Paul Mainieri has a bucket list.
The Kentucky Derby is on there. The Masters, too.
His once busy springs in Baton Rouge – which had a tendency to stretch into summers in Omaha – are suddenly looking more open. And while Churchill Downs and Augusta may be among the more romantic destinations, after 15 seasons on the top step of the dugout in Alex Box Stadium, he plans to find a new seat for his first season as a fan in 2022 – perhaps alongside a friend and mentor who is familiar with this phase of the hero's journey.