Sunday, April 20, 2008

Homers: best way to ruin a sports program

There's always one of these homers every time a legend retires. Coach Ron Polk announced he is retiring from coaching Mississippi State baseball and he would like MSU to hire current assistant coach and former MSU player Tommy Raffo as his replacement. Naturally the homers came out of the woodwork, writing letters to the newspaper begging for Raffo to be hired as he is one of their own:  

"There is a lot of talk going around on why Mississippi State University should do a nationwide search for a new baseball coach. Maybe it should, but not only does Coach Ron Polk know how to groom players and coach them, but he also knows how to groom coaches and coach them.  

I think the last time he picked a coach to follow in his footsteps his name was Pat McMahon. He did such a good job at Mississippi State that the University of Florida lured him away. Tommy Raffo, whom Polk prefers, has not had the experience of a head coaching job. But if it is time for him to move to that position, who should know better than Coach Polk? It seems that when Mississippi universities get a good coach who does well, an out-of-state university will pay big bucks and lure that coach closer to his original home. Mississippi is home for Coach Raffo. 

Jeff Robinson

 Bolton"  

I just knew one of them would show up. People fear change and every time a legend retires there is a call for one of his boys to get the job so they can keep things going just like they are. Unfortunately, homers like Mr. Robinson ignore history, which clearly shows unproven assistant coaches rarely replace legends and are usually fired after a few years. 

I went through this a few years ago with Skip Bertman, who was allowed to pick his successor. The best program in college baseball. We could have hired Verito, Rice's coach, Tanner, Wells, Bianco, Horton, or one of a number of top college baseball coaches. Instead we hired ULM's coach because he was one of Skip's boys. We saw how that turned out. Ole Miss hired Kessinger. One of the Ole Miss legends. Need I say more? Felker? Brewer? Pokey Chatman? Mike Shula? Mike DuBose? Rod Barnes? Need I say more? Ole Miss didn't begin to improve in sports until it hired complete outsiders: Tuberville. Kennedy. Bianco (Oh my gosh, he came from....LSU!!!) MSU finally hired Sherill. You get the point. 

When hiring a coach, you hire the damn resume', period. Raffo was a good player and is a good assistant coach. Why would you hire an assistant coach with NO head coaching experience over a Cohen or other coach who has a proven track record? The SEC is filled with coaches who have been to Omaha, yet the homers want to throw an unproven assistant coach against them. Don't worry though, he's family! 

Usually when you hire with your heart and not your brain, you wind up having to use your brain to bail you out of the trouble your heart brought upon you. Don't hire Raffo. Let him earn his spurs somewhere else and hire a proven winner.

 

Posted by Kingfish at 1:04 PM

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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.