Ok, let's be honest. If you're reading this, you'll probably spend more time in McKale Center than at the library, so here are some time management tips:

August: Football starts Aug. 30 and runs through November at least. The Tucson Sidewinders, the Arizona Diamondbacks' triple-A team, has a series left when you get here and if you've never been to a minor league game, it's a must. Even if you have, there are always great seats available (translation: very few people go to games). Speaking of the Diamondbacks, it's possible to see them in Phoenix without paying outrageous parking prices or driving up there yourself. There are buses that go both to and from Bank One Ballpark (phone: 434-1367). The Arizona Cardinals also play, but Sun Devil Stadium sucks (I went to a game last year and the whole upper deck was covered in bird droppings).

September: Volleyball and soccer begin and will last until the end of the semester. The volleyball team is top notch and the up-and-coming soccer team is ready for its new coach to take the reins.

October: At the end of the month, the Arizona Icecats, the UA's club hockey team, begins their season by hosting ASU. The season runs through February, and all home games are at the beer-serving Tucson Convention Center, which might account for the usually rowdy atmosphere. Going to at least a few games a year is a must, particularly against ASU. One time last season, there were about six Sun Devils in the penalty box at the same time. Good times.

November: Both basketball teams start and they'll both be good, as always.

December: If you couldn't get men's basketball tickets and you don't live in a dorm (they close during the winter break), you can get winter season tickets much easier. The winter season includes the games during the break. There will probably be five games plus the Fiesta Bowl Classic.

January: Again, if you couldn't score men's basketball tickets, go to thesundevils.com and buy some for when the UA plays at ASU. They can't fill their arena by themselves and they'll be easier to get because it's before the semester starts. Plus, on the way up you can think of funny chants for the ASU hoops team like "Arizona rejects" and "Northern Arizona's better." Gymnastics, softball, baseball, swimming, tennis and a host of club sports also start this month and continue through most of the semester.

February: The PGA Tour stops in Tucson late this month, but you probably won't want to go unless you're a big golf fan. It's always opposite the World Championship of Golf (a wannabe NCAA tourney), so Tiger and the other top-ranked golfers won't be there.

March: Make sure you have some absences left because most of the spring training games are during the day. Some TAs still take attendance that late in the semester, so blowing off classes in January and February could be trouble. There are two parks where three teams train each spring. March is also basketball tourney time and though it might be a bit pricey, you can enter a lottery to win a chance to buy tickets for the first/second rounds, regionals and Final Four.

April: Wildcat baseball and softball heat up and both major league and minor league baseball start up again.

May: I'd be willing to go Pete Rose and bet that both the softball and baseball teams will host regionals, but that's not until after the semester ends, so unless you're staying for summer school, it's probably out. If you are, major league softball starts up again and this time there'll be a Tucson team, which is something you ought to check out.