With the spring semester ending in the next couple of weeks, students throughout campus and around the country, are looking forward to two-and-a-half months without differential equations and five-page essays on the fall of communism in Russia.For me, although I will be entrenched in math and English courses during the summer, I still plan on trying to take in a couple of events to keep busy before the beginning of what I call, “Nicholls Year Two: Here We Go Again.” So here is a small list of some of the things you, my loyal readers, can also enjoy while on break.

One team that has never shown up on my radar in the Southeast region of the state has been the New Orleans Zephyrs. With the Saints, Hornets and Tulane athletics, I never really saw the Zephyrs as something worth watching. It wasn’t Major League Baseball, so it didn’t count.

However, if you talk to people who have been to Zephyrs games, don’t be surprised if they tell you that Zephyr Field is one of the best-kept secrets in the city of New Orleans. With every night having a different theme-Zatarain’s Zaturdays and Thirsty Thursdays are just a couple-there is enough of a major league atmosphere to please any baseball fan.

The Zephyrs are second in the Pacific Coast League with a record of 10-7, and with tickets only $10 or less, it’s one of the best options for those who are being hit hardest by the soaring gas prices.

If there are any golf fans out there, please hold your laughter because there may be some out there, this weekend is your best opportunity to see some of the best the PGA has to offer when the Zurich Classic of New Orleans starts today. With some of the proceeds going to the Fore kids Foundation to aid Hurricane Katrina victims, recent Masters champion Phil Mickelson and runner-up David Couples and Louisiana’s own David Toms are just of the few big names not named Tiger Woods who will be there.

The tournament has ticket packages good for food, beverages, parking and admission to the course and range in various prices from $100 to $15,000, but if the golf enthusiasts in your family don’t want to spend that much, the single-game and individual weekly passes are only $25 and $50.

Now if you have a couple of friends, and a used Volkswagen van, taking a road trip to a real major league ballpark would not be a bad idea. Depending on what team you root for, the Atlanta Braves or Houston Astros, both are within a reasonable driving distance.

It still boggles my mind that we have so many Braves fans when Atlanta is eight and a half hours away and Houston is only five. The Braves may have won the National League East the past 13 years, but only have one World Series ring to show for it. Still, the Braves are a good draw, and Turner Field is one of the best ballparks in the country.

Single game tickets for premium seats start at $50 for Braves games and $47 for Astros games and drop according to the section that is chosen. With the Astros leading the NL Central division and the Braves second in the NL East, it’s worth the trip to see two ball clubs that could make deep runs in the playoffs.

Even though sports are my foremost love, music is something I take great pride in knowing a lot about. And besides, who said that this entire article had to be about sports anyway?

With the recovery of a hurricane-ravaged New Orleans still in its beginning stages, the House of Blues has done a phenomenal job of still bringing big name acts to aid in the city’s rejuvenation. Trapt and Shinedown, HIM and T.I. are just of the few main acts that will be performing this summer to keep New Orleans partying until the wee morning hours.

In July, the snapping of pigskin will signal the start of Saints football, with a much different feel this year than in previous Saints pre-season camps. If the Saints draft wisely and get D’Brickishaw Ferguson in the first round, with some decent picks in the later rounds, expect fans to pack the Superdome when the team makes its return to New Orleans on Sept. 25 against the Atlanta Falcons.

When the fall semester begins, so will Nicholls athletics and if this past season was any indication of what’s to come for Nicholls sports, an upgrade to the trophy case may be in order. Each team has the drive to be the best and instill pride on campus and throughout the community, and I can’t wait to do it all again next semester.