Racing the sunrise from Starkville to Dallas Saturday morning, Wes Johnson was on his second crack-of-dawn flight in as many days, using the time to watch video of some of his new players. Friday morning he had flown to Starkville to be named the new pitching coach of Mississippi State baseball. Saturday morning he was flying back to Dallas, less than 24 hours after his introductory press conference, because he had made the most serious and unbreakable of vows: the quadruple pinky promise.
“A death promise,” he elaborated.
For all the excitement over a new job, for all the people to meet, all the highlights to watch and recruits to call, Johnson had a commitment he couldn’t back out on.