It never fails.  Whenever a Boston athlete leaves town and has some shred of success in another city, you always hear people drop the famous line...why can't we get players like that?  Personally, I'm not a big fan of that saying because more often than not I'm glad the player is gone. 

How come there isn't more appreciation shown to our local management when they let a player leave and the player goes on to be a mere shadow of their former selves? 

Well today we should all be thankful for another easy, yet important local management decision.  See Exhibit A pictured below.  That's right friends, your favorite closer Eric Gagne made his Milwaukee Brewers debut by serving up a three-run shot in the bottom of the 9th to the Chicago Cubs new Japanese sensation Kosuke Fukodome, blowing a 3-0 Brewers lead.  Milwaukee did end up pulling out the 4-3 victory in 10 innings, but it's times like this when I say to myself...I'm glad we don't have that a**hole anymore!

First, sorry that this first post of the day is so late, but here at the BostonsportZ headquarters, we were having new carpet installed and couldn't access our Computers. Ok, now all weekend I have received emails asking me if I saw KG Friday night get down on all fours on defense and if I had any video or photos of it. Yes I did see it and no I have no video (wish I did) or photo's of it, but our good friends at REDSARMY have just come up with these shots.

In case you didn't hear what KG said what he was doing, that's because he doesn't even remember doing it!

“The messed-up thing is that sometimes I do things on the floor that I don’t even remember, and that might have been one of them”

Can you imagine being so jacked up that you don't remember? Now that's CRAZY! In A Good Way.

Never mind the fact the Sox have to play 3 exibition games after playing 2 regular season games. Why do they have to play in the Los Angeles Coliseum vs. the Dodgers Saturday night in front of an expected crowd of 115,000 in a ridiculously stupid converted football field? It will only be 190 feet down the left field line, that's right only 190 feet! Manny will end up playing next to Lugo. Here's the photo.

Besides the fact we laid the smack down on the Suns last night, there were two very entertaining moments that stood out. First was when Rondo made 2 time MVP look like an ASS with his sweet crossover dribble. The other great moment was during the post game press conference when KG and Pierce talked about how each other was the MVP. This whole exchange show just how unselfish KG is, although he'll probably be fined since it was on live. Enjoy the Love!

A few weeks back I showed you my favorite performance on Idol this season. It was "Hello" sung by David Cook. Now he has done it again with a sweet version of "Billie Jean". He should win this thing, which means he probably won't. Enjoy.

Comcast SportsNet’s Greg Dickerson sits down with Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge to discuss the state of the team heading towards the end of the season. Thanks to Wickedgoodsports.

If you woke up early today, you watched the Sox win a 6-5, 10-inning opening game over the Oakland Athletics before 44,628 in the Tokyo Dome. Here are interviews from NESN with today's heroes. Last minute right fielder, rookie Brandon Moss and good ole Manny.

I'm pretty sure you'll see this great invention in sports bars nationwide very soon! Thanks to Bugsandcranks.

Dice-K put an ad in a major Japanese newspaper today making two VERY BOLD PREDICTIONS!

Here are today's opening day introductions in Japan. The Sox were clearly the favorites.

NESN's Remdawg who usually doesn't go out much, walks around the city.

Looks like he has a found a nice piece at a Florida NIT game.

That's right my loyal readers, I'm posting something to do with your Boston Bruins. This is sadly only the fourth Bruins related post on this site. Which reminds me, If you or anyone you know is actually a Bruins fan and would like to blog about them, Contact me here.

Ok, now here's Andrew Brickley live on NESN last night when he thought he was off the air. This is NSFW

