The winter season is over! - Never have I received such huge heating bills as in the winter of 2007-2008.

The football season is over! - Sundays in front of the TV finally paid off. Our glorious N.Y. (?) Giants under the leadership of the much-maligned, quarterback Eli Manning, has beaten the previously unbeaten New England Patriots and brought back the Lombardi Trophy.

The basketball season - collegiately and professionally is winding down. St. John's is gone, Syracuse U. is gone, and Hofstra U. is out. We have to root listlessly for complete strangers. Unfair!

The Knicks and the Nets are closing out lackluster seasons. Isaiah Thomas appears headed for the land of discarded Knick coaches and managers. Larry Brown, a Long Islander, was trashed not so long ago.

The Nets (who are probably moving to Brooklyn) traded away a true "Hall of Famer" named Jason Kidd. He was a magnificent passer and floor player. His triple doubles (10 points, 10 assists -10 rebounds) were amazing to watch. Gone with the wind!

As the temperature rises slowly, what do we have to look forward to in the spring?

Tulips of all colors will sprout through the earth.

The grass will get greener.

The heating bills will decline (hopefully).

People will come out of their houses and greet their neighbors.

Spring-cleaning will begin in earnest.

A crack of the bat will signify that the ultra-long (162 games - plus playoffs - plus the World Series) Baseball season has begun. Pitchers, catchers and batters have been warming up their muscles in Florida and Arizona and are now ready to play.

Hope springs eternal in the spring.

No teams have losing records and all are on a equal footing. Everyone is a potential star. Too bad reality has to change all that.

We have our Yankees and our met!

The Brooklyn Dodgers always said, "Wait till Next Year!"

This is Next Year.