Last night, I had the opportunity of watching ESPN's 30 for 30 presentation, The Band That Wouldn't Die. It was the story of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band, who continued to play during the 12 year drought when the city was without a football team.

The film was directed by Barry Levinson (a Baltimore native and Baltimore Colts fan). Levinson does an excellent job of taking you through the history of the Baltimore Colts and their Marching Band. He goes in great detail on how the events between Colts owner Bob Irsay and the city of Baltimore led up to March 29, 1984, when Irsay left in the middle of the night and moved the team to Indianapolis.

When Irsay and the team moved, the marching band lived on, continuing to play for NFL halftime shows (one year they played for the Cleveland Browns, ironically), the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a host of other events. While the city was heartbroken about the loss of the team, the only thing that fans had to hold on to were their beloved marching band.

In addition to the story of the band, Levinson gives the public an undertone of what Baltimore went through during their 12 year absence of having an NFL team. The film shows former commissioner Paul Tagliabue giving an expansion team to Jacksonville and the city's short tenure of having a CFL team, things that further widened the void of the city's love for NFL football. The film does a great job of pointing out how much this blue collared city is such a football town, that they have an NFL championship, Super Bowl victory, USFL championship and CFL championship, the only city to accomplish such.

The film finally gets a happy moment, when the Baltimore Ravens come to town. During a talk show with former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, Colts Marching Band president John Ziemann offers to then-Ravens president David Modell to play for the new team and to officially change their name to the Baltimore Ravens Marching Band.


While the Modell family were elated of such a transition, they wanted the band to continue to play as the Baltimore Colts Marching Band during the team's final years at the old Memorial Stadium,. To see the former Colts such as Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker and Art Donovan accept the team was one of the highlights of the film. The transition was complete.

Watching this documentary put me through so many emotions. As a Baltimore native, I was too young to remember the Colts moving, but my father, uncle and grandfather always made sure I knew my Baltimore Colts history. To watch the events leading up to the move was heartbreaking to watch, even today. I became angry when the film showed how the city was snubbed of getting an expansion team (I can still remember the former commissioner telling the city to use their money for "a new museum"), and finally felt joyful for having a team to cheer for in the Baltimore Ravens, who I love dearly.

With everything negative that Baltimore is known for, yesterday's documentary made me extremely proud to be from a city with such a rich football history. Even if you aren't from Charm City, I suggest you watch this film when it re airs. It's a must see for any fan that loves football. Barry Levinson really outdid himself on this one.