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It ain’t over until it’s over.
Even though John Henry said the Red Sox are out of the running for Mark Teixeira, the first baseman still could end up playing for Boston. Until he signs on the dotted sign with the Nationals, Orioles, Angels or Yankees, there’s a chance.
But not getting Teixeira might be the best move the Red Sox make all winter.
They don’t need to get locked into a long-term contract with another player. They learned the hard way with Manny that those eight-year deals don’t always end well.
Teixeira is a great player, but in this day and age, nobody should be getting more than a five-year, $100 million deal if they are over the age of 27. It doesn’t make fiscal sense, and it doesn’t make baseball sense.
Take away the guaranteed money from players in what could be the twilight years of their careers. Make them prove they are worthy. After five years of solid play, reward them with three more years.
A lot can happen in eight seasons. A player could get hurt. A player could peak, then plateau -- or decline. And in the worst case scenario, which isn’t so far-fetched, the marriage between a star and his club could dissolve because of irreconcilable differences.
So why spend $175 million on just one player? That kind of money can go a long way toward filling out a roster. Look at the Rays. You could float their payroll for three seasons and still have $40 million left. The Red Sox now can parlay their Teixeira savings into more starting pitching, a fourth outfielder and a catcher. Those are more pressing needs than first base.
Kevin Youkilis finished third in the MVP race, and Mike Lowell was hitting jacks on one leg. Youk is only going to get better, and don’t be surprised if Lowell returns from surgery looking like the Six Million Dollar Man. Better. Stronger. Faster. (OK, maybe not faster. Even bionic doctors haven’t figured out how to take a piano off the back, but have faith in modern medicine.)
The Red Sox were one win away from the World Series last season, and they had more walking wounded than a M.A.S.H. unit. If everyone can stay healthy in 2009, they will be a contender again.
Let the Yankees spend more than the gross national product of most countries. Let them have the highest payroll. Let them have an All-Star team.
None of that guarantees a ring. Championships aren’t won on paper.
Remember, it’s not how much a team spends that counts. It’s how wisely a team spends.
The Red Sox aren’t done making moves this winter. They’re just not going to throw around cash like it grows on trees.
That’s the Yankees’ job.
I will be on vacation until Jan. 6. Happy holidays.
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The NHL is making a comeback. It might have overreacted on Sean Avery’s punishment for impersonating a 16-year-old wordsmith, but the league continues to generate buzz and take baby steps toward rebuilding the image that was shattered after the lockout.
Look no further than the second Winter Classic as proof. More than just puckheads are getting excited to see the Chicago Blackhawks play the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on January 1.
The inaugural Winter Classic between the Penguins and Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo was a big success, and the 2009 version also could end up being memorable.
To maintain some momentum, the NHL should announce the teams and venue for the 2010 event this New Year’s Day. Yes, the Winter Olympics will be in Vancouver in 2010, but that should not prevent a third iteration of this game.
We know just the matchup and outdoor rink to keep the NHL in the national consciousness: Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens at Fenway Park.
The Habs and B’s like each other as much as the Yankees and Red Sox. The stands would be overflowing with Black and Gold, and rest assured, some Red, Blue and White supporters would find their way to Lansdowne Street and Yawkey Way from north of the border.
 What a scene it would be in Boston.
Imagine the possibilities:
- The Bruins ring in the New Year by skating circles around the Canadiens at Fenway.
- Phil Kessel nets his 100th career goal, Shawn Thornton records a Gordie Howe hat trick, and Tim Thomas pitches a shutout.
- Milan Lucic accepts Georges Laraque’s request to drop the gloves and leaves the Habs enforcer's face looking like ground chuck.
- George Carlin smiles down from heaven as Bruins and Canadiens fans use way more than seven words you can’t say on television.
- Claude Julien agrees to co-author a book with Bill Belichick on mastering the art of stoicism.
That game would be an instant classic in any language.
The NHL could even add a new wrinkle. Have an All-Star team of juniors from Massachusetts and Quebec square off in the undercard before the big boys take the ice for the main event. Let the intensity build like a rocket fuse in a Roadrunner cartoon. By the time it’s showtime …
Ka-boom.
Only Gary Bettman would not be wearing black soot all over its face like Wile E. Coyote. The NHL would have the heroic afterglow David Ortiz gets after taking a curtain call for hitting a home run.
And another positive headline in its fight to emerge from the shadows of the NFL, NBA and MLB.
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The winter meetings are history. But while MLB’s annual convention has left Las Vegas, the offseason is far from over.
Here’s what we learned this week:
Who needs an auto bailout plan? The Yankees can save the economy. They still throw around cash like Russian oil baron Roman Abramovich.
If Hank Steinbrenner had a penny for every illogical thought, he would be a rich man. Oh, wait.
