Taking Names and Keeping Score
Transition or transfusion?
Charlie Anderson
It's hard to believe but here we are beginning another year. It seems only a few days ago that I was marveling that we were beginning 2006 and now I am faced with the reality that it is now 2007. It also has dawned on me that the habit I had finally fully developed of correctly dating everything '06' is now one I will need to break and begin working on one for '07'.

Just as the first month of a new year is a transition time in the personal lives of most all of us, it is also considered to be one for the world of sports by some folks. However, transfusion might be a more appropriate word now for January than transitions as it relates to the world of sports. Of course I am primarily speaking of the activities in this country although I feel certain many other parts of the world have the same problem or in a more positive tone enjoy the same blessings that we do.

Here in our country football at the collegiate and professional level are still a very important part of what's happening in sports as the bowl season winds down with the BCS championship game a week away in the college ranks and the playoffs in professional football eventually leading us to the Super Bowl.

On top of that you have a lot the all-star games that are yet to be played. Also on the college level the recruiting wars will intensify during the month of January with national signing day for high school players looming on the horizon in early in February.

Of course we all know that basketball at all levels is just now getting into full swing with teams at the high school and college level moving into the meat of their schedules this month and the teams at the professional level shifting into full gear.

Believe it or not baseball also gets cranked up at the high school level and college level this month with the Colleges beginning practice within the next two weeks and the high schools cranking practices up at the end of the month. Both of them do so in anticipation of their seasons actually getting underway in February. The professionals in baseball do get to wait a little longer with spring training for them not being scheduled until February or March.

Of course we can't leave out hockey, which, like basketball, is in full swing and is of particular interest in the cities and parts of the country where the sport is as much a passion as football is in the south.Throw in the multitude of more individualized sports like swimming, diving, gymnastics, tennis, golf, etc. and there is no end to something to do or watch on television if that is the extent of someone's involvement in sports.

Oops, I almost left out two sports, which command the attention of a large segment of the population in our neck of the woods. Those of course would be hunting and fishing, which are so popular that there are whole industries and even some retail outlets that completely specialize in all the gear and clothing used in those two pursuits.

There are even television channels, which are dedicated to nothing but hunting and fishing, providing yet another opportunity for those who choose to enjoy

their sports through the experiences others, the chance to do so from the comfort of their own recliner. There are some however who might argue that hunting is no longer a sport but merely an ambush waiting to happen. But to each his own so to speak, their opinion has very little chance of changing the way hunting is done now or lessening its popularity.

All things considered I believe what might have once been considered transition periods for sports might more appropriately be called a time in the near future where we will be in danger of having nothing in the world of sports to occupy our time or command our attention.

Until next time…..be safe!

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