Former St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent three-foot, seven-inch Eddie Gaedel up to bat in 1951.

Gaedel was walked on four pitches.

Veeck was known for his gimmicks and promotions throughout the baseball world.

He’s also responsible for Disco Demolition Night in 1979.

Veeck died in 1986, therefore making him not responsible for Florida International’s latest publicity move.

No, that would be FIU Athletics Director Pete Garcia.

Garcia hired former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas on Wednesday.

Yes, the same Isiah Thomas who led the Knicks straight into the ground, going 23-59 last season.

There’s also the pending sexual harassment suit looming from his time with the Knicks and the incident this past October when officers were called to Thomas’ home after someone reported a man overdosed on sleeping pills.

But Florida International doesn’t seem to mind carrying Thomas’ baggage.

In an attempt to get some quick publicity for a perennially bottom-barrel basketball team in the Sun Belt Conference they brought Thomas on board.

Garcia got what he wanted. FIU was talked about by all the national media outlets. The news even led off SportsCenter.

Garcia appears he wanted attention, not what’s best for the student-athletes and 20-year-old kids who will play at Florida International.

Rather than attempting to hire a promising assistant coach or even a former head coach looking to rebound, Garcia made an impulse buy with Thomas.

Actually, he’s not really paying Thomas for his first season. Thomas said on Wednesday he’ll donate his first year’s salary back to Florida International.

My biggest question isn’t why, but rather can Thomas’ ego handle the Sun Belt?

How will he handle a Friday morning commercial flight out of the Monroe, La., airport after a marquee match-up between Louisiana-Monroe and FIU?

What about that Friday night stay at the Hampton Inn in Troy, Ala.?

Neither Thomas nor FIU really have anything to lose. Both are looking to improve on recent downward spirals.

There’s no question fans will turn out not only in Miami, Fla., to see what Thomas has to offer but also at opposing arenas.

Western’s 2009-10 schedule is yet to be released, so we don’t know when the Thomas tour will make its stop at Diddle Arena.

The Sun Belt public relations spin machine has probably been working overtime lately. There usually isn’t this much attention on the conference this time of year.

And while Thomas did field a few questions about his future at FIU in a nearly 10-minute interview with ESPN’s Chris McKendry and Andy Katz, the bulk of the questions came about sexual harassment allegations, drug overdose and a possible suicide attempt.

And that’s what Garcia wants?

Maybe here’s the better question. That’s what parents want their kids around when they’re playing collegiate basketball?

Finally, I leave you with this thought – What if Bob Knight would have been hired as Western’s basketball coach?

Now that would be an intriguing matchup.