Sports Redux: An Off Day?

Unusually quiet on the local sports scene yesterday. Sure, the World Champion Red Sox dispersed to the talk show circuit. At various times last night, and for the next few days, you can see members of the hometown team doing walkons with Letterman, Leno, O'Brien, "The Daily Show", "Nightline", "The NFL Today", "Thomas the Tank Engine", "The Iron Chef", "CSI: Miami", and "Deadliest Catch". Check your local listings.

But in terms of actual, on-the-field, recappable action, nothing. True, somebody Mientkiewiczed the ball used for the last out of the Series (hence, Varitek's upcoming guest spot on "The Bloodhound Gang"), but in the long run, who cares. To pass the time, why not play "Choose Your Own Rodventure", where you get to take on the role of "coveted" free agent Alex Rodriguez, and forge your own destiny. This was sent to us by a couple of alert readers and is a good way to kill a few minutes.

Much of the NBA tipped off last night, but not the Celtics. Their Friday opponent, the Wizards, fell to Indiana last night in OT, but gives us a chance to recommend Agent Zero, the blog of Washington Star Gilbert Arenas. He makes a plea to Boston fans:

I know all you Boston fans are going to want to go to see Kevin Garnett, but y’all are going to see him 41 games. You’re only going to see me twice! Me and my handsome self. I got a fresh cut for the Boston and Indiana fans. Break out the Arenas jerseys. I’m coming to town.

Preparing for Sunday's tilt, coaches Belichick and Dungy are trying to outmaneuver one another for the role of "disrespected underdog". Belichick told Indiana reporters that the Colts are the best team in football, while Dungy compared the Colts to Frazier in an Ali-Frazier fight. At least it sounds plausible, unlike those types of press conferences when Coach Bill feigns terror of the 2-and-10-but-dangerous Raiders.

Speaking of Bill, you're probably going to read some comparisons between the Patriots' running up the scores and the class shown by Kansas' Smith Center High, who got the score up to 72-0 in the first quarter, then stopped scoring on purpose. All we can say to that is, if Belichick were coaching against a team over overmatched hayseeds, instead of, say, highly-paid professionals, he might ease up on the gas pedal too. Unless Plainville were on this year's schedule. Or Eric Mangini was involved.

Image from Amazon.