A One, A Two, A Three … It’s Opening Day!

April 1, 2011 By 27 Comments

Opening Day is like no other on the calendar and the feeling felt on the first day of a baseball season is hard to explain to those that do not follow the game with the same passion as we have for our entire lives. Baseball begins as winter is coming to an end. There is a feeling of optimism and hope and for one day being able to dream that maybe this season is the season we’ve been waiting for. Baseball is our passion and our pastime. It is the game our grandfather passed down to our father that in turned passed the game down to us. This is the game we debate on the coldest of winter days and cheer on the hottest summer nights. This is the game we all played as children and still follow with the same passion as the 10-year old we haven’t seen in the mirror in more days than we care to remember.

Baseball is full of tradition and characters. Baseball transcends generations and cultures and has broken down barriers. Phrases and words from America’s Pastime are a part of everyday vocabulary and accepted in every walk of life. The books fill our offices, the movies fill our armoires and the names and numbers from the past fill what is left in our memory banks. This is our sport … this is baseball.

“Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back …”

It’s time for baseball. It’s time to root for the Cubs. It is Opening Day …

PLAY BALL!


Filed Under: The Northside Media Guide Tagged With:
  • fryegye

    Neil and the CCO -

    A class act all the way.

    CCO is just like the baseball cards of my youth, a tradition tied to a great game. Thank you for a truly great site.

    • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

      Thank you!

  • Tony_Hall

    Hot Stove league is fun, but Opening DAY is here!! Everything should be just a little bit easier today as we wait for the first pitch, knowing it’s not day’s anymore, just hours, then minutes, then, finally, Play Ball!

    All of our banter and predictions won’t matter as real games are played, with stats starting to accumulate to prove someone right or wrong about player X.

    “It is a long season” you will hear, when the player someone predicted to have a good season, starts slow.

    “It’s early” you will say, when the player you said would fail, starts fast.

    We will have more discussions, about what has happened and what we think will happen next, as there are plenty of storylines for this year.

    - Quade’s first year in the dugout as manager ?

    - Garza first year in Chicago, Cashner’s first chance at the rotation?

    - Will B Jackson be called up?

    - Will Colvin play enough?, Will Colvin play GOOD enough, when he does play?

    - Aramis, Fukudome, in the final years of their contracts?

    - Will the new look bullpen take care of the bridge from starters to Marmol?

    - Which rookies will get a chance?

    - We can go on and on as baseball leads itself to new stories everyday, that is what makes this game so much fun to watch.

    But at the end of the day all we want to hear is “Cubs Win! Cubs Win!”

    I can still hear Harry saying it everytime I hear it. “Cubs Win! Cubs Win!”

    And I can still hear Ronnie agonizing with each play, good or bad. We will miss you #10.

    Let’s Play Ball!

    • paulcatanese

      Tony,very good,are you sure you are not a Poet?

      • Dorasaga

        And there’s a little poetry in all Cubbiness, whether it’s yours or mine.

        Well said, Tony, with plenty of catch-phrase!

  • Tony_Hall

    By Paul Sullivan – 9 Questions facing the Cub

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0401-questions-cubs-opening-da20110331,0,1164443.story

    Interesting that Paul S picks Soto has the most irreplacable guy, stating how bad Hill is on the bench. I believe if Soto went on the DL, that Castillo would be starting in his place….ok, so I don’t believe it completely, but that is what should happen.

    The final question is THE question.

    Is this they year? Paul Sullivan’s answer…read the article to find out.

    • John G

      I have a question.

      Where did Pete Rose get that fugly jacket?

      http://mit.zenfs.com/121/2011/03/PeteRose.jpg

      • paulcatanese

        John, probably at the track after losing his.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

          Yeah the lost and found at the track can be a little on the trashy side.

      • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

        My guess, Las Vegas …

      • Mike1040

        Doesn’t matter, he was one of the best baseball players ever, he should be in the HOF.

  • Tom U

    Here’s wishing the entire Cubs organization success at all levels this season.

  • Craig Y

    Happy Opening Day friends! The wait is over and this is the first year I have mlb.tv so i will be able to watch our Cubs! Let’s hope for a GREAT season and hope they get the game in today. GO CUBS GO!

  • The Maven

    Let’s get some runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Henry

    I have my cubs gear on! Leaving shortly for Bernie’s. I will be in section 235 row 8 seat 105 and 106. stop by and say hello if you are at the game!

    • Craig Y

      Enjoy!

    • Matt

      Man I wish I was there to say hello! Anyway Enjoy!

    • John G

      You’re going to be in 2 seats? Be careful of that arm in between the seats.

      Just Kidding. Have fun and stay dry. and warm.

    • paulcatanese

      Look forward to seeing you on TV,have a great day.

  • John G

    Here’s hoping they don’t lose the opener. Remember the old joke?

    No beer at Wrigley this year.
    They lost the opener.

    Hey!! It’s Pittsburgh. They have a chance to be in first place, at least for a day.

    GO CUBS GO!!! (apologies to Tony for the multiple exclamation points)

    • Tony_Hall

      I don’t believe you were disagreeing with a point, or trying to prove your point!!!!!!! But if this doesn’t make you think that I am yelling at you!!!!!!!!! I am not sure what would!!!!!!!!!

  • http://theboardridersuite.wordpress.com/ Theboardrider

    Now let’s talk Cubs LIVE!!!

    • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

      Talkin’ will launch around 11:00am

  • paulcatanese

    Neil as usual very good analogy and prefix to the season. Looking forward to when I can’t get the games on TV and reading your’e report. I will not feel that I have missed a beat.

  • John G

    Not as good as actually being there, but it’ll give you a good feeling.

    http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam/

  • studio179

    Ahh, opening day! There is a snow/rain mixture there, but still opening day!

  • Gramps

    Finally Opening Day! GO CUBS!!