Last night’s episode was interesting. It was an episode almost completely consisting of a Michael Flashback. The episode begins with Michael in his apartment. He writes a note, pins it on his shirt and then takes off in his car. He drives faster and faster and drives directly into a metal crate, attempting to kill himself. When Michael wakes up he is in a hospital. A nurse walks in and walks over to Michael. Michael realizes the nurse is Libby and then begins screaming. He wakes up, realizing it was a dream, and another nurse walks in to Michael’s room. She asks Michael for identification and asks if she should call Walt, since he had a note written to him on his shirt. Sometime after leaving the hospital Michael goes to his mother’s home. His mother seems surprised to see Michael and refuses to let him see Walt. As Michael is leaving he looks up to Walt’s room and see’s Walt looking out the window at him. After leaving his mother’s house, Michael goes to a pawn shop to pawn the watch Jin had given him previously. Michael tells the shop owner that he does not want money. He wants a gun and ammunition. Michael leaves the store and ends up in a dark alley. Michael frantically tries to load the gun when Tom walks up to Michael. Tom tells Michael that the island will not let him kill himself as he still has work to do. Tom tells Michael to come see him at his hotel once he is ready to talk. Michael returns home and tries two times to shoot himself in the head. The first time the gun froze even though it was fully loaded. The second time he attempts to shoot himself he is distracted by a news report about flight 815. The news reporter explains that the plane had been found and that all people on board were confirmed dead. After seeing this news report Michael goes to visit Tom.

At Tom’s hotel, Tom explains to Michael that the wreckage found was fake and that Charles Whidmore had placed it there. Further, that Whidmore had placed the wreckage there so that no one would look for the real wreckage that is on the island. Tom tells Michael that he is to join a crew in Fiji aboard a freighter owned by Whidmore. Michael must kill everyone on the freighter in order to save his friends on the island. Michael is given an alias, Kevin Johnson. Michael arrives at the freighter and checks in. He is greeted by Naomi and Miles and is told that a care package had arrived for him. Miles says to Michael “that is not your real name”. Michael doesn’t respond. Michael takes his care package to a deserted area and attempts to set off the bomb that Tom had sent to him. Instead of the bomb being set off a flag goes up that says “not yet”. A little while later Michael is told that he has a phone call from Walt. Excited Michael hurries to retrieve his phone call. Instead of Walt being on the phone, it is Ben. Ben tells Michael to get a list of everyone on board the freighter, report back to him and then disable the radio and engine.

On the freighter

Sayid confronts Michael about why he is on the freighter. Michael tells Sayid and Desmond that he is on the freighter to die. A little while later Sayid and Desmond find Michael in the engine room working. He is with another person and Michael sends his co-worker to fetch a tool. As the person leaves Michael confirms that he is working for Ben. Furious, Sayid takes Michael into the captains room and tells the Captain who Michael really is and who he is working for.

On Island

Locke has a meeting at his home with everyone and Miles. He tells the losties that there will be no more secrets. Locke tells the losties that Miles and his friends are here to find Ben and that once Ben was found their mission was to kill everyone else on the island. Later Ben approaches Alex, Rousseau and Karl and convinces them to go to the temple. He tells them that they will be safe there and that Danielle will take care of Alex. All three agree to go and leave for the temple. During their journey to the Temple Alex, Rousseau and Karl stop for a water break. As they are resting Karl is shot by an arrow or gun shot. Another shot is fired and Karl’s water bottle is hit. Alex and Rousseau seek shelter near a tree. Alex is visibly shaken and wants to go back for Karl. Rousseau convinces her daughter that he is gone and that they must run away from this place. As they get up to run Rousseau is shot. Alex gets up and yells to whoever is shooting “I’m Ben’s daughter!”

Questions and Comments

- Why wasn’t Walt with Michael after they returned from the island?

- Who do people think Walt and Michael are since they cannot give their real names? Did Ben convince Michael and Walt to use aliases so that no one would find out about the island?

- Why wouldn’t the island allow Michael to kill himself? How does the island control that?

- Where is the temple?

- Did Ben order Rousseau and Karl to be killed? Are Rousseau and Karl dead?

- The next episode isn't until April :(

A lot has been made over Clay Buchholz and his courting of Penthouse Pet of the Year, Erica Ellyson. He’s a young kid on top of the world enjoying his new-found wealth, his new-found lady and right now, he probably feels like the good times will never end. You can’t blame the kid for being carefree either, as long as he takes care of business on the diamond. The rest of it is his to enjoy, however he likes.

Dustin Pedroia, however, sees things a little differently than Clay. While Clay envisions a never-ending stream of pretty woman and exotic cars, Dustin sees a time where he won’t be able to rely on baseball to support his lifestyle. He’s watched “Outside The Lines” with Bob Ley and knows how frequently ex-athletes are left in the cold, penniless and desperate. That’s why Pedroia is setting himself up to make the seamless transition from ballplayer to businessman.

That’s right, for only $2.94 (plus $4 for shipping) you can get yourself a jar of Pedroia Black Bean and Corn Salsa. It comes in mild and medium (Pedroia hates you fans of Hot), and if you’re a huge fan of the man, or his salsa, you can order an entire case (that’s 12 entire jars), for only $35.88 (plus $15 for shipping).

In a sports landscape littered with the PacMan Jones’, Michael Vick’s and Scott Spiezio’s of the world, it’s nice to see an enterprising young man extend his reach beyond the field. Some kids grow up dreaming of winning the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame, knocking the winning home run over the Green Monster or scoring a touchdown on the frozen tundra of Lambeau. Pedroia just wants you to eat some semi-spicy Black Bean and Corn salsa.

You can have your gorgeous models, Mr. Buchholz, I’ve got me some salsa… Pedroia-style.

With the great success of the Celtics continuing through Texas. I think it's time to meet one of the unsung heroes, Alison of the Celtics Dancers. Thanks to Redsarmy for introducing me.

It had not been done since 2001 when the Sacramento Kings accomplished the same feat.  However, the Boston Celtics stormed through Texas this week like a tornado through a trailer park and completed a three game sweep of the feared "Texas Triangle." 

It all began on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs when the C's came back from a 22-point first quarter deficit to hand the Spurs their first home loss in six weeks.  Strong performances from the point guard position by Rajon Rondo and the newly acquired Sam Cassell helped the Celtics complete the comeback and take the first game of the Texas trio while saddling the Spurs with only their sixth home loss of the season.

On Tuesday night, the C's made their way to Houston to take on Tracy McGrady and the streaking Rockets who had won 22 straight games...good enough for the second longest win streak in NBA history.  This was a match up between the leaders in their respective Conferences and the playoff atmosphere had carried over from the previous night's game in San Antonio.  The Celtics put on a defensive clinic against the Rockets holding T-Mac to 8 points on only 11 shot attempts.  Although the game was tied at the half, Kevin Garnett threw down an emphatic dunk with a little over two minutes to play to give the C's a 25 point lead and put an end to Houston's impressive streak.  Leon Powe came through with a solid 21-point effort including a big 13-point first half.  After the game, McGrady said the Celtics performance on Tuesday was the best defense he had faced during his 11 seasons in the NBA.  That is some serious praise.  Two down...one to go.

Last night, the Green Machine rolled into Dallas to face to Mavericks who were tied with Utah for the best home record in the NBA heading into the week.  Dallas was coming off of a tough home loss two nights prior against the Los Angeles Lakers, and they were looking to get back on track by making a statement against the team with the best record in the NBA.  Not so fast!  The Big 3 all finished with at least 20 points in the game and Ray Allen knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with a little over 30 seconds to play to help Boston complete the three game sweep.

All season long you've heard people question whether or not the Celtics are for real.  Wait until they go out west they would say, or wait until they have to make the trip to Texas.  The C's have now erased all doubts that they are the best team in the NBA this season.  They not only swept this road swing through Texas, but they also swept the three Texas teams on the season as San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas all left the Garden this season with an L as well to make the C's 6-0 against three of the top teams in the Western Conference.  Oh, did I mention they are 2-0 against the Lakers this season too?  How about in the East?  Everyone is expecting a Pistons-Celtics matchup in the Eastern Conference finals.  With that said, the C's are a Tony Allen foul away from being 3-0 against Detroit this season.  The Celts are operating with focus that we have not seen from them since the days of the original Big 3.  They've won 8 straight road games.  They're closing out games with ferocious intensity...taking their game to another level against other Championship contending teams. 

If you're just coming out of that Patriots fog and you haven't been paying much attention to the Celtics, I urge you to start paying attention now.  The C's are sporting a 55-13 record and they'll wrap up their current 5-game road trip tomorrow night against the New Orleans Hornets who are a half game behind the Lakers for the best record in the West.  The C's have won 14 out of their last 15 games and can go 5-0 on this road trip with a win over Chris Paul and the Hornets.  That right folks, the Boston Celtics are back and they're back in a big way!   

I'm sure it really was this crazy when Ortiz arrived today, but this is just a fantastic new commercial from the folks at New Era.

With the current Celtics bringing back memories of the 80's teams, I thought I'd show this great Mchale montage sent to me from reader Jody.