News-Record.com

This truly is one of the great days on the sports calendar, with the cozy juxtaposition of baseball's Opening Day with the NCAA basketball final.

For the first time in my life, baseball season has snuck up on me. When the Red Sox and Yanks played an actual, meaningful game last night -- well, not as meaningful as last October's games -- I did a double-take. Is it really here?

Guess I've been distracted by the Tar Heels' tournament run, which has kept me fairly busy.

But between a visit to the Gateway Arch and to The Ed, as they call the dome here, I did watch some baseball, and it was great. Even a few innings of Royals v. Tigers.

As a Phillies fan, I wasn't too thrilled about the signing of Kenny Lofton, who's 10 years past his prime. But glad to see the Phils' tiny park has even turned him into a home-run hitter. A big day for Pat Burrell, too.

Now, I'm guessing Lofton is a UNC fan tonight, seeing as how Illinois bumped off Arizona, a team for which he once played, after the Illini had trailed by 15 with four minutes left.

I haven't checked my work voicemail lately, but I appreciate the lack of hate mail I've received so far for picking against the Heels. It really almost came down to a coin flip. If Felton stays on the floor and May feasts, I think the Heels will probably win. But the Brown-Williams-Head triumvirate is so solid, and I don't expect them to shrink in the big game.

My biggest fear is that a game being billed as one for the ages turns into a blowout. That's a fear that a run of Super Bowl routs put into me.

We'll know in a couple of hours. Then we turn our attention to the NBA Draft watch and baseball -- a lot of baseball.