Dem O's Hon!

I had every intention of making it down to Camden Yards tonight to take in a few innings of the O's/Rays game. I've become a big Rays fan - love the young, aggressive, cocky talent they put on the field day-in-day-out. I figured the O's were due for a little home-spun outburst after the stagnant weekend they just suffered through against Toronto - whoops! - wrong again. My dogs had annual vet check-ups today and by the time I got home it was already 7p. I sat in my car...pulled to the end of my driveway...stopped...backed it up...parked it in the garage...went inside and clicked on MASN. I just didn't have it in me to take the trip to OPACY.

I can think back to the days when the thought of missing an O's game - for any reason - was akin to torture and punishment. Tonight, I just didn't have the juice to make the trip. Maybe MASN has me more hooked than I care to admit (Palmer & Thorne - me like!).

Doing the quick math in my head I've been to parts or all of over 600 Orioles games. For more than half of those I've been a paying (or paid for) customer. Just think about all the concession treats I've gobbled down over the years - wow! My dad was an Orioles Advocate for many years , he purchased season tickets for his firm and our family owned a private season ticket plan for years. I was a member of the Junior Orioles - Dugout Club and my pop would sponsor two Bullpen Parties every summer for me, my friends and the children of his employees. The Orioles, Memorial Stadium - baseball -  meant something special to all of us.

I can still remember my first O's game. I was allowed to miss school; and along with two of my best friends went down to Memorial Stadium with my dad. The anticipation was intense. I remember the slow drive down 33rd and seeing the stadium ahead get larger and larger and larger. Almost scary. The grass was so green - dazzling - brilliant. I fell in love with the process of taking that trip and seeing those sights. The O's won 1-0 (over Boston). Jim Palmer got the win. Al Bumbry hit a triple. I still have the score book, ticket stub and mini-bat my pop bought for me.

I need the Orioles to make it back. I need to feel the pull again. I need baseball to define the summer in that old school romantic love affair kinda way -  again. I need to know the Orioles are alive and well. I'll keep watching...but I need 'dem O's to want it all more than I do.

A quick glance to my right and I'm easily reminded of what the Orioles mean to me. They're my baseball team. I have 4-5  walls in various parts of my house dedicated to the players and moments in Orioles history that mattered. Sitting here - cranking out this blog in my home office - I can't remember adding much to the display in years. Cal Ripken memorabilia aside - only eight (maybe 10) new O's pieces have been added to the mix in the past few seasons. A few Millar items, a Brian Roberts item...George Sherrill, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.

I miss it all - so much.