Since the first baseball game is Sunday night, does that count as opening day?

Either way, it is not worth crossing hairs when we are talking about one of the best two sports days of the year.

I admit my New York Mets' bias but I am first and foremost a fan of baseball. I could watch a Pirates/Nationals game in September and love every minute.

Here are five of my favorite opening day quotes from my book Baseball Shorts:

• "Admiral Byrd threw out the first ball."

-- Rocky Bridges, on a cold opening day in Buffalo

• "We're getting close to opening day. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."

-- Sparky Anderson, on the prospects for one of the Tiger teams he managed

• "It's like Christmas except it's warmer."

-- Pete Rose

• "You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen."

-- Joe DiMaggio

• "A home opener is always exciting whether it's home or on the road."

-- Yogi Berra