As you know, HAI's content development division normally creates topics for us to talk about by travelling back in time to alter history in a way that leads to something reasonably interesting happening that we can talk about. For example, for this one we had team members befriending each future member of the Maryland state legislature when they were young and slowly deploying techniques of psychological influence to convince them that using eminent domain to seize a football team was alright. Turns out this is more cost-effective than just browsing Wikipedia until we find something, but this week our time machine is in the shop for annual maintenance so we need your help finding topics that have actually happened in the original timeline (to reiterate: we can't do any suggestions that involve altering the past until mid next week.) So, suggest your topic here, and if we use it, we'll reward you with one whole, complete, HAI t-shirt, shipped directly to you: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUdlvw6YgU44J8AnM2U_ZvRMyvh_CUM51LYSqF5nYJB9d1-w/viewform?usp=sf_link

"Sir, you've been in a coma overnight" "Boy, I can't wait to see my favorite football team, the Baltimore Colts"

I actually never knew that Baltimore tried to just yoink the Colts lol. I thought they just wanted a better stadium and left. This is Twice as Interesting!

But why does no one ever ask!??!

Its so weird that the Baltimore Ravens are actually the Cleveland Browns who used to be a good and even great team while the current Cleveland Browns are actually a totally different and crappy team who have assumed the identity of the old good team which is now a new good team. Apologies and condolences to Browns fans.

After watching this, I thought "Wow, a clean split with no lawsuits? Incredible!" To save people the wikipedia trip, there were _many_ lawsuits.

Yeah, if the government threatened to seize my multi-million dollar sports franchise, I'd move it overnight too

“Anual event where cars turn left 800 times” oof

I’ve heard about this before. There was outrage in Maryland the day everything was found out. Anything bearing the teams name was destroyed mostly by fire.

*Me in San Diego Roommate: Did take my charger? Me: LA took our Chargers.

You know it’s a good day when real life lore and hai posts

I saw that title and literally said out loud “oh my gosh, that’s the colts!” So that’s what it feels like to know something for once.

I guess they became Balti-NO-more

hank green: *exists* Sam from HAI: *casual bullying*

ESPN's "The Band that Wouldn't Die" is a pretty good story that goes into even more detail about this topic, if anyone is interested. Left out: Indy wasn't the only city Irsay was in talks with - there were a couple of other cities in the mix. Local news caught one of his people coming back on a flight from one of those cities. Irsay was asked on camera if he was moving the team, SWORE he wasn't on camera (because of course) right before the move. Then from there, you have the ownership of the team in DC who fought against Baltimore getting a new team any time it came up. We also almost got the St Louis Cardinals, who moved to Arizona instead. And the fact that the NFL told Baltimore that if we wanted a football team so bad, to field a CFL team. Which we did - the Baltimore CFL Colts. They said we couldn't call them that, so we formally called them the Stallions but during Stallions games, the announcer would welcome the "Baltimore (pause) football team" rather than "Baltimore Stallions" and fans would yell "Colts" during the pause. In 1994, the Colts went to the Grey cup and BARELY lost in their first year. In 1995, they went back and won. I think they're still the only US based CFL team to win the Grey cup but I admittedly don't follow the CFL so I could be wrong. After that, we were awarded the Browns/Ravens, and Stallions became the Montreal Alouettes. We're still salty about it. The Ravens have Baltimore Colts members in their ring of honor despite the records having officially followed them to Indy. Despite listing every other team as "Steelers", "Browns", "Bengals", and so on, we list the Colts as "Indy" on our scoreboard. Despite the Bengals and Browns being in our division, Baltimore fans over the age of 30 hate the Colts roughly on par with how much we hate the Steelers and Patriots, despite their fanbase not caring NEARLY as much about the games like Pittsburgh and New England. The band I mentioned at the start? Washington and Baltimore are the only two teams that have marching bands, and the Marching Ravens band has been around since the Colts were here, and former Colts band members were part of the Ravens band, though I admit I'm not sure if they still are.

I absolutely believe Hank Green has waited his entire life for someone to ask him how angler fish reproduce, so he can excitedly explain it.

Insults the maryland flag Marylanders: "so you've chosen death"

“After all, we all love to do the thing where we link our self-worth to how well the people wearing shirts with the name and place we live in, kick, carry, or throw the ball into that pit at the end of the field.” I feel dumb for playing college football now...

