A SECRETARY FOR THE

COMPANY WE WERE MOVING,

AND THEN SHE'D TELL ME

WHAT TO DO.

WELL, I WENT TO THE COMPLEX

AT THE TIME, MADE A PHONE CALL,

AND SHE SAYS, "BALTIMORE COLTS."

THEN I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY--

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SENT ME ON

TO MAKE THE ESTIMATE FOR.

I WAS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY

TRUCKS THAT WERE NEEDED AND HOW

MANY MEN TO SEND OVER THERE

TO THE COMPLEX.

AND SHE BROUGHT ME IN THE BACK

WAY AND TOLD ME TO TELL NO ONE

WHAT I WAS DOING THERE FOR,

JUST TELL THEM I WAS TAKING AN

INVENTORY.

SHE TOOK ME UPSTAIRS TO MEET--

I THINK IT WAS MR. IRSAY'S SON.

AND HE TALKED TO ME AND TOLD ME

WHAT TO DO.

[truck engine revving]

>> WHEN THOSE FIRST TRUCKS

WERE IN LOW GEAR AND WERE

PULLING UP THE HILL IN OWINGS

MILLS, THAT'S THE THING THAT

I'LL NEVER FORGET.

AND YOU HEAR THEM.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE

THING.

I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,

"MY GOD, THAT IS SO LOUD.

EVERYONE IN THE STATE OF

MARYLAND HAS TO BE ABLE TO HEAR

THAT."

[truck engine revving]

YOU LITERALLY FELT LIKE THERE

WAS A SORT OF EARTHQUAKE

OCCURRING, YOU KNOW, FROM MANY

DIFFERENT STANDPOINTS.

>> AND THEN THE EXCITEMENT

STARTED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER,

AND A HELICOPTER STARTING

FLYING OVER.

AND I TOLD THE MEN, JUST GET

THE THINGS LOADED AS FAST AS

THEY CAN AND GET THEM ON

THE VANS.

>> THE INFORMATION COMES FROM

THE COLTS CAMP IN OWINGS MILLS.

>> AS YOU RIDE DOWN BONITA

AVENUE HEADING TOWARDS THE

ENTRANCE TO THE CAMP, THERE ARE

"NO PARKING" SIGNS POSTED BY THE

BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE.

AT THE FRONT GATE OF THE

BALTIMORE COLT COMPLEX,

THERE'S A BALTIMORE COUNTY

POLICE CAR FORBIDDING TRAFFIC

TO GO PAST.

>> IT STARTED TO SNOW PROBABLY--

THE RAIN HAD TURNED TO SNOW.

I GUESS IT STARTED TO SNOW

PROBABLY AROUND 4:00.

THE LAST TRUCK WAS THERE TO

LOAD.

THE ONLY THING WE COULDN'T GET

ON THE VAN WAS THE BLOCKING

SLED.

>> IN THE PAST HOUR AND A HALF,

FOUR MORE BIG MAYFLOWER MOVING

VANS PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY

AT THE COLTS COMPLEX HERE IN

OWINGS MILLS.

A PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD AND A

COUNTY POLICE OFFICER BOTH TELL

ME THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT ALL

THE MOVING VANS HAVE NOW LEFT

THE COMPLEX.

A POLICE OFFICER HERE TOLD ME

THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE

VANS WERE HEADED FOR

INDIANAPOLIS.

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST

COMPLETE CHAOS.

AND THERE WAS SOME FEELING

THAT--YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S,

YOU KNOW, LITERALLY GONNA BE,

YOU KNOW, STATE TROOPERS WITH

BAZOOKAS SAYING, "TURN THOSE

TRUCKS BACK AROUND."

>> THE BALTIMORE COLTS ARE GONE.

MOVING VANS PULLED UP TO THE

COLTS COMPLEX IN OWINGS MILLS

LAST NIGHT, AND DIRECTED BY HEAD

COACH FRANK KUSH, MOVERS EMPTIED

OUT THE COMPLEX.

>> JOHN, WE ARE WAITING FOR

MAYOR SCHAEFER TO COME OUT

OF HIS HOME AND PERHAPS IF HE

CHOOSES TALK TO THE MEDIA

ASSEMBLED TO GET THE LATEST

COMMENT ON BALTIMORE'S SITUATION

IN RELATION TO THE COLTS

LEAVING.

>> I'M TRYING TO RETAIN WHAT

LITTLE DIGNITY I HAVE LEFT

IN THIS MATTER.

AND SECOND, IF THE COLTS HAD TO

SNEAK OUT OF TOWN AT NIGHT,

IT DEGRADES A GREAT TRADITION

OF THE CITY AND FOOTBALL.

AND I GUESS THE THIRD THING

WOULD BE, I HATE TO SEE A MAN

CRY.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF US SLEPT

THAT NIGHT, DID WE?

[chuckles]

WE CRIED.

>> YEAH.

>> DRANK A LOT OF BEER AND

CRIED, YEAH.

NO, PHYSICALLY--I REMEMBER

PHYSICALLY SITTING IN FRONT OF

THE TV WEEPING.

I MEAN, THEY HAD TAKEN SOMETHING

DEAR AWAY FROM ME.

IT HURT PERSONALLY.

I MEAN, IT HURT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE

BEING MARRIED FOR 25 YEARS

AND YOUR WIFE LEAVES YOU FOR

SOMEONE ELSE.

AND YOU SEE HER--YOU KNOW, LIKE,

OCCASIONALLY YOU'D SEE HER ON

THE STREET LIKE YOU SEE THE

COLTS ON TV, AND YOU COULDN'T

QUITE WATCH IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS--IT HURT TOO

MUCH.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE GAME,

NOT JUST THE TEAM.

IT WAS EVERYTHING INVOLVED.

WE WERE EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED.

AND WHEN THEY LEAVE YOU,

THERE'S A BIG VOID THERE THAT

YOU DON'T--THAT NEVER QUITE

HEALS.

IT NEVER QUITE HEALS.

>> EVERYBODY WAS DOWNHEARTED,

BROKEN.

THEY WERE JUST--IT WAS LIKE

BEING IN A DAZE, 'CAUSE WE

DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD DO

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN THEY LEFT TOWN ON THAT

SNOWY NIGHT AND YOU SAW

PICTURES OF IT--I DON'T KNOW--

IT'S JUST LIKE YOU LOST YOUR

BEST FRIEND.

>> OH, YEAH, I WENT OUT THERE

TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

AND THEY WOULDN'T LET ANYBODY

GO IN.

I SAID, "I'VE GOT TO GO IN

THERE.

I HAVE A DESK IN THERE BECAUSE

I'M INVOLVED WITH DOING THE

GAMES HERE WITH CHUCK THOMPSON."

AND IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE

EXPERIENCE, REALLY, 'CAUSE,

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE COULDN'T

BELIEVE IT.

THEY'RE CARRYING OUT THE

FURNITURE AND EVERYTHING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE FIGURED THEY

MIGHT LEAVE, BUT IS THIS GONNA

HAPPEN THIS WAY?

>> I KNOW THAT THE MARCHING

BAND, MANY TALKS WITH JOHN

ZIEMANN OVER THE YEARS, THEY

BARELY GOT THEIR EQUIPMENT OUT

OF THERE BEFORE THEY LEFT.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAUGHT WIND THAT

SOMETHING WAS GOING ON,

AND THEY IN A SENSE STOLE MOST

OF THEIR THINGS.

>> THE BAND UNIFORMS, I

UNDERSTAND, WEREN'T--THEY WERE

OUT GETTING PATCHED AND REPAIRED

AND CLEANED AT THE TIME THEY

CLEANED OUT THE FACILITIES.

OTHERWISE, I WOULD IMAGINE

THAT IF THEY WERE KEPT AT THE

FACILITY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE

WOUND UP IN THEM MAYFLOWER VANS

ALSO.

>> WHAT HAPPENED, ALL THE

UNIFORMS WERE AT THE CLEANERS.

THEY KEPT THE UNIFORMS.

AND THE CLEANERS DIDN'T SAY

ANYTHING.

AFTER THEY LEFT, WE CHECKED WITH

A LAWYER.

AND HE BASICALLY SAYS,

"DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

CALL THE CLEANERS."

THE CLEANER SAYS, "WE CAN'T

GIVE YOU THOSE UNIFORMS.

BUT TONIGHT IF YOU WANT TO COME

UP TO OUR CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT

AND TAKE OUR TRUCK

FOR A WALK..."

[laughter]

I WENT, "THAT'S STUPID."

I SAY, "TRUCK FOR A WALK?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, TRUCK FOR A

WALK?"

AND HE SAID, "TRUCK FOR A WALK,

JOHN."

MYSELF--A GENTLEMAN RICHARD

JONDO AND I WENT UP,

WE OPENED THE BACK DOORS OF THE

TRUCK, WE FOUND THE KEYS

AND ALL THE UNIFORMS IN THERE

CLEAN SAYING, "GO GET 'EM, COLTS

BAND" WITH A SIGN.

WE TOOK THEM TO--WE HID THEM

DOWN IN RICHARD'S PLUMBING

ESTABLISHMENT IN EAST BALTIMORE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE GET A WORD

THAT THEY WERE COMING BACK.

WE HAD TO MOVE THEM.

