I have to give MLB some credit. The decision to add a second wild card team to this year’s playoffs has definitely created a buzz.

You had a great race in the AL East already in place after the Yankees gave up a 10-game lead. The battle between the Bronx Bombers, Orioles and Rays will probably go down to the wire. In the old system, one of those three teams would have no shot at the postseason.

Now there is excitement in the air in several cities, thanks to that second wild card. Teams like the Athletics, Angels and Tigers are also very much alive with something to play for.

When you check out the standings in the newspaper each day, there are more teams with hope during September. My friends, that is a very good thing for the sport.

College football kicked off on Thursday, with South Carolina getting a hard-fought win at Vanderbilt. UCLA had a great start under new coach Jim Mora Jr. by beating Rice. Mike Leach’s first game as Washington State coach did not go as well with BYU winning, 30-6.

This should be a great season with the usual big names likely to contend for the national title. USC, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, the big boys should battle it out. Oregon is a potential sleeper out west.

I love the fact that Michigan and Alabama are meeting Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, the house that Jerry Jones built. A great opener for two top 10 teams, and a lot is at stake. In college football, a loss can prove costly in terms of national championship hopes. Give credit to those schools for playing such a tough game in the first week.

The Heisman race should generate a lot of buzz to. Will USC quarterback Matt Barkley, who turned down the lure of boatloads of cash and NFL fame to return this season, be the dominant performer. For a player like Denard Robinson of Michigan, the opener on national TV versus the Tide could be big in the Heisman race if he has a great performance.

College football is back, baby! That means college hoops is not that far away!

Wow, I had a blast down in Miami.

I went to see the Marlins play the Nationals. Marlins Park is a beautiful new stadium and the locker room and everything there was first class.
I really enjoyed meeting several of the players, including Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Ruggiano, Wade LeBlanc and Logan Morrison of the Marlins, and several Nationals, including Sarasota’s own, shortstop Ian Desmond. I wish my Rays could have that new stadium in Tampa. I also met Bryce Harper, pitcher Gio Gonzalez and Bryce Harper. I also saw the skipper, Davey Johnson. Stephen Strasburg had a tough night. Maybe I was Miami’s good luck charm?

I went to dinner at Prime Italian and the food was excellent. There was so much of it!

The next day, I spent time at the pool at the Fontainebleau, then went to New Cafe for lunch, and off to see another game featuring the Marlins and Nationals.

It was great meeting the nice fans down in Miami.

The Dodgers and Red Sox pulled off a blockbuster deal over the weekend. Sports fans were buzzing over this big trade.

Los Angeles added Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Nick Punto and Carl Crawford (who just had Tommy John surgery and will be out until next season. The Dodgers gave up several solid prospects and veteran James Loney.

New owner Magic Johnson and his group want to win NOW! Magic doesn’t ever want to be second-best at anything. Gonzalez paid instant dividends by hitting a home run in his first at-bat with LA.

Punto is a nice utility player who can help out at several positions. Beckett, if he could return to his form of old, could help the rotation. The change of scenery has to help.

Boston cleared a lot of salary in this deal, looking to invest next year and in the future. In the long run, the players added could become very good. At least that is what Ben Cherington and Red Sox management is counting on.

It has been a tough season in Beantown. It is time to try something different.

Now the Dodgers have a lineup that includes Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Hanley Ramirez and now Gonzalez. Los Angeles has to be one of the favorites to win the NL now.

What a thrill it was for me to me in Williamsport, PA at the Little League World Series to be inducted into their Hall of Excellence.  It was such a special moment and one I will cherish and remember forever.  I traveled to Williamsport for this special occasion with my entire family, including my wife, two daughters, two son in laws and five grandkids.  I can’t thank Dennis Lewin, Scott Rosenberg and Chris Downs enough for their incredible hospitality and the warmth and generousity they offered me and my family the entire weekend.  They toured us through the living facilities for the various little league teams, the cafeteria in which they eat, the rec center for the players – what an experience.  It is truly a first class operation, and the opportunity of a lifetime for these youngsters.  I was honored to be inducted into the Hall of Excellence alongside Ron Ricks, Executive Vice President of Southwest Airlines.

We had the opportunity to watch several games over the weekend, and I was so impressed with not only the quality of baseball but the character of the youngsters and the coaches.

A very special weekend in my life…

The Olympics have produced so many great moments already.

Think about it. Michael Phelps became the all-time leader in medals and in golds won. Ryan Lochte and several other Americans impressed in the pool. Missy Franklin was America’s swimming darling.

Gabby Douglas and the U. S. gymnastics team earned gold. Douglas won the all-around and impressed with her smile and poise.

