The "Step Back from the Edge" Edition of Barstool Fridays!

Panic is over-rated folks. Sure, the Bronx Bummers swept my beloved Boston Red Sox over the last few days, casting a shadow over the beating we delivered to the White Sox a few days earlier. I know, the lead for the AL East is down to 5 games. But look at our schedule between now and when the Yanks come to town September 14th. Step back from the ledge, take a deep breath and move on to Barstool Friday!!!!!

• The UMass Minutemen kick off the 2007 football season against Holy Cross on Saturday. Coming off of a run to the National Championship game last year, the guys have high expectations on them. A good start taking down HC will be a great indicator for the season. My biggest question for the season will be Quarterback Liam Coen, and how he fares without the potent Steve Baylark in the backfield. Baylark, by the way, has played pretty well ford the Cardinals and hopefully will at least get a shot at the practice squad.

• Are you ready for some football? In just over a week, the highly anticipated 2007 season commences for the New England Patriots. The Pats look downright scary, and it will be really interesting to see how they respond. We all know how they have thrived on the underdog and "lack of respect" tags in the past, certainly terms that won't get much play this year. Belichick is a master motivator though, and these seasoned veterans that make up the squad shouldn't be distracted by the hype. It is going to be a great season.

• The Quest For Green 17 continues with James Posey being added to the squad this week. Great pick-up in my opinion. A talented role player with excellent defensive skills who also will be the only Celtic who has been to the promised land. Posey's ability to play essentially 3 positions off the bench is a big help. I'd still like to see Danny pick up a veteran point to back up Rondo, but so far, so very, very good. It has been a long time since I was this excited about basketball in August.

• Now, I know you've been waiting for this. I know that I am that rare breed, the Red Sox Optimist. But look, we have 29 games remaining. Of those 29, 20 are against Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto. All teams that suck. All teams that are going to be on auto-pilot, more concerned about tee times than wins and losses. Add to that the 6 game closure to the season. There are two games against Oakland and 4 against the Twins. Neither of these teams has anything to fight for, they are out of the playoff picture. And these games are in Fenway. Boston should be alive with Division Champion spirit, the homefield advantage plus. So that leave us with 3 games worthy of discussion. Who are those 3 games against? The Yankees of course. And can you seriously see the Yankees taking more than one game in Fenway? No? Good. Now you are starting to come around. Manny should be back by then plus we have the expanded September rosters. Things are fine in Red Sox Nation. Anybody know when playoff tickets go on sale?

I'd love to go on for hours, but by then you'll already be sitting on that barstool and wouldn't go fully armed with this week's info. Back to a regular schedule next week. Happy (don't) Labor Day!

Pre-Cape Cod Edition of Barstool Friday!!!

Heading down to the Cape this weekend for fun in the sun and maybe some fishing. But before I go, it is time to bring you up to speed with this week's edition of Barstool Fridays!!!!!

• I would like to offer my condolences to the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as ownership contemplates the hiring of reviled former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette. I hope for you sake that this never happens, but if it does, let me offer the following silver lining. During his tenure, Duquette will invariably bring some talent to your team. He won't build a team that can actually win anything, but he will some how pluck a few key pieces out of seemingly nowhere. Do not be lulled into a false sense of hope, because your Pirates will perennially disappoint, but know this. After a decade or so of torturing you, Duquette will finally be let go and someone else will come in, make a wise move or two to actually create a TEAM rather than a conglomoration of players, and you might actually win it all. So, we'll see y'all in 2018.

• Interesting stat I heard yesterday. If the Red Sox had averaged 4 runs over Daisuke Matsuzaka's last 12 starts, he'd have 19 wins right now. Just goes to show the guy is one hell of a pitcher...and that the Sox aren't getting runs when they need them.

• Reggie Miller announced that he will not come out of retirement to play for the Boston Celtics or anyone else. As I've stated before, I have no love loss for Miller, but this move really puts some heat back on Danny Ainge to bring in a little more quality help for his stars. Should be interesting.

• The New England Patriots will take to the field this weekend for the momentous Pre-season Game #3, which is arguably the only game of the pre-season slate worth watching. Tom Brady, the new father, will play, and expect to see the starters for a good chunk of the game. The two big things to watch this week will be how well the O-line plays and protects Mr. Terrific, and the performance of Laurence Maroney, now cleared for contact. The line has clearly left something to be desired so far, and I'd like to see Maroney get some quality carries, if for no other reason than to get his feet under him before it all starts for real on September 9th. BREAKING NEWS (10:40AM) Asante Samuel will sign his one-year tender and report to Patriots training camp next week. About time, Dumb Ass.
  

