I’m a big sports fan and think we’re currently in the middle of the best time of the year for watching sports on TV. By “time of the year” I mean the months of March, April, and May. If you’re a fan of college basketball, golf, and Indy car racing, we are kindred spirits, and love this “season.” Those of us with that passion are definitely in the minority, though, when compared to fans of the NFL and college football. Their numbers are hard to beat. But we “minor sports” fans pick up the slack in this period of time.
“The best time of the year” starts with the last weeks of the college basketball season. There are season finale rivalry games, conference tournaments, and senior nights that highlight the build up to the amazing NCAA “March Madness” basketball tournament. You have to like basketball to sit through the dozens of games played during this time. During the three weeks that encompass March Madness, there are a total of 66 basketball games. On the first two days, alone, there are 16 games each day, eliminating 32 teams right away. It’s fun to watch as many of those games as possible. The Multiview mode on You Tube TV allows me to watch four games at once, if that’s possible. Of course it’s very hard to keep up with what’s going on in four separate games, but I try.
March Madness ends on a Monday night, which I’ve always thought was a bit odd. The game is on a work day, doesn’t start until almost 9:00 pm eastern time making it end about midnight in the east. Add to that the postgame trophy presentation and multiple interviews, and it’s getting to be 1:00 am—and you have to go to work the next day—and you’re getting really tired.
A week later, follows the greatest golf event in the world, THE MASTERS. This is the ultimate example of tradition, decorum, and discipline as nothing ever changes except the players who participate and the length of some holes. It’s the only major golf tournament played on the same course, Augusta National Golf Club, every year. As such, staunchly held traditions and dictums are upheld and revisited annually. You know the gallery will respectfully be called “patrons,” the back nine is really the “second nine,” the winner is awarded a green jacket he can wear only at the club, and he is permitted to play in the tournament every year until he is no longer able. The many members of the club maintain order, decorum, and dignity and keep the “traditions” alive, making it the most prestigious of all golf events.
Next, I’ll mention somewhat as an aside, the Hilton Head Island golf tournament called the RBC Heritage Classic. Played the week after THE MASTERS every year, it features the Harbourtown Golf links course, the Calibogue Sound, and Harbourtown yacht basin where you find the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. We attended this tournament as spectators at least 20 times beginning in 1982, and enjoyed the competition along with the many amenities of Sea Pines Resort. It was our April sports tradition.
April is followed by May, and living in Indiana, the month is consumed by the largest sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, or Indy 500. Here, again, tradition is the byword. Every year racing teams have daily practice sessions to prepare them for weekend qualification sessions. On race day, the pre-race activities are the same every year except for the occasional guest performer. It’s an emotional time for Hoosiers when TAPS is played in memory of fallen soldiers and the state of Indiana is honored by the singing of “Back Home Again In Indiana.” Then “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” signals the beginning of the nearly four hour, 500 mile race with all the lead changes, pit stops, and spin outs to add to the excitement.
We attended the race, qualifications, and carb day too many times to recall, but 35 to 40 or more times is close. The Indy 500 is tradition personified, and if it ever changed, millions of fans would be very disappointed. Now, being physically unable to go to the race for medical AND geographic reasons, I must watch it on TV. The Race coverage is incredible with cameras everywhere and replays easily viewed. Attending in person one gets the sounds, smells, and images first hand. But the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is so large the view from your seat is limited to the part of the track directly in front of you. Television allows views of the entire track, the pits, the garage area, and the “snake pit;” areas not seen from some grandstand seats. Being there live is the ultimate racing experience and produces memories never to be forgotten. The start and first ten laps of the Indy 500 witnessed live is the most exhilarating feeling in sports. Until you see it yourself, you’ll never understand what I mean. It’s breathtaking!!
College basketball, “March Madness,” The Masters, the RBC Heritage golf tournament, and the Indy 500 comprise the best three months of the sporting event year, in my opinion. Forget the NBA and forget Major League Baseball. They are boring and fail to grab my attention. Besides, with the events I highlighted, there’s no need to clutter my life with things in which I have no interest. I am blessed to have been able to enjoy these events many, many times in my life. Thank goodness for excellent TV coverage which allows that to continue.
Reference: Personal memories and opinions of William Gilkison MD.
