Random Thoughts (July 27, 2007)

Manny Being Manny does not only refer to No. 24 peeing inside the Green Monster, cutting off a Johnny Damon throw from 10-feet away and not telling Coco to slide. MBM really defines one of the greatest right handed hitters in the history of baseball. Last night in Cleveland, Ramirez went 3-for-4 with two very long homeruns, a double, a walk, four RBI and four runs scored in leading the Red Sox to a 14-9 win over the Indians. For the season Manny is hitting .303 with 17 HR and 64 RBI. His numbers aren't the best of his career but remember that he is 35, not 25. His production will drop off as he gets older unless he joins the Barry Bonds Athletic Club. By the end of 2007, Manny will be around 30 HR and over 100 RBI and, more importantly, his team will be contending for the World Series. Without a doubt, Manny is a first ballot Hall of Famer... The New York Jets have lost the greatest running back in their history. Curtis Martin has retired from the NFL as the fourth all-time leading rusher with 14,101 yards. Martin, who began his career with the Patriots in 1995 as a third round pick out of Pittsburgh, is the Jets all-time leading rusher. Martin was a huge reason that the Patriots made it to Super Bowl XXXI. He was a tough runner who never shied away from contact. The Jets will miss him dearly but as a Patriot fan, I am glad we no longer have to worry about No. 28... Wake Forest men's basketball coach Skip Prosser died yesterday at age 56 from an apparent heart attack. He collapsed in his office after returning from an afternoon jog. Prosser was the Deamon Deacons coach for the past six seasons, leading the school to its' first ever No. 1 national ranking in 2004. Prior to coming to Wake, Prosser was the head coach at Xavier University and Loyola of Maryland. Prosser is the only coach to lead three different schools to the NCAA Tournament in his first year on the job. Fellow coaches, past and present players and media members all have paid tribute to a man that, as Ohio State coach (and Prosser's successor at Xavier) Thad Matta said, was "one of the all-time great people in coaching." He will be missed... I am away this weekend so my ability to watch the Red Sox pound on the Devil Rays will be limited at best. I should be back with something on Tuesday or Wednesday. Trade deadline gossip should be of interest... Enjoy the opening weekend for the Patriots at training camp...