Every year, two days that are not marked on the calendar have great significance for most Americans. One is the night of the Oscar presentations and the second is opening day for baseball.

The noise from Hollywood around Oscar time is deafening. Each studio buys millions of dollars worth of advertising to win that funny little, gilded guy holding his arms in a strange position.

Who will host the Oscar show? Billy Crystal, Bob Hope, Robin Williams, David Letterman, Johnny Carson or Whoopi Goldberg? Who cares? Actually, everyone gets involved even if they attempt to appear blasé. It is Americana!

Personally, to me it is always like comparing apples to bananas. Comparing A Beautiful Mind, a story of schizophrenia to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Gosford Park or In the Bedroom is senseless. What is the commonality? What are the benchmarks? It beats me.

I viewed each of five nominees for best picture and I left the theater in a different state of mind after each of them. Each had a varied message and setting but there was no criterion on which all could or should be rated.

I am never against having a fabulous, glitzy party with pretty girls and guys all dressed up. It looks like a ton of fun. I would surely love to be invited (no chance) but it is hardly a well thought out legitimate contest.

The opening of the baseball season is surely different. Before the first ball is thrown out there is great excitement in the major cities of America. In the spring, hope springs eternal.

Each fan diminishes the obvious weaknesses of his chosen team and elevates the dubious strong points. Before the first crack of the bat every team is equal. No numbers in the loss column! No disappointing rookies! No veteran flops!

We look forward to 154 games, then the league playoffs and finally the World Series, April through October or six months of pitching, catching and hitting. Wow! Most baseball bets made in April are forgotten by October. This is a true contest! It is grueling but a fair contest between teams.

What would America be without competition? It is part of our capitalistic sense. The Oscars are flawed but a lot of fun. Baseball keeps us going during the hot summers. Enjoy them both.