Archive for February 2008

Oh no. Mr. Oriole

28. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

New idea. How about a Mr. Bill doll who wears an Oriole uniform? Can you think of anything more appropriate? Accompanied by a miniature steam roller with all the other team’s logos on the drum. Then we could roll it back and forth over poor Mr. Oriole.

Or Mr. or Ms. Orioles fan. Same thing.

I was really hoping to listen to the game today after learning that WHFS is the Orioles radio broadcast network. When I clicked the “Listen Live” button on their website though, there was dead air. Mercy dead air apparently.

Excitement about Spring Training already dampened. Already a 16-3 loss? Already? I’ll try to think positively that we’re getting the bad losses out of the way first. We always suck in the first part of the year.

Still, I ask, how did my team get this bad? What in the hell happened? And the Orioles front office really wants to withhold Opening Day tickets from the few fans who actually love this team enough to want to be there?

Seriously?

Posted in Spring Training | Print | 2 Comments »

Lunar Eclipse

20. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

Hurry, if you go now, you can still see it. Legend has it that if an Orioles fan makes a wish on a lunar eclipse, it will come true. If you’re reading this post too late, don’t worry, I wished enough for all of us. Legends are never true (but you should wish anyway, just in case!).

Posted in Orioles/BB, Ramblings | Print | 1 Comment »

Pigs Fly

8. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

I do have one more thought. Sherrill. Jones. Yada, yada, yada. Sure. I believe they’re worth it. And I believe that one day a sounder of pigs will fly out of my butt.

I hope to hear “I told you so” more than I have to say it.

Posted in Trades | Print | 1 Comment »

Bedard Ruins ES’s Friday

8. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

Crap. That’s all I have to say about that. I knew it was coming, but still, it hurts. I’m going to go frown and sulk for a while now.

Posted in Trades, Ills of All Sorts | Print | 1 Comment »

Orioles Meetup

4. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

Approaching life with renewed vigor after having Ken Singleton say my name, I decided that it was time to take action. Time to finally make real friends here in Charlotte. To that end, I created this Baltimore Orioles Meetup/Support Group. I figured it would be a lot of fun to meet other Os fans and have other people to watch the games with, plus give my husband a little relief during the baseball season. Tonight meetup.com sent out an automatic email message “to interested members in my area” publicizing my group. When I looked to see how many people the email went to, it was one, ONE person. A million and a half people in this area and there’s only one other person interested in the Baltimore Orioles. I paid $72 in the hopes of making new friends, and I will ultimately be the only lonely member.

Take a look at the number of members interested in a Red Sox meetup.

Sigh. Well, what’s one more hopeless endeavor in my life. I’m immune to it really. Rome wasn’t built in a day, I will persevere.

Posted in Meetup Group | Print | No Comments »

First Name Basis with Ken

2. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

Seeing a few of the ‘83 Orioles, in a word, “ROCKED!” I was beaming from ear to ear. They reminisced about the World Series and answered questions from the audience. Before the Q&A, I was wondering what people would ask. I mean the audience was full of geezers. We were all there back then. What’s to ask. As it turned out, it was quite interesting.

One question posed to the former Orioles was “Do you think the ‘83 Orioles could compete against the modern day Yankees and Red Sox.” Orioles.com quotes Ken Singleton’s answer,

There’s no doubt in my mind we could,” he said. “We had some pitchers. We could get people out. … In the tightest situations, you had all the confidence in the world.”

During the “…” Singleton said the most important thing, and one that I keep harping on, is that the outfielders on the ‘83 Orioles knew who to throw the ball to and how to get it there. Bumbry added that he didn’t have as much arm strength so he compensated by always planning ahead, deciding with each batter where he would throw the ball if it came his way. Both Bumbry and Singleton joked that they did their job because if they didn’t there was a guy in the dugout “about this tall,” and here Ken held out his hand at about the height of the stool, “wearing a number 4, who would call you out in front of everyone and I didn’t want to hear it.” Bumbry echoed the sentiment. I wish the current Orioles would take this hint!

One of the best questions was, “What was your favorite game that wasn’t a World Series game.” The crowd applauded Stefero’s answer: his first game with the Orioles, stating how happy he was just to be in the big leagues surrounded by Orioles.

