Why not win your last game?

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The news of Tony La Russa

retiring has sent shock waves through the sports world.

When you think

about a great like Phil Jackson who is the winningest coach in the

NBA, he lost his last game and everyone knew he was done. Who was

the last great coach who walked away after winning his last

game?

Yeah, I did not

have an immediate answer either, which means they obviously do not

last long. Scotty Bowman in the NHL won his last game as a coach

and when you think about it he is in the Phil Jackson status when

it comes to all-time greats of our era. Other than that, it’s hard

to imagine any other names that would end up in this

conversation.

As far as Tony

La Russa is concerned, he is the greatest team leader this town has

ever had. No, Dick Vermeil is not the answer, nor is anyone from

the Blues, St. Louis U. or for that fact anywhere in this

state.

La Russa’s

ability to have an answer to everything, be it right or wrong, was

a dream to anyone who covered him or wanted to learn the game. In

his last 16 years of championships and playoff appearances, he was

right more than he was wrong.

He had his

moments though. Dealing with the Whitey Herzog faction, the way he

dealt with the media after a loss on live TV, the handling of the

hiring of Mark McGwire and firing a good man in Hal McRae, and of

course how things went downhill with him and the Hall of Famer

Ozzie Smith.

All

unfortunate, but the Ozzie things stands out because this is story

of two proud men. If there is a silver lining, neither missed a

meal because they were out of a job because of the actions of the

other.

La Russa was

good for St. Louis. While I hear the detractors who want hate on

him for reasons that have nothing to do with winning ball games, I

will remind you that Tony never threw a player or coach under the

bus. Have you ever worked for a boss who in 16 years never threw

you or co-workers under the bus?

I am often

amused by those who said that Tony did not like black players on

his team. I guess the same could be said for the black manager in

Texas, Ron Washington, who only had one on his roster and he was a

37-year-old relief pitcher.

Managers do not

draft players nor do they sign them as free agents. The good ones

manage what is given to them and hope with some success they will

have more of a voice. In La Russa’s case, he took black players who

were not major leaguers in Joe Thurston, Rico Washington and Brian

Barton and gave them a chance that no other organization would. By

the way, how did those careers turn out for those guys after they

left St. Louis?

While there are

some that will claim they are glad he is gone, they could be right,

as 16 years with one team is a long time in the sports world. The

best have shown to have a 10-year shelf life.

His departure

at age 67 was going to happen soon anyway, so why not win your last

game?

So he won’t be

missed? Just wait till the new manager has a losing streak and some

injuries and the call will there to call Tony only this time he

won’t answer. He will be in baseball somewhere in another capacity,

and that will be fine with me. My guess is you will see him working

for the Chicago White Sox, and that is cool. I can only wish him

luck and thank him for all he has done.

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As for the

replacement, quite frankly I would not have a problem with many of

the names I am hearing. My personal favorites would be Terry

Pendleton or Jose Oquendo. Both are former Cardinals and both have

been around some good managers. Pendleton played for Hall of Famer

Joe Torre. He also was the bench coach for future Hall of Famer

Bobby Cox in Atlanta. Oquendo played for Herzog and coached under

Torre and La Russa.

While they have

learned a lot, they have never managed in the majors. The same

could be said for the new White Sox manager Robin Ventura, who

never wore a uniform as a coach let alone a manger in the

majors.

The other names

seem to make people thirsty as well: current Tampa Bay manager Joe

Maddon, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona and former major

league manager and Cardinal coach and farm hand Jim

Riggleman.

In all of this,

I never mentioned – until now – Albert, or who needs to be added or

let go to make 2012 another season to remember. Won’t this be a fun

off-season?

Why not win your last game?

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