April 4
I've had a busy week ...

First of all, I really enjoyed my time in Atlanta at the Final Four. What a treat it was to have Maryland coach Gary Williams come down to the ESPN Zone to spend time with us after the championship game.

Gary Williams and I go back to New Jersey, when we coached high school basketball there -- we each won a state championship in 1970.

ESPN's Digger Phelps made the contact with Gary and convinced him to join us. I thought at the time we were asking for a heckuva lot, asking the guy to take time away from his golden moment with his family and friends at the arena. Our set was in Buckhead, nowhere near the Georgia Dome, but Williams was a man of his word and he showed up with SID Kevin Messenger. He arrived around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday -- and what fun we had on the set!

Gary teased me about being Dukie Vitale and I teased him back. We talked about how we go back to New Jersey when we were coaching high school basketball there -- he was at Woodrow Wilson in Camden and I was at East Rutherford. We each won a state championship in New Jersey in 1970 (each in a different classification). You knew then that he would move up the ladder in the coaching profession.

We finished early Tuesday morning with our wrap-up party that ended around 4 a.m. There were many beautiful people there who work behind the scenes. Many of you aren't familiar with these people, but Chris Fowler, Digger Phelps and I rely on all of them and their incredible efforts.

Paying tribute to those behind the scenes
Guys like research expert Howie Schwab and researcher Chris Fallica supply us with tidbits. Producer Rob Lemley is a workaholic who busts his gut. He is a lover of UConn basketball, and he was brokenhearted when his Huskies lost to Maryland in the East regional final.

People like coordinating producer Gus Ramsey and producer Jerry Goodman work so hard. There are others behind the scene, associate producers like Kristi Setaro, Chris Datres and Brad Burnes, production assistants like Susan Katz, cameramen, technicians, Donna the make-up artist ... there are so many people, and I hope I haven't forgotten anyone!

Then there is the big honcho, the big fella. I wish everyone out there could meet and know Barry Sacks. The love and passion he has to ensure the assignment is done right and in first-class fashion is unique. That's why he's the best at setting the tone for all of our SportsCenter presentations and special shows. He's All-Rolls Royce, baby!

I want to make sure I pay tribute to these folks. These beautiful people don't get the headlines, but believe me, they make us look good with their information, assistance and expertise. Their love for the game is special and their love for ESPN is unique. Chris, Digger and I have a blast, sharing good times with the fans. But it's the people behind the scenes who make it all possible.

From Final Four to Opening Day
Tuesday morning, it was time to join my good pals Bob and Tom on radio, then off to the airport. After flying home to Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday, I attended opening night of baseball for the first time, seeing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against the Detroit Tigers.

It was special to see 38,000 fans in the stands -- Tropicana Field was rocking and rolling. I haven't seen that many people in years. The Devil Rays responded to get a W! I'm lucky to have my own box with four seats right next to the visitor's dugout.

I shared time with many of the Tigers' players and manager Phil Garner. All they wanted to talk about was the Terps cutting the nets down. Several of the players asked me what happened to the Dukies! I know that's going to happen -- I told them they had to worry about the Devil Rays, baby!

It was a thrill to feel the enthusiasm of the start of a new season. I love baseball and I'm going to be like a kid in the candy store on Friday when I visit Camden Yards in Baltimore. I have a speaking engagement and appearance at a Wal-Mart in Laurel, Md., for the Gillette people (great folks to work for) and then go to the game.

I'm 62 and I act like I'm 12. I'm seeing the Orioles and Red Sox, and I don't care how cold it is. I love baseball, baby!

Also on the agenda is tennis action in Sarasota, as the WTA is in town. Players like Mary Pierce, Meghann Shaughnessy and Jelena Dokic are in action. I went to my favorite breakfast place, the Broken Egg, and there were so many Indiana fans there. It must be spring break for Indiana!

What a journey it's been ... I'm a sports junkie and I can't get enough!