Ever wonder how some teams got their names? Or how their colors were chosen?

Well, of course, I did. While watching the Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals game today with my family, I decided to try and stump my brother and father. Of course I did. Drama? That’s what families are for!

And, of course, my brother was not to be stumped. He is a true wealth of football knowledge.

The Baltimore Ravens: Courtesy of Edgar Allan Poe
I thought their story was pretty cool, especially being a fan of macabre and super-interesting author Edgar Allen Poe.

Here is an excerpt from Knowing Poe that explains the fan- and community-driven naming of the Baltimore Ravens.

“In 1995, the Cleveland Browns announced they were moving their franchise to Baltimore. Baltimore had a new pro football team. Now all it needed was a new pro football name. But what? Long ago, fans had named the Colts after the horse racing industry in the Baltimore area. What Baltimore person, place, or thing would best represent this new Baltimore team?

That question was put to the fans. Baltimore had boats, Baltimore had hard-working, patriotic citizens, Baltimore had…Edgar Allan Poe and his famous poem, “The Raven.” In early 1996, the Baltimore Sun newspaper conducted a telephone poll. They asked people to cast their vote for the team name. Over 33,000 people voted. About 5,500 people chose the Marauders. A similar number (5,597) picked the Americans. And 21,108 selected the winner: the Baltimore Ravens.

Now Baltimore fans join the three Raven mascots — Edgar, Allan, and Poe — in cheering their players to victory. The dark days of being a teamless town, an NFL nobody, are behind them, they hope, forever more.”

Visit http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/library/news/ravens.asp for the full story.

Edgar Allan Poe photo courtesy of kevindooley

Be Sociable, Share!

•