Baltimore Sports Fans Need A New Perspective

Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gillberry (95) to end their final drive at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

I am a huge Baltimore sports fan. I love the Ravens and the Orioles. It makes me sad when the teams lose or even look bad during a win. It can hurt my gut. It truly aches. But then I remember where I came from.

I was born in Central Illinois. Spent my first 18 years there until moving to Maryland many years ago. So I have a few other teams in my blood, the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. They are still my teams. I watch them almost as closely as I do my local squads. And boy do I know losing. Sure Chicago has the Blackhawks and the Bulls, two teams that have had some degree of success over the years. But guess what? I don’t like those two. I sure know how to pick them.

The Cubs are just plain bad. They have barely sniffed success in over a hundred years. Ravens fans who are sad that it has been a bad year and a half after winning the Super Bowl need to let that sink in. 100 years. 106 to be precise. Enough said. You have to stay a fan in bad times, even a century’s worth or you are not a fan.

The Bears won in 1985 with one of the most amazing group of players ever. They were dramatic and had flair. It was wonderful. And they were gone. Try relying on Jay Cutler; and that is when you realize how glad you are to have Joe Flacco.

At least my Illini can win at other sports besides football. It really is a basketball school and also enjoys good success with sports such as volleyball, tennis, golf and soccer. But I like college football. A lot. And the last time that Illinois had consistent success in football was in the 1920s. Once again, let that sink in. Sure there was an occasional Rose Bowl year, then there could be six straight years of 2-10 or 3-9 or losses to Western Michigan and Fresno State (twice).

The Ravens really do look promising. It was one bad game against the team expected to win the division.  Let’s see what lies ahead before giving up.

And the Orioles lost a couple of games to the Rays. And a whole series to the Cubs (Wow!! That makes me feel very conflicted). But last time I checked they had a 9.5-game lead in their division. And the second-best record in all of baseball.

Baltimore sports fans really are the best. I would not trade them for any others, not even ones from Chicago or Illinois. But a new perspective is needed. They could be rooting for the Cubs or Bears (or Jaguars, Cowboys, Astros, Marlins, etc…………).