Scott Boras remains the master of spin. He could sell ice to an Eskimo.
The AL East remains a gauntlet -- the toughest division in baseball just keeps getting tougher.
The Rays aren’t satisfied with getting to the World Series.
Remember the name Miguel Gonzalez. The Red Sox picked him up in the Rule 5 draft, and the skinny kid from Mexico could be a keeper. He has good stuff and excellent command.
Manny Ramirez is feeling left out and threatening to retire. All he needs to do is mix in a little more yoga with his cartoons and video games, and wait until the Yankees print some more money.
There’s a reason the Royals haven’t been to the postseason since 1985. Giving Kyle Farnsworth $9 million makes as much sense as TO’s conspiracy theories.
The only way Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire will make the Hall of Fame is if their vote totals are combined, and even then, they still might fall a few short of induction.
The Mets are not sitting on their hands. They went from having a shallow bullpen to one of the deepest with the additions of K-Rod and J.J. Putz. Now, they are eyeing Alex Cora.
Jake Peavy could be going to Disneyland.
The Pirates have discovered two pitchers from the countryside. The Indian countryside. Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel were discovered on a game show called The Million Dollar Arm. Seriously, you can’t make this kind of stuff up.
Mark Teixeira has an eight-year, $160 million deal sitting on the table from the Nationals. Unless the Red Sox decide to add a ninth year, the only way Tex will be on first at Fenway in 2009 is if Washington and Boston play in the World Series.
Bashing the Yankees is as easy as disliking Mr. Potter. But the Empire is a necessary evil that’s good for the game. Without Mr. Potter, George Bailey never would have realized how wonderful life is. And without the pinstripes being competitive, beating them would not be as much fun.
This hot stove season is just getting started, but it’s never too early start thinking about 2010. Magglio Ordonez and Carl Crawford could become free agents.
John Smoltz would look good in a new Red Sox uniform.
Jason Varitek wants to come back to Boston. The Red Sox want to bring him back. Can’t we all just along?
Ramon Hernandez won’t be calling Boston home, but Jarrod Saltamacchia, Taylor Teagarden or Miguel Montero are the catchers most likely to replace the captain.
The Red Sox need to add a few pieces of the puzzle before they head to Fort Myers.
Trust that Theo Epstein has a trick up his sleeve.
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The Red Sox will be sporting a new look in 2009.
Rest easy, Nation. There are no monumental alterations. No mismatched socks. No red parachute pants. No plaid. No argyle.
The changes -- a new primary logo, new primary road uniform, new alternate road uniform and new alternate hat -- won’t be a complete departure from the past. As a matter of fact, the past will be a significant part of the team’s future.
The Red Sox are switching their primary logo to the “Hanging Sox,” which first appeared on a Boston uniform in 1931 and now will also adorn a new alternate hat. They will have a new “retro” gray road uniform and alternate blue road jersey as well.
The Red Sox are looking back, embracing their roots, as they move forward. That’s a good thing.
All teams make uniform changes. Part of it is about keeping it fresh, and part of it is about marketing.
Baseball is a business. The goal of any good business is to make money. Even in a slumping economy, the Red Sox know how to do that. They already have one of the strongest brands in sports. And it’s only going to get stronger with this initiative.
Red Sox Nation is a global phenomenon, with loyal fans from every generation. If you sell it, they will come to buy it.
The old-timers want the new stuff to have a connection with today’s team.
The baby boomers love a piece of new gear because what’s new is what’s hip, and what’s hip is where it’s at.
The Gen-Xers are impressed by style, and nothing says sartorial like vintage threads with a postmodern touch.
But this is the age of the millennials (the segment of the population born between 1980 and 1995), and they represent an untapped consumer base. There are about 80 million millenials, and at least a quarter of them are probably Red Sox fans.
The Sox know this, and they are striking while the iron is hot. Just in time for the holidays.
The millennials have become the trendsetters. They were raised on the Red Sox -- the tradition passed down from great-grandparents to grandparents to parents like religion since birth -- and now the youngsters have something they can call their own, something original that still maintains a link to club history.
 A new Red Sox hat with “Hanging Sox”? That’s cool to a millennial. Gray road uni with blue lettering? Cool. A blue road jersey? Cool.
Merchandise in the hands of the youth equals revenue. Forget about an angel getting its wings this Christmas. Every time a cash register rings, the Red Sox will be getting their money.
That’s capitalism, as American as peanuts, hot dogs and cracker jacks.
Change is the name of the game these days, and the buzz is only going to grow.
Not everyone will dig the new Red Sox look, but to all the purists who are skeptical, open your minds and hearts. Next time you see one of the new jerseys around Beantown, tell the person wearing it how much you like it. They might just give you the shirt off their back.
