If you are anything like me, you work in an office where the women are gossiping about what they just read on TMZ while the men are discussing what is on ESPN.  Sometimes, the two collide in a storm that makes me want to put my head through a brick wall.  One such story is Lamar Odom being placed on the inactive list for the remainder of the season by the Dallas Mavericks.  I hear Laker fans wondering if he will be back next year, while I hear someone see it on TMZ and discuss Lamar and Khloe are moving back to LA.  We often forget that TV stars and athletes are human.  People take personal leaves of absence at times.  So before people discuss that dumb jock on a reality show, or how bad Lamar has played this season, take a look at the man.  This is a guy who was born to a heroin addicted father and lost his mother at the age of twelve.  He was then raised by his grandmother and bounced between three different high schools in a matter of just two years.  All the while, he was able to excel at basketball, being named a high school All American by many outlets.  He received a scholarship to go to UNLV, where he was quickly involved in a scandal.  He received $5,600 from a booster at UNLV as part of a much larger scandal that led to the head coach being fired and the school being placed on probation.  He then transferred to the University of Rhode Island to be closer to home.  He played one season before entering the NBA draft.  He has played for the Clippers, Heat, Lakers, and most recently the Mavericks.  But playing in the NBA has not prevented him from experiencing great personal pain.  His grandmother, whom raised him after his mother died, passed in 2004.  Then in 2006, Lamar went back to New York for his Aunt’s funeral, while in New York, he went to his 6 ½ month old son’s crib only to find him dead due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  He admitted it took him nearly a year and a half before he even let himself mourn the death of his son.  Then he met and married Khloe Kardashian, where he became the butt of many reality show jokes.  Then, this past summer, when in New York shooting a Nike commercial, his planned changed as he had to attend the funeral of his cousin who had been shot and killed.  The day after the funeral, he was a passenger riding in New York, when the vehicle he was riding in collided with a motorcycle.  The driver of the motorcycle was fine, but the motorcycle slid onto the sidewalk and into a 15 year old boy…killing him.  So, before you make a snarky comment based on something you read on TMZ, or criticize Lamar for not finishing out the season with the Mavericks, take a look at the man’s life, see what he has had to deal with and overcome, and have a little compassion for a man that is simply taking time to find mental peace and put himself back in a decent mindset in life.  Before you laugh at the next headline on Deadspin, TMZ, Access Hollywood, or ESPN, look in the mirror, and remember that person you were about to laugh at is a person too, and just because they are famous, just might be going through some pretty tough times.

What good is it being a fan if you can’t overreact to the events of the first series of the season (for most teams, anyway)? Seriously, overreacting is the last remnant of our childhood we can safely do when it comes to sports and not worry too much about jail time. Other things, jail. Almost certainly. But not the start of the season. Right?
Observation 1: Yu Darvish looked ordinary against Seattle, with poor command and little deception. Send him back to the J League.
Reality: People forget, Yu is basically a kid. He was trying too hard so his normally awesome movement was off. Once he settles down, he’ll be fine. Really, he’ll probably never win a Cy Young, but neither did Hideo Nomo and that dude threw two no hitters.
Observation 2: Wow, the Red Sox Suck! Last place AL East, here we come!
Reality: sigh… They don’t suck completely. It’s mainly just Alfredo Aceves and Bobby Valentine’s idiotic notion that you can turn a swing guy into an effective closer. And the rest of the bullpen too… And Jarrod Saltalamacchia…
Observation 3: Yeonis Cespedes has POWER!!!
Reality: Really? Good for him. Let him at least finish this season before enshrining him, will ya?
Observation 3: Aaron Harang is terrible.
Reality: My GOD is he bad. What was Ned Colletti thinking? Oh right, he’s incapable of logical thought, hence a two year deal for Harang. How is he even employed?
Observation 4: The Yankees blow!
Reality: No team with a payroll on a beeline for a billion dollars should conceivably suck, but wouldn’t it be karmically awesome if they did?
Observation 5: Wow, the umpiring has gotten bad!
Reality: It has been for a while, and will continue to be until officials have to be accountable for their calls. There are some guys like Jim Joyce who, if they screw up a call, you know it’s an honest mistake. But there are more, like Angel Hernandez, where you have to wonder. If you think the Tim Donaghy fiasco was limited to just him or just basketball, you’re delusional.
In closing, can I just say how happy I am that college basketball is done, baseball is here, as are the NHL playoffs? Well, I’m gonna say it anyway. I’m thrilled.

