Winter officially ends for me when the pitchers and catchers of Major League Baseball report to spring training in Florida and Arizona, sometime in late February. My wife thinks I'm crazy - no surprise there. After all, we live in Northwest Ohio and it does stay chilly for awhile after February 20th - sometimes for a long while. No matter, spring is here when spring training begins.
While explaining this fact of life to another non-believer on New Years Day I was asked why - since I am already delusional - winter doesn't end for me when NASCAR re-fires it's engines at Daytona in earlier February?
Patiently, I told my friend that, unlike NASCAR, Major League - and by that I really mean Detroit Freakin' Tiger -Baseball has an off-season when the teams actually take some time off. I am not counting arguments about Barry Bonds' suitability for either enshrinement or indictment. Baseball goes away after the World Series in October and doesn't come back until spring, around February 20.
NASCAR is a different animal. Here it is, January 2nd and Jr lovers and Hendricks haters alike are anxiously anticipating NASCAR's Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway next week.
Ready or not, the whole racin' deal is starting up again. But that doesn't mean that winter is over. Winter doesn't end until February 20.
Picture credit: John Locher - Reviewjournal.com
I am with you this season where there is no baseball and my football team is playing golf just stinks.
I can't wait until I see sunny Florida and the starting flag for the Daytona 500. Then the season begins for me.
Posted by: Vinny The Sports Maniac | January 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM