Destiny is a fickle girl.

One moment she's dancing with the young crowd, guys that are almost half his age (Mike Sciocia and Bob Brenly). The next, she's flirting with old friends she's always stabbed in the back (Cubs and Red Sox) just to do it again.

He can't understand what she sees in him. Worst of all, he can never get her attention, even when he goes to such lengths as pointing to the wrong bullpen when he takes out his pitcher or forgets his own players' names.

And then, out of nowhere, she stops by his table and asks him for the last dance.

Then again, maybe his antics worked after all.

For Jack McKeon, this World Series win is more than just a dream come true. It's a lifetime of dues finally paying dividends.

"Trader Jack" has bounced around to different clubs over his career. He's had a knack for turning losing clubs into winners.

McKeon, who was at home in North Carolina before taking the Marlins job this year, had no idea he would even coach again. In fact, when he spoke with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, he had no idea it was even an interview. He even called Loria "Jerry" afterwards.

"I took this job with the idea that I can turn this club around and make it a winner," McKeon said after his team beat the Yankees for the World Series title Saturday. "I had no idea we would get to the World Series, and I had no idea that we would win the World Series."

Neither did we.

But somebody did, and that somebody was destiny. Only destiny could produce this feel-good story after so many hearts were broken in the previous rounds.

What was I thinking? How could I let Red Sox Nation down like this? I know it was Carlton Fisk who hit the home run in the World Series against the Reds. My apologies as we take in the week ahead:

Tuesday

Hockey is the most exciting sport to watch in person, even though the guy behind me last week during opening night never stood up and yelled when I did. The Blues host the Predators at 7 p.m. It's also American Airlines CD-ROM night. The first 12,000 fans get a free CD. If you take a Pepsi can to the box office, tickets are 2-for-1.

Wednesday

It's Notre Dame at Jackson in one of the last regular-season soccer games before the district tournament. 7 p.m.

Friday

Do you believe us now? That's the question Jackson fans have after the comeback win over Parkway Central last week. Now Jackson will face another test: Parkway West. Jackson hosts at 7 p.m.

If you're a basketball fan, head to Memphis: The Grizzlies open up against Boston. Go in costume and score a pair of tickets to a future game.

David Wilson is a senior at Central and columnist for the Southeast Missourian. His column appears each Monday.