3 Down, 1 To Go

Through everything that we've all been through these past eightish months, somehow, against all odds, we have wrapped up the season for the NHL, NBA and MLB. Games were still played on the ice, the hardwood, and on the baseball diamond, just nowhere near home stadiums and players homes. And sometimes, not even in the US.

I'll start with the easier one to knock out. The Stanley Cup. We all know Canadians are great people, and love their hockey. The Tampa Bay Lightning took on the Dallas Stars - the Lightning prevailed in six good games - a few of which were great games (I know from the highlights as I probably watched a total of 50 minutes of live action). Again, the Lightning won. But start keeping track of the cities involved as it'll come back full circle.

For these neutral court no fan games, I think there's an opposite of an asterisk. This is mano y mano, who wants it more, and who is ready to come to play every night. Not motivated by Jack Nicholson in row 1, or by your ride to the arena and pregame ritual. Regulation size, some friends and family, which cheer differently than fans, referees and more digital interaction than we'll ever see for a live sporting event. The Lakers and Heat duked it out in Orlando, and Lebron and AD ultimately did that stomp on your neck when you're drowning trick to dominate game 6 en route to the first Lakers championship since 2010. So Lakers, Heat, Orlando - a lot of Florida (Tier 4 state) and some California (Tier 1.5 state). For anyone counting, Hawaii - Tier 1 State. North Carolina - Tier 1.

And due to the recency of it all, the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington has maybe a little more to talk about it. Like why did the manger pull Snell from last night's game? Broke my heart. He was playing varsity while the other guys were playing JV. But Game 4? The MIRACLE of game 4? That was stand-up in your living room worthy at 1am in the morning. Video below for those who missed it. Corona aside, it's good that fans were spaced out in the stands to witness that.

And the question I have for you and those that aren't reading this, is, were people really tuned in? And I don't think they were. Not for the great Game 5 of Heat Lakers (when people thought the series was over) and not for Game 4 of Rays Dodgers (that was late on a Saturday). I think it's natural - it's hard to really be super interested in games not played in Staples or in Tampa (lot of Tampa), and when you can't have people over to watch, swarm bars to drink and not watch, along with all the other shit that distracts us from enjoying a game these days.

It came at us so fast. Overlapping schedules. Games at 4 in the afternoon. Tuesday night football. But we've crowned three champions, and we've done it in funny fashion.

• The Tampa team won the Stanley Cup by beating a Dallas Team (FL, TX)

• An LA team beat a Miami team in Orlando to win the Finals (CA / LA, FL)

• An LA Team beat a Tampa team in Dallas to win the World Series (CA / LA, FL, TX)

Basically, the three biggest states established a new professional league and absolutely dominated the stage these past few months. Just crazy coincidences - not only in the winners and challengers, but where the games were played.

So there's only one left. The National Football Fantasy League. And just today, the NFL announced that the stadium will allow 20% masked fans for the Superbowl (smells about right). So unlike the NHL and NBA, we will have fans (not just friends and family). And unlike the World Series that was arguably half-hazard and mostly Dodger fans, you will have the normal Super Bowl fanfare, just way way way less people. More organized $4,000 ticket sales. To continue the string of overlapping cities, of course the Bucs come to mind. But don't sleep on the Rams. Unfortunately, the prophecy will not be written unless the Chargers make the Superbowl, so another state will be added to the CALAFLY Texas mix.

It seems that the NFL is laser focused on keeping its weekly schedule, and even if it has to add a Week 18, keeping the Superbowl on its original date. But before that happens, we finally get to push ourselves out of 2020 and into 2021 and perhaps out of the first and last 'bubble' type action we'll ever see. There were some incredible moments and jaw-dropping plays these past few weeks. It all felt a little different, but nonetheless, we got there.

And we got here. If you stayed with me.