The King, LeBron James, and the Cavaliers are on to the second round, the only NBA team to sweep its first round series. The Cavs have lots of time off before getting their second round underway, which means rest, practice and preparing for a variety of possible opponents in the next round. The news isn't as good for San Antonio Spurs and Tony Parker fans. Despite a great effort by Parker, the Spurs were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Mavericks in five games. It is the first time the injury-plagued Spurs have been eliminated in the first round since 2000.

The Phillies appear to be back on track, having won five games in a row (until yesterday), including a sweep of the Marlins over the weekend to jump back within a game of first placein the NL East standings. Reigning HR champ Ryan Howard had two more home runs in the past week (he's not only a member, but also the President), including a grand slam, and looks to heat it up again this summer.

Despite a rough weekend in Boston, the Yankees continue to bounce around the .500 mark, currently three games behind first place Boston and Toronto. Shortstop Derek Jeter, the Yankees' all-time at-bats leader continues to play well at the top of the lineup this week in Detroit, which should come as no surprise to everyone in that town who watched him grow up.

Soccer star Brandi Chastain is on leave from her FC Gold Pride team filming the Superstars sports show that will air later this summer. Whether she will be back for the next game at home against the New Jersey Sky Blue FC remains to be seen. The club lost its last game without Chastain, falling to the Washington Freedon by a score of 4-3.

Elsewhere, pep-talking motivational speaker Peyton Manning spent his day yesterday playing in a pro-am at the Quail Hollow Championship with Tiger Woods in Charlotte. Jennie Finch is just a few weeks away from both the start of the NPF season with her Chicago Bandits as well as a USA Softball National Team training camp. Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks begin their second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Vancouver this weekend.

As a long time player and lover of baseball, Coach Randy Rieger took his passion for the great American pastime and put it towards coaching the Paseo Verde Little League Rookie Rockies! Recalling his coaching inspiration, two individuals stood out.

"A coach that reminded me of Walter Matthau's character, Coach Buttermaker, in Bad News Bears and... my Dad," Coach Rieger said.

Coach Rieger draws on his father's skills and experiences as both a teacher and coach when he runs a practice or leads his team into a game. But while past coaches have encouraged or inspired him in different ways, his primary reason for coaching is more in the present.

"It's the look on a young kid's face after he has hit the ball past the infield or makes that award-winning catch to save the game, that grin from ear-to-ear or that look of surprise and astonishment!"



Coach Reiger does an excellent job of recognizing his players' accomplishments each game in his "Coaches Corner" blog on Weplay. He highlights players for anything from an awesome hit to great fielding to showing the most heart!

He admits that he can be demanding, but only in the sense that he demands "the kids have fun, learn the sport, understand teamwork and play with a lot of heart!"

This Coach of the Week even abides by his own demands, citing his keys to coaching success as:

As April continues to shower us with great sports moments, the week to come looks like it could be as promising as the week that was. Thanks to 38 points from Spurs guard Tony Parker in Game 2, San Antonio is now tied at 1-1 with the Mavericks in the first round of their Western Conference playoff series. Game 3 back in Dallas takes place tonight. And look out now because the fact that this is becoming Parker's team has made him a target.
While five of the eight first round series were split after the first two games, the Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 2-0 lead over the Detroit Pistons in their series. In the two wins, LeBron James is averaging 33.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Game 3 in Detroit will go down on Friday night. LeBron is hungry for a title, and is now only 14 wins away.

Speaking of hungry, the food options at the new Yankee Stadium are tremendous. But not everything was superb thus far at the new House that Derek Jeter Built. Jeter and the Yankees finished an up-and-down first homestand yesterday with a dramatic win in extra innings to sweep Oakland. Jeter hit his fourth home run of the year yesterday, his fastest to four since 1999. Guess he liked hitting home runs in the new stadium. Just be sure you don't take watching Jeter play for granted. The Bronx Bombers now head back out on the road beginning this weekend to Boston and Detroit.

The Philles and a more defensive-oriented Ryan Howard have been at home all week long with series against San Diego and Milwaukee, but a slow start can't seem to get the defending champs above the .500 mark. Another loss last night was the result of a lack of offense, though Howard is hitting .300 and off to a faster start in the early going than last season. The fighting Phils visit the first place Florida Marlins in Miami this weekend.