SO WE MOVED THEM TO MY HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHERE HE SAID,

"YOU KNOW, THEY COULD SUE YOU

IF THEY'RE ON YOUR PROPERTY."

SO A GENTLEMAN IN THE BAND--

AND I WILL NOT NAME HIS NAME

BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID--HE SAID,

"I GOT A PLACE FOR THEM, JOHN."

I SAID, "GREAT."

SO WE LOADED THEM UP IN MY

TRUCK, AND WE'RE DRIVING.

HE'S IN FRONT.

THIS OTHER GUY'S IN THE BACK.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE TURN IN TO

A CEMETERY.

>> [laughs]

>> I SAID, "OH, WE'RE TAKING A

SHORTCUT."

WE STOPPED.

THERE WAS THIS BIG MAUSOLEUM.

AND I LOOKED UP, AND I SAW THE

GUY WHO'S WORKING WITH ME,

HIS FAMILY'S NAME ON IT.

I WENT, "OH, NO.

[laughter]

NO.

NO, MY UNIFORMS ARE NOT"--

THEY HAD--I LOCKED THE DOORS.

THEY WERE ROCKING THE TRUCK

TO GET ME OUT.

I WOULD NOT LET THEM IN.

FINALLY, I OPENED THE DOOR TO

GET OUT TO ARGUE WITH THEM.

THEY GOT IN THERE.

HE HAD THE KEYS.

WE HID THEM IN A MAUSOLEUM.

[thunder booming]

[door creaking]

HIS FAMILY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT,

AND I'M STILL GETTING HOLY HECK

FROM THAT WHEN I SEE THEM.

"HI, MR. AND MRS."--

"DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID

WHEN MY FAMILY"--

"OH, YEAH.

I'M, YOU KNOW, VERY SORRY."

AND EVENTUALLY THANKS TO THE

GENEROSITY OF MRS. HARRIET

IRSAY, THE LATE MRS. HARRIET

IRSAY, WHO WAS A WONDERFUL LADY,

I MEAN, JUST SUPER, SHE'S THE

ONE WHO WORKED WITH US TO MAKE

SURE THAT WE KEPT THE UNIFORMS.

SO THAT'S THE STORY OF THE

UNIFORMS.

>> WELL, COMING OUT OF THE

MAUSOLEUM, IT'S AS IF IT WAS THE

BAND THAT WOULDN'T DIE.

>> YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S GOOD.

>> WE WOULD KEEP GOING UNTIL

THERE WAS A TEAM BACK.

AND IT WAS AS IF THE STADIUM AND

THE BAND WERE SAYING, "WE'RE NOT

GOING AWAY UNTIL AN NFL TEAM

COMES BACK."

[rat-a-tat percussion music]

*

>> HOW WELL DO YOU REMEMBER THE

'58 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME?

>> I WATCHED IT ON TELEVISION,

BUT I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT THE '58 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

IS PROBABLY WHAT REALLY SET THE

NFL ON ITS FEET.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE

GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED.

[crowd cheering]

>> BACK GOES UNITAS.

HE THROWS TO THE SIDELINE,

AND IT'S A COMPLETED PASS

TO LENNY MOORE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE SO--

HERE WAS UNITAS THREE YEARS

OFF OF A SANDLOT.

HE WAS PLAYING ON A FIELD

LITTERED WITH BROKEN GLASS

AND OIL SLICKS.

HE'S 25 YEARS OLD.

THERE'S A MINUTE AND A HALF

TO GO IN THE GAME.

IT IS--IT IS COLD.

TWILIGHT IS DESCENDING.

THE WIND IS BLOWING AROUND.

WE'RE IN THE LIVING ROOM,

AND WE'RE SO FRIGHTENED,

WE CAN'T STAND UP.

>> WITH SECOND AND TEN,

UNITAS BACK TO PASS.

THROW IS COMPLETE TO BARRY.

BARRY IS AT THE 45, STILL GOING

AT MIDFIELD, AND KNOCKED DOWN.

AND THE NEXT ONE MINUTE AND FIVE

SECONDS WILL TELL THE ENTIRE

STORY OF THIS BIG FOOTBALL YEAR.

>> TODAY THE TEAMS MARCH UP AND

DOWN THE FIELD LIKE PATTON'S

ARMY.

BUT BACK THEN, NOBODY HAD EVER

HEARD OF A TWO-MINUTE DRILL.

AND HERE HE IS COMPLETING PASS

AFTER PASS AFTER PASS.

NOBODY HAD EVER SEEN SOMEBODY

THROWING THE BALL AROUND LIKE

THIS WITH NO TIME LEFT,

WITH NO TIME LEFT.

[crowd cheering]

>> TEN SECONDS LEFT TO GO.

MYHRA WILL ATTEMPT A FIELD GOAL

FROM THE 20-YARD LINE.

FIVE--HERE'S THE BOOT.

IT IS HIGH.

IT IS GOOD!

>> ONE OF THE COLOR GUARD

MEMBERS CAUGHT THE FOOTBALL

THAT TIED THE GAME,

AND HE WAS GETTING BEAT UP,

SO HE TOSSED THE FOOTBALL TO ME.

AND I WAS A DRUMMER.

I THREW IT INTO MY DRUM CASE.

AND IT STAYED THERE FOR A WHILE

UNTIL I SAW THE PEOPLE UP IN THE

STANDS LOOKING AT US.

I GOT DOUSED WITH BEER AND

EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I THOUGHT, "WE'D BETTER

MOVE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE."

SO I TOOK THE DRUM HEAD OFF,

PUT THE BALL INSIDE THE DRUM

HEAD, PUT THE HEAD BACK ON THE

DRUM, AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE

CASE, AND I CARRIED IT BACK TO

BALTIMORE.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW WHAT WAS

INSIDE THAT CASE.

[crowd cheering]

>> IT'S THIRD AND ONE YARD TO GO

FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

UNITAS GIVES TO AMECHE.

THE COLTS ARE THE WORLD

CHAMPIONS.

AMECHE SCORES.

>> WHEN AMECHE WENT OVER,

MICHAEL OLESKER, MY FRIEND AND

COLLEAGUE, LIKES TO SAY HE WENT

INTO THE END ZONE, AND HE WENT

INTO THE FUTURE.

AND THAT WAS IT.

PRO FOOTBALL WAS MARRIED TO

TELEVISION.

IT WAS THE PERFECT GAME FOR

TELEVISION.

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THAT

THEN.

WE CAME HOME ON THE TRAIN THAT

NIGHT, AND ALL WE COULD THINK

ABOUT WAS, "WOW, WHAT A GAME."

BUT WE WENT THERE WITH THE IDEA

THAT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE

BALTIMORE, WHICH THEN WAS VIEWED

AS PRETTY MUCH OF A TRAFFIC JAM

BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK,

THAT MAYBE WE COULD BE LOOKED AT

IN A NEW LIGHT.

>> THE COLTS RIDDEN OFF LIKE

WORLD CHAMPIONS ON THE SHOULDERS

OF THEIR ADMIRERS, WHO HAVE

SWARMED OVER THE FIELD.

>> WE WERE SO PROUD.

IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE GOD.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST--IT WAS

VERY EMOTIONAL.

I'M GETTING COLD CHILLS TALKING

ABOUT IT NOW.

>> WELL, IT WAS A LOVE AFFAIR.

THIS IS A CITY THAT UNTIL 1953

DIDN'T HAVE FOOTBALL,

UNTIL 1954 DIDN'T HAVE BASEBALL.

THE BIGGEST NAME IN PRO SPORTS

IN BALTIMORE WAS TOOTS BARGER,

WHO WAS A DUCKPIN BOWLER.

WE HAD A KIND OF A MASSIVE

MUNICIPAL INFERIORITY COMPLEX

ABOUT OURSELVES.

WE TENDED TO MEASURE OURSELVES

AGAINST NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON

AND FELL SHORT.

NEW YORK HAD MICKEY MANTLE.

WE HAD WILLIE TASBY IN CENTER

FIELD, WHO RAN OUT TO CENTER

FIELD WHEN THERE WAS LIGHTNING

IN THE SKY AND TOOK OFF HIS

SPIKES SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T

ATTRACT LIGHTNING.

THAT'S THE KIND OF COMPARISON.

THEY HAD THE EMPIRE STATE

BUILDING.

WE HAD THE BROMO-SELTZER TOWER.

WE WERE IN NO WAY IN THE SAME

LEAGUE WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH

NEW YORK.

AND SUDDENLY WE HAD THIS

FOOTBALL TEAM THAT WAS CHAMPIONS

OF THE WORLD, AND WE COULDN'T

BELIEVE IT.

WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND EVERY GAME, THERE WAS THE

BAND AND THAT COLTS FIGHT SONG

THAT JUST GAVE YOU GOOSE BUMPS.

>> FOR THAT TIME--FROM 1953 TO

1983, OFTEN I THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF THERE WAS EVER A CAMELOT,

THAT WAS CAMELOT.

FOR ONE BRIEF SHINING MOMENT,

THAT TEAM WAS EVERYTHING TO THIS

TOWN.

[crowd cheering]

>> all: C-O-L-T-S!

COLTS!

YEAH!

>> IT WAS ALMOST RELIGION.

IT WAS--EVERY SUNDAY WAS LIKE

GOING TO CHURCH FOR A LOT

OF BALTIMOREANS.

AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY DID

COME TO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR

OF JOHNNY UNITAS.

AND I THINK THAT THE FURTHER

WE GOT MORE INVOLVED

OR THE FURTHER WE WENT ALONG

WITH THAT, THE MORE FANATIC

WE BECAME.

>> LET'S WIN, GUYS!

LET'S WIN!

GOT IT, BABY!

>> 75 SECONDS TO PLAY.

[marching band music]

*

>> I REMEMBER THE FIRST GAME

I EVER SAW WAS IN 1965,

TYPICAL FATHER-SON, DAD TAKES ME

OUT TO THE GAME.

JOHNNY UNITAS, TOM MATTE,

JOHN MACKEY, ALL THE LEGENDS

OF FOOTBALL.

BAND COMES OUT ON THE FIELD

AND PLAYS THE COLTS SONG.

I'M GLUED TO THE BAND.

I GO HOME.

I'M HUMMING THE COLTS SONG

ALL WEEK LONG.

AND I DON'T THINK MY FATHER

REALIZED THAT I SAW A SINGLE

PLAY.

I JUST WOULD WATCH THE BAND,

WATCH THEM ON THAT BANDSTAND

WAY OUT IN CENTER FIELD.

IT WAS COLD.

IT WAS FREEZING.

THEY'D PLAY SONGS.

AND WHEN I LATER JOINED THE

BAND, IT WAS JUST LIKE A

RECAPITULATION OF 1965.

I'M OUT IN CENTER FIELD ON THE

BANDSTAND.

>> WAITING FOR JONES' TAKEAWAY.

HE ROLLS TO HIS RIGHT NAKED

AND NOW LOOKS, FIRES DOWNFIELD.

CAUGHT BY CHESTER AT THE 50.

>> YEAH, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT

OLD LOUDY.

THERE WAS A GUY THAT WAS AT THE

AIRPORT EVERY TIME THEY CAME

BACK FROM A GAME.

HE HAD THE FIGHT SONG ON A

RECORDER.

AND HE HAD THIS RECORDER,

AND EVERY TIME THAT TEAM

WOULD GET OFF THE AIRPLANE

AND THEY'D WALK BY HIM,

HE'D BE PLAYING THE FIGHT SONG.

>> LOUDY LOUDENSLAGER MADE

BIRTHDAY CAKES FOR EVERY COLT

PLAYER.

>> WHEN HE WAS BURIED, HE HAD A

COLT UNIFORM ON, A COMPLETE

COLT OUTFIT IN HIS COFFIN.

>> WHEN LOUDY DIED,

MANY OF THE PLAYERS WERE

PALLBEARERS, UNITAS INCLUDED.

AND THE COLT BAND WAS THERE

AT THE CEMETERY.

AND AS LOUDY WAS LAID TO REST,

IT WAS TO THE SLOW STRAINS

OF THE COLT FIGHT SONG

PLAYED BY THE BAND.

[solitary trumpet music]

*

>> I THINK ONE OF THE SADDEST

THINGS THAT WAS LOUDY'S--

LOUDY ACTUALLY WENT UP INTO HIS

SEAT IN SEPTEMBER '84,

ON OPENING DAY WHEN THEY WERE

SUPPOSED TO BE KICKING OFF

IN MEMORIAL STADIUM,

AND HE WAS IN--HE WENT UP

AND SAT IN HIS SEAT.

WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE

KICKING OFF ON 33RD STREET,

THEY WERE INDIANAPOLIS.

THAT SAD LOOK ON LOUDY'S FACE

WILL EVER BE ETCHED IN MY MIND.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING WHEN THE

COLTS WENT TO INDIANAPOLIS

AND THEY PLAYED THEIR FIRST

GAME, HE SAT ALONE IN MEMORIAL

STADIUM UP IN THE SEAT?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, HE DID.

THAT WAS A WHOLE DECADE OF BAD

BLOOD.

AND PEOPLE WONDERED, "WELL, HOW

DID WE GET TO THE POINT

WHERE THEY PACKED THESE VANS UP

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

AND MOVE OUT OF TOWN?"

IT STARTED, IN MY OPINION,

IN 1972.

>> AND THEN WHEN IRSAY CAME IN--

AND HE WAS A CRAZY MAN

ALTOGETHER, AND HE BEGAN

THREATENING TO MOVE THE TEAM

OUT OF TOWN.

>> IT'S NOT YOUR BALL TEAM.

IT'S NOT OUR BALL TEAM.

IT'S MY FAMILY'S BALL TEAM.

I PAID FOR IT,

AND I WORK FOR IT.

>> HE WAS FLAUNTING IT IN THE

FACE OF THE BALTIMORE COLT FANS.

I DON'T THINK HE REALIZED HOW

DEEP HE WAS CUTTING INTO THEIR

HEARTS WHEN HE DID THOSE THINGS.

>> IF YOU RECALL, WHEN IRSAY GOT

THE COLTS, HE WAS DOWN IN

JACKSONVILLE, WAS GONNA MOVE

THEM TO JACKSONVILLE.

>> HE FLEW IN BY HELICOPTER TO

THE GATOR BOWL.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE

WHERE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

I JUST DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE

OF BALTIMORE--MAYBE IT'S BEEN

THE OFFICIALS, JUST HAVEN'T

COME THROUGH.

>> AND THAT'S THE OTHER GREAT

LESSON, THAT THE OWNERS OF TEAMS

CAN HOLD CITIES HOSTAGE.

"YOU BUILD ME A BALLPARK,

OR I'M GONNA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE."

>> THERE WAS THAT ALMOST MUTINY

AFTER THE '75 SEASON

WHEN THEY FIRED MARCHIBRODA OR

WERE GONNA FIRED MARCHIBRODA,

AND BERT JONES WROTE THAT NOTE

REPRESENTING ALL THE PLAYERS

THAT THEY WERE GONNA SIT THE

SEASON OUT IF THEY'D--IF IRSAY

DIDN'T HIRE HIM BACK.

>> YEAH, HE EVEN WENT TO

PHILADELPHIA ONE TIME.

AT HALFTIME, HE WENT AND STARTED

CALLING THE PLAYS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OWNER GO CALL

PLAYS EXCEPT AT THAT GAME

IN PHILADELPHIA.

>> I TELL YOU, THE STRAW I THINK

THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK

WAS THE YEAR--THE LAST YEAR

WHEN THEY DRAFTED ELWAY.

>> YEP.

>> AND THEY DIDN'T SIGN HIM.

>> 1983 WAS A VERY BAD YEAR

FOR BALTIMORE COLT FANS.

WE HEAR RUMORS THAT THE COLTS

ARE MOVING.

WE HEAR THEY'RE GOING TO

INDIANAPOLIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO PHOENIX.

AND EVERYBODY WAS REALLY

HEARTBROKEN.

FINALLY, JANUARY 20, 1984,

IT CAME TO A HEAD

AT THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

AIRPORT.

>> I'M ENCOURAGED.

I REALLY AM.

>> WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER,

WHO WAS MAYOR OF BALTIMORE,

CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE.

MR. IRSAY PERSONALLY WAS COMING

INTO TOWN TO ADDRESS THESE

RUMORS.

WHEN MR. IRSAY ARRIVED,

HE HAD EVEN TROUBLE GETTING INTO

THE DOOR.

AND I WILL SAY MR. IRSAY WAS

INTOXICATED.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS WORKING FOR

WMAR TV AS A STUDIO TECH.

AND ALL THREE STATIONS--WJZ,

WBAL, AND WMAR--WENT OUT,

SET UP LIVE TO GO ON THE AIR

FOR MR. IRSAY'S PRESS

CONFERENCE.

MR. IRSAY GOT UP THERE AND

STARTED WITH SOME VERY, VERY

SALTY LANGUAGE.

>> I HAVE NOT ANY INTENTION OF

MOVING THE GODDAMN TEAM.

IF I DID, I WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT

IT, OKAY?

NOW, WHERE'D YOU GET THE GODDAMN

MESSAGE?

>> I MEAN, YOU COULD NOT BELIEVE

THAT THAT HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE IT NOW,

YOU WOULD THINK, YOU KNOW, IF--

YOU WOULD SAY IT COULDN'T HAPPEN

IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT 14-MINUTE

PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> IF YOU LOVE THE COLTS,

WHY DON'T YOU TREAT ME RIGHT?

I WANT TO SEND YOU SOME

ARTICLES.

THIS MAN HERE, NUMBER ONE,

AND STEADMAN, A COUPLE OF

OTHERS, HANG ME ALL THE TIME.

WHAT DO YOU HANG ME FOR?

>> THAT'S A REPORTER FOR A LOCAL

PAPER THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO?

>> NO, I'M REFERRING TO--

READ THE PAPERS.

WHAT DO YOU HANG ME FOR?

>> YOU KNOW, MY DAD, HE--

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE WAS

A BIG, YOU KNOW, SOFT, YOU KNOW,

HEART INSIDE OF HIM THAT GOT

TAKEN AWAY AS TIME WENT ON

FROM HIS DAUGHTER DYING,

FROM HIS SON BEING SICK AND

DYING, FROM THE ALCOHOL.

IT KIND OF MADE HIM HAVE TO BE

WHERE HE JUST COULDN'T ALLOW

HIMSELF ANY SENTIMENTAL ASPECTS

ANYMORE.

