Sports Redux: Green 17

Wasn't "Green 17" the Celtics' marketing slogan a few years ago? This might have been in the years before "This Train Is Bound For Glory" and after "Who Needs a Slogan? We're Actually A Good Team". But when they were pitching "Green 17", they weren't reminiscing about Hondo (right), they were telling us #17 was around the corner. Here, we thought they meant BANNER #17.

But now we have to face the fact that the 17 staring us in the face is the losing streak. The Nets (Marketing Slogan: "The Only Pro Sports Team Named After Equipment") come into town tonight. We're still two games up on Memphis in the all-important loss column; if you're scoreboard-watching, the Grizzlies host Minnesota tonight.

The Bruins? Well, they gave up three goals in two minutes en route to a 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes (Marketing Slogan: "In Your Heart, We're Still the Whalers"). A stop at the T.D. BankNorth Garden is turning into the Lourdes of professional sports teams. Celtics vs. Washington Generals: Get your tickets now!

In world sports news, six Italian soccer stadiums are actually allowing fans into this weekend's matches. The rest of the games will be played in isolation, since violence at a soccer match (!) killed a policeman. Which raises the question: If a soccer player falls with no one around to hear him, does he still writhe around on the field?

And don't forget to vote in Boston's Most Beloved Red Sox poll, going from now until Valentine's Day. Later today, they'll post the poll for "Most Beloved Relief Pitcher", so El Guapo will presumably get one more moment in the sun.

John Havlicek picture from some Russian hoops site we can't translate.