Sports Redux: Attaboy, Les

How would you have scripted this comeback? How would you write the pivotal scene in a movie about a promising young pitcher whose career is threatened by cancer surgery, but comes back less than a year later to light a needed fire under his first-place team?

You probably would have written it to be against the Yankees. But other than that, it was a storybook night for Jon Lester, who tamed Cleveland to the tune of six innings, five hits, six Ks and three runs. It didn't hurt that his offense staked him to a 4-0 lead before he even threw his first pitch, keyed by a 2-run Manny double.

With much of the pressure off, Lester was free to go to work, dazzling the Indians and delighting his parents, who were in attendance at Jacobs Field, living it up and thrilled with every pitch. Just a fantastic story all around.

Unlike seemingly everything else going on in sports.

Michael Vick was told to stay away from Falcons training camp; the NFL doesn't want him there until they see where the dust settles from Vick's hearing regarding his involvement with a national dogfighting ring. He may wind up in jail, he may wind up suspended or banned from the league, but at least he won't be savaged on the field (if and when he does play) or killed if his team doesn't perform well. Did that sound like an editorial comment? Sorry about that.

Meanwhile, the NBA is rightly fretting as it waits to see the dust settle from its scandal: the referee-mob connection that strikes right at the idea of fair play and honest competition. Bill Simmons breaks down what the scandal means for the past (were the 2007 playoffs tainted beyond redemption?), present (will anyone trust any referee's call this year?) and future.

Even in baseball, some people seem to care that commissioner Bud Selig has chosen not to go the Phish route and follow Barry Bonds around the country until he breaks Hank Aaron's record. Because if you're a controversial, unpopular guy, the one thing you want at your moment of triumph is to make sure Bud Selig's there.

Sigh. Let's focus on the good stuff. Welcome back, Jon Lester. Attaboy.

Picture from RedSox.com.