It was only last fall that we watched Tom Brady lead the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots to yet another AFC East Division title as they sought a seventh NFL Lombardi Trophy.

Who’d have thought that just a few months later Brady would be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer?

Welcome to 2020.

Dr. Beth and I were in San Clemente, California, last week and found our way to a favorite nook at the local Fratello’s Restaurant lounge for merlot and some exquisite Italian fare. Our nook gave us good views of four TV screens and plenty of big-league action, and as we supped we reflected on a surreal September sports scene.

One TV featured a Stanley Cup Final game where Tampa Bay was beating Dallas. The game was being played sans fans in Edmonton! Watching Tampa Bay reminded me of how the Lightning earlier took out our Bruins despite Boston having the NHL’s best regular season record. Bummer.

But a Stanley Cup Final in September between Tampa and Dallas? Montreal Canadien legend Rocket Richard is surely rolling over in his grave.

Another TV showed our Celtics losing an NBA Conference Final Game 5 to Miami. But the game was not played in Boston or Miami, but rather the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. Wilt Chamberlain is surely rolling over in his grave.

Uniforms, T-shirts, and arena signage were politically tinged, diminishing the whole experience. Subliminally bashing law enforcement doesn’t seem like a good marketing strategy to me. And apparently I’m not the only one lacking enthusiasm for the NBA playoffs – despite the participation of the Celtics. TV ratings are way down.

A third TV showed a baseball game – reminding me of the last-place Red Sox and how the beloved Yawkeys (former BoSox owners) are now personas non grata around Fenway Park. Ted Williams’s head must be rolling around in its grave. Enough about that.

The fourth TV featured golf – reminding me that the 2020 Masters will still be played. In November! Bobby Jones must be rolling over in his grave. Supposedly the golf classic will still take place at Augusta National, as opposed to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida.

One can only wonder what 2020’s fourth quarter will bring. Being generally optimistic, I sense things will be on the upswing as the year closes out and a COVID vaccine is developed. And amidst all the surreal September sports stories one find causes for optimism.

For example, the Big Ten Football Conference college presidents finally got their priorities in order and reversed an earlier decision to cancel the gridiron schedule.

Yes!

Ohio State icon Woody Hayes is surely smiling in his grave.

(Mike Moffett of Loudon is a former Marine Corps officer, state representative, professor, and current sports columnist.)