Opening Day for baseball. The only time of the season where every team is tied for first place.
Each team's fans just know this is their year to win the whole thing. But they give up four runs in the first and that's it for the season, wait til next year!
I can't explain the excitement of the home opener. No other sport comes close to the feeling. Living in the Chicago area, the opener is rarely a nice day. Today's White Sox opener was pushed to Tuesday because of three inches of snow, temps in the 30's, and 30mph winds. Tomorrow will be much better when it hits 40.
Still the fans want to be there. I remember my dad and I going to the old Comiskey Park in the early 80's and being part of the biggest opening day crowd ever. Over 52,000 saw the Sox lose to Milwaukee on a brutal day for baseball. The electricity of the crowd seemed to block out the drizzle and chill.
The first game at US Cellular had hopes for the resurgance of the Sox. Frank Thomas, Robin Ventura, Carlton Fisk, and Jack McDowell. Another frigid day and the Sox got killed 11-0 by Detroit.
The most memorable opener was 2006. The night the World Series championship banners were raised. It was at that time where it sunk in to me that my team was the champs. It was chilling and brought tears to my eyes. The Sox beat Cleveland 2-1 that night and the repeat was on. Cubs fans would never be able to handle the Sox winning two series in a row. By June the Sox were in first and something went wrong and the repeat was not going to happen.
So tomorrow begins another season. Is this the year they return to take back the trophy? I'm hoping it is. If not, just one game better than the World Series less Cubs will suffice.
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3 comments:
somehow it makes sense with all the football talk in the air.
i listened to the radio on the way to work this morning and the radio guys sounded fatigued and unprepared for the baseball season.
it's the jc hangover.
we have the ncaa championship to hold us over for one more day.
always a great game.
I missed every run scored in that New Comisky Opener waiting in line for a cold corned beef sandwich.
The team, the park and the food have all gotten better since then.
MLB's opening day is the best sports day of the year.
No four inches of snow, or bad economy, or overly extended preseason can ruin that day.
Even the story of a fan waiting in line for a cold corned beef sandwich missing most of the game, can't ruin that day.
One game better than the Cubs will easily get you in the playoffs. But this year the trophy is going 10 miles north of it's 2005 destination.
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