New Year's in April

Today is the day the Lord hath made. Forget Jan. 1. Happy New Year!

And baseball fans everywhere rejoiced.

The season opener last night, the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians on the South Side, was delayed three hours by rain. It was just as well. An electrical storm here on Rocky Top knocked the power out for more than an hour. Just as the lights came back on, and the TV flickered back to life, the Sox grounds crew was pulling the tarp across the field.

Some timing, huh? No worries, though. They got the game in later.

The Atlanta Braves opened the year on the West Coast today. The Bravos survived a rainstorm and two come-from-behind surges by the Los Angeles Dodgers to win an ugly, error-filled slugfest, 11-10.

We've got 161 more to go, but the out-of-the-gate feeling is good. The Braves can score runs. Now let's just hope they can play defense. And develop a solid bullpen.

Hated to see former Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal sporting Dodger blue. My pal J.M. Ramsey says Furcal should have grabbed the ball, headed back to the Braves dugout and said, "Give me a uniform." Sigh.

Somewhere south of Chavez Ravine, the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres are underway at Petco Park. Thanks to the magic of Directv, J.M. and I are there, too.

Barry Bonds, he with the juiced muscles, is getting booed every time he shows his face. Poor Bonds. He says his life is ruined. Why do I not feel sorry for him? I'm just glad I don't own BALCO stock.

The Yankees open the year in Oakland tonight. That great freak of human nature, 40-something Randy Johnson, will take the mound for the Bronx Bombers. Facing him is Bay Area stud (and Patrick Duffy's cousin) Barry Zito. With a little luck, they will treat us to a pitchers' duel.

Up in the heartland, Florida and UCLA will tip-off around 9:15 for the college basketball NCAA Championship. The Bruins are old-school basketball, the Gators are like family (even if they're the bum of a cousin you don't talk about much).

I'll flip over there during the commercials. Can't be distracted tonight.

Not on New Year's Day.