Best Sports Times of the Year

In my opinion, the period from mid-October to mid-November is one of the two greatest stretches in the year, as far as sports are concerned. The other stretch would be mid-March to mid-April. Here's why.

Mid-October to Mid-November:

In the fall, you tend to think football, football, football, which is largely true. Right now, we are in the thick of the college football schedule, the middle of the NFL season, and fantasy football teams starting to take real shape. It gives people something to look forward to on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and sporadic Thursdays, and it's pretty much the "water cooler" talk wherever you work. If you're lucky like me and get to watch sports during your job as a sports writer, well then it's even better.

But this period also brings the start of the NBA season, which for the first time in a number of years is actually quite intriguing to me. I'm looking forward to watching the Bucks, specifically seeing Year 2 of Brandon Jennings, how healthy Andrew Bogut looks, and if our new draft picks and acquisitions will fit in and help out as hoped. I'm also curious to see how the Heat will actually perform, see what players make a jump to elite status (Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose for example), which teams will finally put all the pieces together (Magic, Thunder) and other surprises. It's also good to see which players actually are on each team.

The biggest reason I love this period? The World Series. Screw the TV execs, the Rangers vs the Giants is a Fall Classic I'm definitely excited about. I even called this matchup before the postseason started! Scroll down if you don't believe me. I'm excited to watch the pitching (Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee in games 1, 4 and 7? Sign me up!), Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Josh Hamilton, Vlad Guerrero and whatever is growing in Brian Wilson's beard. If I was a betting man, which I think I should be more of, I'd go with Rangers in 7. Rangers have the better offense, but the Giants have the better pitching to push it to the brink.

March/April:

This period comes down to NCAA conference tournaments and March Madness, but also includes Spring Training/Opening Day in the MLB and the NFL Draft. I go out of my way to watch all three of these things (well, at least the first few games of the Brewers season), which makes this a rival to October/November in my mind.

10 NFL Players to Start a Team Around for the Next 10 Years

Since Aaron Rodgers is still questionable for this weekend's game, it got me to thinking which players are most valuable to their teams. And since I am an avid fantasy football player, I had this idea to try to list the top ten picks in a giant keeper league for the next ten years. Only this league isn't fantasy and all about stats, but rather about building a team around. They players need to be relatively young and quite good, and play a position of vital importance (punters need not apply).

(These aren't ranked, just the ten best in my mind.)

Aaron Rodgers - In only his third season as a starter, Rodgers has a ton of knowledge and ability without a lot of miles on his odometer. There's a reason that quarterbacks are so often taken number one in the NFL Draft, to be a foundation to build a team around. Rodgers appears to be the best of that bunch, so he definitely belongs in this list. He's already 26, but many quarterbacks have found success through their mid thirties.

Adrian Peterson - Adrian Peterson is already 25, and it's a well known fact that many running backs can drop off the face of the earth after they hit 30 (Willie Parker, Edge James, Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, etc.). Peterson has proven to be a talent above and beyond the names on this list, and has at least 4-5 elite years ahead of him.

Chris Johnson - Having just turned 24, Chris Johnson has a leg up age-wise and skill-wise on AD in my opinion. He's fast and has a swagger, two things that can't be taught.

Sam Bradford/Matt Ryan - Two former very high draft picks who have actually panned out so far, and appear headed towards elite status for the next decade, and would be very easy to build a team around.

Joe Thomas - The best of the young left tackle bunch which also includes Ryan Clady and Jake Long. The anchor of pass protection and the running game, left tackles are a great place to start building a team around.

Darrelle Revis/Patrick Willis/Ndamakong Suh - The three best at their positions are all viable options to start a defensive-minded team around. Shutdown corner, captain middle linebacker, or double-team commanding pass rusher, you can't go wrong with any of these three choices here.

October Baseball

Goodbye productivity, hello MLB postseason! I'll admit, I haven't payed too much attention to the end of the regular season, because to me it seemed like the playoff teams were pretty much decided. (If you will recall this post, I had the 8 teams predicted correctly. So what if Wild Card/Division Winners were flip-flopped. I was 8 for 8. Boo ya.) Now that the postseason has finally started, I'll definitely be watching. I love that they have day games almost every day, considering I sit around my apartment during the day, and then when I have to work I can still watch the games! Anywho, I am going to change my predictions, based on what I've seen and what my gut is telling me.

Rays vs. Rangers

I like the pitching duel of David Price against Cliff Lee, but I'm going to have to go with Cliff Lee on this one. He's been traded around so much, that nothing really can feel like home so he won't be rattled pitching on the road, and the Trop isn't too intimidating of a park. The Rangers lineup is absolutely stacked, and I don't really care if the team doesn't have playoff experience. Vlad Guerrero does, Cliff Lee does, Bengie Molina does. Michael Young is experienced enough that the playoffs won't rattle him. Plus they have Josh Hamilton, which the Rays don't have. I like this game to go to 5, but I like the Rangers.

Twins vs. Yankees

The Twins are a perennial playoff team, but it would be a stretch to say that they are perennial contenders. They seem to always run into the Bronx Bombers, who I like in this matchup for another year. I like the Yankees pitching a lot better, plus the Twins could use a bat like Morneau in their lineup. The Twins will win the first game at Target Field, but that's about it. Yanks in 4.

Reds vs. Phillies

I'm pulling for the Reds to win the World Series, because I like that they are in our division. I don't hate them, which surprises me, plus I like many of the players they have, plus Dusty Baker. Joey Votto deserves the NL MVP, I like Jay Bruce, and this Chapman guy can apparently throw pretty fast. With that said, they did emerge from a division that featured Pittsburgh, Houston, the Cubs, and (alas) the Brewers. I don't think win more than one game against the Halladay/Oswalt/Hamels tro. Phillies in 4.

Giants vs. Braves

The Braves are the other team I like, especially Jason Heyward and Bobby Cox. But I know that October comes down to pitching, which is why I like the Giants more. It looks like they are going to start Lincecum/Matt Cain/Jonathan Sanchez, which is very solid for the NL. Plus then they have Barry Zito and Madison Bumgarner to use when needed, plus Brian Wilson as the crazy closer. Plus, I'm not betting against the Kung Fu Panda and a guy named Buster. Giants in 5.

I'll elaborate more once the LCS matchups are decided, but right now I'm leaning towards Rangers over Yankees in 6, and Giants over Phillies in 7. I like pitching.

Now...back to Tampa Bay/Texas game one. Cheers to unproductivity!