Youtube sensation Brandi Chastain and the FC Gold Pride were shut out by their cross-state rivals, the Los Angeles Sol, 1-0, this past weekend and now hold a record of 1-1-1. Having some fun with friends. She's also prepping for a ravamped "Superstars" show on ABC this summer, teaming with singer Julio Iglesias Jr.

Elsewhere, Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane (revived) and Jonathan Toews (wise) are locked in a battle with the Calgary Flames as the series is knotted at two games apiece. Jennie Finch is opening the aptly named Jennie Finch Softball Academy at the new Diamond Nation in Flemington, N.J. and Summer Sanders loves the new Three-Wheeled Cruisers!

And so it begins... the NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend and Lebron James' Cavs have home court advantage as long as they're in it. Cleveland finished off the regular season with the best record in the league, but narrowly missed out on matching the best ever record at home in the finale. James, the MVP frontrunner, was given the night off on Wednesday, an OT loss to the Sixers. They will face the Pistons beginning Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.

The Spurs are also in the postseason once again, clinching the third seed in the West on the final night of the season in a win over New Orleans. Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs with 29 points and six assists. The Spurs, one of the most experienced teams around, will play the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs starting this weekend.

The Yankees stretched their spring legs on the road, getting out to a 5-4 start in the first week of the season after closing out a win in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon. Derek Jeter knocked in the go-ahead run to secure the win after hitting another home run on Tuesday night from the leadoff spot, his second of the year, to match his two stolen bases so far on the young season. Keep the hits coming, baby! The Yanks will finally open up their new stadium this afternoon, hosting the Cleveland Indians in the first regular season game in their new digs. Ryan Howard is ready to sink his teeth into the meat of the 2009 season has gone yard. Wednesday's game against Washington was rained out. The defending champs are hovering around the .500 mark, but already have some ground to make up to catch the surging Florida Marlins.

Elsewhere in the Weplay World, The FC Gold Pride remain undefeated after a netting a tie on the road in New Jersey this past weekend. Brandi Chastain and the Gold Pride host the first place Los Angeles Sol this Sunday. Jennie Finch is gearing up for another USA Softball Selection Camp. With major international tournaments looming this summer, the defending silver medalists are out to prove again why they are the best team in the world. Peyton Manning and his wife, Ashley, will serve as honorary chairmen of the second annual Peyton Manning Children's Hospital Celebration of Caring gala at Lucas Oil Stadium on May 8.

And finally, the NHL playoffs are also here and the Weplay tandem of Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are in it to win it. As soon as the playoffs end, they're going to get their Weplay profiles set up, but we're hoping they go deep even if it means waiting a bit longer to see them here. The Hawks host the Flames in the 4-5 matchup out west. Enjoy!

This week's Weplay Coach of the Week, Steve Velky, is a second-year soccer coach from Lagrangeville, New York. Despite having experience coaching baseball and softball teams for his older children, Coach Velky considered himself "moderately clueless" when it came to soccer. He only started following the sport when his 16-year-old son started spending "many days at games, tournaments and practices just watching what was happening."

As a result of his newfound appreciation for the sport, Steve took on the coaching role for his 10-year-old son's SFA Wildcats team when the previous coach and his wife had a baby. While the former coach still helps run practices and comes to games, Coach Velky volunteered to coach the 4th grade team of boys.



Since saying yes, "The rest [has been] history!" The Wildcats have had enjoyed real success, winning the Division Championship or at least qualifying for the playoffs for the past four seasons! Their spring season is off to another great start as the boys are out to a 2-0 start!

"I just strive to make every game a positive learning experience," Coach Velky said. "Knowing that if you throw too much at young boys they won't absorb it. I point out one major challenge I see each game and try to reinforce the correct version of what they should do."

Steve and his wife have four children, ages 19, 16, 10, and four. All of the older ones have played multiple sports. And we know juggling that many practices, games and tournaments couldn't be easy! It's great to have committed parents like you, Coach Velky! Keep up the good work.

Baseball season is underway, though there are at least two Weplay pros who may wish they had another week before the games counted for real. Derek Jeter and the Yankees are on the road in Baltimore, where they dropped the Opening Day game as well as the second game despite the first home run of the season from the captain, who is in a class by himself for the Yankees. Next up, the Bronx Bombers move on to Kansas City and back in his home away from home in Tampa.

The Phillies opened up against the Braves and started with two losses as well, the fourth straight year they've started out 0-2. But the third and final game of the series showed that Ryan Howard and the defending champs won't go down without a fight. On the day the Phillies received their World Series rings, they looked like champions. Trailing 10-3 entering the seventh, the Phils showed patience by drawing five walks, four with the bases loaded, en route to a shocking comeback victory. Howard had two runs and RBI in the game.

