A Wolverine trying to make it in Buckeye country

Sporting News, The, May 19, 2003

The people who are in a big rush to sack the baseball career of Drew Henson are way offside. "He still reminds me of Cal Ripken," says Fly's guy in Class AAA Columbus. Yes, the numbers are way off, but that big breakthrough is oh, so close, especially now that his bat has come alive of late (getting drafted by the Texans has a way of making you focus on hitting the curve). Patience and the Yankees go together like winning and the D-Rays, but here's a friendly reminder for The Boss: You almost gave up on Al Soriano, too.

Discovered in Columbus

In other news from the Yankees' top bush-league team, it doesn't take a scientist to figure out why Jose Contreras wasn't throwing like Rocket in his first Pinstripe stint: It wasn't the arm, it was the head, stupid. Contreras finally began feasting on hitters after he quit nibbling. And now that he's Bronx-bound, again, the plan of attack is this: Throw your stuff out there, and see what that does to the sticks.

He's not my successor, he's my friend

The big question in Big D surrounding the Mavs--other than, "Why don't they guard anybody?"--is: Will Don Nelson coach them next year? The smart money says Mark Cuban's money--they aren't always the same thing--will keep Nelson in the front office but not on the bench. When Paul Silas hung out with the Mavs early in the Kings series, that pumped up the whispers. Nellie's company line was his old Celtics roommate was just paying him a quick visit, but he then thought long-term and said, "If I wasn't coming back, he'd be the No. 1 guy on the sheet."

How to make the Magic go poof!

Orlando's quest to find some size/any size appears to have netted it Drew Gooden long-term, but the reason it always loses in Round 1 is it keeps getting manhandled by opposing points (Chauncey Billups didn't look that good even in Boulder). The Magic won't have the dollars to get Gilbert Arenas--though it could have drafted him two years ago--so that means it will be sizing up Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnour and Reece Gaines, who could be had when the 15th pick comes around.

Hey, didn't you used to be Pete Sampras?

The 'do's and don'ts

Mets shortstop Rey Sanchez was widely criticized for allegedly getting a haircut in the clubhouse during a game. Actually, he may be on to something. Imagine how much better the Mets would be if they had told Armando Benitez about the ninth-inning specials on manicures?