Given that, I took Noah to the public stadium practice yesterday. We'd tried this in 2010 (Had a flat tire the day before) and 2011 (Shannon had to go to the hospital for a blood clot), so 2012 was the first one we'd been able to do. This would be our only chance to see the Ravens this year, as I had to choose to skip preseason games due to stuff upcoming in August. So I was looking to see how good an experience we got.
From Noah's perspective, yesterday was probably like "kid in a candy store with unlimited pocket money" awesome. We rode the train to get there. Rode the Metro to get down there, then walked to the Stadium because for the 2nd time in a row, Light Rail was crazy behind. While walking there, Oriole Park was open so we walked through it. When we got inside M&T, I beelined for the home bench side (going on a tip from a message board friend who said that side was most likely to get autographs). We got a group of seats in the 5th row, so I thought we were in good shape to get an autograph. More on that later. Anyway, the view of the action was pretty great. And the Ravens definitley utilized the stadium atmosphere to their benefit. Jumbotron video montages, loudspeaker announcers, a broadcast team that did various interviews through practice, and the practice itself was 2.5 hours long.
Here's where I'll bitch and moan. I was really trying to get Noah an autograph of a player. I said I didn't care which one, I just figured he would explode at the idea of getting any Raven to sign his football. So at various times during practice, players who had a moment or so off would come over and sign. A couple guys did so around our section, but by the time you saw the guy coming over, there was a SWARM of people cramming into the section to find any room to get stuff over. So we never got one that way, and as practice was winding down, I said "I guess I'll just get into the aisle and get as close as I can", figuring that eventually, the people ahead of me would get an autograph and clear out. After awhile, a stadium official came up and told "the group" that we couldn't stand in the aisle, due to fire marshall rules. Noah and I moved out. And then we watched as NOBODY ELSE MOVED A DAMN STEP. And the guy sat there talking with them for a few minutes, then walked away. Yeah, great. Let's give three cheers for people who followed the rules. So of course, when someone else came over to sign things, we ran over and missed it entirely, due to the people who never moved. The other thing that screwed us over? The people at the front were just COLLECTING autographs. Like, they were trying to get as many Ravens as possible to sign their stuff. So once someone signed their stuff, they stayed there. Meaning we never got any closer.
After awhile, I was getting super pissed and just started shouting "4 year old here, wants ANY autograph". One of the said collectors decided to be decent and handed Noah's football over for me, and back once the autograph was done. I never even saw the guy who signed it. So I had to ask who it was. "Cecil Newton, Cam Newton's brother"
...
Okay, of the 90 people on the Ravens roster, I could probably rattle off about 75 of them. Cecil Newton was one of the 15 I had no idea was on the roster. But whatever, I said any autograph and we got one. After that, I had no desire to wait around any longer so we left. I know players stayed for a long time signing, and so I bear no ill will to them.
My complaint/suggestion...Ravens, you need to structure the autographs. At Westminster, you had a specific spot where kids could line up and the players would go right there to sign for them. Stadium practice should have the same deal. You don't even need to limit it to kids. Just have a spot where people can line up after practice, you go in, get an autograph, and then you MOVE THE F%$# ON! If you want multiple, get back in the damn line. Yeah, Noah was happy, but imagine how much cooler it would've been if he had SEEN the guy who signed his autograph.
My takeaway for the future...I need to get there earlier, and find ANY front row seat, whatever section/side. Then just dig in and hold my ground. The other thing? I need to remember Noah is only 4. He's starting to understand this football thing, but again he doesn't really care much about who signs it. It'd be nice if he saw the guy sign it though.
All in all, it was fun. But I still miss the close quarters of Westminster and the expanded opportunities to interact with players.
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