Tribute to a man.

Dan Haley was a much travelled football coach. He left us last week at 73.

A Pineville native, he made coaching stops Paducah Tilghman to Morehead State to University of Cumberlands to Bowling Green High. Haley mastered his craft, earned respect from colleagues and a place in the KHSAA Hall of Fame.

His high school teams sent fans home happy 253 times. Over 29 seasons, more than 10 winning Fridays a year. In 1995 his Bowling Green High team won a state title.

Gaudy numbers for success to be sure.

But, more than a ball coach, Dan Haley’s real legacy is – he was an educator. Apparently a superb one.

What higher tribute to one man then, than words from a former student/player: “He taught me Algebra. He was also the only coach I ever had who tried to encourage me when I was struggling to play football with guys who were bigger, stronger, more mature than I was.”

Dan Haley.

RED SOX & CARDINALS

Hues of autumn have come again. So has the confluence of American sport – football at midseason, basketball (out-of-place), and baseball. The Fall Classic. The World Series.

And Bud Selig brings his best. Outside the Yankees, no brand names are more familiar to fans across the land than two red birds on a baseball bat, and singular Red Sox logo with no names on uniform back.

Franchise faces: Stan Musial and Ted Williams.

Hall of Famer Musial was affable, revered and represents perfectly the most baseball savvy town in America. Fans know their game, recognize good play from bad, and Albert Pujols is at home this week.

In Beantown, Hall of Famer Teddy Ball Game was the aloof Splendid Splinter with sandpaper personality representative of a fistful of Irish townies at a pub on Friday.

So, the Cardinals with four National League pennants in the last 10 years and the Red Sox three American League ones, meet again.

If weather holds and form does too, this Fall Classic has the possibles to keep a grip on our attention before snow flies again. As Roy Hobbs said, “I love this game.”

LOUISVILLE BUMPS INTO REALITY

Every team, in all sports, needs a good dose of castor oil humility now-and-then. Feel the sting of losing.

I think Charlie Strong’s Cardinals needed a stinger, experience an opponent that refused to fold. Coach George McClary’s Central Florida team believed their coach’s reference to Churchill’s “Never, ever, ever give up.”

UofL? Tom Jurich can spin excuses as he pleases, but a promising football team has been poorly served by its 2013 schedule.

The No. 8 ranked Cardinals of last week got a dose of reality this week. Louisville is ranked 20th in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). UofL has played one Top 25 team, Central Florida.

KENTUCKY BASKETBALL

Kentucky’s all new team is preseason ranked number one. A year ago the ranking was the same on the way to a 21-12 season that ended at Robert Morris.

From UK basketball’s Roman Holiday (Big Blue Madness) last week, these notables:

• In all the years I’ve watched Kentucky teams run out for introductions, none was as physically imposing as this one. Man for man the Wildcats are extraordinarily muscled up first year college players

• Remarkable seems to me, all things inside UK basketball that have witnessed by fifth-year-senior Jon Hood.

Buzz items from the lavish preseason scrimmage in Rupp Arena, two sets of numbers.

√ Price tag for this Big Blue Madness broke records, 400,000, up from $300,000 last year.

What would $400,000 buy in today’s economy? Well, let’s see …

√ And, 40-0. Refreshing that John Calipari skipped the traditional poor mouth for his team’s unbeaten chances. He embraced the number 40-0 and UK opponents will be delighted to see it on the bulletin board.

Oops Department. Calipari told media his team will play “one of the toughest schedules in the country.”

Not according to NCAA strength of schedule calculus. Michigan State will play toughest schedule in America followed by Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Syracuse and Louisville.

Kentucky’s schedule ranks 61st.

BEHANAN & CLASSIC PITINO

Another drama for Da Coach. Sending Chane Behanan packing, with an open ended suspension, is classic Rick Pitino. Louisville’s coach isn’t saying, but hunch here is:

Hey, knucklehead, see what basketball life looks like from outside looking in.

Behanan, in some form, let himself be persuaded, “Hey, I got me a (NCAA title) ring! I won me a national championship. I was the game-changer against Michigan. And, I think I’m ready for the League right now.”

Lots of I and me.

Stage is set. At a time of his choosing, Pitino will call a press conference to tell a breathless public, he has decided he’s made a man of Behanan afterall and the kid will be back in uniform by, say, December 28.

MANZIEL & WIGGINS

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel signed his autograph, what, 3,000 times last summer? Compensation to come later suggestions met with vigorous denials.

Last week speculation that Kansas basketball phenom Andrew Wiggins has a $180 million contract with Adidas waiting for his signature when the season is over. More vigorous denials.

True or not, the Manziel and Wiggins stories demonstrate how easily agents and hustlers can blatantly dance around NCAA rules.

For context, two decades ago college ball coaches were promising high school prospects: “come to my school and I’ll guarantee you’ll be taken care of. Walking-around cash while you’re here from the big glass jar under my desk. Later, our shoe company sponsor will be here when your eligibility’s up.”

And so it goes.