Forgive Don Mattingly for not sticking around for the end of last night's Nashville Sounds game, at which his No. 18 was retired.

He's a little busy these days.

"I enjoy watching games, but I played in a lot of them," the former New York Yankee great said. "To sit down and watch nine innings -- that's about three hours. I don't usually get that much time.

"It's not an indictment of the game; it's more indicative of where I am in my life right now. Any parents with three kids, all of whom are playing sports, know what I mean. We're more of a taxi service right now than anything else."

Most of Mattingly's baseball-watching time these days is targeted toward other players named Mattingly. His three sons, aged 14, 12 and 8, all play as well, and he was set to return to Evansville, Ind., late last night before leaving today for a tournament in Pennsylvania for his oldest.

Although he won't often sit down and watch an entire contest, he still pays attention to what's going on in the game on a daily basis.

"I love keeping up with it, watching the highlights," he said. "I really start watching during the last three months or so -- seeing who's hot, who's swinging the bat well -- and watch the playoffs."

Out of the game for only four years, Mattingly has a great appreciation for his former peers.

"I know how we get down on athletes, but there are some great players out there right now," he said. "They're getting stronger, working harder and getting better.

"Ken Griffey Jr. is unbelievable -- not just his talent, but the way he's handled everything. All the talk is about (Mark) McGwire, but I believe he'll take a run at that (career) home run thing. Where he is, at his age, is unbelievable. He plays with such flair, and he plays with a smile on his face. The kids can really relate to him."

Having benefited so much from the game of baseball, Mattingly isn't ready to become a permanent spectator just yet.

"One reason I got out when I did was to be involved with my boys," he said. "But I want to stay involved in the game in some capacity. I've thought about managing, although I can't make that kind of commitment right now. But I'd like to get involved in the teaching part of the game at some point."

Maurice Patton

Copyright 1999 by The Tennessean