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Change is coming to the Nation -- and it doesn't have anything to do with a new president. The Red Sox plan to reveal redesigned uniforms and logos on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Many past and present Red Sox dignitaries are expected to be on hand at GameOn! to witness the historic moment.
Not since the hanging of George W. Bush or the unveiling of a 478-carat white diamond has a public showing been so highly anticipated.
Fans are preparing to camp out on Lansdowne Street to catch a sneak peak at the new look -- the same way people stake out spots on the Rose Parade route in Pasadena (Calif.) to ring in the New Year, or wait in line overnight at a Cambridge shoe store to get the latest limited edition Nikes. OK, maybe no one is going quite that far, but this is big.
It's not as big as ending 86 years of suffering or welcoming a $103 million Japanese ace to the states, but it’s not as minor as one might think.
Changing a look is a risk. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn’t.
The Red Sox have had many logos and uniforms since 1901. Some were hideous, like the 1950-59 emblem, which was a cross between a skinny Kool-Aid Man and the flames on a Matchbox hot rod I had when I was 6. Other options, like this beauty from 1998, never saw the light of day. Thankfully.
So what will the new look look like? The answer to that question is more of a mystery than who will get Illinois’ open Senate seat.
But we’re pretty sure the new look won’t include any of the following: 
- Pinstripes. One Evil Empire is enough.
- Shorts. These are not the 1976 White Sox, and Bill Veeck has not been reincarnated. As far as we know.
- Pink. We like the green caps, and we can live with some of the others. But this color belongs in a Molly Ringwald movie, not as part of a baseball uniform. Just check out a Barstool Sports message board sometime if you want to debate the subject.
- Pillbox style hats. Willie Stargell and the “We Are Family” Pirates made these lids famous in the late ‘70s. Still, the only way you’ll see anybody rocking one at a ballpark next season is if that old box of Little League mementos is uncovered while getting Christmas lights out of the basement, or if somebody decides to go old school.
In the end, we’ll wager that the new look for the Red Sox is pretty close to the current one. Why mess with a classic?
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What happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas. But this week, what happens at the winter meetings in Sin City could have ramifications across Major League Baseball.
Let the annual schmooze-fest/business convention/circus begin.
Not even an economic crisis can temper what the Yankees are willing to spend. Starting pitching is their top priority, and they are ready to make C.C. Sabathia a very rich man.
Sabathia is not sold on the Bronx yet, and the Red Sox would like to keep it that way. Setting up a meeting with the ace’s agent is only a bluff to keep the Yankees guessing and raise the stakes. There will be no bidding war with the Evil Empire. The only thing Boston enjoys more than beating the pinstripes on the field is throwing a monkey wrench into their plans off it -- and forcing New York to dole out $150 million for a 28-year-old pushing 300 pounds would be a victory.
Theo Epstein comes to town ready to negotiate from a position of strength. The Red Sox have never been afraid to open up the checkbook for somebody they want, and this year won’t be any different. But is Mark Teixeira worth the $200 million or so it will cost to add his bat to the middle of a lineup? That’s debatable.
Once Sabathia decides where he wants to play, all the chips will start falling into place. A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe will go to the highest bidders. We would not be surprised if one (or both) of them ends up pitching for Seattle, Houston or another pretender. All those sound bites about wanting to play for a contender are great for the PR image, but at the end of the day, money talks.
Just ask Manny Ramirez. The slugging savant might pull a Barry Bonds and make an appearance at the Bellagio, just to show how serious he is about hustling (literally and figuratively). Hollywood was made for Manny, and we don’t see him getting any better offers to leave the Dodgers.
Then again, never say never -- especially when Scott Boras is within cell phone range (can you hear me now?). With 16 clients to represent, there’s never a dull -- or cheap -- moment for the superagent.
Philadelphia isn’t expected to be a wallflower. Replacing Pat Gillick after winning a World Series is a tough act to follow for Ruben Amaro Jr., but the new Phillies GM wasn’t hired for his penmanship. Amaro, a Stanford grad, is looking to make a splash and boost the champs’ repeat chances. Now that the Pat Burrell era appears to be over in Philly, the City of Brotherly Love could be a darkhorse in the Manny race.
So is Boston. Just kidding. Plaxico Burress has a better chance of patrolling left field at Fenway for the Red Sox in 2009 than Manny.
But the Sox are in market for a versatile fourth outfielder after shipping Coco Crisp to Kansas City. Some possibilities include Rocco Baldelli, Gabe Kapler, Willie Bloomquist, Jerry Hairston or perhaps Jay Payton.
They also are looking for a catcher. Even if they re-sign Jason Varitek for one or two years -- which is no guarantee after he declined arbitration -- they still need a backstop of the future. Every team in baseball knows this, and most have been gauging the Red Sox' interest in swinging a deal. Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz are off limits, but that doesn’t mean Epstein isn’t considering every other conceivable option. He has become the Jerry West of baseball, and mastered the art of fleecing other teams.
