How dare you CHEER at a ballgame!?

Not all of the ushers at Camden Yards are a joke.

But some of them are. And it's absurd. Every year, with the O's down and the Yankees and Red Sox up, and relatively close, Camden Yards gets "invaded." And for some reason, the ushers seem to have been told to favor the out of town fan. Even if the out of town fan is over the top vulgar, making the scene, etc etc. I relay this story posted on the Orioles Hangout forums, by poster S'GOS. I wish this story was an isolated incident. Unfortunately, I can't tell you that. In actuality, I've heard hundreds of similar tales.

I'm a long time reader, but first time poster. Last night's game inspired me to finally get on here and put in my two cents. I'm a young guy, 2 years removed from college, work for a baseball scouting and college placement organization, and live and breath Baltimore sports. I try to hit up about 40 or so games a year. My friends and I always occupy the bleachers just right of the foul pole next to the flag court. We cheer our lungs out, start chants, drink a few beers, and get a little rowdy. But we have always took pride in our abilities to keep profanity and disrespect to a minimum. We bring nothing but positive vibes and try to get other O's fans "into" the game. Basically, to steal a quote from Raven's games, "Don't be a jerk!!"

Well, last night was one of the most dissapointing moments of my life. We ventured to our usual spot to find it littered with Red Sox fans. Big Deal, its something I have come to expect, but it didn't mean I was going to shy away from cheering for my team. Lowen started off really well and we were getting up on 2 strike counts. The Orioles scored early so we were up for that as well. There were a few Red Sox fans behind us that didn't take to kindly to that and the New England smut that followed made me sick to my stomach. I tried to stay oblivous to it, making a few exceptions to spin around and throw my hands up as if to give them high fives, but it was all in good fun.

Around the 5th inning or so, we were cheering durring a two strike count for Lowen and the bombs started dropping again, and the ushers came over and started pointing at us oriole fans to sit down. I ran down to the usher to see what he thought was suitable behavior for a home team fan. I kept my cool and even after the usher refused to make eye contact with me, I returned to my seat.

It is the 7th inning now, and BRob is up with a 1st and 3rd opportunity. We start cheering again and trying to get the O's fans into it. Yet again, the Sox fans start dropping bombs faster the F15 fighters over Baghdad. This time the ushers meant business. 3 Ushers came up and singled me out and and told me I had to leave. I laughed it off at first like it had to be a joke or something. Next thing I know there are 5 cops waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Well, at this moment, my heart broke. I couldn't believe what was about to happen. The jerk Sox fans behind me started a "hey hey hey goodbye" chant as I was ushered out. The best part was this; a handful of Red Sox fans came to my defense. They ran down and attemped to stop this tragedy saying, "he wasn't doing anything wrong at all" and "he was cheering for his own team, let him stay." But to no avail. That one butch looking usher ran over like a troll and asked for my ticket, she took it and wished me a smug "good night." I was tossed through the front gates "Jazz from Fresh Prince of BelAir" style. It was embarassing and heart breaking. I turned to the cop who threw me out and asked him where he was from. He said Baltimore, and I asked if he knew what he did was wrong. I told him I understood he was doing the "man's" work and that I have nothing against him, I just wanted to hear him say what just happened was wrong. I told him to shake my hand if he agreed, and shook it.

Luckily for me, I had 2 tickets that night. My buddy from work had given me 2 free tickets, and I couldnt find a taker on the other. So I ran around the warehouse and entered again on the other side. I watched the rest of the game from the bullpen area, and watched Pena's bomb land right in front of me. That was a dagger!! The stadium exploded and I was sulking. I told a few O's fans in the area my story from the night and they couldn't believe it. I made my way back over to meet up with my friends on Eutaw Street around the beginning of the 9th. They got a good laugh out of the whole experience but we all agreed that we needed to reevaluate our outlook on this organization. The game ended and we exited through the same gate I got tossed through and I actually made eye contact with a few of the ushers that threw me out. I shot them a smile as they bickered to one another and stared me down.

The moral of the story:

You can't take back what was never yours.

I cheered
I stood
I believed

But why?

Why do I put so much into something that obviously doesn't want a part of me?


I will continue to support the team, and attend as many games as I can, but this isn't my team, its the "man's"

The usher's at Camden Yards need to be reminded why they're there. Not all of them, but some of them. You're not the No Fun Police. Kicking people out for cheering for their team is absurd, especially when people are throwing out obscenities in the same section. Like I said, I wish this was an isolated incident, but it's far too common.

Straighten your ushers up, Orioles. This is yet another reason why your attendance is falling fast.