Josh Beckett got to hoist the championship trophy, ride down Boylston on the duck boats, and will get a huge ring in the spring. He earned the Sports Illustrated commemorative issue cover, the champagne and beer showers, and the reputation for serving as the ace among aces in October.

He had a rich season, so we're hoping that such a reminder helps as C.C. Sabathia is toasted as the American League's newest Cy Young winner. Perhaps due to the voting schedule - ballots were cast before the postseason began - the guy who had a great top-notch season but imploded in the ALCS beat out the guy who had a great regular season and then kicked it up a notch come the playoffs.

The first place voting breakdown:
Sabathia 19
Beckett 8
John Lackey 1

Is this the time and place to discuss whether Cy Young voting should take place before or after the season is officially through? Well, yes., and we expect many in Boston and beyond to carry on that discussion (want to jump in on it? The Globe has started a message board thread). And while many might talk about how that would reduce the Cy Young to a meaningless token intended only to go to a pitcher on the World Series-winning team, we're going to sit back and let voters realize that looking at the season in its entirety - or just looking at the ALCS - everyone knows who came out on top in 2007.

In other related Red Sox news: still no news on Mike Lowell. We don't want to polarize part of our Redux readership, but we think of a line from last week's "Grey's Anatomy" on this one: not hearing anything is a good sign right now. It means that the procedure is still underway.

(For the part of our readership that does watch "Grey's," let's home there's a better outcome.)

Also: Youk's goatee is no more. But don't worry - it was for a good cause (Gillette donated $5,000 to Youkilis Hits for Kids) and he has plenty of time to grow it back before Spring Training.

-- The Celitcs are continuing their undefeated streak alive with Tuesday's 101-86 victory over Indiana. Paul Pierce led Boston with 31 points, going 14-for-14 from the free throw line) while pulling down 11 rebounds. Kevin Garnett went for his sixth double-double in as many games (18 points, 11 rebounds). Ray Allen added 15 points in the third quarter alone.

Everyone hoped that things would go well, but did even the most die-hard green-clad fan this kind of performance? Everyone is taking notice, including ESPN (No. 2 in power rankings), and NBA.com and SI.com (right at the top of the list).

In their losing effort, Indiana was led by Danny Granger, who notched 24 points and seven rebounds.

-- Newsflash: Tom Brady likes his offensive line. He also talks to his father, might be the object of lust for one Ms. Jennifer Aniston, and spent part of his bye week in Los Angeles with little laddie JET (warning on the link: Yankees hat photo!).

Image by flickr user Eric Kilby. Optional caption: "Do you think I should have gotten the Cy? I know. I thought so, too."