I certainly didn't expect that the season opening ceremonies to be the highlight of the day. But it was wonderful to see Johnny Pesky raise the championship banner in centerfield and then be kissed and hugged by Manny Rameriez after he had finished the task.
And it was a profile in courage to see Bill Buckner walk out to throw the ceremonial first pitch in front of 35,000 people for whom he had become a symbol of failure over the past 21 years. The crowd responded with an uncharacteristic New England generosity and a major wound in Boston sports history suddenly just melted away. All was forgiven. Another religious moment in the high temple of baseball.
This is not something that you see every day, or every opening day for that matter. Daisuke was impressive and the Sox won handily, but it was almost beside the point.
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