Managing on Mondays

The Supreme Court is set to rule today on Texas’ redistricting plan implemented in 2004 that re-structured the political balance in the state, and gave Republicans a 21-11 majority in the US House of Representatives…

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett will give most of his $42 billion fortune to five foundations in annual gifts of stock starting next month. Buffet plans to give the largest contribution to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation… I need to make sure Mr. Buffet has our address and correct zip code…

If you think it’s crowded this morning, you’re right: The U.S. population is on target to hit 300 million this fall and it's a good bet the milestone baby — or immigrant — will be Hispanic. As of early yesterday, there were 299,058,932 people in the US, according to the Census Bureau's population clock. The 300 millionth person in the U.S. will likely be born — or cross the border — in October.

I like to look for inspiration on Monday mornings…a story, personality, an event, on which I can hang my ambitions, or a goal on which I can set my sites. An example worthy of repeating to others…Some Monday’s I succeed, and some Monday’s, I don’t…but I did run across a story about a AAA-baseball manager who may be destined for greatness…somewhere between Tom Landry and Bobby Knight.

According to The Associated Press, The manager of the Asheville Tourists, a Class-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in the South Atlantic League, turned Applebee's Park into a one-man show following a close call at second base in the fifth inning of play against the Lexington Legends.

Lexington's Koby Clemens – son of Roger the Rocket—was leading off second base after hitting an RBI double when Asheville pitcher Brandon Durden tried to pick him off.

Umpire Andy Russell called Clemens safe, and that's what lit-off the short fuse of Joe Mikulik, who blasted out of the dugout and set off a prolonged tirade that he carried all over the infield and into the dugout.

Mikulik's antics wewre launched following an animated argument with Umpire Russell, who threw Mikulik out of the game.

The Associated Press reports Mikulik dove into second base, ripped up the bag and hurled it onto the infield dirt. He threw a resin bag into the bullpen, covered home plate with dirt and then cleaned it with a water bottle, which he finally spiked onto the plate.

Back in the dugout, Mikulik threw bats onto the field, and then stormed his way into the clubhouse, where he re-arranged the lay out by push a couple of water coolers, a chair and a batting practice screen in front of the umpires' locker room.

What really set Joe Mukulik off?

"I just wish the umpire's association would train their young men to have a personality," he said. "I could get two mannequins at Sears and umpire better than what I saw this whole series."

Asheville lost to Lexington, 5-2.