When was the last time you watched something live and thought to yourself, “Holy @#$%, that just happened, and I will never see anything like it again.” 

Louie Oosthuizen just drained a double eagle on the par 5 second at the masters from about 260 yards.

Then he winged the ball into the crowd. Come on, Louie. EBAY YOU FOOL!!!

You suck. Seriously, you f***ing suck.

Why, do you ask? Well, let me tell you. How else can you possibly describe a magazine that dedicates 65 consecutive pages of one issue to one meaningless game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, or the players involved in said meaningless game? Seriously, pages 53 through 118 are dedicated to one game, LeBron, Derrick Rose, Shane Battier, the bathrooms in the arena, and several other things that nobody except the most ardent fans of one team or the other could feasibly be interested in. Seriously, who could possibly care outside of people who live in Miami or Chicago, or have some misguided bandwagon loyalty to either team? Last I checked there were 50 states in the US, and not everybody likes freakin’ basketball! Most don’t hate it like I do, but still. I’d consider reading a human interest piece on a player… that wasn’t 2/3rds of an entire magazine long.

So why, Torsten, do you pay for this subscription? For the fantasy advice from the website’s insiders, I answer. And that part of ESPN is usually fairly insightful and entertaining, if not altogether accurate.

Torsten, is it possible that you are just upset because Dodger pitching just walked four consecutive hitters (for a total of six in the inning) and then hit a guy to let a 5-0 lead evaporate against the lowly Padres? Possible, yes. I admit.

Dear ESPN The Magazine. You still f***ing suck. It’s not even playoffs in the basketball season, yet you presume you will interest people with that crap. It IS mere days away from the playoffs in the NHL and the best you can come up with is Nikolai Khabibulin’s goalie mask collection?

Seriously, you suck. You. F***ing suck. I’m going to go back to reading you now, because I’m a glutton for punishment. Not the basketball part though. Because basketball is the most ridiculous sport in the world. Score 100 points and lose? For real…

No, really, what happened to it?  Starting my sophmore year of high school until this year, I have played hookie or called in sick to work every opening day.  It was always fantastic.  Wake up, games start at 10 AM here on the West Coast.  Games on all day, always drama, often times it falls on the same day as the NCAA national championship game, so after 9 hours of baseball, I get to watch the night game while flipping over to a championship game during commercials.  Sit around all day, BBQ some hot dogs, order a pizza, have a few beers, and just watch baseball all day.  I mastered it a few years back when I first bought the MLB app on the iPhone and subscribed to the MLB TV online.  Suddenly I was flipping between two or three games on TV, had a game on my computer, and another on my phone.  All the while tracking my fantasy teams.  Nothing better.  Doors open, always a sunny day with a calm breeze…just a perfect day.  I didn’t even mind when they added the Opening Night game on ESPN.  Then, last year, they move Opening Day to Thursday.  So I get the dilema of choosing to take true Opening Day off, or take Friday off.  I chose Friday since there were more games that day than Thursday.  Then this year, they do the opening series in Japan, wait a week, hold opening night.  Then half the league opens today, then have tomorrow off while the other half of the league opens tomorrow.  This is the first time in over ten years I have decided not to take the day off.  It doesn’t feel like there is a real opening day.  The joyful feel of opening day is gone.  Today doesn’t seem so sunny.  The breeze not so refreshingly crisp.  The drama not so dramatic.  The game I feel has found perfection in it’s simplistic complexity suddenly feels flawed.  So please Mr. Selig, I am begging you, bring Opening Day back to the beautiful occassion it is meant to be.  Give us 15 games on a Monday, starting early in the morning, ending late into the evening, and fill our senses with what I consider to be the greatest day of the year.

