Wow. Today turned out to be pretty sweet. Like i said, it was my first Opening Day in downtown Cincinnati. I didn't have tickets to the sold out game, but i at least wanted to enjoy the spectacle of Opening Day. I emailed my boss this morning and asked her if it would be okay if i left early, provided we weren't busy. I told her it was really no big deal and i didn't mind working a full shift. But i did have some accumulated personal time and i realized that this was my opportunity to actually use some for personal time. In the past, it's always been used to stay home and take care of my son. My plan was to just go to a bar or a friend's and watch the game on TV after catching some of the downtown pregame parade. So when i sent an email to my coworkers saying that i would be leaving early, people started asking if i was going to the game. Roughly half of the office was leaving at noon to go to the game. I told them that i was going to see how much tickets were being scalped for and then i would probably just go watch the game at a bar. Turns out, the girl sitting next to me had 2 extra tickets. Opening Day, $20 ticket. Seriously? i could not pass that up. Nothing like drinking at noon, all while getting paid.
I have been a lifelong Reds fan. I have not seen them win in person since 1989 when they beat the Mets. One of my earliest sports memories. My brother was in town from New York. We did the wave. We were sitting in the nosebleeds behind home plate. I've been to plenty of games since then. Not once have i witnessed a victory. Once, i saw the Reds beat the Cardinals 5-3. It was the first game of a doubleheader. I got there in the top of the 2nd. The Reds put up a five spot in the first. So, technically, i saw them lose 3-0.
Today was fantastic. I called Adam Dunn's first inning homer before he hit it. Harang was dominant. Griffey looked great. From top to bottom, the Reds played great. Everyone position player reached base except David Ross. The most impressive moment, and one of the most impressive i've ever seen, was when rookie Josh Hamilton pinch hit.
Everyone knows his story by now. Former #1 overall pick, wasted his talent on a drug habit, picked up this year by the Reds. When his name was announced in the 8th, the crowd rose to its feet. He hit a solid line drive, which was robbed by the Cubs center fielder. The crowd stood and cheered even louder after the out was made. The reception for Hamilton was greater than the reception for Pete Rose, who was attending the game as a paying fan. It was touching, which is not a feeling i usually come away with from a sporting event.
5-1 win, seven innings, no earned runs for Harang, Dunner flat-out abused two Zambrano fastballs, A-Gonz looks like a vast improvement defensively. I'm excited. I'm even going back on the 20th. Two Reds games in April. Yeah, i have a feeling this might be a good year.
If the Bucks come through tonight, i will be in a state of joyous bliss for at least the next four months. Or until another Bengals star gets arrested.
Big ups Adam Dunn
Get it done Mike Conley, Jr.
Go home and cry Sanjaya Noah
O-H-I-O!!!!
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