EXCUSE THE INTERJECTION

Friday, March 31, 2006 | 7:11 a.m.

WHAT MAKES BASEBALL OPENING DAY MORE SPECIAL THAN ALL THE OTHER OPENING DAYS?

RON KANTOWSKI'S TAKE: I think the first time I knew Opening Day was special was when one of my high school buddies "borrowed" his sister's car so we could check out the Cubs and Expos at Wrigley Field. It meant we had to ditch school, but it was the one time my mom agreed to write a note to the school nurse that said I was home sick with Ernie Banks flu.

JEFF HANEY'S TAKE: It might still be true that time begins on Opening Day, but I think America's longtime fascination with it could be going the way of Boots Day and Milty Pappas - who were probably at Wrigley that day. Just this week, I sensed more excitement about the NFL's announcement of a handful of early season matchups than I did about Sunday's major league opener.

RK: Boots Day - the last time I saw him, he was in the spokes of my Schwinn Sting-Ray. As for Milt Pappas, after Bruce Froemming called a 3-2 pitch a ball, costing the ex-Cub a perfect game, his quote was, "Bruce Froemming could have become the 10th umpire in baseball history to call a perfect game - and he blew it." See, that's why Opening Day will always be special. It brings back memories of guys like Boots Day, Milt Pappas and blind bats like Bruce Froemming.

JH: But as long as we're being nostalgic, wasn't it somehow more special when Opening Day meant an afternoon game in Cincinnati? I always thought that was an affectionate little nod to tradition that became lost in the new era of mega-TV deals and faceless corporations calling the shots.

RK: C'mon, Jeff, you're crying all over my apple pie. But I suppose you have a point. In 2000, the Cubs and Mets had Opening Day in Japan. Too bad they played each other instead of the Nippon Ham Fighters or the Yomiuri Giants. Then maybe they would have learned the value of bunting the runners along.

JH: I wasn't crazy about MLB turning Japanese either. An exhibition game? Sure, why not. A real game? It didn't quite fit.

RK: Here we are, bashing baseball again. But out of respect to Ernie Banks and the one or two other good guys still playing today, I propose we declare a moratorium until somebody misses the cutoff man. I just want to buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack, and they never taste better than on Opening Day.

JH: Peanuts and Cracker Jack? I happen to know some Phillies fans who are hankering for their first Yuengling lager and "Schmitter" - a tasty and particularly cholesterol-laden sandwich - of the season at Citizens Bank Park. The refreshment-stand favorites change, but baseball's Opening Day remains a fine tradition.