Major-league baseball fans have had their eyes opened to Swedish pop group Ace of Base. Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is off to a torrid start this season, batting an unheard-of .552 average in 19 games at the team’s Coors Field. He’s been so hot, in fact, that Mike Krukow, an announcer for the San Francisco Giants, this week accused the 29-year-old of stealing opposing teams’ signs.
Tulo’s response in the Rockies’ game yesterday (May 22) against the Giants was priceless. According to MLB.com, he used Ace of Base’s global 1992 smash “The Sign,” with its instantly catchy “I saw the sign” lyrical refrain, as his at-bat walk-up music. If we just got the song stuck in your head, you’re welcome.
It’s not the first creative use of a decades-old song by a baseball player this season: The Oakland A’s outfielder Josh Reddick famously comes out to George Michaels’ “Careless Whisper,” which has enough gooey saxophone for closing time in China. But Tulowitzki’s move is still an awesome display of chutzpah, and it definitely gets the point across better than some of our other relevant favorites, such as Prince’s “Sign ‘O’ the Times” or the blues staple “Born Under a Bad Sign.” (Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” might be better for autograph events.)
And hey, Tulo can always use Tesla/Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs” when the Rockies meet the Giants again to make up Thursday’s game, which was suspended on account of rain and the threat of tornadoes. That’s right, tornadoes. Like hammer-wielding (or at least hook-wielding) Scandinavian gods, never undestimate the power of Ace of Base.
//www.youtube.com/embed/DNPjeIamsck
