Good morning everybody, please be seated.
As we look to the sky this morning we notice that the sun is taking a more familiar path. The trees are regaining their greenery slowly, surely; the fauna of springtime are vocalizing their pleasure in this great day. Baseball has returned to Baltimore.
The Orioles, our Orioles, will once again take the field carrying the undying hopes of a community of people. Young/ old; black/ white; all of us sit, watch and hope. We hope for a team that gives us a reason to hold our heads high. Through the losses, the injuries, the bad decisions, the bad luck we still sit and hope.
Yes in this year 2012 that hope may very well be misplaced and once again go unrealized, but today is not a day for that. No, rather, today is for first pitches and a continuation of rituals that go back generations. With every first pitch there comes the hope for something better. With every first hit there comes a sense that this could be our year. With every “w” written on the schedule comes the ever present question: “why not?”
The cynical among us will answer that question with a laundry list of reasons that are, unfortunately, more than valid. The Orioles’ herculean task is one that is obvious to everyone, but that is what makes this game that we love so amazing. Time and time again throughout the history of this uniquely American enterprise the team that no one believed in has come from the rubble to be, even if only for one glorious summer, kings of all. If the 2012 Baltimore Orioles are to do anything significant with their season, they would most certainly go down as legend in the recent history of the game. Some say believing in legends is silly in an age of reason: so be it. After all what is Opening Day for if not believing? Just for one day let’s put away the stats, let go of reason, dress in those holy colors, commune with friends and allow ourselves to believe.
The Orioles are who they are, nothing will change that. The team’s fortunes rest solely on the shoulders of five young men. They will try, hopefully they will find success more than failure but there are no guarantees. Still, we will be there cheering together hands clasped hoping for a brighter Summer and a better year.
It all starts today, opening day. A day for hope and belief over reason.
The Orioles are back.
