The Weekly Dig's take on MLB's controversial decision to hold Opening Day on Easter Sunday
Opening Day in Boston is a Boston traditional rite of Spring for Bostonians thawing out from a long, cold (or, in the case of this year — wet) winter.
Like most other teams in Major League Baseball, the holiday falls on a weekday afternoon — in which case nearly half the city comes up with lame excuses to skip out of work and partake in the Opening Day festivities at Fenway Park. It’s probably the only day of the year aside from Day One of the NCAA Tournament where work productivity is at its lowest level.
But this year is a different story for Red Sox fans. Not only is the home opener late on Sunday night (read: less drinking because who wants to be hungover on a Monday morning workday?), but it falls on Easter Sunday, which is a problem among some in the population here. With nearly half the population identifying themselves as Roman Catholic, and many more representing other Christian denominations, it’s no surprise this is an issue among those faithful to Jesus and the Boston Red Sox.
Sports radio and local publications (see above) are buzzing about the issue over the past few weeks and reaction is mixed. Frankly, I really think people are bummed that the game is on a Sunday night as opposed to it falling on Easter Sunday. Opening Day is generally a celebration on par with Marathon Monday in the City of Boston, and having it on a Sunday Night pretty much wrecks everything. With the game unlikely to finish before 11:30 (don’t forget pregame ceremonies), it’s a shame that many who wake up early on Monday morning (especially the kids) won’t get to catch the end of the game.
But, this is Yankees v. Red Sox, and ESPN isn’t about to concede an inch on this one. As the only game of the night and the kickoff to the season, ratings will be huge on Sunday. I get it — it’s a business and nobody cares what Jesus, the Catholic Church or anyone in Boston really has to say on the matter.
Call me old school or straight unemployed, but here’s to wishing we were opening on a Tuesday afternoon with the rest of the league.
