If you like sports …

Spring is a great time for a sports fan, because there is so much going on.
Let's have a look at some of the sports in my orbit:

- - Cricket, yes cricket: The World Cup has just wrapped up in Melbourne, Australia; the title was one by New Zealand. I watched the highlights of the final match, which showed had some Great plays! Australia overwhelmed New Zealand to win the World Cup for a fifth time at an ecstatic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- - Hockey: the Stanley Cup playoffs begin tonight; of course, Toronto Maple Leafs didn't make it (again!!), but quite a number of Canadian teams did: Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and, of course, my Montreal Canadiens, who will face Ottawa Senators in the first round.
In junior hockey, the Halifax Mooseheads have advanced to the second round, to go to the Memorial Cup, which they won two years ago.
- - Curling: Most competition was decided in March: the Mens Worlds were held here in Halifax; Canada won bronze.
Baseball: Toronto Blue Jays have just begun their season, by winning the two opening series against the New York Yankees and Baltimore. Lots of heavy hitters, with great rookie pitching.
- - The Masters Golf Tournament: We have a tradition in our house: we watch the entire final round on Sunday, to see whether the favourites / veterans will prevail, or whether some young player will come out of nowhere and capture the "green jacket."
This year, Jordan Spieth, age 21, romped to his first major championship with a record-tying performance, shooting an 18-under 270, to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the green jacket since 1976.
Here are some lesser-known sports events that I enjoy watching … and, on the same afternoon:
- - The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in London: these two archrivals compete in rowing eights for about 4 km down the Thames River. I always find the event – as well as the excellent BBC television coverage – exciting. Oxford swept both Womens and Mens races by handy margins.
- - The Grand National Steeplechase, in Aintree, England: this event is also exciting, to watch the horses deal with a series of nasty water jumps. Race was great; TV coverage was excellent; fashions were, er, interesting! (For some strange reason, this event begins 25 minutes before the Mens Boat Race!)
Ready for more:
- - Cycling: Melbourne, done; 'Giro d’Italia,' soon; all to prep for Le Tour de France, beginning on the first Saturday in July!
- - World Football (a.k.a., ‘footy’): plenty of European-level matches.
- - Formula 1: Hamilton, from England, has made a strong start.
- - Tennis: Canadians making their way to the top: Milos Raonic, Eugenie Bouchard, Daniel Nestor, Vasek Pospisil, Aleksandra Wozniak, just to ‘drop; a few names!
- - Horse (Thoroughbreds) Racing: May/June, starting with the Kentucky Derby on 1st Saturday in May.
Believe me, there is a LOT going on in sports!