Sports Redux: The Youth Movement is Dead! Long Live the King!

Green Kool-Aid is our favorite flavor. (Yes, Green is a flavor.)

We've been chugging the semi-sour variety of it for three years now, as Danny Ainge has told us that we'd been assembling key parts for a magical youth movement that would lead the Celtics back to glory. And we've sipped the ultra-sour variety for a month, trying to figure out what kind of a youth movement features a creaky 32-year-old shooter.

But today, the Kool-Aid has a different flavor. You can still see how the C's youth movement would have gone, but you'll have to get NBA League Pass and watch the Timberwolves. Danny's betting the farm, his job and our collective sanity on the idea that three aging stars > six promising kids.

If you're not on board with the new plan, maybe Jackie MacMullan or Bill Simmons can swing you. Or maybe you'll have to wait until the first preseason joint press conference, where Garnett, Allen and Pierce will be beaming, thinking of how their supporting casts have looked over the last few years, and how nice it will be to have two players on similar levels, who understand and who know the stakes, at each of their sides.

We'd be remiss if we didn't spend a minute reflecting on what coulda been, and who we're losing in the shuffle. Al Jefferson, who is going to be a well-deserved All-Star very soon. Delonte West and Ryan Gomes, two guys who bust it every night and will hopefully get to do it in games that matter before long. Sebastian Telfair, who gets a Certificate of Participation. Gerald Green, who will no doubt be confounding Wolves fans for several years to come. And Theo Ratliff, who as far as we know doesn't even exist and is just a name on an attractive contract (like Andy Dufresne's alter ego in Shawshank). As Don Corleone told Sollozzo, "I wish to congratulate you...and I know you'll do very well; and good luck to you -- as best as your interests don't conflict with my interests. Thank you."

Somewhere in all the hubbub, the Bruins released their 2007-08 schedule. They open on a Western road trip, then have their home opener October 18th against the Lightning. Study and learn.

Josh Beckett against Erik Bedard and the Orioles tonight at Fenway, as the Red Sox try to reclaim some of the local sports headlines.