Orioles Fan Rally & Jersey Unveiling

The fans got to see the new uniforms unveiled in the heart of downtown Baltimore this afternoon. It seems like the Baltimore Orioles made a concerted effort to get people out and they responded.

I don't think I need to elaborate any more on them, most of the media and sports websites in the region have something about the event already. It was streamed live on MASNSports.com and on the MASN cable network.

What I saw today were the die-hards and the people who actually still care about baseball in Baltimore support their team in the middle of November -- an awesome feat. It looked like there were fans at all levels of the mall observing the festivities -- almost all dressed with some Oriole paraphernalia on -- along with people walking the facility on their lunch break.

The venue was crowded -- perhaps overly so, especially near the escalators -- however, the people in attendance could have really cared less from my observation.

Brian Burres, Dennis Sarfate, Jeremy Guthrie, Nick Markakis, Chris Waters, Adam Jones, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, Andy MacPhail and Dave Trembley were there.

The new threads are nice and not over the top. Right now, if you surveyed most O's fans, they love the Baltimore road uniform - especially; however, I could live without the orange and black band around the sleeves of the home threads.

The patches on the shoulder are a nice touch, but not too big to be obtrusive. One thing that I think could be omitted is the 'Baltimore' on the sleeves of the alternate jersey, as anyone who follows the team identifies 'Baltimore' with the Orioles, and vice versa.

Why it took so long to do this when the customers wanted it, we don't know; however, today it feels like the prayers of many have been answered.

It seems like the Orioles -- deserved or not -- have been beaten around like a pinata by many over the years; however, on Wednesday, it was a job well done by the team, as well also great to see the players in the community and everyone respond to it.

Here are some pictures from today...

Baltimore Orioles Fan Rally & Jersey Unveiling...

Barry Bonds Arraigned & He Cops a Plea, Will He Sign With Oakland?; The Continuing Saga...

As expected, former Giants slugger and home run king, Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty Friday to charges he lied to federal investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs.

According to a report from the AP, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered Bonds released on $500,000 personal recognizance, meaning he won't have to put up any money unless he violates the conditions of his release. He was ordered to return to court on Feb. 7.







***

In spite of his legal troubles, Barry Bonds may be back in a baseball uniform in 2008. Considering he led the Giants in homers in limited playing time, along with an incredible .OPS, it wouls be prudent for a team to sign him.

Well, he might be closer to the Bay than would think if the Oakland A's re-sign him.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle: If they had decided to rebuild, the A's wouldn't have a spot for Barry Bonds.

However, the club is intact as the winter meetings end, and Oakland is considered the hot pick to sign the free-agent outfielder despite his legal troubles and the potential public-relations issues that accompany him.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Oakland will sign Bonds," one major-league executive said Thursday as the winter meetings wound down. "I'd be shocked if it didn't happen."

Two other teams also have expressed interest in Bonds, an industry source said. Bonds is most likely a fit for an American League club, so that he could serve as a designated hitter. The A's, though, apparently have told Bonds that if he signs with them, he would appear in left field with some frequency. The home run king would be splitting DH duties with Jack Cust.

"I'm speaking with American League clubs as well as National League clubs," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said Thursday.

According to several people with knowledge of the talks, the A's were working on a deal to sign Bonds last month before he was indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Bonds will be arraigned on those charges in San Francisco today, but there is a belief in baseball and legal circles that a trial would not be held until after the 2008 season, or even early 2009.

Considering the A's need power, and Bonds would still draw fans to the park in that area, I'd say take the gamble.

Technorati Tags:oakland a's, baseball, sports, barry bonds, the court system, steroids, peds
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator

Follow-up to the Coarsening of Sports: Sports Violence and Law Enforcement

I was going to follow-up with an more in-depth analysis of the Nuggets/Knicks brawl, but here's food for thought from Aaron Brazell, blogger extraordinaire, a good friend of mine:

"Except for the celebrity status of Carmello Anthony and the other 9 players ejected from Saturday night’s Nuggets-Knicks game, they’d be in jail. Reckless endangerment. Assault and Battery. I imagine most people would. Yet, in sports, these things are just excused as part of the game and the players are given a fine and maybe a suspension. Is there something wrong with this picture?" From his website: http://www.suicidefan.com/

Aaron is absolutely right. No doubt about it. The scene in sports happens over and over again, not most notable until this incident at the Miami/Florida International football game.

However, this is reality:

I once asked a college umpire about this issue way back when. To paraphrase what he said, law enforcement does not usually get in the way of play on the field and that what happens there is usually the jusridiction of a league, unless someone's life was mortally in danger. More or less, he says what happens on the field or court, the respective league would usually enforce itself through punishments, fine or sanctions.

However, if an athlete left the field and went into the stands, or threw a projectile/object into the stands, then it would be a difference and law enforcement has jusridiction there.

It still really does not make sense. What do you think?

Mo matter what, violence has been in sports since time began and is formally accepted as a way to solve problems on the field. As much as we have grown as a society and rail against violence and punish people for it, why does it not happen in sports, and why does there not seem to be any desire to change it?