What do U call it?
Baltimore's Buck Buzz can be heard all around the Beltway. Somebody told me Baltimore is waiting to fall back in love with the Orioles, it might not be a full-blown love affair yet, but since Buck Ball showed up at Camden Yards it's at least been a hot date.
Buck Showalter brings a major league resume to the Orioles, he looks the part (even in that all orange ugly throw back uniform) Buck walks the walk, talks the talk and so far his Orioles don't look anything like the Orioles that have been stumbling and bumbling far too long.
Buck is the right guy for the job but let's not carried away, unless there's some significant upgrades to the roster it's hard to believe they'll equal or surpass the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays anytime soon.
If Buck Showalter can pull the Orioles out of this 13 year pit he'll get Weaver-like status in Birdland. From the day he was introduced Buck Showwalter became the face of the franchise.
No knock on Markakis, Roberts and Jones all-star caliber players but these guys carry some of the residual stink that goes with last place losers. When he was introduced Buck faced the warehouse cameras confident and UNDEFEATED!
This managing thing isn't easy and the Earl Weavers are a rare breed. While the present is damn ugly the Orioles have a proud past, but consider this, since Hank Bauer was replaced by Earl Weaver in the 1968 season Earl is the only Orioles manager to last 5 full seasons, just one 5 year run in 42 years!
Earl is the only Hall of Fame manager in current Orioles history (John McGraw managed the National League Orioles in the late 1800's). Baltimore has been home for two Hall of Fame football coaches.
Weeb Eubank won back to back NFL titles with Johnny U, Artie, and Lenny in 1958 and '59. His 59-52 record with the Colts was ordinary but he won the "Greatest Game Ever Played" in 1958 and lead the Jets to the greatest upset ever staged when they knocked off the Colts in Super Bowl III.
Don Sula played in Baltimore and at age 33 became the NFL's youngest head coach when he took over the Colts in 1963. Over the next 7 years Shula's Colts won over 75% of their games, but his Super Bowl loss to the Jets spoiled his relationship with owner Carroll Rosenbloom paving his way to the Dolphins and a record 328 wins.
Brian Billick isn't going to the Hall of Fame but his 9-year run with the Ravens was a good one. Billick's 2000 team won the Super Bowl and his .556 win percentage was better than Hall of Famer Eubank's. Of all the managers and head coaches in recent Baltimore history only Weaver lasted longer than Billick.
Ted Marchibroda hit a rare coaching triple, the last coach to win the Baltimore Colts (3 straight division titles) later became the head coach of the Indy Colts then returned to become the first coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
All of this gets us back to Buck, he'll be the first to tell you he's not a miracle worker, but what would you call it if he turns this mess around and suddenly all those empty green seats at Camden Yards are full of screaming Orioles fans?
Talk to you on The Fan M-F 2:00-6:00 Scott
