Each week I'll talk about the world of sports.
Tracy McGrady has been really special as the Rockets, even without Yao Ming in the lineup, keep rolling. Coach Rick Adelman has done an outstanding job as Houston has won 18 straight games. McGrady has been on fire as he just had a 41-point performance to spark his team. The Rockets could push the Lakers and Spurs for the top spot in the wild Western Conference.
The Boston Celtics have won eight straight games and have 49 Ws on the season. You have to give a lot of credit to Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge as this franchise has turned things around. They brought in the big players like Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and they have meshed. The Celtics will hit the 50-win mark this week!
Brett Favre's decision to retire means the Packers will rely on Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback. I hope the people in Green Bay don't put too much pressure on Rodgers. Realize that there was only one Mr. Favre and Rodgers should be his own person. He should not try to live up to anyone else.
It was a wacky weekend in college basketball. North Carolina wins on the road and finishes the season with an unblemished mark away from Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels won the ACC regular-season title thanks to Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green. Both played pivotal roles in a win at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Georgetown held off Louisville to win the Big East regular-season crown. The Hoyas won back-to-back Big East titles for the first time.
It is bubble city with so much parity in college basketball. I believe the NCAA tournament selection committee will have its toughest time ever in determining the 34 at-large berths into the big dance. For those Maryland fans, Sunday's loss at Virginia may have been disappointing, but Gary Williams' club could beat Boston College and Clemson in the ACC tournament to merit serious consideration for the big dance.
UCLA seems to find ways to win games. There was the comeback against Stanford, followed by the winning shot by Josh Shipp against California. I feel the Bruins, North Carolina and Memphis have locked up No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, with Tennessee, Kansas and even Texas battling for the other one.
It was a good weekend for American tennis fans. Serena Williams won her first tournament of the year; she beat her sister Venus in the semifinals. Trust me, it will not be her last this season. She will re-dedicate herself to have a big 2008. Andy Roddick won the event in Dubai, and he beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic en route to the championship. Yes, he is no longer working with Jimmy Connors, but Roddick has been impressive as of late.
Carl Edwards had a tough week. After winning his second straight race, a victory in Las Vegas, he and his teammates were docked 100 points for a violation. That moved him from the top of the driver standings all the way down to seventh. Then he saw transmission problems hamper his chances in Atlanta as Kyle Busch won the NASCAR race.
Isn't it amazing to see all of the NFL news during the off-season. Ben Roethlisberger is one happy camper after signing a new deal worth over $100 million. Free agents are lining up and getting big bucks! You need a scorecard to keep track of all of these moves.
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.