Don’t ever underestimate the Red Sox. They always are looking to improve and know how to play the offseason game as well as anyone. Sometimes, that means giving up something to get something better.
This is Las Vegas after all. And gambling is legal.
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College football needs a playoff system. This isn’t breaking news. We have known the BCS system makes no sense for years.
But finally, some people besides talking heads, football coaches and old-fashioned fans of sportsmanship are speaking up.
First, Barack Obama planted the seed on his election eve Monday Night Football appearance, and then the President-elect revisited the topic on 60 Minutes.
Hawaii Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie kept the chains moving by calling for a Department of Justice investigation.
Now, the issue is generating support from people in positions of power with the potential to implement change -- lawmakers. They contend the current bowl system violates the Sherman Antitrust Act by denying every school an equal opportunity to get to get to a BCS game (translation: make millions of dollars).
Not only that, but the current bowl system is based on computer models that only Stephen Hawking or somebody with a PhD in mathematics can understand.
So besides being unfair, the BCS system is also incomprehensible.
Look at the BCS standings. There are four undefeated teams in the top 25. That could change if Alabama loses to Florida, but Utah, Boise State and Ball State have as good a shot at playing for the national title as Britney Spears has at being named Poet Laureate.
Why not have a playoff system? Take the top eight, 12 or 16 teams, and let them battle for supremacy on the gridiron.
 Think of the possibilities this season:
USC vs. Oklahoma.
Texas vs. Florida.
Texas Tech vs. Utah.
Boise State vs. Alabama.
May the best team win. The last one standing is No. 1. Case closed. End of controversy.
It works for college basketball. March Madness is one of the most exciting times in sports. Upsets. Cinderellas stories. Drama. The NCAA Tournament has a little bit of everything.
A tournament could work for college football, too. The most wonderful time of the year would get even better.
Creating a football playoff is not rocket science. The reason we don’t have already have one comes down to dollars and sense. A few with little sense stand to lose lots of dollars.
Sure, the Obama administration has some other pressing issues to address before helping college football determine its rightful champion. But “restraint of trade” -- what the current situation constitutes -- is against the law whether we’re talking about Microsoft or the BCS.
Just because this is not a matter of national security doesn’t mean a federal agency can’t -- or shouldn’t -- look into what’s really going on. An unfair system is an unfair system, and all anti-trust laws should be enforced. This is a matter of principle.
America has been craving change for a long time. We are getting it in the halls of Washington.
Hopefully, that translates beyond the nation’s capital.
It’s about time a national champion is determined on the field.
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The Bruins are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. They put to rest any doubts with a convincing win over the defending champion Red Wings.
Now the hard part begins -- staying humble and hungry. Here are 10 ways the B’s can keep their eyes on the Cup.
1. Don’t look past anyone. Six of Boston’s first seven opponents in December have losing records. Nothing halts momentum faster than laying a couple of eggs against also-rans.
2. Squash any talk of a goalie controversy. It doesn't matter who stands between the pipes. Tim Thomas or Manny Fernandez are both first-rate keepers, and having two No. 1’s is a “dilemma” any team would want. Each of them needs to continue putting the team first and realize that getting a ring is more important than landing a starting job somewhere else.
3. Focus on the present. Planning a championship parade before winning a championship is like making dinner reservations with a Playboy bunny when the closest you’ve ever come to talking to one is the latest episode of "The Girls Next Door." The Bruins have beaten some quality teams over the first two months of the season, but all that matters is today. To remain in first place, the B’s must be ready to deliver messages every time they play.
4. Practice, practice, practice. The work done before games is as important as the work done during games. That includes keeping the body strong and the mind sharp. This prevents bad habits from seeping onto the ice.
5. Pay attention to coach. Just think of Claude Julien as E.F. Hutton. When the bench boss talks, the Bruins listen. Why shouldn’t they? He knows what he’s talking about and has the perfect demeanor for Boston -- calm and controlled. All the Bruins have to do follow his example and keep executing the game plans. The formula is working.
6. Be patient. Stanley Cups are not won in December, January, February, March or April.
They are won in May. Don't rush the process. Enjoy the journey.
7. Avoid getting a big head. When things are going well, there are more pats on the back, more media requests from national outlets, more attention, more hype, more opportunities to slip. The Bruins need to keep their edge, remember what got them to first place and not get caught up in the sideshow.
8. Stay aggressive. There is no need for the Bruins to change their approach. The key is playing a full 60 minutes every contest. They can do this by deconstructing games to the most granular level: Don’t just win every period -- win every shift.
9. Finish strong. An 82-game season is a grind. Now that the Bruins have a bull’s eye on their back as the team to beat in the East, the road to glory will be lined with even more spike strips.
