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I don't know how many of you care about the hockey playoffs, so instead I will rank the postseason in the different sports, as well as a preview of the current playoffs.

Major League Soccer: I will admit that I have never seen an MLS game, period. I don't care about the playoffs at all, although I could see the excitement of a penalty kick for the win. I would much rather
watch the World Cup.

College World Series: I find the CWS entertaining at times, mainly because of the high amount of runs that are normally scored. I enjoy watching the softball world series more because the Lady Vols have been in it the past few years, and every run means a lot.

Major League Baseball: I am not much of a baseball fan, so the MLB playoffs don't really do it for me. It doesn't help that it is on during the meat of the football season, so it will play second fiddle for me. I also find it boring watching the Yankees and Red Sox year after year. I normally only watch it when there is a new team (Rockies last year) or one of my teams (Astros, Mariners, White Sox) in it.

NASCAR: The playoff format just doesn't make much sense to me. It is almost as if everyone starts clean (except for wins) in the top 12. Granted, that is how it is in virtually all other sports, but there is a thing called home field advantage in the others, so the top teams have an advantage. Here you could finish in second every race and be dominating the points heading into the playoffs and still find yourself in last. It also ruins the end of the regular season with many guys already clinched and the postseason with the other 12 drivers playing for nothing but a win.

Golf: The PGA Tour gets a step up on NASCAR in my book because it awards points based on regular season
rankings. What a novel idea. Still, a player (aka Tiger) should not be able to win the Fed Ex Cup without playing in all four postseason events. The other problem is that since he is dominating, the playoffs are anti-climatic.

College Football: Speaking of anti-climatic, college football tops the list. The greatest regular season has one of the most meaningless postseasons around. Who really cares who wins the bowls before New Years? Not me. Not even if my teams were playing in them. Plus, no “true” champion ruins it as well. As far as I am concerned, the season ends the first week in December. An eight-team playoff would cure all the problems, while keeping the regular season in tact.

NBA Playoffs: I have been hit and miss with watching the NBA playoffs the past few years. With both of my teams bad (Bucks and Kings), there is no real rooting interest for me. Last year I enjoyed watching the Warriors/Mavs series and all of the Suns games, but the Eastern Conference is way too boring to care about. I have yet to watch a quarter of basketball in this playoffs, but did see the overtimes of the Suns game, a rare good first round game. Bring back the 80s!

NFL Playoffs: The best thing about the NFL playoffs is that it is a one and done situation, putting an added importance on every game. Plus, it is pretty cool watching games in the snow and rain. The intensity level is turned up and the players stop playing for the money. Still, it is a professional sport, so the environment isn't all there. I probably won't watch the game if I don't like the teams.

Hockey playoffs: The greatest of the professional sports' postseasons, hands down. Every shot, every shift, every penalty and every save means a bunch. There is also no more competitive playoff system, just look at this year's playoffs. A game seven with the No. 1 and No. 8 seeds and upsets every year. Did I mention the fierce hitting that happens and all of the fighting? The crowds also get louder than in any other pro sport. As far as the semis go, I like the RedWings to beat the Avs in six games in a battle of old teams. I think Montreal will do the same to the youthful
Flyers, who have to be jet-lagged with three games in four days. Look for the Penguins to take down the Rangers in a thrilling seven game series, and the same can be said with the Stars upsetting the Sharks.

NCAA March Madness: I think this is just about everyone's pick as the greatest postseason around. Not only does just about everyone get into it, they all have money on it, or at least have a bracket. The excitement of a one-and-done setting is second to none. Plus, it is college athletes who are doing it for the most part for the love of the game. It is what makes March my favorite month of the year.

Tags: college basketball, hockey, postseasons