Like a bear coming out of hibernation, so to is your humble writer after a the dreariest of Winter seasons. Trees and flowers awakening, heavy coats back in the closet and people emerging again after that annual indoor season of isolation for most of us. However, the Winter does bring us the holiday season and for sports fans we are always blessed with the Spring resurgence of Christmas time once again.

After struggling mightily in the last few years to stay relevant in a world that seems to be moving faster each day, the magazine Sports Illustrated is on the chopping block like so many other paper publications…

The end of an era never arrives gracefully. Oh some end in a congenial manner, some for unforeseen personal reasons like family or health but for the most part they come to halt because of one thing… time.

What are you passionate about? I mean really passionate, not you really like a certain restaurant or you have a favorite band. They may be favorites but does it really bring out that unparalleled feeling like no other? Maybe you aren’t passionate about anything but I’m here to tell you that sports unquestionably drives a lot people…

I got ready for hockey to start up as well last week and realized while watching that another era has passed and with it the start of a new one…

Well here we are at Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of the Summer season though climate issues have now made September, a continuation of hot weather for most of us.

It also signifies the beginning of another school year for many, the Fall season, apple picking, leave raking and most of all the return of America’s largest industry… football.

I found myself watching recently and thoroughly enjoying what I believe is the last vestige of pure sports left; the Little League World Series.

Today, a Boston sporting legend decided to hang up his skates; Patrice Bergeron announced his retirement bringing sadness to not only Bruins fans but hockey fans worldwide.

When I was growing up, you knew players by their teams. Here in Boston, Bobby Orr played for the Bruins, John Havlicek played for the Celtics, Yaz played for the Sox and Steve Grogan was a Patriot. Elsewhere, Roger Staubach played for Dallas, Magic played for the Lakers and Jean Beliveau played for the Canadiens and it will always be that way. This little fantasy world of mine didn’t last long though.

This is typically considered the dead zone with sports. Yes, I’m aware of baseball and the recent & upcoming drafts in basketball and hockey. The seemingly year round soccer leagues, championships and many “cups” that are at play along with the PGA golf season, I guess car racing and whatever other sports that are in play and float your boat…

I’m not naïve!! I have seen the changes, I pay for the tickets, and I consume concessions and buy the merchandise at times. We all read and hear about the contracts each and every day in sports. Tennis, car racing and skiing can now join the party. We pay Olympic athletes now along with Marathoners and college players, areas that used to be sacred ground for amateurs.

Jimmy Butler said no one respected them; no Jim…what most people thought was that the Celtics were favorites, respect wasn’t part of it, just ability.

When I started this blog a month or so ago, as some readers know, it was part of a golf pool soapbox rant that I would dump on the poor players that were in the pool. Of course being a golf pool, the thoughts were about …..you guessed it, golf.

It was supposed to be in the end about the "ecstasy" side but my beloved Bruins ruined that story line.

Is anything better ???? I mean whether you are part time fan, full time fanatic or merely a proud supporter of your local team, the idea of being in a seventh game is the ultimate.

So once the dust settled and Jon Rahm slipped into his green jacket, I couldn’t help but think of all the other storylines that lingered over soggy Augusta…

Its Masters week at Augusta …..clear the DVR and get ready for another chapter…

I know that the PGA season doesn’t conclude until the Tour Championship and the bestowing of the 10 million for the still trying to be relevant Fed Ex Cup winner but it always feels like the end when they end the Majors season.

I was thinking when I turned into some of the action over the weekend how the Tour can really be a meat grinder, by that I mean how hard it is to stay out there and actually win or even harder…..win again.