Here’s to the positive things in the world of sports, for without it many men on this planet wouldn’t know a goosebump from a staph infection.

It’s those moments you get a slight chill when thinking about it, those moments that makes for good fodder among beers and smoky air.

If you can’t agree from here on out, I recommend you receive a swift kick to back side by the person nearest you.

This year’s prep playoffs. How long has it been since this many teams in the Miss-Lou have either made the playoffs or threatened?

Three of the four Natchez schools are almost locked in, and two of the three in Concordia Parish are making strong cases for it.

But it’s the surprises that’s made things interesting &045; Jefferson County won Friday to make the playoffs for the first time in quite a while, Franklin County wasn’t expected to do much after what they lost last year but won the district and Ferriday may be the most-improved team since the start of the season.

Sure, it keeps us extra busy in the next few weeks and bound to hurt someone’s feelings when they don’t make the paper, but it’s going to be fun.

How ’bout them Marlins? Just another speck of proof that it doesn’t take a team with a $70 million payroll to win it all.

The Marlins and 23-year-old ace Josh Beckett refused to die throughout the entire postseason and didn’t bat an eye when it came to dethroning the Yankees in the playoffs.

The lesson learned here? No matter what, absolutely nothing can beat good pitching and strong defense.

Those Cubbies. With pitching stars Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, Mark Prior and Matt Clement, Cubs fans can actually say, ‘Wait ’til next year’ and really mean it.

Again, pitching and defense.

Farewell, Rocket. Anyone with half a pulse had to kind of stand there in awe when Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens walked off the mound in Game 5 of the World Series to a standing ovation in the visitors’ park.

Not only from the fans, but Clemens got the ‘O’ from Jack McKeon and the entire Marlins bench as well. It was truly a class way to go out for the pitching legend, one of the few true starting power pitchers in the game today.

It’s going to be quite a while until baseball’s next 300-game winner, that’s for sure.

Jake Delhomme. The guy doesn’t get drafted, nearly gets cut but keeps on working hard. The Saints let him get away. He deserved a starting opportunity, and look at him now.

Kirk Gibson. Fifteen years later, that home run still gives me goosebumps.

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. You can reach him at (601) 445-3632 or by e-mail at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.

com.