Random Thoughts (October 24, 2008)

In Arizona, a legendary leader is stepping down and will be replaced by a succesor who is not nearly as experienced or accomplished. Senator John McCain? No, Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson. Coach Olson retires after 25 years in Tucson. His record at Arizona was 589-187 (he was 780-280 overall as a Division 1 coach) and led the Wildcats to the Final Four four times, including the national championship season of 1997. Being a west coast guy, Olson was often overlooked by the national media outlets who were obsessed with the Rick Pitino's of the coaching universe. Olson is a Hall of Fame coach (2002) and is one of the great college coaches of all-time. Arizona will certainly miss him. I know I will, his teams were always fun to watch... I would be lying if I told you that I thought BC would be 5-1 and ranked #23 in the AP poll. Their game Saturday at North Carolina is crucial. The Eagles are in a four-way tie with Florida State, Wake Forest, and Maryland for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. Winning the division would give BC their second consecutive berth in the ACC Championship Game, which promises the winner at least a trip to the Orange Bowl... The Phillies offense has been invisible through the first two games of the World Series and they have only Cole Hamels to thank for earning a split in Tampa Bay. Maybe they should watch film of how the Rays manufactured their runs in Game 2. The safety squeeze that scored the fourth run was all the evidence one needs to understand that Joe Maddon is an elite manager... I know the NBA previews were promised but my home computer is filled with more viruses than a Times Square hooker right now. I'll get on it this weekend... Enjoy Wes Welker on Sunday...