What's your favorite sports time of the year?
With the Super Bowl coming up, I had a question for the board: what's your favorite sports time of the year?
For me, it's the kickoff of the college football season. Weather's still beautiful, start of a new year--it's better than Christmas. Oh yeah, and all the girls coming back to Ann Arbor isn't a bad thing, either.
Summer is my least favorite. I've never been big into watching baseball, and seeing how that's the only thing on all summer, it's a good thing I enjoy being outside.
So what sports time do you look forward to the most all year?
February 4th, 2012 at 2:38 AM ^
Got to copy your OP; the start of M football is the best; getting used to it is sad, I wish every game was early with the hope and the questions...
If I was going to pick a second, it would be however deep the Wings go come NHL playoff time. They play their sport beautifully.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:20 AM ^
I agree almost exactly. #1 would be the beginning of football season when you're just getting back into the swing of things and you don't really know what kind of season you're in for just yet. Plus I've been waiting for it for months and months, and I'm ready for some action again.
Playoff hockey is my second favorite time of year, because it's just hard to find a match for the sweet intensity of an NHL playoff game.
February 4th, 2012 at 2:42 AM ^
My favorite is right when the world series ends up to the first pre season NFL game. That's the only time bowling gets national attention
February 4th, 2012 at 3:00 AM ^
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. ~A. Bartlett Giamatti, "The Green Fields of the Mind," Yale Alumni Magazine, November 1977
February 4th, 2012 at 3:10 AM ^
March Madness. Although I do love it all almost equally, the tournament has my heart.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:16 AM ^
One of the few times a year that you are inundated with sporting events to watch--you can catch a game at almost any time of the day. Though I would guess employers hate that time of year for obvious reasons.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
Teachers hate it too. Me and my friends were always the ones in high school who berated our 5th and 6th hour teachers into turning on the early afternoon games on, regardless of who was playing.
February 4th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
There is nothing like March Madness. There's the sheer craziness that is the first two days of games, and all the upsets that somehow shock me year after year even though I know some top seeds are going to go down. There's no contest, especially now that Michigan is likely going to continue to make it into the big dance under the program Beilein has rebuilt.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:11 AM ^
March Madness nothing beats it
February 4th, 2012 at 3:15 AM ^
It's either middle or end of football season. Probably the end third of football season because it lets me watch Michigan hockey, football, and basketball at the same time.
Close seconds/thirds are March Madness, and NHL playoffs.
February 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
This is my favorite time too. Football is in the thick of conference play and games are important. Weekdays between football games are jam packed with basketball and hockey. It's the best part of the year for me.
February 4th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
I'll sign on to that as well. College football, NFL, college b-ball, college hockey, & NHL all going on at once.
The other contender would be Stanley Cup playoffs time, but the fact that the NBA has become so completely unwatchable makes that not quite as fun as it used to be.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:20 AM ^
Summer because it's warm duh but sports wise it's Fall because its got 3 of my favorite sports going on college football, college basketball, the NFL gets under way too! The there's winter which is NHL 24/7 for me and Michigan hockey gets underway! Then the spring into summer is all about March Madness and of course to finish it off with the greatest championship in professional sports, the Stanley Cup playoffs!
February 4th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^
College basketball isn't a fall sport.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:28 AM ^
College basketball isn't my favorite sport but it's really hard to beat March Madness.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:31 AM ^
When the baseball playoffs overlap with the Stanley Cup playoffs, especially as of late when the Wings and Tigers are both in the mix. Unfortunately, this also makes it twice as depressing when they both lose.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:32 AM ^
So my brain is slower than my fingers. I meant when the baseball season overlaps with hockey playoffs. Must. Go. To. Bed.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:43 AM ^
Tim, you are so lucky you corrected that. I had a strong urge to tear you apart for being an idiot. ;)
February 4th, 2012 at 8:46 AM ^
Probably shouldn't use names. There was a big hooplah over something similar (someone realeasing info about someone they didn't want out there). Just a note.
February 4th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
Thanks for the heads-up.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:33 AM ^
but that month of March Madness and the Masters right after is great. Not to mention good season starts April 1st.
February 4th, 2012 at 3:37 AM ^
duh. Especially 2012.
February 4th, 2012 at 4:12 AM ^
College football and friday night lights? What can beat that? I'm a little bias because I coach football...I could honestly hibernate the whole rest of the year.
February 4th, 2012 at 4:33 AM ^
October. Michigan football is in full swing and getting into the Big10 schedule, NFL football is underway, MLB playoffs start, NBA basketball, and NHL hockey kick off. It's a beautiful thing.
February 4th, 2012 at 5:14 AM ^
I'm torn, theres so many times of year I love for sports.
- March, the first week of March Madness is truly a great time for sports
- May/June The NHL and (yeah, yeah) the NBA playoffs/finals are great.
- September/October,I get to see the football team I love so much, AND the Tigers play (hopefully into october)
- And Bowl Season is great as well.
One thing I do know, however, is that this coming time of year is one of my least favorite for sports.
February 4th, 2012 at 6:16 AM ^
You mean there is another season besides football? ;-)
I agree, fall is the best with UM & HSFB Saturdays (plus all other NCAA football), NFL Sundays, and bowhunting EVERYdays. Throw in the World Series for a nice additional diversion.
After that, it's a toss-up for me between Red Wings playoff hockey and the NCAA basketball conference tournaments leading up to the big dance.
