As we started in today's Daily News "Writing On (and off) The Wall" column -- revisiting stories about knuckleball pitcher Jon Secrist, beach volleyball player Jeff Nygaard and the women of the L.A. Amazons pro football team -- there is more unfinished business before we head into the '08 season.

The story: In August, we found former Lakers and Loyola Marymount basketball coach Paul Westhead on the verge of making some history with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, who were about to head into the playoffs having mastered his fast-paced "Paul Ball" style of creating turnovers into instant offense.

“These women have rejuvenated me, really reminded me about how fun basketball can be when the players work hard,” he said as the team entered the playoffs.

The followup: The Mercury, which set a league record by averaging 89 points a game in the regular season and more than 95 in the post season, ran off with the WNBA title in early September, knocking off the Detroit Shock in the five-game series. It made Westhead the only coach to have won both an NBA and WNBA title.
It was enough of an achievement that Wheaties put the Mercury team on its box of cereal, which is still available in most supermarkets.
("What kid doesn't dream of being on the Wheaties box?" Mercury star Dianna Taurasi wrote on her blog. "I admit, the picture isn't the most exciting I've ever seen, but hey. its Wheaties! The only upgrade I can think of is maybe Fruity Pebbles).
Later that month, Westhead decided he wanted to go back to the NBA as an assistant to longtime friend P.J. Carlesimo with the Seattle SuperSonics.
"P.J. and I have worked together and known each other for many years, and I'm thankful for the opportunity," said the 68-year-old Westhead, who took the Lakers to the 1980 NBA title and also was the head coach in Chicago and Denver.
"We are unendingly grateful for the commitment and leadership Paul provided from the day he joined the Mercury organization and the role he played in bringing our franchise and city their first professional basketball championship," Mercury general manager Ann Meyers said. "We wish him the best in his new venture."
The Mercury ended up hiring Corey Gaines, the former LMU standout guard under Westhead and his assistant the last two years, as its new head coach.
Earlier this month, there were rumors that Westhead could get back coaching or as a GM in the WNBA when Seattle Storm coach Anne Donovan said she was stepping down.
"It's a clear conflict of interest," Westhead told the Seattle Times. "I would only have an interest if I didn't have this job. But I have a job that I'm very happy with."
Westhead, who has a three-year contract with the Sonics, said it's impossible for him to coach the Sonics and Storm simultaneously.
"This is a full-time job," he said. "No possibility. Can't happen."
Westhead didn't rule out a return to the WNBA.
"Well, I never say never to anything. I coached in college and went back to the NBA. And when I was in the NBA, went back to college."

The story: In January, we found former NFL running back Christian Okoye (pictured) about to help launch the California Sports Hall of Fame with 19 members in the augural class, including Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Eric Dickerson, Chick Hearn, Bob Mathias, Jackie Robinson, John Wooden and Bill Walsh. “Let's call it a start and see where we go,” he said when asked why these 19 but many others weren’t inducted in the first class. The criteria put forth by the group for entry: The person has had to made an impact in sports in California while playing, coaching, writing or announcing sports for any school, team or sports media company in California. Okoye's non-profit organization benefits from the attention and fund raising done by the Hall, help through promoting youth sports and helping struggling athletes.

The followup: This April 6-7, the second class will be inducted during a ceremony in Industry Hills that includes a charity golf event.
The inductees: Pete Sampras, Cheryl Miller, Vin Scully, Dave Winfield, Greg Lemond, Willie Mays, Dan Fouts, Don Quarrie, the De La Salle High School football program, the Los Angeles Lakers franchise and UCLA's basketball program in the John Wooden era.

The story: In August, we found the National Golf League ready to launch its 2007 season, with 18 teams and more than 300 players who were members of the Nationwide Tour, Canadian Tour, PGA Q-School and other mini-tours and collegiates. The Los Angeles Stars, who call Chevy Chase Country Club in Glendale their home course, just got on board. What separated the NGL from any other of its kind -- it encouraged having fun on the course, like a Ryder Cup atmosphere where fans were allowed to cheer, players could help each other out with strategy, and men and women competed together.

The followup: Two top teams from the three divisions went to the finals -- the Sonoma Marin Breakers and the East Bay Power (Northern California), the OC Wedge and the Inland Empire Styx (Southern California) and Phoenix Fireballs and the Scottsdale Screech (Arizona Division). Phoenix won the $36,000 purse in a two-day, 45-hole event that led to a playoff against Sonoma.
During the season, former UCLA standout Charlotte Mayorkas, (pictured) a top rookie on the LPGA Tour, came out to play during a match with the Styx at Cross Creek in Temecula.
“It is just a matter of time that a major sponsor, television network or producer will want to partner with us and show the televised audience how exciting and appealing this new kind of golf can be," said NGL founder Bob Aube, hoping to expand into Texas by 2008 and into Florida in the coming years, as well as tweek some rules.

The story: In June, we dug into the Beach Tennis USA Tour racket going on near the Santa Monica pier -- a cross between badminton, volleyball and tennis that stopped people riding their strand cruisers to watch this unusual hybrid. It's been marketed as the "X Games of Tennis." "Everyone who transitions to this enjoys it," said Mike Owens of Tarzana, a 49-year-old tennis instructor at Braemar Country Club.

The followup: Nadia Johnston and Arpi Kojian, who won in Santa Monica and Long Beach, ended up as the national champions and were named outstanding women's team of the year. Ken Kuperstein and Mike Fedderly, who have plenty of ATP Tour experience, won in Santa Monica, won the SoCal Point Series (Santa Monica, Long Beach and Santa Barbara) and were named outstanding men's rookie team.
The 2008 schedule has yet to be released, but it's expected to start again in April and run through the finals in September.