Fall sports season is here – what team(s) are you following?

Autumn is my favorite time of the year for a variety of reasons. When the leaves change color and a nip gets in the air, well it doesn't get any better for me. It's beautiful and a sweatshirt takes care of the cooler temperatures.One thing that I look forward to is not working up a major sweat while golfing. Another thing is the invariable question from someone I haven't seen in a while: "Have you lost weight" will be the query. In case you were wondering, I haven't, but a baggy sweatshirt can cover up a myriad of problems. Ah yes, fall!It is also a great time of year for sports buffs. Whether your interest is in professional, college or high school sports, the choices for the fan are plentiful. So what is your favorite sport for the next couple of months? If tennis is your cup of tea, the U.S. Open just finished. Golf season is winding down professionally, but the high school linksters are just getting started.Everyone has their pet sport(s) and that includes me. So today I will tell you what's getting the bulk of my attention.HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. Local athletes are heading into the middle of their schedules in cross country, football, golf, tennis and volleyball. A couple of teams have started strong giving us that "what did you expect" feeling. Hopewell-Loudon's football team is undefeated – again. Calvert's volleyball team is undefeated – again. We get accustomed to greatness without realizing that it is difficult to obtain. Do not discount the efforts that athletes give on a team that may not be as successful. Playing sports is fun and one can learn so many values doing so. I will be keeping my eye on the fortunes of our local teams.NASCAR PLAYOFFS. Some have criticized the format by which drivers can make the playoffs in Nascar's top series, but one cannot deny the excitement it has produced this season. With a win and you're in situation, the last three races of the regular season (26 races) gave us three new winners.Only two of them made the playoffs as Austin Dillon's win at Richmond was allowed, but his entry into the playoffs was denied for crossing an invisible line to get there. If that sounds ridiculous, well maybe it's because it is. If it surprises you then you are not a big Nascar fan.Harrison Burton's win at Daytona and Chase Briscoe's win at Darlington were enough to get them into the postseason. Now it remains to be seen if they can continue on after each round. Tomorrow will be race number two (of three) to see which 12 of the 16 drivers will continue on their quest to be the 2024 Cup Series Champion.Some "old time" Nascar fans don't like the playoffs at all let alone the method of selecting the drivers for the system. One thing is certain: people are talking about it and if the saying that any publicity is good publicity is true, Nascar is in good shape.COLLEGE FOOTBALL. The season is only two weeks old, but it's never too early to check in on the progress of our two Big Ten rivals. Michigan is off to a 1-1 start, while Ohio State is 2-0. If you believed the hype being spread by the TV announcers during the Western Michigan game then the Buckeyes will be national champions.They played well against Western in all facets of the game. However this was not Georgia, Alabama, Michigan or any top tier college program. Let's wait and see how the season progresses.As for the U of M they are playing with a new coach, a lot of new players and it's very early in the season, so it is too soon to pass judgment on them. Here is a thought though. If they only win four games, but one of them is the finale against OSU, is it still a successful season? What say Wolverine fans?PRO FOOTBALL. Again it has been just one week. So how are the teams most supported in our area doing? Well the Cleveland Browns looked pretty bad. Ditto the Cincinnati Bengals. The Detroit Lions won, but their expectations are so high after last season's surprising run in the playoffs…Will the Lions fans be disappointed? How about the Browns Backers and the Bengals faithful? It is way too early to make those predictions. We will be tuning in on Sunday's to see. Won't we?MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Yes baseball gets top billing for me this time of year. Perhaps that is because the season is winding down, the playoffs are in sight AND my Cleveland Guardians are in the hunt.I have been watching games closely as the Guardians are trying to fight off the Kansas City Royals, the Minnesota Twins and the suddenly resurgent Detroit Tigers for the Central Division crown. Did you know that the team with the best record in baseball since August 11 is the Tigers? Yep, 20-8 and in the hunt for a wild card berth.I'm also watching the exploits of Shohei Ohtani as he makes a bid to become the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season in the history of the game. He is sitting on 47 dingers and 48 steals. Will he make it? I wouldn't bet against him!In a more morbid way I am also following the Chicago White Sox. They are on pace to have the worst record in modern baseball history. With a record of 33-114, the ChiSox are approaching the 1962 New York Mets record of 120 losses.I'm old enough to remember those Mets whose manager Casey Stengel said "can't anybody here play this game?" It was their first year of existence unlike Chicago. I have two thoughts on the plight of the Chicago White Sox.First – would I be writing about this record if it was the Guardians who were chasing futility? Probably (and that translates to of course) not! Second – keep the faith Southside fans. Do you know what record the Royals had last season. They were 56-106 and look what they are doing this year.Whatever sports or athletes you follow this fall, enjoy the action.