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Gone.

| 12:07 PM ET  06.03 | Small sports are suddenly captivating audiences nationwide. I think that's a relatively safe bet.

When looking at the "big sports" of this era, one thinks of baseball, basketball, football, NASCAR, and possibly boxing. These generally get the majority of the coverage in society.

However, this past week has shown that the "little guys" can command serious attention.

Take, for example, the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL has been at an all-time low since the lockout. People had basically given up on the league in general.

Along comes Sidney Crosby.

Everyone calls him "The Next Great One." We might as well call him "The Savior."

He's putting the NHL back to prominance. That Game 5 was an instant classic, a 3 OT thriller. I'm interested in the series, and my Wild aren't even in it!

That's not the only "small" sport that's gaining interest, though.

The French Open has also been interesting this year. Sharapova knocked out in the 4th round again. Blake out early. Nadal eating sandwiches during matches. And, ultimately, Federer going for the Career Slam.

Danica Patrick is the biggest racing star since the Intimidator. The IRL is also gaining a good sized fanbase.

Kimbo Slice and the MMA are also turning heads. Who doesn't remember the busted ear? Is it grotesque? Yes. And that's what makes it interesting.

And, finally, soccer is making a comeback in America. And I'm not talking about the World Cup or the MLS. The EURO tourney is going to be televised on the ESPN stations. And that tournament should be great for the game.

Next thing I know, hopefully, my favorite sport (Ultimate Frisbee) will be televised. But I'll keep dreaming.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, eh?