Opening Day at Fenway

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I can't think of a better way to spend an April afternoon than watching the 2007 World Champion Red Sox come home with my Dad, in town to take me to the opener. Not only did I meet Peter Gammons (and Bill Mueller's first cousin, but that's neither here nor there), I got to hold a replica World Series trophy and ring. That didn't hold a candle, however, to watching the boys get their rings and raise the 2007 World Series banner over Fenway.

The festivities began with some of Boston's most revered World Champs entering the stadium with their hardware. Bill Buckner's return and the incredible welcome he received mean all is finally forgiven, as it should've been from the beginning.

The Boston Pops played the national anthem, and the ceremony concluded with an Air Force flyover. And finally, Johnny Pesky was called on to utter those two words we all love to hear: "Let's play ball!"

Steven Tyler returned to the town where his band started to dedicate his rendition of "America the Beautiful" to both the Red Sox and our troops abroad, and a pre-recorded rendition of Neil Diamond performing the Sox anthem, "Sweet Caroline," played during the 8th inning.

Oh yeah, and there was a game.

Dice-K returned to the mound more at ease than he was last season, pitching 6 2/3 innings and striking out seven, en route to his second win and a 1.47 ERA. Youkilis, Ramirez, Drew, and Lugo all scored, and Manny hustled for a rare head-first slide triple.

Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima closed out the 5-0 shutout, leaving the Tigers 0-7.

And our beloved Gary Sheffield went 0 for 4.

FINAL: Boston 5, Detroit 0