October, the 10th and Greatest Month!

I love October. The weather in my opinion, is the best of the year. Early in the month, warm temperatures, then later crisp days and nights as winter draws near. The color of the leaves in their autumnal change lets you know that winter is just around the corner and many sports, high school and professional, start to go full bore in. In baseball, it's the playoffs and World Series and the pro basketball and hockey seasons are just beginning. The pro seasons are way to long though. I remember when I was a youngster, the World Series ended in mid October and the pro basketball and hockey playoffs finished in April.

Sports wise, the Tigers season was a disappointment in that injuries derailed them. They should bounce back strong next year with Pudge Rodriguez still there to lead. They'll find a new shortstop, possibly Cesar Izturis of the Pirates and look for them to enter the Adam Dunn sweepstakes to get a heavyweight and heavy hitting left fielder. In hockey, the Red Wings will disappoint their fans once again, with a great regular season then a slip and fall in the playoffs. When will Wing's management realize you must be competitive in the playoffs and win the occasional Stanley Cup, to keep putting fannies in the seats? It doesn't matter whether they play in the east or west, whether they are allowed to fight or not. What matters is to win cups and the Wings are now 5 seasons removed from their last title, soon to be 6.

In football, the Lions will have their ups and downs this year, but I still see them finishing at 8 and 8, which might get them into the playoffs. Michigan football will go 8-4 in the regular season, a far cry from what was expected, but Mike Hart will be one of the finalists invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremonies. And the Michigan State Spartans will have a winning season and will go to a bowl game. As for the Pistons, well, they like the Wings, are getting older, but there is hope that some youth will be infused with their new draft picks. They'll be competitive again but I don't see them getting to the NBA Finals.

As a Realtor, October signifies a slow down in the selling season, a chance to put on the brakes a bit and reflect back on the year 2007. As a Realtor in the only state in the union that's in recession right now, it's been difficult and I don't see it getting any better for us, Realtors or our clients, until mid 2009, so hang in there. October is also a time to look ahead for all of us to set our sights on that new year that's just around the corner. I can't wait for the excitement of 2008, with new hope ready to burst from every seam. The elections will be upon us soon and that will also bring change.

I can't wait. I love October!