Today, your favorite COPT offers his advice on spring cleaning

And now for another installment from Columnist Of The People (COTP), otherwise known as a pathetic Dear Abby-knockoff for casual sports fans. Today's topic: spring cleaning. In spite of Monday's generally icky weather, spring, while here nominally, will actually be here soon. Sun. Warmer weather. Get outside again. And to us sports fans, we are thinking baseball, softball, golf, tennis, running (yes COTP will be doing two different 5K races this spring – more on that in future installments) among other endeavors.

However, the sports fan's significant other may be thinking: spring cleaning.

Or put another way: Removeth all your crapeth from this houseth immediately.

And we sports fans can sure amass crapeth, can't we?

What does the sports fan have in common with spring cleaning? Well, on the surface they seem like opposites. However, COTP has learned that it is healthy to part with some of the collectibles that may have been called "clutter," "stuff" or ("expletive") by your significant other.

Example: Very few of us own VCRs anymore. That means all our old tapes make the pile. (If you do own a VCR, COTP recommends upgrading into this decade.)

This is difficult, sure. You see many of your life's best memories on those old tapes. The 1996 World Series when the Yankees finally won after 18 years. The Super Bowl where Scott Norwood kicked it wide right and the Giants shocked the world. COTP feels the pain of fellow sports fans. But really, this stuff is old enough to get a driver's license by now. You can say, "but I'm saving this so one day the kids can watch it." (Give it up. Your kid is too busy texting to care).

A few more simple guidelines from COTP about a healthy spring cleaning:

• If it was edible when you bought it, it isn't any more. Garbage.

• You don't ever have eight friends over who all need a coffee mug with your favorite teams on them. They are probably friends with you in spite of your favorite teams. Toss a few. Besides, if you are having eight friends over, you are not drinking

coffee together. So toss the mugs, but keep any old beer steins. Defend them with your life. Then you can show your significant other a willingness to play along, but still keep what counts.

• Baseball cards will never make a comeback. Ever. Keep your favorite 10. Make a card castle out of them, take a picture, then trash. COTP was a big card collector back in the day. He sold them to his high school English teacher. Made a few bucks. Haven't missed them.

• T-shirts. Yep. COTP is going there. They aren't all our favorite shirts. The holes provide nice ventilation, sure. But maybe part with just one this year. Or more.

• Old sports yearbooks. Out. Keep a few, sure. Maybe of a championship team from days of yore. But if you are keeping, you know, the '74 Mets Yearbook for nostalgic reasons (they were 71-91), understand that not even members of the '74 Mets care anymore.

And just make sure you keep this stuff for yourself. Because if you think your kid cares and will show his or her kids one day, you need to let go and move on.

• Shoes. No, really. This could be brilliant and sinister at the same time. You roll your eyes at your significant other's closet, which has more shoes than the second floor of Payless. Think about it, though: Toss a few old sneakers – even ones with which you completed a 5K or a brisk walk once – and you may encourage your significant other to purge as well, thus opening valuable closet space.

• Headwear. Gloryoski, do we sports fans have a lot of caps. Baseball teams, football, basketball, hockey, auto racing. Maybe your old college. High school. Your favorite tire company. Apparel company. City. Or even COTP's favorite, the "Legends Never Die" series from his pal Frank Colmenares. Toss a few. Especially the ones with the sweat stains.

Sure, it proves you perspired once. But really, the extra closet room is more important.

And your significant other will appreciate it.

Who knows what might prosper from that? This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro