Play Ball!

Opening Day at Fenway Park is one of those unofficial holidays here in the Boston area. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, the Red Sox returning to Fenway gives people a comforting sense of regularity. For a day, at least, everything is right with the world. The game takes on an atmosphere of postseason play, with fanfare befitting the World Series. The bunting is out, the giant American flag is on the Green Monster, the F-15's are in place for their flyover, the color guard (or three of them) is in the outfield, the entire team -- starters, reserves, and non-uniformed staff (including Daisuke's Matsuzaka's translator, who got one of the biggest ovations of the day) are lined up along the bases, a local celebrity is in town to sing the national anthem (or another patriotic song in lieu of the actual anthem), the Red Sox greats of yore trot out to throw the first pitch, and living legend Johnny Pesky is ready to deliver those two words which are music to every baseball fan's ears: "Play Ball!" It's a little bit magical.

And most importantly, the Sox won. Big. Nothing like Friendly Fenway to get those bats working again. Bonus points for absolutely humilating former Yankee Jeff Weaver, who was removed after two innings and will go into his next game with a 31.50 ERA. Something tells me it's going to be a good year.