GAMES – Summer’s Setting Sun Signals Best Sports Calendar

OK, it’s time for the best time of the year.
Don’t get me wrong. Summer at the South Jersey shore has its rightful place as a time-honored staple of sun, sand, crowds, tramcars and Ferris wheels. The exceptionally warm months of shorts, flip-flops and suntan lotion are best because they are so temporary. So fleeting.
For sports fans, the nightly baseball games and other local outdoor activities are satisfying but not filling. Beach volleyball, Frisbee or whiffle ball have their place among the soft surface favorites, but the quenching taste of football and baseball’s postseason simply have no rival.
September is in full view now. I saw my first “back to school” advertisement about two weeks ago. That’s like the first time you see a “pay toll ahead” sign. It’s still a couple of miles away but you’d better start fumbling for loose change or pull the EZ-Pass transponder out of the glove box.
As an adult who finally finished semester-based classroom training a few years back (workshops and seminars don’t count), the ominous “back to school” phrase no longer causes a wrinkle on my brow. As a commuter, dealing with school buses can be an occasional source of frustration, but otherwise, “back to school” means back to football and preparing for the excitement of the baseball pennant drive.
With all due respect to the magic of the Christmas season, this is, truly, the most wonderful time of the year.
Fall takes the edge of off the sizzling summer heat and humidity. That soft sweatshirt and those folded-in-the-drawer blue jeans are back in style and feeling good amidst the slight chill in the air and some bustling leaves swirling around the open spaces. Low-cut white socks are surrounded by a fresh pair of comfy New Balance sneakers to complete the fall weekend wardrobe.
These are all the signs that the beach towels can head to the attic for another year of hibernation. The enhancement that HD and the NFL Network bring only adds to the exuberance of the new gridiron campaign. Top it off with a large recliner (perhaps one built for two so she can bring the popcorn and beverages over), the remote, and the weekend newspapers you are living.
What else is there?
The Eagles kicked things off last week with their first preseason game. The storylines are a bit more intriguing this year as every Kevin Kolb statistic will be measured against the numbers Donovan McNabb registers in the nation’s capital. The proverbial question will be answered. Was it McNabb or Andy Reid who held the Birds back? Either way it’ll be interesting to watch.
The Phillies are somehow overcoming their significant injuries and suspect bullpen to maintain a staunch pursuit of first place Atlanta. The confidence each Roy Halladay appearance provides is neutralized by the anxiety brought about by each Brad Lidge emergence from the bullpen. You have to admit that it’s not dull.
Through Sunday the Phils had pulled even with wild card leader San Francisco. You gotta love that wild card. A great idea that doesn’t get the credit it deserves for enhancing the excitement of late season play for many fans and cities who would otherwise be shut out of postseason possibilities.
Hope is all anyone can dream about and the wild card delivers that potential.
Making this fall even juicier is the possible revival of professional basketball in the region. As you may have read, the Doug Collins hiring is loudly applauded in this space and now the Sixers have added accomplished and connected basketball executive Rod Thorn to the front office.
The new team president has a working relationship with GM Ed Stefanski and knows the workings of the NBA as well as anyone. Kudos to the team’s ownership for pursuing Thorn almost immediately after the long-time basketball administrator decided to leave the Nets.
The hockey club is coming off of a remarkable playoff run so the start of another training camp will be cause for optimism on ice as well.
Things are gearing up for some excitement as the seasons head toward another change. Enjoy these last rays of summer sun and look ahead to the greatest months of the sports calendar.
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net
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