10. Believe. Most of these Bruins weren’t even born the last time the Black and Gold won everything. But if the Red Sox can end 86 years of misery this decade, a 36-year drought is nothing.
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 Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. That doesn’t mean we have to stop giving thanks. There are still plenty of leftovers in the fridge, and everyone has room to be grateful.
Here are a few people who have reason to count their blessings:
Charlie Weis. The former Patriots offensive coordinator has managed to keep his job at Notre Dame. But the anti-Knute Rockne is running out of boosters in South Bend and around the country. If the Irish get embarrassed by USC again, Weis might be looking for work in the new year.
Ramon Ramirez. The Red Sox' newest reliever is excited about coming to Boston. Ramirez will find the biggest difference between playing home games at Fenway and Kauffman Stadium is that fans actually come to the park to watch.
Scott Boras. It’s good to be the king. A year after the A-Rod debacle, Boras remains the most powerful agent in baseball, perhaps in all of sports. He rules negotiations like Gordon Gekko at a Teldar shareholders meeting. Nobody is better at inflating a players’ worth, and getting his clients top dollar.
Manny Ramirez. See above. The Yankees are chomping at the bit to unload a nine-figure deal. Manny grew up in the Bronx and just happens to be looking for a nine-figure deal. Sounds like a match made in heaven.
 Boston Celtics. The last time a defending world champion flew under the radar, the internet was only the seed of an idea. But nowadays in the NBA, winning without controversy doesn’t make headlines like skipping practice or refusing to play. With that in mind, the Celtics should be happy their team has stayed, more or less, out of the national spotlight.
Mark Cuban. The Mavericks owner has come out swinging against the Securities and Exchange Commission in defense of insider trading charges regarding the sale of Mamma.com stock. The indictment doesn’t ruin Cuban’s chances of owning the Cubs and may prove to be a boon his reputation as a maverick. When the fight is finished, Cuban could have the SEC saying, "Who’s your daddy?" Then again, he could end up managing a Dairy Queen.
Rick Pitino. Who needs Larry Bird, Kevin McHale or Robert Parish to walk through the door? The former Celtics coach has done all right for himself since leaving Beantown. The Louisville Cardinals are perennial contenders under Pitino, and this year’s squad has a shot to cut down the nets in Detroit.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Salty is crossing his fingers that he ends up calling signs for Boston’s staff in 2009. Going from the Rangers to the Red Sox would be an upgrade. Kind of like going from a Yugo to a Mercedes.
Tom Brady. Watching Matt Cassel play hero is similar to rehabbing a shredded knee. It hurts and is rewarding at the same time. Brady can take solace in knowing the closest Wally Pipp ever got to waking up next to a model was a Sears Roebuck catalogue.
Milan Lucic. Looch might sound like a Dr. Seuss character, but the 20-year-old plays like the next big star in Boston. No Bruin has held that honor since Cam Neely rocked the scene, so it’s only fitting that the torch would be passed from the actual legend to the second coming of Cam Neely.
New Englanders. Keep drinking the water. Whatever is in it makes champions.
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Cha-ching. Matt Cassel doesn’t need Jerry Maguire to show him the money. The Patriots’ signal-caller is finding the road to the riches on his own.
As a matter of fact, Cassel is finding a lot of things these days.
He’s found a comfort zone. He’s found the end zone seven times in the last two games (six through the air, one on the ground). And after Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, he’s found the history books -- joining Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Phil Simms and Billy Volek as the only quarterbacks to pass for 400-plus yards in back-to-back contests.
Cassel is still a long way from putting on a yellow jacket and giving a speech in Canton, but he’s doing much more than just managing a game for the Patriots in his first year as a starter. He ranks 11th among NFL quarterbacks in QB rating (90.5) and touchdowns (13). He’s earned the trust of his teammates, served Joey Porter humble pie and continues to get better every week.
Cassel is pulling a Tom Brady, and giving New England fans hope about a trip to the 2009 Super Bowl.
Isn’t it ironic?
If Cassel is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy over his head in February -- or even comes close -- the Patriots will have a tough decision to make. The 26-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Here are some potential scenarios:
1. Keep Brady and re-sign Cassel to be his backup. Cassel currently is a bargain. His total salary ($525,640) rates among the lowest for starting quarterbacks this year. He stands to get a “hellified” contract, as Randy Moss would say. But it’s not the Patriots’ style to have a multimillionaire holding the clipboard.
2. Re-sign Cassel and trade him. There is no shortage of teams that could use a quarterback like Cassel -- the Bears, Lions and 49ers spring to mind. Some say Cassel is thriving because of the Patriots’ system, and he’d be a bum elsewhere. That argument doesn’t hold water. He’s got a good arm, great wheels and a brain. Only a handful of quarterbacks possess all three traits.
