The Washington Nationals are searching for a new theme song for the seventh-inning stretch. Not something stolen from another team, but a catchy tune Screech can lead from the stands.
It’s not an easy choice, which is why the Nats are getting fan input later this week. Our town is really about politics, which most songs are against. I mean, how many tax increase ballads do you know? “Young Lawyers in Love” is possible, but it’s hard to go to sleep afterwards with that thought in mind. I mean, have you walked around K Street lately?
As much as the marketing staffs wants to force traditions on us, that’s not how it works. Nats manager Frank Robinson laughed at this contrived “Battle of the Beltways” — how original — with the Orioles, saying rivalries take time. So do traditions. Fans will sort it out.
Maryland basketball fans wouldn’t let university officials take away “Rock and Roll, Part II” with its profane interjection because it is a tradition. When the band wouldn’t play, fans sang it themselves. West Virginia football fans sing “Country Roads” after games. These icons don’t come from marketing boardrooms, they come from the streets.
Let’s get the juke box started. A Washington-type tune could come from the traditional war songs, but “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” might be a little long. Same goes for “America, the Beautiful” and we already sing “The Star Spangled Banner” before the game. Maybe the boys down at the Navy Yard have some special tune, but it probably can’t be sung around children.
The Nats could play off the underdog role given the team’s going to lose an awful lot this year. “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama might be fun. “All I Need is a Miracle” by Mike & the Mechanics would be appropriate. But then, we’re looking long term and the team will hopefully be better in coming years.
We could go for the traditional Washington sex scandal. Maybe Brian Schneider could sing “Just a Gigolo” from behind home plate. “French Kissing in the USA” by Debbie Harry could be interesting.
There’s the usual dance songs. “Funky Town” by Pseudo Echo or Gloria Estefan’s “Get on Your Feet.” Maybe “Get into the Groove” by Madonna. Alfonso Soriano could groove to that in the outfield.
How about a local group? “Killing the Queen” by Ainsley McGray wowed the fans at the DC9 nightclub during Sunday’s local battle of the bands. Then there’s “Ms. New Booty” by Bubba Sparxxx Featuring Ying Yang Twins & Mr. ColliPark. I’m not making that up. Bet Frank would come out of the dugout to see that.
There’s always the old standby rock ’n’ roll songs. “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A” by John Cougar and “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen are possible, but too many Washingtonians consider themselves white collar workers to identify with rockers. Too bad.
OK, enough kidding aside. I have the perfect song — “American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz. It’s high energy, fits into the nation’s capital thinking and simply rocks out. I saw the Redskinettes perform to it during the Redskins’ 2002 preseason game in Osaka, Japan and it made America stand loud and proud.
And when thinking about it, why can’t we have cheerleaders at baseball games? Beats looking at Matthew LeCroy all night.
In the end, as long as it’s not some contrived marketing gimmick like “Who let the dogs out?” then Nats fans will be fine. But the team is smart to let locals pick it instead of outsiders coming in once more to tell us how we should feel about, oh, the Redskins name being racist.
We’ve been here for three centuries. Washingtonians can figure this one out ourselves.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
