I was thinking:
The loss of UConn's top returning wide receiver, Michael Smith,due to academic issues, underscores what is sure to be a majorrecurring conversation throughout the 2011 season -- particularly ina honeymoon first season for coach Paul Pasqualoni. Unless there areplayers hiding in the weeds at the skill positions -- and it wasdifficult to spot them during the spring game -- it's pretty obviousthat Randy Edsall left the cupboard fairly bare.
Honeymoons for coaches may be shorter than ever in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately culture, but I don't see how anyone can beblind to what Edsall left behind ... or didn't leave behind.
- The gold standard of Division II baseball coaches in NewEngland, Frank Vieira, says he followed Southern Connecticut State'sforay into the Division II College World Series with keen interestand admiration. Southern won two of four games in Cary, N.C., thispast week, including a victory in an elimination game against theNo. 1 team in the country, Grand Valley.
"The key is that Tim Shea ... c'mon ... he worked under a greatguy (Joe Bandiera) and now he's taken them to the next level," saidVieira, who took the University of New Haven to 17 Division II WorldSeries during his illustrious career. "He's a low key guy, exceptwhen he's out on the field. They never quit ... they're a reflectionof their coach. For him to do what he did ... you have to take yourhat off to him."
- The worst part of all, Knick fans (of which I am a member), isthat James Dolan, he of the Island of Misfit Owners, essentiallygave Mikhail Prokhorov the key to the city by squeezing Donnie Walshout as Knicks GM. Through his latest action, Dolan is making abrazen statement that he will continue to interfere in basketballmatters as he sees fit -- and for which he has no skill set. What'sto stop the brighter and more ambitious Nets owner from outsmartingDolan at every city turn?
Face it Knicks fans. It's over before it ever got good again.
- I'm actually rather pleased to announce that the Wifiexperiment at Minnesota Twins games this year -- designed toencourage baseball to use the internet during games -- is failingpretty miserably. Who knew baseball fans would actually favor payingattention to the game?
- Catchers have blocked home plate for 150 years before the nambypambies cried foul.
We go to Johnny Bench for our catching expertise and according tothe greatest catcher of the modern era, Buster Posey was "laying infront of home plate like a disabled car in the middle of a four-lane highway. You're just going to get smacked." Bench, a springtraining instructor with the Reds, said he teaches catchers "to stayaway from the plate when you don't have the ball so the runneractually sees home plate and his thought is 'slide.' "
On the flip side, there's Tim McCarver, who ought to know better,tweeting that it's time for major league baseball to "protectcatchers like football protects quarterbacks."
That's nonsense, Tim. Catchers get a painful workout from foultips and misguided bats, but how often does any particular catcherexperience a violent collision at home? Once a month or maybe evenlonger?
In football, violent collisions are potentially part of aquarterbacks life every time he drops back to pass.
- I've been fortunate to have a small involvement in the Housingfor Heroes Connecticut Golf Classic for two years and I can tell youthat there are few events that are more noble. The tournament takesplace June 27 at the New Haven Country Club and the commitment bytournament director Art Decko to held displaced veterans is aspecial labor of love. Tournament proceeds go to the VeteransHousing Assistance Fund, a special fund of the Greater New HavenCommunity Loan Fund.
Art pulls out all the bells, whistles and processions to make theday for the golfers and those who serve our country.
If it's something you may be interested in, as a player orcontributor, please call 203-735-7516.
- On a personal note, I miss Average Joe's fearless attempts tobe better than average (or less than a train wreck) at some of thetop golf holes in the state.
- I was all set to give you my theory on why the Knicks shouldtrade up to draft Jimmer Fredette. Then came Friday. Now, whybother? Even if Fredette might fit perfectly into Mike D'Antoni'ssystem, the Knicks coach has a shelf life of a lit cigarette.
- We'll spare you our personal Mount Rushmore of centers, exceptto say that for a period of about four or five years in the early/mid-90s when everyone's attention was otherwise focused on MichaelJordan, Hakeem Olajuwon was as great a center as the NBA has everseen.
- My favorite story of the week has to be the one about the sevenCalifornia teens who went for the $5 all-you-can-eat pancake specialat Denny's and stayed 24 hours, consuming a combined 301 pancakesand upwards of 100,000 calories.
It's been broken down for us gastronomically, and each of ourlittle Joey Chestnuts consumed the equivalent of 70 glazed KrispyKreme donuts.
According to the Orange County Weekly, one of the teens almostfell asleep on Denny's toilet after his food coma threatened toovertake him.
There must be some proud folks out in Orange County.
- For a fleeting moment I had an epiphany about Phil Jacksoncoming to rescue the Knicks in a dual coach/GM capacity. But then Icame back to reality. Action Jackson would never tolerate Dolan'sinterference on strategic basketball matters.
Dave Solomon, the Register sports columnist, can be reached atdsolomon@nhregister.com. To receive breaking sports news first --simply text the word "nhsports" to 22700. Standard msg+data ratesmay apply.
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