Each week I will write about the world of sports:
The performance of Davidson's Stephen Curry in the first rounds of the NCAA tournament have been sensational. In fact, over the last decade, I feel this is the best performance of a player whose points have meant so much. Every one of his 70 points was needed in wins over Gonzaga and Georgetown.
It has been a wild tournament. Western Kentucky and Villanova are No. 12 seeds advancing to the Sweet 16 and Davidson is a No. 10 seed. Only five schools that were in the Sweet 16 last season are back. Wow! The Big East and the Pac-10 have been the best conferences this season, and both have three schools still alive in the 16.
Everybody is going to be critical of Duke after its second-round loss to West Virginia. The Blue Devils set such a high standard, just like the Yankees in baseball. Unless you win a national championship, many people consider Duke's season a failure. That is really absurd. A 28-6 record says a lot. Mike Krzyzewski got the maximum out of his kids.
I thought it was ridiculous for the administration of Indiana to announce the formation of a selection committee (to find a new basketball coach) during the NCAA tournament. The timing was absurd. The school could have easily waited until after the tournament. Instead the players probably felt that there was little chance of doing something in the tournament, a lack of confidence. Instead there was an emphasis on the future, which was totally unfair to the current team.
The Red Sox start the season in Japan. Yes my friends, the games count! You know the Japanese fans will be rooting for Daisuke Matsuzaka, but I feel they will enjoy pulling for David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez too. It is great public relations for major league baseball.
Remember how some people were critical of the Phoenix Suns for adding Shaquille O'Neal? Well, the Suns have won seven straight games and have some momentum. My friends, the Western Conference playoffs are going to be something special.
The Raiders have certainly opened up the wallets this off-season. The latest move was a big deal to sign D'Angelo Hall to a long-term contract after adding the star cornerback in a deal with the Falcons.
Speaking of cash, I would like to ask Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers for a loan, baby! Wow, he just agreed to a contract extension worth more than $150 million. Oh to be young and rich!
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
