The Time of the singing of birds is come...

After a week of news that ranged from utterly depressing to downright infuriating, it is with a pointedly American brand of optimism that I turn my attention to Lakeland, Florida, where Spring Training officially started for the Tigers today.

It is not only the eternal optimism of a sports fan; the conviction that this year will be successful, even if last season, or even a century's worth of seasons, was a disappointment. That this year, your team will stay healthy and achieve at the level they're capable of. No, it's not just that. Not this year.

This year, the words that Ernie Harwell recited at each of his over forty opening Spring Training games seem a little more poignant:

For, lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the dove is heard on our land. (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

Mr. Harwell was referring to a season without baseball, but I'm hoping that this year the winter that passes is not about improving weather, but about restoring integrity. Hopefully, the latest developments in the various steroid scandals will teach young players that if you cheat, you will get caught. Perhaps the management of the league and the teams will realize that they can no longer turn a blind eye in the interest of profit. Maybe we will be able say, happily, that an era has come to an end. That excellence will be bred from talent and skill. That players will once again be role models to our children; they'll understand that they have a responsibility.

My hope is that we can enjoy baseball this season without squinting suspiciously at every player that excels. Yes, we should be optimistic that our game can recover. We should believe that people can be great and honest at the same time. We should cheer, sing, jump, laugh and cry. We should act like idiots in ecstasy. We should not forget that our game, like our country , can change, grow, heal, and flourish again. We should never lose hope.

So, as A-Rod prepares to attempt to win back the trust of his fans and Barry Bonds prepares for trial, we prepare for the 2009 Major League Baseball season. We prepare to look to the future.

Because that, my friends, is what we do.