Time for the O's fans to represent!
A Stacey Brown exclusive ...
Reaching deep, way deep into my memory bank, I find one of my favorite memories from Camden Yards. It was a Sunday night at the yard..1997 to be exact and a young Stacey "The Nannerpuss" Brown sat a few rows behind home plate with some friends while watching the Orioles take on the Yankees. Camden Yards was sold out that night and it wasn't with the barrels of Yankees fans that seem to invade our stadium every time their team comes to play here. It was the Orioles fans who came to represent that night. It was an unforgettable energy in that stadium that night. Amongst the cheers of the fans, and there were lots of them, I could hear a distinctive voice that seemed to be drawing closer "Lemonade! Leh leh leh lehmonade! Who's next? Who wants some lemonade!?" I really didn't want lemonade, but that energy was infectious. I stood up. "I do!" I was handed lemonade and engaged in the energy as I did the lemonade shaking dance with the vendor. Our energy transmitted up on to the jumbotron at Camden Yards for approximately 48,000 fans to see. The crowd picked up on the energy as many cheers could be heard. Our energy then found its way on ESPN and sports highlights all across the country. That lemonade vendor, Marc Rosenberg a.k.a Shakey the Lemonade Guy, became world famous because of our moment on ESPN as he was featured on many television shows and other medium such as magazines and websites and even became a motivational speaker while I got stuck working on the radio here in Baltimore..Kidding! I love my job..but remember that kind of energy at an Orioles game?
It's that time of year again..the start of baseball season and tomorrow brings opening day at Camden Yards! I don't want to hear about the frustration of what happened in Tampa the first few nights. Save your disappointment and no complaints about Trembley, Gonzalez, Guthrie or anyone else; it's too early in the season for that! Let's concentrate on the fact that baseball is, once again, back in Baltimore! Winning or losing, I love baseball at the yard and I cherish each and every memory I have from the many games that I have been to. What a great place to meet friends out and have dinner at the yard and catch a game..what a great way to spend time with the family by heading down to the inner harbor for dinner at one of our many wonderful restaurants and then walk just a few blocks to catch a game at Camden Yards. Let's start the season on a high note. Let's recreate the exciting times from years past. Remember how it felt to be in the ALCS and what it felt like to win a World Series? Appreciate what the Orioles have given its fans over the years..winning seasons, legends like Cal Ripken, Mike Cuellar, Brooks Robinson..yeah, I know..1997 was a long time ago and it has been years since the days of the great legends..but let's help bridge that excitement to our future legends who will be taking the field tomorrow night. Energy breeds energy and Dammit! I look good in my O's jersey! If the "Orioles Magic" seems to be a thing of the past, then let us as fans take the responsibility to recreate it and watch as our boys feed off of that energy. If you want them to play with the passion that they used to play with, then the fans also need to find that same passion. It may be hiding under years and layers of frustration, but it's still there. Take a note from Shakey and let's do away with these last few seasons of lemons! See you at the yard!
-Nanner