“When did we start caring about abuses of power?” 😂😂😏 lol

I bet they used skillshare to find the best out the best shipping service.

A Fun Fact about the 5 sec husky section: Balto only ran the last couple miles to Nome and got all the fame while another dog, Togo, ran the vast majority of the trail and died from injuries sustained during the run

Not just ANY moving company. Hudnut called a buddy who owned an Indianapolis moving company named Mayflower. There was serious concern that if a local Baltimore company was used, the whole caper would have gotten leaked to the press. Mayflower brought in all Indianapolis people to pack the team up and smuggle them out of Maryland (which is small and not hard to do)

It should be noted that Mayflower trucking has almost never been used in the state again.

3:30 Waiting on Hanks' Angler fish video now...

3:12 the Indianapolis 500: "am I a joke to you?" Sam: "no, you're an opportunity for a joke to me"

Something really interesting is what happened to the marching band. Since they were all volunteers, they obviously stayed behind. However, their uniforms were at the dry cleaners, and the president of the band bribed the dry cleaners to leave the uniforms accessible out back, and they essentially stole the uniforms for a few weeks, until the colt’s owner’s wife said they could keep them. They then stayed in Baltimore, playing at events for like 20 years until the ravens finally arrived and they were then attached to a team again.

In São Paulo, we had a sad story similar to that. There was a beautiful gigantic house in Paulista Avenue known as the "Mattarazzo Mansion", owned by the richest industrilist family in Brazil in the early 20th century, who were actual descendants of Italian nobility. When the mansion was to be listed as a heritage site, it was completely torn down overnight to make room for a lame shopping mall. The owners never faced any responsability due to that.

My dad is from Baltimore and he was heartbroken when the Colts left, so he never rooted for a football team again until the Ravens happened, so now me and my family are all Ravens fans.

Out of all the crazy things I have seen in a KZfaq video, Maryland trying to seize a football team, and Indianapolis stealing the team overnight to stop them is by far the most rediculous. I had to rewatch the video to make sure I understood what happened because it's so frikin absurd. It's even more insane than Real Life Lore's video on UPS shipping 2 baby whale sharks overnight for free.

My old man was from Baltimore and I vividly remember the day he heard the news. I don’t think Mayflower Moving Line ever came back to Baltimore either. Thank God the Ravens came there...Baltimore is as blue collar of a town as they come and NEEDED an NFL team.

So interesting, as a child who watched NFL growing up in the 1990s I was always told Irsay ripped the Colts out of Baltimore overnight. Kinda thought that was a ridiculous asshat move given you can move, even when it's contentious (Rams in Stl, Raiders in Oakland and Chargers in San Diego were all contentious moves done recently) Never once knew the city of Baltimore tried to seize the team. Feel like Baltimore has WAY bigger problems to worry about than trying to Hugo Chavez a sports franchise.

You forgot the most interesting part of the entire story, where out of pure spite, the stadium that the Ravens play in today flies the flag of 31 NFL franchises, every team but the Colts.

I can listen to this guy's voice all day.

Imagine how little taste you'd have to have to think the Maryland's medieval badass flag wasn't awesome.

"The government of Maryland would never take something from their citizens." - Spiro Agnew

I was there when the Mayflower Express happened. How come you didn't specifically mention Mayflower? Legal reasons? Supposedly, Mayflower lost a lot of business in Maryland after that. Also, neat side note: the Baltimore Colts had a marching band then. (One of the few NFL teams that did.) Somehow, someone in the band got advanced warning of the move, and they were able to "steal" the uniforms. Every band member owned their own instrument, but the uni's were provided by the Colts. So while the Colts football team left for Indy, the Colts Marching Band stayed in Bawlimer. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore%27s_Marching_Ravens#Background

