Travel Blog

Yesterday was my first opening day as an unemployed person, and I still didn't drive down to Dolphin Stadium to watch the game. It wasn't because I didn't want to mingle with gainfully employed people who'd called in sick. Rather, the 4 pm start would have made me late for Hania's birthday.

For northerners in Florida, opening day is a little like Christmas - a bit lacking in luster (if not meaning). Still, I dropped everything (which wasn't that much) at 1 pm to watch the Cincinnati Reds open at home for the 133rd time. The picture of Frank Robinson bundled in a convertible during the pre-game parade made opening day in South Florida seem a lot more appealing.

At 4 I switched over to the Marlins and Nationals, a game which included baseball's most exciting play - an inside-the-park home run (by a newcomer to the Marlins) - and its most dramatic - a grand slam (by the Marlins' former lead-off batter who has always struggled with RBIs).

This morning I turned on Sports Center to see the highlights. After the obligatory talk of the NCAA basketball championship, there was exhaustive coverage of the Yankees and Mets. It's just like in the publishing world, where writers outside New York are considered irrelevant. Still, there was immense satisfaction in watching the Yankees' new $161 million pitcher lose his first game. Schadenfreude, though rarely labeled as such, is one of our national pastime's greatest emotions.