Beisbol

This is, without a doubt, the best season in baseball I can remember. Maybe ever. Everything seems to have aligned nearly perfectly to make 2005 a fan's dream. On the field, we've got, I'd argue, 24 teams competing for a playoff spot (apologies to the Rockies, Pirates, Reds, Mariners, Royals, and, of course, the lovely Rays, none of whom are very good). We've got Ortiz, ARod, Pujols, Manny, Clemens, Halladay, D-Train, Vlad...Podsednik, Crawford, Roberts, Guillen, Bay, and Buerhle. Baltimore/Washington. San Fran/LA. St. Louis/KC. New York/Boston. Chicago/Chicago. Interleague. Wild card. All the stats you could want on MLB.com and ESPN.com. Baseball Tonight, every night. ESPN, Fox, WGN, TBS, and your local affiliates bringing the game to your screen at least once every day. Tickets as cheap as $5 at some stadiums. Hardly ever (well, Fenway, Wrigley, PacBell) needing to worry you won't get in on any given night. Free bobbleheads, posters, DVDs. Exploding scoreboards. Bands. Highlight reels. Those signs that say "Sportscenter Is NEXT!" on Sunday Night Baseball. Peter Gammons, of course. Arturo Moreno selling Angels hats at his ballpark for $7 so everyone can afford them for their kids.

It's a corrupt and lawless game run by crusty white men who often don't really seem that bright or in any way open to change or innovation. But it's oh so much fun. Forget the 50s (with apologies to Mantle and Mays); this is the sport's golden age.