I may be nearing 91, but my love for sports is as strong as it ever been. Thanks to my grandfather my love for different sports began when I was about 9 years old and saw my very first professional game. It was the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates at Ebbetts Field and I was hooked. As I grew up I played baseball and basketball, but followed football. Later after my brother began playing soccer in high school and then college, I followed that sport as well. I played baseball, I was a pitcher in high school and center on the basketball team. After high school I spent a year skating in the Roller Derby before joining the Air Force. In my adult years I had the pleasure to work for two ML baseball teams (Mets and Blue Jays) and have a deeper appreciation for the game. Then whenever the summer or winter Olympics come around I am glued to the TV. Twenty one years ago I joined a new Fantasy baseball league and am still a member today. Fact is we just had our draft Sunday and I have a pretty damn good team. I will also mention that I am a big follower and fan of USF and their sports teams as well and enjoyed their exciting seasons in both football and basketball with even better things to come.

So here we are this week and as a sports junkie I couldn’t be happier. March Madness is going on and it has been a wild, bracket breaking ton of fun thus far. Then we just had a very exciting PGA event with Valspar Open at Innisbrook. The Lightning have been playing some great hockey and are back home this week and next for some exciting games as we get closer to the playoffs. Then the big, the 2026 MLB season kicks off and it promises to be a hell of a season. Of course all my baseball cheering will be for our Tampa Bay Rays who begin Thursday. In addition, there will be March Madness sweet Sixteen, golf, MLB and Rays baseball, Rowdies soccer, more Lightning hockey, but that’s not all. This weekend spring pro football begins with the UFL getting under way. While Tampa doesn’t have a team in the league, Orlando does, called the Storm, so I’ll be watching that also. It is also Carole’s birthday Saturday, so we’ll squeeze a nice birthday dinner into the mix as well. Needless to say, it will be one hectic, fun, busy weekend for this sports junkie with a lot of channel flipping. Oh, I’ll also find some time to work on my features for NightMoves and AAN. Other than all that, this old guy hasn’t got a damn thing going. I lead such a dull, boring life……………..yeah, right! But, between all that and Carole it is what keeps me young, active and anything but bored!

So, whether you’re a sports fan or not, enjoy each day you have, make the most of it, spread the love and smiles. Go, go Rays, Rowdies, Lightning and may you all have a great Tampa Bay weekend.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN