This & That
Each week I'll give my thoughts on the world of sports:
• The Super Bowl was one of the greatest sporting events I have ever attended. The fourth quarter had so much drama, so many twists and turns. In the end, I felt bad for Kurt Warner, who did a phenomenal job rallying his team as the Cardinals took a late lead. Then Ben Roethlisberger found a way to get his club into the winner's circle by making big plays on the final drive. Santonio Holmes was brilliant on the game-winning catch. He also made a key catch and run during that final drive. Warner made the one bad pass that James Harrison intercepted and remarkably returned for a touchdown. I still cannot believe that the Cardinals could not tackle him on that play. Warner did not sulk, he didn't have his head down. Instead he got his team back into the game after trailing 20-7. Wow, that was such a special game, baby!
• Is college basketball becoming like the NBA, NFL and major league baseball? I was surprised by the firing of Georgia coach Dennis Felton, as well as the situation at Alabama with Mark Gottfried saying good-bye so quickly. Both moves happened during the season. Come on, I can't believe you are going to make major progress by making those moves during the season. Allow a coach some dignity and schools are certainly entitled to make a coaching change if they see fit to. Just do it after the season.
• Congratulations to Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt on career victory number 999. She goes for number 1000 at Oklahoma this week. Sherri Coale's team will not make it easy to reach that major milestone. Understand that Summitt lost five starters from last year's championship game win over Stanford, including Candace Parker ... this has been an impressive season for the Hall of Fame coach.
• Think about the conditioning of Rafael Nadal. Here's a guy who played for over five hours in the semifinal of the Australian Open. Nadal ended up looking like the fresher player in his five-set win over Roger Federer in the championship match. It was a tough loss for Federer, who was going for his record-tying 14th career Grand Slam singles title. Nadal became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open and he now has the upper hand in this intense rivalry.
• Also in order is congratulations to Serena Williams on her 10th career Grand Slam singles win. When she got it going, she was outstanding in the semifinals and finals, failing to drop a set in either of those matches. It was blowout city against the third-seed, Dinara Safina in the championship. She lost two sets in the entire tournament.
• The newest class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton was announced: Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Rod Woodson and Ralph Wilson. Congratulations to a solid class. It is not easy to get voted in as former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, ESPN's own Cris Carter, defensive star Richard Dent and tight end Shannon Sharpe were among the finalists that fell short.
• Over the years, Gary Williams has done a super job at Maryland. I feel a coach of his stature, who has won the national championship and taken the Terps to another Final Four, deserves a pass if his program has a couple of down years. My friends, Williams pours his heart and soul into Maryland basketball. Is there pressure in the ACC? Of course there is, but I totally disagree with anyone who believes his job should be on the line.
• There are so many free agents in baseball looking for jobs. Wow, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks, you have to believe there will be some action this week on the transaction area of the sports section.
