Since everyone, including myself, is looking forward to spring training, and more importantly, spring break in a warm climate, I have thought about nothing but baseball in the last three weeks since the MLB players have reported.

For many of you, the last three weeks have included many a fantasy baseball draft. I, for one, participated in my first of the year last Saturday.

The clock struck noon as I stumbled out of bed. I collected my draft chart and magazine before heading over to Douglas Park, where the draft would be held for the fourth straight season.

I’m coming off a fourth place finish in a nine-team league last season. That is about what I usually finish, although I was rocking until the last month of the season. That’s when Freddy Garcia decided to fall from the ranks of the elite, and my buddy Jay Masterson dealt his first seven picks in this year’s draft to acquire Pedro for a month. He breezed by me as well as three others with that transaction and left me thinking I was the Red Sox, spending the most days in first place only to fall at the end.

As we have for the past five seasons, the group comprised of a lot of old friends from the freshman dorm, got together for what would be our final fantasy baseball draft of our college years.

All but one of us was present. The other, since moved to North Carolina, was not there and his team was picked for him.

Each team franchised three players from the year before and I liked my chances after franchising Tim Hudson, Manny Ramirez and Bartolo Colon. But I didn’t pick until the fifth overall and my most coveted players, Jeter, Tejada, et al, would be gone.

I chose Jason Giambi and was very pleased that he was still there. I didn’t have a pick until later in the second round so I had to sweat it out again. Eric Chavez went as did Derek Lowe. My guy was still on the board. I started to get that feeling; you know, that feeling where you are ready to shout the guy’s name out before it’s your pick. I got that feeling. My buddy Jay wasn’t going to take him. He wanted Todd Helton.

Two picks away and my guy was still on the board. One pick now and the guy in front of me wasn’t going to take him. Finally, I get to my pick and I take Shawn Green. I love Green because the guy can not only flat out hit, but he does all those things in a less-than-productive Dodger lineup.

The draft starts to get a little thin towards the middle rounds, but I’m delighted in the fifth round to grab Aaron Boone and in the sixth, I took Ray Durham. Jay goes for a coke. Our buddy Weymouth is sitting straight backed on the couch — a familiar perch for this guy — drafts the biggest steal of the draft, Eli Marrero. The catcher fell from the draft ranks but hit 18 dongs last season. My friend, Scott, from Florida drafted Bernie Williams late, and I was really happy that third basemen Mike Lowell was there for me in the 10th round.

My friend, Kubat, who was contracted last season from our league for finishing in last place, made some suggestions to several members of the league, further proving that he would have finished no lower than fourth had his general manager’s rights not been removed.

Jake, sitting in the corner and on the phone for half the draft, makes his team the all over-the-hill collection which now includes Roger Clemens and Mo Vaughn. Some snicker at his picks but we laughed before when he did the same thing two years ago and won the entire thing.

I pick Hideki Matsui in the draft but deal him to Jay for the rights to Johnny Damon and his seventh round pick next season. “Godzilla” or no “Godzilla,” I stayed away from the next Yankee superstar.

Weymouth drafts Terrence Long with the last overall pick and the group disperses. After the draft, Jay and I make the second trade of the draft as I dealt Colon to him in exchange for Derek Lowe. I also get to keep Colon’s franchise rights for next season should he post another 20 wins.

I live with three of the members of the group and we all went home. On the way, I made a change in my team dropping J.D Drew, who I’d picked late and I picked up Fred McGriff for his consistency and back up first base position.

I have three more fantasy drafts to participate in. I think it’s safe to say that I’m ready for the season to start.

In the locker room:

My heart went out to Mike Ryan last weekend when the Huskies dropped a 4-1 decision to Lowell, thus ending their season. The kid decided to stay at NU for his senior season and he did so to help the Huskies win. Unfortunately, they didn’t. Still, I respect Ryan for staying … My last game in Matthews Arena last Friday and the team treated me to a regular season classic. A nice 4-1 win over Merrimack. And though it meant nothing in the standings, I will always remember that game, not just because it was my last as a student, but because the team played one more great game, the crowd that was there was loud and it was a great way to finish.