• I'm doing my best to not overlook this important 4 game stand against the ChiSox, but is there anyone out there who isn't just dying for the Red Sox-Yankees series? This is what baseball is all about. Sox-Yanks with 5 weeks to go. I can't wait. And for the record, after the Yankees we get Baltimore for 3, Toronto for 3, Baltimore for 4, Rays for 3. That's a 10 game stretch that should put a lock on the Red Sox AL East crown. Buckle up, away we go!

• UMass Minuteman Gary Forbes is playing for the Panamanian National squad at this week's FIBA Americas tournament in Las Vegas. While Panama has, by all accounts, zero chance of qualifying for the Olympics, I think this is a really nice honor for the UMass forward, and I hope the experience of playing against competition of this caliber feeds into his season. It would be nice to see Forbes step up for the Minutemen as a leader this year.

• While we're talking UMass hoops, old friend Kitwana Rhymer scored 9 points last night for the Virgin Islands team. Unfortunately, the VI got crushed by Team USA, 123-59. You'd like to think from that score that things bode well for Team USA, but hey...it was the Virgin Islands.

Well, that's about it for this week folks. I'm outta here for a few days, I'll catch back up with you in the midst of the Sox-Yankees battle. Minimum of a 7 game lead by the end of the month, you read it here first.

Time for Barstool Friday!

It is another edition of Barstool Friday, but before we begin, I would like to once again remind you all to please lend a hand to the WEEI/NESN JIMMY FUND RADIO TELETHON and call 1-877-738-1234 to make a donation. Every penny counts.

I've only got a few comments heading into this weekend:

• The Boston Red Sox will take care of the Angels this weekend, taking 3 out of 4 while the Tigers will kindly oblige by doing the same to the Yankees. Key things to watch will be this afternoon's debut of Clay Buchholz (a move you will note I predicted a week ago) and Jacoby Ellsbury's return to the Big Club tonight. It is going to be great to see the much-hyped youngsters come in. These guys can play.

• Bye-bye Wily Mo Pena. Making room for the kids spells the end of the Pena era in Boston. We all know how I feel about this. When I watched Pena's debut in Fenway, he dropped that ball over the bullpen wall to give up a home run that should have been an out. The groan that ran through Fenway that day was the precursor to a sound that punctuated his stint with the Sox. I wish you the best Wily Mo...but I won't miss you.

• Laurence Maroney, miffed about his speed rating in Madden '08, isn't likely to shed that red jersey or take any snaps in the pre-season, according to reports from Patriots training camp. This is probably a good thing, since Maroney is likely to take a beating the likes of which he's not seen before this season. Still, I expect a big year from him, the Pats reciever core opening things up for him to cover some ground. Look for #39 to emerge as one of the elite backs in the league this year.

• Miller Time may really be coming, as Reggie has been abusing himself in two-a-days since being courted by Danny Ainge to determine if his body is ready for a return to the NBA. Apparently Malibu, California neighbor Kevin Garnett has been stopping by more often, trying to compel the former Pacer into joining the run for Green 17. Reggie weighs what, 150 pounds? Maybe The Big Ticket can just sit on him till he signs a contract. I'm still torn over having the hated face of the Pacers franchise in Celtics Green, but I'm sure a banner raising will erase any bad feelings I have.

• If you combined Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, second and third in the World Gold Rankings respectively, into one slick uber-golfer, their combined points total of of 17.13 still falls way short of World #1 Tiger Wood's 22.10 average. Now THAT is dominance.

Have a great weekend folks. In closing, Farewell to jazz great Max Roach, who passsed away yesterday at 83. I had the great pleasure of having Mr. Roach as a professor, and he was not only a musical genius, but a wonderful and caring educator and person. Rest In Peace, Max.

The Jimmy Fund Telethon - Please Read

There are, of course, many days and many events that can put sports into perspective. Some things help us realize that there is more to life than the standings in the AL East, NFL training camps and Fantasy Football. Today and tomorrow, the Boston Red Sox team up with Sports Radio 850 WEEI and the New England Sports Network to raise funds for THE JIMMY FUND , the clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that stands as one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research and treatment centers. It is a place that has provided hope to thousands of families and is a leader in the fight to find a cure for cancer.

Please take a moment out of your day, and make a donation to the Jimmy Fund by calling 1-877-738-1234, or at the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon webpage. Make your pitch to Strike Out Cancer.

Thank You.

