7 years, 1 month ago Mike Moyers
19 days of bliss for the sports fan.
Sports fans have their favorite players, their favorite team and their favorite memories. But I wonder if many have their favorite time of the year?
For me it’s happening right now.
The window-from March 23 through April 9th-is a magical one, filled with the best of the best and another beginning.
Allow me to expound.
At 6pm local time Thursday night the first of the final 13 games of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament gets underway providing every hoop junkie in the land a couple of more weeks of wings, beer and conversation. As previously pointed out here my bracket (or FRACKET) exploded on day one of the tournament, so any visions of being THE MAN in my group evaporated quickly. (I am the man: I’m in last place!) But that won’t keep me from turning into a sofa cushion and enjoying the rest of the tournament which concludes on April 3rd. I have no favorites at this point. I just want to see some good basketball.
April 2nd is opening day of the 2017 baseball season. It’s a day that takes me back to being in fifth grade at Webster School. Then, like now, all I wanted to do was listen to the Cardinals (WTAD was the local Cardinal affiliate) and then get outside and throw the ball around. Mrs Brackman was a great teacher and a nice lady, but she was no match for Harry Caray. But then, who was? In the 60’s young baseball fans like myself had to wait for the Herald Whig to arrive so the previous day’s box scores could be digested. I had to see what Mantle, Aaron and Mays had done the day before. That was quality reading. It’s nothing like today where we get the box scores, batting averages, video of the key plays and commentary all neatly bundled up almost before the game is over. Change is good? Sometimes, but not this time.
And then, with the baseball season underway and a new NCAA Champion crowned the golf season begins for real with the Masters. I’ve never been to Augusta, but following the tournament has been one of those things I look forward to each year. CBS does an outstanding job of covering the tournament with Sir Nic Faldo and Jim Nance describing the action. There always seems to be a Cinderella boy who makes a run at the green jacket. And you can count on a Phil or a Bubba or a Rory to be in the hunt. But it always comes down to the final few holes on the back nine that complete the story. I doubt this year will be any different. The Masters Golf Tournament is some of the best sports on TV there is.
Three different sports over a 19 day period. As my friend Kenny Pratt used to say: “It’s All Good!”
We miss you man!!
