Play Ball!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best week of the year. The sun is shining. Birds are finally chirping. People have been opening doors me for me, letting me cut in line, giving random smiles as I pass...people are just outright happy.

It can only mean one thing:

Baseball season is here. Hallejuah!

For those of you wanting to pull your hair out if you hear one more basketball remark, don't pull yet - it's time for some baseball!

 (Yes, it's still basketball season, but I've decided to boycott the NCAA Finals since my bracket was complete garbage. For those of you still competing in college ball, click here.) 

Opening Day is happening across the country this week, so check the schedules to find out when your team gets started. For my California girls, let me make it easy for you:

The most amazing team in the world, the San Diego Padres, start their season deep in the Midwest. The Pads take on the St. Louis Cardinals at 4:15 pm ET Thursday, on Cards turf. So leave the 80 degree beach a bit early and catch some baseball. Another rough day for a San Diegoian. (Catch my hint of jealousy?)

Unfortunately, the Dodgers do play in CA, so I'll mention them. The always classy LA team opens the season playing World Series champs, the San Francisco Giants, on Thursday. Giants fans are overly pumped this season (I know from experience, I'm constantly surrounded), so there's sure to be loads of blue vs. orange fists flying at this one. Game time is 8:00 pm ET, at Dodger Stadium.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will start their season in Kansas City, going head-to-head with the Royals. Game is at 4:10 pm ET on Thursday. Perfect timing for mid-day mimosas! 

The other Bay Area team, the Oakland A's, will kick off their season at home vs. Seattle. If you're a Bay Area fan, catch this game live - it's supposed to be a gorgeous day, even in Oakland!


Time for hot dogs, ball caps and ice cold brews!

photo via SeattlePI


And obviously the babes. Meet David Wright.

photo via NYMag

Dust off your baseball jersey (hopefully not a pink one), get your game face on and enjoy the next seven months of America's favorite past time. Go Padres!

Cosmo Clue:
Spring Training comes to a halt this week, and the regular MLB season starts!

For full schedules and home openers, check this.

California Dreamin'

I've been doing a lot of traveling throughout CA lately, and each time I do so, I love this state more and more. We have the beaches, mountains, deserts, big cities, and not to mention some major athletes were born in the GOLDEN STATE. 

The list could go on forever, but here are some fellas worth mentioning:

Troy Aikman

West Covina, Ca

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback & Hall of Famer

photo via DC Times

Tom Brady

San Mateo, Ca

BABE & New England Patriots quarterback

photo via Access Hollywood

Reggie Bush

San Diego, Ca

Kim K's ex & New Orleans Saints running back

photo via Reggie Bush Online

Barry Bonds

Riverside, Ca

Former MLB star & major record holder (and avid steroid user)

photo via abc news

Joe DiMaggio

Martinez, Ca

Former NY Yankee & Hall of Famer

photo via myclassiclyrics

Jason Kidd

San Francisco, Ca

Point guard for the Dallas Mavericks 

photo via Hoopedia

Tony Hawk

San Diego, Ca

Professional Skateboarder

photo via Skate Update

Tiger Woods

Cypress, Ca

Professional Golfer and BAD GUY

photo via Entertainment Spotlight

a few others: Tony Romo, Mark McGwire, Ryan Schekler, O.J. Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Ted Williams

...and let's not forget the California girls!

Lindsay Davenport

Palos Verdes, Ca

Former #1 American professional tennis player

photo via Netbrawl

Sasha Cohen

Westwood, Ca

Professional and Olympic figure skater

photo via nyquil

Venus Williams

Lynwood, Ca

Professional tennis player

photo via 1800-sports

Michelle Kwan

Torrance, Ca

Former professional figure skater and Olympic gold medalist 

photo via examiner

Nicely done, California. 

Nor Cal vs. So Cal

We all know of the never ending rivalry between Nor Cal and So Cal. 

[REDWOODS vs. PALM TREES, THE BAY vs. THE BEACHES, MAC DRE vs. SNOOP DOGG, FOG vs. SMOG, BIRKENSTOCKS vs. FLIP FLOPS, JOURNEY vs. THE EAGLES, HELLA vs. GNARLY, etc. etc...]

Throw in the sports rivalries between the two sides and you've got yourself a full on cat fight. Let's look at the number of championships for each side to decide the winner...

-Baseball-

So Cal: 

San Diego Padres (0 championships)

 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1 championship)

Los Angeles Dodgers (5 championships)

Nor Cal: 

San Francisco Giants (1 championship)

 Oakland Athletics (4 championships)

-Football-

So Cal:

 San Diego Chargers (0 championships)

Nor Cal: 

San Francisco 49ers (5 championships)

Oakland Raiders (3 championships)

-Basketball-

So Cal:

Los Angeles Lakers (11 championships)

Los Angeles Clippers (0 championships)

Nor Cal:

Golden State Warriors (1 championship)

Sacramento Kings (0 championships)

-Hockey-

So Cal:

Anaheim Ducks (1 championship)

Los Angeles Kings (0 championships)

Nor Cal:

San Jose Sharks (0 championships)

*Note that So Cal has one more team playing for them than Nor Cal

So Cal - 18

Nor Cal - 14

Looks like So Cal comes out on top with the amount of Championships, with a big thanks to the Lakers. But if Nor Cal had one more team, would they pass So Cal up? 

Now before fists start swinging and the hair pulling begins, let's settle things. I'd say So Cal takes the cake on the court & ice, while Nor Cal clearly takes it with a football. When it comes to baseball, it's pretty much a tie, so let's call it even. 

I'm a So Cal native and a Nor Cal transplant, so I get the draw of each side. I'd take a burrito from So Cal over a Nor Cal one any day. But I'd take a Fall in Nor Cal over any So Cal season. I think we can all shake hands and come to the conclusion that living anywhere in CA is pretty damn nice. So the next time you're breaking up a bar brawl over this matter, remind the boys how both sides have their Championship Rings. (Yes, male athletes receive JEWELRY of all things when they win a championship). 

Nor Cal + So Cal = BFF!