SCOTT TRUXELL\/independent sports editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week\u2019s Random Thoughts center around the TinCaps, football season, the XFL, spring sports and better weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TinCaps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Monday would have been the home opener for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, as the Dayton Dragons were scheduled to come to Parkview Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bummer. In my short time here, I\u2019ve come to enjoy the TinCaps and the Midwest League. In some ways, I actually prefer the minors to Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hopefully a good portion of the schedule can be salvaged when it\u2019s safe to do to start playing games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Football season<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope I\u2019m wrong, but I\u2019m starting to get the feeling that the upcoming football season could be an abbreviated one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s more talk about how things could be different this fall at all levels. Maybe it\u2019s just the people in charge looking ahead and planning. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s hoping it\u2019s safe for things to go on as planned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n XFL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m a little surprised that the XFL completely canned operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No doubt it was an uphill battle for the new league, but given the months of promotion and the hype surrounding it, I thought it would last at least one more season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Having said that, I tried to watch when they played, but it was hard to get into. Maybe it was because there were no teams remotely close to the region, maybe not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quarterback play left something to be desired, but who knows, maybe things would have changed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll never know now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OHSAA spring sports<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is pure speculation on my part, but I\u2019m guessing Governor Mike DeWine will announce the status of Ohio schools sometime late next week or early the week of April 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I bring that up because it\u2019s tied directly to spring sports being played. Just like Indiana and Michigan, if in-person classes are canceled, spring sports will follow suit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As it stands now, I still think the chances are very slim that classes will resume, but very slim is better than no chance at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Better weather<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One advantage to having spring sports start later, hopefully \u2013 we should be past the days where snow flakes are whizzing by during games, matches and meets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not an uncommon sight in late March or early-to-mid April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n