Idle Thoughts, while waiting for the next episode of “Casey and the Sports Doctor,” the Waterford 13s to win the Babe Ruth World Series and for Brian McCann to mix in a line drive:

• Dr. Idle, Dr. I to his close friends, can’t wait for this week.

The week our state media, which ignores professional golf the other 51 weeks of the year, turns the Travelers Championship into the most important event since Apollo 11.

• Dr. I has spent significant time this summer watching youth baseball, from Babe Ruth to American Legion.

Know who Dr. I hasn’t seen?

High school coaches.

Makes Dr. I wonder whether they’re evaluating their upcoming players based on a few days of tryouts in March instead of an entire summer’s progression.

Question to all of you absentees: Are you there to coach a team or run a program?

• Today’s trivia:

Who said this: “My Fellow Americans. Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

A: JFK

B: Melania Trump.

• Not that Dr. I is exactly Sinatra, but it appears that Paul Simon’s voice is slip slidin’ away.

• Sad but true: Dr. I didn’t hear one kid on NBA draft night say, “I want to pattern my game after Tim Duncan.”

• Can’t wait for the nightly soliloquy from Bob Costas every night at the Olympics.

• Shouldn’t the Red Sox, with all their all-stars, have a better record?

• FYI: Forbes just ranked Boston College in the top 25 of the nation’s private schools.

Just sayin.

• The Cactus Jack High School Basketball League starts Saturday at Mitchell College and runs into November.

Games from 6-9 every Saturday night and 9-noon Sundays.

A tip of the cap to Mike Buscetto for caring about the kids enough to do this.

• Speaking of the kids: Some local restaurants will be helping the Waterford kids and their parents help defray the cost of the trip to the Babe Ruth World Series in Ottumwa, Iowa.

(Home of Radar O’Reilly).

Mr. G’s will donate part of Monday’s proceeds and the Birdseye will gave a “Steak Night” Thursday from 5-8.

The Waterford kids and their parents will be in Iowa for more than a week. That’s a big nickel: hotels, food, rental cars, etc.

Anything you can do to help.

• You know who’s not really all that funny?

Al Franken. That’s who.

• The Yankees were dumb enough to give A-Rod all the money.

They owe him every dime.

So pay him off and get rid of him.

• Kim Jones of the NFL Network said Friday the Giants have a “must win” game opening weekend at Dallas.

And if they lose they’re doomed with 15 games left?

• Dr. I cabinet member Don MacKenzie, who runs Boats Inc. in Niantic, proposed a good question the other day.

Who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Boston and New York sports?

Dr. I says it’s Orr, Bird, Williams and Brady in Boston and Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle and LT in New York.

• How many Olympians do you think will name their kids Zika?

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.