As we transition from winter sports into the beginning of spring and summer seasons, a fair amount of public interest is lost.
These seasons are nowhere near as entertaining as sports-cluster months like October have to offer. However, with midseason football, baseball playoffs and early season basketball games all airing interchangeably, there is plenty for sports fans to enjoy.
As March Madness and the NBA Finals end, so too do the interests of the casual fans. The primary argument for this problem: “The only thing to watch in the summer is baseball and that’s boring.”
As someone constantly dedicated to sports in the news media, I have to disagree with the contempt shown toward summer sports. Baseball can be boring, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s about choice for fans, that is, basing the choice of which games to watch on which will be the most entertaining.
With that said, baseball is a popular sport in the spring and summer, but it is not the only option for fans to indulge over summer break.
There are options. Baseball is a primary sport, so establish a favorite team. With 30 teams playing 162 games each between April and October, it’s nearly impossible to become an expert on everyone.
I base which games I watch on the pitching rotation. For example, the Arizona Diamondbacks have five starting pitchers, Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Taijuan Walker, Robbie Ray and Patrick Corbin. My favorites pitchers are Greinke and Ray. So games these pitchers start immediately are moved to the top of my “probably going to watch” list.
I also look for interesting matchups. No one wants to watch a four-game afternoon series against the San Diego Padres. Instead, big pitching matchups against talented, entertaining teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants earn the nod.
The Norwest holds many Seattle Mariners fans. So, check games on ESPN for all-star Felix Hernandez pitching, look for the most interesting matchups and proceed to kill a few hours watching mental battles between pitcher and batter.
In addition to baseball, fans might be surprised to find they have another option for sports viewing: football.
The NFL draft, college spring games and summer training camps are not the only broadcasts during the summer.
Ever heard of the Canadian Football League (CFL)? Not many have, but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of talent and funding. After many teams faced bankruptcy in the early-2000s, the CFL has been on a continuous growth spurt.
Its nine teams play extremely exciting football — sometimes more so than the NFL.
CFL has recruited many talented athletes all over North America, and seem to not be as money-hungry or corrupt as the NFL.
Often, NFL stars start or end their careers in the CFL. Chad Ochocinco played for Montreal, Warren Moon for Edmonton and Ricky Williams for Toronto. So, CFL games will be broadcasted on ESPN starting in mid-June with players that might transition into the NFL. However, some of CFL’s best players have received offers from NFL teams, but simply choose to stay because either they are Canadian, or are loyal to the CFL and their team.
Even several former Vandals have joined the CFL. For example Rolly Lumbala, who has been British Columbia’s fullback since 2008 and defensive back Aaron Grymes, who’s recent time with Edmonton resulted in an opportunity to play with the Philadelphia Eagles this upcoming season.
Many Idaho athletes are also looking to be drafted into the CFL. Idaho senior offensive lineman Mason Woods currently is on the radar for many teams, according to the CFL’s scouting report.
Since 1958, the CFL provides football entertainment with small rule changes. There are 12 men in play, the field is 20 yards longer and 10 yards wider, missed field goals are worth one point as long as they make it into the end-zone, there are only three downs and, most importantly, penalties can be challenged.
The original football sport is also approaching — soccer.
Although 2017 is an off-year for major international soccer cups, the Major League Soccer (MLS) is enough to keep a soccer fan’s attention for a few months.
The sport is gaining more attention every year in the United States, the MLS has been awarded four new franchises in the last two years. Orlando City S.C., New York City F.C., Atlanta United F.C. and Minnesota United F.C. wasted no time putting their stamp on the sport, attracting sellout crowds to their first matches.
However, the prowess of the MLS is not even comparable to the likes of England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga or even Mexico’s Liga MX for that matter. But the MLS runs on a schedule which should make soccer fans happy — it begins right as these leagues are ending.
There’s no shortage of exciting contests in the MLS either. Each of the 22 teams plays 34 games, and there’s never any telling who will win the championship. Since the league’s founding in 1993, there has been a total of 11 different champions, with the LA Galaxy leading the pack with five.
But, with a reigning Northwest champion in the Seattle Sounders F.C., there’s plenty of reason to be excited about soccer in northern Idaho. Even if you’re a diehard fan of European football or not a fan at all, the MLS makes for exciting competition between past and present greats and the league has risen to become one of the 10 best in the world.
There’s always sports to be watched or prep yourself for. Whether you enjoy the relaxation of the fake-CBS bird chirps during a golf tournament, the fluid motion of a double-play or some soccer during random snowfall, exciting sports do not end with the summer. Exciting sports never end.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @coltonclark95