When you think about the start of the NBA and NHL playoffs, two things are for sure.
The front runners who can barely tell you what “NBA” stands for will find the team LeBron is playing for and, no matter how bad they may be, that will now be their team. Yes, that means that the Miami Heat paraphernalia of yesteryear is now obsolete.
The other is the angst the St. Louis Blues fans go through as the first round of playoffs is underway and another early exit is expected after they lost their first game. It never fails.
There is one thing about this time of the year when the playoffs start, and that is the competition is stiff to say the least. They are truly playing for keeps, and a very good team always goes home early.
The games are on wall-to-wall each night. For you nighthawks, is there anything better than the late game? The next day, you are the only one in your crew who saw the action, hence you now can give the play-by-play of what happened the night before.
While some think the NCAA tournament is fun for the month of March, I should remind you that the champion is crowned in April. So a taste of the college guys and a bigger dose of the pros should satisfy any basketball fan at this time of the year.
As for hockey, I have been faithful to the Blues since their arrival 47 years ago. Each year I go into the playoffs thinking how this team will come up short when it comes to winning their first Stanley Cup. This year I may have jinxed them. I openly said I liked their chances more this year than in years past. Big mistake, as the series will tell you by now. Anyway, I will hang in there a bit longer, although I no longer get upset when the Blues are watching the rest of the playoffs on TV like me.
The competition at this time of the year is so intense in the first round. For those who wonder why they can’t play this way in the regular season, there is a simple answer. They could not hold up for an entire season, as they would be mentally exhausted and physically nothing more that pulp. Yes, they play for keeps at this time of the year, and only the strong truly survive.
I love my NBA and NHL at this time of the year. For those non-lovers of the NBA, if you think this league is going away, I should remind you that they set another attendance record, when 22 million fans showed up this year and some even watched the New York Knicks.
If you are looking for a team to pay attention to that does not have LeBron on it, might I suggest the Golden State Warriors? They are fun to watch, and they have played well from day one of the season.
When it comes to the NHL, just look at any team in the Western Conference, where any team is good enough to win the whole thing.
As for the other sports that bring out the best, let’s start with golf and that thing they call the Masters. You know, the one major golf event that is played in the same place every year. The one event where most look the other way when it comes to the racist manners it has stood for since Bobby Jones started the tournament. While it was truly for “whites only” in every way possible, from the golfers to the fans, Tiger Woods’ impact has eased some of the policies. They even went out and asked a black female, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to join.
The course is magic in every sense of the word. On TV, there never seems to be a blade of grass out of place, as it is truly golf heaven. Find a person who would not want to play Augusta National as a bucket list item, and I will show you someone who should trade in their clubs for a Twister game. While golf is not always considered a TV sport, the Masters is more than just a golf tournament.
As for baseball, when the season starts even the bad teams think they have a chance. While few championships are actually decided in April, if you stay close in the month, you would think it’s game seven for some. Emotions get high on the field. Managers feel the heat.
Cincinnati Reds manager Brian Price had enough of a reporter and dropped the F bomb a total of 77 times in his tirade on said reporter. Yeah, I know, the reporter was just doing his job, right? I’m not sure it’s his job for long.
Then there is May, when the Kentucky Derby is run. This year there will be another event on the calendar all eyes will turn to. Finally Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will get in the ring for what will be the richest one-night sporting event in this country, if not the world. More on that next week.
Then there is the NFL. Enough said on that matter until we quit playing the games in St. Louis about a new stadium and who will play in it. It’s not the game I knew, nor are the players and leadership. You can have it, even if there is a draft this month.
There is one football event that has purpose off the field that warrants your support. It’s the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Dinner on May 3. It’s the 23rd annual dinner that has been dedicated to recognizing outstanding high school football players who have excelled in the classroom, on the football field and shown great character in their school and community.
There will be 14 award winners honored this year, and they will each receive one time $1500 awards to help with their college education. Most of these honorees have achieved high grade-point averages that include some 4.0s along the way. It’s a great event that deserves your support in recognizing their accomplishments.
For more information on the banquet, call Bob Bunton at 314-277-5458.
