One Of My Favorite Times Of The Year

     One of my favorite times of the year is upon us-Opening Day for baseball. Not just Opening Day, though. For DirecTV owners who are baseball fans it's even more special. MLB Extra Innings is free for the next 11 days. That means every game, every day, will be on TV, for no extra charge. Every night for the next week and a half I'll be planted on the couch, remote in hand, going game to game. It's gonna be nothing short of awesome.

    It's great for those who play fantasy baseball, as I do, because it provides a chance to watch all of your players live. Even for those who don't, it's still cool to be able to see games one wouldn't normally be able to see. Viewers quickly become familiar with NESN, MASN, and all the various FOX Sports affiliates around the country. It's a chance to listen to different announcers and get different perspectives. A chance to see all the different stadiums and different traditions throughout baseball.

   So why don't I just order MLB Extra Innings and have it all summer? Look, I'm not made of money here. Plus I can't make a 100% commitment. A TV junkie like me always has a lots of things to watch. Anyway, DirecTV will do it again in early July. I'll enjoy it while it lasts, and check it out again later in the summer. In the meantime, I'll still have the Tribe, WGN, TBS, ESPN, and the MLB Network.

    It's going to be another great summer.

NFL Playoff Picks-Divisional Round

Well, last week I went 2-2. I really didn't see the Denver win coming, despite what happened during the regular season. Cincinnati? I thought they'd put up more of a fight than that. This week:

NFC Saturday-New Orleans at San Francisco. I think this one's the toughest call. The 49ers have had one of the NFL's best defenses all year, and they've got the Saints on grass. Ultimately, I think the Saints are too good to bow out now. Pick: New Orleans

AFC Saturday-Denver at New England. The Broncos can certainly win this one, but I see a game similar to the one they played earlier this season. Denver will go up early, the Patriots will rally and win. Pick: New England

AFC Sunday-Houston at Baltimore. The Texans' run ends here. They might keep it close, but definitely go with the Ravens. Pick: Baltimore

NFC Sunday-NY Giants at Green Bay. No question the Giants are on a roll, and some think they'll beat Green Bay. The Packers are still the best until someone beats them. (I know KC did, but that game doesn't matter now).They'll be ready for the Giants.  Pick: Green Bay

NFL Playoff Picks-Wildcard Round

I finished last week 10-6, and will end the regular season with a record of 163-93, about 64%. Against the spread my record would most likely not have been as good, but we'll see maybe next year. This weekend's playoff games:

AFC Today-Cincinnati at Houston. This seems like an evenly matched game in many ways, but I like the Bengals, despite an 0-7 record against playoff teams and a loss to the Texans. Pick: Cincinnati

NFC Today-Detroit at New Orleans. Seems destined for another shootout, and it very well may be. Detroit is a sleeper pick of many, but no way can I go against Drew Brees and the Saints. Pick: New Orleans

NFC Tomorrow-Atlanta at NY Giants. The most intriguing game of the four, I think. Giants seem to be peaking at the right time. Pick: NY Giants

AFC Tomorrow-Pittsburgh at Denver. Looking for a low-scoring game here. Denver's defense is good, Pittsburgh's is better. Hobbling Roethlisberger and missing Mendenhall will hurt Steelers, but not enough that they'll lose. Pick: Pittsburgh