Let me get this straight.  The three weakest spots on the team are right, short and starting pitcher.  The bullpen is incredibly deep, so losing Papelbon was no big deal.  You have a stud future closer ready to take the role in Daniel Bard.  So you will take the best hitting shortstop in the system and trade him for a closer, then trade an average right fielder and prospects for another average right fielder and, yup, a closer.  Then you will take that guy that was groomed to be a closer and make him a starter.  Another one of the three closers gets hurt, so that leaves the third closer, right?  No, you take a guy that is really good in middle relief and was huge as a spot starter all season last year, and make him the closer.  Meanwhile Roy Oswalt doesn’t have a contract, but you bring Vicente Padilla and Rich Hill in to compete to make the rotation.  They both fail, so you announce Felix Doubront the fourth starter.  Shortstop will be Mike Aviles and Nick Punto…two great bench utility guys.  If they were to keep Pedro Ciriaco, he would be maybe a game lower WAR than those two.  What is next?  They gonna trade Middlebrooks and Iglesias for a center fielder, first baseman, and another closer?  I am convinced the Red Sox are trying to re-create the pre-2004 fan base, weed out all the bandwagon jumpers, and repeatedly obliterate the hearts of every die hard Red Sox fan left.  Congrats….you have succeeded in one right here, let’s just resurrect The Babe and trade him to the Yankees so we can fund the American Idiot play in a Boston area theatre coming soon.

The Idiots on the Idiot Box

Yup, we are finally wrapping this up. I’ve run out of things that piss me off after this. Yeah… right. Anyway, when I was a kid, my dad called the television the Idiot Box. I’m sure he isn’t the first or only to use the term, but I can only assume he called it that because of all the idiotic sports shows that are on. Seriously. Whether the subject matter is lame, the host(s) are universally regarded as jackholes, or whatever it is, sports has more moronic shows on television than any other genre, and I’m including sitcoms in this.

The matter is made only more glaring by the fact that there are truly brilliant sports shows out there. Bryant Gumbel’s Real Sports is a terrific example. So is ESPN’s Outside the Lines, and the 30 for 30 series (hey, if we’re going to criticize them for the horrid mess they’ve made out of Sportscenter, and larrup them over the abundance of sheer garbage populating their afternoon time slots, we must also be prepared to praise them over their jobs well done… infrequent as they may be in recent years).

Okay, praising over. What the hell is up with Pardon the Interruption? Who thinks to themselves, Know what I want to do today? Listen to Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon yell over each other in poorly informed opinions about stuff that has already been beaten to death in the media. What a grand idea that seems to be! Apparently, enough people think that for garbage like this to make it off the cutting room floor, or out of the focus group for that matter.

Rome is Burning… God, I can only wish… with him in it. Now don’t get me wrong, Jim Rome is quite knowledgable about a lot of sports, and relatively on course with many of his observations. But who the hell wants to watch what amounts to an AM radio personality yelling into the camera about things not nearly important enough in the large scheme of things to warrant elevated voice volume. The only thing that separates Rome from idiots like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh who huff and puff their way through segments with vein popping intensity to cover up the fact that they actually do very little research for facts to back up their ludicrous statements, or deliberately take things out of context to further their impossibly extreme right wing propaganda, is the subject matter. Plain. And. Simple.

Best D*** Sports Show Period? Compared to what? Conceptually, having a celebrity known for his comedic aplomb be the moderator of sorts among a panel of actual persons of some importance in sports sounds flush with potential. Especially if it’s run in a sort of Stephen Colbert way, where 75% of the questions are intentionally stupid to elicit humor. Alas, talent like Colbert’s is rare. Equally alas, disasters like this turd on a set are common.

Folks, I’m not saying I have the answer to the perfect sports show. I’m just saying the answers are out there. The models for brilliance have been erected, and mentioned in the open of this smear. Too serious for you? Tired of hearing about quadruple amputees who overcome adversity to become tennis champions? Tired of hearing about decapitated bowlers who routinely bowl strikes with their severed heads? Fine! Have a listen to Bill Simmons’ excellent podcast, The B.S. Report. I’ll be the first to tell you, I am not in love with the guy’s writing, nor any team from the New England are, further turning me off from his writing (this particular excellent article notwithstanding), but he’s a funny dude.

There has to be someone who makes the decision to let all the crap get aired. That person needs a high five. To the back of the head. With a bat. And there have to be the voices of common sense that can actually do away with the rubbish, and give the people what the NEED from their sports television (and radio). But there aren’t. So, I nominate Shaun and me.

