February is one of my favorite months. Groundhog day is my favorite holiday. Pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks. The Daytona 500 is right around the corner. NCAA conference schedules are in full-swing, and March Madness will be here before you know it.
And the Democratic Presidential Primary is heating up...
When I was growing up in Western NY, the winters were particulary brutal. (Just read some of NYCO's diary entries.) Gotta love that lake effect snow. I eagerly awaited groundhog day to see if Puxatauney Phil would see his shadow. You see, the sooner winter ended, the sooner baseball season would begin. In college, I remember spring baseball practice beginning indoors. Ever fielded ground balls off a basketball court? Or run wind sprints down a hallway? Well, we did. And the LeMoyne Dolphins could flat out play vs. those pretty boys from Az. State, Arkansas, and the rest. Sigh...longing for the old days.
At least I can comfort myself with the arrival of MLB Spring training! Pitchers and catchers report on 2/14, and judging by the activity of the hot stove league, it's going to be an interesting season. But the Grapefruit League and the Cactus League boys are going to have to compete for my sports-watching hours with:
NASCAR! Yes, I am a NASCAR dad. Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of auto racing, and with the driver and sponser swapping during the silly season now about wrapped up, it appears the the NEXTEL CUP Championship will be exciting as ever. Although, this just in from the Great State of Maine: JEERS to the new Cup Championship points system. At least they got rid of their cigarette sponsorship, but we will continue to see Miller Lite vs. Bud vs. Coors Light; hopefully until the end of time. Here's hoping my boy Rusty Wallaces ends his 98 race losing streak.
And, of course, for the purists in us, there is always that clean sport of NCAA Hoops. Alas, I am cursed having to split my time between baseball and racing, how can I find time for roundball? Anyway, last year was truly disappointing, as my Syracuse Orangemen finally won the title in the New Orleans Superdome, just in time for me to establish residence there, THREE MONTHS LATER.
Last but not least, we have the once-every-four-years battle that is the Democratic Presidential Primary. Judging by the early returns, methinks it might be easier picking the winner of: the World Series, Daytona 500, and NCAA tournament; than it will be to pick the winner of this pony race.
Alas, Phil has seen his shadow. Shucks.