3. Re-sign Cassel and trade Brady. Before anyone jumps off the Tobin Bridge, remember what happened to Drew Bledsoe. To paraphrase Jerry Glanville, the NFL stands for “Not For Long” when you’re sitting on the sidelines. Even though sports is a business and nobody is untouchable, Brady has more clout than just about any superstar in recent memory. The Patriots owe him more than a first-class ticket out of town, and everyone knows it.
4. Re-sign Cassel and keep Brady as his backup. There’s a better chance of Giselle Bundchen and Bridget Moynahan becoming BFFs than seeing Brady play second fiddle in New England. He would request a trade faster than Kobayashi wolfs down a hot dog.
5. Brett Favre retires, and the Jets sign Cassel to replace him. Think Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini have a frosty relationship now? A knuckle sandwich might replace the handshake at the end of games. (Of course, this is discounting the inevitable Favre retirement dance: “Will he retire? Won't he retire? Wait, is he retired or unretired?” By the time, that drama plays out, Cassel will have found a home elsewhere.)
The next couple months will determine more than the Patriots’ fate. Brady wrote the first script with a storybook ending. Now the sequel is under development with Cassel holding the pen.
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In case you haven’t heard, the Bruins have a team worth watching this season.
They continue to pick up wins the way Mystery picks up women. But it’s no mystery why the B’s are winning at such a consistent clip. Playing good, smart, hard-nosed hockey is a formula for success at any level.
Having a reservoir full of talent doesn’t hurt, either. And the Black and Gold’s pond is stocked with just the right mix of youngbloods and veterans. Even Bobby Flay would lose in a throwdown against this roster.
Tim Thomas deserves to be an All-Star. So do Marc Savard, Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara, who’s building a case to dethrone Niklas Lidstrom as the best defenseman in the game. Patrice Bergeron is still gliding under the radar. Phil Kessel continues to be a sniper. Rookie Blake Wheeler has the look of a future star. And the list goes on and on and on.
Every player has bought into Claude Julien’s defense-wins approach, and the team is getting contributions from the first line to the fourth. There are no weak links. They have tightened up their penalty kill and still limit mental mistakes.
The star of the team is the team. “We” supercedes “me.” The Bruins skate as one. They play balanced as a metronome, possess textbook fundamentals and are as tough as Joe Calzaghe after somebody insults his mother.
Some say the Celtics’ success on Causeway is rubbing off on the Black and Gold. Perhaps that has a little something to do with it. However, the B’s impressive start is more than just winning by osmosis, (though Osmosis Jones is an underrated flick). They are technically sound and minimize physical errors.
Others contend the B’s grew tired of being treated like the redheaded stepchild among Boston sports teams. That’s possible. Motivation to get better can come from multiple sources. But a commitment to excellence must come from within. The Bruins continue to put in work. The more success they have, the more humble they get. Julien will not let them become complacent.
Throw in intangibles that don’t show up in the box score -- heart, hustle and grit -- and the Bruins are the surprise team to beat in the Eastern Conference at the quarter mark. They are opening eyes around the league by dismantling opponents in every way imaginable.
Now it’s time for Boston to start paying attention. It’s no secret this is a tough market. The only thing that matters is a ring. The Bruins are a nice story in November, but they won’t reach a Don-Corleone level of respect in this town until they win their sixth Cup.
 There’s still plenty of room on the bandwagon. Old-time hockey is back in the Hub, and we’re not talking about goonery. It’s “Slap Shot” night at the Garden for the Bruins-Panthers game. Get your Hanson Glasses and throw on a Chiefs jersey.
They don’t make movies like they used to, but hockey teams have come full circle. Somewhere in heaven, Reggie Dunlop is smiling.
So is Eddie Shore.
The Bruins have the look of champions once again.
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Don't ever doubt Dustin Pedroia again.
If he says he can climb Mt. Everest, believe him.
If he says he can swim the English Channel, believe him.
If he says he can run a four-minute mile, believe him.
If he says he can hop around the world on one foot while whistling the "William Tell Overture," believe him.
Dustin Pedroia has already proved he can do anything.
After being named AL Rookie of the Year last season, the Red Sox second baseman has taken home the AL MVP as an encore.
What will he do next -- hit .400, win the Triple Crown, play every position on the diamond?
Nothing would be shocking.
Some ballplayers are born stars, and everyone knows it. From the moment they hit the diamond for their first Little League tryout, they have a presence. They are the best player on the field, destined for the Show, a lock for Cooperstown.
Talent is less obvious with others. They don't pass the eye test. Question marks follow them like shadows. They hear "you can't" more than "you can do anything you want." They are in the not-enough club -- not big enough, not strong enough, not fast enough, not fill-in-the-blank enough.
Dustin Pedroia used to be in that club.
Then a funny thing happened. He didn't listen, kept playing and wound up in the Show.