Shaun

 

AL

 

East: Rays

Central: Tigers

West: Rangers

Wild Card 1: Angels

Wild Card 2: Yankees

MVP: Albert Pujols

Cy Young: Jered Weaver

 

NL

 

East: Marlins

Central: Cardinals

West: Diamondbacks

Wild Card 1: Reds

Wild Card 2: Nationals

MVP: Michael Morse

Cy Young: Matt Latos

 

Torsten

 

AL

 

East: Tampa

Central: Detroit

West: Texas

Wild Card 1: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, just slightly west of Buena Park about 15 minutes from Disneyland

Wild Card 2: Yankees

MVP: Yeonis Cespedes Miguel Cabrera

Cy Young: Dan Haren

 

NL

 

East: Miami

Central: St. Louis

West: San Francisco

Wild Card 1: @#$%ing Phillies

Wild Card 2: Dodgers

MVP: Hanley Ramirez

Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

I love baseball prospect lists.  Who will be the stars of the future?  What names will be filling the All-Star ballots in a few years?  But the one problem I have with prospect lists, is they ignore the guys that fill out rosters.  The future fifth starters, the fourth outfielders, the utility infielders.  You know, who is gonna be the next Dave Roberts?  Who is a future Aaron Harang?  Is there a next Casey Blake?  And it is great if Jurickson Profar is the stud shortstop of 2014, who is the shortstop that will make his debut this season that we haven’t heard of?  I know Anthony Rendon, Will Middlebrooks, Bryce Harper, and Trevor Bauer, but who is going to be the next Brian Daubach?  Well, that is what this is.  I have chosen one under the radar prospect that I expect to make his major league debut this season.  Some more under the radar than others, some have been on the top of prospect lists past, but fallen off the radar, and are now close to finally making an impact.  So, without further ado, here are the guys.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks – A.J. Pollock – OF – Pollock missed a season due to injury in his three year pro career, so he is still in need of some seasoning, but he may make a mid-season jump up to Arizona as an emergency filler in the outfield.  Last year he led his league in runs and hits, has a very successful steals rate in the minors, but doesn’t have great speed.  He won’t light up any scoreboards, but could become a solid ball player and add serious depth down the stretch.

 

Atlanta Braves – J.J. Hoover – RHP – He is likely going to produce out of the bullpen by mid-season and be a spot starter.  He has a live fastball with movement.  His upside is a fourth starter, but will be able to make an impact for the Braves this season.

 

Baltimore Orioles – Ryan Flaherty – INF/OF – A former first round pick of the Cubs, Flaherty was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Orioles.  The fact he was a Rule 5 selection, and the Roberts injury, assures him a spot on the opening day roster as a middle infield depth.  He can also play third and the outfield.

 

Boston Red Sox – Alex Wilson – RHP – He is far from the prized prospect in the Red Sox organization, but with the pitching struggles the Red Sox are sure to have, Alex Wilson will likely see some action in the bigs this season.  He has a hard biting slider and a running fastball that can reach 98.  He may is most likely a reliever, but does have an outside chance of catching on as the fifth starter by the end of the season.

 

Chicago Cubs – Josh Vitters – 3B/1B – A former third overall pick has largely disappointed over the past five years in the minors.  He has watched Mike Moustakas, David Price, Jason Heyward, Matt Weiters, Madison Bumgarner, and the like from the 2007 draft have big league success, but he hasn’t advanced past AA.  He has the potential to his 20 home runs each year with an average around .270.  Third base is far from a solidified position for the Cubs, so expect Vitters to make his debut sometime in mid-July, or whenever the Cubs prove to be non-contenders this season.

 

Chicago White Sox – Josh Phegley – C – Pierzinsky isn’t getting any younger and Tyler Flowers hasn’t shown that he is the catcher of the future.  Phegley hit well this spring while at big league camp.  There isn’t much depth in the organization at catcher, so giving Phegley a look this season would serve the White Sox well.

 

Cincinnati Reds – Neftali Soto – 1B – Soto has real power, has spent time at short, third, and catcher before settling in at first base.  He has improved his approach at the plate going from a dead pull hitter to a guy that can use all fields.  He may get some time at third this season, and play first to give Joey Votto a day off.  If he can’t prove he can play third, he will likely end up trade bait if the Reds find themselves in the playoff chase.

 

Cleveland Indians – Chen Lee – RHP – Lee has experience in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic for his native Taiwan.  He has been successful in every stop thus far in the minors.  He projects as a premier set up man.  By the end of the season, a Lee/Pestano/Perez end of game may be one of the better 7/8/9 inning combinations in the American League.

 

Colorado Rockies – Ben Paulson – 1B – Paulson has impressive raw power, but has struggled with contact.  He made adjustments in the Arizona Fall League and performed quite well.  If he continues to improve his strike zone recognition, he could find himself in Colorado come September.

