DAN SHAUGHNESSY

It's a day of decisions for coach

1/31/2002

EW ORLEANS - Bill Belichick has little trouble making decisions.

He'll take paper over plastic, Palmer over Nicklaus, the Beatles over the Stones, and ''tastes great'' over ''less filling.''

Oh, and it's boxers. Not briefs. In case you were wondering.

I know this because I've got his test paper right in front of me.

Tests are often helpful when making psychological assessments. There's the Rorschach Test (does that ink blot look like a lampshade or Elvis?), the Myers-Briggs personality test, and the standard IQ test. While the nation yesterday breathlessly awaited a decision from Belichick regarding his starting quarterback for Sunday's Super Bowl, he graciously took a few minutes to take the Standard Shaughnessy Ginger-Mary Ann Test.

''OK, if I take a few mulligans on a few of these if I don't like the way they're coming?'' he asked before we started.

No problem, Coach. We appreciate you taking time out for this little window into your cognitive powers.

First question: Williams or Amherst?

This was a bit of a trick question. Belichick went to Wesleyan, which is the third corner of the ''Little Three.'' Wesleyan men are taught to malign rivals Williams and Amherst.

''Williams,'' he answered.

We were on our way. He took Venus over Serena, the American League over the National League, Veronica over Betty, and Harvard over Yale. Most of the answers came out quickly. Occasionally he pondered briefly.

Russell over Chamberlain, Larry over Magic, and Orr over Howe were easy (Belichick lists Bobby Orr as the person he'd most like to meet). Sinatra over Mathis and Williams over DiMaggio. Careful to make sure he knew we were talking Beatles, not Apostles, I asked him about John vs. Paul.

''Paul.''

The Redford-Newman question stopped him. Belichick's favorite movie is ''The Sting.'' Tough one to choose.

He winced. ''Redford,'' he said reluctantly.

By now we all know he's close personal friends with Jon Bon Jovi. I expected Bon Jovi-Springsteen to be easy.

Again he winced. ''Tough one,'' said the coach. ''They're 1 and 2 ... Bon Jovi.''

He took George Herbert Walker Bush over George W. Posed with choosing between Sankaty Head and Nantucket Golf Club, he said, ''I'm a member at Sankaty Head. I'll go with them.''

Navy over Army was easy. Belichick was raised in Annapolis and his dad coached for the Middies.

Surf over turf. Affirmed over Alydar. VHS over DVD. All quick answers. PlayStation vs. X-Box was tougher. Coach probably hasn't had time to see what his kids are using these days. He went with PlayStation.

Globe-Herald produced the first mulligan. Smart man. Why annoy those folks at the Herald by acknowledging the obvious.

Democrat over Republican. Standard over automatic. Old Fenway over New Fenway and New England clam chowder over Manhattan clam chowder.

Ali over Frazier (wonder if he would have chosen Ally McBeal over Frasier?), cross-country over downhill, no DH over DH (''even though I said American League over National League,'' he remembered).

Addams Family or Munsters was a stumper. After considerable thought (images of Gomez and Morticia bouncing off his brain), he went with the Addams Family.

McDonald's over Burger King, Ford over Chevy, Carolina over Duke, and cash over check. Fast answers all. Then another conundrum. Zone or man-to-man?

Belichick probably has pondered this more than any man alive. It's like asking a parent to choose between two children. But the Shaughnessy Ginger-Mary Ann test allows for no ties. Choose or take a mulligan.

After a lengthy pause, he cringed and said, ''Zone.''

We were winding down. Hertz over Avis. No starch over starch. Crest over Colgate, and red wine over white wine.

We were done. Not quite, said the coach.

''Dogs or cats,'' Belichick asked me.

''Dogs,'' I told him.

''Me too,'' said the coach. ''I hate cats.

''We have these sports psychologists who give the players questions like that. It's amazing. They think they can tell something about a guy based on whether he says dogs or cats.''

Tabulation of the coach's answers shows him to be particularly decisive. A man who can make all the tough calls.

Later in the day, he was required to make one more decision. Brady or Bledsoe.

Brady.

Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. His e-mail address is dshaughnessy@globe.com.