Baseball season? Pshaw. Football season is on its way! Starting this Thursday, April 22, tune in to the NFL Network as the NFL draft moves to primetime for the first time. The first round takes place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST; second and third rounds begin Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m. EST; and rounds 4-7 begin Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. EST.

The draft takes place at Radio City Music Hall in New York. And you can actually go there to see night 2, round 3 of the draft!! Check out the NFL website to learn more.

What does everyone think the biggest drama will be?

We know that most of you are thinking about summertime cocktails, swimming in the pool, and watching the occasional baseball game. But not us! We are revving up for the relaunch of our Football 101 Basics section on our website. We have done some spring cleaning and are ready to answer all the necessary questions you may have. Ultimately we want you to learn (and love) the game of football and we will be right along side of you the whole time, don’t worry!

Starting this week we are going to be doing weekly postings like, What are Special Teams? What is the defensive line? And, what the heck are 4-downs??

New NFL overtime rule = more drama? I’m in. That’s right. In time for the 2010-2011 football season, NFL fans can look forward to even more controversy and edge-of-your-seat game watching when the new overtime rule takes effect.

Now I know y’all are still learning the game, (and so am I, as my brother and BF will kindly remind me), so I’ll give it to you in simple terms:

With the new rule, the team receiving the first kick-off in overtime will no longer win the game automatically when they kick a field goal on their first possession. If they kick a field goal, the other team will get one chance to receive a kick-off and to also kick a field goal (when this happens, the game goes to ’sudden-death” where the next point wins), score a winning touchdown, or lose!

Want to meet a real live NFL player? Ask him all those questions you’ve been saving over the years? How about over dinner or a walk in the park..? Well, now’s your chance! VH1 has teamed up with Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson to help him find true love. The wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals is using his off-season to “play the field” in his new VH1 reality show, Ocho Cinco’s Tournament.

VH1 is looking for single, attractive women over the age of 21 who think they have what it takes to win the heart of one this NFL bachelor. Visit www.OchoCincoCasting.com to apply.

And, stay tuned Monday night at 8 pm EST on ABC for his premiere on Dancing with the Stars!

I swear I get my best news from morning TV shows. Today on Good Morning America, Robin Roberts, an avid sports fan and athlete, introduced Natalie Randolph, the newest football coach for Washington DC’s Calvin Coolidge Senior High School.

Click here for video

“While I’m proud to be part of what this all means,” Randolph said, “being female has nothing to do with it. I love football. I love football, I love teaching, I love these kids. My being female has nothing to do with my support and respect for my players on the field and in the classroom.”

We love her already! Good luck Natalie and we’ll be watching!

My husband and I religiously read the wedding section of the New York Times every Sunday. He actually got me into it…such a cutie-pie, isn’t he? This week they featured Aaron Ross of the New York Giants and his gorgeous bride, Sanya Richards, an accomplished athlete herself. See the pictures and read more here!

Wow, has it really been a month since the Superbowl??

Sorry ladies, I needed a break. The Colts falling apart, the lack of good commercials, and did I mention that the chili I made was way too hot? I actually bought Rolaids in advance for my guests! It was a big-ole-failure!

I know I am being hard on myself, but you can see why I needed a break. Susan and I are thinking of interesting and unique ways to keep the spirit alive during the off-season and continue to learn, share, teach and inspire us all for an informed and fun 2010 season! Keep your eyes peeled for:

* Movie suggestions from your favorite Bears players
* Places to watch games and have a cool drink outside in the summer
* More Football 101 basics
* And more as we continue to brainstorm