The Highlander

There are certain times of year for a sports fan that are better than others. Super Sunday and March Madness are two great times of year but it could be argued that the time of year that we are currently in is the best time of year. There is truly something for everybody right now no matter what sport you follow.

The NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs both have just gotten under way and both seem to have not only intriguing match-ups but also compelling storylines. In the NBA it seems that it is all about the young players. Lebron James is making his first appearance in the NBA playoffs and in his first game put up a triple double. Both Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade have made previous forays into the playoffs but this time more of the weight is on their shoulders. Another story to watch is whether or not the Dallas Mavericks can get past their in-state rivals, the San Antonio Spurs, to deliver Mark Cuban his first chance at an NBA title. In the Eastern Conference it is yet to be seen whether or not anybody can stop the juggernaut Detroit Pistons. For any team to beat them in a seven game series, they will have to play four incredible games. It goes without saying that this should be a spectacular year for the NBA playoffs.

After a season without any hockey the Stanley Cup playoffs have made a triumphant return. With hard hitting and fast paced games, the playoffs are as exciting as ever. It also does not hurt that it seems the playoffs are as open as ever. Plus the home team Avalanche currently have a two games to none series advantage over the rival Dallas Stars.

While the NBA and NHL seasons are coming to an end, Major League Baseball is just beginning. In every division it is going to be a battle all season to see who will make the playoffs and that is not even to mention the wild card races. Perhaps even more interesting than the season is whether or not the always controversial Barry Bonds will pass Babe Ruth and possibly even Hank Aaron before his knee implodes. The fans reaction to Bonds is also something to watch as there have already been incidents involving his security. Once again another home town team is making noise as the Colorado Rockies are off to one of their better starts in recent history. With a team of young players, with worlds of talent it is not that unreasonable to think that they can compete in the weak National League West. Although it still may be hasty to be buying playoff tickets for the Rockies, they should be playing meaningful games in August and September which is something that has not happened in quite some time.

Perhaps the most exciting sporting event that is about to happen is the NFL Draft this weekend. Months of speculation will finally come to an end this weekend when the Houston Texans step to the podium and announce whether or not they will take the human dynamo Reggie Bush. Although it is not a sure thing it appears that Bush will be the first selection unless the Texans decide to go defense and select defensive end Mario Williams. One of the real questions is which quarterback will go first and who will take which one. At this point it seems that it is completely up in the air although it seems as though the consensus among scouts is that University of Southern California's Matt Leinart is the safest bet. Although Leinart might be the safest pick, it is hard to pass up on the potential of Vince Young, but at the same time nobody wants to pick somebody who also has the potential to be a complete bust. This does not even take into account the unique talents of both Jay Cutler and Kellen Clemens. This draft will be particularly exciting because it seems like it is full of talent that will be able to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Watch for the Broncos to take a wide receiver in the first around as they need somebody to replace the aging Rod Smith and the disgruntled Ashley Lelie. Chad Jackson seems like the most likely selection for Denver but the NFL Draft is anything but predictable.

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