The sports world as we know it - professional, college and high school - officially went dark March 12.

But there are now signs of light. In recent weeks, golf and NASCAR braved the COVID-19 elements and unveiled their revamped seasons.

Those opened the door and made the sports fan hunger for more. With that, MLB, the NBA and the NHL took the cue and began to take the necessary steps toward shortened regular seasons and/or playoffs. The PIAA recently released a statement that teased and increased the probability of sports returning in the fall.

In a little over a month, our sports world could be as blazing and as bright as the late summer sun.

Be patient. Then prepare for a potential blockbuster July and August.

MLB already has thrown the date of July 4 or soon after as their starting date, albeit if the players and owners can come to an agreement. This would be a condensed and fast-paced 80-game schedule that would leave little room for error among the teams and should make the games more intense. Seven teams would make the playoffs and the DH would be used universally.

A few weeks later, the NBA and NHL playoff seasons could be underway. Both leagues are in the final stages of releasing plans and it appears inevitable that they can crown champions.

NASCAR doesn’t have any plans to take its foot off the pedal. It began May 17 in Darlington and followed with an appealing Wednesday night/Sunday night double dip in Charlotte. It’s currently in the midst of five races in a two-weeks season restart.

If that wasn’t enticing enough, NASCAR will follow with six races beginning June 7 and ending with a weekend at Pocono Raceway June 27-28.

Golf decided to keep its calendar in motion, and stoked its presence with the Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady extravaganza this past weekend. It will resume its regular schedule June 11.

And, don’t forget the NFL. Training camps are scheduled to open in late July, with preseason games two weeks later.

High school sports could resume their preseason workouts in July and August. There still is some thought to pushing the football season back to Sept. 4 instead of starting in late August, but at least momentum seems to be in favor of having a season.

If everything plays out as hoped, the possibilities exist for the NBA and NHL playoffs, the MLB regular season, the NFL preseason, and NASCAR and golf to all be in full swing during the months July and August. There is even the continuing saga of Mike Tyson’s possible return to the ring.

It could be a sports buffet that truly will be unprecedented - and perhaps even well worth the wait.