Sports Redux: Homecoming

When the rumor first broke that Bill Buckner was the mystery guest at Opening Day, we thought that sounded just right. A perfect chance for diehard Sox fans, or at least the Opening Day crowd, to say all was forgiven, if in fact any forgiveness was due to the man who had to flee to Idaho to escape the indignity of a loss that he symbolized even though his was far from the only tragic mistake. Schiraldi, Gedman, McNamara...you're next. Roger, not so much.

"I've probably never almost been in tears for somebody else on a baseball field," said Kevin Youkilis about the touching moment. "It's a shame that [the error] is what people relate Bill Buckner to, instead of what a good player he was," added Mike Lowell. Dwight Evans, who caught Buck's first pitch, said, "Just seeing him walk out, I couldn't be happier for him." Amid a parade of flags, rings, and championship trophies (representatives from the Celtics, Bruins and Patriots were there; they say it's the first time all four trophies have been in the same place at once), it was a moment that truly said the past could once and for all be buried.

Buckner, for the record, wasn't the only redemption-seeking returnee at Opening Day; last week's lead story returned to Fenway with what we assume is a peace offering. Ewww.

As for the present...not bad at all. Daisuke Matsuzaka made short work of the floundering Tigers, striking out seven and allowing just four hits en route to the 5-0 win. Detroit never really even threatened. The big hits were Manny's triple/score-on-an-error in the third and (3-for-3) Youk's RBI double in the sixth. Jackie MacMullan analyzes Dice's gem.

Doc Rivers sent Ghidorah out to build a huge lead on the hapless Bucks. When the Bucks suddenly found their hap and crawled back into it, Doc resisted the urge to send in the cavalry. Happily, Eddie House and Tony Allen took care of business in overtime, and held on for the 107-104 win. The starters may see a little more action tonight in Washington, since the Wizards are one of only two(?) playoff teams the C's will see in the remainder of the regular season. Message time.

TONIGHT: Jon Lester vs. Jeremy Bonderman at Fenway. Celtics at Wizards. The Revolution try to bounce back in Kansas City. TOMORROW: The Bruins' playoff run starts in Montreal. BC kicks off the Frozen Four against North Dakota for the fourth straight year.

Photo by Stephen Senne/AP.