Category: Beyond the Bison

Julian Dorey

Senior Writer

Beyond the Bison: “Mission Accomplished”

Apparently Hollywood endings can happen on crisp, fall New York nights too.

It was Sept. 26 when Mariano Rivera emotionally took his last career bow at Yankee Stadium.

Gone is the all-time saves leader and his stunning 652 lockdown closeouts. Gone is the class act who was loved and praised by every fan base. Gone is the last man to ever wear the number 42 in the Major Leagues (Jackie Robinson’s MLB-retired number).

It might not have happened this way without the fight and persistence of Mo himself. After tearing his ACL in a pre-game incident in 2012, Rivera vowed that he would not “go out like this” and that he would return for one more season in 2013 at age 43. Many speculated that it was bravado and denial that led him to believe he could bounce back from such a major injury at his age. But not Rivera.

Rivera put his head down and went to work to rehabilitate his ACL. By the time spring training began in February, he was ready to go for what he said would be his last season.

He did not disappoint at all, as he pitched the entire year and finished with a Rivera-esque 2.11 ERA (to go along with 44 saves and 54 strikeouts).

Despite the Yankees’ own struggles with an aging core, Alex Rodriguez’s ridiculous steroids side-show, and an inability to contend for much of anything, Rivera quietly enjoyed his swan song that had a different feel to it than just about any other closing act in memory.

Throughout the season, just about every ballpark in baseball honored Rivera in some way when the Yankees were in town, including the cathedral of Boston itself, Fenway Park.

If that’s not admiration and respect for a player at its highest level, I don’t know what is.

All-Star weekend was practically Rivera’s personal retirement bash for two days, and Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 inning for the American League team to cap it off. But nothing beat his ultimate appearance in the Majors.

In Rivera’s final game at Yankee Stadium, manager Joe Girardi sent the closer into the game with just one out in the eighth (Rivera routinely closed out games starting in the eighth inning throughout his career, a rarity among closers). Not one fan or player in the building cared that the Yankees were down 4-0. Rivera stepped out of the bullpen with his usual pre-play song, “Enter Sandman,” blasting on the speakers for one last time.

On his trot through the outfield, surrounded by decks and sections dedicated to the Yankee greats he was soon to be among like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Yogi Berra, Rivera tuned everything out one last time to get some outs.

With the fans on their feet and both dugouts sensing the history unfolding in front of them, Rivera pitched through four batters (two in the eighth and two in the ninth), retiring them with ease. What happened next was the culmination of a season’s worth of honors.

Girardi decided to pull Rivera before the last out so that he could have his final curtain call and honorary moment as a player. Instead of going out to the mound to make the change himself, Girardi sent out two of Rivera’s oldest teammates and fellow Yankee legends, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte.

Completely caught off guard, Jeter and Pettitte weren’t even at the mound yet when Rivera’s eyes began to well up. After about a minute of good, old-fashioned bear hugs and masculine tears, Rivera left the mound to say his final goodbye.

The send-off ranked right up there with the curtain calls of Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio, and the moment felt like pure history. One of the greatest players of all time tearfully said his final goodbye to the most historic franchise in American sports.

Rivera retires as the all-time saves leader (51 saves clear of the rest of the field) and as one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time with a 0.70 ERA in 141 innings pitched over 96 career postseason games. Numbers like that may never be replicated again in our lifetimes.

The Yankees may be an easy team to hate, but my hat is (and all of our hats should be) off to Rivera for being a high-class, phenomenal player for the past 19 years.

Julian Dorey

Senior Writer 

Maybe it’s karma. The Washington RGIII’s are 0-III.

I’ve said it time and time again, and I’ll say it once more: Robert Griffin III is the cockiest egomaniac to enter the NFL in my lifetime. I’ve seen guys with too much swagger (James Harrison), big mouths (Philip Rivers), and guts of glory (Rex Ryan—and no pun intended). I’ve even seen well-spoken, well-educated players with the common sense of an armed robber wielding a loaded water gun (Donovan McNabb).

But never have I seen a more blatantly arrogant, overly-ambitious, attention-seeking bigot that is RGIII.

The saddest part is that Bob (I like calling him by his shortened, universally-common name) is a good player. Not a great player. A good one. Admittedly, he could be great someday, but the media made him out to be a messiah in his first season. Typical overreaction.

Many pounded their fists on the table and insisted that he was much better than the quarterback selected before him, Andrew Luck. Never mind that mega-moron himself, Skip Bayless, was perhaps the leader of this “movement.”

