Top 10 Sporting Events To Watch As You Wait For The NFL To Come Back
If you’re like me, you probably pined for football this past weekend.
And no, I’m not talking about XFL football.
I’m talking about the NFL. The king of American professional sports.
For Detroit Lions Fans, the 2022/23 season ended with a lot of momentum. But this dynamic cannot be tested for others six months.
While that seems like an eternity and may feel like it at times, there are still some big sporting events between now and the NFL preseason.
Here are 10 events to help you get into fall.
March 1 madness
The second largest sports betting event in Michigan and around the world outside of the Super Bowl March madness.
Three weekends of college basketball drama.
The field for the 2023 NCAA tournament is announced March 12th. Game action starts on the 14th of March and runs to 3rd of April.
One problem with this year’s tournament is that there could be a significant lack of domestic representation.
Both State of Michigan And Michigan fighting to secure a spot at this year’s Big Dance.
ESPN Bracketology currently lists MSU as #7 while Michigan is not included at all. The Wolverines aren’t even in the Next Four Out.
Michigan is only 16-12 on the season while MSU is 17-10. Both teams could use some big wins over the next few weeks to ensure the state has some interest in the NCAA tournament.
MSU hasn’t missed March Madness since 1997, while Michigan hasn’t missed since 2015.
Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan are all at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference. Oakland and Detroit Mercy will need some luck in the Horizon League tournament to get an auto bid.
2. NHL-Stanley Cup Playoffs
Don’t look now, but Detroit might actually have a postseason contender.
The Detroit Red Wings have won seven of their last eight to advance to a wild card spot at 28-21-8.
The Wings are up to date with 64 points tied for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with the Florida Panthers. Florida has played three more games than Detroit.
A more unlikely scenario has them trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning by 12 points for a top-3 finish in the Atlantic Division.
With 25 games left this season for the Wings, they appear to be in the mix for theirs first playoff appearance since 2016.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in Mid-April.
3rd NFL draft 2023
All is not lost for NFL fans.
You see that in the middle of the off-season 2023 NFL draft take place.
The home of the Super Bowl winners in Kansas City hosts the NFL Draft 27-29 April.
This year’s design is a great one for that Detroit Lionsholding two first-round (6, 18) and two second-round picks (49, 56).
The Lions have a track record of success with a young team and have a chance to add some high-profile talent to this young roster.
Manager, of course Brad Holmes is also known for spinning and trading during the trading weekend. Don’t be surprised if Holmes tries to make another splash in this year’s draft.
4th MLB Opening Day
I know, I know.
Look, the Detroit Tigers will probably be hot garbage by 2023.
There’s a reason they’re the biggest winner of the World Series this year.
Still, everyone is starting 0-0 and we should have a few weeks of misplaced optimism before reality kicks in.
The Tigers open the regular season in Tampa Bay March 30. The house opener at Comerica Park will be on April 6th against Boston.
No matter where the Tigers are, opening day in Detroit is a special event worth experiencing.
This season also marks the farewell tour for Miguel Cabrera. There will be limited opportunities to see one of the biggest hitters in franchise history.
5th FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Fresh from the excitement of last November’s FIFA Men’s World Cup came the FIFA Women’s World Cup returns this summer.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand July 20 – August 20.
Contrasting with his lack of success in the men’s event, the The United States has won the last two Women’s World Cups. Of the last eight, USA has won four women’s world titles.
In 2023, the USWNT will surely be a top contender for the title again.
6th World Baseball Classic 2023
Before the 2023 MLB season begins, we’re getting the first World Baseball Classic since 2017.
The WBC 2023 will be held from Japan, Taiwan and the USA March 8th to 21st. Chase Field in Phoenix and LoanDepot Park in Miami will host games across the United States
2017, the US won his first WBC and is now ready to finally defend his title. The Americans meet Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain in Pool C.
The United States has a wide range of talent. However, it does not feature Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers have eight representatives in the World Baseball Classic that year. They are:
- Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (Venezuela)
- Javier Baez (Puerto Rico)
- Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands)
- Andy Ibanez (Cuba)
- John Valente (Italy)
- Chavez Fernander (UK)
- Jack O’Loughlin (Australia)
7. NBA Playoffs
The 2022-23 NBA season was disappointing for Detroit fans.
With 15-45, the Detroit piston have the worst record in the East. With just 22 games remaining, Detroit is not far from being eliminated from the playoffs.
As it stands right now, Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are sitting outside of the playoffs. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are barely there.
Even if some of the top stars miss out in the postseason, the NBA playoffs can still make for exciting TV viewing.
This year’s playoffs begin on April 15th and could walk up to 18th of June. That’s plenty of time to erase the NFL offseason.
8. The triple crown
For six weeks every year we pretend to be horse racing experts.
Another hot event for sports betting is the Horse Racing Triple Crown.
The Kentucky derbies, Preakness Bets And Belmont Stakes Try to make a horse an American legend.
Justify was the last Triple Crown winner in 2018. American Pharoah won in 2015, ending a 37-year drought for the honor.
This year’s Triple Crown schedule is as follows:
- Kentucky Derby: May 6th
- Preakness Stakes: May 20th
- Belmont Stakes: June 10th
9. Golf Majors
Even if you’re not a big golf fan, you won’t be able to resist the entertainment four major championships.
With LIV Golf taking some of the top names off the PGA Tour, these Majors now offer a rare opportunity to see the best players in one event.
Included in the mix will be Tiger Woods who is still trying to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships. Woods just turned 15.
The four main subjects are:
- The Masters: 6th-9th April
- PGA Championship: May 18-21
- US Open: June 15-18
- The Open Championship: 20.-23. July
10. FireKeepers Casino 400 at MIS
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Michigan International Speedway At 6th of August for the FireKeepers Casino 400.
The history of NASCAR at MIS dates back to 1969. MIS used to hold two Cup Series races each season, now it’s just one race in August.
Kevin Harvick is the defending champion and has won four of the last five FireKeepers Casino 400.
Hometown hero Brad Keselowski has never been able to take home the checkered flag at his home track.
In addition to the Cup Series race on August 6th, the Xfinity Series will also compete at MIS this weekend.
The Xfinity Series race will take place on August 5th