The little second baseman that could is having the last laugh these days.
He might be 5-foot-9 on a good day and 170 pounds dripping wet, but he is a pitcher’s worst nightmare, the new heart and soul of the Red Sox and building a case to be one of the best second basemen to ever put on a uniform.
Pedroia has come a long way from Woodland, Calif.
Heck, he's come a long way from his inaugural season in the bigs. When he was hitting .182 in April of 2007, Red Sox Nation was clamoring to replace him in the lineup and send him back to the minors. There were rumblings that he wasn't ready for prime time.
He hit .415 that May, and the rest is history.
Now he's the best player in the American League -- and running out of people to prove wrong.
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The Yankees have already made a statement this offseason. By tendering CC Sabathia a record offer for six years and about $140 million -- the highest deal for any pitcher in history -- the pinstripes have officially gone off the financial deep end.
George Steinbrenner became infamous for some dubious moves when he was running the team, and it sure looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Last winter, Hank Steinbrenner had foot-in-the-mouth-itis. This year, he’s on the road to compulsive spending.
Hank reminds us of the rich kid who gets his dad’s credit card, goes to the most expensive bar in town, opens a tab and starts buying drinks for the whole place. By the end of the night, he’s run up a huge bill and has nothing to show for it. Except a hangover and a walk of shame.
King George’s son needs an intervention before he does some damage that can’t be fixed with aspirin.
The Steinbrenners have always had deep pockets, but they haven’t exactly been Warren Buffett with their money this past decade. Despite spending $1.4 billion on player salaries since 2001, the Yankees have won the same number of World Series championships as the Royals, Pirates and Nationals. Zero.
Bigger is no longer better when it comes to contracts. Smarter is better.
Even Brewers GM Doug Melvin doesn’t understand the logic behind outbidding Milwaukee by $40 million for Sabathia’s services.
Sabathia is a great pitcher. He deserves to get paid a lot of money, but there’s no guarantee he will be worth all that money or won’t break down.
Look at Barry Zito. Do you think the Giants would take a mulligan on the seven-year, $126 million deal they gave the left-hander in 2006? Zito has gone 22-30 with a 4.83 ERA in 66 games for San Francisco. Not exactly the second coming of Sandy Koufax. Or even Fernando Valenzuela in his twilight years.
So why take such a risk with Sabathia? Yes, 28-year-old left-handers with 95-mph fastballs come along as often as honest politicians. But there’s no need to give him six years, especially since he ranks closer to David Wells than Nolan Ryan on the fitness meter.
Of course, Sabathia might end up saying thanks but no thanks to the Yankees -- and get his millions from a team on the West Coast, where he was born and raised. That would be the ultimate sign that there’s a new baseball order. The pinstripes make a player an offer he can’t refuse … and he refuses.
Maybe teams finally will start wising up and give one- or two-year deals instead of four- or five-year pacts. Players can still make millions, but without the luxury of long-term security, they will have more incentive to show up, play and prove they are worth all that coin, and deserve another contract.
Expect to see some new business models across baseball. The downturn in the economy will play a part in the way teams function. Gone are the days of teams giving a blank check to players or agents and having them fill in the number. More and more clubs realize it’s time to rein in spending, and not just because times are tighter than usual.
 There is no correlation between big payrolls and winning. The Rays advanced to the World Series with the second-lowest payroll in the big leagues at $44 million (as of Opening Day). And the Phillies won everything with the 13th-highest payroll, spending less than $100 million. In contrast, the Yankees spent $209 million last season (most in the majors), while Boston spent over $133 million (fourth-most in MLB).
Don’t worry, the Red Sox plan to take a more sensible and measured approach. After being burned by big-ticket deals in the past, they are not going to break the bank for anyone, or give someone too long a contract.
Scott Boras is using the four-year, $52.4 million deal Jorge Posada signed with the Yankees last season as the benchmark for a Jason Varitek contract this winter. What Boras has failed to mention is that Posada played in 51 games this past season because of injuries. If Varitek wants to finish his career in Boston, he will have to lower his demands.
The free-spending Yankees, however, don’t appear to have learned that winning and spending don’t always go hand-in-hand. They will overpay somebody. The odds are 50-50 his name is Manny, and he gets a five-year, $120 million contract with an anything-goes clause.
The sooner the Yankees understand that money is not the end-all cure-all, the better the game will be. Perhaps watching somebody else celebrate a world championship next October will do the trick. If not, maybe the pinstripes can hold a viewing party in their new park to even up the books.
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Michael Vick wants to play in the NFL again. He reiterated that this week through his lawyers. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be given an opportunity after he pays his debt to society.
Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kan., for bankrolling a dogfighting operation in Virginia. He is scheduled to be released on July 20, but his attorneys hope to get him out earlier and have him transferred to a halfway house. Before he can enter that program, Vick has another court date on Nov. 25 to take care of two state charges for dogfighting and animal cruelty.