I TELL MY KIDS, "YOU KNOW, MAN,

WHEN--YOU KNOW, WHEN HE WAS A

YOUNG GUY, BOY, HE WAS

SOMETHING.

I MEAN, HE WAS SOMETHING,

YOU KNOW, BEFORE TIME AND

ALCOHOLISM KIND OF WORE HIM

DOWN."

>> WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR--

WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR--

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET THIS

OVER REAL FAST.

[chuckles]

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ARIZONA.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ZARI--

ARIZONA.

I'VE BEEN IN THREE OR FOUR

PLACES WHERE I'VE GOT WORKING

MACHINES GOING OF MY OWN

COMPANIES.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN PHOENIX.

I GIVE YOU MY WORD OF HONOR.

I'M A GOOD CATHOLIC.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ARIZONA.

WHERE THE HELL DID THIS ALL COME

FROM?

WHO STARTED THIS?

>> THE GOVERNOR--

>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> THE GOVERNOR--

>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> I TRY TO CALM HIM DOWN

MOST OF THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES

YOU GET A LITTLE--YOU KNOW,

AND IT'S JUST--

SO I KNOW HE CALLED ME UP ONE

DAY, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS

BEFORE THE MOVE, AND, YOU KNOW--

AND HE HAD BEEN DRINKING.

OF COURSE IT WAS--

YOU KNOW, AND HE SAID--

YOU KNOW, I SAID, "NOW, WHAT ARE

WE DOING HERE?

YOU KNOW, I MEAN,

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"

HE SAID, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET DOWN TO

INDY."

I GO, "REALLY, YOU WANT ME TO GO

TO INDIANAPOLIS?"

"YEAH, TAKE KUSH WITH YOU."

I KNEW HE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,

WOULD BARELY REMEMBER THE

CONVERSATION.

SO I TOLD--I CALLED FRANK KUSH

AND SAID, "FRANK, OLD MAN

CALLED.

WE GOT TO GO TO INDIANAPOLIS."

"WHAT?

INDIANAPOLIS?

JIM, YOU GOT TO TALK TO YOUR

MOM.

WE GOT TO MOVE TO ARIZONA.

WHO WANTS TO GO TO

INDIANAPOLIS?"

SO, YOU KNOW, WE FLY TO

INDIANAPOLIS.

WE GET THERE.

IT'S NO SECRET WALKING THROUGH

THE AIRPORT.

THE MEDIA'S THERE ALL OF A

SUDDEN.

SO THEN I CALL MY DAD THE NEXT

DAY.

YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S IN THE

MORNING.

I SAID, "DAD, WE'RE HERE."

"YOU'RE WHERE?"

"WE'RE IN INDIANAPOLIS."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN

INDIANAPOLIS?"

I SAID, "YOU TOLD US TO COME."

"OH, MY GOD.

OKAY, I'LL CALL YOU BACK,"

YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A TOUGH TIME.

AND I WAS ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND,

AND I WAS, YOU KNOW--

I WAS PART OF THE RIDE.

>> 'CAUSE OF JERKS LIKE YOU.

JERKS LIKE YOU PUT THINGS

IN A PAPER THAT I'M MOVING TO

PHOENIX OR TO MEMPHIS.

I HAVE NO DEAL WITH PHOENIX

IN THE WORLD.

>> THE SAD PART ABOUT IT WAS,

HE WAS IN PHOENIX A FEW DAYS

BEFORE, NEGOTIATING A DEAL.

THE NEXT DAY, EVEN THOUGH HIS

DENIAL THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE A

DEAL WITH PHOENIX,

PHOENIX ANNOUNCED THEY PULLED

OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS

WITH MR. IRSAY.

THAT ONLY LEFT INDIANAPOLIS.

>> WHAT REALLY FROSTED--

THAT'S THE WORD SCHAEFER OFTEN

USES WHEN HE GETS REALLY

PISSED--WHAT FROSTED HIM--

OR BURNED HIS ASS, HE LIKES TO

SAY TOO--WAS THAT IRSAY HAD

PROMISED HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT

DO ANYTHING UNTIL TALKING TO HIM

FIRST.

>> NOW, I DON'T KNOW THEY'RE

GONE, BECAUSE AS I KEPT TELLING

ALL OF YOU, HE'S GONNA CALL ME,

BECAUSE WE HAVE A GENTLEMEN'S

AGREEMENT, THAT,

"BEFORE I SIGNED OR BEFORE

I DO ANYTHING, DON,

I'LL CALL YOU."

AND HE DIDN'T CALL HIS OLD

FRIEND DON.

>> IRSAY WAS A STRANGE MAN,

A VERY STRANGE MAN.

SOME DAYS, HE WOULD BE HAPPY.

SOME DAYS, HE WOULD BE MOODY.

SOME DAYS, YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM

AT ALL.

I UNFORTUNATELY LIKED HIM.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD

GUY.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

HE DECIDED--HE DECEIVED US A

LITTLE BIT.

AND SO HE LEFT.

AND FROM THEN, WE WEREN'T

EXACTLY THE BUDDIES

WE WERE BEFORE.

>> THEN AND NOW, I THINK HE

CONSIDERS THAT PROBABLY HIS

BIGGEST FAILURE AS THE MAYOR

OF BALTIMORE.

HE'S NOT OVER IT TO THIS DAY.

[laughter]

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE

COLTS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO

INDIANAPOLIS.

[cheers and applause]

>> WHEN THE TEAM LEFT,

IT WAS HARD.

THE SUN CAME UP THE NEXT DAY.

NOBODY DIED.

COMMERCE IN BALTIMORE WAS

MOVING.

BUT A BIG PART OF OUR HEART

WAS TAKEN AWAY.

A BIG PART OF US WAS TRUCKED OUT

TO INDIANAPOLIS.

>> UNITAS BACK TO PASS.

THROW IS COMPLETE TO BARRY.

TEN SECONDS LEFT TO GO.

MYHRA WILL ATTEMPT A FIELD GOAL

FROM THE 20-YARD LINE.

IT IS HIGH.

IT IS GOOD!

THE COLTS ARE THE WORLD

CHAMPIONS!

AMECHE SCORES!

>> LOOKING FOR A RECEIVER,

THEN RIGHT.

HE'S GONNA BE KNOCKED DOWN.

>> STEPS INTO THE POCKET,

DRILLS UP THE MIDDLE.

RAYMOND CHESTER, HE'S GOT IT

AT THE 30-YARD LINE.

TO THE 25 GOES RAYMOND CHESTER.

>> UNITAS THROWS IT TO LENNY

MOORE.

HE'S AT THE 40, THE 35.

MOORE GOES FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!

>> JONES A STRAIGHT DROP,

WANTS TO THROW.

PRESSURE COMING.

HE FIRES THE SCREEN TO RON LEE,

TO THE 30, TO THE 25.

>> THE KICK IS UP.

IT IS LONG ENOUGH.

IT IS GOOD!

IT IS GOOD.

AND THE BALTIMORE COLTS HAVE

JUST WON THEMSELVES

A SUPER BOWL.

>> EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND

WELCOME TO BALTIMORE COLTS

FOOTBALL.

CHUCK THOMPSON, VINCE BAGLEY,

MEMORIAL STADIUM IN BALTIMORE.

>> all: C-O-L-T-S!

COLTS!

[crowd cheering]

>> IT WAS KIND OF SURREAL

TO, LIKE, NOT HAVE A TEAM.

I REMEMBER THINKING BACK THEN

WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A CITY

WITHOUT A FOOTBALL TEAM,

TO WATCH GAMES AND HAVE NO

ROOTING INTEREST,

HAVE NO CONFERENCE GAMES THAT

MATTERED, DIVISION GAMES THAT

MATTERED.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I HAD

NEVER EXPERIENCED AND DIDN'T

KNOW UNTIL YOU DID EXPERIENCE IT

HOW TOUGH IT WAS TO VIEW THE NFL

AS A WORLD THAT YOU WEREN'T

REALLY A PART OF ANYMORE.

>> WE WERE IN MOURNING

FOR 12 YEARS.

AND THE REMARKABLE THING,

THE AMAZING THING IS, HERE'S

THIS GUY JOHN ZIEMANN,

THE LEADER OF THE BAND,

WHO'S GOT TO BE TOTALLY CRAZY.

HE SAYS, "NO.

JUST BECAUSE THE TEAM LEFT

DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T KEEP

PLAYING.

IF WE KEEP PLAYING, MAYBE IT'LL

SIGNAL THE NFL, LOOK HOW MUCH

BALTIMORE LOVES FOOTBALL.

LOOK HOW MUCH THEY WANT A TEAM

BACK."

AND HE KEPT THE THING GOING.

BUT ZIEMANN, I MEAN, WHO EVER

HEARD OF SUCH A THING?

THEY WERE A FOOTBALL BAND

WITHOUT A TEAM TO CALL ITS OWN.

>> WE KEPT TOGETHER, I THINK,

MAINLY STUBBORNNESS.

BEST WAY FOR US TO STAY

TOGETHER, REFORM, FORM INTO A

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION,

AND GET OUT THERE, DO

FUND-RAISERS TO KEEP THE BAND

TOGETHER.

I GUESS THAT'S SOME OF IT,

YOU KNOW, OUT OF BASICALLY

STUBBORNNESS.

WE WERE GONNA STAY.

