Sports Redux: Beat LA

We thought about numerous ways to explain to those befuddled by the Manny Ramirez/Boston Red Sox divorce, a saga that continues to unfold in a he said/they said manner that spans from sea to shining sea. The flames were stoked yet again over the weekend, this time by LA Times sportswriter T.J. Simers, who went off on a tangent about how awful Boston sports fans - and hardcore LA Lakers fans - are when it comes to professional athletics.

We had various approaches to this. We actually came up with a really killer David Caruso/NYPD Blue analogy, but decided that having to cast a Red Sox player into a Dennis Franz role would just make things messy. We had a tangent written, but decided that that just wasn't worth it.

What it comes down to is that Simers and the rest of the lot who continue to shake their heads simply don't get it, nor will they be able to. Sure, we can't stop talking about Manny, but Manny can't stop talking about us. It's cyclical and it's not going to stop, much as we want it to. This is a game of snide remarks that will continue throughout this season, all because Boston thought the game mattered and Manny didn't. Which, as Simers also points out, fits the LA vibe. So know what? Have at it. Have fun. Truly. Enjoy that hamstring this season.

Moving on, Dustin Pedroia should be OK. We repeat, he should be OK. Let's all breathe a sigh of relief.

It's a big down the road, but we're an eager lot here in Boston, so why not look forward to football? Pats fans are starting to get giddy about the prospects of Julius Peppers donning a New England uniform. It's purely speculative, of course, but that's what we do here!

The Celtics face off against the Bulls out in Chicago today. Those on KG/Glen Davis Watch can set their eyes on Friday.

Photo by flickr user pvsbond