A Kodak Moment in Foxborough
Go ahead and tell me your fondest memory of the Ravens 33-14 beatdown of the New England Patriots Sunday.
Was it Ray Rice's electrifying 83-yard TD run 17 seconds into the game, the equivalent of the Ravens slapping their business card on the table and proclaiming "We're ready to go to work?"
Was it the Terrell Suggs strip of quarterback Tom Brady that set up the second touchdown? Was it Ed Reed's interception and another crazy lateral to Dawan Landry that led to another score?
I'll tell you mine: John Harbaugh taking a victory lap and high-fiving the ectsatic Ravens fans who ringed the lower bowl of Gillette Stadium.
Harbaugh's face radiated pure joy, and his decision to share that joy with the fans who help pay his salary and his players' salaries was the right one.
It demonstrated once again that he's not a coach all caught up in himself, in X's and O's, in wins and losses, to the exclusion of everything else.
The game is still about people: those who play it and those who watch it.
Harbaugh's gesture was a wonderful finishing touch on a great win for the Ravens.
Comments
That was a good sight to see. I love it when the coach interacts with the fans, especially on road trips like this.
Does any know who Harbaugh poured the cups of Gatorade on?
Posted by: John | January 11, 2010 9:48 AM
I traveled to Nashville for the playoff game last year and he ran around the LP Field high fiving every Raven fan that made the trip.
Posted by: Human | January 11, 2010 12:27 PM
Harbaugh did indeed show that he does get "it" regarding sharing the joy of winning with the road trip warriors by running around the rim of Gillette Stadium. Too bad that the Ravens front office doesn't get "it": hundreds of Ravens fans came to BWI last night to congratulate the Ravens player and coaches, but the Ravens team officials and BWI bureaucrats instead snuck the team away via an alternate exit in order to avoid fan contact. 50+ years of Baltimore tradition -- greeting the winers at the airport -- and some Grinch decides to spoil the party:
What an insult to a great football fan base -- disgraceful!
Posted by: Mista T | January 11, 2010 12:54 PM
My Kodak moment was of a possible picture of Harbaugh being hanged in effigy after losing by a point because he never challenged that punt play. Still can't believe that.
Posted by: duke of york | January 11, 2010 1:30 PM
Harbaugh's lap meant a lot to me, even though I was miles away watching on TV. Nice touch. But most memorable. Rice's first run to be sure, and Suggs stripping Brady AND HE DIDN'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR HIS PRECIOUS KNEES. Keep your knees, Jack, I'm here for the ball!
Posted by: nancy | January 11, 2010 1:56 PM
I made the trip to Foxborough and I have a few things that will stand out as memories.
1. The look on Patriots fans faces when Ray Rice scored the TD...and them hearing thousands of Ravens fans in a frenzy...they were like deers in headlights.
2. The Ravens going up 24-0, you could hear the air get sucked out of Gillete..and then on top of it...their own fans booing them off the field..after the 1st quarter!
3. Harbaugh and many Ravens giving props to all of us who made the trip..shaking our hands and acknowledging us. Many players threw their gloves into the crowd ( I got 1 from Zbikowski and 1 from Carr). The smile on Harbaugh's face was priceless...the man really loves the game and the fans
Posted by: Eric | January 11, 2010 5:31 PM
At one point between plays there was a row between players and the cameras swept to the two participants. It was this mountain of a man, Vince Wilfork shaking his fist and threatening tiny little Ray Rice and Ray was giving it right back to him! NO FEAR. Unbelievable. David and Goliath and David was just crushing Goliath.
Posted by: Bill | January 11, 2010 8:36 PM