Cannon Firing Line
Spring ahead, fall back
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

April is when the calendar says the question has to be asked, so let's have at it. Actually, September has a vote as well, but it's not September and we're not going to wait until then to ask or write this: what is the best time of the sports year? Having asked this question for years on the radio, it seems the fall often prevails by the slightest of margins. Something about the impending football season, not to mention the hockey and basketball seasons.

But this is a month one can easily make an equally compelling argument.

In no particular order of preference, April offers the beginning of baseball, the Masters, NHL playoffs and, at its outset, the NCAA national championship hoops game.

Other than that, April-let alone this time of the year-has nothing to contribute to the conversation.

We like the excitement a new sports season brings, but that's balanced out a bit in the spring and fall. The Masters tilts the conversation in favor of spring, as do the NHL playoffs - the most difficult championship to win in sports. Then again, football-whether professional, collegiate or high school-has such a grip on who we are here, it would be foolish to minimize their respective kickoffs.

One side issue that comes into the conversation is weather. As in the weather outside. You'd be surprised how often you hear this conversation getting back to weather. After months of living like humans shouldn't live, some fans can't wait to get outside and enjoy life, including the sports within it. Those partial to the fall go on endlessly about a chill in the air, fireplaces and things of that sort.

We could care less about anything "good" that comes with a time of year that features ice storms, snow, sleet, freezing temperatures, boots or anything else even vaguely associated with weather in which human beings shouldn't live, so don't count on us.

And, hey, the Masters is only a metaphor. Actually, it's also one of the Top 10 annual events in the world of sports. But it does also typically line up nicely with the idea outdoor sports and activities are about to be enjoyed, rather than stowed away, so let's not underestimate what it means.

Besides, nothing translates more majestically on television and that alone is worth voting for April, the spring or basically this time of year.

Don't forget the NFL Draft, either. This national pastime, which we feature in this issue of PSR, only fuels the fire that ultimately becomes what consumes us in the fall. So don't turn your nose up at it; without this month's draft, you don't have anything worth watching when you light up those fireplaces.

This, I suspect, proves one thing leads to the other, that they are all related.

And that we can't live without either.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights from 6-8 p.m. on FM Newstalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 p.m. on KDKA-TV.