51.   Clearly, some of it has to do with the almost season-long loss of Jerry Rice and the injury to Steve Young in the opening game.

52.   Each of the past two seasons, the Heat won only one of the opening two games at home, then dropped both series to the Knicks.

53.   Each was some kind of opening game.

54.   El Salvador and Mexico will meet in the opening game, followed by Guatemala vs. Honduras.

55.   Even during the opening game this season, Fisher pointed out, Titans quarterback Steve McNair was booed by his own fans for an interception.

56.   Few NFL champions have come to an opening game as ill-prepared as were these Cowboys.

57.   For the Jets, the road to the Super Bowl hit a dead end in this X-ray room during their opening game.

58.   France lost in the ceremonial opening game to Senegal, a former French colony whose players earn their living in the French league.

59.   Franco and the Mets will play their next game on Monday in Pittsburgh, in the opening game of a series originally scheduled for Shea Stadium.

60.   Fordham had just won its opening game at Lafayette, the team it did not play when the homecoming game was canceled last year.