Camden Yards North

We’ve all had the experience. You know the one – you show up to Camden Yards, only to realize that it’s “only show up if you’re rooting for the bad guys” day. You get drowned out by the opposing fans, and they are Massholes about it (despite the fact that most of them are local turncoats). The insult is thrown mercilessly on injury, as the Orioles get killed by the Red Sox, and you wonder why you keep doing this to yourself. They get off on making you miserable in your own park, and they have the audacity to call it “Fenway South.”

Perhaps it’s more accurate to say “had.” Two years of winning has made this a far less frequent occurrence. Better yet, the Orioles are 15-6 at Fenway Park since September 20, 2011. The Orioles are a factor in the AL East again, and they’re taking it the Red Sox.

I’m OK with that.

Beyond the winning, it’s nice to see Birdland get some of its swagger back. Whereas I hope that we never become the miserable subhumans that I’ve come to know as Red Sox fans, I want them to feel a little of what they put me through for so many years. That’s why this kid was my hero tonight.

That’s right, kid. Wave that proud. Let those Sox fans know that the Orioles have come to town, and their baseball team is going to have a bad time. Sure, the Red Sox are defending World Series champions, and sure, they will end up better than a last-place club when all is said and done. But at least for this night, the O’s walked into a park that they have become accustomed to winning in, and…. they dominated. This kid enjoyed it – in person – for all of us.

Fenway Park: put a Bird on it.

Thanks to all the great Tweeps who helped me track down this screen grab – hat tip especially to @DamStone, @MaxGrossfield, @connorgucci69, and all others who pointed me in the right direction.