Idle thoughts from a mind gone haywire:

Isn’t it ironic that one of the Maine Principals’ Association tournament sponsors is Coca-Cola, and nothing but Pepsi products is sold at the Auditorium?

– . –

Unlike last year, my tourney hot dog wasn’t cold this year.

But it’s still $2.

– . –

Question. Where does Brunswick’s Ralph Mims fit on the list of all-time greats to have played in the Eastern Maine tourney?

The question came to mind after watching his 19-point third quarter Saturday in the Class A quarterfinals against Presque Isle.

– . –

Colleague Jessica Bloch may have set a press row tourney record by catching three errant basketballs in one day. One deflected through the TV crew broadcasting the game, proving – as a friend pointed out – that they may have lost a step.

– . –

Officials for the city of Bangor are advertising that if a new auditorium is built, they will attempt to bring a minor league franchise, such as an Arena Football League team, to town. A natural for the team’s roster would be former UMaine wide receiver Drew O’Connor. The Stearns of Millinocket grad is on the AFL Indiana Firebirds’ injured reserve list. O’Connor was a starter with the Firebirds last year.

– . –

The father-son coaching matchup stories may be getting old to Bangor boys coach Roger Reed and his son, Brewer coach Mark Reed, but sports reporters salivate over the possibility of an all-Reed Eastern Maine A final.

– . –

Dreary, cold, turning to snow and cold, turning to slush and cold, turning to ice and cold. It’s just another March Sunday afternoon in Maine.

Turn on the tube. There on the screen, in red shirts, live from Fort Myers, Fla., it’s the Red Sox taking on the Twins in one of a series of games that will earn one of the teams the coveted Mayor’s Cup.

And just as when we last saw them, Nomar Garciaparra has taken time away from his courtship of soccer player Mia Hamm (agents already are lining up to sign their firstborn to a deal) to allow a ground ball to go through his wickets. The batter is given a hit. Friendly scoring.

Another baseball season is one month away and the Red Sox magic number is 162.

Hope springs eternal in Red Sox Nation.

– . –

The question is: When will the media stop referring to Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein as, “29-year-old Theo Epstein?” The answer, obviously, is on his next birthday when he becomes “30-year-old Theo Epstein.”

– . –

Epstein is being lauded for refusing to include Casey Fossum in a deal that would have landed Bartolo Colon. If Fossum wins 15-20 games, that’s all good. But if he doesn’t and Colon wins 20 for the White Sox and they make the playoffs, the teenager jokes about Epstein will resurface.

– . –

How much is Pedro Martinez worth? Should the Red Sox extend his contract? He makes $15 million this year, and the team has a $17.5 million option they can exercise on him for next year. But Martinez has said that if his contract is not extended and the team exercises the option, he will not return to the team after the option year.

This is a Roger Clemens-type situation. Former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette let Clemens walk, saying that his best days were behind him. Clemens went on to win three Cy Young Awards and two World Series rings since being “over the hill.”

Twenty-nine-year-old Theo Epstein may want to avoid taking the chance of pulling a “Duquette” on Pedro.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net.