“I thought that the end of the National Football League season two months ago was going to present a huge void in my sports world, but it has been exactly the opposite. Aside from the disappointing Cleveland Cavaliers as of late, I have been intrigued by the latest happenings in sports.”
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I thought that the end of the National Football League season two months ago was going to present a huge void in my sports world, but it has been exactly the opposite.

Aside from the disappointing Cleveland Cavaliers as of late, I have been intrigued by the latest happenings in sports.

And what’s not to be intrigued about? The Tribe opened up last week, the NCAA Tournament was outstanding, The Masters is this weekend and the 2008 Bejing Olympics have provided more headlines than steroids lately.

The Masters

I look forward to this tournament every year, and really for one reason: I want to watch Tiger Woods. Woods is attempting to win the Masters for the fifth time and will begin his quest towards the Grand Slam (all four Major tournament victories in a row).

I’ll give you the field; every golfer in the tournament, but I’m taking Tiger Woods.

NCAA Tournament

I was surprised to see Kansas take out Memphis for the tourney title, but when a team misses free throws late in the game like Memphis did, championship dreams vanish.

But for as good as the tourney was this year, I’m going to miss something else a lot more–Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps and Bobby Knight.

Never in the history of sports has there been a better broadcasting team than Vitale, Phelps and Knight. The group brought so many amazing stories, in-depth analysis and personality to the ESPN set that it was impossible to turn away.

Collectively, this trio is as good as it gets and I just hope–and i never thought I’d say this­­-Bob Knight doesn’t return to coaching right away. Like them or hate them, there’s no denying their knowledge, expertise and credibility.

Cleveland Indians

There’s a lot to be excited about for the 2008 Tribe season. Other than the heartbreak of years past–including last year’s fall out against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series–there’s no reason to think that this Tribe team can’t make the World Series.

Do your research and compare the Tribe’s lineup with that of other American League team’s and you’ll find that there are few teams that have the raw talent of the Indians. Boston will be their biggest foe and the Indians proved last year they can hang with them.

Get excited, it’s a rarity in Cleveland.

Olympics

Protest if you want. Join Senator HIllary Clinton’s plea to have President George W. Bush boycott the ceremony if you want. But don’t think for a second the athletes that have been training the better part of their lives for one shot at an Olympic Gold should not show up.

I realize there are a lot of problems in this world and many countries are abused by more powerful nations, but the Olympics are a time for unity, not division.

Sports need to be seen as a separate entity from the governments of which they are a part. If people are going to douse the Olympic torch, fine, they are entitled to their beliefs, but expecting athletes to give up their dreams is too much to ask.

I don’t support what’s going on with Tibet, but I don’t think those problems should over-flow into the Olympics and hinder the athletes.

If you worked your entire life for one moment, for one chance to accomplish your dreams, would you want an outside government influence taking it away?

I didn’t think so.

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