Opening Day doesn't matter

Christine and I were heading home after Easter dinner in North Jersey. We listened to ESPN radio in Philadelphia as the Red Sox struggled in the early innings of their Opening Night showdown with the Yankees. Suddenly, the game was interrupted by a breaking news bulletin. (How often does that happen anymore?) I immediately knew what was coming. Christine didn't, even though she had predicted the news several days ago.

The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!

A few days ago, while discussing the McNabb trade rumors, Christine said he would be traded on Opening Day. I thought she meant that the Eagles would try to steal attention from the Phillies, but she really thought the Eagles would hope to draw as little attention to the fact as possible. (Neither of us even considered the possibility that he would be traded to a division rival.) Whatever the motive for timing the news for Easter Sunday and the eve of Roy Halladay's Phillies debut, it drew attraction. I heard some analyst comment that it was the story of the day, ahead of Tiger Woods, the NCAA final and Opening Day.

The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!

It did dominate the news cycle, when the Red Sox filled Opening Night Sunday with guests who pleased the crowd before launching a dramatic comeback 9-7 victory against the Empire (I stayed up until the middle of the 8th inning). And then today, Doc and the Phillies offense delivered as advertised in an 11-1 romp over the Nationals (even Barack Obama couldn't hold down the potent Phillies lineup).

But none of that mattered because ...

The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!

Oh, and Josh Beckett signed his four-year $68 million extension:

"This is a very special place," said Beckett this afternoon during a 3 p.m. press conference at Fenway during the deal, which will take him through the 2014 season, was announced. "Anyone who has had a chance to play here knows that. And anyone who hasn't had a chance to play here probably know that through other people that have."

That's good to hear, but not as important as ...

The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!
The Eagles traded Donovon McNabb to the Redskins!!!