Blast Off, Doc!

You say you don't have a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering? That you haven't completed a neurosurgery residency? No problem. According to a number of athletes, coaches and front-office types, there are plenty of jobs in the sporting world for which you need not be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon. For example:

NFL COACH
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a coach in this league."
—Former coach Ray Perkins

NHL COACH
"It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that if one of your best players is out, you're shorthanded."
—Capitals coach Ron Wilson

KENTUCKY DERBY STARTING-DRAW ANNOUNCER
"Mistakes happen, but here you've got the Kentucky Derby. It isn't brain surgery."
—Churchill Downs president, Tom Meeker, after an announcer's mistake necessitated a redraw

NBA REBOUNDER
"They were more aggressive on the boards. That's all rebounding is. It's not brain surgery."
—Timberwolves forward Tom Gugliotta

BASEBALL PERSONNEL EXECUTIVE
"Any fool could determine which players should be signed to multiyear contracts. Our approach isn't brain surgery."
—Angels general manager Bill Bavasi

ATHLETE'S CAREER COUNSELOR
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that you need a degree to get a job."
—Ravens' No. 1 draft pick in '97, defensive end Peter Boulware, on his determination to get his Florida State diploma

ON COURSE GOLF ANALYST
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that Tiger was doing something."
—Golfer Tom Lehman, on roars from the gallery that greeted Tiger Woods's shots during a '97 tournament

NFL CORNERBACK
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out which side they're going to."
—Panthers cornerback Tyrone Poole, on reading offenses

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING ANALYST
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to evaluate film.... It isn't brain surgery."
—Freelance scout Tom Lemming, on helping coaches spot high school prospects