I don’t know whether to address this to the Good Lord, Mother Nature, Storm from X-Men or some mysterious board of shadowy figures that controls the weather for the government. But whoever you are, you have stolen our summer — and I want it back.

While summer weather finally seems to be coming and, with it, thoughts of relaxing and hitting the beach, there is no mellowing on the local sports front.

We are now one week removed from high school graduation for the Class of 2009, and I’m sure the new crop of PHS alumni are already tired of people offering them advice. But hey, what kind of opinionated sports columnist would I be if I didn’t have my own thoughts to share with the Titans who are moving on, complete with a personal anecdote?

With the Pembroke High School baseball team back in the state tournament and the Legion team getting ready to start the second season, I thought it would be appropriate to bring Pembroke my rules for being a good small-town baseball fan. It’s much different than being a Red Sox fan. To a baseball fan at the local level, you need to know your chatter.

Last week, our United States Congress held a hearing on the fairness and practicality of the BCS college football system as part of the ongoing national conspiracy to talk about football year round at the expense of other sports.  I like Congress holding this hearing; after months of locking heads on hard issues, maybe bashing something no one likes will allow them to clear some air.