There’s nothing like Opening Day at The Temple

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 4:30 PM

2007 Opening Day at The Ballpark will be the first that I’ve missed in nearly 20 years.  Don’t confuse that with my devout approach to any other year.  Yes, I have been sold and now am predicting the Rangers to win the west.  However, I think I’ve done that for about the past 20 years in a row mind you...I’ve been right 3 times...so my odds are as about as good as Brad Wilkerson getting a base-hit in April. 
Back to Ameriquest, er, The Ballpark, er, Rangers Ballpark or whatever their calling it now.  It will always be The Temple to me.  The first time I set foot inside the awesome structure was in January of ’93 before it puts it’s giant boxer/briefs on.  Just the concrete was up with a bunch of dirt in the field.   It was beautiful even then.  The first time I was actually there in a game setting was during an exhibition game vs. the Mets the weekend before it opened officially.  I’ll never forget walking in the 3rd base gate and approaching the seats and staring at me through the wide opening was the home run porch and while “Centerfield” by John Fogerty was playing, I remember thinking...this maybe the a moment I’ll never forget.  It was!  A couple of days later I watched the first game ever there and saw Dave Nielson drive a into the lower home run porch for the first HR.  I was hoping it would be the new Ranger Will Clark, but getting to witness that was special. 
I was even on TV in the ’96 opener when I nearly caught Craig Worthington’s HR off Roger Clemens to win the game.  ’97 was a memorable home opener only in retrospect because it would be my hero Mark Holtz’ last.  The most memorable home opener for me was probably in 2001.  I was in the locker room with the press pass and it was A-Rod’s first game with the Rangers at the ballpark.  It was an absolute madhouse...and by the way, Troy Aikman was throwing out the first pitch due to his recent retirement from the Cowboys.  The Rangers had an eagle fly in from centerfield that day and land on a man’s hand standing at the pitchers mound.  Later, in the press box I came face-to-face with that eagle and it was the most intimidated I’ve ever been.  That’s a mean looking bird that seems to stare deep into your soul. 
There’s just nothing like the first game at The Temple.  A full-house crowd, the first sounds of the cracking bat, the smells of hot dogs, sounds of the screaming vendors amongst Chuck Morgan’s voice coming down from the heavens announcing the starting lineups.  Even the Rangers are yet from being cellar-dwellers.  For one day a year, in a three-hour window everything is right with the world.  And if this year could have a similar ending to the ’96, ’98, and ’99 seasons, we’ll all be happy at the Temple on closing day!