You see, Griffin has something that Luck doesn’t: complete, inarguable marketability. As a ripped-out-of-his-mind, freakish athlete with a Heisman Trophy sitting in his living room, a man with a love for tacky, outrageous, and unnecessary socks, a man with a consistent social media presence, and a man with a thirst for opinion-giving that rivals world leaders, Griffin was an obvious subject of mouth-drooling among the country’s biggest marketers when he declared for the 2012 NFL draft.

Luck, on the other hand, is a plain-spoken, nerd-type with little public presence worth noting once he hangs his pads up each day. This is clearly why Griffin enjoyed significantly more attention and praise last year.

I’m usually not one to jump to quick conclusions and, for the sake of argument, I’m going to avoid breaking that code now. But I will say this: despite the fact that Griffin does deserve more time to ease his recovering knee back into form (he tore his ACL and PCL in the Wild Card round of last year’s playoffs), he and his teammates look utterly flat and lifeless through three games. In fairness, not all of it is on him. His defense is pathetic, Alfred Morris has been disappointing, and his coaches have a history with mishandling their QBs.

The facts and the tape don’t lie. No one seems to be afraid of Griffin’s vaunted legs, he’s turning the ball over like crazy (which actually started last year–he has 17 fumbles in 19 career games, including the playoffs), and his passes lack that Pro-Bowl look.

And the result? A 0-III hole to start the campaign.

Luck, on the other hand, looks to be in complete control and is coming off a well-managed, old-school, convincing victory in San Francisco. His throws look a lot like Peyton Manning’s used to in the same Colts uniform. When you put Luck’s tape side-by-side with Griffin’s at the moment, there’s absolutely no comparison. Even if I take into account Griffin’s injury, eliminate this year’s tape so far, and put in last year’s tape side-by-side, Luck is clearly much farther along at this point. Sure, Griffin has a lot of amazing athletic highlights (and his talent is absolutely undeniable), but as a quarterback his skills are nowhere near Luck’s. I can’t stress enough that Luck had absolutely nothing outside of a 34-year-old Reggie Wayne to work with last year. He had a bunch of no-names and rookies.

Why don’t I feel bad for Griffin? I mentioned it before, and I’ll expand upon it now: his ego. This is the guy who looked into a TV camera a week before he won the Heisman and declared that he had already won (very out of the ordinary). This is the guy who had to mention that the Redskins would have drafted him number one, ahead of Luck, if they had owned the first pick. This is the guy who couldn’t shut up and ran a media campaign all summer about how his coaches were babies and should just put him on the field (before a single, sane doctor cleared him). This is the guy who refused to come out of a playoff game last year after he clearly was hurting the team with a blown-out knee.

Did I mention his socks?

Griffin brings it on himself. Plain and simple. He wants the attention? Fine. He can have it.

But I got news for you, Bob, it ain’t all gonna be positive. Not with your arrogance. How about you put your money where your mouth is and replace that zero in the win column? Maybe then you’d get some of the respect and credentials you so obviously crave. Maybe even one day, you’ll figure out just how great you can be with a quieter, humble approach. Maybe you’ll put a few rings on your finger.

Until then, put your head down and worry about the team for a change.

Emily Evancho

Assistant Sports Editor

Field hockey player Leigh Hillman ’14 knows how to hit her season off to spectacular start. Not only was she named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9, she also assisted with a goal in the team’s match against Missouri State that same week while also capturing two goals against Ohio State the next day. This past weekend she was credited with scoring the tie-breaking goal against Penn.

Hillman began her career with the Bison in 2010 when she played as a key reserve in all 19 matches that season. She claimed her first shot of the season against Sacred Heart which ended on goal.

In her 2011 season, Hillman played in every game. She helped secure a 3-2 upset victory over American in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals, scoring her first career goal during the game. During that same season she maintained her academics and found herself a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll as well as the Dean’s List.

Hillman captured her current starting position as a forward in the 2012 season during which she established a career-high of 15 points with seven goals for the year. She played a key role in the Bison’s 7-0 victory against Colgate where she secured her first multi-scoring performance with two goals during the game. For the season, Hillman found herself in third place with four goals in Patriot League play and sixth place with eight points in conference play.

Hillman has continued her stellar performance into this season, most notably with her defining goal against Penn. Hillman shows no sign of slowing down either, as she continues to train for the team’s next match at home against Lehigh on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Bison Profile:

Hometown: Dallas, Pa.

