By Mel Greenberg
There's one program up in New England the Guru and the rest of the media crowd comments much about of which there's a belief next season's contingent could be coached blindfolded.
Now there's another program in the same general locale where its new head coach has already achieved one blindfold stunt.
The news earlier this week that former North Carolina star Sylvia Crawley had become the head coach at Boston College recalls an act she performed at halftime of the All-Star in the former American Basketball League during the 197-98 season at Disney in Florida in which she successfully dunked the ball blindfolded.
However, considering the competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference in which she once went up against on the court, Crawley could be counted upon this time around to coach the Eagles with her eyes wide open.
Meanwhile, as Crawley was taking over the helm in Beantown, several days later former Boston College associate head coach Erik Johnson was named Wednesday as the new head coach in Denver.
Calling It 30 for Perretta
In the newspaper business before email and contact information signoffs became the vogue in the modern era, reporters usually placed a "30" or an "endit" at the bottom of their copy to let editors at the next stop know that the file had been concluded.
The Guru mentions this only to note that the number 30 will loom large on the Villanova campus a week from Saturday when Harry Perretta is honored for his three decades running the Wildcats.
Unlike the denotation of the number in our copy, Perretta is not considered likely to be leaving the Main Line anytime soon.
There may be some roasting, but for the most part the event will be tributary from former players, associates and others who have enjoyed the pleasure of Perretta's relationships over the years.
And no, don't look for any "Spirit of Camp Perretta" accords to be signed by Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.
Although the two Hall of Famers are at odds over Summitt's accusations to the NCAA through the Southeastern Conference of recruiting violations by Auriemma, the two both enjoy Perretta's friendship.
Neither, however, is expected to be in attendance.
Coast-to-Coast Bonding With the Sparks
While checking out a rumor, which proved unfounded, over the weekend, the trail led the Guru, initially, to send an email inquiry to Kathy Goodman, one of the two women who became owners of the Los Angeles Sparks last season.
A response came back within the hour in which the Guru, who had included some introductory paragraphs, was told by Ms. Goodman, she had his blog in her internet favorites bookmarks long before she became part of the Sparks hierarchy.
Since the Guru is known to conduct late-night calls from the East to still-early-night calls to the Pacific Time Zone, as the general manager of the WNBA-champion Phoenix Mercury can verify, a marathon conversation later ensued Sunday evening.
The Guru will simply state for now, there certainly seems to be has much energy in the front office as the Sparks are expected to produce in the Staples Center this season with the post-attack tandem of Lisa Leslie, returning from missing last season due to pregnancy, and first-round draft pick Candace Parker.
-- Mel
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