In the 52-week sports calendar, there are plenty of exciting 7-day periods, but it’s hard to top this first full week of April, which contains: opening day for Major League Baseball teams, three NCAA championships (men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey), and golf’s first major (The Masters).   Each year, that event brings with it the sideshow that is Tiger Woods, but the 2010 Masters is sure to attract even more eyeballs–mostly focused on Woods, who not only is the best golfer of his generation, but also, in the relatively short span between Thanksgiving and Easter, has managed to transition from the cover of golf magazines to gossip magazines   Perhaps you’ve heard the reasons why…

It’s also the start of the good stuff locally, when it comes to spring sports.   For instance, the WIAC baseball and softball seasons both begin this week.  On top of that, there are no shortage of interesting matchups on the high school diamonds.  How about the baseball matchup Tuesday between an Altoona program that went unbeaten in the ’09 regular season but lost in a Division 2 regional final, and an Eau Claire North program that’s made five trips to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament since 2000?   Or, how about Thursday’s game between defending Division 2 sectional champ Bloomer, and defending Division 4 champ McDonell?   There’s also a Thursday game in the Dunn-St. Croix that bears watching: defending Division 3 sectional champ Elk Mound, hosting Boyceville, a rematch of last season’s regional final.

Weather permitting, the softball diamonds will also be busy this week.  Tuesday, a couple of perennial powers collide, when Chippewa Falls hosts Medford.  Cloverbelt Conference play begins on Thursday, while Friday’s schedule includes an Altoona at Fall Creek matchup.   Throw in a slate of tennis, soccer, and track & field…and the local schedule is chock-full of events.  Which means, after a brief respite, it’s full steam ahead for the News 18 Sports Department.

Some of us, however, will get to blow off some steam later this week.   For instance, I fully intend to transition from impartial sportscaster to insufferable fan on Thursday, when I plan to spend my first vacation day of 2010 by parking it in front of  a TV set to watch the Badgers in the Frozen Four.  

Vacation Day #2 of 2010 is slated for Friday.   With baseball being back, and the golf season getting started, there will be no shortage of things to watch.  Still, as long as the weather holds up, there may some more opportunities for me to actually swing the sticks.   It’s a rare April 5th that I’m playing nine holes at Eau Claire’s Princeton Valley Golf Course…and after today’s round, I’m ready to start keeping score again–for better or worse.

Still, as long as I’m off the cover of the gossip tabloids, can I really complain about a round of bogeys?

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports