After Petrina McCutchen – the mother of Pirates superstar outfielder Andrew McCutchen – sang the National Anthem before last October’s Pirates-Reds National League Wild Card game (which Pittburgh won in convincing fashion), the Bucs didn’t risk messing around with superstition and invited her back to sing the anthem during Opening Day festivities at PNC Park on Monday afternoon.

You can form your own opinion about Mama McCutchen’s performance, but there’s no arguing that the excitement level for Opening Day in Pittburgh is the highest that it’s been in quite a long time. Winning will do that.

[ESPN]