Sports Redux: The Night Chicago Cried

Was it really less than a year ago that the Celtics had their hands more than full with the Chicago Bulls? Was it really just this past spring that the Bulls looked more athletic, faster, maybe even hungrier than the old-looking C's? What happened?

Well, the Celtics are back to full strength (with apologies to Glen Davis), and the Bulls are...struggling, is the polite way to put it. And it showed last night, as the C's put the hammer down and blew the Bulls out of their own building, 106-80. Seven Celtics, led by Rajon Rondo (16 points, 14 assists), scored in double digits and the C's locked Chicago down to 34 second-half points. But, hey, at least the Bulls and their fans got payback for last season (minus, you know, actually winning the game), when Brad Miller clotheslined Rondo to avenge what Chicago thought was some dirty play last spring. Said the indestructible Rondo, "I'm still going to drive. That's what I do."

The Patriots are ready to play Carolina today to salvage what's left of their miserable season (assuming you listen to sports radio, which believes that the Pats are 1-11). They will have Tom Brady, we're told, even though he's been battling nagging injuries all week. They will NOT have Adalius Thomas, apparently, who's going to cap an eventful week of controversy and disobedience with a benching.

The Bruins' trip to Long Island ended as many trips to Long Island do, with a vague dissatisfaction and some existential questions. The B's played hard but ran into a surprisingly tenacious Islanders team (and their pretty much out-of-this-world goaltending from Dwayne Roloson), who scored 24 seconds into OT to allow the Bruins to get back on the Grand Central with only one point.

No actual news from the hot stove, but there's growing indication that Jason Bay Days at Fenway may be over. Bay's agent, who we're going to assume is as mild-mannered and quiet as his charge, said that the Red Sox aren't offering enough, possibly money, possibly job security, so they're pretty much ready to look elsewhere. But, hey...Boof Bonser.

Image from Celtics.com.