50th ANNIVERSARY of "THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED" On December 28, 2008, Baltimore celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Baltimore Colts' 1958 victory over the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium. It was the first NFL game in history to go into sudden death overtime, with a final score of Baltimore 23, New York 17. Johnny Unitas, who made famous the “2 minute drill”, Alan Ameche, Raymond Berry, and Lenny Moore became heroes in the history of Baltimore and professional football. The Colts went on to win two World Championships and the 1971 Super Bowl.

“The Move”
The Colts had a villain as well in owner Robert Irsay who acquired the team in 1972. When the city of Baltimore refused to upgrade its stadium, Irsay started shopping the team. Indianapolis, with its new Hoosier Dome, was ready for an NFL franchise.

In March of 1984, under the cloak of darkness, Irsay packed the team’s supplies into fifteen Mayflower vans and moved to Indianapolis in the wee hours of the morning. Many of the Colts were surprised to hear they no longer had a team.

Tough and honest Mayor Don Schaefer called in the mark on Irsay and spoke of the team's betrayal of the Baltimore pro football legacy. Schaefer's view of Irsay can best be described as the "south end of a horse going north".

There is another potential great journey for the successor team to the Colts: the Baltimore RAVENS!

50 Years Later in Maryland, The Ravens are on the brink of the Super Bowl.

RAVENS 13! TITANS 10
This score is a good way to transition into a new year for Baltimore, providing proof that the spirit of the ole Baltimore Colts prevails. Fifty years after the "greatest game ever played", the Ravens’ Matt Stover's 43 yard field goal with 53 seconds left sends the Ravens
to the AFC title game. The next round will be the Ravens v. the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, January 18th. Then on to the Super Bowl?

Another 50th Anniversary
The only priority over the Colts’ win in 1958 for this writer was the hope to secure a "yes" to my marriage proposal to one Suzanne Hansen when she graduated the following year from our shared Alma Mater, Penn State.

Fifty years later as we enter 2009, Suzanne and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary together on December 5th with two sons, one daughter, and four grandkids to prove it!  3:42 PM •