WE WERE GONNA BRING THE NFL BACK

HERE OR SOME FORM OF PRO

FOOTBALL.

WE WERE NOT GONNA DISBAND.

>> AH.

[rat-a-tat percussion music]

*

>> WHEN THE COLTS LEFT TOWN,

I WAS DEVASTATED.

BUT WHAT WAS SO OBVIOUS WITHIN

A MATTER OF DAYS WAS, WE WERE

INTACT AND WE HAD

A DIFFERENT MISSION, NOT ONLY

TO BRING BACK ANOTHER

FOOTBALL TEAM, BUT WE WERE OUR

OWN ENTITY AT THAT POINT.

SO WITH THE LOSS OF A TEAM,

THERE WAS NO LOSS OF A BAND.

IN FACT, I THINK THE BAND GOT

STRONGER AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

>> THE BAND TOOK ON ITS OWN

LIFE, IN A SENSE,

BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE BAND

FELT THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THEY DID PREAKNESS

EVERY YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> DUNDOCK HAS A FOURTH OF JULY

PARADE EVERY YEAR.

THEY'D ALWAYS BE THE FIRST

BAND THAT WE WOULD GO OFF WITH

WOULD BE THE COLTS BAND.

AND THEN WHEN THEY WENT AROUND,

YOU COULD JUST HEAR THE APPLAUSE

ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THEY EVEN GOT THE BIGGER HAND

THAN THE MUMMERS.

WE'D HAVE THE MUMMERS.

THEY GOT BIGGER HANDS THAN THE

MUMMERS.

>> IT WAS FUN.

IT WAS FUN BEING THIS UNIQUE

BAND WITHOUT A TEAM.

PEOPLE WOULD SHOUT OUT,

"PLAY THE COLTS SONG,"

LONG AFTER THE COLTS HAVE GONE.

PEOPLE WOULD SHOUT OUT,

"WE USE TO LOVE THE COLTS,

BUT NOW WE LOVE YOU,"

IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HEAR

FROM THE CROWD AS WE WOULD GO BY

IN THE DIFFERENT PARADES.

>> THE FIRST TIME I DID A PARADE

WITH THE COLT BAND WAS THE

FOURTH OF JULY, AND WE DID

DUNDOCK PARADE.

SO WE HAD JUST FINISHED THE

PARADE, AND I COULDN'T GET OVER

ALL THE APPLAUSE ON THE SIDES.

THEY WOULD JUST APPLAUD IT.

I'M JUST STANDING THERE, AND

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS BIG GUY

COMES UP TO ME, MAYBE 6'5",

270, BEARD, GRABS AHOLD OF MY

ARM, SAYS, "ARE YOU THE

DIRECTOR?"

I THOUGHT, "OH, GOD, NOW WHAT?"

[laughter]

YOU KNOW?

AND I SAID, "YEAH."

HE SAYS, "I LOVE YOU GUYS."

[laughter]

TEAR IN HIS EYE 'CAUSE WE PLAYED

THE COLTS SONG.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THE FANS

WERE.

I JUST COULDN'T GET OVER HOW

MUCH THEY LOVE THIS BAND.

>> IT'S STILL VERY EMOTIONAL.

SOMETIMES I STILL HEAR THAT

COLTS SONG...

>> OH, YEAH.

>> AND I KNEW THE WORDS

BACKWARDS, FORWARDS.

>> YEAH, I WAS WHISTLING IT THIS

MORNING, YOU KNOW, AND I--

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T

FORGET, YOU KNOW?

FIGHT ON, YOU BALTIMORE COLTS.

"GO IN AND STRIKE LIKE

LIGHTNING BOLTS."

>> YOU KNOW, I WENT TO JOHN

UNITAS' FUNERAL, AND I'M

STANDING OUTSIDE, AND I BUMP

INTO A GUY NAMED JIM DEWALT,

WHO WAS, LIKE US, JUST ONE OF

THE GUYS UP IN THE STANDS.

AND HE REMEMBERED WHEN HE WENT

TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND EVERY

DAY FOR THE OPENING EXERCISES,

THEY HAD THE SAME RITUAL:

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,

THE "OUR FATHER," AND THE

BALTIMORE COLTS MARCHING SONG.

>> [laughs]

>> ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE

THINGS ABOUT THIS SPACE IS THAT

IT IS THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE

SEEM TO COME AND CRY.

EVERY TIME THAT WE PLAY THE

FIGHT SONG AS PEOPLE WALK DOWN

BY THIS EXHIBIT, THE BALTIMORE

COLTS FIGHT SONG, IT IS A VERY

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

AND YOU GET A LOT OF TEARS

DROPPING ON THIS CARPET.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THE COLT BAND

WOULD WALK ON THE FIELD--

THEY'D OPEN UP THOSE BIG GATES,

AND OUT THEY'D COME.

AND IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL THING.

THE PLACE EXPLODED JUST LIKE A

BOMB WENT OFF.

EVERYBODY WAS UP ON THEIR FEET.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE

GOOD OR NOT, BUT THEY WERE

GREAT FOR US.

>> THERE WAS A SURVEY TAKEN

YEARS AGO THAT THE COLT FIGHT

SONG RANKED RIGHT UP THERE,

IF NOT NUMBER ONE, IN FRONT OF

THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

SONG AND OH, WISCONSIN.

>> AND THAT TIME, THE FIRST

YEAR, WAS PRETTY HARD, BECAUSE

WE JUST STAYED HOME, DID

CONCERTS, PARADES.

WE DID THE PREAKNESS EVERY YEAR

BASICALLY TO GET OUR SEA LEGS

AND GET ESTABLISHED AND SEE IF

THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTED US.

SO WE BASICALLY STAYED HOME,

KEEPING THE HOME FIRES BURNING

FOR THE NFL.

THEN THE SECOND YEAR, WE

DECIDED, HEY, WE'RE GOING ON THE

ROAD.

WE'RE GONNA EXPAND THIS.

AND--BUT NO NFL TEAM WOULD TOUCH

US.

THEY THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE A

PROTEST GROUP.

THERE'S ONE MAN THAT STOOD UP

AND SAID, "I'LL TAKE A CHANCE."

THAT WAS ART MODELL.

HE CALLED US UP--

HIS SON DAVID CALLED US UP

AND SAYS, "COME ON UP TO

CLEVELAND."

>> THEY WERE CHEAP.

[laughter]

>> THAT--THAT--THAT--THAT'S A

TERRIBLE THROWAWAY LINE.

NO, I DID BECAUSE I ADMIRED

THE BAND FOR YEARS.

THE BAND WAS A STEPSON OF THE

BALTIMORE FRANCHISE,

NO TEAM TO PLAY FOR.

AND SO WE BROUGHT THEM OUT

FOR THAT HALFTIME.

THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS OVATION.

[rat-a-tat drum music]

>> OUR HALFTIMES WERE ALWAYS

MARCHING BANDS.

THERE'S A TERRIFIC MARCHING BAND

TRADITION IN THAT AREA,

NORTHEAST OHIO.

THEY WERE FANTASTIC.

THE CROWD LOVED THEM.

AND SO WE ENDED UP BRINGING THEM

BACK EVERY YEAR.

>> AND I THINK THERE WERE A LOT

OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANTED

TO BASICALLY SAY TO THE NFL,

"YOU'VE TREATED THEM WRONG."

AND THEY SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT

BY NOT SENDING LETTERS OR

SCREAMING AT THE NFL OWNERS

OR SCREAMING AT TAGLIABUE.

THEY SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT

BY HAVING THE MOST VIVID AND

PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, THE MOST

EMOTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE

BALTIMORE COLTS INVITED TO THEIR

PARADES, THEIR EVENTS,

THEIR HALFTIMES.

>> THEY'RE THE BAND WITHOUT A

TEAM, A GROUP DETERMINED TO

BRING PRO FOOTBALL BACK TO

BALTIMORE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE

BALTIMORE COLTS BAND.

THIS WEEKEND, THE COLTS BAND

ACCEPTED A PRESTIGIOUS

INVITATION: THE OFFER TO

REPRESENT BALTIMORE AND ALL OF

PRO FOOTBALL AT THE HALL OF FAME

GAME IN CANTON, OHIO.

>> THIS IS A VERY BIG ONE,

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE NFL

OWNERSHIP THERE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE

COMMISSIONER THERE

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GUESS

THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE

NFL.

AND IT'S A BIG HONOR.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING FIVE YEARS

TO GET THIS GAME.

WE BUSED IN ALL NIGHT,

GOT THERE, GOT OUT,

PRACTICED, HAD DINNER,

WENT BACK ON THE PRACTICE FIELD,

AND WHAT TIME DID WE END AT,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, 4:00 IN

THE MORNING, SOMETHING LIKE

THAT?

>> I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS

FEELING THAT YOU'VE GOT.

AND I WANT YOU TO FIND THAT

FEELING TOMORROW WHEN YOU GET

ON THAT FIELD AND YOUR HEART'S

DOING THIS.

BALTIMORE WANTS AN NFL FOOTBALL

TEAM.

WE'RE DEDICATED FANS.

WE'RE A DEDICATED CITY.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED MOST

HERE NOW IS AN NFL FOOTBALL

TEAM.

AND THAT'S OUR MISSION.

