It is now one of the slower times of the sports' calendar year. Consequently, the editor of the Cleveland.com Sports Blog Network, Dan Labbe, asked the contributing bloggers to give a 250 word or less response about what the three BEST weeks in sports were. Here is my article, and you can find the others at www.cleveland.com/sportsnetwork.

My first answer would be the three weeks that include Championship week for NCAA Men's Basketball with all of the conference championships and the tournament itself. But, I'll go a little different route and say that the three weeks in April that starts with the MLB season opener and concludes with the NFL Draft are pretty special.

The main reason is hope. No matter what the outlook is for the Indians and Browns, there is hope. On baseball's opening day, all is right in the world and we're many months removed from the game. I am just excited to see things one takes for granted in the middle of the season. As for the NFL Draft, it is the day that most Browns' fans have looked forward to the most over the last 10 seasons. There is the undying hope that the Browns will acquire a new face of the franchise that will make them relevant in the NFL once again.

Finally, that span covers the start of the NBA playoffs. NBA playoff basketball is all of the things that critics of the game say that it is not. It's intense, defense is vital, in-game strategy is at its peak, and teams go all out for 48 minutes. That is why spring is king in sports.

So, what do the CofC readers think? What are the best three weeks of the sports year? Let your voice be heard in the comments section.

Kirk