I was pleasantly surprised this past Tuesday evening while watching the Orioles game on TV to learn, that the birds were scheduled to play a day game on Wednesday. I was off for a dental appointment so I thought, BONUS!!!
I got down to Oriole Park at Camden Yards before noon for a 12:30 game time. I purchased a real nice ticket for the 3rd row, section 60, so that I might watch Manny Machado pick it.
Let’s find a pic of Manny, shall we…
Big enough for ya’!?
Yesterday’s game had everything you could want in a ball game as a fan, everything but an Orioles win, but they almost made that happen, too! It was very exciting and worth the $48 paid for the seat. Now here is the thing that almost made it too exciting and before I go any further, what I am about to describe is a very low-key incident that no one would have noticed if they weren’t sitting within 20-30 feet from the front rows of section 60.
Like I said, I got there early and was noshing and watching warmups with a handful of fans. There were two guys sitting in front of me. Both early 20′s. One heavy-set, one slim. Heavier guy was wearing a Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista jersey t-shirt and the other guy was sporting a Palmyra PA baseball cap and shirt. I guess it was Palmyra, PA. Maybe it could be some other Palmyra.
As game time approaches, other fans start filling in the seats and it becomes obvious that these dudes aren’t in their ticketed seats. They get moved over once, and then again and then a family shows up. Parents, Grandparents and a little boy. These dudes are in their seats. Everyone has been cool. The ushers haven’t felt the need to get dramatic with these guys yet. It’s a day game; there will be empty seats for these guys to go to, so whatevs. When that family of 5 showed up, the dudes decided to just get out of there. We all figure that they are finally going to go to their actual seats or walk around. No one knows, No one cares.
So the family settles in. The O’s are already up 1-0 and we all go back to watching baseball. A minute or two goes by and the Mom, says, “Whose backpack is this?” Another spectator looks at it and mentions that it looks like the backpack those dudes were carrying.
I know what you are thinking. Here’s the good part. Everyone maintained their cool. Anyone who goes into the ballpark with a bag has to have it searched by security on the way in. The Dad calmly alerts an usher, who alerts Camden Yards Security(earpiece wearing folks) who calmly alert Baltimore Police. Patrol officer arrives, gets the lowdown from those of us who can describe the situation and the guys. He gets his lieutenant. They do a bit of talking in which I can only assume that they are debating the calm extraction of fans from the area. This all happening in a pretty confined area. I guarantee that no one else knew what was happening. While this strategy stuff is going on, the 2 dudes show back up and decide to try to sit down again, literally walking obliviously past the BPD and security. They sit back down in the only open seats left, those next to me. We are all looking at them with disdain for the clueless young people they are. They ask the Mom for their backpack that they left behind and as she is about to give it to them I tap the chunky one on the shoulder and say, “You have to talk to these guys.” I look to the Orioles Security guy and let them know that those are the “Backpack guys”. He walks over to them and lets them know that after the Boston Marathon bombing, folks are very sensitive to backpacks being left behind. The dudes don’t seem to be getting it and then I hear the BPD Lieutenant shout, “Manny”, I look to 3rd base and then realize that the Orioles’s Security guys’ name is Manny. The Lieutenant points to the clueless dudes and just says, “C’mon”. Clueless guys were calmly escorted away and weren’t seen again.
Once again, we all knew that they were clueless young people. Everyone remained calm. So hat’s off to Orioles Security, The Baltimore Police Department and most of all, my fellow fans who didn’t let the emotion of recent tragedies get the better of them, even though we all felt a bit of tightness as everything played out.
Then we all went back to enjoying a real good baseball game.
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Baltimore Boy’s Thoughts on Boston Marathon Tragedy
If you know me, you know that I love running. You probably also know that I have run 6 Marathons; two in Hawaii and I have run my beloved Baltimore Marathon four times. And if you, dear reader, know anything about marathons, you probably are aware that to run 26.2 miles is not easy and it’s possible that you cannot even begin to fathom performing such a feat.
I am here to tell you that it is extremely difficult. My first marathon was my best and every succeeding marathon has been more difficult than the previous race. What makes it harder is that the body, as it gets older, has less elasticity and due to that waning of physical power, almost regardless of training, it is just more challenging. What takes the place of the body is YOU. Running a marathon is about the power of the human intellect and spirit. It is an amazing measure of perseverance. This is why so many people take up running after great challenges. So many people have survived cancer or heart disease or have suffered through great emotional traumas like the deaths of loved ones or use running as part an emotional treatment like those of us who have fought through addiction problems. Whatever moves and motivates the runner all comes together when they decide to run an actual marathon.
People run to support others and of the millions of people that have run marathons, millions more have supported them by forgiving them the time spent preparing for the marathon, helping them pay for and provide transportation to & from the race AND by being there at the race to cheer them on and welcome them across the finish line when thankfully it’s all over and a sweet soreness takes over the body for the next few days. Marathons are one of the most beautiful ways in which we can express our love for ourselves and celebrate the wonderfulness of being human with thousands of strangers and a handful of loved ones.
And this is what is just so diabolical about the Boston Marathon bombing. This attack, whether it was part of bomber’s original thought process or not, was an attack on human goodness. I fully believe that there was probably a political or societal motivation behind the attack. Who knows? No one has claimed responsibility and it doesn’t really matter. It was an attack upon the celebration of the glory of being human. Of course, those injured and maimed by the blast were quickly aided by fellow runners, fellow spectators and medical and police personnel. All the footage shows people helping people. Compassion and empathy just pouring out. The celebration of the glory of being human, indeed!
I had decided to run the Baltimore Marathon again this year about a month ago and I can guarantee that it will be even harder than the last time, but I will be carried by my strength and the love, empathy and compassion of my amazing wife and I will be buoyed by the thousands who line the streets of Baltimore, volunteering and cheering and celebrating and I will keep Boston with me, close to my heart.
That’s Anna meeting me at 33rd Street during the 2009 Baltimore Marathon.