You likely remember Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” from your school days: A man “nearly napping” hears someone – or something – rapping at his chamber door. Roused from his dreamlike state, haunted by the loss of his “radiant maiden” Lenore, a raven appears at his chamber door. He begs it and his grief to just please go away. The answer?  “Nevermore.” The poem made Poe a sensation in 1845.

On the deathiversary of Edgar Allan Poe Oct. 7, the Baltimore Banner published a column questioning whether Poe was really all that and a bag of gloomy chips. Poe was born in Boston to traveling actor parents and died in Baltimore. The city lays claim to him via his deep family roots and his mortal remains. Commenters on the Banner’s hit piece hit back hard. He was among the first American writers to make a living off of the pen, however meager. He created a genre, they said. The community’s  reaction to the contrarian take underscored that while Poe was uniquely chaotic and deeply imperfect, he’s still Baltimore’s. [Sorry, Richmond]

He may also be the key to turning around the Baltimore Ravens’ losing streak. Here’s what I mean:

Poe and the Ravens

The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens are Poe-affiliated.

After the team moved from Cleveland in 1996, fans via both focus groups and a wildly popular poll conducted by the Baltimore Sun chose the Ravens inspired by Poe’s famous poem and literary heritage. Today, the mascot is a raven called Poe.

According to the Banner’s reporting, the franchise doesn’t show up for Poe in a meaningful way. That was disappointing to learn.

It gets worse.

Decades ago, a Baltimore security guard and amateur artist named Frederick Bouchat faxed over a logo sketch, a pretty awesome “Flying B,” asking only for a helmet and autographed ball, according to court records and media reports. Instead, the Ravens stole it and never gave him credit, reports say the courts ruled, which the team denies. The team debuted a new logo in 1999.

Decades of litigation followed. Courts ultimately agreed the sketch was Bouchat’s, but have scoffed at the idea he be paid for it. The team can still use it under certain circumstance. The franchise may legally be aboveboard, but make no mistake: they burned Bouchat. If that’s not begging for a hex what is?

Imagine a world in which the Ravens showed up for Poe. A world in which Mr. Bouchat got credit for his drawing, a check, an apology, and a signed helmet and ball while they’re at it.

Poe and the Ravens. A big bad franchise reversing course on the little guy their team of lawyers trampled.

What strange bedfellows!  Strange bedfellows make for great headlines. A quirky headline can generate the right kind of attention and draw funds to worthy causes. A right wronged? Such a story can rain down cosmic blessings.  Meaningful civic pride and taking steps to right old wrongs also restore a little fairness to the world. It’s good for business. It’s good for community.

The Ravens are on a historic losing streak. Media reports claim the team this week removed games and ping pong tables from the locker room to help players refocus.

That’s not what they need.

Isn’t it obvious? This team’s soul has a negative yield. Payment to the namesake’s altar is overdue but need not remain in an eternal deficit. Poe Baltimore is campaigning for funds for a $10M expansion of Poe House. I’m not sure what happened to Mr. Bouchat. Perhaps he is still working security and would like to retire one day.

Nevermore?

C’mon guys. You can do better than this.

Poe it forward.

I’m the founder and principal of Keeping Strategies, a Washington, DC-area PR shop that helps clients stand out in a chaotic and ever-changing media environment, including in new media and the traditional press. Would you like to talk shop? Send a note or connect here on LinkedIn.