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Jerry Coleman: The Ravens Victory Celebration

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(Photo by Ryan S. Burkett / RSB Photography)

It has been twelve years since the Ravens captured the Lombardi trophy, now they had a chance to celebrate it with their fans. It was a joyous day in the city of Baltimore, as the victory parade started at City Hall and concluded at the home of the Ravens - M&T Bank stadium. As the players came up onto the stage the crowd was electric, and future hall of famer linebacker Ray Lewis got in one last dance before coming up to the stage. The crowd went ballistic as he did his famed "squirrel" dance, roaring so intensely that you barely heard yourself think. Approximately 90,000 people were inside the stadium and 200,000 folks were present for the whole event. The event brought many people together, and they came from many different parts of Maryland.

Crowd erupts as Ray Lewis gets to the stage by sportswithcoleman on YouTube

105.7 the fan was at M&T Bank stadium and caught up with fans before the team arrived. Some traveled many hours just for the event and one of those fans was James Martinez from the Eastern Shore he said that "It's incredible, it is something that I have been waiting for a long time, I've been telling everybody every year with Flacco being here, with a lot of these rookies coming in, that they're going to do, they're going to do it. And they went and did it for the fans they did it for themselves, their families. Like I said everybody is proud of them, they could not have done a better job this year." There is so much dedication to this Ravens franchise, words cannot explain it. From the younger generation to the older fans, it is something that has everybody in a joyful mood. To be able to share with their friends and family, that is something priceless that can never be taken away.

John Harbaugh leading the What's our Name chant by sportswithcoleman on YouTube

Through all the adversity the Ravens journey ended with a Super Bowl, and celebrating it with the fans of the city was the ultimate. It was a day that was filled with families letting their children miss school to be a part of history. "It is a cultural learning experience for the children" stated by a fan who brought his three kids down to the event. It is not every day that a team wins a championship and gets to have the opportunity to celebrate with their fans. This moment is not just special for players but the hundreds and thousands of fans who have cheered for the team every step of the way. It was even more evident when Ed Reed was walking down the streets of Baltimore and letting the fans touch the Lombardi trophy as he walked by. That is the definition of the 12th man. To some people it was a team of uncertainly and inconsistency but in the city of Baltimore and in the state of Maryland it was their team that they were never giving up on.

Crowd sings We are the Champions by sportswithcoleman on YouTube
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