The stars are shining

I say that title for actually two reasons: the national championship game on Monday and a special all-star (MLB) game announcement.

So I'll get to the special announcement first. While the 2015 all-star game will be in the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, the 2016 all-star game will be in San Diego at PETCO Park! I am so excited!!! The last time San Diego hosted the all-star game was in 1992 at old Jack Murphy stadium (now Qualcomm). The AL won that game 13-6. Tom Glavine allowed 6 runs in the first inning. The Padres also hosted the mid-summer classic in 1978 when the host city sent out the likes of Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, and Randy Jones. The wonder of seeing the stars brilliantly shine for a great event and summer classic in the form of an all-star game will come without words. If you have ever attended an all-star game, feel free to leave a comment. I definitely plan on attending this one to see just how great it is to see all of the best major leaguers in person.

Another big event this week that had plenty of stars was the inaugural college football playoff national championship between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes. After Oregon led an opening drive to a touchdown, they could not push the throttle down with several key dropped passes. That gave Ohio State the chance to pull back and take the lead. They never looked back. the game got close in the third quarter with the Buckeyes on top 21-20 but shutout Oregon from that point with the final score of 42-20. Cardale Jones was a beast. At 6'5'', 250 pounds, he is a force at the QB position. But wait, there's more! Ezekiel Elliott led the rushing attack with four touchdowns in the game. Ohio State looks to be a favorite to win it again next year with Jones and Elliott returning (Jones was considering the NFL draft after only starting three games in his career). Meanwhile, Marcus Mariota was really held in check all night. The running attack was not working and neither was the passing game (hence the dropped passes). This was such an exciting year in the first year of the college football playoff. I look forward to yet another great year next year a whole seven and a half months away. Good thing baseball spring training starts up in 35 days.

In the NBA, the long-hyped Cavaliers team has been reeling of late. With LeBron returning to the lineup after resting a sore knee and a sore back for a couple of weeks, this Cleveland team looks to bounce back to a run at the playoffs. The Hawks in Atlanta (as of tonight) have an 11-game winning streak; their longest since the 1997-1998 season. They are tops in the Eastern conference and only have 8 losses all year long while the Cavaliers - who are playing around .500 basketball - have 20. However, the Golden State Warriors are atop the Western conference with only 6 losses. Pretty impressive.

Conference championship games arrive in the NFL this weekend with the Colts taking on the Patriots in New England and The Packers taking on the Seahawks in Seattle. The winners go to the biggest game in the world: the Super Bowl.

The next month or so may be boring when it comes to sports, but we have the X-games next week and then spring training begins around February 20. Let the countdown begin!