By John Rooke
Thinking out loud…while wondering what to say about this week's World Poetry Day…
- It's chaotic. It's anarchy. It's madness right now, I tell ya'. Up is down, bad is good. Off is on. Never seen anything like it this year, this month, this NCAA Tournament. A month-long roller coaster ride that hasn't (yet) leveled off.
- Dan Hurley's exit in Kingston wasn't unexpected. What was unexpected, at least to an extent, was the reported offer to keep him as head coach at URI. It deserves a 'way to go' from this perspective.
- Whether it's David Cox stepping into the breach, or a coach from the outside (Vermont's John Becker has been mentioned), the key here is Rhody keeping the money and promises on the table for Hurley's successor. If they do, there is real commitment to keep building the program into an annual Atlantic-10 and postseason contender.
- If they don't – Ram fans you know who to point to. Where would you like to start? Providence's program build won't diminish, and there's nothing worse for URI followers than playing second-fiddle to the Friars in your home state. The rivalry will always run deep.
- I don't know if I were in his shoes, if I could have or would have made the same choice as Hurley. Pittsburgh, for the money, seemed like the best combination of $$$, lack of initial pressure, and ability to compete at a high level. But with so many players trying to jump off the Panthers' ship – eight have asked for their release since Kevin Stallings was fired – why not stay home, then?
- Had to be UConn's history and championship pedigree. Storrs is also closer for his family, if that was any factor at all. And, if UConn sweetened the pot to meet (or get close to) Pitt money, I get it. UConn must also be confident they can negotiate a settlement – or win their 'just cause' case – with Kevin Ollie.
- Hey Danny, can we get the PC-UConn series started again? You of all people shouldn't be afraid to play little ol' Providence, amiright? Besides, the Huskies' annual RPI could use a boost.
- Bottom line, Hurley made URI basketball relevant again on the local landscape. Good for the sport, good for Rhode Island, good for the rivalry with PC (hey, he finally won one this year). Basketball fans should hope the hoop hype stays high in Kingston.
- URI's athletic relevance, inside and outside of the Rhode Island border, will depend on it.
- Haven't heard much from Bryant on the search to replace Tim O'Shea as head men's basketball coach. D-II LeMoyne's Pat Beilein has been a reported candidate – the son of Michigan's John Beilein – and I'd be surprised if a URI or PC assistant wasn't also in the mix.
- What about Creighton assistant and former URI star (and Woonsocket head coach) Preston Murphy? And ex-RIC and Maine coach Bob Walsh? Or maybe even a father/son combo of ex-Brown coach and Bryant assistant Happy Dobbs and/or his son, Frankie?
- North Carolina's Roy Williams called Texas A&M "maybe the biggest team I've ever looked at." The Aggies then went out and crushed the Tar Heels' hopes of repeating as national champs. Matchups are everything in the NCAA's. And the Aggies won them across the board, until Michigan showed that good shooters can beat everybody.
- The Friars knew it all too well. It wasn't a good matchup for a team that was better when it played smaller. Immediately, the improvement on the inside needs to occur for Providence to win – or at least be in the game – with teams looking like A&M coming off the bus.
- Has the Big East postseason been a flop? Getting just one team (Villanova) into the Sweet 16 would indicate at least a less-than-expected result, sure. But if the Wildcats win it all, does that fix anything?
- Said all along Nova was equipped with the pieces to win. Everyone else in the league, including Xavier, had holes or flaws – but talent, too. It's why there was a mish-mash in the middle. Chris Mack did the best job of managing his teams' flaws, and it is precisely why Louisville may pull him away with their national cache.
- Oh, and cash, too.
- Have we seen a fall from grace happen faster than what has occurred in Cincinnati? One minute, you have two Top 10 teams in the same city. The next minute, they're both upset, out of the NCAA's, one coach is ready to leave and the other (UC's Mick Cronin) gets roasted for his poor postseason resume.
- Florida State makes a great case for looking at a team's entire body of work, rather than what they did late – when it comes to at-large spots. The Seminoles lost five of eight to end the regular season. They've tomahawked their way through the West Region. 'Splain' that, please.
- ICYMI, or you've had your head buried in Patriots' free agency, or you're worried about Kyrie Irving's knee, or you've been wowed by Ryan Donato's Bruins' debut…um, the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 are in Boston at TD Garden.
- A national (and world) event. Pull your head out of the snowbank. That is all.
- There has never been a region where each of the Top 4 seeds failed to reach the Sweet 16, until it happened in the South Region this year. Something tells me people will still show up in Atlanta for whoever is left.
