Three months into my first year of college, it rained for 28 straight days.
Pounding, wet, cold, horrible precipitation every lifeless day for a month. For a So Cal native, it was miserable. But I persevered, and so can you.
We can’t allow ourselves to sulk over the recent inclement whether—the rain, the traffic, the polluted ocean. Instead we must focus on the future, the bright, shining abyss that is the sports world.
Seriously, the world may be in shambles, but the sports world’s immediate future looks grand.
Hmmm, where to start?
First off, we’ve got spring season high school sports getting underway as I speak. Baseball, softball, track and field, swimming, diving, and boys’ golf, volleyball and tennis are all on tap.
There are some great local athletes competing in every sport. Get out there and check them out if you have the time.
March Madness is right around the corner. Like myself, many of you will live and die with each passing game. In office pools everywherepeople will fill out brackets and gamble, illegally, on the outcomes of these games between college students. There may even be a time when you get into a coworker’s face to say what a fool they were for picking four No. 1 seeds to make the Final Four. March Madness is perpetual joybut this year there’s an added bonusThe World Baseball Classic began Thursday and runs through March 20. The United States and Dominican Republic enter as tournament favorites, although Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Japan will have something to say about that.
Take a look at the rosters on www.worldbaseballclassic.com. Even though guys like Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez have backed out, the talent pool is extremely rich.
If you’re a big-time baseball fan and can’t get down to San Diego’s Petco Park for the WBC semifinals and/or finals, at least head over to Angel Stadium for the second round March 12 through 16. As of Thursday, tickets for the games in Anaheim were available starting at $9.
Following the WBC, Major League Baseball opens its regular season April 2.
Quite frankly, the Angels have a much better shot at a ring than the Dodgers do. Sorry Azul fans, but Derek Lowe isn’t a No. 1 starter. I love the Dodger bullpen, but the lineup is injury prone. Watch minor league pitcher Chad Billingsley, he could blossom into a star for L.A.
Having said that, I’m a Padre fan, and “The Fathers” epitomize ancient. Mike Piazza? Trevor Hoffman? Vinny Castilla? The Pads might as well sign Benito Santiago and make it official.
This is painful to write, but I’m afraid the Jurassic Giants, and their cross-dressing slugger Bonds, will win the National League West.
Before the N.L. West is settled, however, another spectacular event will grace the sports world from Germany in early June—the FIFA World Cup.
Admittedly, professional soccer isn’t really my thing. I’ll watch the sport and do enjoy it, but I don’t look forward to it like football, basketball or baseball.
The World Cup is totally different. I love it. I’ll stay up until 3 a.m. to see the USA battle Turkey to a 0-0 tie. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s the most I’ve ever done to serve my country.
This time around I’m betting defending champion Brazil to win at 5-to-2 odds. Pele picked Brazil. That’ll work for me.
And since there’s no point in gambling if you’re gambling to lose, might I suggest taking Brazil’s Ronaldinho Gaucho at double-digit odds to score the most goals in the tournament. After you win you can buy me dinner, preferably at The Cheesecake Factory, they’ve got a Chinese chicken dish to die for.
Right about the time the World Cup kicks off, the NBA postseason—sans the Lakers— will near its completion.
By that time we’ll have already watched the Clippers go four and out against the Mavericks or Spurs. Doesn’t matter though, the Pistons will win it all. But it won’t be so bad. At that point it’ll be summertime and the rains will have subsided. — Stephen Dorman can be reached at sdorman@theacorn.com