 

Detroit Tigers – Drew Smyly – LHP – Smyly was impressive in his first professional season last year.  He has four pitches and a ¾ delivery from the left side.  His changeup makes him effective against both right and left handers.  If he pitches well in AAA this season, he will likely find himself at the back of the rotation by the end of the season.

 

Houston Astros – Jonathon Villar – SS – Villar has been unimpressive with the bat in pro ball, but has a great glove and speed.  He was a main part of the Oswalt deal a couple years ago, and could find himself with the Astros as a late inning defensive replacement or pinch runner.  His upside is as a number 7 or 8 hitter, but could be a gold glove caliber fielder.

 

Kansas City Royals – Christian Colon – SS/2B – Colon will likely start the season in AA.  He isn’t a good defensive shortstop, but does look good at second.  He has raw power, but hasn’t been able to make it translate in pro ball.  If he finally lives up to his potential with the bat, he could very well leap frog Giavotella and be the second baseman late in the season for a Royals team that is looking to surprise people this season.

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Luis Jiminez – 3B – Jiminez got a decent look early this spring and performed pretty well.  Third base is a clear weak spot for the Angels, as they will likely be going with Alberto Callaspo if Trumbo can’t field at third or raise his OBP. Kaleb Cowart is the third baseman of the future, but Jiminez may get a look this season to see if he can hold down the position until Cowart is ready.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers – Alfredo Silverio – OF – Silverio only got four at bats this spring, but is a likely late season call up for the Dodgers.  He has average power, shows a good feel for the zone, a good glove, above average speed, and a quality arm.  With Ethier a free agent after this season, look for Silverio to get some action with the Dodgers to see if he is a decent in-house option to replace Ethier.

 

Miami Marlins – Evan Reed – RHP – Originally a starting prospect for the Rangers, he blew out his shoulder in his first outing in the Marlins system.  His recovery has been rough, but with time at the Arizona Fall League this year really helped him.  He isn’t projected as a starter anymore, but could be a quality option in the bullpen by mid-season for the Marlins.

 

Milwaukee Brewers – Caleb Gindl – OF – Gindl got a real look during spring training this year, and performed pretty well.  The big league outfield is pretty well set for the Brewers, and Aoki is the first option as a replacement for any injury to an outfielder.  That being said, Gindl has proved himself at every level of the minors and is deserving of a look this season.

 

Minnesota Twins – Brian Dozier – SS/2B – Dozier doesn’t really project as an everyday starter at either short or second, but could be a very good utility infielder.  He should get a call up sometime this season and create a role for himself much in the Nick Punto/Brandon Inge/Jamey Carroll mold.  And what better way to do that than back up Carroll himself this season?

 

New York Mets – Zach Lutz – 1B/3B – Lutz struggles this spring in big league camp, but his lowest average at any level with over 200 at-bats is .284.  He has as much power as anyone in the Mets organization.  He has had a string of lower body injuries in his career, so his range at third is limited at best.  He projects best as a first baseman, and if Ike Davis struggles with valley fever, Lutz could find himself as an everyday first baseman by September.

 

New York Yankees – David Phelps – RHP – Phelps will start the season in his third stint in AAA.  He has three above average pitches and a slider that isn’t big league ready yet.  He projects as a long man or fifth starter.  With the pitching questions the Yankees have this year, Phelps is just an injury or two from getting the call.

 

Oakland A’s – Steve Parker – 3B/1B – It would be all too easy to pick one of the many pitching prospects the A’s have.  But the guy furthest under the radar for the A’s is Steve Parker.  His arm has improved enough to become a decent third baseman, and with the injuries at that position the A’s are dealing with, an opportunity may open up for Parker.  The A’s will be bad this year, and if Donaldson or Sogard don’t step up and lock down the third base job, look for Parker to be given a shot.

 

Philadelphia Phillies – Phillipe Aumont – RHP – Aumont is a tall and long pitcher.  He was the 11^th overall selection in 2007 with as high an upside as anyone in the draft.  He has not progressed as a starter, but has a plus fastball and a nasty curve making him an incredibly effective reliever.  Aumont may break camp on the big league roster, and if he does, he could be the 8^th inning guy bridging to Papelbon by the end of the season.

 

Pittsburgh Pirates – Gorkys Hernandez – OF – Hernandez has already been traded twice in his career, and this season may be a third time.  He is a centerfielder that could prove to be an everyday guy, but is blocked by Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte nipping at his heals.  Look for the Pirates to give him a shot in June and July, then trade him to a contending team in need of outfield depth…say…the Rangers.

