NFL
By: Greg Rector
If you love sports when the calendar flips from February to March so does the news from every league you can think of.
NHL
Today is the trade deadline for the NHL. We’ve already seen a ton of moves by teams trying to position themselves for a run at the Stanley Cup. So most “Puckheads” is closely following the final hours to see if their team makes a deal or they stand pat. Being up in Canada this is almost a holiday and one of the least productive days at workplaces across the country. At least they have this happening on a Friday this year instead of the normal Monday or Tuesday.
If I had to give a top 5 contenders for the Stanley Cup as of now? I will say the Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers, with the Tampa Bay Lightning Carolina Hurricanes, and Dallas Stars just on the outside of that group. Sorry to our bossman around here, but I just can’t buy into the Toronto Maple Leafs as Cup contenders in a loaded Eastern Conference.
NCAA Basketball
The Madness is coming. Time for conference tournaments and of course Selection Sunday which starts the avalanche of bracket selections. March Madness is going to see tremendous basketball on display. This year some traditional powers are having down years (Tar Heels Blue Devils) while schools like Purdue and Houston look to be very strong contenders. Will be fun to see if the regular season dominance carries over into the tournament or will this be the year a mid-major finally has a “Cinderella” run and knocks off the big boys? Like everyone else, I am looking forward to filling out my bracket next weekend. For me, I have high hopes for 7’4″ Zach Edey from Canada and the Purdue Boilermakers to win the NCAA Men’s College Basketball National Title.
NFL
March is a huge month for NFL fans. As we know the NFL Draft Combine is well underway and teams are putting the prospects through their paces and all the interviews as coaches get a chance to meet these players in person. The new league year is fast approaching on March 15th. That’s when NFL Free Agency can begin and we should also see trades that could alter the draft order for April in Kansas City. The NFL can dominate the sports world like no other league and see the trends on Twitter with draft prospects, current player rumors, coaching hires, and players rumored to be cut or traded, you can see their dominance in the sports landscape.
The news never stops for the NFL and after the next couple of weeks are over fans will have a much better idea of their favorite team’s rosters and the outlook for the 2023 NFL season becomes a bit clearer. Of course, the long wait between the draft combine and the actual NFL Draft in April will cause fans much consternation as to what will unfold in Kansas City.
Major League Soccer
The new season is underway for fans of the “Beautiful Game,” in North America. While I am not an avid fan of the MLS those who are in their happy place with games taking place. I don’t live in an MLS city and the closest team to me is the Vancouver Whitecaps which is an hour-and-a-half flight that I don’t plan on making. It’s also very hard for those of who live on the Prairies to cheer for the Whitecaps or either team out east Toronto FC or Montreal FC. I will catch a few games during the season but really only get excited for the MLS Cup. So when I do watch MLS games I will join Team NBS Media cohort Keith Richards and cheer for the Colorado Rapids as the city I live in Calgary is similarly situated right by the Rocky Mountains as Denver is.
Major League Baseball
The Cactus and Grapefruit league games are taking place and hope springs eternal for every major league city. The World Baseball Classic is also on the horizon and many players from MLB teams will be playing for their respective countries in the tournament. Those games have been entertaining and hopefully, this year will be no different. Fans hope that their rosters basically get through spring training healthy and ready for the regular season starting on March 30th. I grew up a St.Louis Cardinals fan and since I live up here I have watched Toronto Blue Jays games for a very long time these two teams will open the season against each other. Looking forward to the new season and the new rules the games will be played by in 2023.
So indeed the month of March is “Madness” in the sports world. Soak it all in folks. Oh and let’s not forget one of the biggest drinking days each year St. Patricks Day on March 17th “Erin go Bragh” to all those who celebrate.
As always find me on Twitter @GregsCowboys