INSTEAD OF BEING A PROTEST

GROUP, WE'RE GONNA BE BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND'S MARCHING PRO FOOTBALL

MUSICAL AMBASSADORS.

[marching band music]

WE DID A FIVE-MILE PARADE.

WE LED THE HALL OF FAME PARADE.

THEN WE DID A CONCERT

THAT WENT INTO THE STADIUM,

DID PREGAME, DID HALFTIME SHOW.

WE GOT THE FIRST STANDING

OVATION EVER FOR A HALL OF FAME

BAND, CAME OUT, BACK ON THE

BUSES, AND WE WENT BACK TO

BALTIMORE.

>> ANY WORDS TO THE COLTS BAND

WHO MADE THE TRIP TODAY?

ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO

THEM?

>> NOT REALLY.

>> AND THE BAND WENT EVERYWHERE.

I MEAN, HERE'S THE TEAM--

WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A TEAM.

AND THEY'RE PLAYING IN BUFFALO

AND PHILADELPHIA AND CLEVELAND.

AND THEY'D ANNOUNCE,

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE BALTIMORE COLTS MARCHING

BAND," AND THE AUDIENCE WOULD

LOOK LIKE, "SHOULD WE APPLAUD?

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A--

YEAH, WE SHOULD APPLAUD."

AND YOU GOT THIS REAL MIXED

RESPONSE.

AND THEN BEFORE THE SHOW WAS

OVER, YOU'D WIN OVER THE WHOLE

AUDIENCE.

SO THE AUDIENCE WENT FROM

SAYING, "WELL, WE DON'T CARE

ABOUT THE COLTS, THE BAND

WITHOUT THE TEAM--

WE LIKE THIS.

WE LIKE THIS."

>> AND EVENTUALLY WE GOT THE

TITLES OF AMBASSADORS FOR

FOOTBALL IN MARYLAND, WAS IT?

>> BALTIMORE'S MARCHING MUSICAL

AMBASSADORS.

>> YEAH.

>> WE WERE ALSO THE ORPHAN

ANNIES.

>> AND THE ORPHAN ANNIES OF THE

NFL.

YOU KNOW, HERE'S A BAND.

DO YOU WANT THEM?

YOU KNOW, I'M UP FOR SALE.

SO WE WENT TO PHILADELPHIA ONE

TIME, AND THAT SCARED ME.

[laughter]

AND I'LL SAY IT RIGHT NOW,

THAT SCARED ME.

'CAUSE THIS IS A GROUP,

THEY SAY, "BOO SANTA CLAUS,"

AND ALL THIS.

AND THEN WE GET ON THE FIELD,

AND THEY HAD A KICKING--NOT A

KICKING CONTEST, A THROWING

CONTEST.

AND THEY HAD A LITTLE KID,

FIVE, SIX YEARS OLD.

REMEMBER THAT, JACK?

>> SURE.

>> AND HE MISSED ALL FOUR OF

THEM, HIS CHANCES.

THE FANS STARTING BOOING HIM.

I SAID, "OH, MY GOD, WHAT ARE WE

IN FOR?

OH, MY GOD."

I SAID, "THAT'S IT.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE BUSES.

WE'RE NOT GOING OUT THERE."

WE GOT OUT THERE. WE PERFORMED.

>> NOT UNUSUAL.

>> YEAH.

AND THEY APPLAUDED US,

AND THEY WERE GREAT,

THE PHILADELPHIA FANS.

EVERY FANS I THINK WE WENT TO,

EVERY CITY WERE JUST SO

SUPPORTIVE.

>> SEEING THEM AT A HALFTIME

OF ANOTHER GAME--AND I DON'T

REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS,

BUT I REMEMBER THINKING

HOW COOL THAT WAS THAT

THEY WERE DETERMINED TO GO ON.

AND IT KIND OF DID GIVE ME HOPE,

I GUESS, A LITTLE BIT THAT IT

WAS CREATING AWARENESS THAT WE

WEREN'T GIVING UP.

WE WEREN'T DONE WITH NFL

FOOTBALL.

AND SO I GUESS I KIND OF

EMBRACED THEM MORE WHEN I

THOUGHT THAT, YEAH, THAT MIGHT

HELP KEEP THE EXPOSURE ALIVE.

>> AND THIS WAS THEIR WAY OF

SAYING, "WHATEVER IT TAKES,

WHATEVER IT TAKES,

WE WANT THAT TEAM BACK,

AND WE WANT TO SEND A SIGNAL

TO THE NFL THAT WE ARE STILL

HERE.

WE ARE STILL HERE.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE US.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE US.

WE MADE THIS LEAGUE.

THAT ONE GAME PUT ALL OF YOU

ON THE MAP.

HOW DARE YOU TURN AWAY FROM US

NOW?"

>> GIVE US THE BALL.

WE WANT A TEAM.

>> WE WANT A TEAM BAD.

>> all: WE WANT A TEAM.

WE WANT A TEAM.

WE WANT A TEAM.

[crowd cheering]

>> THEY TRIED EVERYTHING.

WE HAD AN EXHIBITION GAME HERE,

A MEANINGLESS EXHIBITION GAME.

YOU KNOW, THE NFL SAID,

"WELL, WE'LL SEE IF YOU CAN

SELL TICKETS TO THIS."

AND OF COURSE, THEY SOLD OUT.

BUT EVEN THEN, THEY JUST PASSED

US OVER.

THEY HAD EXPANSION.

THEY PASSED US OVER AGAIN.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE

THAT THE MEMBERSHIP HAS SELECTED

JACKSONVILLE AS THE 30TH NFL

CLUB.

[cheers and applause]

>> WHAT IS THE--WHAT IS GOING

ON?

JACKSONVILLE?

COMPARED TO BALTIMORE WITH ITS

TRACK RECORD?

THAT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR.

>> WOULD IT BE BEST FOR THEM

TO FORGET ABOUT A FUTURE IN THE

LEAGUE OR KEEP THE PASSION?

>> WELL, THERE AGAIN, I THINK

IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL JUDGMENT.

WE DIDN'T FORCE ANYBODY TO GET

INTO THIS PROCESS.

>> I'VE BEEN HIT TWICE,

ONCE WHEN THE TEAM LEFT,

AND THEN TODAY.

I AM NOT EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD

CALL OVERWHELMINGLY HAPPY.

IN FACT, I'M VERY UNHAPPY.

>> THE COLTS WERE SORT OF

VICTIMS OF WHAT THEY CREATED.

THEY CREATED A NATIONAL GAME,

AND THE LEAGUE SAW AN

OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FRANCHISES

IN THESE PLACES THAT DIDN'T HAVE

THEM AND PLACES BACK IN THE '50s

YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE BEING.

>> IT WAS NEVER A POINT WHERE

I THINK THAT WE'RE SAYING,

"WELL, WE'LL THROW IN THE

TOWEL."

THE ONLY TIME, LIKE I SAID,

IS WHEN WE LOST SECOND

EXPANSION.

AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY--

I WAS HURT.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT.

THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY WIFE SAID,

"NO, YOU'RE STAYING TOGETHER.

NO MATTER WHAT, WE ARE STAYING

TOGETHER."

>> IT WAS A REALLY TOUGH TIME.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, JOHN DIDN'T

THINK THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE

TO DO IT.

AND I TOLD HIM THAT AS LONG AS

THERE WAS ANNAPOLIS AND THERE

WAS MONEY THERE THAT WE WERE

GONNA CONTINUE THE BAND,

WHETHER HE WANTED TO DO IT

OR NOT.

>> MY WIFE, CHARLENE--

AND BELIEVE ME, THE REASON THIS

BAND'S TOGETHER, 'CAUSE NO WIFE

WILL LET THEIR HUSBAND DO WHAT I

DID: MORTGAGE THE HOUSE, PUT UP

MONEY IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT.

I EVEN LOOKED AT THE KIDS ONE

TIME TO SELL ONE OF THEM.

>> [laughs]

>> I EVEN--I EVEN--ONE TIME,

SHE LAID DOWN HER DIAMOND

ENGAGEMENT RING.

SHE WAS DOING DISHES.

AND I LOOKED AT IT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO--I THINK

WE'RE GOING TO NEW ENGLAND.

WE NEEDED DRUM HEADS.

I HOCKED HER RING TO BUY DRUM

HEADS.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, SHE LOOKED FOR THAT

RING FOR THREE WEEKS.

I FINALLY HAD TO TELL HER THE

TRUTH.

I SAID, "I'LL GET YOU ONE.

I'LL GET YOU ONE."

[rat-a-tat percussion music]

*

[truck engine revving]

>> FANS, IN MARCH OF 1984,

BALTIMORE FOOTBALL ROLLED OUT OF

TOWN VIA THE MOVING TRUCK.

BUT TONIGHT, JULY 16, 1994,

BALTIMORE FOOTBALL IS BACK.

THE TRADITION LIVES ON.

[crowd cheering]

>> * YES, WE'VE BEEN WAITING

* FOR A LONG, LONG TIME

>> LAST YEAR, THE STATE OF

MARYLAND AND THE CITY OF

BALTIMORE WAGED AN EXPENSIVE,

HARD-FOUGHT CAMPAIGN TO BRING

THE NFL BACK HERE.

AT THE SAME TIME, JIM SPEROS,

A 35-YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR,

FORMER CLEMSON LINEBACKER,

PLUNKED DOWN A $100,000 DEPOSIT

FOR A CFL FRANCHISE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE

TO SIT THERE AND WATCH CANADIAN

FOOTBALL?

