Just a night out, hanging with sports boys

JUPITER, Fla. -- It was my dinner with Andrade ... and Ernie and Tony. In cross-networking that only spring training can provide, three stars of the sports world were sharing their stories and strategies.

La Russa on this year's Cards: 'We're young and we're talented.' (Getty Images)

Billy Andrade, in his 21st year on the PGA Tour, was here for the Honda Classic. Ernie Accorsi, the former general manager of New York Giants, was here for his annual spring training fix. And Tony La Russa, wearing his 1989 World Series ring on one hand and his 2006 ring on the other, is here in his 13th season as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The first discussion was about Bill Belichick. La Russa told Accorsi that he and Belichick had become close friends. Tony said he admired that Belichick is "a coach, a great coach, not an entertainer." Accorsi talked about his complicated relationship with the complicated man.

"I hired him in 1991 when I was with the Cleveland Browns," said Accorsi, who had nine playoff teams in 17 years as a GM with the Giants and Browns. "I learned that sometimes he's harsh, but he's never phony. He's very direct."

La Russa asked Accorsi what he saw in Belichick.

"I remember when I was in college and John F. Kennedy was running for president," Accorsi said. "I thought, 'This guy has been preparing his whole life.' That's exactly how I felt about Bill. He's a brilliant football man -- and not just defense, which many people don't know. I think he ranks with the greatest of all time, with George Halas, Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Vince Lombardi and Bill Walsh."

Both La Russa and Accorsi agreed that Belichick's communications skills could be, ah, improved.

Accorsi, like Andrade, played golf at Wake Forest (where Andrade was a national champion and Accorsi a walk-on), and asked Billy about the Honda Classic at PGA National.

"The Bear Trap gets everyone," said Andrade of the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. The 15th is a 179-yard par 3 with the green jutting out into the water. The 16th is a 434-yard par 4 that demands a great second shot across the water, and the 17th is a 190-yard par 3 with water in front, behind, beside and probably in the hole.

"Jack Nicklaus wasn't kidding around when he designed it," Andrade said.

Andrade, who grew up in Rhode Island as a Red Sox fan, is very close to both La Russa and the Cardinals' trainer, Barry Weinberg. He had a difficult time when the Red Sox played the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. Scouting the 2008 season, he asked La Russa about his team.

"We're young and we're talented," La Russa said. "I'm going to enjoy the challenge."

The Cardinals had a tough offseason, losing Scott Rolen and David Eckstein to Toronto. Two of their starters, Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder have been injured. Mulder should be back in May and Carpenter by the All-Star break. And with the departure of Jim Edmonds, everyone is waiting for rookie Colby Rasmus to emerge.