High School: Lake Lehman High School

Position: Forward

Stats:

2010 Season:

Games: 19

Goals: 0

2011 Season:

Games: 20

Goals: 1

2012 Season:

Games: 19

Goals: 7

Julian Dorey

Senior Writer

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bottom line has a lot attached to it. Not just money, but sky-high expectations.

When an ownership group led by Magic Johnson bought the team in 2012, they vowed to break the bank by bringing in star players immediately. Boy, were they serious.

In 2012, they completed a solid $250 million-plus transaction with the Boston Red Sox, taking on the contracts of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett without any hesitation whatsoever. “Crazy,” as some people called it.

While that deal did not ultimately help them in the 2012 campaign, they did not stop there. They went out and traded for the Marlins’ young star infielder, Hanley Ramirez, and they added pitcher Zack Greinke, the prize of the 2012 free agency class, once the season had ended.

Then, in what was perhaps their quietest move of all, the Dodgers’ front office rolled the dice on 22-year-old Cuban prospect Yasiel Puig, giving him an unthinkable (at the time) seven-year, $42 million deal.

After an unexpected and inexcusable poor start to the 2013 campaign, manager Don Mattingly’s job was very much in jeopardy, and the team was headed for possible turmoil with so many great players unable to mesh. In a somewhat surprising move, the team called up Puig after just two months of playing baseball in the minor leagues.

It turned out to be just the spark they needed.

Puig lit the world on fire with a month for the ages in June. In 26 games, he batted .436, hit seven home runs, knocked in 16 runs, and scored 19 runs. He electrified in the field as well, showing off an arm with enough power to remind people of the Cuban Missile crisis for totally different reasons.

By the All-Star break in mid-July, the Dodgers were on fire and had pulled even at .500.  After going on a 22-3 tear after the break, Los Angeles broke away from the rest of its division and into the ranks of some of the best teams in the game. To this point, it has maintained that standing.

The playoffs are right around the corner. The expectations are just as high as they were to start the season, and probably higher (if that is even possible). There are plenty of other solid teams in the National League, like the Cardinals, Pirates, Braves, and Reds, but none of them have the arsenal (or payroll) that the Dodgers do. With the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, leading their staff and a lineup dangerous from top to bottom, the Dodgers have about as good of a chance as anyone.

But questions still remain. Can the big contracts in the locker room live up to their credentials when the stakes are highest? Can Puig (who has shown some maturity issues) face the pressure the Major League postseason presents? Is the target on the collective back of the Dodgers simply too big?

These questions are impossible to answer for now, but I guess we are going to find out.

Julian Dorey

Senior Writer

Well that didn’t take long. 

Chip Kelly and his dynamic football acumen took the National Football League (NFL) by storm on Sept. 9 with a breathtaking offensive performance. On a night that was supposed to be a media-driven moment of honor for Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin III, it was the wily-old veteran Michael Vick that took the bull by the horns.

Vick was sensational, throwing for 203 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a running score in the first half. As it would turn out, that was all the Eagles would really need. A quick Griffin interception in the second half led to one more Eagles touchdown, and a 33-7 lead that the Redskins had no hope of overcoming.

For months now the NFL has been anxiously waiting for and debating about what would become of the mad scientist, college coach Kelly’s collegiate “track meet” style of football.

After just one game, Kelly has everyone and their mother hopping on his bandwagon. His team’s first-half offensive explosion featured 53 plays from the scrimmage. 53. The entire NFL averaged 64 plays per game last season. 

Not only did this tempo seem to fuel Vick’s game, but veterans LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson looked absolutely rejuvenated after injury-riddled seasons a year ago. McCoy was making video-game moves from the first snap last night, and the Eagles’ speed of play only made tackling him all the more difficult. He had 115 rushing yards at the half and finished with 184 for the game.

Jackson seemed to be running alone in space the entire first half. Not only could the Redskin defenders not stay with him, but the range of routes he was running was something else. For most of his career, Jackson was poorly misused by former Head Coach Andy Reid, and Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Despite Jackson’s small figure, he has strengths in route running and good hands in addition to his speed. For the first five years of his career, his coaches were so dead-set on using him as a deep ball decoy every play that the poor guy has not consistently been able to use his speed in five-yard slant situations since college.

After just one game that seems to be a thing of the past.

Some are worried that the offensive linemen will not be able to hold up throughout games this season because of the game speed. Kelly acknowledged that they will certainly get tired, just not as tired as the opposing defense.

