I can't wait until opening day for 5 reasons (plus one and some rambling).

Five:

Opening Day itself…..I’ve been to opening day 9 years in a row (or ten, or eight, really can’t remember) and I know many more here have been to many more.  I left early for the Mendy Lopez shot (8th inning…went to blue river 9 hole golf course all wasted and heard the conclusion of the game on the radio....ten people from work saw me stroll right on out of the stadium like a Chauncey ass fan…..never lived that one down) and missed it, I have froze my ass off on multiple occasions, and remember a bunch of drinking in a variety of locations..  Plus…..3pm start time only helps.  Seeing the crowd, 38,000 strong (or 36,322, or whatever it is these days), playoff atmosphere, not a buck night……Mmmmm, good.

Four:

Zack Grienke….Zackkkkkkkkk…….nuff said.

Three

As misplaced as they may be.....Memories of 2003….we can say all that we want about 2003, but being able to go to the K with a broom for game 4 of a  Twins series in August (which we lost) and being able to actually purchase tickets for meaningful games…….I went every opportunity I had because I knew it may never happen again.  I almost bought season tickets for 04 because I didn’t want to miss out on playoff tickets……seems like just yesterday......

Two:

Regression to the mean…often mentioned, but never quite given its due, is regression to the mean.  The statistical probability that you can only suck so bad for so long before simple mathematics ensure that……you have a year like 2003.

Most importantly,

One:

My daughter.  Already a veteran of 15+ games at the age of 20 months.  Finally old enough to enjoy the carousel. ....One year late for being able to beat Mike Jacobs to first..  Trying to provide the memories that I had as a child……Remembering the 18 inning Rangers game when I was 9 or 10, remembering Willie Wilson throw a strike to a fan in the crowd two hours before a game in 198….something.  knowing I may be dead when she sees a Royals title.  Cuddling late nights watching the bullpen blow Zack’s leads.  Sharing my passion with a small wonderful human being….we will be at the K every Sunday home game.  She claps when DeJesus does well. ..she loves his smirk, as well as Gordon's....... She still sleeps with the lion we got on a Sunday afternoon giveaway.  She also thinks Yuni’s lateral movement is shit!

So, I guess that's the rambling.......so here's some more.....

The innocence of blindly loving something you can’t understand….being more excited about picking up dirty empty beer cups than the game itself…..seeing drunks rip seats from the structure, fans jump from the stands……the "Tastes Great", "Less Filling" screams back and forth from R and L field GA…all before the age of 10…… the luxury of listening or watching every day to a sports team that I love………looking  forward to game threads and holding large amounts of false hope…..But I digress….introducing, ………reason (plus one and some rambling). that I can't wait for opening day.

Our, Kansas City Royals!!!!!!