^[1]SELLOUT CROWD OF WOMEN GETS IN LINE
TO LEARN  EVERYTHING  ABOUT  FOOTBALL

Football 101 tutorials reminiscent of film ‘Diner’

Barry Levinson’s classic movie “Diner,” featuring a matrimonial quiz on the former Baltimore Colts given to the lead character’s prospective bride during the late 1950s, has nothing on the Baltimore Ravens’ “Purple Evening” of the new millennium, an annual event for female football fans held yesterday at M & T Bank Stadium for the fifth consecutive year.

Although the Ravens organization insisted in a press release that the event is “not exclusive to women” — despite acknowledging that “it is definitely catered to the female Ravens fans” — A Purple Evening attracted a sellout crowd of more than 7,000 avid fans of Charm City’s current NFL team, nearly all of the attendees female.

One of the features of the event was an opportunity for the women, who paid $30 for tickets — $40 tickets were advertised to be offered at the door, however the event was sold-out nearly a week in advance — to ask questions about the Ravens and even get instructions, including a tutorial with field drills, on how to play football.

An FAQ on the Ravens’ website describes the “field clinics” as being conducted by local coaches “teaching participants the basics in football” and featuring field-goal kicking and longest-throw competitions.

HAD TO PASS FIANCÉ’S COLTS EXAM

The hapless bride in Levinson’s 1982 film about 1950s Baltimore merely had to pass her fiancé’s Colts exam in order to have her wedding day — which, it was made abundantly clear in the movie, would never have occurred had she failed the test. (She didn’t, she passed. Yayyyyy!)

The event, which ran from 4-10 p.m. Monday, and which evolved from the previous Raven’s Women Festival and Football 101 events of years past, also offered attendees access to player autographs and a chance to win a 10-night cruise to the Bahamas.

Team autographs were offered on a first-come first-serve basis, with selected participants “guaranteed two autographs” during their designated timeslot for obtaining the signatures of players randomly selected.

Attendees were told, “We will announce in advance which players will be signing, but not at which time.” Pot-luck autographs then prevailed.

‘LOOKING FOR A GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT’

As advertised, the event featured “a variety of activities to entertain the most avid and knowledgeable fans, as well as those who are just looking for a girls’ night out.”

Other highlights included on-field activities, “Football 101 teaching sessions,” fan forums, exclusive stadium access and player appearances, as well as access to concessions, the Ravens Team Store, cocktails, free gifts, memorabilia and special offers from Ravens business partners.

The event is held every year in October in recognition of the National Football League’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Ravens’ predominant team color is purple, along with the Baltimore City colors of black and gold, also white.

As for the Colts quiz, anyone who has not seen the Levinson film will get a second chance: “Diner” the musical, written by Levinson with original music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, is currently in production, set to open on Broadway in the fall of 2012.

— Alan Z. Forman

alforman@voiceofbaltimore.org