Based on the evidence, he might just be right. There are 15 games to go this season and 12 new teams that will have their shot at slowing down the Eagles. Time will tell if Kelly’s mentality is a fad or a new football virtue.

One thing’s for sure, though—every week is going to be pure entertainment in some form of the word.

Julian Dory

Senior Writer

 

For Cam Newton, this could already be make-or-break. The NFL’s 2011 number one overall pick burst onto the scene two seasons ago for the Carolina Panthers, yet failed to show much of the initial flash and fire last season, as both he and the Panthers took a giant step backward.

Perhaps more alarming than the regression in play was the obvious immaturity Newton seemed to show off the field. After the Panthers suffered a loss to the Falcons to fall to 1-3, Newton was both despondent and impolite toward the media after the game. His reaction and comments brought into question his true qualities as a leader. A 7-9 season that included four straight seemingly meaningless wins to close it out certainly hurt Newton’s cause.

Now, after obviously losing the “new kid on the block” limelight to last year’s incredible rookies Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, and Robert Griffin III, Newton enters his third campaign with less spotlight but even higher standards and expectations than ever before.

The positives are simple: Newton is a physical specimen. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, anyone that can run a 4.58 40-yard dash has a chance to be special. And Newton’s arm strength? It’s second to none. While he has struggled with his accuracy, he does seem to have all the physical tools to become one of the great quarterbacks in the NFL—but his mental fortitude is absolutely a question mark.

Can Newton bring out the leadership that helped him take college football by storm when he led the undefeated Auburn Tigers to a National Championship in his only season as a starter? Can he positively translate the confidence that led him to proclaim his wish to not just be a star but a “brand” to NFL scouts at a pre-draft visit (a controversial comment that raised question marks to some at the time)?

Time will have to tell, but Newton’s play will be the overriding factor of it all. He must play well in the 2013 season. He has to prove that he is a mature franchise cornerstone by showing mental toughness and the highest standards of leadership in the low times that inevitably arise in almost every NFL season.

In Newton’s defense, the Panthers’ roster has not done him many favors. He sits behind a middle-of-the-pack offensive line, at best, with an over-the-hill running back DeAngelo Williams. Then, except for the old (but still very good) Steve Smith on the flanks, Newton has no one else. His “weapons” certainly are not up to the standards of last year’s star rookies.

The public knows this: he has some leeway. They may not be a playoff team. But the kid simply has to play consistently over a 16-game season, limit turnovers, and make solid play-by-play decisions.

If he does that, there’s no telling how far he can go once he gets a couple solid players around him. But if it is more of the same 2012 Cam Newton in 2013, get ready for the downpour of criticism that will most certainly follow.

It is early, but with Cam’s history of getting flustered by the media, 2013 could be the most important season of his life.

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

“Know Your Place”

Patriot’s Day in Boston–a day to celebrate the men who fought for this nation’s freedom oh-so-many years ago. A day where the ultimate physical prowess headlines as the city of Boston’s greatest celebration: the annual running of the Boston Marathon. At 2:50 p.m. on April 15, the happiest of days was torn to pieces with the hollow boom of two pressure-cooker bombs, two cowardly instances of terrorism, two moments of unthinkable carnage. A day meant for celebration and sports (the Red Sox had played as well and won earlier in the day) turned into the worst showing of domestic terrorism since another sunny day in September 2001.

As the world watched in horror, the people of Boston, particularly those standing closest to the scene on Boylston Street, sprung into action and did all they could to help the poor souls injured in the tragedy. In the end, thanks to the work of heroic EMT’s and the Good Samaritan citizens of Boston, all but three lives were saved. Still, though, three too many died and dozens of others will now be forced to live the rest of their lives without some of their limbs.

In moments and times like this, the leisure side of life takes a backseat. Suddenly arriving five minutes late for a dinner seems trivial. A couple dollars lost in the stock market isn’t as disappointing for a trader. A parking ticket doesn’t rile an offender up like it usually does. And sports, perhaps the most common of all American leisurely tastes? They cease being a life-or-death proposition for the diehards (pardon the pun). And nowhere did we see better unity, understanding and passion than in the world of sports.

On April 17, the Boston Bruins took the ice against the Buffalo Sabres. After a moving pregame tribute, the usual national anthem singer came out to do what he always does: sing our nation’s tribute song while the fans stand with their hands on their hearts. Only this time, he was cut off pretty quickly. Within seconds, the entire stadium broke out in unison and summarily took over the song from the performer. The sound shook the ground and ran chills up the spines of anyone watching. The players on both teams loved it as our nation’s unity and will to stand together shined through.

