Idle Thoughts, while waiting for pitchers and catchers, infielders and outfielders ... you get the idea:

• Dr. Idle, Dr. I to his close friends, has been living in fear of the following:

Pats vs. Cowboys in the Super Bowl.

Ewww.

Whom to root for?

Please help Dr. I, a loyalist of the football Giants, with this crisis.

• The Los Angeles Chargers of Carson.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Very confusing to Dr. I.

What's next? The Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles?

• Dr. I will weigh in on this more extensively in the coming weeks.

But a special adviser to Dr. I wonders: Do you take a date on Valentine's Day to a place with many televisions so you can watch the game, too?

• OK. Those of you blaming Eli Manning for the foibles of the Giants this season:

What, you didn't notice his offensive line couldn't block Pebbles Flintstone?

• Nice to see you back and in full throat, Lancer Nation.

Really fun atmosphere the other night at the "X," otherwise known as the Francis X. Sweeney Fieldhouse at Waterford High.

• Dr. I's pal Matt Johnson offered this on Twitter the other day:

"Not a day goes by anymore when I'm driving and I don't say, "nice blinker, (expletive)."

We are all with you, Matt.

• Note to high school basketball players:

Why would you pass up an open three to take a contested two?

• Dr. I wonders: Does it annoy you at a sporting event when someone in your row gets up to, you know, tend to nature's calling in the middle of the game?

Can't they wait for a timeout?

• Trump referred to himself in the third person a little too much the other day.

You'd never see Mike DiMauro doing that.

• So who is taking Dr. I to see the U2 Joshua Tree Tour this summer?

• Congrats to Brother B (Dr. I's pal Brian Doyle) and all the other Clemson fans on the national title.

If you've never seen a game at Clemson ... do so. The nicest (and most passionate) fans in the history of the world.

• Dr. I is just not feeling this running back from Green Bay named Christine Michael.

What's his sister's name? Walt?

• Loved this one on Twitter this week:

Kid: "Why is my cousin's name Diamond?"

Mom: "Because your aunt loves diamonds."

Kid: "What about me?"

Mom: "Enough questions, Tequila Xanax."

• How many times is Chris Sale going to wig out in front of the Boston media this year?

• Happy retirement to four of the greatest people to ever work at The Day: Ann Baldelli, Kathleen Edgecomb, Joyce Conlon and Jill Blanchette.

Love you all.

You made our place a better place.

• This whole Patriots thing is starting to annoy Dr. I.

They get to beat up on Buffalo, Miami and the Jets six times a year.

Then they get the Texans in the playoffs.

Next week in the AFC title game: Windham Tech.

• You know who's a really good basketball player?

Isaiah Thomas of the Celtics. That's who.

• Welcome home, Billy Crocker.

Dr. I never thought he'd write this sentence.

But ... can't wait for UConn football next year.

• In honor of Dr. King's birthday, here is Dr. I's favorite Dr. King quote:

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Love that.

Maybe that's why one of Dr. I's favorite songs is "Have A Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt.

So no matter where you are: Listen to Dr. King. Have a little faith.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.