Theriot's ring ceremony memories

Programming note: Giants 2012 Opening Day coverage begins today at 12 p.m. with Giants Pregame Live, then Kruck and Kuip are behind the mic to call the Pirates vs. Giants at 1:30 p.m., only on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area!

DENVERRemember last years home opener at AT&T Park?Remember Brian Wilson running across the outfield to string up the first World Series banner in San Francisco Giants history? Remember the following night, when the players received elation in little blue Tiffany boxes?It was electrifying, spine-tingling, emotional, euphoric.It was pretty miserable, Ryan Theriot said.Remember, there were two major league teams standing on the baselines for all the pomp and pageantry. The St. Louis Cardinals were the visitors. And they had to be very, very good sports about the whole thing.During one of the pregame programs, the Cardinals actually stood on the line for 42 minutesand that included the entirety of a song performed live by the mainstream pablum-rock group Train.Theriot was the Cardinals shortstop. And while he enjoyed watching the players get their World Series bling, one thought kept ringing in his head: Is this ever going to end?Its kind of funny how things played out, he said.At the end of the 2011 season, it was Theriots Cardinals who emerged as the surprise playoff entrants. The Cardinals crept like cockroaches through three playoff rounds. And now hell get his first World Series ring when the Cards visit in May.It might be a good omen, he said. It was cool to be there last year for their opener, especially when they got their rings and the looks on their faces. They hadnt seen it yet. They all were surprised by it.Most especially, Theriot kept an eye out for Mike Fontenots reaction. The two were teammates at LSU and with the Chicago Cubs, and remain good friends.Oh, he sent me a text message later that day, Theriot said.A message, or a picture?What do you think? he said.The Giants released Fontenot toward the end of spring training and he still hasnt caught on with another club. Theriot said he hasnt heard anything new, but he finds it hard to believe that his friend wont get another big league opportunity somewhere.Well see him around, Theriot said.For now, Theriot is looking forward to standing on the third base line at AT&T Parkjust as long as its not for 42 minutes.Oh, Im very excited, the veteran second baseman said. Its just a great place to play. Great fans, great tradition. Ive been lucky throughout my career to play in places like that. Its as intense, if not more, than the last place I played. As a player, you do feed off that stuff. I really hope our fans know that.