John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud…while wondering if proper basketball officiating has become a truly lost art, or more like the job of a weatherman – wrong most of the time (our John Ghiorse excluded, of course)…

• Not for nuthin’…but color me skeptical that the “Josh Bard” experiment in moving from the bullpen to the rotation will work…

• I am happy, however, to hear that some players continue to grumble over the workout regimen installed by Bobby Valentine. Good. Now, I want names…

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• That was no mea culpa from Josh Beckett on the whole “beer and chicken” thing in the clubhouse last summer. That was “it’s none of your business, and I’ll do whatever I please, anyway…”

• Hey, say what you want about Bobby V’s track record. Comme si, comme sa. What this team needs is a large kick in the rear end…and everyone (except those grumbling) knows it…

• Ryan Braun’s suspension gets tossed, baseball is threatening a lawsuit in return…and the poobahs don’t know yet if we’ll have one or two Wild Cards in each league this year? Yeah, MLB has their stuff together, huh?

• Alright, now we’re talking. First malcontent of the year award goes to Anaheim’s Bobby Abreu, who says “play me or trade me” before camp even opens. He’s 37, and in the outfield with Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Peter Bourjos. Hmmm, my name is Wes, I’ve got my own mess…

• Speaking of messes…Manny in Oakland? Moneyball just became Mannyball…good luck with that…

• I guarantee no one is happier to be grunting and grinding in spring training than Washington’s Wilson Ramos, who was kidnapped and held for two days this winter in his native Venezuela, before being freed in a bullet-riddled rescue…

• The $140 million capital campaign at Providence College is long overdue, but later is better than never. PC is so far behind the eight-ball on the billiards’ table that is the Big East that the Friars – in reality – don’t belong in the same rack as the other schools…

• There’s more than just athletics for the fundraising to assist, like hiring faculty, and academic improvements to facilities. Yet, if the “glad-handers” forget about men’s basketball, or put the program in the background during the campaign, they won’t come close to pulling in what they need. Just sayin’…

• And the needs are many. A long awaited track. Expansion and improvements at Schneider Arena. Soccer, tennis and softball improvements. And yes, a renovated Alumni Hall and an eventual “true” basketball practice facility…

• The bottom line – men’s basketball floats the boat, for everyone. And if men’s basketball is healthy, other sports can thrive. Scholarships in other Big East sports (lacrosse, for instance) need to be boosted to competitive levels with member schools. PC’s “Vision Team,” comprised of alumni and basketball boosters, had best make certain Friar basketball doesn’t take a back seat during this process. The decisions made now will affect the next 20-30 years, at least…

• Did You Know? The NCAA recently enacted legislation that allows schools to offer multi-year scholarships. Previously, scholarships were only offered to student-athletes annually, and renewable at the end of each term. That means, of course, if a player doesn’t meet certain “standards,” they may not be asked back…

• Having said this, 205 Division 1 schools earlier this month voted to override the recent legislation, and 207 votes were needed (out of 330 schools) to eliminate the new multi-year plan. Schools that voted to override – and thus NOT support multi-year scholarships – include football powers Alabama, Florida State, USC, Texas…plus Providence and URI…

• Brown voted not to override (and keep multi-year options, even though they don’t award athletic scholarships), and the Big East also voted to keep the multi-year availabilities…

• Oh, and speaking of the Big East…Temple’s anticipated arrival to take West Virginia’s spot next year, as Boise State couldn’t pull the trigger on their move a year early, helps football, and it’s great for hoops too. So is the addition of Memphis. 18 schools at MSG? Pure craziness…

• Seton Hall blasted #8 Georgetown by 18 this week. South Florida continues to win, and even impress when they lose. Notre Dame is still defying logic, with their best player sidelined. And the defending national champs (UConn) continue to flop like fish out of water. Makes me think we’re in store for an unpredictable, perhaps unbelievable Big East Tournament…

• With all due respect to St. John’s Moe Harkless, the Big East Rookie of the Year should be PC’s LaDontae Henton. I haven’t seen a better one. But it won’t be. The Friars just haven’t won enough…and alas, this is still a team game…

• And is there a better point guard in the league than Vincent Council? Scoop Jardine from Syracuse? Jordan Theodore from Seton Hall? Those players will probably get the nod on post-season honors, but VC has carried his team on his back most of the way. That’s tough for a 6-2 guard to do in a physical league like the Big East, without much help…

• Conference commissioners met earlier this week to begin the process of considering change to the BCS system, and whether to begin a four-team playoff to determine a college football national champ, or not. Don’t expect a quick decision. Or maybe any decision, to come soon…

• Stupid is as stupid does…so Brady Quinn is backpedaling – and apologizing for – his comments to a national magazine about Tim Tebow? Why? He’s only saying what everyone in the free world has already said…

• It’s the most wonderful time of the year…the time when tape-measures stretch, stop-watches tick and the sound of whistles and furious scribbling on notepads fill the air. It’s the NFL Combine, baby…

• The Celtics are on life-support. The Bruins seem to have hit a mid-season wall, aside from a nice win at St. Louis. The Sox are just getting started, and still we hear whining. The Patriots don’t get back together for months. College hoops are down around here. What am I missing?

• My buddy Statbeast sez he’s found out this week, while taking care of his kids, that naptime can be contagious…YAWN…

• Referee Karl Hess, who threw out two former NC State stars for expressing their “displeasure” with his inconsistencies in officiating a game last week, has been reprimanded by the ACC for his actions. How about actually hitting where it hurts – in the pocket book? That’s the only way anything ever changes, or improves…

• Unless, of course, you put Hess (and about a dozen other Big East officials) in a room with my broadcast partner (and noted critic of said officials) Joe Hassett for one hour. I guarantee you’ll see calls made you never thought possible…

• And I wonder, in light of his two-game suspension for throwing a ball at referee Sean Wright, if the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo will see ANY call go his way for the foreseeable future…

• This week’s mailbag question comes from Kurt in Texas via Facebook: “John, have you heard any news about TCU’s drug scandal affecting their conference acceptance?” Kurt: No. A few rogue football players don’t represent, and shouldn’t represent, an entire athletic and academic community. TCU has worked hard to get where they are. While it’s a bit of a black eye for the Big XII, and for TCU, the Frogs’ new conference home won’t change…

• 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]!