Movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn once famously said of preachy movies, "If you want to send a message, call Western Union.". Well, Western Union is now out of the telegram business, so the Celtics had to send a message to Detroit some other way, playing stifling defense, fundamental offense, and grinding out a win that - well, that sends the message - that they just might actually be the best team in the East.

Everybody chipped in on this one. KG had a Celtic-high 31. Perk had 20 rebounds. Pierce was quiet for a while, but hit a couple of big shots in the game-ending rally. Rondo pinballed his way to 16 points, even out-Chaunceying Chauncey Billups on a late play where Rajon bumped his way into contact and got the basket and the foul. The bench played solid, and Ray Allen made up in other stats, and stifling Rip Hamilton, what he didn't score. Good times all around.

The Celtics, anticlimactically, have clinched a playoff spot. Remember a year ago, we were constantly clicking ESPN's Mock Lottery Machine and lighting candles in every house of worship we passed by. This is much more fun, and much easier on our candle budget.

The Red Sox face Derek Lowe and the Dodgers today, but a lot of the rumblings out of Fort Myers involve Jonathan Papelbon's contract renegotiations. The Sox don't want to sign him to a long-term deal yet - mostly because they don't have to - but Papelbon wants a little more money, "not only [for] myself and my family...but for the game of baseball". We're really starting to get Charlie Sheen in Major League II vibes here. And it's scaring us.

Steve Bulpett wants you to get excited about UMass basketball, after the Minutemen celebrated Senior Night by rolling LaSalle out of the building. This Bostonist spent some time at Broad and Olney in North Philly, and can state with bitter experience that a squad of trained Shih Tzus could probably roll LaSalle out of the building. Which shouldn't take away from UMass' 20-8 record and bright future in the NCAA tournament.

(AP photo by Elise Amendola)