Summer
sports options ease off season pain
Kyle Cavaness
Summer means a lot of things to a lot of people. To Southern Californians, the
most substantial thing the season represents is a suffocating heat, one that
lasts for weeks and weeks–a heat that makes us forget about the damp spring
months we were glad to be rid of and long for a cool fall and the daylight savings
time that it will bring. Of course, this parching heat brings a drought of another
type as well; mainstream professional sports all but grind to a halt under the
blazing sun.
Baseball is the only sport that lasts throughout the summer because the NBA championships
will be decided in a matter of weeks, as well as the Stanley Cup. Football is
still months away, which begs the question–what is a sports fan to do in
the interminable months of summer drought? Fortunately, there is an answer for
those with an open mind.
Summer offers a cornucopia of sports for those willing to reach outside the box
drawn by the boundaries of football and basketball. Huntington Beach–Long
Beach’s southern sister–offers enough sporting events to fill the
months between semesters with room to spare. For those looking for an excuse
to go to the beach after finals week, the Association of Volleyball Professionals
kicks off the local volleyball season with the Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach
Open May 24 to 26. To simplify, spectators get to watch girls in bikinis play
volleyball for a $245,000 pot, and the whole event is sponsored by beer. Questions?
Anyone? And if you want to get in on a piece of the action, you can rent kayaks,
bicycles and rollerblades to help burn off the calories from a beer.
Of course, no summer of beach sports would be complete without the old standby – the
exquisite art of surfing. Highlights of Huntington Beach’s surf season
include both men’s and women’s World Qualifying Series surfing competitions,
and the world-famous U.S. Open of Surfing, from July 22 to July 31 right next
to the Huntington Beach Pier.
These beach sports, attractive as they may be, are no substitute for rooting
for the home team. Both Long Beach State baseball and softball, records willing,
will extend their seasons several weeks into June for those who remain local
between semesters. The NCAA Regionals for softball are on May 19-21, and the
baseball team’s NCAA Regionals take place June 2-5, following three-game
series against UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, and rivals CSU Fullerton. So,
even after the semester ends next week, keep up to date with our home team records
and support The Beach.
Fortunately for LBSU’s commuting students, however, there are local sports
occurring in other places besides the beach. If
Angels and Dodgers are outside of your price range, or driving range, the Summer
X Games XII will take place at Staples Center, Home Depot Center, and at the
Long Beach Marine Stadium August 3-6 this year. Featuring diverse events like
BMX freestyle, surfing, and skateboarding, this booming event will help to fill
the void left by mainstream sports over the summer months.
Though the Lakers’ and Clippers’ seasons will be long over once finals
have passed, and your favorite football team’s opening day is still months
away, there are still plenty of sporting events worthy of getting drunk and painting
your chest for–these events just require some research. And a word to the
wise: You will probably be the only person with a painted chest at the above-mentioned
surfing events; a tan would probably be a better way to make friends with the
locals.
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