As the Left Coast moved ahead to daylight savings time. The morning rolls in with opening day MLB style. The weekend brought many thrilling victories and to some, defeats. Here's what caught my eye this weekend....

• Zolman key to Volunteers Win
  The Lady Vols win against Lady Tigers was a combination of Pat Summit adjustments and timely defense and big shots by Shanna Zolman. Summitt implemented her zone defense to stop the dribble penetration by Temeka Johnson. Who at 5'3" was unstoppable in the first half. Zolman although not credited by the commentators or in the LA Times for making much of a contribution was the difference in this win. If she doesn't knock down the 3 point shot late in the game and hit her foul shots Tennesse loses. Zolman along with a tenacious rebounding defense will be the keys when they face the Lady Huskies.

• Okafor too big for Duke
  This game between UConn and Duke went to the wire and was decided by one point. A win which Coach Kryzewski of Duke disputes as a referee's error. But it was Emeka Okafor playing big down the stretch. Back spasms experienced the game before was suppose to sideline him for this matchup. He overcame this injury and with it brought his ability to play on one man and rotate fast enough to the shooter and get there in time to block the shot. Tonight Okafor of UConn will battle against Schenscher and the GTech Yellowjackets who ran them off the court in a November preseason NIT matchup. While the two big men will battle it will be guard play that decides this contest. It will be something for Huskie fans to brag about if both the men and womens programs win a title in the same year.

• "Phil"osophy not enough against the Spurs
  The coach is helpless along the sideline. The Lakers played well but not well enough to win. Tony Parker was the difference maker as he schooled Gary Payton all game and hit a big 3 down the stretch.
  This game was a mixture of Kobe shooting too much. Shaq handcuffed with foul trouble. And no one else from the bench stepping up with inspired play. A wry smile could be seen by Phil as the Lakers lost this game. Hopefully this smile leads to a plan from the Zen master of Basketball and prepare Lakers to execute against the Spurs should they meet at some point in the NBA playoffs.
• Whose Most Dominate
  Shaq may be the most dominate but in the WTA one female dominates even her sister. Serena Williams won another tournament this week. She along with her sister Venus Williams seem to always finish one-two. While Justine Henin-Hardenne and KimClijsters are formidable opponents it will be interesting to see how this season especially in grand slam matches plays out when the Williams sisters face the Belgians or when they face other.
• Whose Most Dominate 2
  While on the PGA tour Tiger is known to have won many golf tournaments (not lately). The most dominate golfer this year has to be Annika Sorenstam who won another title this weekend. Bringing her total title wins to 50. Yes 50 wins. She wins week in and week out. I wonder how good Michelle Wie will be who at only 14 is 6'1" hitting the ball at 300 yards. Will she be able to matchup against Sorenstam any time soon. One of these days maybe Tiger will be able to get out of the Woods and back to winning tournaments.
  Michelle Wie seems to have all the qualities of being a female version of Tiger Woods but the women's game already has Annika but there is always room for more competition.
• Dodgers Toy Around
  Milton Bradley was acquired by the Dodgers in time to play in the opening day game vs those unbeatable San Diego Padres. Isn't Milton Bradley a company that makes board games. Bradley will have to bring with him a big stick and along with dominican Juan Encarnacion help the woeful anemic offense or the Dodgers will end up short of the playoffs again. LoDuca, Green and Beltre must be productive. All the players don't have to be on. But someone each day must step up in key at bats with runners in scoring position to have any chance this season. The bright spot for Dodger fans is the pitching especially NL Cy Young winner last year Eric Gagne. The Dodgers need to be ahead in games to allow Gagne to work his magic.

MLBers have a good opening day Sidebar...Look out Padres! Bubba Trammell may have a big series. Traded players sometimes comes back to haunt the team they were traded from.

Two boys struggled to get around the gym yesterday one confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. he will never know the joy of a simple task like walking on his own. I felt as if I took for granted my physical health to be able to perform the most mundane tasks and not only that I could be blessed enough to be able to workout my entire body.
The other boy had a cane and hobbled wrecklessly from machine to machine. All the while I'm thinking man how do people complain about the most trivial problems even equate sports with people having troubles. Losing isn't trouble, Kobe going to another team isn't trouble. Trouble is living on the street pushing a empty cart with no cans in sight.
Trouble, you think million dollar pro athletes, kids in school with an opportunity to play sports and gain a degree have troubles. Trouble is when you don't have a place to stay. Trouble is when your life is in jeopardy. Try Iraq or downtown usa where people daily live out life threatening type troubles.
As the two boys worked out I noticed them laughing. They joked and had a great time in spite of their troubles. Isn't that what life and sports is all about accepting what you have. Playing with all you've got. And no matter the outcome enjoy the journey along the way.