OGS Notebook: Catching Up After Derby Fever

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

Learning of Ernie Harwell's death Tuesday night made me realize my recent Derby fever has kept me from following the rest of the sports world. But I'm back at OGS World Headquarters in Brooklyn, ready to talk about items other than horsies, so here are some notes to get back in the groove:

+ I just watched a replay of Saturday's Kentucky Derby for the first time tonight and the hair really did stand up on my arms watching Calvin Borel guide Super Saver down the stretch. Three Derby wins in four years for Borel. Truly amazing. (And I know that's still horse talk, but it really was a neat moment.)

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+ I texted my boy Pat Kuhl (@phkuhl) that I read Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is interested in the vacant Chicago Bulls' job. Pat's reply: "Why? Then he'd have to worry about a salary cap." Reminds me of the old joke about those great Florida State baseball teams back in the day. With legendary Mike Martin at the helm, FSU's facilities were so luxurious that when players got drafted and began their minor-league careers, they were said to have been taking a paycut.

+ The U2 song "Magnificent" that plays underneath one of ESPN's excellent World Cup promos has gotten about two dozen plays on my computer today. It is, well, magnificent.

+ Does Bengals coach Marv Lewis have any say whatsoever in personnel acquisitions? And if so, Pacman Jones? Hasn't that franchise bitten into enough sour apples the last 10 years?

+ Tiger Woods missing the cut and Tiger Woods sleeping with many girls are two different deals. I thought it was kind of weak that some used one story last weekend to hint at the other.

+ Lame that the NBA puts three off days in between Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cavs and Celtics. I hope LeBron James and his Cleveland teammates use the time to figure out a way to play like there's a championship available six weeks from now.

+ I'm a big cause-and-effect guy. If there's no cause, you don't have to worry about the appropriateness of the effect. I certainly enjoy watching stupid fans run onto fields at sporting events, but I have no sympathy when they're tackled by security toughs. Nor am I feeling sorry for the clown who was Tasered at the Phillies game Monday. If you don't want to get Tased, don't run on the field.