It has been quite a busy week for Dick Vermeil.

Last Sunday he led his St. Louis Rams team to a Super Bowl victory over the Tennessee Titans. The next day, after a L-O-N-G night/day of celebration, he and his wife rode atop the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch through the downtown Gateway City streets. The day after the local celebration, he announced to the world that he is retiring from coaching the Rams. Three days later, he appeared as a Tonight Show guest with Jay Leno and got to meet Sandra Bullock and Senator John Mc Cain. (One out of two isn't bad!)

In all likelihood, on the seventh day, Dick Vermeil rested.

Life is good for the former head coach of our male sheep. He is now the toast of our town. It is funny to host local squawk radio these days and listen to the same callers who 12 months ago wanted Vermeil run out of town on a rail, now ready to crown him King. It is really funny to watch and listen to the local talking heads and gab-masters praising Coach V for a job well done, when less than a year ago, these same experts ridiculed his age, demeanor, decisions and expertise.

To be honest, I am very envious of Dick Vermeil. If you have your health and the financial where-with-alls upon reaching your early 60's, you are absolutely, positively crazy not to enjoy life and retire from any industry. Ask Charlie Spoonhour if you do not believe me. And, if you have the rare opportunity to go out on top of your profession, there is no doubt to me that retirement would be indeed my final answer!

For you conspiracy theorists or you news hounds trying to angle for a scoop, I'm sorry. There is no story here. Bottom line, it is time for Dick Vermeil to enjoy the rest of his life. It is the right decision.

Not only can the Coach now sleep later during the day, learn how to be Mr. Grandmamma, but also his motivational speaking fees have just gone up dramatically.

Better than that though, Vermeil's announcement is the best news for all parties: His and the Rams.

It was roughly one year ago when Gateway City sports fans wanted to forget about professional football. The Rams finished the season with a 4-12 record. Several notable Rams (some who will be playing in the February, 2000 Pro Bowl) displayed the highest form of insubordination by not attending a mandatory season ending meeting with the coaching staff. Fans were selling their P S L to anyone with a pulse.

It went even to a higher level. Last year, when Pope John Paul II visited St. Louis and addressed the youth at the Kiel Center rally, the Holy Father spoke of baseball and hockey (but not football).

In early January 1999, Coach V. met with team Chief Operating Officer John Shaw. The Coach was told that changes must be made. Delegation of his duties and a new approach to the football operations were a start. The purging of unproductive and low character players was a given. Aggressive pursuit of quality free agents became a priority.

I have to also assume that Coach V was told that another 4-12 season would end his coaching comeback.

So these prescribed edicts were adopted and 1999 was turned out to be a magical season for the St. Louis Rams. Coach V's team remained healthy and became one of destiny, by taking advantage of a weak schedule and many turn of events that fell their way. The Rams parlayed their good fortune all the way to Atlanta and a Super Bowl win. Dick Vermeil and the staff he assembled had much to do with that success.

Now the Rams are the champions, my friends. Most of our Blue Gold heroes' games in 2000 will start late on Sundays or on Monday nights. The rest of the NFL will treat our Male Sheep as their biggest opponent of the 2000 season as they will be gunning hard after the Home Team.

The Rams will now have to deal with complacency of their players and national scrutiny of their team.

I can hear the publications and the national talking heads now. "Can the Rams repeat with a difficult schedule?" "Will they become the next San Francisco 49ers winning back to back Super Bowls with two different coaches, or will they become the next Atlanta Falcons, going from the penthouse to the out house in back to back seasons?" "What will happen if the Rams sustain major injuries?"

Dick Vermeil has now provided the Rams the incentive they need for a repeat-a new coach.

Mike Martz now will be focused to carve out his own legacy. The team obviously responds to Martz and it will be his mission to continue the Rams good fortune.

This mission will not be easy. For as favorable as the Rams 1999 opponents were, their 2000 foes are similar to running a gauntlet. St. Louis will play Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Washington, and at Kansas City for half of the out of division schedule.

How the Rams' players performed in 1999 is now ancient history. There is a new sheriff in town, and his vote is the only one that counts.

Could Dick Vermeil have handled this pressure to repeat in 2000? Would he have been able to adjust to the newfound egos of the Rams players? Can he have coached the "new era" of athletes that has already won a championship and been able to motivate them to duplicate their accomplishments?

We will never know how Coach V. would have handled these challenges. That is a good thing.

In case you forgot, it was less than twelve months ago when many of these same players that now convey their dying love and support to Coach V held little or no respect for him or his coaching skills. Vermeil did not help his case by one day resembling Attila the Hun with three-hour practices and other days resembling Father Flanagan, in trying to find virtue in lost causes.

Maybe this is what Vermeil meant when he said "I don't' want to sit back in August or September wishing I should have quit while on top".

For what it's worth, Coach Vermeil, I think you made the right decision. It is time for you to enjoy the rest of your life. It now becomes YOUR decision on whether you want spend your time with your wife and the grandchildren in Pennsylvania. It is now YOUR call if you want to become Al and Boomer's newest buddy on Monday night in the fall. It's up to YOU if you want to return with Brent Musberger on college football weekends.

As one who has been a frequent critic of your abilities, tendencies and decisions, I congratulate you and I envy you on your retirement decision. As Whitey Herzog once said, you don't get dumber when you are away from the game.

Coach Vermeil thanks for coming to town when you did. Oh, yeah, one more thing.

Coach Vermeil thanks for leaving when you did.