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One night last spring I arrived at Penn Station in New York City only to find that my Amtrak train to Philadelphia was, as was too often the case, delayed indefinitely. I began wandering slowly, trying to figure out how best to occupy myself. At 10:00pm in Penn Station, the shops have closed and drunks and con artists come out of the shadows. If I know the delay is going to be two hours, I can get out of there and get a coffee. If it’s half an hour, maybe I’ll sit in the Amtrak ticketed waiting area where overweight men prop their feet upon their luggage and snore as if they were sleeping in the Great Bed of Ware.

I decided to spend the first ten minutes or so just pacing the boarding area, waiting for an announcement. About three steps into my sojourn I look up and see Phil Martelli walking in my direction. For those of you who aren’t from Philly or aren’t basketball fans, Phil Martelli is the head coach of the St. Joseph’s University men’s basketball team. In 2003 his team won 27 straight games and was ranked #1 in the NCAA polls. When we passed I said, “Hi Coach.” He replied with a quintessential Philly, “How you doin’” and we both kept going our separate ways.

I didn’t think much of it until I found out that he just published a book and the title is Don’t Call Me Coach. Geez, coa–I mean, Mr. Martelli, I’m really sorry. For four years at Penn State, I would yell out, “Hi Coach” to Joe Paterno when I would see him standing in line at the Uni-mart to buy a gallon of milk; it never seemed to bother him.

I haven’t read it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. Martelli is a great coach mentor basketball ambassador person. I just hope the book gets a new cover when the paperback comes out. What is the deal with photo of Phil and the St. Joe’s Hawk standing at the blackboard? Phil, I have Chip Kidd‘s number if you want to spruce up the jacket.