Maybe the Red Sox will swing the stick with more authority this year after someone with loads of experience racking up hits helps them kick off their 2002 season.

Boston's favorite bad boy, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, will offer his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before more than 33,000 fans at Fenway Park on Monday (April 1), when the BoSox take on the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a stadium spokesperson.

Across the country in Oakland, where the A's face off against the Texas Rangers later that night, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani will perform what will no doubt be a technically precise version of the national anthem.

In New York Monday, Art Garfunkel will sing prior to the Mets' showdown against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and contemporary gospel singer Yolanda Adams is scheduled to give a soaring version of the paean to patriotism the following day in Houston for the Astros-Brewers opener.

Traditional country singer/songwriter Tracy Byrd will perform in Cincinnati before the Reds-Cubs game, and 22-year-old country star Chely Wright will sing in Kansas City before the Minnesota Twins look to trump the hometown Royals. Both games will take place Monday.