Ball 5

Author: Justin Golenbock



The organizational contrast of ingenuity vs. chaos that is the Patriots vs. the Red Sox took another turn for the dramatic this past Sunday. In one of the most stunning and inspirational sports comebacks of my lifetime, Patriot Defensive Captain Tedy Bruschi returned after suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery to repair a hole in his heart, helping lead the Pats to an emotional 21-16 victory over division rival Buffalo.

The team, at 4-3 despite a rash of major injuries and a brutal early schedule, looks poised to win its third straight division title. Bruschi symbolizes everything the Kraft-Belichek dynasty has stood for: the ultimate winner, undersized and underrated, he took a pay cut to stay in New England and brought adoring fans three championships.

Over a million of us cut school or work and braved sub-teen temperatures just to catch a glimpse of the "Brusch" during the 30 seconds we saw of the duck boats during their first championship parade. And millions more of us will come out in force to vote him into the White House, republican or democrat, in 2008. And again in 2012.

After the football game, those who tuned in for the soap opera heard wunderkind General Manager Theo Epstein resign from the Red Sox, two years after he helped bring them their first World Series win in 86 years. Forget about the brain trust's stupidity in letting go their most talented young executive...but why the hell is a 31-year-old from Brookline leaving his self-described "dream job" with an offer of $1.5 million per year on the table?

Certainly from the "Massholes" last year who jumped on Pedro for jumping to the Mets, I'd expect the same treatment to be heaped on Theo. Of course, this is the same guy who offered his best player for Mike Cameron's broken jaw and Aubrey Huff's broken bat at the trade deadline during a playoff run, and also constructed a bullpen over the last two years with names including: Terry Adams, Pedro Astacio, Frank Castillo, Alan Embree, Jeremi Gonzalez, John Halama, Byung-Hyun Kim, Curtis Lescanic, Matt Mantei, Cla Meredith, Ramiro Mendoza, Blaine Neal and Mike Remlinger. Not a one could eclipse Rich Garces' ginormous shadow.

So what have we learned? Other than that righteous indignation is neither that informative nor funny? Only that Tedy Bruschi will end up running this ship of state, one way or another, and that it's actually much easier than we thought to miss Dan Duquette...on that I stand corrected.

Of course, if Seymour and Manny return, it's all moot. But keep your fingers crossed, Boston, knock on wood, throw salt over the right shoulder, etc. Titletown's in for at least a few more wild years.