The same article mentions this woman, the first one to make a statement to the Orioles attendees:

“I just want to thank you guys for being the last ones to bring us a championship,” said an unidentified woman in the back row. “Hopefully, one day we’ll do it again.”

Unfortunately, the quote fails to capture her thick Dundalk accent, which added a special indescribable note to her sentiments. You just knew she was friends with Wild Bill and was at those games in Section 34. At the end of the Q&A, she started an Orioles cheer that, sadly, fell flat, most likely because we weren’t expecting it. We all did a mercy chime in at the end with a weak “Orioles.” I made a mental note to self that the most important part of the cheer is the lead up, getting the fans “buy-in,” in corporate speak. Or to only do the cheer drunk so I can’t remember the unenthusiastic crowd the next day.

During the autograph signing I couldn’t help but emote to Tippy, “I grew up behind Memorial Stadium so I watched you a lot” or something to that effect. John Stefero, sitting next to him, looked up at me and said, “That must have been fun!” How cool is that!!!

Later, I was watching the filming of Tom Davis with each of the Orioles (for ESPN). Ken Singleton who was up next, came and stood beside me. Some bozo was blathering on about something to him, completely monopolizing Ken’s time with me. He looked arrogant and was really getting on my nerves. I wanted to knee him in the misters and say, “Time to move along now.” I didn’t though. He finally left and here’s how my conversation with Ken went:

Me: Looking really nervous and stupid, “Hi!”
Ken: “Hi!”
Me: “Hi!”
Ken: Raising an eyebrow, looking a bit nervous, backing away, “Um…”
Me: “Hi!”

That’s how I imagine it happened, Ken feeling trapped and regretting being stuck there with me. In reality, I’m not sure how stupid I sounded, but if history is any guide, I’d wager pretty stupid. I was too nervous to remember everything we said. I know I asked him to confirm the rumor that he was working for the Ys. “Yes, I’m the announcer.” When I looked like :-O, he replied, “I was born in New York” as if that would somehow excuse his behavior. Oh well. I also asked him about the Bedard trade with a leading question, “Wouldn’t you agree that we should keep Bedard?” to which Ken responded that Sherrill was a really good reliever. I trust Ken’s judgment, so for the first time, I’m optimistic that trading Bedard won’t be the worst mistake we’ve ever made. The important thing is that we exchanged actual sentences and I was on my best behavior, and I didn’t pull out either boob for him to sign.

Within a couple of minutes, my mom came over, along with some service man freshly home from Afghanistan or Kuwait, or somewhere. I didn’t really talk to him, my mom did. I was too engrossed in standing next to Ken Singleton. My mom started talking to Ken and that immediately made me nervous. As we’ve established, she derives great pleasure from embarassing people, most particularly, me. I could feel my stomach winding into a knot. She told Ken how I drove all this way from Charlotte for the event and then Ken turned to me and said, “Thank you Crystal.” Aww shucks. No, thank you, Ken!

I needn’t have worried about my mom (this time anyway). Plus, the service man did the most embarassing thing. First of all he was flirting with me, proving that the poor man, bless his heart, must not have seen a single woman during his entire deployment. I wonder how many years he was gone. Then he shook Ken’s hand saying, “What’s your name, sir?” :-O

Since he’s just back from serving our country, I cut him a break.

In summary, the event rocked!!! Here’s my advice, when you’re feeling down and life is getting to you, to improve your outlook, attitude, and mental health, go see the ‘83 Orioles!!

Posted in Live Orioles | Print | 1 Comment »

ES’s Mom’s Head Famous

1. February 2008 by Orioles Fanatic.

On Orioles.com, you can see the back of my mother’s head on the left of the picture. She’s sporting her orange “1983 World Champions” tee. I was so proud of her, especially since I gave her about an hour’s notice that I was in town.

See Enchanting Sunshine’s mother’s head here.

P.S. By the way, when I talk in the third person, it’s meant to be funny. I’m really not a psychopath or anything, despite my recent fascination with murder. Thought I ought to clear that up once and for all.

Posted in Live Orioles | Print | No Comments »

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