[Opinion] Con: Empty-Stadium Orioles Game An Embarrassment Of Historic Proportions
BALTIMORE (CBS DC) — If Monday's pathetic riots left my beloved Baltimore with a badly blackened eye, it didn't take long for the other one to be socked with yet another stinging shiner.
The lingering fear in the air and some unsubstantiated threats by more misguided youngsters on social media for rioting in parts of the city — and now parts of quiet Baltimore County — left the Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball in a tough spot: What do we do about our scheduled games this week at Oriole Park at Camden Yards?
So, with police officers forced to be utilized throughout the city and out of an incredible abundance of caution, they decided to do something unprecedented: move Wednesday night's scheduled game against the Chicago White Sox to the afternoon — and ban fans from attending. An MLB first.
They will play Wednesday's game in front of an empty stadium. No doubt it will be interesting to watch and especially to hear.
But O', what an embarrassment.
Instead of taking the opportunity to show our city's resolve, we are caving. We are showing that we've been battered, pushed down to the ground and aren't well enough to stand up yet. After days of being viewed across the entire world as an out-of-control war zone, we have the perfect chance to dust ourselves off and do something that is pure Baltimore at its finest: enjoy a beautiful day of baseball at our country's most beautiful ballpark.
There are soldiers donning impressive weaponry throughout the streets of Baltimore. Television cameras are scouring our streets, furiously hunting for more signs of destruction. We are the laughingstock of America's big cities. Despite all of this, what better way to show how great and strong we are than by letting the game go on, and in doing so, perhaps flipping the Oriole bird to our critics.
Look, I get it. I understand the safety concerns. I know there is a high risk of confrontations similar to what we saw outside the stadium on Saturday, and I understand that police officers are needed elsewhere as we continue our return to normalcy. But I don't buy that we don't have the resources to let this game be played. It may be at an additional cost to the city, but at this point, it's worth it.
On Tuesday, thousands of people returned to the streets of Penn North, the already troubled area that was the epicenter of Monday's riots. They marched peacefully. They walked hand-in-hand. I'm sure most folks across the country expected a repeat of Monday to happen again Tuesday, and especially Tuesday night when the curfew hit. But guess what: it didn't happen. The good folks who took to the streets Tuesday forbid it from happening. They showed that resolve I'm referring to, and I have no doubt that desire to flex a peaceful muscle would carry over to Camden Yards.
I see it on social media from my fellow Baltimoreans who love this city dearly and are sickened by what's happened. We are all desperate to show America that we live in a fantastic city.
I don't know who made the final call for Wednesday's game. Maybe it was the Orioles. Maybe it was MLB. Maybe it was the latest in a string of bad reactions to the protests by Baltimore City brass.
How about if we decide?
If anything, let fans decide if they want to come down to the ballpark. I'm pretty sure we all know the risk involved. Give fans the option to come down or exchange their tickets. And hey, you want to be extra careful? Ban alcohol sales.
I know there are plenty of stunned fans out there as flabbergasted as I am. Perhaps we should head down to the gates at Eutaw Street today and launch a protest of our own: "Let us in! Don't let them win!"
It will be quite a sight when the cameras go on today and we see another three hours of Baltimore at its worst. I'm so sad for my city.
Steve Fink is the Director of News Programming & Promotion for CBS Local. He is a native Baltimorean who returned to Charm City in 2012 after six years in Manhattan.