It’s been a long, strange nightmare for Vick, who fell from grace faster than a runaway train rolling on greased tracks. In the blink of an eye, the top pick in the 2001 draft went from being the Gifted One to Public Enemy No. 1.
Vick used to be able to do just about anything on the football field -- outrun the wind, throw footballs out of stadiums, leap linebackers in a single bound, break ankles with Madden moves, turn water into wine (OK, maybe that last one is stretching it, but he had juice). He was electric. The world was his for the taking.
Then, he got took. And he has no one to blame but himself.
Due to some terrible actions, shady associations and bad choices, Vick lost everything. He isn’t the first athlete to make a mistake -- nor will he be the last -- but few have experienced such a precipitous crash.
His story is a cautionary tale.
It doesn’t have to be a Greek tragedy, though. Vick has a shot at redemption, to make a difference, to implore youth not to waste talent, to make good on all his promise.
From darkness comes light. While naysayers can hate all they want, Vick can show he’s changed for the better and ready to be a positive role model.
It’s time to rebuild his reputation and life. Brick by brick.
He still has a contract with the Falcons, and his attorneys have assured creditors that he will be able to pay off the $4.4 million he owes. As long as he shows contrition, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should reinstate him.
Some team will give him a chance. If not Atlanta, somebody else will.
Would the Patriots take the risk? It’s a long shot, but they could have used him on Thursday night against the Jets (in some capacity). And the team did sign Randy Moss. Although the receiver’s baggage looks like a paper lunch bag compared to what Vick would bring, the Patriots have shown they’d at least glance at a player who wasn’t always considered a model citizen.
Like 31 other teams, New England should take a look at Vick. Maybe it won’t be as a quarterback. But if he still has some wheels, he could be converted into a receiver, perhaps a defensive back or maybe even a return man.
Vick needs to think outside the box, and those who are scouting him need to do the same. This was a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. Spending two years in Club Fed isn’t the ideal path, but as long as he doesn’t look like Mike Tyson entering the ring for the Buster Douglas fight, there is hope.
Vick is only 28. He will be 29 on June 26, 2009. His career doesn’t have to end. This could be the beginning of another chapter.
America is the land of the free, home of the brave and all about second chances.
Vick deserves one.
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Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Bruins coach Claude Julien have more in common than a Massachusetts residency.
Both are intelligent, no-nonsense guys. They know their games as well as, if not better than, anyone. And when it’s time to work, these coaches make Joe Friday look like Pauly Shore. It’s no accident both boast career records well over .500. They are superb strategists who focus on the little things.
They also realize coaching at its core is about being a great teacher. Having knowledge is nice, but being able to convey that knowledge to assistant coaches and players is what leads to victories. As a result, they have been able to translate X and O mastery into prime-time execution.
But communication extends beyond the locker room and game planning. The 24-hour news cycle means stepping in front of a microphone is part of the job -- even though it ranks around removing fingernails with pliers on the fun meter for most coaches.
Belichick and Julien accept their media obligations and responsibilities with a grain of salt. They are well-versed in coachspeak (saying nothing with a whole bunch of words), can make clichés sound like Robert Frost poetry and have become experts at keeping reporters in the dark about lineups and injuries. While Belichick is the monotoned master at delivering a scoop of vanilla with aplomb and disgust, Julien is no slouch himself.
Ask them a dumb question, and chances are the response will be colder than an Antartic morning. If necessary, either coach will resort to Jedi mind tricks and use the Force to convince the weak-minded that “these are not the questions you want answered.”
Another useful trait to have as a coach -- especially in a hardened sports town such as Boston -- is thick skin. Fortunately for Belichick and Julien, they have skin like an armadillo shell. They are impervious to second-guessing and refuse to waver in the face of the adversity. When the perfect storm is swirling, the fearless captain is the rock that shepherds the ship to calm seas.
Belichick has had one losing season in New England, his first in 2000 when the Patriots went 5-11. After opening the 2001 campaign at 5-5, the Pats rolled off six straight regular-season wins on their way to capturing the first of three Super Bowls this decade.
 The Bruins made the playoffs last season (Julien’s first year in Boston) and now have the look of serious contenders. The only people outside the organization who thought this would happen so soon were family, friends and eternal optimists.
There’s still a lot of football and hockey to be played, but a Lombardi Trophy or Stanley Cup remains part of the discussion with the Patriots and Bruins.
That’s because the Patriots and Bruins are in first place –- in large part thanks to their respective head coaches.
The last time both teams sat atop their divisions at the same time, "Entourage" was a fledging HBO series. Now the show is a hit, Belichick and Julien are coaching colleagues in New England, and the Patriots and Bruins could be sharing the spotlight for a while.
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