- Not for nuthin', but two years from now few will remember the Final Four teams this year. But everyone will remember the Retrievers from UMBC for their 16 vs. 1 conquest of Virginia. They'll be remembered for as long as the NCAA Tournament exists, because they were the first to pull it off – the ultimate David vs. Goliath story, played out in real life.
- Did you know? Only 9 of the 68 teams in this years' tourney were from west of Kansas. Next time you hear someone complain about eastern bias, give them this tidbit. Talent wins.
- UMBC's win over Virginia brings more than just prestige, notoriety or an increase in applications to the school. Upsets also bring in big bucks, as the Retrievers' win will fetch about $1.7 million for the America East conference. Loyola-Chicago's current Elite 8 run is worth more than double ($5 mill) to the Missouri Valley. For the little guys, that's big.
- The Big East stepped forward this week with recommendations to fix the college game, addressing the 'one-and-done' issue for athletes as well. Among the ideas, moving to a"none or two" eligibility plan, where a player could go right to the pros after high school – or choose college where he would remain for a minimum of two years.
- That's a move in the right direction – although I have long advocated for following the baseball model of "none or three." The Big East also offered ideas on simplifying summer recruiting, taking some of the power out of shoe company hands (or feet) and giving it back to schools directly, and regulating the role advisors and agents may play.
- I would advocate agents being able to give "loans" to players they feel can be pros someday, without ruining their eligibility. Levels the playing field, takes the under-the-table stuff out of the equation for the most part. The college game has changed, especially when it comes to money. The rules need to change, too.
- Want a way-too-early look at next year in the Big East? Nova is still the Top Cat, especially if Omari Spellman returns. But don't sleep on Georgetown or Marquette, as the two teams could return nine starters between them. The Hoyas still need a point guard. St. John's is also right there, but only if Shamorie Ponds remains on campus.
- And I doubt he will. The Friars, if Emmitt Holt is back like expected, with the Top 10 recruiting class coming in can also be an upper-half team in the league. Which means a sixth-straight NCAA appearance could be in play.
- A woman coaching a men's team? It's happening. Remember Nancy Lieberman? She'll be coaching a Big 3 team, founded by Ice Cube (hey, I know who he is) and designed for former all-stars, hall-of fame players and world champs.
- San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon was mentioned recently as a potential candidate to coach the men's team at her alma mater, Colorado State. She elected to remain with the Spurs, but if anyone is getting ready for a gender breakthrough, she's close.
- PC's Hockey Friars had a tough task with Clarkson in the NCAA Tournament in Bridgeport, CT Friday night. 0-2 against the Golden Knights in the regular season, the postseason played a different story. Hayden Hawkey pitched the shutout in goal, 1-0, and the Friars advance to the Regional finals against Notre Dame Saturday night.
- Love the story from our local TV guys (seen on Channel 6 & 12) about Salve Regina's play in the D3 Frozen Four, with freshman forward Danny Eruzione – son of famous Olympian Mike Eruzione – on the Seahawks' team for the Lake Placid national semifinals.
- Make that the national finals now – Salve defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point 3-0 Friday, behind a 54-save performance from all-American goaltender Blake Wojtala. The Seahawks play for a first-ever D3 national title Saturday night, in their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Ok, show your hands. Who was worried a week ago about the Patriots in free agency? Um, that would be just about everybody, if you're completely honest.
- Tony Garcia was cleared to play in the past week. Who is Tony Garcia, you ask? Right now, he's really the only left tackle on the Patriots' roster, having missed the entirety of last season fighting blood clots. Oh, that Tony Garcia.
- How about ex-Pat Matt Patricia giving some of these other ex-Pats a look in Detroit? One man's trash is another man's treasure? Just sayin'.
- Are there potential all-pros or hall-of-famers not getting a chance to play in the NFL? If Bill Polian has his way, he'll try to find them. Another new football league is expected to hit the market next February, called the Alliance of American Football (AAF).
- Polian and ex-Steeler Troy Polamalu will oversee player ops, Charlie Ebersol (the son of former NBC exec and XFL partner Dick Ebersol) is the founder. They hope to launch one week after SB LIII, with eight 50-man teams playing for 10 weeks.
- You buyin'? A majority owner of Barstool Sports, The Chernin Group, apparently is. Fantasy football could be a key factor in any success, riding on the coattails of fantasy players just as the NFL season ends. A realistic media plan with realistic expectations will help, too.