Even fans of the New York Yankees, sworn enemies of the Boston Red Sox fans, showed their support during these dark times. Not long after the national anthem was sung by all at the Bruins game, Yankees fans belted out the lyrics of “Sweet Caroline,” the traditional Red Sox song. An illumination of the Boston “B” also appeared next to the Yankees logo at Yankee stadium, with the words “United We Stand” between them.

And less than 16 hours after the whole saga ended with the apprehension of the suspects believed to be responsible for the bombings, the Red Sox had a game to play against the Royals in Fenway Park, the Cathedral of Boston. And, once again, the world of sports proved that they “get it.” In yet another moving pregame ceremony, the team played an emotional video tribute to the victims of the past week and to the courageous law enforcement officers who took down those responsible. Then, the team brought out three people closely tied with the tragic events to throw the ceremonial first pitch—including one man who almost died from blood loss in the hospital.

Finally, to cap it all off, Red Sox legend and fan favorite, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, took the stadium microphone and spoke to the city that has adopted him. In a perfectly delivered, genuine speech, Ortiz gave the fans there that day and everyone watching around the world reassurance that, in the end, everyone in America, even Yankees fans and Red Sox fans, stand together, and that no force of evil can ever drive them apart. They were brutally honest and beautiful words from a man who wasn’t even born in this country. Yet, like so many other players, coaches and executives in the sports world had proven in the wake of the bombings, the sporting world understands its role.

Games are not life and death. There is a winner and loser. They are there to entertain. It is great to see that everyone still seems to understand that—especially during the most difficult of times.

 

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

“Storm Warnings”

Father Time caught up with Kobe Bryant in a big way. All it took was one wrong step and a hollow pop.

The greatest player of the post-Jordan era (LeBron James is still too young for this distinction) has put on a stupendous show year-in-and-year out. Despite all the mileage on Kobe’s 34-year old engine, he has defied all odds by improbably dominating with each passing year. But unfortunately, one bad break can bring any string of success to a screeching halt.

In a must-win game for the Lakers against Golden State, Kobe had the ball at the top of key and preceded to “make a move I’ve made a million times,” as he put it. In catastrophic fashion, he planted his foot as his body’s momentum moved forward in a force that no human leg is meant to sustain. He lost all sensation in his foot and he knew that what had just happened was a disaster.

A torn Achilles can be a death toll for any athlete, let alone an athlete on the wrong side of 30. The injury takes six to nine months to heal after surgery, and for those players who are lucky enough to regain their “explosion” after healing, it takes another year to do so. Unfortunately, many players never regain that explosion at all. In basketball, where so many players rely on the “first step,” the ability to shift direction laterally, and vertical athleticism, Achilles tears are the very worst injuries they can sustain. It’s no coincidence that Achilles tears effectively ended the careers of great players like Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Bryant may never regain the form he boasted for so many years—and if so, the final storm that will wash away what’s left of his career may be on the horizon. It’s sad when you think about it. Kobe’s legacy includes five championships, an MVP, scoring titles and legendary status in the history books of one of the NBA’s most prestigious franchises.

It was just getting to the point where I was going to drop the whole “how much does Kobe have left?” argument. The performances he was giving featured no evidence of physical decline whatsoever and his confident and borderline arrogant swagger (which is well-earned) seemed to indicate that his great play and, ultimately, his career would end on his terms. How naive I was to think that a human being could actually make that determination. Even Jordan had declined when he stepped away for the last time in 2003, and he played in even fewer games than Kobe has to this point.

We’ll have to see how a determined Bryant returns from this injury, but despite my belief in his talent and confidence, I’m not hopeful that we’ll ever see the Kobe Bryant we’ve seen for the last 15 years again. It was perhaps the harshest way he could have reminded us, but Father Time had to let the sporting world know that no one, not even Kobe, can remain undefeated forever.

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

“Come at the king, you best not miss”

 

Rick Pitino can officially die a legend.

After Louisville finished a remarkable run to the 2013 NCAA National Championship against Michigan with an 82-76 win, Pitino’s career finally added its crowning achievement. Yes, the victory was even more important than Pitino’s election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier in the day.

With a National Championship at Louisville, Pitino became the first college basketball coach ever to win a title at two different schools (Louisville and Kentucky). In addition, Pitino has already held the distinction of being the only coach to take three different teams to the Final Four (Louisville, Kentucky and Providence). Not bad for a guy working in an industry that boasts greatness in names like John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams.