Immigration Reform...

I've never been a big proponent of the whole U.S./Canada border thing, a big waste of time and money to create a hassle when passing to and from U.S. Lite. I mean, Canada's main exports- lumber, beer and weed - all get here anyway and other than that there just isn't a whole lot of difference. While I have a decided preference for Canadian currency and the Health Care policy, by and large the only difference between the States and our neighbors to the North is the funny accent. Since a similar phenomenon happens when you cross the Mason-Dixon, the whole idea of spending interminable hours having your car searched in case you've brought an inordinate amount of hash and Bradour over the border seems silly.

Well, I should say it seemed silly. I've suddenly become strongly in favor of increased Immigration Regulations between the U.S. and Canada in hopes that we can arrange for Eric Gagne to be deported. He's served up 8 runs over 4 innnings of work in a Red Sox uniform, and were it not Monday morning and were I more of a fan of mathematics, I'd tell you what that equates to in ERA (and yes, I know one of yesterday's runs got rung up to Okajima, poor guy)...but let's just say it is a number approaching the GNP of a small European nation. Gagne is responsible for TWO losses this weekend to the Orioles...THE BLEEPING ORIOLES!!!! I know Tito will play the Good Manager and talk of "match-ups" and "limiting Okie's innings heading into the Playoffs" and that "Gagne looked good in the 'Pen", but who among the Denizens of Red Sox Nation didn't cringe when he pulled Okie after a third of an inning yesterday? It is a good thing I'd already come in from the pool by that point, because when they made that call I might just have fallen off my float and drowned. How you yank a guy who has done what Okajima has this season in that situation is beyond me. I'm still sick over this.

Alright, look...this is not The Apocalypse. The Red Sox will be fine, I truly believe it. I say to my friend in The People's Republic of Cambridge who can't get "1978" out of his head, this is a different team, a different era in the History of the BoSox. But I'm admittedly less comfortable than I was a week ago. How can you not be? We all know the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and perhaps that's something Theo & Co. might have thought of before this trade. But by-gones be by-gones and all that...it's broke now, and it needs to be fixed. Fast.

Hooray! It's Barstool....umm, Saturday?!?!?!?

Yeah, yeah. My apologies to all of you who didn't know what to talk about last night. The vagaries of a dial-up connection that is barely worthy of the 20th Century, never mind the 21st, topped with a trip out last night to see an absolutely incredible jazz gig featuring Bruce Hornsby, Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette kept me from my appointed rounds. But that's OK, because now I can comment on a couple of things that I might have missed other wise. And away we go!!!!

• Eric Gagne has given up 6 runs in 3 innings since joining the Boston Red Sox. I thought this guy was playing for big free agent bucks? What the hell is wrong here? I give Okie a pass on the sac fly that brought in the game winner, because he should never have been in that position, and his body of work this season earns him it. But for a guy who wants to be considered a premier closer, giving up 4 runs in the 8th in a game that was essentially over against a team that essentially sucks? I'm beginning to re-think my assessment earlier in the week that Jon Lester might be my biggest concern. Late inning pitching coughing up runs to the friggin' Orioles does not inspire. Maybe that Gag in his name should have been more telling. I'm not giving up on him, but he better get his sh*t together or Red Sox Nation will crucify the guy. And poor Daisuke, doesn't he have 2-3 more W's right now if he gets some run support and is backed by the 'pen?

• Looking forward however, I've got to believe Becks and Schill will get it done over the next couple of days. Josh has been unbelievable this season, and has always come through to stop the bleeding when we most need him to. Schilling is due, he looked better the other night than the results showed. Plus, it IS the Orioles.

• 63, and a lipped putt on 18 away from carding the first 62 in Majors history. Tiger looks unstoppable. We al know what Mr. Woods does with a lead on the weekend...he wins. For the record, T-Dub is 7-0 in Majors when leading after 36 holes. Money. Which leads me to the two Quotes of the Weekend: I'll paraphrase the first, because I couldn't find the exact text, but second-place Scott Verplank said earlier this week "if Tiger is playing his best, and I'm playing my best, I'm not sure I could beat him", and Geoff Ogilvy (the only golfer other than Woods who is under par and has won a Major) said yesterday "He does pretty good when he leads for two rounds and even better when he leads for three rounds, so I guess that is kind of ominous." His follow up of "But at some point, he's not going to win'' doesn't exactly brim with confidence. Way to roll over and play dead guys. By the way, it is a lot of fun to watch John Daly butcher his way around the course pulling shots out of his ass. Sadly, I think we'll see his scores continue to balloon, but hey, at least he'll provide some entertainment value in a tournament that every participant other than the Leader seems to now see as all but over.

