Opening Day 2006!

Six months have now passed, and my sport has returned! The one day of the year when fans turn back the memory bank and remember the first game they ever saw on Opening Day. Today marked my 5th home opener in 6 years in Texas. Consequently, the Rangers have lost five of their last six, including today.

A picture perfect day with some added surprises. Namely the Texas Longhorn band performing, Mack Brown throwing out the first pitch as Darryl Royal watched, Roger Clemens sitting with Tom Hicks and the Rocket receiving a thunderous standing ovation, seeing Curt Schilling for the first time up close. I did find it funny that Chuck Morgan chose to play 'Rocket Man'...the chorus was haunting me 'And I think it's gonna be a long long time' if anyone thinks Mr Clemens comes to Arlington...

Early on Kevin Millwood and Curt exchanged goose eggs until the 4th when Jason Varitek connected on a two run double. Millwood would then surrender a thunderous foul pole blast by 'Papi' Ortiz. A 5-0 lead would become a 7-3 final for the Red Sox nation.

Curt Schilling was lights out. Hank Blalock homered for the fourth straight home opener in defeat. Having Kevin Mench play in right field afforded me the opportunity to bring the banner I made popular for a good part of last season...

Without question the highlight of the pregame was seeing 4 Fighter planes fly overhead so close together! Man, that was loud! The largest opening day crowd in Texas history represented this day-51,541! Game two tomorrow night as Vicente Padilla will battle knuckler Tim Wakefield. I'll be there...As if that wasn't enough...

A rare double dip awaited me as the Dallas Stars had a home game against the still contending San Jose Sharks. I always enjoy watching Patrick Marleau do his thing since my days in Seattle when Pat was a young Thunderbird. After a 1-0 Dallas lead in period one, Marleau would connect to knot things up at 1 early in period two.

I had a bad feeling about tonight when San Jose got to a 23-9 advantage with shots on goal. The Stars also looked tired. Joe Thornton would ice a win in OT for the Sharks 3-2.

Thankfully, Dallas acquired a point for going to OT. Not the way I wanted to end this double dip but I enjoyed being able to do the 2 for 1. A bit different than the way the rest of you might do so...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will