Greg Oden

While at the time (last years lottery), it appeared that the balls were not bouncing the Celtics way, not getting Greg Oden may not have been the worst thing in the world. With the recent news that he will be out 2 to 4 weeks, in addition to him missing all of last year, I can only surmise that the Celtics, instead of being World Champs, would have been crossing their fingers again at the most recent lottery, hoping for a good bounce. The Celtics would not have Garnett, Allen, or Pierce (most likely), and we would have been saying yet again, wait until next year. While the jury is still out on Oden, it appears that he will be an injury hazard for years to come. While the Celtics have an older team, they have plenty of mentors to bring along the new guys they draft, instead of letting the rookies figure it out on their own. We need look no further than the Tampa Bay Rays to see what a difference a few steady veterans can make on some talented, but jittery, rookies.

Sign of the Apocalypse

Just noticed that Tom Jackson picked the Patriots to win this week.

Hey, where's everybody going?

Top 10 'punishments' for those who left the game early last night:

10. A stalled battery in the parking lot, at least until the game was over.

9. The kids cry all the way home after pooping in the car.

8. The babysitter, watching the entire game, gets so excited that she breaks a vase.

7. Bad gas all night from too many Fenway Franks in only 7 innings.

6. When ordering tickets for next year, their computer will crash over and over and over again.

5. Shoes are ruined from stepping in puke while taking that last piss on the way out.

4. TV reception will be mysteriously fuzzy during all future Sox games from 7 inning and on in the 'leavers' homes.

3. Papercuts.

2. Traffic and tolls so bad they couldve stayed for the rest of game and still got home in the same amount of time.

1. Knowing for a lifetime that they missed out on one of the great, all-time, Sox victories. And when they try to say that they were there and saw it all, a rash shaped like the Yankees insignia will appear on their forehead for all to see.

Remember the Idiots

All right folks, we've been down but not out before, and hopefully, we can do it again. We are missing a few pieces,like Lowell and a 100% Ortiz, but the beauty of baseball is that its not over until yada yada yada. We as fans cant lose hope. Also, granted, Wake had a horrible game, but lets not hate. He has given the Sox plenty of solid games in the past, and he deserves some respect regardless of last night. So lets give Tampon Bay some serious Red Sox business for the next 3 games. Lets go, Red Sox, clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

JD Drew's 9th Inning Dagger in K-Rod's Heart

Imagine my surprise (not quite pleasant given the fact that the Sox were up 5-1 when I went to bed) to wake up and find out that the Red Sox beat the Halos last night in the top of the 9th courtesy of J.D. Drew's two run, home run. The first thing that came to mind was what a dagger in the heart this must be for the Angels. How could it not be the proverbial "gut punch" that Sportsguy, Bill Simmons, so frequently references to have the best closer in baseball give up the game winning runs after his team has clawed back from a 4-0 first inning hole?

Trust me, I've been there. All I need to do is mention 1978, 1986, and 2003 to remind my fellow Sox fans that we've felt the pain. Granted, this was only game two of the ALDS so it's not quite the same as some of the heart wrenching losses the Sox suffered (plus, the Halos did win the World Series as recently as 2002) bu still, the Angles won 100 games this year, they beefed up the middle of their lineup with studs like Torii Hunter and Mark Teixeira and arguably had the best closer in baseball in K-Rod after his record setting 62 save season.

As an Angel's fan (yes, I'm talking to you Mr. Humbarger) one has to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask what on earth could you could have possibly done to merit this "Groundhog Day" like misery. Seriously, the Sox dominating the Halos in the ALDS is becoming almost as automatic as the Celtics and Lakers meeting in the finals back in the early eighties. It's like the Duke's hoops team punching an automatic ticket to the Final Four during the 90's. It's like knowing that the Patriots were a favorite for the Super Bowl as long as Tom Brady was at the helm in the 2000's.

It's good to see that Angel's skipper, Mike Scioscia, hasn't given up hope yet. Then again, what else is he going to say after a demoralizing loss last night when faced with the prospect of going to one of the unfriendliest places on earth (since 10/17, 2004 the Sox are 9 for 11 int he post season at home) down 0-2. Oh yeah, and he's facing this century's version of Bob Gibson in game three in Josh Beckett.

Mike tried to keep his chin up after the game saying, "This game ain't over until somebody wins three games," said Scioscia. "The [players] are down, [but] we go into Boston, win a game, and the pressure is back on them." I give Mike credit for putting his best game face on but seriously, there will be next to no pressure on the Sox if they lose game three at home. You know why? Because they have another home game the next night and history has show that they own the Halos in the ALDS.

What do you think? I'm I being to cocksure? Your comments are welcome below.

Photo Credit: LA Times Newspaper