• Finally, I couldn't leave you without at least one comment about the Celtics. If you caught the Scot Pollard and Eddie House introductory press conference this week, you really got a treat. Pollard's dead-pan coments on how the C's were now truly contenders with his addition were high comedy. The guy is hysterical. I can't wait to see the first time Greg Dickerson has to interview him courtside. The look on Dickerson's face after Pollard tells him he was the key to a win in which he logged 3 minutes, 1 rebound and 4 fouls will be priceless.

Well, that's all for today folks. Have a great weekend. Wow, a Barstool column without a single dig at the Yankees or Michael Vick. I must be slipping.

Thirsty Thursday!!!!

The weekend approaches, and there is a lot going on. A few thoughts:

• It's Miller Time! It came out yesterday that Danny Ainge had spoken with aged sharp-shooter Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement to be a spark off the bench as the C's go for #17. I've never been a big fan of Miller, he's always struck me as a whiny little bastard. But this isn't a bad fit, I'm forced to admit. He'd bring a great veteran presence to the second unit, and a crunch time line-up of Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Wheels Rondo and Miller has got to scare the crap out of opposing coaches. You can't double team anybody and yet you have to contend with the fact that Pierce or Garnett will take almost anyone in the league one-on-one. Interesting.

• Tiger(s) like the heat, right? After looking positively incredible last Sunday, does anyone really believe that Woods will not take the PGA this weekend? Triple-digit temps will eat some of these guys alive. John Daly is T-2 though 13, but somehow he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who's going to fare real well in this heat over 4 days. Especially after he plows through a couple of cases of Coors Light tonight. Tiger, on the other hand, is the epitome of fitness and conditioning and has the mental toughness to not let the sweltering Tulsa summer take him out of his game. I know my last Major prediction fell short, but bank this one.

• I'd just like to point out to a certain reader who knows who he is that when I told you the Red Sox were going to beat the Angels last night and the Bronx Bummers pitching was about to fall apart, you said "I hope so". I rest my case. Do not question me in the future.

• Speaking of the Red Sox, I know a lot of the Nation is concerned about Jon Lester thus far. I have to agree. I think the kid has a ton of talent, but he's struggled a lot with his control. Lester right now is the biggest question mark for the Sox with 47 games to go. Schilling will come into form, and for all of the hit-or-miss that comes with Wakefield, we all know what we get from him. Plus, he's like having an extra arm in the bullpen come playoff time, as he doesn't need regular rest on the same level as your typical starter. The offense of course, is what it is and I can't help but belive that the absence of timely hitting willright itself. There is simply too much talent there. But Lester does worry me, he's ringing up pitch counts far too high to be effective. What remains to be seen is if he can regain his ability to locate pitches and string together a few quality starts to build his confidence. Hopefully what promises to be an overwhelming welcome back to Fenway on Tuesday will get him on track. Otherwise, don't be surprised to see Clay Buchholz called up even before rosters expand in September.

One last note for today for those of you in Massachusetts. Berkshire Brewing Company's Oktoberfest will be released Monday. While I'm not inclined to start thinking of fall yet, I've sampled this year's batch, and its damn good. Grab it while it lasts. Well, until Barstool Friday then, remember, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. Unless you're getting paid seven figures to play the game, then it is ALL about whether you win or lose.

It's Over. Let's Move On...

Barry Bonds finally hit No. 756 last night. I couldn't be happier. It is finally over. It is a shame that this isn't a moment that most of us will look back on fondly, one where we will someday say to our children "I remember where I was when the Greatest Record In Sports was broken". Still, I'm glad it is over. I'm tired of hearing about it, for a year or more it has been a cloud over my beloved Baseball. And now, whatever Bonds does, whether he hits 50 more home runs or retires tomorrow, it will all just be numbers. It isn't Hank Aaron anymore, it isn't Balco anymore, it isn't steroids anymore, it isn't really even Barry Bonds anymore. It is just a number, a number that will sit waiting to be broken, as all records do.

Say what you will about Bonds, but don't blame him. Don't blame him for doing steroids, he cetainly wasn't the only one and really, steroid use was Major League Baseball's problem to address yet for years they willingly ignored it. Don't blame him for being unlikeable, at least he's not pretending to be someone he's not. And most of all, don't blame him for unseating Henry Aaron. Regardless of how you feel about Bonds personally or professionally, don't blame him for being so damned good at what he does. Barry Bonds hits baseballs. He hits them hard and he hits them far. And he does so prolifically.

