Christmas? New England sports fans have received gifts beyond belief long before the Christmas trees and lights went up.
Gift giving has been an ongoing occurrence, maybe even better than the nose-hair trimmer in the stocking or snowblower in the garage.
I can't remember ever having so much going so right on the Boston sports scene, including on the horizon, which could get even rosier if the Celtics and Patriots remain on course.
Anyway, here's a look at the top 10 gifts New England sports fans have received - and I'm not sure completely deserved - this year:
1. A driven Kevin Garnett.
In any other millennium, Randy Moss would be first. But Garnett has changed everything. This is the most tenacious athlete we have in Boston. He was born 30 years late. He would have fit in with Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, JoJo White, John Havlicek Larry Bird and even Red Auerbach. Everyone thought the Celtics would be good in 2007-08 after "The Trades," but nobody predicted this. Credit Garnett.
2. A team-oriented Randy Moss.
Raise your hand if you thought it would be this good on and off the field. Moss changes everything, as the 15-0 record shows. He might be the best wide receiver ever ... not named Jerry Rice. He and Tom Brady appear to be friends, for real. He talks about winning over records. He is worth what the Patriots will pay him next year and beyond, if not more.
3. A committed Josh Beckett.
Something happened in 2007, or probably at the end of 2006. Beckett realized he was wasting Hall of Fame talent. He quietly wanted to be the best, and despite the Cy Young voting, he was. Having Beckett at the top of the rotation means the Red Sox are either contenders or favorites ... every year. His commitment will rub on the bevy of young pitchers coming to Boston.
4. A happy Tom Brady.
Did the Patriots go overboard getting Brady some real weapons in Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth? Probably. But this guy took it for the team last year and you could see it was a difficult year - especially off the field - for him. He's been able to prove that he is every bit as good, if not better, than Peyton Manning this season.
5. A confident Terry Francona.
Sure he had the payroll and players, but by the time the Red Sox were for real in late September, it was officially Francona's team. He is the ideal manager for this team of superstars. He takes the hit. He has done his best work in the playoffs, which says something. His best years are ahead of him.
6. A Celtics team that matters.
Danny Ainge gets the credit here. As crazy as this sounds, the best thing that happen to this organization was "losing" the lottery. The mess around here, no matter which 19-year-old they chose, would have continued at least another year or two. Magically, though, the Celtics matter around here. Their game with Detroit last week was a game people cared about, I mean really cared. Wait until the Patriots are done. The Celts will rock this town.
7. A humble Paul Pierce.
This is a sleeper gift. The Celtics captain acquiesced and did the right thing by allowing Garnett to be the "alpha" dog on this team. It shows his commitment to winning. Pierce could have been a fly in the ointment, but instead he has jumped on the bandwagon.
8. A new Manny Ramirez.
I say the Red Sox should pick up the final two years on Ramirez's contract. In his worst statistical season (.296 average, 20 HRs, 88 RBIs), we got the best of Manny this October (.348, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs in 14 games). Something happened this season. He became a winner. Not only did he recognize the media as human beings, but he recognized his career is nearing its end. He really wants to stay here. Crazy, isn't it?
9. An always confident David Ortiz.
I have never been around a more confident athlete in Boston than David Ortiz. I remember in Cleveland, during the ALCS, with the Sox down 3-1, he had no fear of losing. He is the leader of the Sox. They follow his lead. He, too, played his best when it mattered most in late September and October. He is the MVP of the Red Sox.
10. More success than anybody deserves.
Do we deserve this? Because the Red Sox won it all in 2004, and the Patriots owned the first four years of the 21st century, this is all gravy. Yet, it appears to be getting better.
Every team not only competes and deserves the high price of admission, but they can't seem to lose. The Sox, Patriots and now the Celtics are astonishing. Other parts of the country, trust me, don't like us. The Red Sox might in the midst of one of the greatest runs in the last 40 years outside of the Yankees in the late 1990s. The Patriots are in the greatest NFL run. And the Celtics are reminding us about how much fun basketball can be during the chilly winter months.