>> ACTUALLY, I STARTED TO LIKE

IT.

>> I ACTUALLY STARTED TO LIKE IT

TOO.

>> IT WAS AWFUL.

IT WAS AWFUL.

>> WE'RE THE ONLY CITY IN THE

WORLD THAT HAS WON A SUPER BOWL,

AN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP, A USFL

CHAMPIONSHIP, AND A GREY CUP.

[laughter]

>> * O CANADA

* OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND

>> WAS THERE A TIME WHEN, SAY,

THE GOVERNOR WOULD JUST SORT OF

THINK IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN?

>> I DON'T THINK HE EVER

GAVE UP.

I MEAN, IF YOU KNOW WILLIAM

DONALD SCHAEFER, HE NEVER GIVES

UP ON ANYTHING.

AND THE FIRST BIG ITEM ON HIS

PLATE WAS TO BUILD TWO

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPLEXES

IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

>> TO BUILD A STADIUM, OKAY,

FUNDING WAS IN ANNAPOLIS.

GOVERNOR WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER

WAS FIGHTING TO BUILD A STADIUM

NOT ONLY FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM

BUT FOR THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES

TO KEEP OUR TEAM HERE.

AND THE OPPOSITION WAS GAINING

ON HIM.

>> WE SHOULDN'T BE BUILDING

PALACES FOR PLUTOCRATS.

THE PRIORITIES ARE WRONG.

WE HAVE MANY MORE PRESSING

NEEDS: SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION,

JAIL CONSTRUCTION.

>> IF THE STADIUM ISSUE ISN'T

DECIDED THIS YEAR, THE CHANCES

OF GETTING AN NFL TEAM FOR THE

STATE OF MARYLAND ARE GONE.

>> THE WAY THE STATE LEGISLATURE

WORKS IS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE

ALL THEIR BUDGET DECISIONS BY

THE THIRD WEEK OF MARCH.

AND WE'RE NOW IN THE FIRST WEEK

OF MARCH IN 1987,

HE'S BEEN GOVERNOR FOR BASICALLY

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS,

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DEAD.

>> AND THE ONE SENATOR STOOD

UP ON A FRIDAY AND SAID,

"YOU DON'T HAVE ONE CIVIC GROUP

TO STAND BY YOU."

AND I HEARD THAT.

I SAID, "LIKE HECK, THEY DON'T."

>> WE GOT THE IDEA THAT,

FORGET TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM

WITH LOGIC.

WE GOT TO GET TO THE HEART.

GOT TO EXPRESS WHAT THIS NFL

TEAM CAN MEAN FOR BALTIMORE.

AND SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

YOU REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THE OLD

TEAM MEANT TO BALTIMORE.

AND HOW BEST DO YOU DO THAT?

SPEECHES DON'T DO IT.

MUSIC.

SO THE IDEA WAS TO GET THE BAND

TO PLAY THAT FIGHT SONG,

BECAUSE...

IT REACHES DEEP.

IT DOES, STILL DOES.

BECAUSE THAT FIGHT SONG

SYMBOLIZED NOT JUST THE TEAM

BUT THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY PLAYED IT ALL THE TIME.

IT WAS ON TV.

IT WAS EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS ON THE RADIO.

SO THE IDEA WAS TO REMIND

EVERYBODY OF THAT FIGHT SONG

AND WHAT IT MEANT

AND WHAT THIS STADIUM MEANS.

>> I GOT WITH JACK,

WITH MY WIFE, CHARLENE.

WE GOT ON THE PHONE.

GOT KAREN INVOLVED.

WE GOT FLYERS WHY SHOULD WE--

YOU KNOW, WHY WE NEED A STADIUM

FOR OUR NEW FOOTBALL TEAM,

WHY WE NEED A STADIUM

FOR OUR BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

WORKED THE WEEKEND CALLING BAND

MEMBERS.

AND IT WAS AN EVENING SESSION

OF LEGISLATURE.

I DIDN'T TELL THEM WE'RE COMING.

AND IF YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR

MARYLAND STATE HOUSE,

IT SITS VERY HIGH.

AND I'M ON THE TOP STEPS.

WE WENT DOWN THERE,

CHARLENE AND I, AND I GOT MY

BASS DRUM.

AND NOBODY'S THERE.

AND I THOUGHT--IT'S ABOUT 6:00.

I SAID, "OH, GOD, I'M GONNA

LOOK LIKE A JERK.

I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE WITH A

BASS DRUM AND FLYERS."

ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR A

TRUMPET AND SOMEBODY PLAYING,

YOU KNOW, THE COLT FIGHT SONG.

AND I LOOKED DOWN FROM ABOVE,

AND I SEE, HERE COMES ONE OF OUR

TRUMPETS UP THE MAIN MALL

JUST TOOTING HIS TRUMPET.

[trumpet tooting]

*

NEXT THING YOU KNOW,

EVERYBODY'S COMING OUT.

THEY GOT LOST.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS THE ONLY ONE

UP THERE.

I GAVE THEM THE WRONG

DIRECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THEY ALL START COMING OUT FROM

DIFFERENT SIDE STREETS, COMING

OUT FROM, YOU KNOW, LAWYERS

MALL, COMING UP THERE.

I THINK WE HAD EVERY DOOR

BLOCKED.

[marching band music]

AND THE EVENING SESSION,

HERE THEY COME IN.

AND WE'RE ON THE STATE HOUSE

STEPS HANDING OUT FLYERS,

FLAG LINE HANDING OUT FLYERS,

THE BAND PLAYING THE FIGHT SONG.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE HOUSE AND

SENATE WERE LATE GETTING STARTED

AT NIGHT 'CAUSE THEY WERE ALL

OUTSIDE LISTENING TO US,

CHEERING US ON.

GOVERNOR SCHAEFER CAME OUT

AND LOOKED, AND JUST TEARS

WERE COMING DOWN HIS FACE.

>> * SO DRIVE ON

* YOU BALTIMORE COLTS

>> I MEAN, YOU LITERALLY HAD

100-PLUS LEGISLATORS AND STAFF

OUT THERE SINGING THE COLT FIGHT

SONG WITH SCHAEFER THERE

ALSO SINGING WITH THEM AND

LEADING CHEERS.

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME,

LISTENING TO THE BAND,

THAT WE FELT THAT WE HAD

CONNECTED.

>> * LET'S GO

* YOU BALTIMORE COLTS

>> THEY HAD A JOINT SESSION THAT

NIGHT OF THE HOUSE AND THE

SENATE, PRESENTED US--

THEY GOT A PROCLAMATION REAL

FAST--PRESENTED IT WITH US.

WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER FEELS,

BESIDES THE FUNDING, THAT'S WHAT

PUSHED IT OVER THE HILL.

PEOPLE STARTED GETTING THAT

ENERGETIC JUICES GOING THAT,

"HEY, I WANT A FOOTBALL TEAM.

I REMEMBER WHEN I USED TO GO

OUT, LIKE, WITH THE COLTS,"

LIKE JACK SAID, "MOM AND DAD AND

ME AND THE FAMILY.

WE GOT TO GET FOOTBALL BACK IN

BALTIMORE."

HE FEELS THAT PUSHED IT THROUGH.

FRIDAY, IT PASSED.

>> AND IRONICALLY, AS YOU

PROBABLY KNOW, THE GOVERNOR

IS NOT A FOOTBALL FAN.

[laughs]

THE GOVERNOR IS NOT A SPORTS

FAN.

HE DOES NOT GO TO FOOTBALL

GAMES.

HE DOES NOT GO TO BASEBALL

GAMES.

[laughter]

HE IS A MARCHING BAND FAN.

[laughter]

[rat-a-tat percussion music]

*

[cheers and applause]

>> THE BROWNS ARE INDEED COMING

TO BALTIMORE.

[cheers and applause]

>> THE CLEVELAND BROWNS

ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE MOVING

TO BALTIMORE AND CHANGING

THEIR NAME TO THE BALTIMORE

RAVENS.

>> MIXED EMOTIONS.

>> YEAH? HOW SO?

>> I WAS GLAD TO HAVE FOOTBALL

BACK IN BALTIMORE, BUT I--

THERE WAS A PART OF ME THAT

SYMPATHIZED WITH THE PEOPLE

OF CLEVELAND, BECAUSE WE KNEW

HOW THEY FELT HAVING THEIR TEAM

RIPPED AWAY.

>> I THINK MIXED EMOTIONS IS THE

RIGHT WAY TO DESCRIBE IT

FOR TRUE BALTIMORE FANS,

BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THAT.

WE HAD OUR HEARTS RIPPED OUT.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE,

MIXED EMOTIONS, IT'S RIGHT ON.

>> BUT THIS STORY DOESN'T HAVE

A HAPPY ENDING YET.

THE RAVENS' OWNER, ART MODELL,

STILL HAS TO APPOINT HIS TEAM'S

OFFICIAL BAND.

THE BALTIMORE COLTS BAND SAY

THEY'LL DO ANYTHING TO GET THE

JOB: CHANGE THEIR UNIFORMS,

THEIR NAME, EVEN THE OFFICIAL

COLTS FIGHT SONG.

