The Beginning of the End

Well, my Groundhog Day happened at about 10:15 last night. College basketball saw its shadow, and now there's only two more months of quality sports left.

Every year, at the end of the NCAA Tournament, as Luther Vandross (or in last night's jived up version, Jennifer Hudson) croons "One Shining Moment," I cry like a little girl. No, not because I relive the agony of defeat, the elation of winning, or the shattering of dreams of young collegiate athletes.

No, the reason I cry is because we just entered into the home stretch toward the doldrums of the sports world. From September til June, I have college football, NFL, college basketball, and the NBA to keep me company. There is hardly a Saturday or Sunday during those 9 months that I can't say, "Hey, do you want to come watch the game?"

Now, all that is about to end. You know how Sunday feels? You wake up knowing you have an entire day until you go back to work. Then you get home from church and know you still have a big meal to look forward to. After the meal, you still have the Amazing Race to watch. But after the Amazing Race, you are filled with that void of knowing there really isn't anything left of your weekend - just a couple hours until bed and then work in the morning.

That feeling you have after the Amazing Race on Sunday night is the same feeling I have after the college basketball championship. I know there's only a few NBA games left until the boring summer sports set in.

I mean, what am I gonna watch? The World Cup? I guess that could give me something to talk about with my neighbor, Graham, who loves the following things: 1. Geology 2. Thrift Store sweaters 3. Short cargo shorts 4. His beard 5. Hemp jewelry 6. Soccer.

I suppose I could try getting really into baseball. Don't get me wrong, I love the playoffs and the World Series, but trying to track the 9,786 games leading up to them is impossible. The only people I know that can actually do it are old men and autistic kids.

That is why I have a love/hate relationship with summer. I love the weather, the long days, and the barbecues. But what am I supposed to do in the evenings? Spend time with my family? Well...Ok...I guess they're alright for people who don't wear uniforms or keep score...