Best Sports Time of Year

From an overall sporting perspective, this is close to the greatest time of year. From now until March that is. Here's why:

1) The two greatest sports ever are now back on TV: Bowling and College basketball. The PBA has returned and is on ESPN Sunday afternoons at 1 pm (eastern). I highly recommend watching (at least as a backup to football). College basketball may be the best spectator sport out there. Almost every night there will be some game on and the promise of great matchups down the road. On a CBB note, Butler defeated Notre Dame and IU to advance to the preseason NIT semi-finals. It was wicked sweet, plus it means I get to watch Butler play at least one more televised game.

2) Prime NFL. The season is half over and the contenders are standing out, games begin to mean more, and the Colts are frickin' awesome (at least at offense). The playoffs lie ahead and culminating in the SuperBowl at the end of January.

3) NASCAR. Now NASCAR primarily runs over the summer, but this time of year consist of the highlight, the Chase. That is the final 10 races that determines the champion. It is an exciting time. Plus in February, NASCAR returns with the Daytona 500. Only better NASCAR time is the Brickyard.

4) College Football. Similar to the pros, these are the games that really set the stage. Rivalry games are up-coming in the next couple of weekends that have major National Champ implications (OSU v. Mich, and ND v. USC). Now, if only college football would have a tournament.....

5) Last only because it is the latest of the events and the grand prize...March Madness. I know I'm early to think about the Big Dance, but I did say from now thru March to be the best sporting time ever. I love the NCAA men's tournament. Filling out brackets, running illegal gamb....I mean just having fun with them...he he... Cinderella stories. It's the bestest.

There you have it....now for some shoutouts (aka who you should root for).

PBA: I have preferences, but just watch it. To borrow the golf slogan, "These guys are good."
CBB: Butler, of course. Then any Indiana school, then Big Ten schools, then Duke, then anyone but Kentucky.
NFL: Colts...show the '72 Dolphins who's boss.
CFB: Notre Dame...go Golden Domers....ND v. OSU for the national championship.
NASCAR: Kasey Kahne, but he's kind of out of it now.