MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

Thoughts that crossed my mind while waiting between agames at the State Farm/LHSAA state volleyball tournament this week.

Want an example of the current landscape of Major League Baseball? How about two big market teams playing for the World Series while the rookies of the years (Cincinnati’s Scott William-son and Kansas City’s Carlos Beltran) coming from small market squads.

Speaking of the Reds, the choice of Jack McKeon as National League manager of the year was a no-brainer.

McKeon proved that with the right leadership, small market teams can be successful (at least in the short term).

The trades of Juan Gonzalez and Shawn Green recently may be an indication of things to come. With so many big names in the free agencymarket next year after a week field this year, look for a flurry of deals in the Hot Stove League and after the All-Star break.

Have a happy retirement, Wade Boggs. Say what you want about him, theman could hit. Cooperstown awaits in five years. Speaking of retirements, everybody is making a big deal about Michael Jordan showing up at Bulls’ practice recently. So what? Let the man havesome fun. I think he deserved it. Speaking of MJ, he might be the greatest ever but in is career, he scored 50 or more points 30 times. Wilt Chamberlain did it 45 times in oneseason and in a time when scores were lower.

Ooh, Steve Stenstrom versus Billy Joe Tolliver when San Francisco visits the Saints in the Superdome this week. That alone wants me to shell out$50 for a ticket.

And you know the 49ers dynasty is on a Roman-like decline when they are favorite by a mere one point over a Saints team that is 1-7.

And while we are on the subject of overpriced sporting events, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis square off tonight.

Just as long as it doesn’t come down to a judge’s decision again.

So who’s playing for second place in the Johnny Walker golf tournament this week? Or as the rest of the Tour is becoming known as, “The Tiger Woods Invitational.” Three Colts and three Rams are in the top 10 in Pro Bowl voting. What kindof odds do you think you could have gotten on that prior to the season.

And you probably could have gotten better odds on Curt Warner (former Seattle running back) being the second leading vote getter rather than Kurt Warner.

My prediction for the No. 1 team in college basketball was Connecticut.That lasted all about one half. Now my favorite is North Carolina,especially with guard Ed Cota back.

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