Left unsaid in this video: the NFL's hatred of Baltimore. They allowed the Colts to move and take the team's name, logo, and HISTORY with them. Many famous Baltimore Colts, e.g. Johnny Unitas, refused to be associated with being part of the history of the Indianapolis Colts. So Baltimore lost the entire legacy of their franchise, unlike the Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore, where the NFL ALLOWED THE BROWNS TO KEEP THEIR NAME AND LEGACY RECORDS. Also, in the 1995 NFL Expansion, Baltimore sold more PSL's and season tickets than any other city bidding for an expansion team, as well as having funding for a new stadium in place. The NFL instead stiffed Baltimore again and awarded franchises to Jacksonville and Carolina, two less-populated cities with less season ticket pre-sales and smaller TV markets. Then, in the Cleveland-to-Baltimore move of 1996 (for much of the same reasons as why Irsay moved the Colts), the NFL, unlike their actions with Baltimore, IMMEDIATELY awarded a new franchise to Cleveland with their original name and history. The NFL then forced the owner of the Baltimore Ravens (nee Browns), Art Modell, to sell the team and his move has so far cost him entry into the Hall of Fame.

Last time I was this early I had a decent joke

You take that back about the Maryland Flag, it’s the best flag in the Union to put on shorts and socks

The hank green reference was weird bc I thought: that's something hank would do. And then a couple hours later he dropped a video on anglerfish reproduction

This was interesting... I was 4 when the Colts left so of course I don't remember it. However I do remember growing up without a local football team until I was 16 when the Ravens came. NFL commissioner hated us and would not give us a team, that's why we had to buy/steal one. I can see why maybe they hated us because we tried to use the state Government to control something they should not be able to control.

You missed on of the big hiccups with stadium negotiations. After the failure of the baltodome Irsay was able to negotiate a bunch of funds to at least attempt to modernize their garbage stadium, the Maryland legislature started to work on that but then said "sure we'll do this is you sign an unreasonably long lease to never leave this stadium" and both the Orioles and Colts told the legislature to pound sand

I'm rooting for the Joustin' Jokes

The Colts moving to Indianapolis in the middle of the night was the best birthday present a 7 year-old football-loving boy like myself could have asked for. Instantly became a Colts fan for life, through many bad years, several great years, and through some more muddled MEH years.

Here is another forgotten history about Football in Baltimore. In 1995 just before the Ravens were created there was another Professional Football team in Baltimore called the Stallions, under the CFL. They even went onto win the Gray Cup that year.

I'm from Baltimore I even spent several years in the ravens marching band. I also knew people that were in the band back when we had the Colts. The Colts moving was such a shock and upset the entire city for years. Fun fact that no one asked for nor cares about.....the Colts band became the Baltimore Pep band when there wasn't a team. Then when we got the Ravens the Baltimore Pep band became the Marching Ravens (yes that is what the band is called).

"A great event where cars turn left 800 times..." Love it!!!

HEY. Oceans 12 was a reasonably interesting film. You could say, half as interesting as Oceans 11.

I remember seeing those Mayflower trucks leaving in the middle of the night. It wasnt like Marylanders didnt know it was happening. It was all over the news about the Colts leaving. It was heartbreaking though and we went so long without a football team. Then did the same thing to Cleveland.

3:30 the fact that this video was uploaded before the scishow video on anglerfish fusion mating is hilarious to me

"Their state flag looks the way having a seizure feels." As somebody with epilepsy that's actually a fairly accurate comparison.

Legislature is pronounced "ledge-iss-lay-chur" Not the same as legislator

HAI: On Tuesday Night KZfaq! Me, an American: *Laughs in **12:00** noon*

He had puns, he had jokes, he had everything for this one.

Me before the video starts: This is going to be about the Colts, isn't it? Me after watching the video: Yeah, it was about the Colts. BTW, they moved almost everything. They didn't move the team's band, which remained in Baltimore and is now the band for the new NFL Baltimore team. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Band_That_Wouldn%27t_Die

I knew this was the Colts when I saw the title. I was a senior in HS in 1984, and I lived (and still live) about 3 miles from the Hoosier Dome (now demolished). Also not mentioned in the video, Baltimore sued (let me see if I remember all parties) The NFL. The Colts, Indiana, Indianapolis, Mayor Hudnut, and my little brother...ok maybe I got one of these wrong. If I remember correctly, they also tried the eminent domain argument from across state lines. Also not mentioned by name, the moving company was Mayflower.

The Browns move was pretty interesting. The Ravens franchise is actually a new franchise, and the Cleveland Browns sold all of its personnel to that new franchise, then the Browns drafted and acquired a whole new set of players.

