Like many Pittsburgh sports fans, I spent last evening watching most of the doubleheader between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. As is often the case, games the Pirates play against Milwaukee make lots of different thoughts and questions race through my mind. Am I wasting my time? How far will Braun/Fielder hit it over the fence in their next at-bat? Could I too homer off of Joe Beimel? Did the Pirates really just score 7 runs in one inning and is it a sign that the end times are here?
But most of all, my mind was filled with hatred towards the Brewers. I dislike everything about them in such a passionate and pure way. And then I thought about football…are there any teams I hate with such a fervor? Most yinzers would answer that the Baltimore Ravens are on that level, but I don’t believe that’s the case for me. In fact, I came to the realization that I don’t hate the Ravens at all…
The Brewers aside, the only other sports team that I dislike ferociously is the Washington Capitals of the NHL. The two teams have a few things in common: arrogance, ‘flashy’ players, differing philosophies from Pittsburgh’s respective teams, whining, excuse-making, unlikeable coaches, etc.
Call me crazy, but I don’t find any of those traits in the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers fiercest rival.
While the Capitals pond hockey, Euro-heavy attack is much different from the Penguins “grind these bitches down” style, the Ravens and Steelers are more like twins than opposites. Both teams believe in a defense-first mentality. Both teams feature brash leaders on defense. You have Troy Polamalu and you have Ed Reed, two of the best safeties ever to live Hall of Fame safeties. There’s 4 of the NFL’s best linebackers decked out in black and gold and there’s Ray Lewis, arguably the greatest middle linebacker of all-time. Both teams despise Roger Goodell. Each city is likely ‘underrated’ by outsiders and each city is built on a bedrock of hard-work, a trait that is reflected in both NFL franchises.
While the Pirates/Brewers and Penguins/Capitals rivalries are born out of differences, the Steelers/Ravens rivalry has been created by similarity. The two teams try to accomplish many of the same things both on and off the field. And both are very good at it.
Outside of the Steelers, the Ravens best represent what I believe a football team should look like. This is why the Steelers/Ravens games are so entertaining and memorable. The 2008 AFC Championship game is probably the best game of football I can remember watching in my lifetime. It was football the way the game was created to be played. And it was breathtaking.
After watching so many games like that and watching players like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Todd Heap play football, it is very hard for me to feel anything but respect towards the Ravens. When I watch the Washington Capitals or Milwaukee Brewers compete, my blood boils. I see the game being played in a way I don’t like and I see players that I would not enjoy rooting for (See: Braun, Ryan and Semin, Alex). When I catch the Baltimore Ravens competing against somebody else, though, I see a team that looks a lot like the NFL franchise that I grew up loving and I see the game of football being played in a beautiful way.
Am I the only one?