Another season also started this weekend as Brandi Chastain debuted with the FC Gold Pride at the opener on Sunday, coming into the game as a sub in the second half, but setting up the game-winning goal for Tiffeny Milbrett in the 90th minute. The next game is Saturday, April 11 vs. Sky Blue FC.

While they are just getting started, Tony Parker and the Spurs' chances of going deep in the NBA Playoffs look like they may be fading now that teammate Manu Ginobili is out for the rest of the year. That means more pressure on Parker and Tim Duncan to pick up the slack. But the struggles continue. The Spurs lost on Wednesday night to the Trailblazers, 95-83, holding Parker and Duncan to a combined 21 points.

LeBron James and the Cavs dropped a couple of games on the road over the weekend but still have the best record in the NBA. They returned home to Cleveland on Sunday to knock off Parker's Spurs and kept that going on Wedneday behind 21 points in 30 minutes of action from James in a win over the Wizards. The question now for Coach Mike Brown and the Cavs is whether to play or rest the stars down the stretch. Either way, there is real reason for optimism in Cleveland, and that goes well beyond the quest to tie for best home record in a season or a potential MVP award.

In other new, Peyton Manning visited with students at the North Putnam Middle School in Indiana. Elsewhere, hockey pro Erik Johnson is hoping his St. Louis Blues can get into the playoffs while the Chicago Blackhawks pair of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are already in.

Coach Neil Mathis, who got started coaching youth soccer after some inspiration and encouragement from within his Geneseo community, has been committed to helping his team grow as people and players for three years now. He was hooked on coaching from the moment he met with Chris Setser and Mike Bishop of the Geneseo Soccer Club Board.

His traveling team, the Geneseo Soccer Club Zig Zags (U12 Boys) earned their name from Coach Mathis after he'd been over some drills that emphasized "moving in a zig zag motion to penetrate and score on opposing teams." Since then they've continued to grow and improve as a team.

Their strategy isn't to worry about wins and losses but rather, as Coach Mathis puts it, to use "50% of our games as learning experiences and the other 50% of our games [competing] in tournaments." With that as their focus, this Coach of the Week's team has earned 3 first-place finishes, a second and a third in the ten tournaments in which they've competed!

Success can be gauged in many ways but Coach Mathis says, "The biggest measure of the success that we can have with this team is practice participation (if they come to practice then they must be enjoying and wanting to improve) and skill development of players... that prepares them to play at the next level."

The support he has received from his wife, Janet, and their son, Josh (goalie and forward on the team), has allowed Coach Mathis to maintain practice schedules, get certified, attend board meetings, and even create an indoor soccer league! He wrote that he couldn't have done any of it without "a GREAT group of parents committed to common goals!

His hope, along with that of his assistant coach Jim Fox, is to look back in five years and see his former players "on the honor roll, giving back to their community and still playing and enjoying the game of soccer at the high school level."

And it sounds like they're already off to a great start.

For lacrosse coach Tom Lyon, youth sports are about much more than the games. This active father of three has been coaching various sports (soccer, baseball, sailing) for ten years, all the while acting as a role model for his young athletes. Working out 6 days-a-week himself, he truly lives out his mantra of healthy living!

Tom currently coaches SEALs Junior Girls Lacrosse, a 5th & 6th grade team in southeastern Connecticut. Their season is just getting started, but new players are picking up the game rather quickly and learning from senior players.

This week's Coach of the Week sees sports as "a great tool to teach kids the harder lessons in life that they will face as they get older. Things like working with and depending on others (teamwork), sticking to your commitments, respect for others, respect for yourself and many other social skills."

Coach Lyon is also involved with the Cub Scouts and his church youth group. In those roles, his musical talents (playing the guitar and singing) take center stage! He wrote, "Music, I find, like sports, breaks down gender and age barriers, so everyone can feel comfortable being themselves, and builds self-confidence that will last a lifetime."

In the end, our Coach of the Week gets all the satisfaction he needs when he sees one of his athletes get something right. Seeing their smiles as they run off the field full of confidence is so rewarding for him. He nailed it on the head when he said, "They already have it in them and all they need is a our encouragement."

Coach Lyon, you seem to do it all! The balance you keep in your own life is a great example for your young athletes. Thank you for your involvement, commitment, and dedication to youth sports!