This week, the NCAA will move into its Sweet Sixteen round and likely take center stage in the sports world. Baseball will pick up the pace in spring training, and basketball and hockey will make another move in their jockeying for playoff position. Football’s frantic free agency and player movement may continue its whirlwind as well.

It’s the time when football, basketball, and hockey are entering their final stages, while baseball is embarking on a new quest.

This latest installment of my look back at YESTERDAY - a trip back in time to the late 1960s, the 70s and the early 80s - is a “hodgepodge” of sports items from a wide scope and also some cultural items from the 60s and 70s.

A Vet Beginning ... In 1964, Philadelphia voters passed a $25 million bond that would go towards a new stadium to host the Phillies as well as the Philadelphia Eagles. Seven years and another bond later in 1971, Veterans Stadium opened as one of the state-of-the-art stadiums of its time.

“The Vet” was the home for the Phillies, Eagles, Stars, Atoms (remember the pro soccer team?) and other major events until 2002. It was later demolished on March 21, 2004.

Bobby’s Broad Street Bullies ... The Flyers were in high gear during the 1974-75 season, and team captain Bobby Clarke achieved the first of two consecutive 100-point-plus seasons. He led the league in games played (80) and assists (89) as he compiled 116 points. The following season, he matched his assist total and finished with 118 points.

Atom-ic Age ... The Atoms burst onto the scene in 1973 and became the first expansion team in the North American Soccer League (NASL) to win a championship. Goalie Bobby Rigby became a household name with kids and fans.

They lasted three more seasons at the Vet and Franklin field before falling victim to ownership financial issues. They were sold to a group of Mexican soccer clubs before the 1976 season, but the new look didn’t resonate well as many of the local heroes were gone. The Philadelphia Fury surfaced as a new NASL entry in 1978.

The Forgotten Kaat ... You may hear Jim Kaat this year on MLB broadcasts. His calm, consistent demeanor is a perfect backdrop for the game over the past 22 years. But Phillies’ fans may have forgotten that the crafty, longtime lefthanded trendsetter wore red and white pinstripes from 1976 to the early part of 1979.

Kaat was acquired in December 1975 with Mike Buskey from the Chicago White Sox for Dick Ruthven, Alan Bannister, and Roy Thomas. (Ruthven was an unheralded pitcher who helped the Phillies in their 70s rise). Kaat threw 227 innings and posted a 12-14 record in 1976, but he struggled with a 6-11 slate the following year, before rebounding with an 8-5 mark in 1978. After four starts in 1979, Kaat was traded to the Yankees and pitched for other teams until 1983 when he was 44. The always fit Kaat was a pioneer for proving age is just a number in sports.

Saturday Brawls ... If you grew up in the mid-70s, your youth likely was touched by Vince McMahon’s burgeoning World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) that was broadcast on Philadelphia Channels 17 and 48. McMahon teamed with Phillies’ broadcaster Dan Baker in the late 1960s and early 70s before he worked with former grappler Antonio Rocca. If you were a late-night watcher, you could watch the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) midnights on New York’s Channel 9.

Some of the memorable WWF colorful characters of heroes and villains were Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Andre the Giant, “Superstar” Billy Graham, Chief Jay Strongbow, Rocky Johnson, Ivan “Polish Power” Putski, George “The Animal’ Steele, “Haystacks” Calhoun, Baron Mikel Scicluna, Johnny Rodz, Stan “The Man (famous for his “heart punch”) Stasiak, Professor Taru Tanaka, Mr. Fuji, along with the tag teams of Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan, Jimmy and Johnny Valiant, and later Allentown’s Wild Somaons.

Managers Captain Lou Albano, The Grand Wizard, and “Classy” Freddie Blassie were the perfect complement. Blassie introduced a young villain in the late 70’s named Hulk Hogan. Johnson, a Lehigh Valley native, was “The Rock’s” father.

It was the perfect theater that was larger than life. How many times do you try to flip someone over your parents’ couch (I did) to figuratively flip him over the top rope, or push someone’s head into a pillow, your version of a turnbuckle?

On some level, we all had our version of the WWF. It was innocent fun – hopefully no one got hurt – and had a cast of characters we could also relate to in some way.

Big Shiny Machines ... When you visited any major building, you usually saw those big, silver, metal cigarette machines. If you recall, you would see an adult put in their coins and pull out a long lever and then release it to recoil for their pack of cigarettes. At the time, it was a symbol of adulthood.

Also, if you remember going to the cafeteria of any hospital or public building, you could find the sandwich machines that housed a variety of tightly wrapped options. You had to pull open a small door for your selection and never knew how long they were actually there. This was a time before expiration or best by dates.

Shuffling Off ... The 60s and 70s also saw the phenomena of the long, wooden shuffleboard table that had the round, metal disc you would push down a board - that was covered with a form of sawdust – to knock off your opponent’s disc along the side. You would have to be careful that your fingers didn’t get hit by them. If one or more did, you would feel it.

Take A Ride ... Remember the Schwinn bikes of the 60s and 70s? There was the sleek Sting-Ray model with high handlebars and the long, thin seat, or the more conventional squared Varsity model with the flipped-won handlebars. A big treat was a headlight and/or the big, round speedometer for the real effect.

Do You Remember? ... Every week, I’ll mention a likely forgotten player from Yesterday. Remember former Phillie Pete Koegel? The catcher/first baseman was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers along with Ray Peters for outfielder John Briggs in April 1971. Koegel spent the ‘71 and ‘72 seasons with the Phils before he was dealt to Pittsburgh.

On This Date ... March 22, 1967 ... Philadelphia 76ers C Wilt Chamberlain became the 1st player to record 30+ points/20+ rebounds/10+ assists during an NBA postseason game. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has duplicated the feat since then.