Sports Redux: Rebounded By Varitek

Adam at Universal Hub first brought this to our attention, then we heard it on WBZ in the car: it's a brilliant Gil Santos mashup in which he simultaneously announces the opening day games of all four of our local teams. That Zdeko Brady Matsuzaka is a hell of an athlete, leading the league in assists, RBIs, and completion percentage.

The Red Sox joined the growing number of MLB teams who've had to cancel games because of the weather. They should get this one in tonight, though, as Tim Wakefield takes the mound against John Lackey of California's Angelic Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California. They just had a weather-related detour, playing their entire series in Cleveland in Milwaukee instead. (By the way, Bostonist loves the fact that a West Coast team is involved in the Patriot's Day game this year. Nothing like that coveted 7:05 AM PDT start time.)

Tickets may be 1% easier to get this year; so far the Red Sox seem to actually be proactive about stopping scalpers. The team is preparing to revoke the season tickets of a handful of people they caught selling them online. Eight scalpers have been arrested outside Fenway already this year. One of them is a paroled murderer; you'd think he'd be more at home selling tickets outside Cincinnati Bengal games.

If you still can't get Sox tickets, keep in mind the Celtics and Bucks are poised to play one for the ages tonight. Both teams waving white flags, resting all the regulars, trying not to get anyone hurt - this could wind up literally being the worst NBA game of all time. The Celtics will honor their 1957 World Championship team (the first of many - you kids may not know this, but the Celtics used to pretty much rule the league) at halftime. No word yet on whether the collection of elderly gents gets to play the winner.

Tony Massarotti talked to Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots quarterback who was going to be the savior of that franchise until he got hurt and somebody else did it instead, who retired yesterday. Drew always seemed like a really nice, genuine kid. We're going to remember him as the guy who grinned and bore it when Brady took his team to the first championship, and the guy who took out ads in the local papers on his way out, thanking the fans for their support. It's a lot happier than remembering Drew's trademarked 87-yards-run-back-down-the-sideline backbreaking interception play.

Gil Santos picture courtesy of WBZ.