New Stadium, New Hope

Today is the day. After a lengthy road trip, the Yankees are finally home. They will open their brand spanking new ballpark with all the pomp and circumstance that one would expect from the Yankees. Kelly Clarkson will sing the national anthem. There will also be a military performance of stars and stripes forever in honor of the opening of the original stadium in 1923 which had the same performance. Among those in attendance will be 40 former players including Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Whitey Ford, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, David Cone, and the list goes on and on. Yogi Berra, to no surprise will throw out the first pitch. There will be a few other special appearances at today's procession including Willie Randolph and of course, the boss, George Steinbrenner.

Mike Lupica writes that the opening of the new stadium will usher in a new era of Yankees baseball.

George King anticipates the opening ceremony to be done with the utmost of style.

Apparently, there will also be a game played today. CC Sabathia will take the mound and throw the first official pitch in new Yankee Stadium history. He will be facing his former team, the Cleveland Indians. Last year's Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee will be pitching for the Indians. He is off to a slow start to the season as he is 0-2 with a 9.90 ERA in his first two starts of the year.

It should certainly be a memorable day the stadium. It should be a memorable season at the new stadium. Nothing would be better if the Yankees could take all of the enthusiasm and excitement the new stadium has brought and use it to propel them back to prominence and erase the memories of the last few seasons full of disappointment. The new stadium signifies a new beginning and a new hope.

-Favad Ali