Cheers in the radio booth mean Levine is back in Baltimore, Jack

Ken Levine is returning to our fair city this weekend. It's enough to make a guy want to sing:

Worked the microphone in Baltimore, Jack,

Did the O's for a year, but I didn't come back.

Wrote some TV, spent time at my abode,

Hooked up with Seattle, now I'm back on the road.

Everybody's got some play-by-play.

Everybody's got some play-by-play.

Charm City to Seattle is a mighty long way,

But everybody's got some play-by-play.

(To be included on Mr. Frager's new double release, "Inhuman Touch" and "Unlucky Town," available at most record stores, right next to the eight-tracks and Lipps Inc. compilation albums.)

Levine, who replaced Joe Angel last year on WBAL Radio Orioles games, joined the Seattle Mariners announcing crew, teaming with Dave Niehaus, before the season. Levine resigned his Orioles job in October, citing a desire to return to his family and television writing in California. And though he again finds himself on the road, Levine said Seattle's relative proximity to his Los Angeles home has worked out well for him. "I've had the time to be with my family," he said Wednesday.

And he's had time to write as well, Levine said. Last night's and next week's "Cheers" episodes were written by Levine and his partner.

Though he's adjusting to another team and new announcing partner, Levine said, "It's a lot easier having been in the league a year."

He'll renew some acquaintances this weekend. "I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot of people again," said Levine, who is expecting to pop in on a WBAL (1090 AM) broadcast.

He's also eager to see Oriole Park at Camden Yards -- known as OPACY, the name doctors trust.

"If I had known about the new stadium, I might not have left," he said. (He's kidding. Sorry, no laugh track with this column.)

Levine also is finishing up a book on his season with the Orioles. One supposes he might mention how his announcing in Baltimore was received in the newspapers. One also supposes that he might not write favorably about someone who didn't write favorably about him. One further supposes that it might not be too late to make amends, right, Ken, old pal? Hey, let's do lunch.

*

Down the stretch they come: Kentucky Derby Day will bring 3 1/2 hours of combined coverage on ESPN and ABC (channels 13, 7). From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, ESPN will carry a preview show from Churchill Downs, including the running of six races.