Did Theo Jump the Shark?
Last night, I'm on my computer surfing the Internet, minding my own business, and catching up on my Bill Simmons reading, when I go back to ESPN's home page and see the breaking news that we all knew was coming but wouldn't allow ourselves to believe until it was official: Theo is back with the Red Sox, in some yet-to-be-determined capacity that probably doesn't involve keeping Fenway's restrooms stocked with enough toilet paper. The press release says he will be in charge of baseball operations and that's all fans really need to know or care about. Why he dragged us through hell and back (in the life form of Jim Beattie) won't matter much come April. It reminds me of one of those hokey, two-part sitcom story lines, where the main character decides to leave and everyone says their sad goodbyes, but then in the second half hour he finds himself on an unfamiliar set surrounded by a bunch of guest stars and extras. He realizes then that he never should have left in the first place. And by the time the show's ending credits are about to roll, the main character has returned and everything is back to normal. Sometimes, this can be a turning point in the show leading to a long decline. It even has a name. It's called Jumping the Shark. When the show stretches the plot to the point of being totally ridiculous, that's Jumping the Shark. The question is did Theo Jump the Shark or was this simply a regrettable multi-part episode that will be forgotten? We will have a good idea in October.