Idle Thoughts, while waiting for the Four Horsemen's statue on Tobacco Road, a healthy Asjha Jones and for the Yankees to get a hit (any hit) with runners in scoring position:

• Mr. Idle, Mr. I to his close friends, would like to extend bon mots and mad props to the folks at Fox 61 in Hartford, who decided to show the Giants over the Patriots today at 1.

Show the champs as often as possible, Mr. I always says.

• So this umpire Jerry Meals ends a Yankee game with Mark Teixeira yawningly safe at first base last week.

A few days later, Alfonso Marquez punches out Cody Ross on a 3-2 pitch that was closer to the worms than the knees.

Just remember, though: No criticizing umpires.

They're above it all.

Just ask them.

• Touchy, touchy, touchy, all these people killing Mr. I for questioning if Paul Pasqualoni is the right man for the job.

What, Mr. I can't ask?

Because, really, Mr. I would never question Coach P's football acumen.

It's just that the 6,000 empty seats for the NC State game suggest, you know, not enough people care at the moment.

• Can we bring back Alex Manwaring for one more football season at Ledyard High?

Pretty please?

With sugar on top?

• If Ivana Trump married Red Sox pitcher Aaron Cook, divorced him for former Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger and then divorced him to finally settle on Jerry Helper from the Dick Van Dyke Show, Mr. I is pretty sure what Ivana is making for dinner.

(Ivana Cook Hanburger Helper).

• Why do all politicians portray themselves as growing up dirt poor during their moronic TV ads?

Just once, Mr. I would like to hear, "Hi! I can buy you, sell you and buy you back. This is Sam Lipschitz and I approve this message."

• Congrats to former New London High football great Kyle McKinnon, whose first prep school football game - in Dublin, no less, before 12,000 fans - produced 183 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

McKinnon plays for The Kent School, which beat the National School of American Football, 26-0.

You go, Kyle.

• So far, so good: No politicians at high school football games yet this election season. Not that Mr. I objects to politicians and high school football games.

They just kind of never show up after Election Day.

• New London High needs tutors to help its student-athletes during after-school study hall sessions.

If you can spare an afternoon a week, call the high school.

Remember: improved test scores from last year indicate progress throughout the system.

And let Mr. I just say this: If you're one of these social commentators who opines about the hopelessness of the New London schools - and won't do anything to help - you're pretty much a big phony.

• A reader who identifies himself or herself as "R," (must be a minimalist) asks Mr. I when he's going to stop killing Penn State.

This week's not looking so good. Neither is next.

• Big game Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Sun-Indiana for the regular season title, pretty much.

Just sayin.'

• OK. One last Jim Calhoun story.

Ten seconds into the 1999 national championship game.

Refs call a nickel-dimer on Jake Voskuhl.

Jim turns to the press table (Mr. I seated right there) and hollers, "The Duke Rules are in effect!"

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.