February 4th, 2012 at 6:37 AM ^
It used to be New Years Day when it meant something to play on that day. I guess it still does in some ways but the bowl season is all out of whack now. It used to be my favorite sports day.
Bowl Season is still #1 with me
March Madness and NCAA Hockey is #2 recently since we have a team in each tournament now. (please no jinx....please no jinx....please no jinx...........)
NHL Playoffs - I turn into a Wings fan in the playoffs since the LEAFS don't play that time of year. They aren't in the same league anymore so I feel I should be allowed to root for the Wings.
I care less and less about pro sports but the NHL playoffs put the other pro sports to shame although I will tune in to watch Lebron fold in the 4th qtr if I have time between an east coast and west coast hockey game.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:23 AM ^
Yeah, I remember when New Year's Day was a big deal too. That was great.
Now it's September for me...beginning of college football season. I used to get into March madness but not so much any more. In response to the OP and summers being a slow time, I feel the same way except every four years when the summer Olympics come around; that's always interesting.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
I'll vote for New Year's Day too. It used to be awesome when all of the big bowl games were played that day. A total smøgasbord of college football.
I know that a lot of people complain about the BCS because of which teams are playing but my biggest beef with it is that it has spread the bowl games across an entire week. It has really diluted the fun of bowl games.
February 4th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
New Years Days before the BCS were fantastic. It was always the perfect elixir for the annual New Years Day hangover. Nothing but laying on the couch all day with a bottle of water or gatorade. Maybe a beer by 3 p.m. followed by a frozen pizza in the oven. There were always 2-3 premiere games on at any given time. Blowout? No problem. Just turn the channel to another great match-up. It was a mini football version of the first Thursday/Friday of March Madness. I miss those days. I just can't get excited about the current extended BCS season.
February 4th, 2012 at 7:26 AM ^
Michigan football season! I totally love the FALL and high school football!
February 4th, 2012 at 8:12 AM ^
Don't get me wrong. Football is and will always be my number 1 sport. But March Madness is easily my favorite, as well as least favorite, sports time of year. Every year for the past 5 years, my wife and I take the entire 1st week of the tourney off of work. We go to Vegas from that Sunday to Wednesday to place all of our tourney bets, then come back home very early on Thursday to turn in our all of brackets. Then we set up all of our tvs and don't leave the house for the rest of the week. It's a spiritual time.
February 4th, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^
...adopt me.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:13 AM ^
October. My two favorite sports are in full swing: MLB baseball and Michigan Football! Nothing beats a pennant race and a Michigan Saturday!!!
February 4th, 2012 at 8:18 AM ^
No other is close to me! Grew up anticipating the Tigers seasons & soon playing myself. Now as a husband I have the honor of celebrating my wifes April 1st B'day/ our anniversary April 13 and we are usually in Florida for spring break as teachers! Throw in NCAA final game and M's spring game comes soon and the time of year is unbeatable for me.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:24 AM ^
I like October. It is usually great football watching weather and B10 play is just starting. I love going to to Michigan Stadium in October. 55 and partly cloudy, leaves starting to change, tailgating, just typing this makes me excited. My second favorite is November because I don't feel guilty sitting in the house and watching 13-15 hours of CFB on TV as the weather is usually crappy by then.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:36 AM ^
Like others, I love March Madness and in particular, I like how the Final Four almost transitions smoothly into Opening Day and the start of the MLB season. For me, that's coming off one sports high and sliding right into another.
I also like that, in late August and early September, as pennant races start to heat up, Michigan football also starts again and you get the intensity of both Saturdays at the Big House and teams staying afloat at the end of the MLB regular season.
If I had to choose, I would also go with March Madness - it's the only time of the year where I actually prioritize my work around which games will be on and when (I moved a meeting so I could sit at my desk and listen to a game once). It is also the only time of the year where I keep copies of brackets in my pocket in case I am away and incidentally get game updates.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^
February 4th, 2012 at 8:41 AM ^
Late March-April. NHL playoffs start, NCAA hockey tourney, and at least we get to see a glimpse of M football (spring game) in this time. and I'm always the happiest this time of year because winter is ending and you know better days lie ahead
February 4th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^
Don't forget the NCAA basketball tourny.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:58 AM ^
Because it has baseball playoffs are about to start or are going on, NBA is starting up, and college football and NFL have had a few games.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:06 AM ^
The start of Football season is the best (NFL/HS/NCAA) as soon as it hits August 1st my mind just starts getting pumped and the lead up to that first game is amazing.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:09 AM ^
My favorite sports season? Football Saturday!
February 4th, 2012 at 9:10 AM ^
other than the first two or three weeks in October? The B1G schedule is getting started, MLB playoffs are on, NFL is kicking into high gear, Hockey town is going nuts, and the weather is typically nice.
Nuff said.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:12 AM ^
February 4th, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^
I really like the first few weeks of September, when you have all major sports on at the same time. I like each season for its own reason. I like summer because golf and baseball. Fall for football, and winter and spring for college basketball.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:44 AM ^
Do you need to ask? College football season is 90% of my interest, followed by hockey in the winter and perhaps the TDF in July.
February 4th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
March- Spring Training, College Basketball Conference Tournaments, and March Madness
September- Pennant Races, and the start of College Football.
February 4th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
March Madness leading into the Masters. Nothing like those two weeks or so.
February 4th, 2012 at 10:21 AM ^
Mid-Late October. Good Baseball, meaty CFB games, NFL.