STYLE? SUBSTANCE? FANTASY? by ST

Is anyone as confused over the search for a new men's basketball coach at Oregon than me? Still not buying any of it. Tom Izzo? Like a caller said on a show last week, go for it, make the pitch to the biggest names out there. That's all well and good, but is it realistic the top coaches would even consider Eugene. Izzo is from Iron Mountain, Michigan and is the king of East Lansing in his home state. They make the Final 4 like every other year. Think that's possible at a program like Oregon? Tubby Smith is another name that's surfaced. Nice coach. Is he a home run, big national splash name? Sort of. His biggest success at the collegiate level came in 1998 when his Kentucky team won the National Championship. He took the reigns from Rick Pitino who'd let the Wildcats to the 96 title and in 97 back to the final game before falling in O.T to Arizona. Never made it back to the Final 4 and UK is one of the games elite programs. He just finished his 3rd season at Minnesota. Has made the Dance twice but got bounced in the 1st round each time and has yet to post better than a .500 record in the Big 10 conference. Excellent coach, but I question his WOW factor and if he's even an upgrade from Ernie Kent.
The fact remains, I still don't see their guy. Does anyone really think Jamie Dixon is leaving what he termed "the greatest conference in college basketball history" and his situation at Pitt for the Ducks? Mark Turgeon of Texas A & M has already said no. I'm game. Drop me a line with your suggestion and let's gauge the level of plausibility. The email is stevetannen@live.com
Quick baseball thought. Today's ESPN game was Cardinals/Twins. The talk was Joe Mauer or Albert Pujols. Right now who is your franchise guy? Gotta love em both, but Phat Albert just turned 30, Mauer is a month shy of 27. Plus he's a catcher. Throw in a lefty bat and it's a matter of numbers. I'd never dismiss Pujols cause he might hit 225 homers and drive in 600 runs the next 5 years, but by then Mauer is still in his prime, AP on the backside of his Hall of Fame career. The answer is Joe Mauer.