Vinny, Vinny, Vinny.

I know I wondered why Vinny Del Negro was being considered for any head coaching jobs. But now things are urgent and I’ve changed my mind: He is super-qualified to coach the Clippers and they’d be fools to pass him up!

Why such a 180? Del Negro is reportedly on the “short list” of candidates to replace Doc Rivers, should Rivers retire and, well, I’d rather not see that happen.

Still no word from Celtics coach Doc Rivers to some of his closest confidants as to whether he will be back on the Boston bench next season. Vinny Del Negro, who along with Dwane Casey is a finalist for the Clippers job, is on the Celtics’ short list of candidates to replace Rivers if he steps down to spend more time with his family.

So, uhh, Vinny Del Negro is a legitimate option if Rivers doesn’t come back? Need I ask why? I know he’s from Massachusetts and everything, but so am I. And I probably have as good a head coaching resume as Vinny does. I once coached my high school varsity’s summer league team to the championship game and, even though we lost, I made a genius decision to sic our diesel, tough, 5’11″ two-guard on the opposing team’s all-league, 6’7″ center and completely locked the soft bastard down. If my team wasn’t completely out-talented, we would have taken home the ring. You know what they say about me? That I could coach five mules to victory.

They don’t exactly say that about Vinny. People are more likely to consider him the mule. And now he might coach the Celtics? Yikes. This Vinny on the short list thing is either a practical joke being played by some high-ranking Celtics official, or it’s true. Here’s hoping it ain’t true.

Look, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen’s decisions on whether or not to remain Celtics could hinge on who the C’s coach is next season. Something tells me Vinny Del Negro isn’t going to be a guy who will keep them around. So why doesn’t Del Negro make it easy on us and get hired by the Clippers? Then I’ll never have to waste another second trembling in fear at the thought of Vinny and his $3 haircut coaching my Celtics.

Doc, if you’re reading this, please come back. Please.