SOME RANDOM observations after a days watching fuzzy yellow balls being smacked to and fro:

Is an 11-year contract a good idea? Ever?

Let's strip away, for the minute, any motivation president Mike Garrison had in hatching this deal. Let's consider the base question here: Is an 11-year contract a good idea?

For the university?

For the coach?

For anybody?

I know Huggins has a brilliant basketball mind. I know he is a capable recruiter. What he did with the 2007-08 Mountaineers was beyond admirable.

And, as you'll see in a later item, I love a good villain.

But 11 stinkin' years? Aren't there comets that cross galaxies in that span?

I could - and probably should - write a book about the evils of long-term contracts, and all the ones that turned out miserably, hopelessly bad.

Let's just take major league pitchers, for example: There is only one pitcher I've known in three-plus decades who should have received a contract longer than three years. That's Greg Maddux, the mound mastermind who never blew out his elbow, shoulder or anything else.

My list of athletes and coaches in all other disciplines who merit contracts much longer than three years is awfully short: Jordan, Gretzky, Lemieux, Gwynn, Griffey, the elder Earnhardt and I'm starting to struggle for anybody else.

Eleven years? Forget it.

Is an 11-year contract a good idea? Ever?

Let's strip away, for the minute, any motivation president Mike Garrison had in hatching this deal. Let's consider the base question here: Is an 11-year contract a good idea?

For the university?

For the coach?

For anybody?

I know Huggins has a brilliant basketball mind. I know he is a capable recruiter. What he did with the 2007-08 Mountaineers was beyond admirable.

And, as you'll see in a later item, I love a good villain.

But 11 stinkin' years? Aren't there comets that cross galaxies in that span?

I could - and probably should - write a book about the evils of long-term contracts, and all the ones that turned out miserably, hopelessly bad.

Let's just take major league pitchers, for example: There is only one pitcher I've known in three-plus decades who should have received a contract longer than three years. That's Greg Maddux, the mound mastermind who never blew out his elbow, shoulder or anything else.

My list of athletes and coaches in all other disciplines who merit contracts much longer than three years is awfully short: Jordan, Gretzky, Lemieux, Gwynn, Griffey, the elder Earnhardt and I'm starting to struggle for anybody else.

Eleven years? Forget it.

And if I were blessed with the gift to land a seven- or eight-figure salary, I wouldn't want anything too long, either. Ownerships, management, fan opinion and the scenery, they're all subject to change - sometimes overnight. I can see where Huggins is plenty content to remain in Morgantown, but will he coexist with his employers forever?

I am reminded that Marshall football coach Mark Snyder has a too-long contract that will not be fulfilled. If he rights the ship, the money will be renegotiated. If he doesn't win at some point ... you know how those things end.

OK, I see that the Mullens native and once-upon-a-time Marshall star is fleeing a Suns organization that has taken its stupidity pills under general manager Steve Kerr. And I see that Isaiah Thomas has been pushed out the door and Donnie Walsh is in charge as Knicks GM.

And yes, I see D'Antoni will be paid richly for his trouble. But when I see jobs such as this open, I ask myself, "Would you give up your humble sportswriting job for this gig?"

In this case, absolutely not. The Knicks still have crappy corporate ownership, a bad salary cap situation and roster of overpaid bad characters who should be shipped on a slow boat to Poughkeepsie. All with a large but (justifiably) cranky fan base.

Good luck, Mike D. You're going to need it.

Considering how he was ceremoniously dumped by Hendrick Motorsports for the much-ballyhooed arrival of Dale Earnhardt Jr., that's hilarious. So is this - he has three more victories and 134 more points than Earnhardt.

And that he wrecked "Little E" near the end at Richmond makes it a little funnier. That's racin', right?

I'm not sure logistics would allow, but count me in as all for it. Referring to Sissonville's Eric Myers as the "Class AA" champion in the discus, for example, is irritating. If you can find a way to crown the teams by class but decide a single individual champion in track, tennis and golf, I'm on board.

That likely will pop up prominently in tennis, where you can look forward to a few Washington vs. George Washington battles. The core of the current Jefferson squad is either graduating or heading to Washington, including top girls player Katelyn Mumaw. The Jefferson coach, Judy Marcus, will be Washington's first principal.

I'm no Eastern Panhandle expert, but I have a hunch that baseball coach John Lowery will keep the Cougars' prowess somewhat intact. Betcha they avoid the fate that befell them this season, getting knocked out of sectionals.

To contact staff writer Doug Smock, send e-mail to dougsm...@wvgazette.com or call 348-5130.