OPENING DAY
What-a-great concept! A new day, a new season, a new start!
I remember taking 1/2 vacation days, and going out to the old Sounds stadium — Greer stadium out at Fort Negley, on Chestnut Street. We’d cheer for the home team, eat some ball park fare, do the actions to “The Birdie Song,” and watch the scoreboard shaped like a guitar. Sometimes we saw the members of the state Supreme Court out for an afternoon at the ball-park.
I’ll always remember, too, seeing Bob Dylan & His Band and Willie Nelson & Family; June 28, 2005. I could cry right this minute as I think of that beautiful night! Mike went with me; we had so much fun! Special note: I do not think Dylan and Willie were ever on the stage at the same time. Additional note: they played dozens of dates, all over the country; it really was a “Never Ending Tour.”
I’ve heard that there’s a new stadium now — out by the iconic Stock-Yard — and that the Stock-Yard will be converted to luxury town-homes, if it survives at all. The new stadium is near the sulphur springs for which the first stadium, Sulphur Dell (pre-dating Greer), was named. I heard they’re probably gonna tear Greer Stadium down. This new stadium, now — I’m sure it’s lovely and that it will someday feel like “home” to the Nashville Sounds. They’ll have opening day on April 7, later this week, against Oklahoma City. Nashville’s first woman mayor, Megan Barry, will be throwing out the first pitch.
I hope that Peter Cooper takes his boy to see the games this week! Peter’s “Opening Day” will always stay in my brain, especially that genius line: “ . . . we’re tied for first, with the whole summer left to play . . . “
