Can Sox and Pats Turn Things Around?

By J.A. Maio
Love of Sports Correspondent

I hope the Boston police department is doing thorough sweeps of the Tobin Bridge today.

New England sports teams are starting to look like they did when I was a kid; meaning everybody is crap, except for the Celtics, and they aren’t even into the regular season yet!

The Red Sox are giving us all fond memories of the Buckner years, and the decades fighting the Curse of the Bambino. Honestly, losing three straight to the Rays isn’t all that crazy the way they’ve been playing all season, but to be on the brink of elimination and almost being swept at Fenway, that’s just nauseating.

Thank God they were able to muster enough intestinal fortitude to pull out one win in their own house! Let’s keep this magic going … make us believe! It will all have a different feel to it with the legendary Citgo sign missing.

As for the perennial playoff and Super Bowl contending New England Patriots, the entire season seemed to be knee-capped during the opening game as Tom Brady hit the turf against the Chiefs. Now, we have all sorts of problems and we’re looking like the Pats of the Grogan years.

The Patriots have a quarterback who hasn’t started since high school, can’t move and is incredibly predictable, a running back controversy, a defense that couldn’t stop Rick Moranis and the Little Giants’ Annexation of Puerto Rico play and me screaming for the them to start third string quarterback, and former San Diego State star, Kevin O’Connell to add another dimension to the offense.

Is there any hope for the season? The Bills should have the division wrapped up, and the Jets seem to be getting their act together pretty well. Oh well, there’s always next season … as long as Brady recovers to full strength.

The Bruins? Well, the Bruins are still under the divine guidance of Jeremy Jacobs, one of the worst owners in all of sports, so there’s no hope there really.

How about the Revolution? You know, the soccer team? They’ve been to the MLS Cup four times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007) and have yet to walk away with the title, reminiscent of the Buffalo Bills. They’re battling to make the playoffs right now, but who really holds any hope for them? And, in the end, who really cares? When the European leagues are in season, no one’s watching the MLS anyway, or at least they shouldn’t be.

Which finally brings us to the World Champion Boston Celtics. Fans are still riding high off last year’s incredible turn around and the hanging of a new banner in the Garden still to come!

The C’s didn’t do much in the offseason. They lost super sub James Posey, but saw the rise of Tony Allen and Leon Powe, which should nullify his absence. They also picked up Darius Miles, which could really work to their benefit, even though he hasn’t played in a couple of years thanks to microfracture knee surgery.

Can the Green repeat? They have the core nucleus all there (Pierce, Allen, K.G., Rondo, Perkins). It’s just a matter of seeing who else will step up and help carry this team through to the Promised Land.

So, New Englanders, it may feel like we’re on the edge of athletic oblivion or reliving the nightmare seasons of yesteryear, but all is not lost, so long as you still bleed green.