April is an interesting month in a few ways.
It starts with April Fool’s Day and ends with income tax being due. I’m not sure if those two are connected or not.
It’s also a month for beginnings and endings, especially if, like me, you’re a fan of most sports.
The NHL wraps up its regular season this weekend, then starts three months of playoffs. Same with the NBA, and, for a change, Toronto will have a team in both sets of playoffs. It’s not unusual for the Raptors to be in the NHL playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are never a guarantee to be in the NHL second season.
Baseball is just starting its season, which, as is mentioned by at least 14 managers every season, is a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t win or lose the 162-game regular season in April, but you can set the tone for the rest of the season.
April is the time when the fresh young rookie who impressed in spring training and made the team finds out what happens in the regular season when the other team starts to have scouting reports on your at the plate or on the mound.
All too often, April’s hotshot is back down at AAA in May.
The NCAA finishes its countdown to crowning national baseketball champions this weekend. The men’s tournament, which started with 68 teams about two weeks ago, has its final on Monday, while the women’s event finishes the next day.
Then, after you watch the college athletes cut down the nets at the end of their triumphant run, wait a couple of days and it’s time for the Masters to come to Augusta National Golf Course again.
Considering it’s a tournament that’s played at the same course every year, there still always seems to be something we haven’t seen before sometime over the four days.
Of course, I can’t forget the men’s world curling championships taking place in Lethbridge this weekend, with the championship game on Sunday.
After that, all eyes will turn to Prince George, as we prepare to host the women’s worlds in 2020.
There are some people already planning for that event, but not me. There’s too much other sports to watch between now and then.