The Score
- R. Scott Dillon

Stravinsky created a riot with his rites of spring. Unfortunately, the Tigers could barely get the hearts of all the fan-sicles pumping Monday. It's the end of winter, and the beginning of the $8.00 beer. Cheers!

Opening Day a Grave Disappointment:
A true fan's report from the ol' ballyard
- Scott Ligon

I had high hopes for opening day 2003. After suffering through several lean years with a revolving cast of no-name players, the Tigers had finally come to their senses by bringing back Alan Trammell, Kirk Gibson, and Lance Parrish to don the old English 'D' one more time. Maybe they'd have a little rust left over from the retirement village, but these Golden Oldies always found a way to win. Expectations were set for a return to the glory days of 1984, and I felt confident that a pennant would wave yet again from the Tiger Stadium roof. But what I found on opening day at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull can only be described as a shocking scene of desolation. No cheering fans. No ticket takers. In fact, no baseball game. I just don't understand it. Have the Tigers deserted the city, or has the city deserted the Tigers? Maybe if the Tigers could get some fan support, they'd start showing up on game day. If any real baseball fans remain in this city, we need to come together and let the Tigers know that we're all behind our baseball team. Go get 'em, Tigers!

 

IN THE PARK
- Nick Sousanis

Downtown is engulfed - people flood the city, converging upon the Comerica Mecca in their annual pilgrimage of hope. Crammed into their seats, spirits high and high on spirits, the faithful hurl insults and lob the occasional cheer to the tiny idols below, participating in the ritual any way they can.

Perhaps, as their prayers for the home team are once again dashed, the celebrants' thoughts will wander beyond the temple walls and imagine the city outside as more than an occasional destination - imagine it as home.

Parks await. Empty fields of dreams call to children and adults: "Come again, people, come again. Grab a ball, a bat. Run. Throw. Catch. Hit. Play ball!"

 

NEW GIVE-AWAY PROMOTION BOOSTS GOODWILL

Opening Day tickets are easy to come by. In fact, the city actually gives them away to fans who park in specially marked spots. Just another civic initiative to get people saying nice things about Detroit.

 

 

VIEW FROM THE SKYBOX
- by John Sousanis

From where I sit this Monday afternoon - on the 27th floor of a Southfield highrise, where tinted windows turn the blue sky gray, and iron beams turn the AM play-by-play into unintelligible static - an $8 beer, a $30 ticket, and some drunken company at the new ballpark sounds downright enticing. Only 80 home games left.