Thank you for posting this. I’m a lifelong Indianapolis Colts fans, and I’m so tired of people from Baltimore complain (35+ years later!) that we “stole” their team. Truth is, they tried to take the team from the owner, and they, hypocritically, took Cleveland’s team a few years later.

1:08 "A state flag that looks the way having a seizure feels" EXCUSE YOU, SIR. The Maryland flag is excellent in terms of branding. No other state flag is as recognizable, colorful, and easy to put on a huge variety of crab-shaped tchotchkes! We have a better flag than Virginia, at least!

I'm a pretty diehard 49ers fan, and a fan of football in general. There's a lot of things in this video regarding the Colts' move to Indianapolis that I had never read or heard about before...great video!

Marylanders do not take well to people insulting the flag.

Hank made an appearance? If that’s the case I’m rooting for the Vlogging Vlogbrothers

I love this channels self-awareness so much. One of my favorite qualities of the channel, and I love the jokes!

50 semi trucks taking dozens of paths to avoid any blockades. That is insanely crazy.

When you say “Colts” it sounds like “cults.” Really adds to the story.

"Legislator"? I think you mean "Legislature."

3:30 My excitement is immeasurable and my day is lightened

What a fantastic scheme by Irsay!! Even the tractor trailers all taking different routes!! And ya made me laugh out loud many times. Great vid 👍👍

I didn't even know you could seize a NFL team. I can only imagine the faces on the state officials when they found their old faculties abandoned in the morning.

Ah yes, classic Half as Interesting. Stretching out a one word answer into a 5 minute video by adding ads, puns, and stock videos.

1:20 Gee thanks I haven't watched snow dogs But balto is my favourite movie

Hey, that shot at Hank Green is totally uncalled for! Hilarious - but uncalled for!

1:06 'Whose flag looks like the way having a seizure feels', that got me so good I had to pause the video for a bit just to stop laughing.

Irsay: My Legislature: Our Irsay : Bye

I was a senior in high school when this happened. The team owner and the Maryland state government had been going back and forth about a new stadium for years. It was a very sad day in Maryland when we woke up to find that the team had moved out in the night. Memorial Stadium was pretty crappy, uncomfortable and inconveniently located. We used to go to see baseball games there. The only football game I ever saw there was a University of Maryland Terps game when I was in college. I learned a lot about Baltimore geography getting lost trying to drive there. Baltimore now has two newer, much better stadiums (or is that stadia?) and old Memorial Stadium was demolished and detonated in 2001.

What an awesome story! Should be a movie!

0:30 bold to assume anyone actually watches on nebula

4:48 how to strike fear into your AFC North opponents: read poetry by Edgar Allen Poe

The way you described the old stadium made me think of the Saskatchewan CFL team. Backless bench and movable stands.

1:09 as someone who had a seizure i can confirm it looked like that

4:41 and thus began the tradition of every browns fan hating the ravens.

"Hyman Pressman" is already an incredibly weird name (read it fast), then he had to get the goofiest title imaginable.

I like how you guys do exactly what you say you do. I see the thumbnail, I click and watch the video and it turns out it is, and I quote, Half as Interesting as I thought it would be.

By far one of the best HAI videos yet.

Captain America: I can watch such videos all day!

I’ve never heard a better description of my state flag 😂

This was by far the funniest video on the channel

Finally! A sports HAI video!

Hey Colts, go long. I’m running.... all right I’m at the end of the field.... Keep going! I’m outside the stadium.... Keep going! I’m no longer inside the city... Well you’re getting warmer.

growing up in baltimore i’ve heard this story 1000 times. it’s cool to see it on youtube!!!

Yes, “that bit at the end of the field” needs to be official! “He’s at the 20, the 10, and he waltzs into that bit at the end of the field! Touchdown”

Having a HAI video and a real life lore video is really getting me through hurricane Sally which is cutting my power off right now lol

I mean, poetry in general scares me… so… valid tactic?

Let me guess, the Nowhere Chargers?

0:05 Epic "one of the first"

State flag looks like what having a seizure feels like. 🤣🤣🤣

4:40 I think what the ravens wanted to say was "Cleaveland? Nevermore..."

A state whose flag looks like how having a seizure feels?! Oh, man, you just stepped in it.

I've been to Baltimore many times. While my family still holds a grudge about this to this day, I can't blame them for wanting to get the hell out of there.

nice job Sam!!! We're awaiting more