Fans flocked to Comerica Park by the tens of thousands Friday, the employed and the unemployed.
        Jim Leyland could feel their pain.
        “My heart aches for those people who are trying to feed their families,”  the Tigers’ manager said with obvious emotion, as the grills smoked and the adult beverages flowed at the tailgate parties, and people, many with jobs and many  without, lined up outside the ballpark gates.
        “I’ve got family members who are out of work over the recession. I know what it’s like.
        “My dad was a factory worker,” Leyland continued. “He worked in a glass factory that made windshields for GM products. I worked there myself.
        “I hope they understand we have a great appreciation for what they’re going through. We get a paycheck every two weeks. We’d like to get off good and perk them up a little bit. There’s not much more we can do other than bust our butts, and give them a good effort.”
        Inside Comerica Park, as the sun climbed in the sky over the Ford Field roof, beyond the upper deck in left, the red-white-and-blue buntings draped over the railing were flapping in the breeze. The logos of Ford and Chrysler have joined General Motors atop the center field fountains.
        In the Tigers’ clubhouse, Carlos Guillen was moving into the spacious corner locker that formerly belonged to Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez was moving into Guillen’s old locker, just inside the door.
        Other players were busy relocating, too.
        Out on the field, The TV cameras were set up, presumably interviewing one another since the players were not even dressed.
        Opening Day in Detroit.  It is a day like no other, in good times and bad. It is The Place to be -- and be seen.
        “Opening Day is a neat thing for all of us,” Leyland said, hours before the start of the game. “It’s a great day for the city, the atmosphere and everything. Downtown is bouncing.
        “There was a lot of energy around my hotel last night. I met people on the elevator who live here, 10 or 15 miles from the ballpark, who stayed downtown last night so they didn’t have to fight the traffic.
        “But it’s pretty much a work day for us. All of the hoopla is for other people to enjoy. Hopefully, we can give them something to cheer about.”
        Last year on Opening Day, Edgar Renteria batted leadoff and played shortstop. Gary Sheffield was the designated hitter.  Pudge Rodriguez was the catcher. Jacque Jones played left.
        Only one player remains from the Tigers Opening Day lineup of 2004, just five years ago. That is Carlos Guillen. He played shortstop back then.
        Things change.
        On Friday, the Tigers remembered beloved announcer George Kell, who passed away last month.
        Instead of the obligatory politician, three Detroit auto workers threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
        Times change.
        Opening Day doesn’t.
        I left home shortly before 8 a.m. Friday.
        “Why are you leaving so early?” my wife asked.
        “It’s Opening Day,” I explained.
        Enough said.