Why I Love The Aussie Open

When the NFL conference championships were finished, I wasn't happy because I remembered that next weekend, there would be no football. But then I saw something that made me smile: the Australian Open began that night!

That's right, tennis. For some reason, a lot of people don't like tennis but again, I consider myself a fan of all sports. From baseball to golf, bowling to hockey. I don't follow tennis as close as I would like but I stay somewhat current. But when it comes to majors, trust me, I'm all over it.

But why do I love the Aussie Open so much? Well first off, it's the unofficial start of the season. And what better start to a season than a Grand Slam? Seriously, I wish golf would do the same thing. By starting the year with one of the biggest tournaments, it allows fans to jump into the season with a bang.

Another great thing about the Aussie Open is that it is in Australia. What that means for us here in the U.S. is that ESPN televises live matches from 9pm-2am. And then more during the afternoon. And for a sports fan, that's perfect. When the NBA games are off around 10-11pm, there's something live to watch until 2am. And in the afternoon when all there is to watch is Sportscenter (yawn), NFL Live (repetitive), and Jim Rome (shoot me now), it's the perfect getaway for some love action competition.

And it goes on for 14 days straight. Yep, no breaks unless Mother Nature decides the tournament needs one. And the best players and biggest names don't all play on the same day. Instead, they alternate days. So if you want to check out Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and James Blake, don't fret. Odds are, you'll be able to see them all as they move along.

So for you tennis haters, shame on you. Check out the Aussie Open and enjoy something live for once. There's no football until the Super Bowl. NBA games are on every night from now until June (yes, June). The NHL never gets any love but those games won't interfere. Same goes for college basketball. so enjoy some tennis from down under. Whether it's the men or women, it's something different. And sometimes, difference is good.