Diamond Cuts.

Dear Easter, this year you take a backseat to America's pastime. That's right, baseball is back and it starts off with a bang. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are quick to renew their rivalry as the World Series Champion Yankees look to start the season the way they ended it: with a win.

Hot Dogs, home runs and human growth hormone will riddle the lives of the millions of individuals that have been waiting for the return of baseball since last October. Being one such individual, opening night brings back memories of ballparks I've visited over the years. My list is small yet ever expanding and a majority of the ballparks have since closed (Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, RFK Stadium, the Metrodome and Rogers Centre). But the most fond memory I have comes from visiting the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minnesota.

The weather called for rain on the night of July 31st, 2009 as the Twins hosted the Angels in the first game of a three game series. The hometown Twins were looking good as they lead 5-2 through six innings, but the game got away from them and the Angels had everything tied up by the end of the eighth inning. Still tied at the end of nine, the game went into extra innings and gave every Twins fan a moment to remember. It was the top of the tenth inning and manager Ron Gardenhire brought in lights out closer, Joe Nathan. The skies opened and the rain pelted the top of the dome as Nathan took the mound and got some warm up tosses in. Juan Rivera stepped up to the plate and Nathan brought his best: strike one followed by two and almost immediately by three, first batter down. The rain got heavier and thunder began to clap along with the fans. As the heavens roared, the fans cheered and Nathan had the dome on his side. Two eight pitch at bats later and Nathan had struck out the side. The thunder, with almost perfect timing had riled up the crowd enough for the "tenth man" to be one with the team creating the most thrilling atmosphere to ever be a part of.

The Twins, not having scored a run since the fourth inning, went on to lose the game 11-5 in eleven innings. Despite their losing efforts and the Metrodome closing at the end of the season, such an experience has elevated my passion for the sport and given me one hell of a memory that will never escape me.