 

San Diego Padres – Yasmani Grandal – C – Grandal is a serviceable defender, but above average offensively.  He doesn’t have big home run power, but does have gap power.  Add that to the fact he is a switch hitter, and he could really thrive in a park like Petco.  While Hundley is a solid starter at catcher for the Padres, Grandal could earn himself a shot as the second catcher by late season, and potentially battle Hundley for the job by next spring.

 

San Francisco Giants – Francisco Peguero – OF – Peguero has an above average arm and has become a great defender.  His has developing power, and needs to improve his approach at the plate.  His defense fits AT&T Park perfectly as a right fielder.  He can also play some center, and while it is unlikely, he does have an outside shot of making the opening day roster.  Peguero and Gary Brown are the clear future for the Giants outfield.

 

Seattle Mariners – Erasmo Ramirez –RHP – The Mariners are loaded with pitcher prospects.  Felix, Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, and Hector Noesi line up to be the top four for years to come.  Ramirez is likely to be the fifth man in the rotation.  He gets hit hard when he leaves his fastball up in the zone, which he does too often, and he doesn’t look like the typical pitcher, standing just 5’11”, but he has proved he can handle a heavy inning load.  He should make his debut this season and prove to be a valuable innings eater for years to come.

 

St. Louis Cardinals – Zack Cox – 3B – David Freese lit the world on fire in last year’s postseason, but I question whether or not he is the long term answer there.  Cox does not have huge power numbers, but does look to be a potential .300 hitter with 20 home run power.  Look for him to get a September call up to allow the Cards to assess his value to the big league club.

 

Tampa Bay Rays – Tim Beckham – SS – Maybe this is just being hopeful.  Beckham was a former #1 overall pick in 2008, he has struggled in professional ball.  He finally made the Futures game last year and looked like he belonged.  Hak-Ju Lee is the shortstop of the future, and Beckham is starting to look like he may fit better on a corner of the field than the middle.  He may become a utility guy similar to Sean Rodriguez.

 

Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers – RHP – Scheppers has battled injury and control issues through his career.  Once a starting prospect, he is now destined to land in the bullpen.  Upside of a closer with a fastball that can touch triple digits, but ed to land in the bullpen.  Upside of a closer with a fastball that can touch triple digits, but it is a very flat fastball that can be seen easily.  The Rangers have a solid pen, but Scheppers should get some run at some point this year whether it be due to big league injuries or to eat relief innings in September remains to be seen.

 

Toronto Blue Jays – Adeiny Hechavarria – SS – A former member of the Cuban national team, Hechavarria is a plus defender and could be a real base stealing threat.  He has gap power, but walks too little and strikes out too much.  If Kelly Johnson struggles this year, Hechavarria could get some run at short with the Blue Jays moving Escobar to second.

 

Washington Nationals – Tyler Moore – 1B – The Nationals drafted Moore three times before finally convincing him to sign.  He hit 31 home runs each of the last two years in the minors.  He may have to play some in the outfield at AAA to get playing time, but should get some time at first in the bigs by the end of the season.  Look for the Nationals to give him a look and see if he is worthy of being a starting first baseman for a team that should compete for years to come.

 

 

Can’t we do away with the Rooney Rule already?  It was a fantastic idea when it was first put into place requiring every NFL team to interview at least one minority candidate for an open head coaching job.  But isn’t that outdated these days?  Are there really any owners that would not give a head coach a shot because he isn’t the right color?  I believe the Rooney Rule is actually causing the Saints to walk a very fine line.  If Bill Parcels agrees to be the interim head coach for the Saints, then it is painfully obvious that the only reason it hasn’t already been announced is they are forced to give a courtesy interview to someone they have no intention of even considering for the job.  When I watch football, the color of the head coach doesn’t even enter my mind.  The Saints need a coach that is looking to only coach for one year and won’t be aiming to take the job from Sean Payton next year.  They need a coach that is not currently on a staff because nobody in their right mind would leave a job to take an interim job.  So the Saints are likely scrambling to find a minority candidate to interview to satisfy the rule.  The Rooney Rule was one of the best rules ever instituted in the NFL, it has been successful, but it is time to remove the rule before it becomes a negative.  Let it take its place in football history while it can still be remembered in a positive light.