MARCHing to madness
It’s time for a little Monday morning sport reflection - after all it’s a really exciting time of the year especially for the two b-balls…(that’s not beach balls for you non-sports fans) - but of course basketball and baseball.
First let me say today I am in the flesh - that is a spirit of jealousy because my boys Jason and John BOTH just called me to let me know they are headed to Yankee Stadium for Opening day. Wow. How exciting because this will be the last opening day ever in the old house that “Ruth built” (1923). Of course I hope it’s also the start of what is going to be a great year for the Yanks. Almost every day for the next six months my TV will make its way to the YES network to check out how it’s going. How’s that for priority? Thank God the Yanks don’t play at 7am when I’m doing my quiet time…that would be a tough temptation. Seriously, I enjoy the diversion away from the stress of ministry.
As for predictions… the Yanks will have a good year and Cano and A-Rod big years. Why? Because they just flat dab have the goods! My fear is that the young pitchers are a year or two away from being great and this will be a learning year for the them - so the Yanks may lose a few they normally would not. Also, I worry some of the older guys like Mussina and Giambi may disappoint more than succeed. But as usual I think the Yanks will be battling a couple of other teams right down to the final day of the regular schedule for division titles and wildcard spot. But since none of this will happen until October… worrying about it today is indeed MARCH MADNESS. Oh yeah, I will peak at the Mets and see how they are doing… but won’t lose any sleep over the results. I will also ask the Lord to help me with my attitude about “hating” the Red Sox - but it will take a miracle for me to “overcome” that one.
Now how about that college basketball - exciting huh! By the way I may not be the lone ranger but I am very excited that for the first time ever I picked all four teams who made it to the final four! Now give me a break all of you who are saying “yeah, but they all were #1 seeds”. OK…but the #1 seeds have never all made it before - so you would have been a dummy to pick them. And besides I did pick Davidson to go a long way. So what will happen? I have picked North Carolina to win it all. Now I want UCLA to win because I have always liked them ever since the days of the amazing John Wooden as their coach. He is truly one of the great men on the planet. But I don’t know if they can get by Memphis.
So here’s the deal it’s going to be really exciting… great games - and then if you can believe it… I am going to be on an airplane to the Ukraine next Monday when the final is played. Can you imagine? No matter how you look at it for real sports fans… it’s all MADNESS!
