Opening Day 2011

Every year there is nothing more special than Opening Day for Dave. However, Opening Day 2011 was even more special than any other Opening Day that he's ever been to before and most likely will ever be. 

I never understood how a sports team could ever mean so much to a person, but after the 2010 Baseball Season I started to understand it a little more. I've always been a sports fan, loved playing and watching sports but it never had an effect on me if they won or lost. I think our trip to Arizona for Spring Training this year helped me define Dave's passion and love for Baseball...not just any Baseball Team but the San Francisco Giants. Once we were in Arizona it put his love of the game in a whole new perspective...we were so far from home yet it felt like home was right there. Everywhere we went we talked to people from California not just from California but from Sacramento and San Francisco, we saw people we've seen before at Giants Games back at home. We went to game after game and as we talked to different people I learned that Dave's not the only one that this means so much too. If they were a true Giants fan winning the 2010 World Series truly meant the world to them! For Dave I see it as one thing in his life he's always had, with Dave's brother being the most predominant male in his life and Dave being the younger brother always looking up to Bill it must have started there with him wanting to be like his brother. It's something that keeps a strong relationship going between his brother and him they both have this love for the sport and the team, in ups and downs, wins and losses it's always been there. After watching and rooting for something  so long and to win the ultimate title there's nothing at that point that can get any better.

The morning of Opening Day Dave got up early and headed to meet up with his cousin, then together they took BART to the City! Once at AT&T Park the Opening Day Festivities began! As the Team took the field in a long line and the Championship Flag was passed down the line, I could only imagine, the excitement, the emotion, the overall feeling going through Dave's body as the Flag finally ended in Brian Wilson's hands, who then ran it through Centerfield and up into the stands to finally make his way to the "Flag Pole"! I know he watched with tremendous pride as the 2010 World Series Champions flag went up the Flag Pole, I only wish that I was able to be there with him to experience this day.

The Giants had a slim lead through most of the game, after 12 innings and roughly 5 1/2 hours  full of drama, excitement and torture THE GIANTS WIN!!