What’s even more impressive is the way Pitino got the job done this year. Louisville’s roster was the ultimate “team.” They lacked major star power and “top-10” recruits.  Instead, players like Gorgui Dieng and Chane Behanan perfectly complemented a lightning-fast, feisty backcourt tandem of Peyton Siva and Russ Smith.

With its physical play as its calling card, Pitino’s team truly did the now-defunct Big East proud in its final season. No one outmuscled Louisville in the NCAA tournament and frankly, teams should have seen it coming after the Cardinals’ second half sheer domination and dismantling of Syracuse in the Big East Championship Final. In vintage Pitino fashion, Louisville time and again played with aggression and smarts. After all, that is what it takes to annihilate Duke in the Elite Eight and contain Wooden Award winner Trey Burke in the championship game.

But perhaps Pitino’s most impressive coaching accomplishment was how he helped his team deal with the horrifying injury to sophomore guard Kevin Ware in the Elite Eight game against Duke. When Ware went down, the nation gasped, and Pitino (who was standing right there) had to witness close-up the carnage of Ware’s shattered tibia.  Louisville players watched in horror as well. Some players fainted, others vomited and others cried.

As Ware cried over and over again to “just go win the game” as doctors and trainers tended to him, Pitino brought his team together and did what seemed impossible; he successfully got the players to clear their minds of a life-changing event, refocus and dominate Duke. “All we can do is win it for Kevin” was the way Pitino had to put it. The team responded and outscored Duke by 19 points in the second half.

Against Wichita State in the Final Four, the Cardinals found themselves coming off an emotionally-draining week after the Ware injury and trailing the Shockers by 12 in the second half. Pitino remained calm, and reassured his team that they could “flip the switch” and run away with another one. They did. And after another working-man’s victory against Michigan, Pitino’s stewardship of this 2012-2013 Louisville Cardinals team came to a thrilling end that was all too fitting.

Great coaches do great things, sometimes in the simplest ways. Pitino created a dominant team identity for the Cardinals early on in the season, but it was the way he handled his pure, human emotions at the end that helped them capitalize on it. It’s safe to say it now: Pitino is one of the very best to ever do it.

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

“A New Day”

Opening Day is here once again. Thirty fan bases have a reason for hope. Many down-on-their-luck franchises have a reason to believe that this season might represent something a little bit different. Reality will set in for most teams within a few short weeks, but, for now, everyone can enjoy the first day playing for what counts.

For me, the 150-plus-year tradition never gets old. Baseball was America’s first real game. Back in the days when Ellis Island flooded with boats from every end of the world, the young immigrants settled into the hellish streets and poor neighborhoods, and were often brought together by a common love for throwing a ball and swinging a bat.

Though those days may be long gone and baseball has been replaced in the American sports hierarchy by football, the yearly thirst for a throwback to the old days has never waned. Opening Day was and absolutely still is a powerful tradition.

This year is different than recent history. You won’t find the Yankees and Red Sox anywhere near the top of preseason rankings, in the AL or in their own division. The Phillies may be over the hill. Even the Texas Rangers may have finally lost one free agent too many. In their place, teams like the upstart Washington Nationals and the old-school, defending champion San Francisco Giants seem to be the favorites.

While the last team standing is certainly the most important aspect of every season, fans everywhere are looking forward to another storyline involving the next generation of the game.

Last season, two outstanding rookies name Mike Trout and Bryce Harper stunned the baseball landscape with levels of play that so far outperformed their age. Trout, who at age 21 is only a year older than Harper, had one of the better seasons you will ever see—dazzling in center field while batting .326 with 30 HR and 49 stolen bases in just 139 games. Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera edged out Trout for the AL MVP, but only by becoming the first player in 45 years to win the Triple Crown.

Meanwhile, Harper held his own with a .270 average, 22 HR, 59 RBI’s and 18 stolen bases in his rookie campaign. Harper isn’t quite as far along as Trout, but the flashes he showed and the way he changed the culture in Washington by helping the city to its first postseason berth since 1933 certainly bodes well for his future.

There are whispers among baseball purists and casual fans alike that Trout and Harper may be starting an era between themselves unmatched by any two players since Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. That’s some pretty high class company. Their story will be among the many baseball fans have to look forward to heading into Opening Day. But with another season set to begin, hope truly springs eternal in some way for every team. Enjoy it while it lasts.