Random Thoughts (February 15, 2008)

Chad Finn makes a very interesting point on his fantastic blog, Touching All The Bases, about the mystery surrounding the contract situation for Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Finn, who doesn't take credit for the theory either, states that lack of news on a well deserved contract extension for Tito might never come because he may be content to walk away from baseball when his current deal runs out after 2009. This theory is not too crazy to dismiss. First, Francona has well documented health problems so maybe he just wants to get out before he is forced out of the game for reasons beyond his control. Second, Francona seems like such a laid-back guy that the intensity (insanity) of the Boston fans and media might just be not what he wants to deal with after winning two World Series championships in his first four years on the Boston bench. Finally -- and maybe the most telling point in trying to figure out the future of Terry Francona -- is that the Red Sox highly regarded pitching coach, John Farrell, turned down the opportunity to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates and did not interview for the Yankees managerial job when Joe Torre left New York this offseason. Could Farrell be Francona's successor? It would seem to be a wise choice if, and only if, Francona no longer wants the job. Tito takes his share of garbage from the 4th Estate and from the Boston fans but in all honesty, is there anyone else you want managing the Red Sox other than the man who brought them to the promised land twice in four years? I would only endorse Farrell as manager if Terry Francona comes out and states, with no hesitation, that he just does not want to manage the Red Sox... All-Pro linebacker Zach Thomas was cut loose by Bill Parcells and the Miami Dolphis. It goes without saying that he would look nice in Foxboro... America, the greatest country in the world, has its share of problems. The situation in Iraq is a disaster, half the nation doesn't have health care, and our public school system needs assistance. However, these serious issues have not stopped our trusted representatives in Congress from wasting time -- and tax dollars -- on trying to figure out when Bill Belichick taped his opponents or from investigating Roger Clemens' steroid abuse. I'm glad the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives are doing such important work... The news that Indiana men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson might be fired during the season for once again breaking serious recruiting rules definitely changes my Final Four picks. I'm sticking with Memphis, UCLA and Kansas but for now my fourth team has to be (this kills me to say it) Duke. Without a doubt those are the four best college basketball teams playing as of today... One more not on Indiana and Sampson. I know there is a better chance of me buying a Mercury Morris jersey off of eBay but wouldn't the perfect replacement be the greatest college coach of all-time? No, not John Wooden or Adolph Rupp, I'm talking about Bobby Knight. We all know that Knight is an angry old man that was forced out of Indiana seven years ago by a liberal wimp -- and current NCAA president -- Myles Brand. Knight also recently left Texas Tech -- where he was coaching in college basketball's version of Purgatory -- because he claimed he lacked the passion required to continue coaching. But he would be the perfect man to lead DJ White, Eric Gordon and the Hoosiers to a national championship, the perfect story of redemption. For all of Knight's faults he never, ever cheated. The NCAA never came snooping around to look at Knight's recruiting practices. He ran a clean program where his players went to class, played defense and won hundreds of basketball games. If you were not capable of living up to his standards, you either left school (All-American Isiah Thomas after his sophomore year) or were forced to leave (All-Big Ten performer Mike Giomi). If Sampson is fired during the season and Knight wants the job -- which would be questionable after the way IU treated him on his way out -- then it should be his job. Knight could lead Indiana to a Final Four and possibly the national championship and then retire as the head basketball coach of Indiana, the way it should be... Some early, pre-Spring Training, baseball predictions: AL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Red Sox AL Cy Young: Jon Lackey, Angels AL Rookie of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox AL Manager of the Year: John Gibbons, Blue Jays ALCS: Red Sox over Blue Jays NL MVP: David Wright, Mets NL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez, Mets NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs NL Manager of the Year: Joe Torre, Dodgers NLCS: Cubs over Mets World Series: Cubs over Red Sox