Cincinnati Reds Opening Day

Opening Day: A virtual holiday in the city of Cincinnati. A day Marty Brenneman calls the "greatest single day" each year in the City of Cincinnati. A day the Reds, a team soaking with baseball tradition and history took on the Chicago Cubs. But, as you may or may not know, the baseball game is just the closing of a much larger event.

It begins much earlier than opening day. It begins before spring training. It begins with passion. There is a passion by the people in Cincinnati for their Cincinnati Reds. Touted as the oldest team in baseball, the Reds are a tradition in Cincinnati that outdates all its residents.

Despite a string of lackluster years, in early February, a week before tickets go on sale for opening day, people pack up their camping supplies and stake a claim in the line for tickets at the ballpark. Waiting through bitter cold, snow storms, and the incessant sound of the nearby interstate, fans wait, mostly patiently, for the chance at the elusive opening day ticket. Then almost as soon as the moment arrives, it is gone. Within 15 minutes, all of the over 42,000 tickets are gone. The only hope becomes an overpriced ticket from eBay, 333-SEAT, or scalpers trying to get $150 for nosebleed seats when the game is already in the fourth inning.

Ten days before opening day, 700WLW begins their countdown. Nonstop would be the word to describe discussions of prospect and reminiscence. A new owner this year makes the hype and expectations elevated.

On opening day itself, the parade takes place from Findlay Market and snakes its way around downtown with numerous dignitaries, former players, and average Reds fans. Students skip school, employees skip work, and even those that don't, are attached to either a radio tuned to Marty and Joe (and Steve), a television, or are clicking away online watching the play-by-play.

All this, and we are just approaching the beginning of the game. This year, President Bush threw the first pitch. Gates opened at 10:15 for the 2:15 game. He did well, at least getting it to the plate and then the Chicago Cubs went on to pulverize the Cincinnati Reds 16-7. By the 6th inning most of the fans had left the ballpark with frustration, only hoping the season doesn't end in June like it has for so many in the recent past and already anticipating next year's opening day.

My Thoughts on Strange Beings

There are some times in our life that we realize that we as humans are strange beings. I have recently been thinking about this in the context of the ever fascinating ear wax.

You all know what I am talking about. It's as irresistible as a sleeve of Thin Mints from the Girl Scouts. Whether you use a Q-Tip, finger, someone else's finger, pencil, or even screwdriver, there seems to be an instinctual need to get it out of our ears. But as we know, it never stops at getting it out. Something about it is required by our senses. We must look at it, inspect it, touch it, smell it, and in some cases even taste it. Why is this? What is wrong with us? We know it smells fowl. We know it tastes bitter. Yet we continue to habitually follow these instincts.

Are we no more in control of ourselves than a bird flying south, a herd flocking, or maybe more comparable, a dog licking itself? I'll leave you to ponder this question.