MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / April 1, 2000

Thoughts that passed through my head while watching the NIT finals…Did you catch the opening day of the baseball season Wednesday? If you did, you are either a diehard Cubs or Mets fan or an insomniac. But then, isn’t 4a.m. a lovely time to start a baseball game?Ok, Bud Selig, what were you thinking this time? Why was Opening Day held in Japan? You don’t see them starting the sumo wrestling season in New York, do you? Baseball is our national pastime, Opening Day an American tradition.

Sure, it’s great to take the sport on an international level. But do it in thepreseason or later in the regular season.

Obviously, once again money talks and tradition and the voice of the fan takes a walk.

So, the owners voted to bring back instant replay in the same form as last year? Seems like with all the controversial calls last season, especially in the postseason, some changes should have been made.

Oh, and the owners decided to enact fines for celebrations by two or more players. Guess the owners and coaches want players to play like a team butnot celebrate as one.

Speaking of football, NBC must be desperate to have the sport back if it had to sign up with XNFL, the league created by the World Wrestling Federation.

But can’t you just see Mike Ditka coaching there? On second thought, if the coaches are going to be miked in the lockerroom, maybe that’s not such a good idea.

Speaking of the XNFL, perhaps the Saints need to ship Ricky Williams there for a couple of years. Maybe then he will realize how good he has it in theNFL. This whole saga concerning the story with him in Sports Illustrated hasbeen one sad joke after another. As for his contract, he needs to grow tolive with it. A contract is a contract and he is not the first to sign a badcontract. Get on the field, do your job, then worry about discussing a newcontract.

Isn’t it kind of ironic that Wisconsin’s run to the Final Four, which includes a victory over LSU, is bringing attention to another Tigers team, the 1986 version that is still the lowest seed to make it to a Final Four?

They don’t build stadiums like they used to. Which may be a good thingconsidering the fate of some stadiums built in the 1960s and 70s. TheSeattle Kingdome joined Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium in a heap of rubble Sunday. The Astrodome in Houston will soon be the home of tracker pullswhile both the Twins and Vikings are looking to vacate the Metrodome. Atleast the Superdome is still going strong.

Oh, to be 19 again and be able to retire. Tennis sensation Venus Williams isthinking about doing that. Then again, if you have over $4 million in the bankfrom playing plus millions more from endorsements…

Finally, a final Final Four prediction. Michigan State holds off Wisconsin in onesemifinal, Florida puts an end to North Carolina’s run in the other. TheSpartans then get a late 3-pointer by Mateen Cleaves to win the national championship.

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