NFL season? Baseball mania? Basketball bonanza? Best month for sports

Is it the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans?

It could be easy.

Every month offers something different for sports fans and we're approaching one of the most entertaining times of the year. But is it the best?

We're going to break down the best months to be a sports fan. Obviously everyone's list may be different. If you're not an NFL fan, fall won't be your favorite time of year. If you love basketball, there are some times of the year that you will enjoy.

July: No. 12

Even though it's the worst month on the list, it's not a terrible month. You get the MLB All-Star Game and NFL training camp. It's also the start of NBA free agency. This year we had the Olympics and the WNBA was hot, so it was better than usual.

February: No. 11

It's crazy that the biggest game of the year is played in a month that's ranked 11th, but after the Super Bowl, there's little to get excited about. The NBA All-Star Game is fun and spring training is starting, but that's about it.

August: No. 10

Baseball is heating up, college football usually starts this month and we have NFL preseason. Okay, so the NFL preseason stinks. It's still fun to see teams get whittled down to 53 players. It's also a great time for fantasy football drafts.

March: No. 9

The best part of the college basketball season is in March, and that's really why this season has such a high profile because the other sports are pretty boring. The NHL and NBA are about to start in March, but with so many teams making the playoffs, things won't get too exciting until April. While in recent years Opening Day for MLB has been in March, I still count that as April.

May: No. 8

The best part of this month is the NBA and NHL playoffs. There is a game every night and they are all important. There's also baseball this month, although that's a clear third of the things to look forward to in May. Horse racing is not one of my favorite sports, in fact I hate it, but there are big races in May.

June: No. 7

Two of the four biggest trophies in sports are awarded this month: The NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs conclude in June. The NFL runs camps and teams get to see what they look like, and baseball is going well.

December: No. 6

The playoffs in the NFL are decided here. It's also the start of the MLB free agency period, and that's always fun. The NBA and NHL are just getting going, and college basketball is having some great games with holiday tournaments this month. Don't forget that college football has a huge month with conference championship games, Army-Navy and bowl season.

November: No. 5

The NBA begins this month, there is usually a World Series parade, and it is the start of the college basketball season. But let's be honest: November is football's biggest month: The NFL hosts huge games, college football finishes its regular season, and it's the month when high school football playoffs take place. When I think of football, I think of November.

January: No. 4

Another month all about football, but with a lot more at stake. The NCAA hosts its biggest bowl games later this month, the NFL finishes its regular season and the playoffs begin. There's also an NHL All-Star Game being played here, and while it's not particularly good, the skills competition is the highlight of the NHL season.

September: No. 3

This might be my favorite month because it is the start of the NFL season. Every season is great until it begins! College football typically begins the last week of August, but September sees some of the best matchups in non-conference games. The NHL preseason begins, the NBA prepares for the season and the best part of the month might be the MLB playoff races.

April: No. 2

You really don't have to wait long for April to be a great month. It starts right away with the college basketball championship games and Baseball Openin Day usually takes place around April Fools' Day. You'll also get the start of the NBA and NHL playoffs and the NFL Draft will take place. You may not think of it as a sport, but it's also Wrestlemania time!

October: No. 1

This month has it all. It's the start of the NBA season, it's the start of the NHL season and football is in full swing. October also means playoff baseball, and with the expanded playoffs, it's just become more fun. In October there is usually something fun to see every day and sometimes some great games every day. It's the one month you can't beat.

Joe Mason is a producer for the Asbury Park Press. He occasionally writes columns, but you have to take them with a grain of salt, the man watches professional wrestling.