I'm not celebrating Bonds achievement because, like many of you, I simply don't like the guy. But I'll respect the prowess, and the number...all the while looking for some one to surpass him, to take his name down from the top spot. I've never been one to subscribe to the theory that athletes need to be held to a higher standard, that they should be role models for society. I genuinely respect and appreciate the players who do go out of their way to try to improve this world that we live in. It isn't their responsibility however, and I think it is unfair of us to expect otherwise. Michael Jordan is arguably the Greatest Basketball Player of All-Time, but he's certainly no great humanitarian. On the contrary, he's a cigar smoking, gambling, power broker who has struggled with marital problems and has built a global empire that perhaps relies on less-than-savory labor practices to produce many of its products. In other words, he's human. He has done good, and he's made mistakes, but he's always been Michael Jordan, the human being. Well, the same is true of Barry Bonds. He's just a human being, like you or I, doing what he does. So while we don't have to be happy about the fact that Bonds is now the "Greatest Home Run Hitter in History", at least let's revel in the fact that it is over. We can all move on now, you, me...and Barry.



One last tidbit. The Celtics just signed veteran forward/center Scot Pollard for $1.2 million. Here's some fun math for you: $1,200,000 divided by 82 games equals approximately $14,634 per game. Divide that by 6 fouls per game and you see that the Celtics are paying somebody over $2400 per foul for the 2007-2008 season. I Love This Game.

Barstool Friday has arrived...

...and true to form, I'll give you some food for thought for your weekend swilling. Before I get into this editions musings, one last comment from yesterday's trip to Fenway. I would like to point to the beautiful words issued by Hall Of Famer Mr. Bobby Doerr. In yet another example of the current Red Sox ownership paying dues to the legacy of The Organization, yesterday was officially Bobby Doerr Day. As I listened to Mr. Doerr recount the last 80 years of Red Sox history, I couldn't help but think about how his obvious appreciation for what the Red Sox had given him over the years is reflected in all of us who consider ourselves denizens of Red Sox Nation. The Red Sox add something untangible to our lives, they add something that I'm not sure many other sports fans can comprehend. I've written often about the association of self to the team, and that is something that seems to be more prevalent here that anywhere else. If you haven't experienced it yourself, I'm not sure there is anyway to help you to understand it. But what I do know is that it is people like Bobby Doerr who helped make it The Way It Is. And now, on with the show...

• Ha-ha-ha...Roger Clemens got Yanked after 2 innings. Johnny "The Traitor" Damon got benched and now says he'd be OK with a trade. The Spankees almost bailed out the Bottle Rocket by participating in the Inning With 16 Runs and then choked their way out of it. As I said yesterday afternoon, we've gone through the Yankees to win the World Series now. This time, I'd love to see it happening with Damon sitting on his couch saying "Wait, I thought if I came to New York, we were supposed to be the ones in the playoffs?"

• I hope Tom Glavine notches #300 tonight. Class act, he deserves it. I also hope A-Fraud and Barry "I Didn't Know (wink-wink)" Bonds remain homerless for a while. By the way, did you catch that Jose Canseco has indicated that A-Rod is both a back-stabber and perhaps not as wholesome as he appears (although this in and of itself is pretty funny...I wonder what A-Rod's wife thinks of his "wholesome-ness")? I actually can't wait for Canseco's new book. God, I never thought I'd say that.

• Have you caught the fall this Jake Brown guy took at the X-Games??? Holy expletives, Batman! See, when I was about 14 I took a shot to the family jewels skateboarding, and realized that there is a point in life where you need to move on. Some of these X-Gamers could stand to learn the same lesson. That said, it really is fun to watch!

• As you might imagine, I'm still beside myself over the Celtics acquiring Kevin Garnett. Apparently, I'm not the only one. The NBA delayed the announcement of their schedule this week by a day in order to make sure that there were more prime opportunities to showcase the C's. The Universe is righting itself. You can buy you KG #5 jersey at Celtics.com now.

Sorry, that's all for this Friday. Get your sleep while you can, its another West Coast Road Swing for the Sox, hopefully we can kick our losing ways in Seattle. Keep cool, it's gonna be another scorcher...

Snatching Victory From the Gates of Hell...

