A change in seasons (and a demonstration in my use of parentheses)

Today started one of my favorite months of the year (and no it's not just because of my birthday), and even though we have had a fair amount of rain here in Chicago, things are definitely on the bright side. Sports in June include the NBA Finals, interleague play, the US Open, Wimbledon, and of course the annual Turkish Grand Prix. The NFL finally starts meriting coverage again as teams begin to piece together all the off-season moves. Hockey matters to more than the diehards with national attention on the Stanley Cup finals (I only list this last because the stupid Red Wings hold a 2-0 lead in the series). The TV schedule even favors June sports as only TNT would dare show new episodes in this hallowed month. As the weather moves toward summer, but leaves the humidity for July, people are out and about more, spaghetti straps adorn the fine ladies of this great city, and drinking a beer on my back deck at 2pm is a display of enjoying the climate rather than a possible warning sign of alcoholism (although I think the clinical marker is 1pm anyway...). As we look back on the first five months of 2009, we have seen the Bulls showing signs of life and Derrick Rose (SAT score aside) bring back a level of excitement to the UC, the young guns on a rejuvenated Hawks team putting a scare into every other NHL team, Jay Cutler sparking talk about the Bears having a real quarterback, and most importantly the Cubs/Sox continuing to meet fans' expectations and play wildly inconsistent baseball. Who knows what the month has in store for us. Will Dwight defeat Kobe? Will Tiger be Tiger on Strong Island? Will the Cubs beat the Sox? Will my girlfriend realize that I may be a little too into American Idol (absolute hose job for Adam by the way)? No matter what happens, it will be exciting to tune in and find out. With summer just weeks away (the solstice is June 21 this year), now is the time to get in shape for those long days at the beach or poolside by watching some sports and sipping a nice, cold beer (or Michelob Ultra for those who like showering with their clothes on). Happy June.