John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud…while wondering about the things I would do if money was no object…

• Congrats are in order to former Friar Marshon Brooks, who just completed his first season as an NBA pro – and was named to the league’s all-Rookie second team. A great start to a career that seemed so improbable just a few short years ago…

• One of the true pleasures of being able to broadcast the games, follow the teams, and tell their stories is watching the players grow up, and become adults. Not just athletically, but intellectually as well. Sometimes, the transformation is amazing…and hardly a year goes by without someone leaving an impression. If money was no object, I’d work for free…

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• At the present time…Xavier, Gonzaga and Florida are the apparent choices for a landing spot for former Friar Gerard Coleman. So much for being closer to home as a reason for leaving. When the spotlight shines, it shines bright, blinding light…

• Among the items being talked about by Big East basketball coaches this week at the conference meetings in Florida, is strength of scheduling. The coaches feel that the formula in place, where teams are placed in scheduling “quadrants” according to ability, has helped the league gain its strength (and NCAA Tournament bids) in the past couple of years…

• Also being talked about – moving from 18 league games to 20. If that happens, you can expect fewer marquee non-league games being played, especially at home. Teams in the lower half of the league will schedule more badly-needed wins, not big-time opponents…

• The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden next March will be a 14-team affair, with West Virginia’s withdrawal and UConn’s academic penalty keeping them from participating. If the status remains quo, there will be only two games played on Tuesday, and the current format picking up with four games on Wednesday and Thursday. For this year, the top 10 teams in the regular season, in effect, gain 1st round/day byes…

• After presentations by NBC and Fox for obtaining media rights to Big East games, and numbers like “$2 billion” being thrown about…isn’t it looking more and more like the league is getting ready to jettison long-time partner ESPN? Ultimately, they may not…but let’s just say the Big East – with new markets in Dallas, Houston, Memphis, San Diego and Orlando – is worth more than many national pundits believe. If money was no object, I’d start my own network…

• The whole idea of the Big 12 and the SEC hooking up for an annual bowl game is silly. Those league champions are a slam dunk, almost every year, to be involved in college football’s new playoff format…whatever that may be. If that happens, the runners-up then play in this game, and won’t that be just like the “Outback Bowl,” or some other sponsor-driven creation? Just sayin’…

• And just because the Big 12 and SEC are planning this game, it signals the “end” of the ACC and the Big East…and all but assures college athletics of four “super conferences” as we go forward? Please. Anything is possible with a constantly changing landscape these days. But nothing is impossible, either…and the presence of NBC and Fox at the Big East meetings this week proves that big markets bring big value. And they always will…

• Who’s doing the thinking in Cincinnati? A report this week out of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the annual Xavier-Cincinnati “battle” will move to a neutral site for the first time in 25 years. The downtown US Bank Arena is the likely location, after the two teams’ on-court fight from this past season. But will this actually solve the problem? In the past, playing home-and-home, the visiting team could rarely get tickets. Now, both sides should get plenty of tickets in a neutral setting…which could potentially lead to – can you see where this goes?

• Not for nuthin’…but this is where I’ve thought that going home-and-home for PC and URI made the most sense. However, if the home fans don’t buy the tickets (and the Dunk seats about 5K more than does the Ryan Center), should the visiting fans be allowed “in the door?”

• Transfer rules are going to change. They have to, with approximately 450 Division I basketball players moving to new teams this year, its pure craziness. The NCAA says there may not be any rationale keeping student athletes from moving to any school, at any time. And that makes sense…but only to sensible people. And who said big time coaches were sensible? Those who are pressured to win right away (or already crooked) will figure out how to beat the system…unless the system beats them to it…

• Former West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart’s passing this week is a sad indictment on coaching in general. One of the nicest men I’ve ever had the chance to meet in this business, Stewart was fiercely proud of his state. He came to the rescue after Rich Rod jilted WVU for Michigan, and led the team to a Fiesta Bowl rout of Oklahoma. He won 28 games in three years…but that wasn’t good enough for some, so he was asked to step aside for the flashy Dana Holgorsen. He was only 59 years old. There’s no way the school (or its fans) treated him as they should have…

• Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL owners’ meetings this week that his team’s window to contend for a title is closing. That very well may be…but don’t you also get the sense that Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick are feeling similarly about the Patriots?

• At the same time, the Patriots have never “thrown money” at any player, even though they do have some guys at the top of salary lists for their positions. The Patriot Way has always included the top-heavy stars, combined with low-priced free agents and rookies, to be competitive. Wes Welker should remember this as he publicly postures for a new deal…and know that his window in New England may be closing soon…

• Stupid is as stupid does…the NFL Players Association sued the league this week, alleging there was “collusion” among owners in 2010 with a secret salary cap in an uncapped year. Hey fellas. You’re picking on a giant you can’t beat. How about helping your retired former players with their health issues, instead?

• One of the great annual events on the PGA Tour is this week at the Colonial, in Fort Worth, TX. The home Ben Hogan made famous, Colonial is a different type of course than you see most on tour these days, forcing golfers to “create shots,” rather than simply gripping-and-ripping. It’s why there’s no Tiger in the field. But for someone who says he needs to improve all aspects of his game, shouldn’t he be?

• Larry Bird – NBA all-star, MVP, Olympic Gold Medal winner, Celtics’ icon and now Executive of the Year – called his Indiana Pacers S-O-F-T earlier this week after their 32 point, Game 5 loss to Miami. Do you think anyone listened?

• With a healthy Avery Bradley, the Celtics can beat Philly – and Miami. Without him? I’d like to think they can still win…but I’m not sure it happens…

• Great to see Kevin Youkilis come back from his injury with a start like he had in Baltimore this week, but if he thinks “the story” is going away anytime soon…he is sadly mistaken…

• What story? Will Middlebrooks has shown he can play – and hit – while at 3rd base. Bobby Valentine has said Youk wasn’t exactly at the top of his favorites list when he first got the managerial gig, anyway. The team is banged up in the outfield, and won’t get regulars back for awhile. Can you say “trade bait?”

• All of a sudden, Alfredo Aceves has gone from getting no one out, to getting almost everyone out…just like a good closer should. Who’da thunk that about a month ago?

• Not me. Forgive me, but my memory’s not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory’s not as sharp as it used to be…

• My buddy Statbeast sez you know you’re getting older when a sexy babe walks by and your pacemaker opens the garage door nearest you…

• This week’s sign of the apocalypse…a graduating high school senior in Fort Myers, FL had his diploma withheld for “Tebowing” on stage at his graduation ceremony…

• CCRI opens up in the Junior College Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma on Saturday. If you have high school athletes at home, your kids could do a lot worse than play for Ken Hopkins, or basketball coach Rick Harris. Great coaches and teachers…but even better people…

• In the name of George Steinbrenner…could it be true the Yankees are for sale? That was the report this week in New York, although the team denied it. If money was no object, I would definitely buy the Yankees…and sell Derek Jeter to Boston for a Fenway Frank…

• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Eric via Twitter: “Are you going to be back broadcasting the Playbook this year, or are you gonna run off to WEEI?” Eric: Thanks…I’m planning on returning to Patriots Playbook on Patriots.com radio when the NFL regular season kicks off in early September…it will be my 12th year hosting the show. And you’re probably not aware, but every Saturday, you can already find me on WEEI…I know, I know, we need to stream…

• 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, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...

• And you’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 850850…and send email to the show - [email protected]