What Made the Red Sox Great?

I was trying to think to myself why I don't enjoy watching the Red Sox as much recently as I have in the past. They are still a great team with powerful personalities. However, there's always something missing. I don't think losing a big bat like Manny Ramirez was a huge loss, but not replacing him with a similar character was.

While the start of the Red Sox organization was decorated with championships, there was an 86 year drought of championships. In this time, the Red Sox had great players and great opportunities to overturn this history. However, they failed for so long. Over this time, I think the fans developed a feeling of despair. It seemed like the team would never win again and the odds were constantly stacked against the Sox.

I think that was part of the appeal of the '04 and '07 Red Sox was their ability to overcome the worst of situations. In '04, the Sox went behind in both the divisional and AL Championship series. The outlook was not favorable. There was 86 years of history against them as well. In addition, several times, the Red Sox found themselves on the brink of elimination. They needed to make a play in the last possible opportunity of the game in order to keep playing. The odds just kept getting stacked higher.

In all of this, these two teams overcame. They rose to the challenge. They were able to push aside everything that was against them to win. I've loved players and teams of the past, but these two teams in particular stand out. It's not because they won the championship, but rather they disproved expectations and sentiments that I had grown up.

Today marks the opening of the 2010 season. I don't know which characters will step up, and help the Red Sox overcome. I don't know if the Red Sox have it. But I'll be watching. I will be enjoying. I will be rooting. There is an idea that sports teams come to represent the cities and places which they are located. I don't think any team exemplifies Boston more than the Red Sox. I hope that they represent us well in this year's Major League Baseball season.

Barcelona's #4

A great analysis:

"We are not a team who play on the counter-attack. Our football is one touch, two touches. Fifteen good touches mean one chance of goal. If we want to create an attacking opportunity too quickly, we lose the ball. Without the ball, there is no control. Without control, there are no chances and, without chances, it is not Barcelona."

Arsenal-Manchester United: In 3D

Game in 3D:

BSkyB is aiming to do for sports broadcasting what James Cameron did for cinema with special effects blockbuster Avatar, with the move to air this weekend's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester United in 3D.

The satellite broadcaster, which is showing the special 3D feed of this Sunday's Premier League clash in a handful of pubs across the country, claims it will be the first transmission of a live 3D TV sports event to a public audience

Tick tock.

Hilarious

Egpyt embarrassed Algeria:

Algeria ended their African Nations Cup in disgrace as they had three men sent off in their 4-0 defeat to Egypt in the second semi-final.

The Desert Foxes ended up with eight men, as Rafik Halliche (38), Nadir Belhadj (70) and goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi (88) were given their marching orders, allowing defending champions Egypt to run out easy winners to gain revenge for their World Cup play-off exit in mid-November last year.

Praise for Rich Rod Recruiting

National recruiting expert, Tom Lemming, had some praise for Rich Rod's recruiting class:

"It's an exceptionally athletic class," Lemming said. "It's a class full of athletes at every position. With (quarterback) Devin Gardner and (safety) Marvin Robinson, you're going to have more athletes at Michigan than in years.

"With these players, it's just a matter of time before (Rich) Rodriguez turns things around. Give him enough time, and it's a no-brainer he's going to turn things around."

Hopefully the athleticism translates to wins on the field.

Paraguayan Forward Shot in the Head

Paraguayan forward Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head:

Salvador Cabanas, a forward for the Mexican team Club America, was in critical condition. He was conscious when he arrived at a hospital where he was being operated on to remove the bullet, team president Michel Bauer told Televisa network.

Sad story.

Inter Triumphs

Inter triumphed in today's Milan Derby despite having two players sent off. Manager Jose Mourinho had this to say:

“The only way we would have lost was if we had been reduced to six men,” he said. “It was very difficult but we were far better on the pitch.”

It was an impressive performance from the Neraazzurri, putting them 9 points clear in Serie A. No other top team enjoys that large a lead. It should send a message to Inter's opponents in the Champions League, Chelsea.