- Two words worry me about the Red Sox as the regular season approaches: "Not Enough."
- As in pitching (there's a lot, but is it enough?), hitting for power (little-to-none a year ago) and leadership. Can the locker room get along? Is there a real presence inside that can quash guys like David Price when they get out of hand? And Price – is he divisive or all in?
- Told a friend this week about two of my college kids who skipped class this week, thinking they had put one over on me. My buddy "Big E" sez he remembers when he skipped out of a class with a raging case of spring fever years ago in high school, checking back into school after lunch with the guy he skipped through the morning with. They told the teacher about their "flat tire," and she accepted their excuse. "You guys missed a test, so sit apart from each other and take out a piece of paper," she told them. When they sat down, she proceeded with the quiz. "First question, which tire was flat?"
- Did you see where the Pawsox will be changing their team name on Tuesdays during this season? As part of a Minor League Baseball initiative to engage the Latino community, the team will be known as the "Osos Polares de Pawtucket." That's Pawtucket Polar Bears in case you were wondering.
- "Paws" and "Sox," the two Pawsox mascots, are polar bears. Did you not know that already? Meet them at Saturday's free Open House (with free food!) at McCoy, 12-2 pm.
- And where are we on the new stadium issue? The Rhode Island House of Representatives is like a black hole – everything gets sucked in, and nothing ever comes out.
- Somewhere, Holy Cross grads must be crying and rusting in their armor. Earlier this month, the school administration voted to dump the "Knight" as the school mascot – after they decided to keep "Crusader" as the nickname.
- While the replacement (an interlocking "HC" on a shield) is fine, what does this move symbolize? Nothing more than misguided, ridiculous overreaction to a move they must believe is politically correct – but really isn't.
- Rev. Philip Boroughs, HC's president, said in a letter to students, alumni, faculty and staff, that the Crusader knight "inevitably ties us directly to the reality of the religious wars and violence of the Crusades." Uh huh. And when were those, again? From the 11th century to the 15th century? Yeah, that's relevant to today's society.
- What about the image of a crusader standing up for what is good, what is fair, and what is right? Which according to the history I learned, was what the Crusades were all about. All together now – stupid is as stupid does.
- After 42 years, IndyCar racing is moving to NBC from ABC. May not matter much to you, but in the TV world, it's big. Somewhere, Jack Arute sheds a tear.
- You may not know the name, but Frank Avruch was a very familiar character to kids and adults alike throughout New England and the rest of the country in the 1950's and '60's. Avruch was the original syndicated "Bozo the Clown" (on Channel 5 in Boston), and he passed away this week at 89.
- World Poetry Day was this past Wednesday, March 21st. Funny how I had never heard this before, but the day is celebrated every March 21st – like Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) started the day in 1999 to recognize and appreciate poetry's ability to transcend language, culture and human differences.
- And in my instance, poetry can sometimes break us all down with one common denominator. Laughter.
- Got a favorite poet? Shakespeare? Emily Dickinson? Robert Frost? Elizabeth Barrett Browning? Maya Angelou? Loving limericks as I do, how about Gene Tracy?
- Yep, Gene Tracy. Tracy died in 1979 but was famous for his rather, um, off-color poetry in some of his comedic works as a former truck driver, standup performer and live recording artist. He was better known as "Mr. Truckstop," and was wildly popular on the old southern 8-track circuit.
- And now you want an example, I suppose? As in everything else in life, Google to your heart's content, as most of his commentary is R- and X-rated. But here's a little limerick I recall that once made a 12-year-old laugh until he cried, and until he heard better material: "I was cleaning the house in the nude, the neighbor saw me and said, 'how rude.' For not closing the drapes, while I scoured and scraped, it made her quite ill. So she sued."
- And what was a 12-year-old doing listening to dirty limericks on an 8-track tape? What else? Laughing.
- @DMountain87 tweeted this week: "Cuse has a huge advantage in tournaments in that they already have their defensive game plan set in stone. Can spend majority of time preparing offensively while other team needs to spend their whole turn-around time figuring out how to attack zone." @DM: Solid insight. Few teams play it well, and even fewer see it against them, because coaches are stubborn to play zone. Logically, this makes sense. Either that, or Jim Boeheim has bargained with the devil, and the devil is simply holding up his end of the deal.
- Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes 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, comments and local stories to john.rooke@weei.com. We'll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
Don't forget to tune into Providence's 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am for Southern New England Sports Saturday! Call in at 401-737-1287 or text at 37937.
