I love September.
The pennant races start to build in baseball, the NFL season begins, hockey is set to return, high school sports are back in gear and university sports are right around the corner.
As always, it's going to be an exciting end to the major league baseball season.
The Yankees and Red Sox could slug it out until the final weekend for the East Division title, while Arizona looks to knock off the defending champion San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
As well, the jockeying for the end-of-the-season awards heats up.
I think Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers will win the American League Cy Young honours. He has been in quite a zone, and I had a chance to see that first-hand last month as my vacation plans had me in Comerica Park when the big, hard-throwing righty was racking up win number 18 against the Minnesota Twins. He's up to 21 now.
The Blue Jays certainly have uncovered a diamond in rookie Brett Lawrie. He has been very impressive since being called up, but I don't think he will have enough time to capture the league's rookie of the year award. Former Northwoods Leaguer Curtis Granderson of the Yankees could be a favourite for the American League MVP. He's up near the top in homers and RBI's, and leading in runs scored.
And, then there's the NFL season. It's one of the toughest sports to accurately predict, due to the impact of injuries. But with a labour deal in place between the players and owners, it should be another good exciting season on the field.
And finally, there's hockey. All of the summer campfire, golf course and fishing-boat talk is over now, and we get to see how teams will look as they all try to knock the Boston Bruins off the top of the mantel.
I love the fall!