[jaunty brass music]

>> * LET'S GO

* YOU RAVENS TO FLIGHT

* AND PUT THE BALL

* ACROSS THE LINE

SO FINALLY, I MEAN, I DIDN'T

HEAR FROM THE BROWNS.

AND A GENTLEMAN, MR. KWEISI

MFUME, HAD A TALK SHOW ON WBAL.

IT WAS DAVID MODELL, THE LATE

JOHN STEADMAN, THE LATE CHARLEY

ECKMAN, ALL BALTIMORE

REPORTERS.

JOHN UNITAS WAS ON A PANEL.

AND DURING THE BREAK, MR. MFUME

SEES ME IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND WHEN HE TOOK A BREAK,

HE SAID, "HEY, JOHN,

HOW YOU DOING?"

"FINE."

WE KNEW EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

HE SAID, "HAVE THEY SAID

ANYTHING TO YOU YET ABOUT BEING

THEIR BAND?"

I SAID, "NO, NOT YET."

HE SAYS, "I'M GONNA GIVE YOU

THE LEAD-IN.

TAKE IT."

[applause]

>> I WANT TO GRAB SOMEBODY

WHO'S HERE IF I CAN WALK

ACROSS THE CAMERA FOR JUST

A MOMENT.

>> DON'T HURT HIM.

>> 'CAUSE--NO, I WON'T HURT HIM.

BUT HE'S OVER HERE TRYING TO

HIDE.

STAND UP. COME ON. COME ON.

YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS, DON'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, NOW, WHY DON'T YOU--

[applause]

WHY DON'T YOU LET EVERYBODY

AT HOME KNOW WHO YOU ARE

AND WHY YOU'RE SO SPECIAL?

AND DON'T BE MODEST.

>> YES, SIR.

MY NAME IS JOHN ZIEMANN.

I HAVE THE GREAT PRIDE AND

PRIVILEGE TO BE PRESIDENT

OF THE GREATEST MARCHING BAND

IN THE WORLD,

NEXT TO MORGAN STATE, OF COURSE.

>> YEAH.

[laughter]

>> THE BALTIMORE COLTS BAND.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND WE LIKE--

[applause]

WE'D LIKE AT THIS TIME TO

WELCOME THE MODELL FAMILY

OFFICIALLY AND SAY THAT WE

WOULD BE GREAT HONORED

TO MARCH FOR YOU AND BE THE

BALTIMORE RAVENS MARCHING BAND.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO TALK,

DAVID, WE'RE READY AT ANY

TIME, SIR.

>> JOHN, I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY

WERE THE RAVENS MARCHING BAND.

>> [laughs]

WE'LL TAKE THAT--WE'LL TAKE

THAT AS A YES.

[applause]

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO

QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I HAD ACTUALLY--

IT HAD BEEN ONE OF MY DREAMS

OF HAVING A FULL-ON MARCHING

BAND.

SO MY DREAM HAD COME TRUE,

BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD,

YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING BLOCKS

OF THAT BAND.

>> I REMEMBER THINKING HOW LUCKY

THE MODELLS WERE TO HAVE THE

BAND STILL SITTING THERE

THAT THEY COULD COME IN RIGHT

AWAY AND PULL THEM IN AND BRIDGE

THAT 12 YEARS.

AND SYMBOLICALLY, THE BAND WAS

ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> I THINK ART MODELL DID A NICE

JOB BRIDGING THE COLTS AND THE

RAVENS.

HE REALLY DID.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> 'CAUSE HE EMBRACED THE OLD

COLTS...

>> OH, YEAH.

>> AND PUT THE STATUE UP OF

JOHNNY UNITAS.

I MEAN, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO

THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, WE KNEW WHEN WE

CAME TO BALTIMORE FROM CLEVELAND

THAT WE COULD NOT SUCCEED

UNLESS THE BALTIMORE COLTS

EMBRACED US.

AND THE KEY, OF COURSE, IS,

THEY COULD ALL EMBRACE US,

BUT ONE HAD TO REALLY HUG US,

AND THAT WAS JOHNNY UNITAS.

AND WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND

DONE, JOHNNY UNITAS SAID

HE WOULD COME TO OUR OPENING,

HE WOULD PUT ON A JACKET

LIKE THE REST OF THE BALTIMORE

COLTS WERE DOING.

AND IT WAS A LIGHT WINDBREAKER

THAT SAID "BALTIMORE COLTS"

ON IT.

AND THEN WHEN OUR PLAYERS RAN

THROUGH, THEY TOOK THE JACKETS,

AND THEY TURNED THEM ON THE

OTHER SIDE, AND IT SAID RAVENS

ON THE BACK.

AND THAT WAS THEIR SYMBOLIC

WAY OF SAYING, "IT'S OKAY, FANS.

IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO LIKE THESE

GUYS, 'CAUSE WE LIKE THEM TOO."

>> I REMEMBER SEEING JOHNNY

UNITAS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE TEAM

ON THE SIDELINE OF A GAME,

AND I THINK THAT THAT TOLD

THE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY THAT

IT WAS ALL RIGHT TO ROOT FOR THE

RAVENS, TO EMBRACE THEM AGAIN.

[crowd cheering]

>> AND, BALTIMORE, YOU'RE BACK

WHERE YOU BELONG IN THE NFL.

>> I LOVED THE COLTS, BUT I LOVE

THE RAVENS NOW.

>> WE WORKED OUT--DAVID MODELL

AND I WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT

THAT THE FIRST TWO YEARS

WHEN THEY WERE AT MEMORIAL

STADIUM, WE WOULD STAY THE COLTS

BAND.

>> WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS TO

CLOAK THEM AND RENAME THEM

WHEN WE MOVED INTO THE NEW

STADIUM SO THAT ALL OF THAT

NEWNESS CAME AT THE SAME TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GAVE

THEM A CHANCE TO BOW AS THE

BALTIMORE COLTS MARCHING BAND,

WHICH, FRANKLY, THEY DESERVED

A TWO-YEAR BOW IN THOSE

UNIFORMS.

>> THE BAND WAS THE LAST THING

ON THE FIELD.

THEY PLANNED IT THAT WAY.

'CAUSE WE WERE THE FIRST THING

ON THAT FIELD IN 1947

EVEN THOUGH A DIFFERENT STADIUM.

AND DAVID MODELL WANTED US

THE LAST THING.

AND WE STOPPED AT THE END,

AND HARRY SAID, "COLTS SONG."

AND WE DID THE COLTS SONG, LIKE,

THREE TIMES.

HARRY GAVE THE NOD AND PULLED

DOWN THE BATON, AND THAT WAS IT.

THE BAND WAS GONE

AND, THE NEXT WEDNESDAY,

REEMERGED AS BALTIMORE'S

MARCHING RAVENS.

[rat-a-tat percussion music]

*

[chanting]

[brass plays]

*

[stirring string music]

*

>> UNITAS BACK TO PASS,

THROWS IN THE FLAT TO AMECHE.

>> I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE

PERIODS OF EXTREME ENTHUSIASM

AND LOVE FOR A TEAM:

THE LATE '50s, THE BURT JONES

ERA, THE SACK PACK BUNCH,

AND NOW THE RAVENS.

SO IT'S BEEN A TRADITION HERE.

IT'S A FOOTBALL TRADITION.

COLTS, WE'LL NEVER FORGET THEM.

WE LOVED THEM.

BUT WE LOVE THESE GUYS THAT

ARE--THE FELLOWS WHO ARE PLAYING

RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BALTIMORE.

>> ROLLS OFF TO HIS RIGHT,

LOOKS, THROWS.

[indistinct]

TOUCHDOWN.

>> DAVID MODELL REALLY DESERVES

THE CREDIT FOR THE WAY HE

BROUGHT THAT BAND IN,

QUICKLY GAVE THEM A NEW

IDENTITY, BOUGHT THEM NEW

UNIFORMS, AND KIND OF DISPLAYED

THEM AS, LOOK WHAT WAS WAITING

FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, THEY NEVER GAVE UP

HOPE.

[crowd cheering]

>> IT'S BEEN SEAMLESS.

AND THE BAND REALLY MADE THAT

HAPPEN.

THERE WAS ALWAYS THE BAND.

FROM 1947 UNTIL TODAY,

THE TUNE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR

HEADS.

YOU KNOW, THAT COLTS FIGHT SONG,

NOW IT'S THE RAVENS FIGHT SONG.

BUT THE BAND HAS BEEN THE

CONSTANT IN OUR FOOTBALL LIVES.

SO THANK GOD FOR THE BAND.

[stirring string music]

*

Captioning by CaptionMax

>> FOR THOSE 12 YEARS,

I FELT LOST ON A SUNDAY

WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A TEAM

TO REALLY ROOT FOR EVEN THOUGH

I LIVED IN LOS ANGELES.

THE NATURE OF FRANCHISES MOVING

AROUND, I MEAN, IT'S A REALITY

OF LIFE.

IT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

WE KNOW IT'S A BUSINESS.

THAT PART IS ON THE TABLE.

BUT IT WAS THE PERSONAL

CONVICTION AND THE PASSION

OF THIS MARCHING BAND FROM

BALTIMORE, MARCHING AT EVENTS

AROUND THE COUNTRY,

REPRESENTING A CITY WITHOUT

A FOOTBALL TEAM, THAT I THOUGHT

WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING

DOCUMENTARY.