FROM GENIUS TO KNUCKLEHEAD

Of all things … briefly told (that’s the plan, at 

least):

Once called “The Genius” by an adoring press 

corps, NHL Rangers coach PETER 

LAVIOLETTE no longer qualifies. Half-witted 

knucklehead is more like it now that the team 

has lost seven of its last nine games and doesn’t 

look like it cares about qualifying for the 

playoffs … Friday night, on the road at the 

Anaheim Ducks, which have zero chance of 

making post-season play (for the eighth straight 

year), the Rangers blew a two-goal third period 

lead and bowed 5-4 in overtime … At least The 

Former Genius couldn’t blame Richmond’s ZAC 

JONES, who was a healthy scratch for the first 

time since Feb. 25. Laviolette replaced the 23 

year old left-handed defenseman with URHO 

VAAKANAINEN who came that close to ending 

teammate IGOR SHESTERKIN’s season … With 

6:06 left in the second period. Ducks’ JACKSON 

LACOMBE and, together, they landed on 

Shesterkin, the New York goaltender who has been 

as good all season as most of his teammates have 

been bad … Vaakanainen, who came to the Rangers 

Dec. 6 in the trade that sent JACOB TROUBA to 

Anaheim, was penalized for holding. Shesterkin 

remained down for a while but, fortunately, wasn’t 

injured seriously and remained in the game.

With five major prep races (100 points to win, 50 for 

runnerup, 25-15-10 third through fifth) remaining,

 BOB BAFFERT’s bid to stack the Kentucky Derby 

has gone from, great to good to who knows? … At 

one time, not that long ago, the veteran trainer had as 

many as six, possibly seven, highly-rated 

Thoroughbreds likely to crack the 20-horse lineup. 

Now, with time running out, he has only two 

presumably with enough points to qualify … 

including GETAWAY CAR which tired badly and 

finished fourth in the March 15 Virginia Derby he 

went off the 4-5 favorite.

JOHN HANCOCK, pulled from the field at Colonial 

Downs (after being second choice at 3/1 on the 

morning line) to run in the March 22 Louisiana 

Derby (Gr. 2), was a disappointing fourth … STEVE 

ASMUSSEN-trained TIZTASTIC came from way 

behind to win by 2 ¼ lengths and assure a place in 

the Run for the Roses … In last Saturday’s other 

Derby prep, FINAL GAMBIT came from the back of 

a 12-horse field to claim the Jeff Ruby Steaks (yes, 

steaks, not stakes) at Turfway Park … Tiztastic (119 

points) and Final Gambit (100) are 1-2 on the Road 

to the Kentucky Derby … which has Gr. 1 stops 

today (March 29) at Gulfstream Park, where BILL 

MOTT-trained SOVEREIGNTY is 8/5 favorite in 

the Florida Derby … and at Oaklawn Park where 

Baffert’s CORNUCOPIAN is the 7/5 choice in a 

nine-horse Arkansas Derby field despite making only 

its second start.

The NCAA continues to cave … killing the rule NIL 

negotiations cannot begin prior to an athlete’s enrollment 

… like it would have stopped anything anyway.

In response to an e-mail requesting a donation, we asked

 JASON MIYARES, the commonwealth’s attorney 

general running for re-election, if he regretted being

partially responsible for throwing college athletics into 

chaos … by joining other state AG’s to take the NCAA to 

court, demanding the alleged students should be paid for 

their athleticism – and winning, for crying out loud.

Naturally, there has been no response … when a simple 

yes or no would have sufficed (and told volumes about 

the man). Of course, he didn’t get any money from us, 

either.

BILL BELICHICK Watch update: The new North 

Carolina-Chapel Hill football coach won one and lost one 

… getting four-star defensive lineman TRASHAWN 

RUFFIN from Mt. Olive, N.C.. to reneg on a 

commitment to Texas A&M … then losing a three-star 

quarterback, who decided to be recruited all over again. 

Pirates’ NICK GONZALES, 25, will be known forever 

as … Hey, aren’t you the guy who suffered a fractured 

[left] ankle jogging around the bases after hitting a home 

run? … Happened Thursday in Pittsburgh’s season opener 

with Miami.

Until next time ...