ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd on Tuesday gave his two cents on Orioles Opening Day — well, more specifically the treatment that fans gave to Mark Teixiera and also the perception of the team itself — and perhaps he sort of went over the deep end with his comments.
Some in the national press have decided to rip Oriole fans for expressing their disdain of local boy Mark Teixiera joining the Evil Empire and spurning the home town team for riches and a potential world title.
I listen to Cowherd when I can, and while he comes off as a blowhard at times who makes comments just to fire up his listeners, I also find lot of what he says at times insightful.
In this case, while he may have a point, he takes a serated knife and cuts into the Baltimore fan base real deep.
“Bottom line? You don’t get booed unless you matter. Nobody boos the Baltimore Orioles when they’re on the road because nobody cares. Oriole fans are a symbol of what’s wrong with
Some of what I saw on Monday seemed to be personal towards Teixiera, as if he personally offended Baltimore by not signing with his hometown team. Cowherd may be right in a sense, but the New York Yankees are a symbol of what ails America today — greed and gluttony.
However, to Oriole fans, baseball is a passion and people still care despite the losing along with the expense it costs to attend a game.
I don’t dislike Mark because he’s one of the best sluggers in the game, and handsomely rich — but fans here hate him now because he’s a Yankee, makes a lot of money, and said he wanted to play for the Orioles, but found his religion and decided to become a Bronx Bomber.
I don’t like that Teixiera is a Yankee, but I don’t hate the guy and I have not gone as far as some people to show their hate. I wish the guy well, but the way he handled his free agent negotiations in the off-season was nothing short of ornery and that is what Cowherd doesn’t get it. Mark and Scott Boras — his agent — used the Orioles, Red Sox, Angels and Nationals to get a deal with New York, and I think that’s what irks most fans here in Baltimore.
With that, Oriole fans were united on Monday in their hate of what Teixiera represents to them — a mercenary.
However, baseball is a business and Teixiera made the decision that was best for his career and family. Right now, with the state of the Baltimore franchise, Mark was not going to be part of a winner. He might play for Baltimore at the tail-end of his career, but the man wants the money and the ring — now.
