BIGGER COLLAPSE 2004 YANKEES OR 2010 BRUINS?

Every Red Sox fan remembers the drastic change of events on those four days in October in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox did the unthinkable and battled back from an 0-3 hole versus the New York Yankees to advance to the World Series.  This was the first time any team in MLB history accomplished that feat.  The Sox also known as "The Idiots" put no pressure on themselves and took it one out at a time.  Every die hard Sox fan knows the rest.  Everyone remembers the play call by Joe Buck and the radio call by Joe Castiglione. It still sends shivers down my spine as well as Red Sox nation, but have we just ignored that the Philadelphia Flyers did the same thing and battled back from an 0-3 deficit in the series as well as three goals down in the first period in game 7 to advance?  The Boston Bruins were cruising against the Flyers until Boston fans were on the other end of the ride.  The black and gold went up 3-0 in the series and were one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Montreal Canadians where the season took a turn for the worst.  The Flyers tied the series 3-3 leaving Bruins fans in shock.  They had one more chance to make it right with Zombie Nation and if it were only one period Bruins fans hearts would not be broken.  The Bruins came out scorching leading 3-0 after one period, but again the Flyers stormed back to tie the game then win 4-3. 

It leaves the question that many Boston fans want to hear and do not want to hear, but it is reality...who was the bigger collapse the Yankees in 2004 versus your beloved Red Sox or your beloved Bruins debacle in 2010?

CELTICS NEED KG HEALTHY TO GO THE DISTANCE

Who is playing better on the Celtics than Kevin Garnett right now? Garnett is playing like he is 18 years-old again averaging 15.4 points per contest as well as 9.8 rebounds.  His defensive leadership is what makes this team the best one around, but KG went down Wednesday night and fans are asking the question, can this team win an NBA championship without KG?

His injury looked very similar to the one he suffered in Utah a few years back where he was lost for the season, but let's hope this is not the case.  It was said that it was not a knee injury which is always a good sign.  The Celtics played without him in the 2009 playoffs and they had no answer for Magic's Dwight Howard.  It would be just scary to see this team without KG again for an extended period of time.  He is the heart and sole of this defense and defense wins championships.  Let's hope for the best because I do not think this team can win a title without this guy even if Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels, Jermaine O'Neal, Perkins, Shaq, Delonte all contribute.  This guy's intensity and defense are no match for any other player on this Celtics team.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE PATRIOTS PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS?

The New England Patriots will be anxious to see who they play in the playoffs.  While they are resting at home, other teams will be playing for a date with the New England Patriots in Foxboro.  Who would you like to see them play?

1. JETS- Brady picked a part Rex Ryan's defense in a Monday Night football laugher, but if these two meet again rest assuredly that Rex Ryan will make sure his team is not embarassed again on national television.

2. STEELERS- Yeah, they have the best defense under Dick Lebeau blah blah blah, but will you be afraid of them in Foxboro? Tom Brady owns them in Pittsburgh and has not lost in Foxboro in years.

3. CHIEFS- This is a team that is scary not because of their dominant run game of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, but because of the coordinators that were Belichick's best buds while they were in Foxboro. Charlie Weiss and Romeo Crennel know Belichick probably more than anyone in the league and know his tendencies at any given moment.  Belichick has had trouble with opposing teams that have coordinators that have worked for the Patriots, but it is Belichick in Foxboro...I'm really not that worried.

4. COLTS- Number #18. Enough said.

5. RAVENS- This team knows what it takes to take down the Patriots in their own stadium and it would be very scary to play this team again.  Although the Patriots won a nail-biter in Foxboro earlier in the year, this team is very well-rounded and well-coached.

THE WORST MOMENTS IN BOSTON IN 2010

There were also many devastating blows that Boston fans took in the 2010 calendar year.  Which was the worst?

1. Jonathan Papelbon's eight blown saves

2. Wes Welker tearing his ACL in a meaningless game

3. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis lost for season

4. Perkins tearing ACL in NBA finals

5. Patriots get blown out at home versus the Ravens in playoffs

6. Celtics vs. Lakers NBA finals

7. The Bruins epic collapse

WHAT WERE THE BEST BOSTON SPORTS MOMENTS OF 2010?

There were many memorable moments in 2010, but what was the best?

1. The Winter Classic at Fenway Park- Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Bruins win 2-1)

2. Celtics remarkable run to the Championship that fell short in game 7.

3. Tyler Seguin coming to Beantown.

4. Mike Lowell's farewell

5. Daniel Nava's grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the major leagues.

6. Mark Herzlich's return from cancer

7. Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez coming to Boston

8. Tom Brady's impressive streak of 319 straight passes without an interception

9. Marc Savard's return

10. Danny Woodhead and Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis

GLEN DAVIS 6TH MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD?

"Big Baby" Glen Davis has done it all for the Celtics this year.  He leads the NBA in charges taken and leads the team off the bench in points and rebounds. Baby averages 12.1 points per game and 5.8 rebounds in just about 30 minutes a game for the green. He has many intangibles that most individuals off the bench do not have.  Baby can play the three, four, or five and that is because he uses his body so well around the basket it does not matter the match up he has.  He is an animal around the hoop and has developed a great 18-footer that makes him dangerous.  He is shooting 48.1% from the field.  The Celtics would be lost without Baby especially due to the loss of Delonte West and Nate Robinson having to move into the starting role with Rondo still nursing injuries.  Baby deserves at least an honorable mention in this discussion because I do not think there has been anyone better off the bench this year.  Jamal Crawford or Jason Terry possibly, but the Celtics sit at 24-5 and are in cruise control.  It is not because of the "Big Three" this team is doing so well, it is because of the entire team effort that Doc stresses every night and Big Baby has everything to do with it.  He has my vote.

RED SOX NEED ONE MORE LEFTY TO BOLSTER PEN

The Red Sox have been very aggressive this off-season making it one of the most memorable off-seasons in recent memory.  Theo Epstein stressed that the bullpen needed work and he went out and got some big names such as Bobby Jenks and Matt Albers.  Although they signed Lenny DiNardo to a minor league deal and have Felix Doubront as the lefties in the pen, Epstein must pull the trigger on one more arm that is left handed.  Rumors have been swirling around Brian Fuentes coming to the Sox which would be a great fit if he is willing to be in a set up role and take less years and money.  Fuentes wants a three-year deal in the vicinity of 15 million.  Fuentes was tough to watch every time he faced the Red Sox usually walking hitters left and right, but his numbers do not lie.  Fuentes posted a 4-1 record with an ERA of 2.81.  He had 47 punchouts and 24 saves.  He is a lefty specialist that will fit in very nicely with the Red Sox. Lefties had a miniscule .128 average, 0 home runs, and only five RBIs in 47 total at-bats in 2010.  Theo, I say you open the checkbook one more time because this could be the final piece to the puzzle for a parade in Copley Square in 2011.