Andy Murray had a breakthrough win over Roger Federer to win the men’s tennis singles gold. Will this help Murray’s confidence to bigger and better things in the Grand Slam events? Serena Williams blew out Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals and Maria Sharapova in the finals to dominate the women’s tourney.

It was a great time for siblings in doubles. Serena and Venus Williams won their third gold in doubles. The Bryans,Mike and Bob, beat the french pair of Michael Llodra and Jo-Willifred Tsonga to capture gold in men’s doubles.

Usain Bolt set an Olympic record in the 100 meters, showing why he is the world’s fastest man.

Those are just a few of the memories created already. We have another great week ahead from London.

I was very impressed watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in London. I loved the pageantry, the color, the presence of so many stars. I loved seeing Queen Elizabeth there and Britain recently celebrated a special milestone of the Queen’s rule there.

America was well represented by fencer Mariel Zagunis, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who also attended Notre Dame. I am sure that is an honor she will never forget.

One vivid image to me was LeBron James, Chris Paul and the American basketball contingent looking like little kids, showing true exuberance while marching with the other athletes in the parade of nations. My friends, no matter how much money you have, a moment like that is so special.

Now the games are underway and all of the hard work and effort should pay dividends to athletes who have worked so hard for four years. The men’s and women’s basketball teams should roll to gold, though Geno Auriemma’s team had a battle against Croatia for almost three quarters before pulling away.

The U. S. men’s basketball team will have a swagger as it defends its gold medal. There is talent galore representing our country. It all starts at the top with coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball’s Jerry Colangelo. They have assembled a group that is favored to win the championship again.

Look at the roster they have put together. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love and on and on. I know some critics will bring up the injuries and absences. Simply put, there is not another roster in the Olympic games that stacks up.

The USA team combines scoring ability, a winner’s mentality, defensive prowess, role players and blenders.Guys like Tyson Chandler and Andre Iguodala are valuable because of their defense. Russell Westbrook’s athleticism is a major positive. The shooting ability of Love and Durant’s range will be factors.

There is a good reason for the USA to believe it will repeat. This collection of players is talented and under Coach K, will perform as a unit. The group has  been told that they have to be dedicated and devoted to wearing the red, white and blue. There is a sense of pride and passion.

They should bring back the gold. The formula is simple … talent plus brilliant coaching + GOLD.  USA, USA all the way, baby!

The Penn State story is a sad one. I was blown away by the recent Freeh report, an independent review on the handling of the Jerry Sandusky matter at State College.

We all know what kind of monster Sandusky is after he was convicted on so many counts. There were so many youngsters hurt during Sandusky’s time at Penn State. Some of them would have been spared the nightmare of dealing with Sandusky had somebody spoken up and done the right thing over a decade ago. Joe Paterno, a man I looked at with such respect and admiration during his six decades at Penn State, could have made a difference. At first, I, along with many others, took the approach that the coach could not have not turned a blind eye.

I have to admit, I was wrong.

This report proves that Paterno and all the leaders of Penn State covered this up big time. Protecting the image of the school and its football program, at the expense of so many youngsters, is disgusting. The coach wanted to be remembered for honor and integrity. That will not happen now.

I have heard some call for the suspension of Penn State football as a penalty. I have to ask, is it right to punish the young men currently associated with the program today for wrongdoing by Sandusky years ago? Those players and new coach Bill O’Brien’s staff had nothing to do with this.

I am sure there will be plenty of lawsuits, and Penn State will pay a big price financially. Most of all, I feel for those innocent victims that were hurt as they will never get their youth back.

Paterno could have been a real hero if he stepped forward and reported this to the proper authorities. That did not happen.

Wow – what a two weeks I had in London, England.  I traveled overseas with my wife, two daughters, and 4 grandchildren to visit London and attend Wimbledon.  We had the thrill of a lifetime watching the world’s best tennis players compete for the prestigious Wimbledon championship!  I was blown away by the beauty of Wimbledon.  The grounds were absolutely gorgeous and impeccable.  The championsip was being televised by ESPN, so it was great to see some of my friends, such as Chris Fowler, Patrick McEnroe, Mike Tirico, and Brad Gilbert.  The biggest thrill was watching my grandsons, who idolize Roger Federer, get the opportunity to meet him after his practice session.  Roger’s coach, Paul Annacone, was nice enough to allow us on the practice court after he was done training, to get a picture with the tennis legend.

While in London, we also did a lot of sightseeing.  We rode the famous double decker bus, visited Buckingham Palace, toured the London Tower, and rode the London Eye.  It was such a special vacation, shared with my family – definitely memories we will share for a lifetime!