Keep your eye on the ball, and that GreenJacket

Last night I neglected to mention something that bears repeating.

-- Baseball broadcaster Ron Fairly

The Augusta GreenJackets opened their 2008 season at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Thursday. As always, I was there. Damp weather can't keep me from a baseball game.

Besides, I owe the team an apology. Several years ago, when the San Francisco Giants took over the major league affiliation, I complained about the talent we'd been provided by other major league agreements.

It turns out I just wasn't paying attention. Several excellent players wore Augusta uniforms over the past decade, including 2007 American League Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia, 2006 National League Rookie of the Year Hanley Ramierez and the 2006 National League batting champ Freddie Sanchez.

I just wasn't paying attention when they were struggling in Augusta.

I imagine there are several future stars on this year's team, but we won't know who for a few years.

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DON'T ASK ME: You never know who will turn out to be a star.

I remember a 1993 game between Augusta and Greensboro that I eagerly attended because Greensboro had a "can't-miss" player named Nick Delvecchio, who was hitting homers at a torrid pace.

I was so interested in his mighty swings that I completely forgot to watch two of Greensboro's other players -- a shortstop named Derek Jeter and a pitcher named Mariano Rivera, both still helping the New York Yankees with sterling careers.

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SPRING MAIL: Rhea Markowitz and Bill Dynan send a post card from China. They write: "Just finishing up a trip giving lectures and interviewing prospective students for our exchange trainee program at MCG. Also got in a little sightseeing of the terra-cotta warriors in Xi'an and pandas in Sichuan."

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one shared by Billy Cooper, of North Augusta.

A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table saying, "For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish."

"Well," said the wife, "I would love to travel around the world with my darling husband."

The fairy waved her magic wand and suddenly two cruise tickets appeared on the table.

Her husband shook his head, and said, "I hate to bring it up, but I honestly wish I had a wife 30 years younger than me."

The wife and the fairy both frowned, the magic wand flashed, and suddenly the husband turned 92.