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This and that
Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
Each week I write about the world of sports...
Often sporting events that are hyped do not live up to its billing. That was not the case in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday night. It was like a heavyweight championship fight that went down to the final blows. Wow, what an atmosphere as celebrities Priscilla Presley, Peyton Manning, Penny Hardaway, James Blake, Lindsay Davenport were in attendance. Tennessee came away with the big W and will be the new number one team in America, a first for the school's men's basketball program. There was such great energy and enthusiasm, but breaking the game down, the Vols dominated on the glass and Memphis once again struggled from the foul line. It is so costly when you fail to convert in a close game. John Calipari told me before the game that he was not worried about his team's foul shooting, but it was clearly a negative in the loss. A salute to Bruce Pearl and his squad, though the #1 ranking will be on the line Tuesday night at Vanderbilt, a very difficult place to play. It was so special for basketball loves in Tennessee and both clubs will be heard from in March Madness.
If I was Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan, I would consider a veteran coach with a clean record and solid experience as the next Hoosiers head basketball coach. Let me throw a name out there – former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery. He is a teacher with great integrity who currently works in television as an analyst of Pac-10 games. Indiana should focus on moving forward from the Kelvin Sampson situation. This team is capable of big things come tournament time. The Hoosiers clearly had a letdown after the Sampson situation was resolved with the buyout. Northwestern gave Indiana a real scare over the weekend. The soap opera over Sampson is over and Indiana must make the best of things.
Miami of Florida is getting hot at the right time. Frank Haith's club was picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC in the preseason poll. This team is not playing like a last-place club. Wins over Duke and Maryland have the Hurricanes very much alive in the NCAA tournament picture.
Tiger Woods showed once again why he is the dominant force on the golf circuit. He beat all challengers in winning the Accenture Match Play event. There was a scare earlier in the event, with Tiger winning in 20 holes against Aaron Baddeley. It is simply Tiger against the world these days and Mr. Woods goes to the winner's circle often.
Ryan Howard won his arbitration case and will make $10 million this season, well up from his $900,000 a year ago. Given the numbers he puts up, he is well worth the dollars.
In today's day and age, he produces for a Phillies team that will contend in the NL East.
It will be nice to talk about baseball games with spring training in full swing. I've had enough of the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee saga!
Even though Phoenix lost on Sunday, Shaquille O'Neal seems to be committed to being in condition to help the Suns make a run at a championship. He is so tough when he is motivated and I believe he can make a difference on a team with Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire and company. Wow, the Western Conference playoffs have the potential of being special.
Cleveland really strengthened its roster at the trade deadline. Ben Wallace can help defensively and on the boards. If he performs like he did in Detroit, watch out. Wally Szczerbiak can help provide scoring as these moves should keep LeBron James happy. It is not easy to change team chemistry but there in time for the Cavs to make a run in the Eastern Conference.
Jason Kidd will be a big asset in Dallas. He has a wealth of basketball knowledge and he makes all of his teammates better. Kidd understands how to make big plays and he will make the Mavs a contender.
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.
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