Football's gone, but not to fret

Football is in the rearview mirror for another season. But as you hear those cheers for the Crimson Tide and the Ravens fade away don't worry because what just might be the best moment of the sports world calendar is on the horizon.

You will have a month or so to catch your breathe and then comes the annual triangular meeting of three great events:

MLB: Baseball's opening day. No other sport can compare its opening day with baseball. Case closed. This year it will be March 31st when the Rangers travel to Houston to play the Astros in the home team's first game in the American League. The next day will feature a full slate of games (the weather always halts some of them) including the Padres at the Mets at 10 a.m. April 1st. The Padres home opener is April 9th against the Dodgers.

NCAA MEN'S HOOPS: The Final Four will be in Atlanta on April 6 and 8. After a couple of weeks of bracketology you will be more than interested in the end of this dance. But it is always a spectacle.

PGA: Ah, the serenity of Augusta ... until Tiger or Phil putt and then you hear 20,000 voices screaming, "Get in the hole!" April 11-14 are the dates.

Now, don't you agree it's the best time of year to be a sports fan?