If something seemed like it was missing at Camden Yards last week, you deserve points for your observational skills.
The campy "Orioles Magic" song that hearkens to the days when there was a "thundering roar from [Section] 34" got scratched after Opening Day.
In the past four games, the Orioles have darted out of the dugout before the first pitch to "Click Click Boom," a song by the rock band Saliva, which might or might not have been inspired by former Oriole Roberto Alomar.
The concept of never-say-die Orioles Magic seemingly expired years ago, and now the song has taken at least a temporary hiatus from pre-game at Camden Yards.
Don't start mourning yet, oh tradition-obsessed Orioles fans. Or at least know this before you pine for the olden days: In those four games, without hearing about "when Weaver moves," the Orioles are undefeated. That includes an Orioles Magic-esque comeback against the Seattle Mariners yesterday, when they scored three runs in the ninth against a team that didn't blow a game like that all last season.
So when a keyed-up Orioles team returned to the clubhouse after the inspiring victory, how did it celebrate? By blasting "Orioles Magic" as loud as it could on the clubhouse stereo.
Really.
Led by club DJ Kevin Millar and his stone-faced sidekick, "Master G" Jeremy Guthrie, several players got into the mood by banging their fists against the wooden dining table to the catchy rhythm.
"Orioles Magic, baby," Millar howled. "First-place Orioles."
Laughing while walking away from the dining table, Orioles newbie reliever Matt Albers couldn't help himself, quietly singing, "Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic," all the way back to his locker.
Here's the deal. This team isn't close to the ones of the late 1970s and early 1980s that helped energize this city. There's still plenty of reason to believe it will be the worst to wear Orioles on a road jersey since 1988.
But these Orioles have a sense of humor. And are having some fun early on. Maybe recent versions had fun at some point, too. But the good times have been erased from the memory bank by terrible results and lack of hustle.
The 2007 Orioles would have lost a game like yesterday's - trailing 2-0 in the ninth. All last year, they won just four of 91 games in which they were losing after the eighth. They were 13-31 in one-run games.
