Hope Springs Eternal At Rangers Ballpark
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - After a cloudy, rainy week the skies have opened up and shined down on North Texas, just in time to remind Rangers fans that it again is 'Baseball Time in Texas.'
For even the most nominal of Rangers fans, opening day is always entertaining in bringing out the crowds. But many of the fans who had gathered outside the ballpark gates before they opened at noon say the feeling this year is much more electric.
"Everybody is excited this year," says Becky McCauley of Emory, "You rarely see anyone tailgaiting outside of the game," she says. She and her husband Ed have been coming to Rangers games since the early days "We were at David Clyde's first game" referring to the Rangers' 18-year-old phenom in 1973. "Usually it's been 'wait 'til next year,' but now, everyone's excited that they can do it again."
Father & son team Jeff & Josh Breslaw of North Richland Hills were some of the first people in line at the first base gate. They have turned opening day into an annual tradition, continuing on even while Josh is away at college. "There's such an excitement about opening day" says Jeff, "We always make sure we are here when the gates open, catch batting practice and get a hot dog." He jokes, as many baseball fans do, that opening day should and has become a holiday "I put my flag out this morning," he laughs.
Another father & son have just started on their opening day tradition. Warren & Owen Sibley of Dallas have made it to their second opening day in a row. "Tickets were much harder to get this year," laughs Warren, who says the shared experience is what makes the day. "It's a tradition I want to keep up as long as he wants to," he said, looking down at his son. Owen has a much more pragmatic view, "I just like watching the game."
Speaking of pragmatic, some of the older fans who have followed the team for years have a much more cautious view "I'm hopeful, but not optimistic," says a fan who only identified himself as Ray. "I'm longsuffering, but realistic in my expectations. I want them to do well though." He's looking forward to the season, and admitted the pregame scene around the ballpark is much bigger than before "Even last year it wasn't this congested."
But Jon Pope of Waxahachie would argue "How can you not be optimistic when they just went to the World Series? You always have hope, this year it's validated."
Even Red Sox fans were praising the Rangers, although they questioned the fans. "Today doesn't have the same passion & excitement that you would get at Fenway Park," says Todd Tibbetts of Windsor, Maine.
Pope for one appreciates the sentiment, but point out the Rangers are the reigning AL champs. "Our smile is a little bigger this year."
Tibbetts' friend Brad Hopkins says they can relate to Rangers fans. "I know how Rangers fans feel, it's like Red Sox fans felt a few years ago when they were coming off their first World Series."
Even if Rangers fans only expect diminishing returns, opening day will always be a promising day for the team, and every other team in Major League Baseball. Around the ballpark fans are optimistic, and have big hope for the Rangers in 2011.
Play Ball!
