The Times Dispatch Blogs

It’s summertime again (okay, I know it won’t officially be summer until June 21 — but that’s beside the point) and that usually means a long dry spell for sports. Actually, it’s not just sports, but television in general has pretty slim pickings. Whoever it was that called television a “vast wasteland” must have done so after channel surfing on a Saturday afternoon during the summertime.

Baseball and NASCAR are approaching the midpoint of their schedules, but those sports have long, drawn out seasons, making it tough to get too jazzed up over a single game or race. However, there are a few things going on in the sports world worthy of attention.

First, in the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have each made their respective conference finals. I haven’t watched the NBA very much over the past few years, but even I would be interested in a Lakers-Celtics final.

If you don’t want to wait until September and October for meaningful (and entertaining) baseball, the NCAA Baseball Tournament gets underway this weekend. The 64-team field will be whittled down to the eight teams that will advance to the College World Series in Omaha. I don’t keep up with college baseball during the regular season, but the NCAA Tourney and the CWS usually provide lots of drama and excitement for baseball fans.

Also, the Little League World Series will be played later in the summer. If you’ve never watched the LLWS, I urge you to check it out. It’s great fun to watch the kids play their hearts out for the love of the game and a desire to win.

For me, personally, the best thing about summer is the realization that each day that passes brings us one day closer to the start of football season. The NFL preseason starts Aug. 3. Only 68 more days! And, best of all, just three short months from today — Aug. 28 — marks the beginning of the college football season!
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Discuss post at LawCo Talk

My aunt, Pat Melton, passed away this morning after a short battle with cancer. Although it is always hard to lose someone you love, I'm thankful that she is now at peace and won't be suffering anymore.

As a kid, I loved to visit her house. She was always smiling and made you feel at home. She made the best baked beans I have ever eaten, and they always had the best toys or gadgets to play with (and still do - just ask Briar or Brad). I actually used my first computer at her house many, many years ago.

Aunt Pat was a huge NASCAR fan; she even won the Mark Martin truck that was given away a few years ago after the NASCAR season.

She loved life and her family and lived every day to the fullest. She was one of a kind and will definitely be missed.