Woody, I agree the Bulls-Celtics playoffs were one of the best ever. The one big distraction for me: the nonstop timeouts. One team scores, then the other calls timeout. The players rush to the bench, where the coach brings out a chalkboard and draws up the next play! What is up with that? Why can't they just call a play as they do in Football?
Jerry Longbons, Volcan, Panama
Woody Paige: Nothing you'll be able to do about the timeouts, particularly because of television. And it is a part of the strategy to trade offensive players for defensive players. I hate the incessant trips to the free-throw line that slow down a game. Seems to me that when I began covering pro basketball in 1970, it was a faster, better-paced game. But maybe I just long for the old days.
I once asked Doug Moe, then the head coach of the Nuggets, why when he called timeout at the end of the game, he drew up plays. Obviously, even with Moe, the teams have plays. Why not just say, "No. 3." He told me that the purpose of diagramming the play was to go over once again what the players were supposed to do on a certain play already practiced hundreds of times. He also said there were variations on a play, and that you might want to get a hot player (Alex English at that time) open, and maybe a couple of screens were added for the situation, or, in fact, it was like drawing up a play in the dirt because of the defense.
Impact of Broncos' draft. You are the perfect antidote to Jay Mariotti's grouchy personality on "Around the Horn." Aside from the two first-round picks in this year's NFL draft for the Broncos , will any of the other players really have an impact in the following years?
Al, Gypsum
Woody Paige: I play the Cookie Monster; Mariotti is The Grouch.
The Broncos eventually could end up with five or six starters out of the players they picked, which would make it a very successful draft. However, they should have drafted more defensive players. Knowshon Moreno will play right away, but I'm still bothered by the fact that the Patriots' system - and that's what the Broncos have now - uses three backs, and Josh McDaniels went out and signed three free-agent backs. Now he says he has a guy who can play all three downs. What about the others? They're not going to be thrilled, after they signed thinking they would play.
Reliever or starter. Do you think that Joba Chamberlain should be in the starting rotation, or should he stay in the bullpen to help salvage their relief?
Frankie Lawrence, Las Cruces, N.M.
Woody Paige: He should be in the bullpen. The Yankees' middle relief needs help, and Phil Hughes finally may have become the starter they expected a year ago. Chien-Ming Wang will be back, and they'll have five solid starters, maybe, and a great closer. You got to build for the playoffs, and Chamberlain would be a great setup man again.
Trade a catcher. The Rockies seem to have two quality catchers in Chris Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba. Why doesn't the team trade one of them for another quality pitcher? They spent a bundle keeping Torrealba a few years back but don't really need both players.
Paul Donegan Burlington, Vt.
Woody Paige: Iannetta is going nowhere. If they could trade Yorvit, they would, and they probably will. His batting average has slipped as low as Iannetta's. Iannetta hit a grand slam the other night, and it seems as if almost every hit he gets is a home run. He is playing great defensively, throwing out a lot of runners, but we still have to wonder if he can hit .250 and can handle pitchers. Yorvit, who I love for this team, deals with the Latino pitchers very well, and is a leader in the clubhouse for the foreign-
born players. The catchers won't go soon, but someone may. If you get my drift.
Broncos' diagnosis. The Broncos are a disaster. In a few months, they hire an arrogant rookie head coach, make him the de facto GM, run their QB out of town, draft a bunch of players that don't match their needs, and trade away several future picks, including what will be a high first-rounder. Am I missing anything here?
Dennis Smythe, Highlands Ranch
Woody Paige: No, except maybe dinner. ---------------- Missing Mike. Do you think Mike Shanahan will coach again after the three-year payment from the Broncos is completed?
Max A. Clark Beavercreek, Ohio
Woody Paige: Next year. I genuinely believe Shanahan will turn up in Dallas, replacing Wade Phillips as a head coach for the second time. Shanahan decided to take a year off rather than go to K.C. ? Shanahan, I can tell you, is feeling down and bored, and misses the day-to-day activity. ? I'm certain that he wants to get back in and prove a lot of folks wrong about him. He won't wait three years.
