The Summer Slump

Did you survive?

Were you able to get past the dead time?

The baseball All-Star Game, which affects both the majors and minors, is the traditional start of the barren week or so of the season. It seems like forever… It isn’t.

Think of it as a chance to regroup and think of everything that’s ahead.

The start of the high school athletic season might seem like a long way away, but it’s only seven weeks or thereabouts. Will one of our local schools emerge as a state contender in football, soccer, volleyball, or lacrosse? How about individuals who run cross-country?

The rest of the Major League Baseball season is upon us; the start of college and pro football is near. Is The Ohio State as good as everybody says they are? As a Michigan fan, I hope not. Will Patrick Maholmes and his torn knee be ready? Will the Knicks be as good as this past season? Hey, October is right around the corner… the National Hockey League will also be back.

And that’s barely touching the surface. That’s only the high-profile stuff.

The point is athletics will always be a huge part of our lives. We need to get past the few days of the dead time every summer because the rest of the year is so rewarding.

Can you imagine October without the World Series? Can you imagine October and November without the sectional playoffs in high school? Can you picture December and January without college football playoffs? What about February and the Super Bowl?

And I can’t fathom a time when I won’t see some teenager in tears after winning a high school championship.

That’s what it’s all about.

I will gladly trade a few days of boredom for the rest of the year.

Rich Thomaselli is a longtime sports reporter in the Hudson Valley, and currently covers Putnam County. He can be reached at rich.thomaselli@gmail.com.