It's So Easy, Being Green...

On Barstool Friday, or any other day, It's So Easy, Being Green (sorry, Kermit). The Celtics are 7-0, their best start in 35 years. If you haven't tuned in to watch because you are still sour from the last two decades or have been shunning technology in an effort to better the environment, it is time to get on board. These guys are an offensive and defensive juggernaut that couldn't have been predited. Sure, we all knew that Pierce, Allen and Garnett would be a powerful trio, but everybody on this team has stepped up. Rajon Rondo is starting to look like the second coming of Cousy (OK, that's a stretch, but the kid shows flashes of Cooz for sure), Kendrick Perkins seems to have figured out where he fits in this picture and has been rock-solid, Posey and House off the bench have been clutch, Scal is the early front-runner for the "Guy Who Gives You More in 6 Minutes A Game Than Anyone Else in the League" Award, Big Baby plays hard, and Tony Allen has started to come around, especially defensively. The C's average margin of victory? Over 17 points per game, about 8.5 PPG more than their nearest competitors in this category- the Hornets, Mavs and Jazz. While the Green are undefeated, no one else in the league has fewer than 2 losses. As I said last week, I'm under no illusion that this team is running the table, it doesn't happen in this sport. But the franchise record 68 wins could be in jeopardy.

Time for your Barstool Friday Bullet Points:

• A-Rod is going back to the Yankees. Great, you can have him. I didn't want to have to figure out a way to cheer for Mr. April (thanks, Stu). Besides, a 10 year contract is ridiculous. And, we can keep on using "A-Fraud" and "Jeter and the Cheater".

• Mike Lowell on the other hand...ugh. More often than not, I give Theo and the Baseball Ops guys the benefit of the doubt. This time I'm not so sure. They have taken far bigger risks with time (J.D. Drew), money (Drew, Renteria), performance (Drew, Gagne) and the fanbase (Nomar, Damon) than they would giving Lowell 4 years in the $55-60 million range. Sometimes you need to take your nose out of the stat sheets and birth certificates and look at everything a player brings to the table, not just what you can read on a piece of paper. Really, if Lowell gets into the 4th year of his contract and has fallen off, can't you bench him as a utility guy at first or third to spell Youk and whoever else you put out there? Or just buy him out, we know this organization isn't afraid to do that. Not everything can be formulaic, even in baseball. SIGN MIKE LOWELL.

• Barry Bonds has been indicted. Now, in this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty but you have to figure the Feds have a pretty solid case if their are bringing him up on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. But here's the thing, I, unlike what seems to be a large number of the sports fans out there, just don't care. I've told you what I think of Bonds, I've told you how I feel about his claiming the home run record. Now I just want it all to go away. If he broke the law, let him suffer the consequences. Barry's ego is too large for him to come out and admit what he's done, too large for him to do the right thing and perhaps salvage a small corner of his legacy. No, he's sealed his fate and I'm quite happy to let him live that out with no further commentary from me or the rest of the sporting world. It won't happen, of course, but I'm done with it.

• I've really enjoyed the wake of the Patriots bye week. The endless chatter about spying, running up scores and tainted dynasties has subsided. Now we can move on and enjoy the fact that we are watching what may very well be the Greatest Team In NFL History. We parade into Buffalo Sunday night to face the Bills in the snow and move on to 10 and 0. I hate Sunday (and Monday) night games, they are just too late. But with this team, they are sure to keep me awake. Who thought complete domination could be so much fun...

• ...oh yeah, the Celtics did. I know I lead off with praising the C's, so I'll keep this short. Here's the make-or-break match-ups for this weekend's games. Tonight vs. Miami: Perk against Shaq. If Perk just holds his own against the Big Fella, this one is a cake walk. Sunday vs. Orlando: KG against Dwight Howard. This might be the biggest knock-down, drag-out battle we see the Celts in until we meet Detroit a week before Christmas. I'd predicted last week that this might be the C's first loss, but having watched 4 games since then, I'm backing off on that call. These guys are so determined, I see them being totally fired up for this affair. I'm seeing a tight game till about midway through the third quarter and then the Green pull away for a 12-15 point W. It's gotten to the point where it almost seems inevitable. Which really makes me wonder when they will lose. The Lakers are a one-trick pony, same with the Cavs. Nobody really worries me till the afore-mentioned Pistons game. That would be a 22-0 start. Could happen.

• The Revolution face the Dynamo Sunday at noon for the MLS Cup. By the way, the Dynamo ranks up there as one of the all-time worst sports franchise names. The game is actually on TV (on ABC even!), so you could watch it or you could catch the Kraft's free bus ride down to the game. I'm guessing game day tickets won't be a problem. Unfortunately, the game is at RFK which has all the warmth and charm of UMass' McGuirk Stadium, only 5 times the size. Personally, I think I'll tune in sometime around the 89th minute. That way you get to see the replay of the one goal 87 times AND enjoy the post game celebration, which in soccer consists of a bunch of guys taking their shirts off and hugging each other. On second thought, maybe I'll rake the lawn.

Well there you have it. The UMass Minutemen hoops squad is 3-1, the football squad 7-1. All is right in Amherst, well, except for the students being on strike and all. Have a great weekend and down a pint or 3 for me. BBC's Holidale should be appearing in a store near you (if you live in Western Mass. anyway) in the coming days, and trust me, it's good. Get out and grab yours, they won't last long.



PS - Track the Celtics season against the 72-win '95-'96 Bulls HERE