Opening Day

Opening Day is one of the best starts of all the sports.  Not just because baseball has begun, but there is so much more tied in. It is more than just finally getting to see your team play and to get a glimpse on the chances that they win more than they lose.
Opening Day signals the beginning of Spring. Finally the blustery winds and cold weather are behind us, now we're only a few short months from the heat of summer and until we arrive there we get to watch flowers bloom and trees regain their leaves.
Opening Day is about a craving for hot dogs and peanuts, when you realize that your glove needs more working in and you need to buy more sunflower seeds.
Opening Day signals that America's Favorite Pastime has begun and that alone is reason enough to celebrate. And even if you aren't a huge fan, baseball allows for a constant sport until football starts back way in August.
Opening Day causes us to reboot the computer and check our fantasy lineups, to scour the internet finding out if our first baseman is starting or not because he is notoriously bad against lefties.
Opening Day is perfect.

It was Bobby's last season. And rightfully so they went to the postseason.

I have luckily been able to attend this wonderful day twice in the last two years. I spent the opening of the 2010 season at Turner Field watching the Braves open against the Cubs, and this year I went to Progressive Field to watch the Indians take on the White Sox.


The atmosphere is hard to describe, but it is phenomenal. Often they are sell-out crowds and they are buzzing. When I was in Atlanta, it was Bobby Cox's last year of managing the Braves. Everyone knew it was and they came out in abundance, to add on to that it was the 'rookie phenom' Jason Heyward's first career start in the big league.

I watched Jason Heyward hit one out of the park on the first swing of his major league career. The crowd went absolutely crazy. Then I saw Brian McCann go deep. Opening Day is just phenomenal.

Watching your favorite player on your favorite team of your favorite sport hit a homerun is a great feeling.

I encourage you all to go to an Opening Day if you ever get the chance!

Mark