Did you enjoy yesterday's narrowly-averted international incident? All is well, and the Sox will be landing in Japan this morning. The deal as we understand it is that instead of the $40K(!) the coaches were supposed to get as a business-trip bonus, they're now getting a good chunk of that from MLB, and the Red Sox will make up the difference.

The best thing to come out of this is that the team's been united just like that. The players stood up as one for the coaches, the coaches are beaming, and everyone's happy. It usually takes a bench-clearing brawl to bring a team together like this. Cursed to First wonders what's next for these suddenly activist Sox.

Jonathan Papelbon had big plans for the 19-hour flight. Poker. "I don’t read books," he said, which surprises us. Not. Dustin Pedroia and Terry Francona were planning to pursue their death-match cribbage series. No word on what Manny will do for the 19 hours.

Today in sports is all about dancing. The NCAA tournament kicks off at 12:20, and our bracket will no doubt be shot to hell by suppertime. Root for the underdogs, but pick the favorites...that would be our motto, except we usually pick the underdogs. Luckily no money will be changing hands.

The Celtics try to be the first team since 2001 to sweep a Texas trip, tonight in Dallas. After the furious comeback in San Antonio and the utter defensive lockdown of Houston, the playoffs can't start soon enough for us. The Bruins will try to be the first Bruins team since 1951 (or does it just seem that way?) to beat Montreal; the Habs are in town tonight at the Whatever It Will Be Called Now Garden.

Image from Amazon.