John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Thinking Out Loud…while wondering whatever happened to truth, justice and the American Way?
• Like many of you, I am saddened at the stories emanating from Fenway Park this week on the turmoil within the Red Sox locker room. As a fan, I’m angry – and while I’m still a fan, it may be awhile before I actually spend any more $$$ on a few guys who don’t really give a ----…
• Fast food chicken. Beer drinking. Video games. Sounds more like a weekend in my basement, rather than game night in the Fenway clubhouse…
• John Lackey? Big Mistake. Josh Beckett? Past his prime. Jon Lester? Whoa. For a guy who is lucky to receive a second shot at life – and baseball – following his cancer diagnosis, I just don’t get it. Very disappointing. So many people look up to him, and now? It’s embarrassing…
• Props to Terry Francona for not throwing players under the bus on his way out. Theo Epstein hasn’t had his chance yet…so we’ll see. But Sox ownership? Trying to discredit Francona for “possible” misuse of pain killers? That’s also embarrassing…
• In fact, the Red Sox are one big embarrassment right now. There’s a lot of explaining to do, and I just don’t know of an explanation that’s plausible right now. Other than being overpaid, selfish jerks (Dustin Pedroia among the excluded), what else is there to say?
• The kicker to all of this Sox mess? They were the best team in baseball for four months. In reality, how far away are they from being that good again next year? With a few tweaks, they can be. But they must be the right tweaks…
• Not for nuthin’…but if I’m a player on another team, I want no part of Lackey or Beckett. They can’t possibly make me look good…they can only make me look bad. No heart, no guts, no soul…no class…
• Yo’ Papi. You think this is drama? Go ahead, sign with the Yankees. You’ll have your drama, especially when you come back to Boston to play. And your legacy will forever be stained around here, by the way…
• The Big East’s version of “Survivor” continues with the latest episode having school presidents disagreeing over the potential addition of Boise State. What is there to decide? Either you live to play another day, or you don’t. Your chances of surviving are much better with Boise in the mix…
• To that end...late Friday, ESPN reported the conference was ready to invite Central Florida, SMU and Houston (suggested here this past summer) as all-sports participants, and Air Force and Boise State as football-only members. Navy is still deciding whether or not to take the plunge, and Temple is still a possibility for football-only. This would bring all-sports membership back to 17 schools, with 11 football members. Make room for one more...
• The basketball schools continue to talk amongst themselves, which itself is a positive sign. They know what they’re up against, and they also know that a rising tide will still fill their boats. So they’re watching, and listening…but getting the buckets ready to bail…
• It won’t happen…but the Big East should finally tell Notre Dame football to jump in, or get out. The league has been great to all Irish athletic teams, while football has remained independent…even while the Big East has included ND football in their bowl arrangement. Now it’s time for the Fighting Irish to show some gratitude and support for a league that is clearly in distress. Loyalty? Only if it’s convenient…
• Louisville? Are you in or out? West Virginia? Same thing. UConn and Rutgers? Stop dreaming…and make the commitment. The six current football survivors in the Big East say they won't commit to increasing exit fees (estimated at $10 million) unless the new schools commit to joining. Boise, Air Force and Navy are hesitating, waiting on WVU and Louisville to commit first. Reminds me of the kid I knew in grade school, who I dared to eat a booger. "You first!" "No. You first!"
• Conference realignment is asinine. Dave Gavitt’s dream doesn’t need to go out this way. Where would some of these schools be if the Big East hadn’t brought them in, in the first place?
• Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski needs to keep his mouth shut. He’ll be the winningest coach of all time this season, so I’m sorry if that’s like saying the emperor is naked…but his rah-rah for the ACC is wearing real thin…
• Speaking of the ACC…Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo may be the winner of this year’s “Wish I Hadn’t Said That” award, for implying that ESPN actually had influence in his league raiding the Big East for Syracuse and Pitt. Wow. Talk about a conflict of interest…I smell a lawsuit…a real big one, too…
• Why do people say outlandish things when they get ready to play the Patriots? There’s Rex Ryan, and now this week, QB Tony Romo said his Dallas Cowboys will win the Super Bowl, “at some point.” Just not this year, right Tony?
• The Los Angeles Vikings? The San Antonio Vikings? If a new stadium deal isn’t done in Minnesota, where the Vikings’ lease on the Metrodome is up after this year…those locales could be new landing spots…
• Remember “S.J.” – Michael Oher’s little brother from the movie “The Blind Side?” The real S.J. is actually a pretty good basketball player, and is headed to Loyola, MD in Baltimore…on a scholarship. As a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Oher gets the chance to see him play. See? Good stories are still out there…
• Unemployment is still high. We could have another recession. Household income continues to drop like a rock from a tree. And NBA players and owners are sitting on the sidelines because they can’t decide how to split more than $4 billion. What is wrong with these people?
• College basketball season is here…Late Night Madness, Rhody Madness, Midnight Madness. It comes in all shapes and forms. It was a bigger deal 15-20 years ago, when teams actually could start at midnight, according to the rules. But the symbolism still applies today…and it feels like New Years' Eve...
• Friar freshman Kiwi Gardner didn't win the slam dunk contest Friday Night at Alumni Hall (sophomore Bryce Cotton did, again)...but I swear he was jumping on a trampoline...
• Props to you if you recognize the phrase “truth, justice and the American Way” from the old Superman television series, starring George Reeves. Now, sit up in your rocking chair. The sad truth is this – there is no justice, and the American Way is to “get yours” while you can…
• This week’s mailbag question comes from Chad in Georgia: “Who will have the better game Sunday, Jason Witten or Rob Gronkowski? Considering our defense and the unfamiliarity with the Cowboys, who will be the better TE?” Chad, tough to say…both players mean so much to their quarterbacks as “go to” guys, it probably boils down to which TE can be better defended. Witten is a potential HOF’er, but Gronk has the best game Sunday…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, too @jrooke0722…
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