Gear Down

It is the time of year when the sports world slows down just a bit. The NHL and NFL training camps are still about a month away (although it is never to early for a fantasy football mock draft), the NBA has finished and all the big free agents are now signed and even MLB is on its All-Star break which means besides the exhibition match being played tonight, there was no baseball yesterday and no baseball tomorrow. Even the World Cup is over which means no early drinking at the bars. What is a sports fan to do?

Here are a couple of suggestions to get you through the July until NFL kicks in and the baseball pennant races heat up.

1. Tour de France – No Lance Armstrong no problem. The TDF as those in the know like to call it, can fill your morning sports void for the next couple of weeks. Unlike the World Cup, we actually have a Canadian to cheer for. Victoria's Ryder Hesjedal was in contention (top 5) until yesterday’s brutal ride up the hills and is currently out of the overall top 10.

2. Video Games – Today is the release of EA’s NCAA Football game featuring Tim Tebow on the cover (minus the writing on his eye black). So, even though the first game is a month away you can still win the national championship as your favorite institution.

3. Play a Sport – Here is a list of the best “adult” leagues in Toronto. I need a soccer team if you are in need of players.

4. Message Boards – Become addicted to message boards and you won’t even realize when games are being played. You get to argue about sports all day long with other anonymous people on the interwebs, make fun of them electronically and ignore them when they say you’re wrong. You also get to feel much better about yourself when you finally turn them off.

5. ESPY Awards - Tomorrow night is the annual ESPN awards show that allows you to relieve the best teams, plays and moments for the year that was. There is a lot of comedy gold that happens at this event. Think of how many awkward interviews, Kanye moments and tears of joy will be shed during this live broadcast. The one thing I can tell you that won’t be happening this year – LeBron James coming out and dancing as MC Hammer. Someone from the crowd is likely to throw a banana peel on stage so he slips and hurts himself. (header photo is of the newest ESPN ‘it girl’ – Jenn Brown who will patrolling college football sidelines this fall)

6. Watch a Movie – With that I will let you know that tomorrow’s blog post will be a summer movie guide. Reviews of movies I haven’t seen!

Still have time to kill and missing the FIFA World Cup – check out all the goals in one video segment, courtesy of The Spoiler GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!… or this clip of German super kid doing a wonderful trick with a piece of gum.