Nats Fans Boo On Opening Night ... But Not Their Team For Once

Opening day is finally upon us. Technically, the MLB season began last week, as Boston and Oakland played two games in Japan, but who was actually up to watch those games anyway?

North America's version of opening day was last night, as the Nationals took on the Braves in their brand new, beautiful ballpark.



The new stadium was christened with boos, as President Bush took the mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch to Nats manager Manny Acta. This time, Washington fans were not booing their home team, but instead, the leader of the free world and the very man who runs this country. The President's throw was a bit high, perhaps due to a lack of concentration caused by 40,000 booing citizens. Immediately after delivering the pitch, Bush bolted off the mound, evidently trying to leave the field as quickly as possible. You would too if you were being booed mercilessly.

Later in the game, President Bush joined Joe Morgan and Jon Miller in the ESPN booth and spent some time talking baseball. Throughout his entire stay, Bush sounded and appeared as if he did not want to be there, giving brief and shallow answers to most of the questions he was asked.

One of his few long winded comments involved the need to bring baseball to inner-city youths across the nation. These words seemed insincere and very much planned, as though the President was told to talk about it (and he probably was). The insincerity of the comments was affirmed during the very next commercial break, which included several spots for RBI, an organization predicated on spreading the sport to children living in inner cities and urban areas. Coincidence? I think not.

Another notable moment occurred when Jon Miller asked the President if he had any interests in rejoining the Rangers organization after leaving office. Bush responded by saying he would most likely focus on being a fan, and that's all. No kidding. Something tells me George is going on a long and much needed hiatus once his term is complete. The last thing he wants to do is remain in the public eye, especially in the form of running a major league baseball team, and a really bad one at that.

All in all, Opening Night wasn't too bad. The game ended up being pretty good, as the Nationals beat the Braves on a Ryan Zimmerman walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Plus, we got to see the most memorable ceremonial first pitch since Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory put on one of the worst displays of athleticism the world has ever witnessed. What a way to kick off the brand new season.