If you are a big-time sports fan, I’m sure you can agree that right now is the best time to be a fan. Major League Baseball is heating up with spirited playoff races between clubs. The NFL and NCAA are just getting started on the gridiron, which is wildly exciting, especially if you are a diehard fan or are invested in some kind of fantasy league. The NBA and college basketball seasons are right around the corner, as well as the National Hockey League. If you are a fan of major professional sports, right now is a time that is filled with a level of excitement that is only comparable to Christmas Eve at age 7.
NFL
Week 1 in the NFL brought some extremely hard-fought games as well as some interesting league-wide storylines. The Browns' quarterback Josh McCown went down with an injury which allowed none other than golden boy Johnny Manziel to emerge and earn a starting spot for the Cleveland Browns. Rookie quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota squared off in their first contests as professionals which was interesting, to say the least. Winston had a roaring start, completing his first career pass for a touchdown ... to the other team. That’s right a pick 6 for his first NFL throw from scrimmage. Mariota on the other hand had a phenomenal day throwing the football, completing 13 of 16 pass attempts for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns. A stellar day for the rookie QB. Week 1 was fun to watch, and hopefully Week 2 brings the same amount of action.
College Football
The college football season is off to a great start with some big games coming up. Last week brought fans many great contests, but two stood out to me. No. 9 Notre Dame played unranked Virginia which looked like it might not be such a great game after Notre Dame routed Texas in Week 1. Notre Dame came out playing well and looking like they hadn’t missed a beat since the Texas game, until their star quarterback Malik Zaire went down with an ankle injury. The game came down to the wire, but Notre Dame’s depth prevailed as backup quarterback Deshone Kizer sealed the win with a late touchdown pass to stud receiver Will Fuller.
Another big matchup for Week 2 of college football was No. 19 Oklahoma at No. 23 Tennessee. The game went into double-overtime with Oklahoma pulling out the 31-24 victory. It was something of a coming out party for Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, who rallied his squad from being down 17 points to force the game to overtime where he finished the game with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard.
Week 2 in college football brought some great games, and I, for one, am excited to see what Week 3 brings.
MLB
As summer has been winding down, Major League Baseball has been heating up. Almost to the end of the regular season, each game is becoming more and more important for teams in the playoff or wild card race. The New York Mets have had a certain swagger about them this season which has made them fun to watch. It should be interesting to see how the National League plays out with so many talented teams. The Cubs and the Pirates boast two of the top five records in all of baseball, but will be fighting for the two wild card spots because of how well the Cardinals have done this year atop the NL Central. The American League is a bit more clear cut with the Royals, Blue Jays and Yankees holding the power. As a Boston fan, it pains me to say this, but I would like to see a Mets-Yankees World Series. That would be great for baseball to see such a spirited rivalry on the biggest stage.
As a big fan of baseball and football alike, this time of year is the most fun for me. So many different games and headlines every day keep me wanting more. All of this coupled with the NHL and NBA on the horizon, right now is definitely the best time of year to be a sports fan.
