By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

I feel like anyone who was at the game last night can relate when I say waking up this morning was struggles, and the trend has continued throughout the day. But, totally worth it. Here’s my take on Opening Day, probably a bit different from what you’ll read on NESN.

First, my four reasons why this was the Best Opening Day EVER.

1. Against the Yankees. This is obvious. What better way to start the season than against our biggest rival?

2. It was about 80 degrees. It’s the first week in April and I wore shorts and a jersey to a Red Sox game. AM I IN ACTUALLY IN BOSTON? Last year, Opening Day was postponed due to rain, and every other year I can remember before that was just frigid. I actually have a sunburn. 10 points to the Weather Gods.

3. Neil Diamond. No, it wasn’t a great performance, or even a good one. The guy practically talked through the song. But, come on, he’s ancient, and the genius responsible for Fenway’s anthem. Signing along with the man himself was just awesome, er, so good, so good, so good.

3 1/2. Steven Tyler? Also pretty cool, yet terrible at the same time. He even seemed sober?

4. Beating the Yankees. Opening Day aside, it is always the best day in Red Sox Nation when we beat the Yankees, and even better this year, to start it off also beating the reigning World Series Champs. They thought they had it too.

This was my first time actually being in the stadium for Opening Day. The most appropriate way to describe it is like being a little kid in Wonka’s factory, but it was definitely on a more inappropriate level. Some fans from last night might compare it to A-Rod and Jeter’s nightly escapades (sexcapades?) (yes, it went there, a lot, they said it, I didn’t).

Also, aside from the Opening Day extras, this was one of the best Red Sox games I’ve been too. I personally am a fan of a close game, and even more of a fan of letting them Yankees fans start feeling real comfortable, so comfortable they are bold enough to start a “Let’s Go Yankees” chant in our own stadium, and then hearing them drop dead silent and bolt for the outside when we come back from behind (twice) to win it.

I spent the last three innings sitting next to a Yankees fan and proceeded to dance in his face to “This is How We Do It.” Obnoxious, but it felt good. I’m not ashamed.

I think the biggest excitement with Opening Day is the feeling you get every time you realize you’ve had a huge hole in your life since October and it’s finally being filled again. This happened to me more times than I can count: The smell of Fenway Franks, the crunch sound from stepping on peanut shells, doing the wave, singing “Root Root Root for the RED SOX, grabbing hands with a complete stranger during Sweet Caroline, yelling “Youuuuuuuuk!,” Irish Jigging to the Dropkick Murphy’s when Papelbon comes out, and of course Pap’s death stare.

In terms of the actual game, I will be the first to say I WAS WRONG. If I or my writers ever doubted the offensive power of the 2010 Red Sox in any article, I apologize. Nine runs is not the score of a purely defensive team. Zero errors however, is. Yes, it’s very, very, early. But I like the looks of us.

I will admit Beckett’s debut left something to be desired, allowing five runs and eight hits, but I don’t think anyone’s losing faith. Red Sox management certainly is not, as they gave Beckett a 4-year $68 million dollar extension today anyway.

Lastly, I have to give a shout-out to my new friend Chelsea. I made some amazing new friends last night. We became so close that we took a group Fan Photo picture together, although I don’t think anyone is shoveling out $25 for one of those babies (can you say Fenway wants to steal more money?) There’s no bond like that between Sox fans.

Stay tuned for pics/a new Yankees Suck video, featuring many of my new friends. Go Sox!

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