The end of October is almost without a doubt the most exciting time in sports. Football season is in full swing, hockey freshly underway, and today we find ourselves on the verge of both the World Series and the NBA season. We’d like to think the fall classic between the Yanks and Phillies has captured the hearts and minds, (not to mention keyboards,) of the social web, but instead it’s the premiere tip-off that has realtime net denizens searching up a storm. Roundball’s regular season kicks off with a slate of four games including Kobe and Co starting their title defense against the crosstown Clippers. While there’s been renewed optimism on the side of the perennially cursed Clips, the squad led by usually puzzled Coach and GM Mike Dunleavy has enjoyed an overflow of support from unlikely sources. ESPN columnist, Clippers season ticket holder, and usually unrepentant team critic Bill “The Sports Guy” Simmons seemed to throw his support behind the team with whom he recently had his differences in his latest column. Unfortunately, Clippers fans had quite the rude awakening this morning when the news was revealed that the team’s 1st round pick and potential savior in the paint, Blake Griffin would be out 6-8 weeks.

While Clippers fans gaze at the greener grass on the Lakers side of the court, there are plenty of other fans that feel a surge of hope when the numbers in the win and loss column are littered with zeroes. Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers like @tha_HNIC are certainly hopeful that LeBron James (with the help of Shaq) can lead the city to it’s first championship since the Browns captured the NFL title in 1964. It’s been a long time Clevelanders, but hopefully LeBron can help the streets of the forest city rock a little harder with a parade come June before he jets via free agency in the off-season.

Whether or not LeBron finishes what he started, all teams are created equal before opening tip-off and there’s sure to be some surprises in store for Basketball fans everywhere…like maybe the Knicks will be good. Just kidding. Either way, it’s a long season folks. Brace yourself for some faaaaantastic action!