Search - NFL: America's Game: 1970 Baltimore Colts on DVD

Tale of Two Cities - Baltimore / Indianapolis

Vernon E. Grier | Chicago, IL | 11/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This superbowl V I remember as a youth barely and it was great to re-live this moment on dvd! I always loved Bubba Smith and the Baltimore Colts defense. On this viewing, this Superbowl V was not a very exciting game, filled with turnovers and some sloppy playing on both Baltimore and Dallas but good viewing anyway.

I loved the commentary by Bubba Smith stating that since the organization left in 1983, the Baltimore Colts players have been shuned by the Indianapolis Colts, the present Colts have no history of their team during the Baltimore years or don't respect it, what a shame!!

This dvd is still a great view!"

A Great Game Lost Forever. All We Have Left Is a Bad Highlig

D. Dutton | Powhatan, VA | 01/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film highlights the 1970 Season and features Bill Curry, Bubba Smith, Ernie Accorsi and Mike Curtis sharing there memories.

The NFL Films footage is amazing and well worth the price. Ed Harris does a great job with this video. I can see why he was chosen.

According to many accounts, Super Bowl V was seen as an embarrassment. NFL Films' famed John Facenda dubbed it "The Blunder Bowl". Even some of the former Colts players deemed it an "empty win". Bubba Smith to this day claims he never wore his Super Bowl ring. And to top it all off, the NFL made a ridiculous call awarding the MVP to a player on the losing team. I believe the decision to give the MVP to a loser, forever stamped this game as a disaster. You'll never see that mistake made again. (Sorry Chuck good game but no MVP.)

The emotion that comes out of Bubba Smith, Mike Curtis and Bill Curry is intense. It puzzles me that these guys are not happy about a game they won? OK, they lost to the Jets in Super Bowl III. Colt fans everywhere were crushed as well. I will never get over the Colts having the ball 6 times in the Red Zone and getting no points, in a 16-7 loss. In 1970 however the Colts beat the Jets convincingly twice.

I will take no shot's at Mike Curtis (one of my all-time favorite players) but his lack of respect for Unitas was disappointing at best. Sometimes locker room stuff should stay there. A 2006 poll of living Hall of Famers selected Unitas the NFL's #1 Quarterback of All-Time. Mike Curtis is also an all-time great player who belongs in the Hall of Fame. Why he took shots at Unitas is unclear. Maybe it's the natural LB/QB friction, but Curtis comes off as bitter.

I get the passion, but I don't get the disappontment...they won the Super Bowl! If these players thought it was an "empty" or "bittersweet" victory, think of the thousands of players and numerous Hall of Famers that never wore a Super Bowl ring. How about the Cowboys who lost the game? They all must shudder to hear the Colts complain about their Super Bowl Rings.

As a fan, Super Bowl V was a great win for the home team. Baltimore Colt fans still love to see Jim O'Brien kick that 32 yarder. I was 11 years old and I remember that Sunday afternoon watching with my dad, in our den, on an old Sylvania B&W TV. I remember Unitas throw the tipped ball to Mackey. I can still recall the relief and joy as Mike Curtis made that key interception that set up the winning kick, and then jumping up and down just like O'Brien when the kick went through. I can still hear the cars and trucks on the streets of Baltimore honking their horns. The radio stations played the Colts fight song and Jim Karvellas proclaimed, "The Baltimore Colts are World Champs!" on WFBR.

For the fans of Baltimore, the Orioles were also World Champs beating the Reds in the World Series just 3 months earlier. We were in seventh heaven. We finally answered for the humiliation of the Mets and the Jets.

Until the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV, Baltimore wasn't really allowed to enjoy it's last Championship. The Colts were gone, the league, NFL Films, some disgruntled players, and most sport writers had negative things to say about Super Bowl V. To make matters worse NBC taped over the only videotaped copy of the entire game broadcast and this game is lost forever and can never be viewed again in it's entirity. All other Superbowls are avaialble to watch again except Superbowl V. (I'm still holding out hope that a home made bootleg copy will surface someday.)

I still have yet to see or read anything about Super Bowl V that captures the elation we all felt in Baltimore to see our Colts crowned World Champs in 1971. This game can never be truly captured by a highlight reel. Yes there were many turnovers and while this makes for a sloppy looking highlight reel, it was an incredibaly intense and exciting game. You dared not step out of the room. No highlight reel can ever capture the feel of this intense game and unfortunately it is lost forever.

All this said...this is a great Colts video and all Baltimore fans should add it to their Colts collection. For a bright-eyed 11 year old kid Super Bowl V will always be a true wonder. However when I heard NFL Films famed John Facenda, call it "the blunder Bowl" I have since felt alone in loving Super Bowl V. After watching this DVD I still do. I still love recalling this game and I say, thanks Jim O'Brien...wherever you are!"