Finally

This is a pretty great time of the year to enjoy sports. College basketball is ending, the NFL is both far enough in the past for wounds to heal or be forgotten, but far enough away so that one doesn't need to get that burning itch of anticipation that starts sometime in July (and that's for the patient fans).

The Masters is approaching, especially spicy this year because Tiger Woods isn't so damn vanilla anymore. I love golf, playing it far more than watching it, but there is nothing like getting fucked up and watching the early rounds on Thursday and Friday (when the field is double that of the weekend), or eating a bunch of food and nervously watching the back nine on late Sunday afternoon.

I also really enjoy the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs, when there are tons of games nearly every day and the teams still have a bunch of enthusiasm. It's way better than that point when you realize the Lakers or some other machine of a franchise are just going to take it down again.

I am actively rooting against a Kobe vs LeBron finals, though I firmly believe the NBA should just give in and rig the entire thing, because you know that's all they want to see, no matter how popular Vince Carter may be.

Of course, the baseball season is kicking off, and there is no better time to watch the sport, for as everyone knows the luster dies off pretty damn fast. I can't remember the last time I had a strong rooting interest in a televised game in August or later. Actually, make that May.

Some quick predictions:

Jimmie Johnson will win his 5th NASCAR title in a row, further plummeting this sport into oblivion.

The Capitals will win the Stanley Cup, causing a meteoric rise in my interest, thus giving me about a 17% chance of caring about hockey. No one outside of Pittsburgh or Canada should like Sidney Crosby, and if so, I don't want to hear about.

Duke will beat Butler in the NCAA finals. I thought a 33 year old coach would be a very likeable character, but he's really not.

The Cavs will not win the NBA championship. Additionally, the Spurs will win at least 2 series, further boring everyone. The Mavericks and Thunder will lose in the first round, and the Eastern Conference will implode into a mess of unlikeability. He Got Game was an awesome movie, but that's not enough for me to root for a Boston sports team.