"It's a glorious day in Boston," opined NESN's Don Orsillo in the lead-in to yesterday afternoon's affair at Fenway. Glorious, perhaps, if you just spent the last ten days vacationing on the River Styx. For the rest of us, it was H-O-T. 100 plus degrees on the field, and I can assure you it was no finer in the centerfield bleachers. But despite the Hades-like weather, a good time was had by all as we witnessed win #150 in the hometown colors for eternal Red Sox knuckler, Tim Wakefield. Add to that back-to-back shots by the unlikely duo of Eric Hinske and Doug Mirabelli, a beautiful Kevin Garnett glass-cleaning impersonation by Coco, and listening to a late offensive surge and the debut of Eric Gagne from the air-conditioned comfort of the car, and it was a a hell of a day, pun intended. And yes, I'm coming clean on doing the unthinkable, we left the park early. But hey, cut me some slack, the thought of getting and elderly woman and a 10 year old out of Fenway and into the car in that heat, only to sit in Boston rush hour traffic, made the decision easy. I don't think any of us had regrets there.

A few observations. A bag of peanuts and the cool (-er) temps of the underbelly of Fenway Park can keep a 2 year old unbelievably entertained. A die-hard Sox fan in her seventies will go through anything to catch the game, including fighting her way up the approximately 3.2 million steps it takes to get to Section 34, Row 32 of the centerfield bleachers in 100 degree swelter. Give a ten year-old a sign and tell her she might get on television and she will NOT miss a moment of the game, intently waiting for that glorious moment between inning halves to give a shout out to RemDawg and Don. My sister and brother-in-law, parents of the afore-mentioned 2 year old are damned brave, and have quickly mastered the fine art of Parental Tag Teaming...good job guys! The Fenway location of Boston Beer Works remains, arguably, the best place to grab a cold one and a bite to eat before the game. The speed and professionalism with which they usher anxious Sox fans through, never sacrificing service or quality, is staggering.

As I prepare to close this column out and get working on the latest edition of Barstool Fridays, I'd like to say a few things about the experience of attending a game at The Friendly Confines of Fenway Park for those of you who haven't been in a while, or perhaps have never had the pleasure. The only thing I've ever experienced that rivals Game Day in Boston is a Grateful Dead concert. The colorful throngs fill the streets, displaying their love for all to see of the Hometown Team. There is a genuine sense of comaraderie that pervades, every one united with a sense of purpose, to deliver our combined energy to the guys on the field, to lift them to the pinnacle of their skills and deliver another tick in the Win Column. Yawkey Way, now closed off to traffic and the Shakedown Street of the pre-game festivities, teams with action, hawkers of sausage and swag filling the air with the sweet sounds and smells that tell you that you have arrived in Baseball Nirvana. From there, you descend into the Bowels of Fenway, that once sticky dungeon that has somehow been transformed into an (almost) functioning concourse offering $5 hot dogs and $8 beers that seem almost a bargain in this magical place. And then the moment arrives, you climb a flight of stairs, and there, startlingly green and at once enormous and cozy, it stands. A piece of living history, timeless in the moment...this is Fenway Park. This is the home of the Boston Red Sox. This is the home of Red Sox Nation. This is home.

And now, all stand for the singing of our National Anthem...

Talk of Threes...

Yeah, I'm still giddy over the acquisition of the Big Ticket. Terry Francona was gushing over it. Curt Schilling loves KG. For the first time in two decades, all anyone can talk about is the Boston Celtics. Hell, even Wily Mo Pena almost gets a pass today after another lackluster performance (and the ugliest diving catch of the season). I've been fantasizing all day about Marcus Camby now coming to Boston. Paul Pierce looked like the happiest guy on the planet at the news conference last night.

But please, these guys are NOT the Big Three. Bird, McHale and Parish deserve to retain that title as their own. Let Paul, Ray and Kevin earn their own moniker. Surely we are creative enough to come up with something uniquely their own and let the best front-court in NBA history stand as the ONLY Big Three. Work with me here people.

I'd also like to thank Big Papi David Ortiz for making my point last night, launching two long. Hey Papi, send one to the bleachers for us tomorrow, my daughter is waiting.

Lastly, I feel the need to clarify something. My buddy Chomper asked why we have to wait till Friday to hop on the barstool. We don't need to wait until Friday, in fact, I highly recommend it at any opportunity. However, the topics for Barstool Fridays are intended to carry you through the weekend sounding like the sports genius that I am. Feel free to use the fodder you find here any day of the week as you celebrate the Dawning of The Greatest Year In Boston Sports History...but remember, as always, I bear no responsibility for the results of you repeating what you read here.

That's all for today folks, see you Friday...

Oh, and give this great article by Sean Grande a read