Baseball’s opening day gives hope for all teams. Everyone has the same dreams when that first pitch is thrown at baseball stadiums across the country – that their team will make it to the playoffs and, ultimately, the World Series.
There’s a lot that is still right with baseball. I am not a rabid baseball fan, like I am with football. I may watch parts of a few games throughout the season and then a little more when the playoffs begin.
Although it was snowing here in Montana and the temperature was around 30 degrees, I enjoyed seeing ESPN carry the Kansas City Royals home opener against the Boston Red Sox. With my favorite rock band, REO Speedwagon, singing the national anthem and a B-2 bomber from Whiteman AFB doing a flyover of Kauffman stadium and temperatures around 80 degrees, everything was perfect for opening day 2007.
It’s the little things in life that makes it rewarding and fulfilling.
And surprisingly, the Royals beat the Red Sox 7-1. Curt Schilling was pitching for the Red Sox, too.
I was a big fan of the Royals when I was stationed at Whiteman AFB in the 1980s. It was their glory years when small market teams could compete with the Yankees and the Dodgers. During that time, I could name the starting lineup for the Royals. Today, I can hardly name one player.
In 1985 the Royals won the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the I-70 series. The state was divided. As the 1985 season was coming to a close, I did not think the Royals had a chance to make the playoffs, so I did not request any playoff or World Series tickets. That was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I watched the Royals win it all from 60 miles away. I still have game seven on tape. I remember George Brett and Bret Saberhagen hugging each other after the final out in game seven in which they beat the Cardinals 11-0. George Brett was a pure player. There are not too many like him playing today.
Will the Royals ever make it back to the top? They have suffered through a few 100 loss seasons recently. I do know that they may be on their way back to having some winning seasons for a change. The 2007 season started better than anyone could have expected and the dream of making the playoffs is still alive in Kansas City. So, I’m telling you there’s a chance…