John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Saturday, August 13, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Thinking Out Loud…while wondering why my copy of Texas Football magazine hasn’t come in the mail yet. Come on!

• Ok, I’m a football nut. I admit it. Can’t get enough of it. I’m totally psyched for it this year. Hi, my name is John (Hi, John!)…and I’m a football addict…say it with me…

• I wrote here a week ago about the possible further expansion of the Big East Conference, and how further growth could be good for schools like PC. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this is a battle between the “haves” and the “have nots.” Better to be on the side of the “haves,” because if the Big East ever breaks up, PC will certainly be a “have not…”

• The Big East isn’t the only league still looking at expansion. If you thought the tectonic plates of intercollegiate athletics were finished with their shifting…think again. The SEC and Texas A&M are now making googly eyes at each other…largely because the Aggies are insanely jealous over arch-rival Texas’ new Longhorn Network…

• And of course, if A&M does move to the Southeast Conference, the SEC will probably need a partner to come along and balance things out. Hmmm…would a school like West Virginia be interested? Louisville? They might, especially if the Big 12 implodes when the Aggies depart, or Texas goes independent. All reasonable – and believable – scenarios…

• The Big East, however, will survive. They remade themselves arguably a stronger entity when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College left in 2004. How about Kansas (visiting Phog Allen Fieldhouse), Kansas State (the Little Apple in Manhattan, playing in the Big Apple) and maybe Missouri or Baylor? Crazy…and it all revolves around one thing. TV. Which brings in the big money…

• It’s time for the era of “political correctness” in sports to end. Now. Six students are suing the University of North Dakota to keep them from retaining their nickname of “Fighting Sioux,” which has a long, proud and proper heritage. Really? What’s next? The priests at Providence College suing to change the nickname from Friars?

• Tougher penalties for cheaters, higher academic standards that could keep some teams out of postseason tournaments and a streamlined rule book are some of the radical changes that NCAA leaders hope to adopt after a two-day presidential retreat coming up. One question though. Are USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma and North Carolina invited to this shindig?

• Funny, but I smell just a little of the Al Davis style of “just win, baby” around Gillette Stadium these days. Every move the Patriots have made, and continue to make, says “carpe diem.”

• Not for nuthin’…but I love the stockpiling of defensive linemen in Foxboro. Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships. Let’s push the pocket – heck, let’s collapse it – rather than try to run around it. The guys that can do it will still be here this time next month…

• Aaron Hernandez is going to be the MAN. Dude can flat out play…if he’s healthy…and protects the ball better…

• The debut of QB Ryan Mallett was most impressive Thursday night. Brian Hoyer played well in just his second start ever, but it’s Mallett that will draw the attention – and desire – of fans and other teams around the league. Just wait, you watch…

• If I had to pick the “best deal” the Pats have made so far, I’d go with plucking Shaun Ellis away from the New York Jets…only because it tweaks Rex Ryan’s nose. And that usually means his mouth will say something it shouldn’t…

• What would you change the PC nickname to, if you could? I’ll take suggestions this week, so email ‘em to me. Keep it clean, kids…how about the Providence College Bankrupt Pensioners? Or the PC Fightin’ Fraud State House Reps? Just sayin’…

• The picture of Dustin Pedroia on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated is great…the story by Tom Verducci is even better…and another reason why in this day and age of digital journalism, if you don’t put your I-Phone or Blackberry down for at least a few minutes and pick up a magazine, you are missing out. Then again, I think they deliver SI digitally, too…

• Wanna make an insane amount of money? Invite 150 top athletes in any sport to a “combine” camp, have them workout and play games against each other over a couple of days…invite college coaches and pro scouts to come out so you make their jobs easier…and offer to videotape each athlete. Parents of these kids will beg you to take their money. Really.

• Tiger Woods will never again be the Tiger Woods he once was. Forget his age. Too much collateral damage from the former (we think) lifestyle of the rich-and-incredibly-famous…

• That said, his former caddy Steve Williams spouting off last week, and basically rubbing Tigers’ face in his mess, was classless. Call me old school, but caddies are always meant to be seen, not heard…

• I know that there’s sentiment for C.C. Sabathia, and probably Jared Weaver for the AL Cy Young…but there isn’t a better pitcher in the American League than Justin Verlander of Detroit right now. He may be the best pitcher in baseball, period…and that includes a couple of guys in Philly who are also pretty good…

• Sorry. I know the guy is a legend, and he once “spun records” on Channel 63 WPRO, but every time a Yankee hits a home run, I cringe while listening to John Sterling…

• Excuse me. Time to cut the column off for now…my mailman just delivered today’s mail, and there’s a large, plain brown envelope in the mix, which means only one thing. My football magazine is here! Get your mind out of the gutter…

• The mailbag question this week comes from Joshua in Virginia: “Hey John, when does your show on Patriots radio return?” Joshua, I thank you for asking, as we pause for this commercial message. Patriots’ Playbook returns for its 11th season on Patriots.com Radio starting with the week prior to the regular season opener…on September 6th or 7th, depending on the team schedule. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon through the NFL season from 2-4 pm ET…all things Patriots, all things NFL…and some fun, too…

• 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…