Opening Day: Unbridled Optimism, Ceremonial Bunting

JOSH FLICKINGER

There is just something special about Opening Day. Maybe it's the packed ballpark. Could be the ceremonial bunting. Could be the fact that the Brewers are not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Whatever it is, there is really no other day during the season like it.

Monday at Miller Park in Milwaukee will mark my 9th opening day, and each one of them comes with special memories. My first opener came in 1988 at frigid County Stadium. 55,887 fans filled the old yard, the third biggest crowd in stadium history. I sat next to a very inebriated man. I was elated when former Brewer five-tool with no production RF Glenn Braggs sliced into the Yankee lead with a solo home run to center in the 2nd inning. The man next to me was angered when his skanky companion woke him up. His mood quickly turned when told of the home run. As I recall, the quote was "Braggs hit a home run? Yeeee-haw!" He went back into his slumber, awaking only for the 7th inning stretch. Good times.

Very simply, opening day breeds optimism. Even when the crew sent out the immortal Rafael Roque as their starter in 1999, I was buoyed by the acquisition of Sean Berry, excited to see the contributions of youngster Geoff Jenkins in his first full season, and intrigued by rookie 2B Ronnie Belliard. Another 74-win season was in the offing, but on April 4, I was fired up.

As stadium employees break out the bunting this weekend in preparation for the most highly anticipated Brewers season in almost two decades, I am even more excited than usual. With a blend of talented youngsters, steady veterans, and a fan base with unbridled enthusiasm, the 2006 Milwaukee Brewers have the chance to be special. And I'll be there Monday afternoon as Doug Davis throws the first pitch of the season, dreaming as always of a time, besides early April in front of a mostly inebriated sellout crowd, that the Crew can display that bunting.