Tuesday could be big for Jags and an ex-Jag

Next Tuesday could be one of the biggest days in Richard Wood’s life.
“It could be,” Wood said. “It could be an even bigger day in the life of my wife, especially if David Cook wins American Idol.”
Wood, who is retiring this year after being the only baseball coach in the history of Blue Springs South High School, has led his 22-3 Jaguars to Class 4 sectional action. They will take on the Lee’s Summit Tigers at 4 p.m. next Tuesday at South.
Later that night, former Jaguars pitcher David Cook could sing his way into the heart of the viewing audience of “American Idol,” and walk away with that crown.
“Although we won’t know who won until they announce the vote on Wednesday,” said Wood, who was Cook’s coach when he was a starting pitcher back in 2001.
“I do know one thing. My wife will kill me if our game runs late on Tuesday. If it runs too late, she will probably go home to watch American Idol, and give me a call asking who won our game.”
He was kidding, as Cindy Wood was busy making copies in the activities office at the high school.
Excuse me for experiencing a touch of deja vu, but wasn’t it just last year that an area coach retired and was rewarded by his baseball team with a state championship?
Brad Mayfield, who Wood served with at Blue Springs High School before taking the job at South, went out with a bang as his Wildcats won the state championship in dramatic fashion.
Could it happen again this year?
“Well, I certainly hope so,” Wood said, grinning. “It is kind of ironic that Brad would win it last year and I’d be in this position this year. It’s been a great ride with a great group of kids. I’ve coached a lot of special kids, but this year’s group has really been special.
“Many of them have been with me since they were sophomores and Riley (Reynolds) and Jeff (Lusardi) have been with me since they were freshmen. So we’ve been together for a long, long time.”
The only thing that has overshadowed the Jaguars’ great baseball success has been Cook-mania.
“David deserves all the attention,” said Wood, who dutifully joins Cindy every Tuesday and Wednesday night in their family room, watching the former Jaguars pitching star. “I heard that he wore a Kansas City Royals baseball cap off the plane last week when he came to town for the concert at the high school. I think that’s pretty cool. I haven’t talked with him, but I know he has to be enjoying this.”
Wood even got a taste of the David Cook spotlight early Friday morning when he was a mystery guest on a San Diego AM radio station.
“The producer of the show called the school and asked if I was David Cook’s baseball coach,” Wood said. “I told him I was, and he asked if I would go on their show at 8:20 a.m. Friday to be on a segment where the two hosts try to guess who I coached.
“They ask yes and no questions and have three minutes to guess who I coached.”
One of the hosts, former collegiate and NFL star Billy Ray Smith, guessed Wood’s identity in just 11 questions.
“I was really surprised,” Wood said. “When they asked if he was a singer, then they asked about American Idol, and then they got it on the next question.”
One of his former students, who now lives in the San Diego area, heard the call live and sent Wood an e-mail.
“It was a lot of fun,” Wood said. “This baseball season, the whole David Cook thing – it’s something we’ll remember for a long, long time.”
And it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.