Some random thoughts while considering who I’d less want to see coming off the bench in a big game, Sam Cassell or Matt Cassel:

• I was ready to say this in June, but I figured it was best to wait through the inevitable midseason surge and any possible trade deadline maneuverings. Now that that’s done, so are the Yankees. They didn’t address their biggest need at the deadline, and now Joba Chamberlain’s out (and if the Yankees are smart, they’ll play it safe and shelve him for the season). Even if Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina continue to pitch well, the other 60 percent of the rotation isn’t going to get it done. Come on Yankee fans, Sidney Ponson? Really?

• The Red Sox might be in the same boat if A) Josh Beckett doesn’t find his change-up and B) David Ortiz doesn’t find his way at the plate. Only Big Papi knows whether the wrist is actually a physical problem or not, but it’s clear that it’s one of two mental obstacles he needs to overcome, along with the absence on Manny Ramirez.

• Enough has been said and written about Manny and Brett Favre that I’ll spare you any long-winded overanalysis, just this: how could anyone believe one is selfish while the other is just misunderstood?

• As impressive as the Angels have been, I’m still not ready to hand them the World Series trophy just yet. Their starting rotation is as talented as any in baseball, but they remind me a little of the Braves of the 1990s. That’s not a good thing for the playoffs.

• I only caught the torch-lighting portion of the opening ceremonies, but from what I saw, read and heard, it was one of the greatest displays of technology, ingenuity and training ever displayed on a world stage. Note to self: It might not be a bad idea to learn the words for “I surrender” in Chinese.

• I know, I know. Women’s steeplechase ranks right up there with kayaking and fencing among your Olympic TV viewing priorities. But it will be worth your while to check it out next Friday. Anna Willard of Greenwood is at best a long-shot to medal, but if NBC is smart, they’ll give this bright and engaging young woman some time to shine in the spotlight and tell the rest of the country the story of her rapid rise to becoming a world-class steepler. She’ll probably be hard to miss regardless. Willard dyed her hair blonde with a pink streak before she set the American record (which has since been broken) at the Olympic Trials last month. Her mother, Nancy, said she was due for a least a touch-up, but wasn’t sure what, if any, colorful creations she had in mind for Beijing.

• Much as I’d like us to bring our embarrassing string of failures in international basketball to a halt, I’m having a hard time getting excited about rooting for Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd.

• Mother Nature took mercy on the organizers and participants of the state American Legion tournament Saturday. After rain pushed back, then later washed out action for three straight days at the Augusta CARA complex, there was finally a long enough break in the clouds to get the last two rounds in at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, which somehow wasn’t under a foot of standing water on Saturday. Kudos to USM for providing the facility on short notice and saving the Maine Legion’s bacon. If the tournament hadn’t been able to resume until Monday, organizers were probably going to hand the title to Nova Seafood as the last undefeated team. Any winner decided on the field after Sunday probably wouldn’t have been able to participate in the regionals, which begin Thursday, due to a national rule requiring three days of rest between tournaments.

• Gayton Post 31 reaching the state final was no fluke. The Lewiston/Lisbon area squad pitched well, fielded very well, and hit as well as it did all season while winning the Zone 3 title. Lewiston High School baseball fans should be looking forward to next year, too. Two of the top contributors for Gayton were pitchers Jeff Keene and Joe Sullivan, who will be entering their sophomore years at the end of the month. Catcher Mekae Hyde is a classmate, and fellow starters Robbie Leeman and Alex Wong will be seniors next year.

• Kids could learn a lot about baseball watching Nova Seafood/Deering in action. It’s too bad some of them couldn’t set a better example off the field. But since we can’t ask college and pro athletes to be role models anymore, I guess we can’t ask high school athletes to live up to any standards at all.

• One exhibition game is way too early to make a judgment on a first-round draft pick, but one couldn’t help but be impressed by Jerod Mayo on Thursday. Watching him roam between the tackles and swallow up running backs, he reminded me of a guy who once wore No. 51 for the Patriots – Brian Cox. Now, Cox was only a shell of his former self when he wore that New England jersey as a role player on the 2001 championship team. In his prime, mostly with the Dolphins, he was as fierce a linebacker as there was in the league, and a sure tackler. As long as Mayo can control his temper better than Cox did, the Pats could do a lot worse at inside linebacker for the next 8-10 years.

• One or two more strong showings from Lamont Jordan in the preseason and Sammy Morris might be out of a job.

• Given that he missed virtually all of last year and had most of the balls thrown his way by America’s backup, Matt Cassel, on Thursday, it’s still a little too early to label Chad Jackson a bust. Bill Belichick probably wants to give him a couple of games with Tom Brady before he moves on to Plan B (which is what exactly, Ray Ventrone?) for New England’s No. 4 receiver.