Bling bling

For weeks now the sports press has been obsessing on what the Yankees would do during the Red Sox home opener this afternoon, when the Sox get their rings.

Because the Yankees are scheduled to finish batting practice at 2 p.m. and do not have to be back on the field until warm-ups, about 2:40 p.m., most players are expected to be dressing in the clubhouse and preparing for the game when the rings are passed out and the banner is raised.

Manager Joe Torre said yesterday that he would probably be in the dugout for the ceremony and would not be surprised if some players joined him.

"Whatever we're doing at the time, if for some reason we're not there, it has nothing to do with a conscious effort not to be there," Torre said. "We're not trying to avoid it, I promise you that. But they're not going to wait for us to be in the dugout to start. That would really be rude."

As it turns out, according to the radio broadcast of the game, most of the Yankee team was on the top step of the dugout watching, along with Joe Torre, the celebration. Moreover, at the end of it, the Boston players walked over to the Yankee dugout and both teams shook hands and in some cases embraced.

A few moments later, when the Yankees were introduced, Mariano Rivera was given a standing ovation by the Red Sox Nation in the stands. Rivera laughed and doffed his cap.