With all apologies to September and October, I think I’ve decided that April is the greatest sports month on the calendar.
I write this just seconds after watching Daniel Sedin net a sweet goal with just over two minutes to go in a first round elimination game for the Canucks.
And we’ll start there, the Stanley Cup playoffs are in full force. Of all the tournaments, except maybe March Madness, these games are played at an intensity level that’s almost unmatchable. It doesn’t matter which two teams are playing, the games are so watchable because of how hard the players are going at it.
No. 2, let’s stay with the playoffs and switch to the NBA. There are more stinker games in the NBA playoffs, but again the intensity is up there, and when the games are good, they’re really good. Game two of the Celtics-Heat series was fantastic and the first round matches between LA and Oklahoma City have been fun to watch. There’s something about a tournament that brings out the best in athletes.
Speaking of tournaments, April brings us the end of the NCAA tourney as well. We had one of the best championship games ever this year, Duke-Butler. With so much going on this month it seems like eons ago that that Butler heave just missed at the buzzer.
April also features my favorite golf tournament of the year, The Masters. Sure this year we had the whole Tiger fiasco to deal with, but that aside, it’s such a wonderful tournament. The best is the familiarity of the course. Every year we look forward to seeing Amen Corner and the Hogan Bridge. Sure the Green Jacket might be a little corny, but that adds to the importance as well. Talk about an event made for HD TV.
We have to add in the NFL Draft, which becomes bigger and bigger every year. Like you, I questioned the Patriots first round strategy the other night. I wanted Dez Bryant and they could have had him. That kid’s going to be fantastic, but I like to remind myself that the pros know more than we do when it comes to picking players. The rest of the draft looks pretty good. They got a couple of linebackers, a couple of tight ends, a left-footed punter (really, in the fifth round? He wouldn’t have been available later?). Time will tell.
But I love what the NFL has done with the draft. Making the first round its own entity makes it much more intriguing. I feel for the guys that thought they were first rounders and had to sleep on the pain of not getting taken, but the NFL sure knows what it’s doing. They were in the spotlight all weekend, and that’s going to continue every year from here on out.
And lastly, baseball. Nothing is more April than baseball. Nothing makes spring better than hardball coming back. I love it. Sure the Sox aren’t very good right now, but they’re playing baseball, and then there’s fantasy baseball too.
April might have too much rain, but the sports make up for it.
The views and opinions in the Enterprise blogs are those of the author and are not neccessarily shared by Falmouth Publishing.
