The Best DAYS of Your Life

The Best DAYS of Your Life

This is the time of year that every sports fan can look forward to. At this point of the year, everything is still in front of the fans of EVERY sport. Take a look at the upcoming schedule that is a must for all sports fans:

4 Days until Pitchers and Catchers Report to Spring Training: That means in 5 days, the Pirates will start working out in preparations for the 2007 season AND from the day they start camp until at least April 2nd, they will not be in last place.

6 Days until the Daytona 500: The Daytona 500 ends what has to be the shortest off-season of any sport. The NASCAR season ended November 19th last season and now, less than three months later, they are back, ready to start another season. At least the three months are the prime hunting seasons, which gives those NASCAR fans something to do during the off-season.

28 – 32- 50 Days until MARCH MADNESS: To be exact it is 28 days until Selection Sunday, 32 days until the real games begin, sorry that play-in game doesn’t cut it, (SIDE NOTE: Does anyone else think the play-in game would be more exciting if it were the last two bubble teams that are playing for an at-large bid?) and 50 days until we crown a NCAA Champion for the 2007 season. I would have said crown a NEW champion, but the way that Florida is playing, I think I’m better off just to say crown a champion. At this point, you probably know if your team is close or not to getting into the tournament, and now it is just a fight for survival and positioning until the seedings are released Sunday March 11th.

50 Days until Opening Day of Major League Baseball: I’m not counting the 1 game that is being played on Sunday night that kicks off the season. It doesn’t count for two reasons. First, it is on the schedule ONLY for television purposes, and second, every other team in the Majors opens the next day.

51 Days until the Pirates are eliminated from playoff contention: Okay, this year they made some improvements to their team, so maybe this is a little early to eliminate them, but then again, Major League Baseball didn’t make any changes to it’s salary structure, so yeah, 51 days until the Buccos are out of the playoff race.

53 Days until the Golf season starts: I know. I know. Lefty just won at Pebble this weekend, but the golf season doesn’t really start until you see “Amen Corner,” or “the Bridge,” or the azaleas and hear Jim Nance over that soft piano say the words, “Welcome to the Masters.”

59 Days until the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin: At the beginning of the season, people were debating on whether the Penguins could make the playoffs this season, being so young. Now it’s not a question of will they be in it, it is a matter of how long they will stay. Heck, after the game last night, the Toronto head coach said that the Penguins are the best team in hockey right now. Who could argue that? 11-0-2 in the past 13 is pretty impressive. They are my new favorite team, have you heard??

69 Days until the NBA Playoffs begin: You know the NBA, that league after college basketball? This is the time of year it actually gets exciting. It is just a shame that the league is so screwed up that more teams make the playoffs (16) than miss it (13). Something needs to be done about that. Unfortunately, I think the only way they will change it is to add more teams, just what we need.

76 Days until the NFL Draft: On these days, people all over this great country will sit on their couches and watch for hours on end to see well-dressed, soon-to-be-millionaires wait in a room together before their fate is decided for them. This year, these players will be dreaming and hoping to be that #1 overall selection, but all that dreaming and hoping will end quickly when they realize that the Raiders have the first pick.

Well, there you have it, your sports calendar for the next 76 days. Remember, right now everything is still in front of you and your favorite team. Right now, there is still hope and your team doesn’t stink. Well, unless you are a Penn State hoops fan; then there is no hope and your team really does stink. But don’t worry, the Blue-White game is right around the corner.