The sports world is slowly creeping back, with the UFC, German soccer and NASCAR staging events this past week. They were unquestionably all successes, which means the rest of the leagues will soon follow suit. (One other encouraging thing; horse racing has been there all along, with limited Rona-related issues. So sports without fans can be pulled off). With that in mind, here are five things to look forward to the most as the sports world returns in Houston (this is assuming, of course, that all the leagues and colleges do come back):

5) Can the Dynamo become relevant again?

Dynamo fans get angry when their team is left off lists like this, but the reality is this team has been a disaster, with only one playoff appearance in the last six seasons in a league that all but begs you to make the playoffs. They brought in a promising new coach in Tab Ramos, and hoped to bring a new attitude and new style. There were only two games to go on before the Rona hit, including a home draw and a bad road loss. For a team that has been a mess on the road for years, it was not a great start. Now, like everyone else, they have to hit the reset button. But they have a lot farther to go than most teams. Will they be able to pull it together after the break? Can they be anything more than a DNQ in the playoff race again? Those are the pressing questions.

4) Can the UH resurgence continue?

In football, Dana Holgorsen's first season was simply a disaster. But prior coach Major Applewhite left him little to work with. Holgorsen's track record though, should give hope. Yes, QB D'Eriq King is gone, but Holgorsen should have more talent around QB Clayton Tune in year two and the Cougars should be able to make a jump. If not, things could get a little testy on Cullen. Meanwhile, Kelvin Sampson's basketball squad would have made the NCAA Tournament had it not been canceled, but the team was very young and should be even better in 2020, even losing a couple players to the pros. The question is not whether they will be a good team; it's how good can they be? The bar is set pretty high, and it will be fun to see if they can reach it.

3) Do the Rockets have another gear?

Before the break, the Rockets were alternating between stretches where they looked like a title contender and other points where they looked like first-round fodder. The question was always going to be how this team would do in the playoffs. Since the postseason is likely to begin with their return, we will get the answer quickly. Will they thrive in a shortened postseason? Or are the bad Rockets headed for an early exit? The good news is we get to find out soon.

2) Is Bill O'Brien really smart?

His off-season moves have been well chronicled, and universally ripped locally and nationally. But at least he has his team. While most will remain skeptical, O'Brien is banking on being smarter than everyone else. He still has Deshaun Watson, who can overcome a lot of his coach's shortcomings. But will it be enough?

1) Will the Astros still have a shot in what looks like the last year of their window?

This was going to be a big year for the Astros, returning with most of last year's World Series loser intact. The off-season controversy surrounding the 2017 cheaters took on a life of its own. But perhaps the team to benefit most from this break is the Astros. The delay should be enough to get Justin Verlander back and healthy. More time and a shortened schedule should benefit Lance McCullers. And if there are no fans? The trash can crew will have no impact. Perhaps by the time fans return, the controversy will have faded and will not be an issue. How the Astros respond will be critical. Of all the teams on the list, however, they could benefit from this break the most. Will they?