Taxes, Rain and the Greatest Sports Month of the Year

February is Super Month, March is Pure Madness, in May we Run for the Roses, October is the Fall Classic and in December college football goes Bowling.........no sports fan can deny that these months provide us with must see TV. However, none of these months equal the 30 days of pure, unadulterated sporting bliss that is April, or Abril for our Spanish speaking audience (I'll explain).

Now I know what you're saying to yourself......Brendan, how can April....a month many of us dread as we experience one day of rain after another, a month when many of us have the IRS hot on our tails, a month that many of us would love to bypass so as to get to the warmth and beauty of May....how can this month be given the title of the Greatest Sporting Month.

Friends, the answer is a simple one......every major sport either begins or has it's climax within these 30 days. As we are exactly halfway through April, let's recap what we've already witnessed:

The month started with Four, as in the Final Four....Michigan State, UCONN, 'Nova and the Heels. Well the Big East came up rather small in the semifinals as UCONN, perhaps brainstorming their next recruiting violation couldn't hang with the hometown Spartans and well-dressed Jay Wright and the Wildcats barely made it out the fitting room before Ty Lawson, the fastest man on hardwood, drove the lane for one basket after another. With the hearts and wallets of downtrodden Detroit watching their every move, Michigan State failed to complete one final upset as it was UNC with the scissors in hand at game's end.

From the hardwood to the freshly-cut Kentucky bluegrass....the start of another baseball season with questions abound.....is Arod kissing himself or Madonna these days, can the young Rays sting their AL East foes for another season, how would the fans in NY receive their new ballparks, did anyone sign Manny, will the Cubbies finally erase Bartman, the Billy Goat and the Black Cat, are the Sawx finally over the hill?

From the lush grass of the outfield to the short Bermuda grass on the putting green, we head south to Augusta, Georgia. Nothing signifies the renewal and rebirth of spring quite like The Masters at the famed Augusta National Golf Club. Each year we are captivated by the beauty of the azaleas, the height of the oak trees and the difficulty of Amen Corner. This year was particularly fascinating as we witnessed Tiger and Phil soar where only eagles and birdies dare, our hearts broke for 48-year old Kenny Perry as he at last became human in the closing stages of Masters' Sunday and we celebrated our Easter feast with "El Pato," as he secured his second win and second major on the PGA Tour.

Grab your sweaters as we return indoors for the Coolest Game on Ice. Tonight marks the beginning of the NHL's second season. ESPN's top plays will no doubt be packed with Crosby slapshots, Ovechkin wristers and 3-overtime thrillers in the coming days. As five of the Original Six qualified for this year's playoffs (will the Maple Leafs ever get their act together?), are we witnessing a hearkening back to the days of old?

Back on the hardwood we go for the NBA's version of March Madness. Will King James finally be fitted for his crown, can Kobe win without Shaq, can D-Wade get up one more time and carry the Heat on another magical postseason run, speaking of magic can fellow Floridian Dwight Howard do the same or will it be Banner #18 for the Gentlemen in Green?

Are you convinced?? If you're not, it's no matter because I'm not done.

Major League Soccer kicks off in our calendar's fourth month just as the boys overseas complete the final stages of the Champions League. Keeping with sports dominated by Europeans, but still played by us Statesmen.....the USA Rugby Collegiate National Championship Round of 16 commences as the California Bears look to touch down yet another national championship behind coaching legend Jack Clark.

Had enough? What's that you say? I forgot America's new pastime, the sport that more of us watch than any other, a sport that according to a recent ESPN poll at least 71% of this country is interested in (I suppose the real question is how are 29% of you not!), the sport that Vegas adores, the sport that PSL's, clear and obvious steroid use, heinous and deadly offensives by its players (see Donte Stallworth's vehicular manslaughter) and repeated softening by Roger "No Fun League" Goodell (see the new Tom Brady Rule about hitting below the knee) can't seem to derail.

Well don't worry because April marks the NFL Draft, the National Football League's version of presents under the Christmas Tree.....a time when Todd McShay and Mel Kiper (great fucking head of hair!) fight tooth and nail over whether the Lions should take an overweight offensive lineman from McNeese State over a cocky, hands like stone receiver from Troy with their 7th round selection.

The unofficial beginning to the NFL season should be interesting as always.....who if any team will move up to take Mark Sanchez or Matthew Stafford, will the Giants look to make a draft day trade for a wide receiver who won't shoot the team in the foot, will the Jets be calling me to try out for quarterback? So many questions left to be answered.

So my friends, I implore you to fear not the steady rains of April or your delinquent tax return, but revel in what sporting joy this month bestows upon our watchful eyes.

Buen Provecho!!!

Bren's Bold Boasts:
Stanley Cup Finals: Bruins over Wings in 6
NBA Finals: Cavs over Lakers in 7
NFL Draft: Giants make a draft day deal with Browns for Braylon Edwards as all of Cleveland asks why in God's name did we want this fat ass as our coach?