It’s a beautiful day for a ball game

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It’s true. The morning gray clouds parted, the sun came out as ordered by Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers got it ready for the home opener.

Traffic, always an extra challenge on afternoon opener during the week, was again difficult. It was made more challenging Tuesday because of the funeral procession downtown for fallen L.A. policeman Robert Cottle, who was killed while serving as a Marine reservist in Afghanistan.

The first review of the Dodger Stadium Express was positive. One colleague who took the train up from San Diego, said the process was well-organized and went off without a hitch. He said the free bus took 34 minutes from Union Station to the ballpark.

Country singer LeAnn Rimes is scheduled sing the national anthem, Will.i.am will toss the ceremonial first pitch and Larry King will be the first to announce, ‘It’s time for Dodger baseball.’ Why Will.i.am and King, I have no idea.

The opener received plenty of local media attention. Beginning at 5 a.m., local channels KABC radio, KCAL 9, KTLA, KABC, KNBC and KTTV all did live remote broadcasts from around the stadium.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo (clockwise from top left): Manny Ramirez; Manager Joe Torre; Tuesday’s starter Clayton Kershaw. Credits: Steve Mitchell / US Presswire; Rhona Wise / EPA; Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press.