WDET Celebrates Opening Day at Majestic Cafe
Local personalities talk about some of their favorite Opening Day memories
To celebrate Opening Day at Comerica Park, WDET broadcast live from the Majestic Café in Midtown Detroit ahead of the ballgame.
Personalities from the worlds of sports, journalism, and politics joined hosts Travis Wright, Sandra Svoboda, Stephen Henderson, and Ann Delisi to talk about what Opening Day in Detroit means to them.
“It’s a big deal in other cities, but there’s something about it in Detroit. It’s the way the whole town just kind of lights up,” said NPR Political Correspondent Don Gonyea, a Michigan native and Tigers baseball fanatic.
He explained that in baseball, like presidential politics, “Everybody starts the season thinking they’ve got a shot.”
“Baseball Opening Day is Ground Zero for optimism,” said Detroit News Columnist Neal Rubin.
Others commented about what Tigers baseball means for the community in Southeast Michigan.
We’re often too disconnected as Detroiters, said WDIV’s Devin Scillion. But “one thing that connects us is love for our sports teams,” he said.
“Community is the strength of Democracy,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn). “It pulls us all together” when the Tigers are playing, she said.
The hosts also spoke with Olympia Entertainment President and CEO Tom Wilson and Crain’s Detroit Business sports business reporter Bill Shea about their thoughts and experiences with Opening Day.
To hear more from WDET’s Opening Day broadcast, click the audio link above.
